Beach Bums

It's always fun when D and I get an extra day with the boys.  Their mom had to work, so we got to take them to the beach for the morning. :)  It was a beautiful.  The weather was nice, and the sky was gorgeous.  The water, on the other hand, was freezing.  When we first got there, they boys wanted to swim.  They all got in and wadded out a bit, but I stayed stubbornly up on the beach.  There was no way I was getting into that freezing water.  Or so I though.  Apparently, D had other ideas.  He decided I needed to go in and scooped me up off the beach, walked me out into the water, and dropped me in.  Meanwhile, I was screaming at him and probably telling him completely untrue things like, "I hate you!"  The water was sooo cold!! I did manage to get used to it enough to stay out for a little while, but brrrrrr, it never really got comfortable.  After awhile we headed back up onto dry land where the sun warmed me right up.

The boys wanted to be buried in the sand, but D isn't one to just pile up some sand on them.  He decided they should be buried inside a sand Jeep.  I think he did an awesome job. :D He got a ton of compliments on it as people strolled by. 

I bought this hat for myself from Shelley at Ruffled Flamingo on Etsy.  I love it! It is comfy and it kept me from getting sun on my face (I am totally OK with "pale and pasty" thank you very much.) Check out her shop.  Her stuff is well made, really cute, and very reasonably priced.  I have 2 summer hats, 1 winter hat, and an adorable pair of bloomers from her shop. 

After the beach, we went to Pincher's Crab Shack for lunch

and spent some time playing at a fun park.

The Most Magical Place On Earth

Happy...um...New Year! Ok, so it's February.  The year is still fairly new.  I haven't even had my birthday yet (Holy Cow! I'll be 30 this year!).

Last weekend, we went to Disney World! D's family decided it was a good weekend for everyone to go, and they invited me along.  :D  The boys had never been before, so it was really fun to get to experience their first time at Disney with them.  Last Friday night after work, the 4 of us headed up to my sis's house for the night.  They live a little less than an hour away from Disney, so we decided to crash with them for the weekend.  Saturday morning, we met up with his family at The Magic Kingdom.   The 4 of us go there much earlier than the rest of them did, so we spend the first few hours riding rides on our own and enjoying the shorter lines before all the crowds showed up.  His family arrived around 11:30, and we had a great time hanging out all together.  We managed to ride *almost* everything, and even did the Haunted Mansion twice. 

D's dad had wanted us to do a nice sit down meal for dinner, so we got reservations at the Liberty Tavern.  Unfortunately, since we waited till the day of to get them, we couldn't get reservations until almost 9 PM (The Magic Kingdom was staying open until 1:00 AM).  It was an unexpectedly cold night, and we were all freezing after dark, but we had a great time.  The boys all LOVED the electric light parade and watching the fire works, but by dinner time they were all exhausted.  All three boys (S, N, and their 4 year old cousin) fell asleep on the table before dinner even arrived.

They sure missed out.  The Liberty Tavern is a family style place with a fixed menu.  They brought us out platters full of roast turkey, pork, and beef as well as mashed potatoes, green beans, glazed carrots, stuffing, gravy, rolls, honey butter, and an apple craisin cake.  It was delicious and well worth the wait. 

After dinner, we ended up having to carry the boys back to the Monorail, tram, and eventually car.  They were OUT! It was after midnight when we finally got back to my sister's house.  It was a very long day, but so fun!  And yay! because we got Wild For 3 passes, so we get to go back two more times in the next few months!

Flutterbys!

*All pictures in this post were taken by my mother.*

A few month ago (actually, about 4 months ago) a Groupon came around for a local butterfly conservatory.  It wasn't something I was familiar with, but the deal looked really good.  I was able to purchase a one year membership for up to 7 individuals.  I believe I paid about $11 for it.  It needed to be activated by October, so D and I decided that we should finally use it this past weekend.  We took the boys and both of our mothers on Saturday morning.

Passion Flower (or as the boys call it, an Alien Flower)

I hadn't really expected much...a few butterflies and flowers maybe, but I was actually pleasantly surprised.  It wasn't large, but it was very nice.  They had a decently sized greenhouse full of beautiful flowers, plants, ponds, and a large variety of butterflies.  The staff was very knowledgeable.  The woman on duty showed us the different stages of the life cycles of several different butterflies and allowed the boys to pet some of the caterpillars.  She then took us into the greenhouse and gave us lots of information about the many different butterflies we were seeing. At one point she even caught a butterfly and let the boys take turns holding it.

