Noon Bash in Nash

I went to a Nashville Sounds game Wednesday afternoon with the Treasury Department from Acceptance (there were 8 people including me).  We had a lot of fun.  The Sounds won and the BBQ nachos were excellent.

Final Thoughts - A Short Disney Recap

I don't know why going to Disney World was so important to me.  Some people aspire to do great things.  I just wanted to go to Disney World with my family.  There are a million other vacation spots.  I'm not a Disney fanatic per se.  It's pricey.  Everyone does it.  But it's still something I have been wanting to do for a long time.  (We've been before, a day here and there, but not a full-on Disney vacation.  And not since Lilly was born.)

I am embarrassed to admit this but I went through major withdrawal the first few weeks we were back.  (Is post-Disney depression a thing?)

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I am so proud of Ellen and Lilly!  Disney World can break you if you let it.  All of the walking and the waiting.  The heat.  The crowds.  It's a lot to deal with.  And Lilly didn't nap all week.  She hung in there like a champ.  We had our moments but no major incidents occurred.  Well done, family!

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Staying on Disney property was expensive but I think it was worth it.  The resort was beautiful (the room itself was just okay but the overall experience was great).  The girls loved the pool.  I am glad we chose to do the meal plan but we did not get our money's worth.  This had nothing to do with the plan itself - it was totally our fault (we will know better next time).  And this is just my opinion, but I think one or two character meals would have been plenty.

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Park Favorites:

Magic Kingdom - It's a Small World, Haunted Mansion, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, The Barnstormer

Hollywood Studios - Toy Story Mania!, Frozen Sing-Along, Star Tours, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Muppet*Vision 3D

Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest, It's Tough to be a Bug!, Festival of the Lion King

Epcot - Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space, Soarin'

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A not-so-fun fact: motion sickness got the best of me on Space Mountain, the very first ride we rode.  I knew then and there I was not going to be able to go on certain rides.  But don't worry, I did not let that spoil the fun :)

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Favorite Characters:

Lilly loved Goofy and Pluto.  Who knew?

Ellen liked Tinkerbell and Donald Duck the best.

Phillip enjoyed seeing Chewbacca.

Merida was one of my favorites.  She had a lot of spunk.

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Memorable Moments:

Ellen's made-up jingle - "Mickey's eating a cinnamon roll..."

Lilly's reaction to the characters at Chef Mickey's, our first character meal.

Lunch at The Plaza Restaurant.

Lilly crying at the end of almost every ride because she didn't want it to be over.  Besides DINOSAUR (in Animal Kingdom).  She did not like that one.  Ellen was hesitant to go on certain rides but the same cannot be said for Lilly.  She was up for anything - the faster the better.

Lilly singing at the Frozen Sing-Along.  (It was really a great show.)

The girls playing in the pool.  Ellen is a little fish and Lilly loved that water slide!

Lilly, come get in the stroller.
Nah.  My shoes walk fast.

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Special thanks to Laurie for introducing us the the delicious Dole whip float.  Yum x 1000.

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Ellen and Lilly got out their princess castles and dolls the day after we got back.  I guess they were feeling inspired.

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We are already planning our next trip :)

Goodbye Disney World, Hello Lakeland!

All good things must come to an end.  Including Disney vacations.  But fortunately for us, our time in Florida wasn't quite over yet.

After a morning of eating (we ate breakfast and lunch at the resort - trying to use up all of those meals!), packing and souvenir shopping we were finally ready to load up and head to Lakeland to visit Hannah, Michael, Wesley, Anna Kate, Carigan and Tate.  The girls were so excited to see their friends again.  Both Ellen and Lilly said Epcot was their favorite park and I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Wes, Anna Kate, Carigan and Tate :)

After hanging out at the house for a while we went on a walking tour of downtown Lakeland.  We had Palace Pizza for dinner.  Yes, I was starving, but I really think it may have been the best pizza I have ever eaten.  We fed the swans before getting the kids ready for bed.  Ellen and Lilly slept in Anna Kate and Carigan's room (sleepover!) and Laurie slept in Wesley's room (he graciously gave up his bed for the night).  Phillip and I stayed in the cottage behind the house.

It was an all around great day.

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Ellen stopped to pose with this pretty lady on our way to the car


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About an hour later...

Tate!

Michael and Hannah live in a beautiful home on Lake Morton.  It was built in 1900 and has an amazing history.  I love the view out of their front door.

My girls were arguing so much that Carigan had to put on earmuffs :)

 I think this would have killed me

Thank you Roger's Family for being such great hosts!  I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself into your world, even if only for a short time.

[I did not take one single picture of Hannah.  I can't believe it.  I am so upset!  I knew I looked rough (I was so hot) so I never passed my phone to Michael when he was taking pictures of the two of us.  Now I really wish I had!  Sorry, Hannah!]

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We left Lakeland at 9:00 Sunday morning.  The girls watched several Disney movies on our way home, which is only fitting :)

Pit stop

Ellen eventually got comfortable enough to fall asleep although she tried to deny it ever happened.

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Next Up:  Disney Recap (you knew it was coming)

Disney World 2016: Day 7 - Epcot

Friday, May 27th

By Friday we were all running on fumes.  Laurie was still not feeling well so she decided to stay at the resort.  Phillip was mourning the loss of his phone and hadn't slept well the night before.  Things were not looking good.  It took a few hours for us to really get in the groove.  Hannah and her family saved us.  I don't think our day really got started until they arrived around 4:30 p.m. :)

At Epcot we rode/experienced:  Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, World Showcase (I really would have liked to explore the countries more), Mission: SPACE, Test Track, Innoventions, Club Cool, Journey into Imagination with Figment, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Gran Fiesta Tour and Soarin'.  We missed out on Living with the Land, one of Michael's favorites.

Hello there little birdie

Bubbles

Look alive, Belle.  Look alive.

*We met Belle right before being seated and Snow White, Ariel, Cinderella and Aurora visited our table while we ate.  I tried to salvage the princess pictures but they just didn't turn out very well.*

Circle of like

Lady and the Tramp

Jasmine and Aladdin were so personable!  I think they might have been my favorite in terms of how well they interacted with people (it made it worth the wait).  Lilly wanted to know why Aladdin was wearing a shirt.  Hasn't he seen the movie? :)

Pluto

The girls really liked designing their own car

Taste testing at the Cool Spot

Anna Kate, Michael, Tate, Carigan, Lilly, Ellen and Wesley

 The girls

Ellen and Anna Kate

Hannah, Carigan, Tate, Lilly and I went on Ellen's Energy Adventure while everyone else rode Test Track (the second time for Phillip and Ellen)

We split up for a bit so they could ride Mission: SPACE and we could grab dinner.  We ate in Mexico where we also went on a boat cruise.

We missed Illuminations to ride Soarin'

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Next Up:  More Florida Fun!