Hollywood Studios

I have decided to post pictures by park. So, Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) is first. I really think that you need at least two days in each park to do everything you want to. We spent a day and half here and didn't get to everything.

Welcome to Hollywood Studios

The first ride we did was Star Tours. It was a simulated ride and one of Joshua's favorites. He loves Star Wars. We could not get Kate to join us, although I think she really would have liked it if she would have given it a try....... it really is tame enough for small children. Here is CP3O working for a galactic travel agency. So fun!

This was one of the boys most favorite shows....Indiana Jones stunt show. We were lucky to get in because it was standing room only. Kate had her ears covered the whole time. It was really loud and you could feel the heat coming from the flames. Totally a boy thing.

This is more my speed. We didn't catch the show which Cary was really happy about, but we did get a glimpse of it as they traveled down Hollywood Boulevard. I love High School Musical!!

This is a must see if you ever go to Hollywood Studios, even Cary enjoyed it. All of the actors were so good. Beauty and the Beast is another of my favorites.

Joshua enjoying a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. If you look in the distance you can see The Hollywood Tower of Terror. It takes you up 157 feet and then drops 13 stories several times. Braeden and Joshua loved this ride. Josh said it really wasn't that scary. I have to disagree with him. Riding it once was enough for me.

This is also a must see show. Every night before park closing they have Fantasmic. It was so cool! I think it was my favorite night time show we saw. A lot of the Disney characters are in this show along with fireworks, lasers, and fountains. It's about Mickey's dream and then it turns into a nightmare....and then of course there is a happily ever after. It was amazing!

Some of our other favorites were the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, and the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. There was so much more to do. Next time we will definitely catch the Muppet 3D show and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

Vacation Home

We decided not to stay at a Disney Resort and I wasn't sure if that was a good idea. I let Cary do all the planning and he found a vacation home that was close to Disney. I still was't sure if I would like that idea but I trusted him and I am glad I did. It was fabulous. We had a four bedroom home with 3 bathrooms and it had a pool in the back yard. My biggest concern was how clean it would be because I have a huge germ phobia. It is so hard for me to stay in hotels and unfamiliar places because I tend to only think about what is crawling all over the place. When we walked into this place I was pleasently surprised. It was so clean and I could smell the bleach that had been used to clean the home so that put me at ease. It was so nice to have a place of our own and to not have to worry about our kids being to loud. We loved it so much!! We would break up our days and come back to the house to let the kids swim and relax and then go back to the parks when we were refreshed. It was wonderful! I would definitely recommend this place!

Road Trip

It was a long 18 hour drive to Disney World. I had really low expectations of the whole drive. I expected to be grumpy and annoyed with my children the whole entire time. Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. My kids were actually quite good. They had there moments, but over all it went really well. Here are some of the highlights form our very long drive:

It was literally raining bugs at one point while we were driving through Louisiana. It was so disgusting. I have never seen so many bugs hit the wind shield at the same time before. They were every where. We got out for a bathroom break and there were swarms of these black bugs. Joshua thought they were so cool because they had two heads........they were actually mating. All of them.......ewwww!!

I don't know where this was, but it was a really huge bridge. The kids were very excited about crossing it.

Joshua was very thrilled about crossing the Mississippi River. In class they had just finished talking about it so he really,really wanted me to take a picture.

Going through a cool tunnel....... I think this was in Mississippi. We couldn't figure out why there was a tunnel in the middle of the city. I would hate to be stuck in that thing or worse have an accident in there. What a nightmare!
Bored out of their minds!! Are we there yet? How much longer?

Destination: Walt Disney World

We're Back

We are home from Disney World, and we had so much fun! I didn't want to leave, but it is time to get back to reality. I took over 450 pictures....so in the next few days I will be posting some of the highlights of our trip. I promise not to post all 467 of them, although, I probably would if I could. Here is a sneak peak of what is to come:

Longest Week Ever!

We have been counting down the days to leave for Disney World and it's still not here! Two more days.....ugh! I am so ready to go. My week was filled with lots of things that I needed to do but it is still dragging by ever so slowly. I have more errands to run today and a camp meeting that I have to go to tonight and then the packing can begin tomorrow. Hip! Hip! Hooray! I don't know who is more excited...me or the kids. Probably Me!

10 More Days!!

We have been counting down for about 3 months and we now only have 10 more days until we leave for Walt Disney World. We are soooooo excited!!!!! Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!!!!