I think everyone really enjoyed the experience.  The heat eventually started to make the boys ready to get out of there, but they enjoyed seeing all the butterflies and flowers as much as the rest of us did.

They also had a very nice gift shop which we all enjoyed.  There were several amazing pieces of artwork and jewelry using butterfly wings that I think most of us would have liked to have been able to purchase had the prices not been so astronomically high.   There was an ice cream shop that we did not visit and a cafe that we looked into, but decided we weren't ready for lunch yet.  The menu sounded delicious though.  I'm looking forward to being able to go back since we all have a year pass now. 

Beach Fun

This week was spring break in our county.  On Monday, D and I both took off work to take the boys to the beach.  We met up with a lady from our church and her little girl, and we headed out to Captiva for the day.  We spend the morning playing at the beach...swimming, building sandcastles, and collecting pretty shells (Captiva and Sanibel beaches are covered in shells.  It's actually kind of hard to walk in the water because of all the shells.  They sure are beautiful though.)

Our friend's husband works at a little Mexican cantina on Captiva, so we went there for lunch.  Man, was it yummy!  I'm so glad I eat Mexican food now! I had a delicious burrito, and for dessert we all shared a plate of fried plantains...sooooooo good!

It was really nice to take an extra day off after vacation before going back to work.  You know how people always say, "I need a vacation to recover from my vacation!"? I feel like I actually got to do that.  I got home on Friday night, but didn't go back to work until Tuesday.  I really felt rested and ready when I finally went back to work.

Pretty Flowers and Pretty Girls

First of all, look at the beautiful flowers I got last night from D. :) I just hope I can keep them alive!

I have really been enjoying having my sister and her kids staying at the house with us.

We have spent more time in the pool in the past week than I have in probably the past couple years! All three kids can kind of fend for themselves a bit in the water now (with the help of water wings and/or a floating seat for the girls.) I can get in the pool in the morning for some exercise while my older niece gets in with me and follows me around in her princess water wings. It has been so much fun.

I think I am going to be heartbroken when they move next weekend. :(

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Weekend Fun

Since I have decided to get back into blogging, I figure I will jump right in with a post about this past weekend.

Saturday my sister and her family and D and his boys were all over at my house for the day. (My sister and her family are living with us for a couple weeks. My BIL has taken a job in a city a couple hours north of us, so they will all be moving up there in about two weeks. :( My heart is sad to think of my nephew and nieces not being close enough to just drop by and visit them, but I know they have to do what they feel is right for them. I am also glad that it is only a couple hours drive, and we will still see them.) D and the boys came over in the morning, and I made homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. (Sooo good. I made them the night before, let them sit unbaked in the fridge overnight, and then took them out for an hour or so in the morning before popping them in the oven) We spent the day fishing, swimming, grilling out, eating, and watching movies. It was a very fun, relaxing day. In the afternoon, D and I loaded up the older 4 of the 5 kids in his van and took them to a local park to play for awhile. The weather was beautiful...warm and sunny, but breezy enough that it never got too hot. The kids all had a great time playing together, and we even caught a few fish off my dock. S caught a very pretty Sheepshead...he always seems to catch something fun. (I have a couple really cute pictures I wish I could post here. Maybe I will work on a way to blur faces or something.)


Sunday I went with D and the boys up to Lakeland for his nephew's birthday party. I met them at their house before church, and we went over to target to buy his nephew a Thor hammer. After church and a quick stop at Burger King we hit the road for Lakeland. The party was at a family fun center with arcade games and a huge bounce house/maze/playground thing. The kids had a blast, and it was fun watching them play.
After the party, D's sister suggested BD's Mongolian Grill for dinner.


It was AMAZING! I had heard of Mongolian Grills before as several members of my extended family rave about them. I had even been to one years ago, but I was so picky then, my Aunt went next door and got me chicken tenders. I don't think I even went up to see the grill or what they had. Silly me! I was missing out. Thankfully I have started branching out a lot more in the past few years (though in some ways D's boys are more adventurous than me. Last night I wached N, who is 4, eat a squid. Seeing him sit there with the tenticles hanging out of his mouth was both disgusting and hilarious) and was able to truly appreciate how fabulous this place was last night. I piled my bowl with Tuscan chicken, peppers, corn, onion, red potato, pineapple, nuts, sesame seeds, pasta, egg, sauces and spices. Watching the guys throw it on the grill, mix it all up, and throw their utensils around was an experience in and of itself.




