Day 7: Animal Kingdom... is SO much better than I expected! I don't know what I thought, but there was some really cool stuff there.
We weren't in a hurry to get there, so we didn't arrive until almost 10am. Still, the crowd was not bad at all. As soon as we got in, we ran into a Caribbean/Reggae-type group performing in the street. They were playing some awesome music and had drums and rhythm sticks for all the kids to join in on. So fun.
Then, we made our way into "It's Tough to Be a Bug." It's a 4D presentation in a theater hosted by some of the bugs from Bug's Life. I didn't know what it would be, but it was great! Let's just say that you feel/hear/see/smell some unexpected things in there! :) The African safari ride was awesome, too. We got to see some beautiful animals and (if you could ignore the cheesy radio broadcasts about looking out for animal poachers) you really did feel like you were in another place.
We saw some really good things that day but, by far, the highlight of the day was "Nemo: The Musical." I can't believe we almost skipped this! It is a 40 minute, real musical - totally Broadway quality. Seriously. The singing was great and the effects and scenery were gorgeous. Reid was riveted the entire time.
We were planning on heading to the Dinoland section after the musical but... when we came out, it was really raining! There were people scrambling all over the place. We had ponchos and umbrellas so we were prepared, thank goodness. The park was only going to be open for another hour anyway so it wasn't too big of a deal, but it did ruin our plans of seeing the fireworks and Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom later that night. That was kind of a bummer.
In the end it all worked out, though, because Reid fell asleep before dinner and was quite cranky when I had to wake him up. The rain came down all evening so we just chilled at the condo. All in all, we were really happy about how everything went - we had awesome weather up until the last afternoon so we can't complain!
Days 8 & 9: Friday (day 8) was our day to begin traveling back to SC. We were in no hurry and I HAD to make time to visit the outlets. It is not a vacation to me if I don't have some outlet shopping (even though I live within an hour of two different outlets here, but I digress).
Ross' mom and I shopped for a few hours while Ross took Reid to Monkey Joe's. (Yay for Monkey Joe's!) Then we drove the hour back to Sumterville to drop Grandma off, and we were on our way back north.
We didn't plan on driving all the way back in one day so we stopped in Tifton, Georgia for the night. We used one of those coupon booklets from the rest stop to figure out where to stay, which I have never done. I figured that nobody really uses those. Correction: nobody our age uses those. When I walked in to check in, there was a line of old folks a mile long, all clutching their coupons. Don't get me wrong - I love a good coupon and am not ashamed to say so - but these people were laughable. It was just too funny. :) I won't even get into the complimentary buffet breakfast the next morning. There's nothing like wrestling somebody's granny for the last waffle!
After the above-mentioned breakfast, we were on the road again. We made it back to Greenville in about 5 1/2 hours, which isn't too bad. It was a great trip, but we are glad to be back home!
(Oh, and I should mention that we ended up trying the roofbag again on the trip home and it worked just fine. We just had to fill it up all the way so it could be secured tightly enough not to slide off. It was nice to be able to ride in a not-so-full car...)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Disney or Bust: Day 6
Day 6: Magic Kingdom...
Of course, the Magic Kingdom was great. (Isn't it illegal to say otherwise?) Seriously, we had a great day, but missed out on some of the more fun rides because Reid is 39 1/2" tall - not 40" - which is the cutoff for several good ones. And, I know they have rider swap, but that's not really our style. I wanted this trip to be about him, not us.
We had a very full day, though. Some of the highlights were the Barnstormer coaster in the kiddie area, the carousel, the teacups, the Buzz Lightyear ride where you shoot the aliens (whatever it was called), and of course all the rides that that lift you up and go around in circles (i.e. Dumbo, the rockets in Tomorrowland, etc.). Reid likes the fast rides but is really not a fan of anything that rides around in the dark, like Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Winnie the Pooh. We didn't even try It's a Small World after all that. :) I am already looking forward to our next trip when we can really do all the fun stuff...
Somehow, though, we managed to spend 8 hours there yesterday. The crowds were pretty low so we finally got to the point where we felt like we had done all we could and didn't have the energy to hop over to another park. We ended up having dinner outside the park and Reid passed out in the car on the way home. He was pooped and, frankly, so were we. :)
Of course, the Magic Kingdom was great. (Isn't it illegal to say otherwise?) Seriously, we had a great day, but missed out on some of the more fun rides because Reid is 39 1/2" tall - not 40" - which is the cutoff for several good ones. And, I know they have rider swap, but that's not really our style. I wanted this trip to be about him, not us.