Josh and Kate

Joshua and Kate are 2 years and 9 months apart in their age. She's 4 1/2 and he's 7. They are only a few inches apart in height. Kate is very tall and Josh is...well, normal size. I have been asked several times if they are twins (hallelujah, they aren't). They love each other soooo much, but they also know how to get on each other's nerves. I am so grateful for the times they are loving each other and not picking at each other...because sometimes it seems that there is more picking then loving.

40 Years

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!

Love You!!!!

Book Tag

My wonderful friend Emily taggd me in a book tag....so here I go....

Book Tag rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)

2. Turn to page 123

3. Find the 5th sentence

4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog

5. Tag 5 people

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

"Just like a girl," said Edmund to himself, "sulking somewhere, and won't accept an apology."

I really can't seem to get into this book. I have had it by my bed for weeks and am only on page 31. I really want to read Eclipse by Stepahnie Meyer and The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I can't find either one.......Ugh! So until then maybe I can get through a few more pages of Narnia.

Frog Hunting

Now that it is spring, Kate is in frog heaven. She loves frogs. Everyday she goes outside into the backyard and looks in all the places she thinks they might be.....usually the longer grass, or behind the grill, or the corners of the yard. Once she finds one she doesn't want to let it go. I always convince her to let the frogs go back to their families, but not without her insisting that we can keep it in the bug catcher. She is such a funny girl....

Braeden's 10th B-Day

We went to Main Event for Braeden's Birthday. The kids got to play unlimited games and glow in the dark golf for as long as they wanted to. They had a blast. It was so nice because we went on a Monday Night and it wasn't busy at all. They really had free reign of the place. They ran from game to to game until they had there fill. We then went to Braeden's choice of Palio's Pizza for some delicious food and then back home to open presents and to have cake and ice cream. It was a very fun night and Braeden thought it was the best birthday ever!!

Double Digits

When Braeden was born he weighed 9lbs. and was 23 1/2 inches long. He had a very large head and a long, skinny body. He looked like an alien baby. I use to prop him up on my knees and bob him up and down to get him to sleep and then I would very carefully put him in his bed. When he was upset and would cry I would get really close to his ear and sing "We'll Bring the World His Truth" (Army of Helaman) and he would almost immediately stop crying. When he was little he loved when I would trace his face with my fingers over and over again. Today he is 10 years old....wow! Where does the time go. It seems like not very long ago that he was a baby snuggled up close to me.

He now weighs 85 lbs and is 5 feet tall. He still has a big head, but he no longer looks like an alien. He has grown into a very handsome young man!! He still loves to snuggle with me...... although its a little awkward now because he is so big. I will continue to let him though until he no longer wants to. He has grown into a very smart, athletic, loving and helpful boy...and he is an excellent big brother. We love Braeden soooooo very much!!! Happy Birthday Brother!!

3's About Me

Three jobs I have had in my life: cashier/bus girl at Pinocchio's Pizza, sales person at Mervyn's ( I know...not very exciting)....and most importantly a MOM

Three places I have lived: Germany, Saudi Arabia, Oklahoma

Three shows I watch: Survivor, American Idol, Biggest Loser

Three places I have been: The Netherlands (Holland), Bahrain, Missouri

Three people who email me regularly: Emily, my Mom, my sister Becka

Three of my favorite foods: oohh....so many...pizza, chips and salsa, chocolate

Three places I would rather be right now: no where...I love being home

Three things I am looking forward to this year: Trip to Disney World, Dad coming home from Kuwait in June, and seminary being over!!

Joshua's Bird

Across the street from our house are some vacant lots. Joshua and Braeden love to go explore in these lots. A few days ago Joshua came home and dragged me out there to show me something that was "so cool". He was exploring for crystals as usual, when he came across a bird. I didn't understand why this was so cool, until the bird moved. It has made a nest in a patch of clovers. It was sitting on four speckled eggs. We are anxiuolsy awaiting the baby birds. Hopefully they hatch before some other little creature finds them. We will keep you all posted...

?!What!?

When I was 12 years old I was in love with New Kids on the Block. Actually, my mom and my sisters would probably tell you I was obsessed with them. My room was covered in posters. They were the only thing I could talk about. Jordan was my favorite. I thought I was in love!

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I just read in an article that they will be appearing on the Today Show April 4. For a while now I have heard rumors of them reuniting. My thought is, "Are you kidding me?" I wish they wouldn't. It's been 20 years. (yes, I am that old...ugh!) I want to remember them how they use to be. I really don't want to see 40 somethings singing and dancing "Hangin' Tough" or my favorite, "I'll Be Loving You Forever". My memories will be tarnished forever.