I think I would have enjoyed it even if I hadn't liked my food. Thankfully though, I loved it! I can't wait to have a chance to go back there again.
After dinner we started the two hour drive back home. N was asleep before we got back. I think we were all pretty worn out by the end of the day, but everyone had a great time. It was the first weekend in awhile that we have been able to just have fun. The past couple months were filled with busy, "productive" weekends. It was really nice to be able to hang out without stress and "gotta get _____ taken care of" hanging over our heads.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Deep Fried Tummy Aches

Normally I'd be in the process of changing diapers right now, but sometimes life doesn't go as you expect.  So, here I am blogging instead.  We'll get to the why later (and no, I didn't lose my job or quit or anything crazy like that.)

Saturday, my friend Keli and I and a bunch of her friends drove to Plant City for the Strawberry Festival (or, you know, "Skrawberry Festable" depending on who you are.)  It was a fun day and, weather wise, a GORGEOUS one.   I could be wrong, but it seems like it was the warmest it's been all year.  (I'm so pathetic, in the fall I complain about it being too hot here, but as soon as Christmas is over I'm wanting the warm weather again!)  The festival itself was enjoyable, but nothing really thrilling for me.  The best part was just being out in the nice weather and enjoying the company of others instead of sitting around in my house all day.  Had I been there by myself, I might have spent a little more time checking out the craftier sections of festival.  However, we spent most of the time in the ride/food areas.  Seriously, when I go to something like this, I cannot help but be amazed at our American fascination with fried food.

There really is nothing we will not cover in batter and drown in sizzling hot oil, is there?  From strawberries to candy bars to even deep fried Pepsi

(yes, I actually saw this though I did not partake).  I limited my deep fried intake to chicken and potatoes, though I kinda wish I had passed on the potatoes and had a funnel cake instead! 

Anyway, I came home Saturday night tired and slightly sunburned, but happy.  Unfortunately, my stomach decided to revolt on Sunday morning.  I woke up feeling a bit queasy and figured I'd just    eaten too much junk on Saturday.  I made it to church and through lunch (though I couldn't eat much).  I came home, took a nap, and woke up several hours later feeling horrible.  I spent the rest of the day in bed with a fever (which makes me believe that I caught some kind of bug and it was not just too much bad-for-me food), tummy ache, and body aches.  This morning I was starting to feel better and my fever was gone, but I was still weak and achy, so I decided to stay home from work and let myself fully recover.  No need to be passing out at work or passing around sick germs to my kiddies.  So, here I am in bed with my computer instead of eating fishy crackers with hungry two year olds. 

(Yes, the sign in that picture says Krispy Kreme Donut Burger.  Check it out, but beware.  I think I had a heart attack just looking at it.)  

Back To Disney

I kind of feel like I've neglected the blog this month. Blog, are your feelings hurt?  I'm sorry. :(  Or maybe I'm not.  Suddenly and unexpectedly I seem to have found myself landed in the middle of a semi-social life.   I love you, blog, but you aren't as fun as hanging out with actual people.

At any rate, I'm here now to tell you about yet another trip to that oh so magical land we call Disney World.  I'd been wanting to make a trip to Disney for awhile.  The last time I was there was last September, and call me spoiled, but that is TOO LONG!  So, a few weeks ago some friends and I decided it was time to make a trip.  I booked us into the All-Star Movies Resort, bought my new season pass, and Saturday morning we headed up to Central Florida.  :)

We spent Saturday morning and early afternoon at Animal Kingdom.  Oddly, though I'm not exactly what anyone would classify as an animal lover, I really do enjoy Animal Kingdom.  Somehow it always seems more peaceful and relaxing there than it does at the other parks.  The different themes throughout the park are also done so well.  It's just fun to walk around and see everything.  This trip we even got to see a baby gorilla (or "bagrilla" as the little one in our group called them) who had been born not even 24 hours before!  For  a gorilla, it was really very adorable.

Saturday afternoon we checked into our resort.  I hadn't visited or stayed at any of the "value" resorts at Disney before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The staff was very accommodating when we asked to change to a room with two beds (ok, so we booked a room for two people and then put 4 of us in it...hey, it was cheaper that way!).  The movie theme and decor was very cute and fun.  The pool area, while lacking the slide that most of the more expensive resorts there have, was fun with a giant Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey fountain shooting water into the pool.   The food court and gift/convenience shop offered lots of choices.  Everything was very comfortable.   I would absolutely stay there again. 