We had a very full day, though. Some of the highlights were the Barnstormer coaster in the kiddie area, the carousel, the teacups, the Buzz Lightyear ride where you shoot the aliens (whatever it was called), and of course all the rides that that lift you up and go around in circles (i.e. Dumbo, the rockets in Tomorrowland, etc.). Reid likes the fast rides but is really not a fan of anything that rides around in the dark, like Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Winnie the Pooh. We didn't even try It's a Small World after all that. :) I am already looking forward to our next trip when we can really do all the fun stuff...
Somehow, though, we managed to spend 8 hours there yesterday. The crowds were pretty low so we finally got to the point where we felt like we had done all we could and didn't have the energy to hop over to another park. We ended up having dinner outside the park and Reid passed out in the car on the way home. He was pooped and, frankly, so were we. :)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Disney or Bust: Day 5
Day 5: Hollywood Studios and Epcot...
We had a great first "Disney" day! The day started with our character breakfast with some of the Little Einsteins and Jojo and Goliath from Jojo's Circus. It was at the Hollywood & Vine Diner. Now, some folks might opt for a meal with someone like Mickey or Minnie but I know my kid, and Little Einsteins are currently #1 in our book. Reid did a great job talking to the characters and was really excited to see Leo and June. We got some great pics (which I promise to post as soon as we get home - I just am too lazy to do it here).
After our HUGE buffet breakfast, we spent pretty much all of the day at Hollywood Studios. The new Toy Story ride is great - you ride through and shoot at things in 3D, like you are part of a video game - and was by far the most popular ride there. We rode it first and then got a FastPass for later, which was a good thing because the lines just longer as the day went on. We saw Lightning and Mater, the Muppets in 3D (which Reid was amazed by), among other fun things. One of the best things was Playhouse Disney Live on Stage - it was fun to see all the other parents singing along to the theme songs... this is how I know other kids watch as much TV as mine does.
The parade was okay but the timing during the day does not jive with Reid's peppiness-schedule, so he was kind of cranky. One of the dancing chicks came over to him to try and get him to join in and he just waved at her in a very "talk to the hand" fashion. She looked stunned for a minute, which was entertaining. :)
We bailed on that before the parade finished and decided to hit Epcot for the rest of the day. We got there at the perfect time, because we happened upon the Epcot Character Spot when ALL the good characters were doing photos. In just 45 minutes or so, we pretty much saw all the characters we needed to see so we don't need to worry about that for the rest of the trip. Yay! Reid was great with these characters, too, I think because he was sooooo tired by this point. He got his second (or third) wind by this point though, so we saw the Nemo and Crush activities before we had dinner and called it a day.
It was an awesome day. We are looking forward to the Magic Kingdom tomorrow!
We had a great first "Disney" day! The day started with our character breakfast with some of the Little Einsteins and Jojo and Goliath from Jojo's Circus. It was at the Hollywood & Vine Diner. Now, some folks might opt for a meal with someone like Mickey or Minnie but I know my kid, and Little Einsteins are currently #1 in our book. Reid did a great job talking to the characters and was really excited to see Leo and June. We got some great pics (which I promise to post as soon as we get home - I just am too lazy to do it here).
After our HUGE buffet breakfast, we spent pretty much all of the day at Hollywood Studios. The new Toy Story ride is great - you ride through and shoot at things in 3D, like you are part of a video game - and was by far the most popular ride there. We rode it first and then got a FastPass for later, which was a good thing because the lines just longer as the day went on. We saw Lightning and Mater, the Muppets in 3D (which Reid was amazed by), among other fun things. One of the best things was Playhouse Disney Live on Stage - it was fun to see all the other parents singing along to the theme songs... this is how I know other kids watch as much TV as mine does.
The parade was okay but the timing during the day does not jive with Reid's peppiness-schedule, so he was kind of cranky. One of the dancing chicks came over to him to try and get him to join in and he just waved at her in a very "talk to the hand" fashion. She looked stunned for a minute, which was entertaining. :)
We bailed on that before the parade finished and decided to hit Epcot for the rest of the day. We got there at the perfect time, because we happened upon the Epcot Character Spot when ALL the good characters were doing photos. In just 45 minutes or so, we pretty much saw all the characters we needed to see so we don't need to worry about that for the rest of the trip. Yay! Reid was great with these characters, too, I think because he was sooooo tired by this point. He got his second (or third) wind by this point though, so we saw the Nemo and Crush activities before we had dinner and called it a day.
