There is Always a Reason to Smile

Matt and I cannot get over how happy Evy is all the time. ALL.THE.TIME! She is always smiling and skipping and it's truly rare to find her unhappy (unles she hurts herself or Charlie takes something that belongs to her). Her smile is infecitous and I hope she never loses her love of life! 

Young Author's Competition

Charlie wanted to write a story and submit it for the young authors competition at his school. He wrote a book about an old man that turned into a wolf on Halloween. You had to include an illustration with your story and this was Charlie's drawing - I am in awe of his artistic talent! 

Creeper Ring

We have finally mastered the 3D printer and today Charlie printed a Minecraft Creeper ring! I cannot wait to see where his imagination takes him!

Hollywood Studios

Last day and if you ask Matt - best day! Today is our last day in Disney World and the warmest, which is a great way to end the trip. Today is Hollywood Studios day, which I have been looking forward to because I knew the kids would love Tower of Terror and they did.

Our first stop at Hollywood Studios was Tower of Terror because we had fastpasses. The ride did not disappoint and both Charlie and Evy loved the drops. My mom and dad sat this one out, so they did not use their fastpasses and who wants to waste those! Charlie and Matt hit it up one more time and it is now Charlie's favorite ride. After Tower of Terror we stopped for a Star Wars show before heading to the new Star Wars ride, which is probably Matt's favorite ride. Once we complted those rides we were off to visit the Disney Junior part of the park where Evy and Charlie were able to meet Pluto, Jake, Sofia and Doc. Once we made it through the characters it was time for our last dinner at The Brown Derby. It was a delicious meal and the perfect way to end our Disney trip. Thanks Nana and Pops for an amazing adventure. Time to head home

(evy's new minnie ears and ariel)

(charlie on the star wars ride)

(tower of terror)

(charlie and I on the top left)

(matt and charlie second row on the right)

 (evy and doc)

(evy and jake)

(charlie meeting pluto - again)

(evy and charlie meeting pluto)

(evy and sofia)

(our last park on our last night)

Magic Kingdom - ONE MORE TIME!

Today was a day fit for a princess. We could not get a reservation for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo Boutique (ask Evy to say it, it's adorable!), so we made a reservation at the Grand Floridian where they also do princess make-overs. Once Evy was transformed into a princess we grabbed lunch and headed back to the Magic Kingdom. We got to ride Winnie the Pooh, Snow White roller coaster, It's a Small World, The Haunted Mansion and Dumbo before heading to dinner with Cinderella at the Castle. Yep...we ate dinner in the castle!

Throughout dinner, Evy and Charlie were able to meet 4 different princesses and get their autographs. Evy was thrilled and Charlie was super excited about getting autographs. We had a late dinner, so we didn't leave the park until 9:30 pm. It was a late night, but so magical!

(getting ready for the ball)

(this is getting serious)

(here she is...)

(princess of park ridge)

(princess Evy)

(time to head into the park one last time)

(don't we look excited)

(look who they found!) 

(family photo op)

(cutest ever)

(last day, best day - so much fun ahead)

(the kid's interpretation of the haunted mansion)

(loving disney and each other)

(one of charlie's new favorite rides)

(evy was having a real good time)

(some people are more scared than others...)

(waiting for dumbo)

(the whole family on dumbo for evy's first ride)

(evy's first dumbo ride completed)

(while we waited to sit for dinner in the castle we explored)

(evy was checking out the parade crowd)

(daddy and evy)

(evy was sad she wasn't going to meet the step sisters)

(how magical!)

(finally we meet cinderella)

(cupcakes at the castle)

(snow white!) 

(sleeping beauty)

(jasmine)

(rapunzel)

(long day and time for bed)

Animal Kingdom Quick Trip

Today was probably the warmest day of our trip - maybe 56 degrees (in the sun). Matt was determined to get in a round of golf so he headed out with my dad in the morning and my mom and I took the kids to Animal Kingdom. We are brave!

We got to animal kingdom before lunch. Our first stop was the Bug Life show, which the kids thought was hysterical! After that we grabbed lunch while we waited for our next fastpass time. Our next stop was the African Safari, which was lots of fun. We were able to see so many animals up close and Charlie took quite a few photos. After the safari we had our next fastpass for the Avatar ride, the other nearly impossible fastpass to score. While we were waiting in line to use our fastpass the general admission line wait was over 4 hours! People really want to be on this ride and I understand why - it's a 3D ride and you feel like you are actually riding a banshee. It was pretty impressive. Unforutnatley, Evy was just slightly too short for the ride, but Nana got her some cotton candy to heal her wounds . It worked! Once we finished Avatar we headed out and met my dad and Matt at Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs for what ended up being a delicious dinner. Two more parks to go!

(the dinosaur ride) 

(the tree of life) 

(the tree of life a little closer)

(waiting for the safari with hot cocoa)

(charlie dobry original photo)

Charlie took my camera during the safari and all of the pictures are his, he did a great job!

(this giraffe was REAL close) 

(just walking past)

(baby elephants)

(having a quick drink)

(pack of rhinos)

(and some strange guy whose name I cannot remember!)

(lioness and lion)

(next to pandora - the world of avatar)

(dinner with R-2)