Saturday night we ate a late dinner at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.  It was a character dining buffet with Cinderella, her step-mother and sisters, and Prince Charming.  It was probably not something I'd want to do again, but the food was good, and the experience was special for the 3 year old girl who was with us.  After dinner, my one friend and her daughter headed back to the hotel while my other friend and I went over to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours.

Sunday we spent the morning at the Magic Kingdom.  We had planned to head over to Epcot for the afternoon, but we all decided we were done with the parks for the day and spent the afternoon at Downtown Disney instead.   We had lunch at T-Rex (very fun restaurant!) and ended the trip with dessert at Ghiradelli.

Now I've had my Disney fix and should be good for at least, oh, another month or so. ;)

Picture Post

Just a bit of a random picture post here.  I finally got around to dumping the pictures from my camera from the past month or so.

My niece loves to wear Auntie Lauren's "pretties" in her hair.

We had my nephew and nieces for about a week after my sister had her wisdom teeth out (one reason why there hasn't been much blogging lately).  My nephew started to get a little stir crazy, so I took him to a nearby park to play one evening.

 

My dad got a package in the mail all wrapped in huge sheets of paper.  The kids had a blast coloring all over it.  Then this little monkey decided to rip it to shreds.

But really, isn't she a cute little monkey!?

Gorgeous sunset behind the house one night.

There's no place like home!

Blog World, I Don't Think We Are In Florida Anymore

Have you met my scarf?  When I made it back in November for my trip to Tennessee, I had no idea that in January it would become my new best friend.  (The scarf, btw, was loosely inspired by this one that Rose Tyler wears in season 1 of Doctor Who.) 

People, it is COLD here in Florida this weekend!  Just a couple hours north of me it SNOWED today.  I was out shopping this afternoon, and I swear the temperature gauge on my car never got over 39 degrees.  I'm loving it!  I'm knitting myself up a pair of fingerless gloves, and I've pretty much kept the finished one on all evening.  I can't wait to get the second one done.  I may have to sleep with them on tonight.  I'm not used to this kind of weather anymore.  :D

Speaking of the fingerless gloves, I have now learned how to knit cables! Guess what.  It wasn't even that hard!  I also have been practicing working with double pointed knitting needles, and I've found that those aren't really all that complicated either.  It seems like, for me, the most complicated thing is sizing.  I think I need to start making gauge swatches.  For some reason, this is something I've never really done.  I have a tendency to rush headlong into a project and just hope that it will come out the right size.  I won't be able to do that if I am making things to wear.  At any rate, I'm excited about the things I have learned, and I'm discovering that I really enjoy knitting. 

"Some Music Needs Air...

Roll down your window."  ~ Clair Colburn - Elizabethtown

What is it about a chill in the air that makes music sound so much better?   When the weather turns a bit cooler, I love nothing more than getting in my car, rolling down the windows, and blasting the music. It doesn't seem to matter what kind of music it is.  It all just seems to come alive when I'm breathing in that fresh, cold air.  Yesterday afternoon J. S. Bach and I drove through town with the contrapuntal sounds of The Art of Fugue invading every other open windowed car on the road.   In the evening, as I drove over the home of some friends, it was the music of Grease that was blaring from my speakers.  That night, Josh Groban and I sang our way home while the windy night air from the open moon roof made me shiver in a way that I love at this time of year.  

By tomorrow we will be back into the mid 80s, and as the temperature rises, so will my windows.  The music will once again be played at a normal volume, and the air conditioning will come back on.   It is a sad story, but what can be done about it?  This is home, and I must accept it.  Still, I will be anxiously awaiting the next cool front.  And I think I will spend the waiting period making some long skirts.  I don't seem to have the proper clothing for this cooler weather!

Now This Is More Like It!

Yep, that's me...outside.  If only every day in the Florida fall were more like this one!  It is in the 70s today here.  It's breezy, it's sunny, and I can breath when I walk outside.  In fact, I even have my windows open (a good thing too since my room reeks of roach spray...had a little run in with one last night.  Bleh!)!  Considering it's been in the 90s here lately, I am absolutely loving this weather.  It will only last for a few days, but I am going to be thankful for it while it lasts.  I walked around outside for awhile.  You know, I'm not much of an outdoor girl, but when I do get myself away from the laptop and out the door, I always end up discovering all over again that it really is rather beautiful here.  Sure, I miss the fall leaves and the cool weather and the opportunity to wear sweaters, but really, on a day like this, Florida is a very nice place to be.