It was an awesome day. We are looking forward to the Magic Kingdom tomorrow!
Disney or Bust: Day 4
Day 4: Our first full day in Orlando! We actually decided to go to Sea World first, before tackling Disney the rest of the week. Grandma and Grandpa drove in and joined us for the whole day.
Sea World is literally right across the street from our resort so getting there was super easy. We started the day at about 9:30 and did not leave until 5-ish (much later than I thought Reid would last). We saw the entire park, including the Shamu show and another show with two sea lions named Clyde & Seamore. Don't get me wrong - Shamu was great. But Clyde & Seamore were hilarious! It's basically a very cheesy play with some bungling pirates, two sea lions, and a mischievous otter. You have got to see this show if you get the chance...
We ended the day at Sea World in Shamu's Happy Harbor, which is the kids area. There were some really fun rides. Reid got to take his first roller coaster ride (and his second, third, and fourth) and, among other things, rode a big crab ride that takes you up in the air and drops you, then up and down and up and down some more. He loved it! So far, he has shown no fear on any of the rides.
After some down time at the condo, we grabbed a bite to eat at Downtown Disney and then came home for some rest. Tomorrow morning - breakfast with the Little Einsteins!
Sea World is literally right across the street from our resort so getting there was super easy. We started the day at about 9:30 and did not leave until 5-ish (much later than I thought Reid would last). We saw the entire park, including the Shamu show and another show with two sea lions named Clyde & Seamore. Don't get me wrong - Shamu was great. But Clyde & Seamore were hilarious! It's basically a very cheesy play with some bungling pirates, two sea lions, and a mischievous otter. You have got to see this show if you get the chance...
We ended the day at Sea World in Shamu's Happy Harbor, which is the kids area. There were some really fun rides. Reid got to take his first roller coaster ride (and his second, third, and fourth) and, among other things, rode a big crab ride that takes you up in the air and drops you, then up and down and up and down some more. He loved it! So far, he has shown no fear on any of the rides.
After some down time at the condo, we grabbed a bite to eat at Downtown Disney and then came home for some rest. Tomorrow morning - breakfast with the Little Einsteins!
Disney or Bust: Days 1, 2, & 3
So, we headed out on our much-anticipated trip to Orlando on Friday evening after Ross got off work. Since it is about 9 hours and Reid is still working on potty-training, we decided to make some stops along the way.
Day 1: Friday night we drove about 2 1/2 hours to somewhere south of Atlanta. We got a decent room at a Sleep Inn so we could get a good night's sleep before the long drive the next day. It went great and was fairly uneventful. Plus, compared to our drives to Bama these days, that trip was a piece of cake.
Day 2: We got up and enjoyed a lovely continental breakfast. :) We got on the road early and started the drive down I-75. Boy, that road is long and boring. However, it wasn't so boring for the folks at a Starbucks somewhere in south Georgia that got to watch us completely dismantle the rooftop car bag in their parking lot - because it was threatening to slide off the side of the car. Oh... yay.
The thing is new and had worked well on the first leg of the trip. But it had rained just a little overnight and apparently the nonslip mat under it decided to slip (um, hello?) from the wetness. So, rather than fight with the stupid thing every few hours and risk causing some major interstate incident, we decided to scrap it and put it all in the car. So... our slightly full car went to WAY too full just like that. And I got a big ole' coffee following the drama of it all.
We finally got to pit stop #2 Saturday afternoon, which was lovely Sumterville, Florida. It is a little in the middle of nowhere (sorry!), but the in-laws live there so we stopped to visit. We got to see the new place on the golf course and stayed this time in a Microtel.
It was a decent place, too, but apparently has some bedding with down in it. Down does not agree with Reid at all, as we are learning. All three of us spent that night up and down, doing breathing treatments, sitting in the steamy bathroom, stripping the bed linens, etc. Of course, the next day he ended up being perfectly fine but it was a long, long night.
Day 3: We started the day by visiting Grandma and Grandpa again. Reid has discovered a new love - playing "pick up the golf ball" with Grandpa's ball picker-upper thingy. He probably did this 50 times at least. We also got to see the local alligators sunning by the pond on the golf course (which is kind of creepy, if you ask me). After a yummy lunch, we headed off for the hour-long drive to Orlando to check in to the resort.
Let me just give a shout out to the Hilton Grand Vacations Resort at Sea World. We got here right at the earliest check-in time. Not only did a concierge meet us at the car, but he was awesome and there was no line. We were in and out in 5 minutes. So much smoother than some comparable places we have been. Our condo is awesome - so comfy and cozy and roomy. Oh, and we got to take a dip in the pool, too - on January 25th. :) So far, so good!
Day 1: Friday night we drove about 2 1/2 hours to somewhere south of Atlanta. We got a decent room at a Sleep Inn so we could get a good night's sleep before the long drive the next day. It went great and was fairly uneventful. Plus, compared to our drives to Bama these days, that trip was a piece of cake.
Day 2: We got up and enjoyed a lovely continental breakfast. :) We got on the road early and started the drive down I-75. Boy, that road is long and boring. However, it wasn't so boring for the folks at a Starbucks somewhere in south Georgia that got to watch us completely dismantle the rooftop car bag in their parking lot - because it was threatening to slide off the side of the car. Oh... yay.
The thing is new and had worked well on the first leg of the trip. But it had rained just a little overnight and apparently the nonslip mat under it decided to slip (um, hello?) from the wetness. So, rather than fight with the stupid thing every few hours and risk causing some major interstate incident, we decided to scrap it and put it all in the car. So... our slightly full car went to WAY too full just like that. And I got a big ole' coffee following the drama of it all.
We finally got to pit stop #2 Saturday afternoon, which was lovely Sumterville, Florida. It is a little in the middle of nowhere (sorry!), but the in-laws live there so we stopped to visit. We got to see the new place on the golf course and stayed this time in a Microtel.
It was a decent place, too, but apparently has some bedding with down in it. Down does not agree with Reid at all, as we are learning. All three of us spent that night up and down, doing breathing treatments, sitting in the steamy bathroom, stripping the bed linens, etc. Of course, the next day he ended up being perfectly fine but it was a long, long night.
Day 3: We started the day by visiting Grandma and Grandpa again. Reid has discovered a new love - playing "pick up the golf ball" with Grandpa's ball picker-upper thingy. He probably did this 50 times at least. We also got to see the local alligators sunning by the pond on the golf course (which is kind of creepy, if you ask me). After a yummy lunch, we headed off for the hour-long drive to Orlando to check in to the resort.
Let me just give a shout out to the Hilton Grand Vacations Resort at Sea World. We got here right at the earliest check-in time. Not only did a concierge meet us at the car, but he was awesome and there was no line. We were in and out in 5 minutes. So much smoother than some comparable places we have been. Our condo is awesome - so comfy and cozy and roomy. Oh, and we got to take a dip in the pool, too - on January 25th. :) So far, so good!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Christmas in Alabama
The week after Christmas, we headed to Alabama to see the rest of the fam. I didn't get to see everyone but we saw my mom and Granny, which are the ones that matter (since they will both hunt you down if you don't visit often enough). :)
I am in LOVE with this picture. It was taken next to the pond on my grandparents farm. It looks so serene and beautiful and dignified... looks can be so deceiving.
See? I took this picture just a few minutes later. The cow (I can't remember if this is Bobbi or Whitney) just kept mooing at us because she wanted to eat, and eat now! I just thought it was hilarious that I could walk right up to her and take a picture with her staring dead at me. She was not amused.
Reid had so much fun that day - playing on the tire swing, chasing the boat around the pond, roasting marshmallows in the fire with his cousins.
And we finally got around to putting together that ginger bread house that I bought like two weeks prior. All Reid wanted to do was eat the "chimneys" (aka gumdrops).
I got to see my girl Sunshine - yay! This was taken right after we got locked inside Bath & Body Works (hey, it was after-Christmas clearance) - which was when Reid decided to take off running outside, leading Ross to chase after him. This scene caused some alarm to the security guard, who then came over to quiz Reid about where his mommy was and what she was wearing. Never mind that Reid looks like Ross' version of Mini Me. Ross was not amused, but I sure was! At least the guy tried to do his job...
I am in LOVE with this picture. It was taken next to the pond on my grandparents farm. It looks so serene and beautiful and dignified... looks can be so deceiving. See? I took this picture just a few minutes later. The cow (I can't remember if this is Bobbi or Whitney) just kept mooing at us because she wanted to eat, and eat now! I just thought it was hilarious that I could walk right up to her and take a picture with her staring dead at me. She was not amused.