I took a few pictures as I wondered around outside today. 

These are the Mangrove roots and trees that are supposedly holding Florida together or something like that.  They are highly protected.

And this is a bit of the view from our dock behind the house. It was windy out there, and I was almost chilly enough to want long sleeves! For me, that's a thrill. ;)

And just for the fun of it, here is a hairstyle I came up with yesterday. I'm having a bit of trouble with victory rolls and some other authentic techniques. I think it is in part because the ends are getting kind of scraggly. I am in serious need of a haircut. Still, I'm having lots of fun playing around with hairstyles lately.

Thank You, Superman!

It absolutely blows my mind that this picture would not exist if it were not for a TV show that went on the air 16 years ago.  When I started watching Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman back in my younger years, I couldn't have possibly known the profound impact it would someday have on my life.   Who knew that I would someday rediscover this show on DVD and that it would lead me to the insanity of the world of online fandom.   How could I have guessed that through that fandom I would meet some of my best friends.  (Now, those of you who may be interested in this fandom world, be warned that is not all rosy and wonderful.  There is drama in this land...drama like you would not believe.  But that is not the topic of this post.)  Well, those thoughts may have never entered my young mind,  but 16 years and 26 days after the airing of the pilot episode, I found myself picking up Jenn (my dear fellow fandom-dweller) and her adorable little 4 month old from the airport and bringing them back to my house for a week of fun in the Florida sunshine.  And a great week it was too! Though this was not the first time we had met in person (in fact, it was the 3rd) it was the first time we ever actually sat down together and watched the show that was responsible for our meeting in the first place.  What a blast that was!  While our hearts are always true to our show, I think that both of us had lost some interest in it lately.  Somehow watching it together brought back a bit of that old spark.  It was such fun to swoon together over the romance, snark over the absurdities, and drool a bit over our Superman.  It made the show come alive in a way it hadn't been in far too long.  Of course, we did not sit around and watch Lois and Clark all week. There was cheesecake, the beach, shopping, talking and laughing into the wee small hours of the morning, swimming, baby giggles, and even a few mosquito bites (OK, that part is not so much great but certainly worth it).   

It was a little sad to send her and that precious little man home yesterday morning.  I am missing them both already!

First Day of What?

Ah, yes, the first day of Autumn in Florida.

Nice cool temperatures...







Leaves turning to beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red...










Children rushing out in their jackets to jump in the piles of fallen leaves...









Sigh...I miss the fall! I miss cider mills and getting your pumpkin from the pumpkin patch instead of trying to find one that isn't rotting in the giant, cardboard box at Walmart. I miss sweaters and jackets and leaves under your feet. Come January, Florida will once again be the place I love the best, but right now it is far from where I want to be.

To those of you who live in places where the leaves are changing and the air is cool and the doughnuts and cider are calling, I am trying very hard to not hate you. ;)

Welcome To June

Seems hard to believe that we are so far into 2009 already. May ended bittersweetly for me, bringing both death and new life. My uncle passed away last week. It was rather unexpected. He had been struggling with some breathing problems for some time, but it hadn't seemed serious until fairly recently. It's hard to believe that my Aunt, only a little older than my own mother, is now a widow. It's even harder to think about my cousins, who are 19 and 24, being suddenly left without a father. I cannot imagine the kind of hurt they must be feeling. Any readers who might think of it on occasion, please remember this family in your prayers. I know that there are tough times ahead of them all, but I also know that God is faithful, and will give them the strength and peace and courage to press on.

On a happier note, one of my very close friends gave birth to a precious, baby boy on Saturday. She and her husband have been through so much to get to this point, and I couldn't possibly be more thrilled for them! You would have thought it was my own child or family member when I heard the news. I was alternately laughing and weeping with joy. I know God has some great things in store for this new, little family. Jenn, you are all in my prayers every day. Congratulations!