Reid had so much fun that day - playing on the tire swing, chasing the boat around the pond, roasting marshmallows in the fire with his cousins. Oh yeah, and herding chickens. I kid you not. Reid decided to try and herd the chickens by screaming at them at the top of his lungs. You must watch the video to fully appreciate this - seriously. :)
And we finally got around to putting together that ginger bread house that I bought like two weeks prior. All Reid wanted to do was eat the "chimneys" (aka gumdrops).
I got to see my girl Sunshine - yay! This was taken right after we got locked inside Bath & Body Works (hey, it was after-Christmas clearance) - which was when Reid decided to take off running outside, leading Ross to chase after him. This scene caused some alarm to the security guard, who then came over to quiz Reid about where his mommy was and what she was wearing. Never mind that Reid looks like Ross' version of Mini Me. Ross was not amused, but I sure was! At least the guy tried to do his job...Good times - Happy New Year!
Our First Christmas Morning at Home Together
We stayed in Greenville this year for Christmas, which made it the first time we have woken up in our home on Christmas morning. Also, the first time in my 31 years that I have not had Christmas breakfast at my grandparents' house with my ENTIRE family. Needless to say, it was much quieter here.
After the gifts were opened, we had a big breakfast that included biscuits and chocolate gravy - which is part of what my Granny makes very year in Alabama. Of course, the Weavers celebrate with a Christmas dinner, so we also had a huge dinner, too, with brisket and all that goes along with it. Yum! (And now Ross and I are hitting the gym... )
Christmas Eve Day: Reid mixing up some "reindeer food" to sprinkle in our yard before he went to bed.
Ross' parents drove up to spend Christmas with us. Here's grandpa helping to stir the reindeer food.
The view after Santa came. Don't worry, there's lots of loot inside the tent.
Opening gifts on Christmas morning. I could post more pics of this but, you know, they all look pretty much like this. :)
After the gifts were opened, we had a big breakfast that included biscuits and chocolate gravy - which is part of what my Granny makes very year in Alabama. Of course, the Weavers celebrate with a Christmas dinner, so we also had a huge dinner, too, with brisket and all that goes along with it. Yum! (And now Ross and I are hitting the gym... )
Christmas Eve Day: Reid mixing up some "reindeer food" to sprinkle in our yard before he went to bed.Ross' parents drove up to spend Christmas with us. Here's grandpa helping to stir the reindeer food.Reid left gingerbread cookies in the shape of airplanes and trains for Santa by the fireplace.
The view after Santa came. Don't worry, there's lots of loot inside the tent.
Opening gifts on Christmas morning. I could post more pics of this but, you know, they all look pretty much like this. :)Fast forward a week or two... Reid is not happy about taking the tree down and is protesting by having a sit-in in the tree bag.
Random December Highlights
So, I have some catching up to do on the blog. I know, I know. Here are some fun things that don't necessarily fit into any other category but deserve to be shared:
12/20/08 was declared "No More Diapers Day!" After several failed potty training attempts, I decided to make it a household holiday. Lots of build-up, a special breakfast of cinnamon rolls with a candle to blow out, and the ceremonial throwing away of the diapers. We have been diaper-free since, though not necessarily poop- and pee-free. You know how that goes... but so far, so good!
Reid and me at the crazy Christmas house in Mauldin. LOVE that place!
Bundled up to watch the Mauldin Christmas parade. It was C-O-L-D that day.
We had great seats right at the beginning of the route. (Notice the big jug of hot chocolate, too!)
Four Generations... my mom and Granny came to visit on the same weekend Santa came to our house for the party. Here were are at Falls Park.
12/20/08 was declared "No More Diapers Day!" After several failed potty training attempts, I decided to make it a household holiday. Lots of build-up, a special breakfast of cinnamon rolls with a candle to blow out, and the ceremonial throwing away of the diapers. We have been diaper-free since, though not necessarily poop- and pee-free. You know how that goes... but so far, so good! 
Reid and me at the crazy Christmas house in Mauldin. LOVE that place!
Bundled up to watch the Mauldin Christmas parade. It was C-O-L-D that day.
We had great seats right at the beginning of the route. (Notice the big jug of hot chocolate, too!)
Four Generations... my mom and Granny came to visit on the same weekend Santa came to our house for the party. Here were are at Falls Park.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