Is January This Beautiful Where YOU Live? ;)

No matter how much I may whine and gripe from September - December, I really do love Florida weather. We are hitting the best time of year here. I no longer care about it feeling "fallish" or "Christmasy," so I am able to sit back and enjoy the usually almost cloudless, sunny skies and the cool breezes off the water. Most days the temperature varies from the mid 70s to very low 80s. The nights are cool, but rarely cold. Sure, by May it will be getting hot and humid again, and by June or July the mosquitoes will be out in full force, but for now...ahhhh, it's lovely.

Despite the weather, I'm becoming a bit discouraged with myself. I told myself that I was going to start my choir this month, and here I am no closer to it than I was 3 months ago. I feel a little lost and uncertain. If I could just get the ball rolling, I think I could have a good choir. I'm just not very good at that whole ball rolling thing. I need some direction!

51 degrees

If you are not located in the sunshine state, this temperature may not seem like anything to blog about; but for me, here in sunny Florida, it means that it is deliciously cold outside tonight. We have a little cold snap moving through, and I am loving it! This morning when I woke up I somehow had a feeling that it would be cool outside. I got out of bed, went to the back door, stepped outside, and squeed! This is the weather I have been waiting for. The high was in the mid 60s, and it is supposed to drop into the 40s in the next few hours. Of course, in a few days we will be back up to 80, but for now I'm going to enjoy and be thankful for this little taste of fall. I got to drink my hot chai and actually enjoy the warmth from it. I'm snuggled up under the covers in my sweats with the fan off, and my nose is still a little chilly (the windows are open). It is wonderful! (Now, I don't want to hear any garbage from all of you in colder climates who think I'm crazy! Yes, I'm very thankful that I don't have to scrape the ice off my car every morning as I let the heat run for 30 minutes so I don't freeze to death. I'm well aware that I live in "paradise"! But give me a break, the lack of seasons can get depressing sometimes, and I'm going to enjoy what I can get! Also, none of this business about how 60 degrees isn't cold. I've lived in the north. I know what real cold feels like, but trust me, you get used to the climate in which you live. When you are accustomed to a tropical climate, 60 feels like winter!)

Disney Magic

I'm am back from my trip to the most magical place on earth. You know, it doesn't seem to matter that I've been there about a million times, it still is magical for me. I still fills me with wonder and excitement every time I go.

This time I went with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, niece, my BIL's brother and his wife and kids, and my BIL's parents. While I did spend time with all of them, I ended up hanging out a lot on my own this trip. I really don't mind that. I find that I occasionally enjoy being able to explore and park hop on my own without worrying about if other people are happy or what they want to do. I actually made some discoveries this time. Example, how on earth have I not know all this time that there is a boat and a walkway that can each take you directly from Hollywood Studios to Epcot or the Epcot resorts? How have I never been to the Boardwalk before? Why is it that in all these years I never thought to use the back entrance to the park even though I knew it was there? Why have I never been on Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom before? I guess we just go so often that we are stuck in a rut. We go on the same rides, eat at the same restaurants, and use the same modes of Disney transportation every time we go. It was so much fun to find new things.


The Boardwalk at night






Last night we went to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I had never been to it before, and I really enjoyed it. The park closed down for everyone except those with a special ticket just for the party. People dressed up in costumes, they had trick or treating all over the park, there was a special Halloween parade and firework show, and the smaller crowd meant smaller lines on the rides. Several in our group dressed up...

I went as a pirate of course (Look, I swiped the flip flops off an unsuspecting tourist while searching for the fountain of youth, ok?).









My BIL and his nephew went as Lord Vader and Anakin Skywalker.

We literally could not stop for more than 5 seconds without a line forming to get autographs and pictures with Darth Vader. Everywhere we went there were dropped jaws, ooohs, ahhhs, and other various comments from people in awe of him. When we got on the boat at the campground to go the the Magic Kingdom, nearly everyone on the boat applauded. The rest of us may as well have just worn shirts saying, "I'm with Vader." Thankfully, it was a very cool evening. Otherwise he probably would have passed out in there. As it was he said it was very hot. I found the weather to be just right for my pirate costume.

My nephew went as Buzz Lightyear and my niece as the cutest little lamb ever. For my nephew, meeting the "real" Buzz Lightyear was the highlight of the trip.




It was a great trip, and I'm really looking forward to going again (though I'm not sure when that will be yet). However, it will be nice to sleep in my own bed tonight, and I'm actually looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. Well see if I still feel the same way next Monday, but for now it is nice to know that I have a reason to get out of bed and get dressed in the morning.