Disney World 2011

We have so many pictures from this trip, that it deserves it's own posting. Kevin had business in Orlando, so we decided now was the time to take Sarah and Nathan. Luke stayed with Nannie and Grandpa in Houston (and got sick, of course), and the rest of us flew to sunny Florida. The weather was great, it was in the 70s and low 80s and there were barely any lines. Sarah missed a couple of days of school before the Christmas break, but it was well worth it. We also went to Mickey's A Very Merry Christmas. It's not cheap, but friends kept telling us to go, and I read on one of the many blogs about Disney World to go the first evening you arrive in Orlando, so all you are paying for is the special event and not the regular park entrance fees. So that's what we did. We got to our hotel around lunchtime, rested and then headed out to the park. It was so worth it! Barely any lines, snow on Main Street, the lighting of the castle, which only lights up like that at these special events, free cocoa and cookies...it was awesome! We can't wait to go back when Luke is tall enough.

We were also very proud of Sarah and Nathan. They rode just about everything - Space Mountain, Dinosaurs, etc. The only one Nathan didn't ride was Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom, and that's because we saw the making of it on TV, and he knew there was a mechanical Yeti, which Sarah and I didn't even see! Sarah thought that was the scariest ride by far because it goes backwards.

Checking into the hotel!

Notice Kevin chose not to ride the tea cups...past bad experience, perhaps?

Big deal - Nate took his first picture with a costumed character!

Heading home through the snow

Their official drivers' licenses

Luckily, the kids only wanted to wait to meet a few characters

Sub-zero ice sculpture exhibition at our hotel.

Ice slides!

Nativity scene

Playing in the snow

The kids and me

Red carpet premiere of Puss 'n Boots 3D

Eating at the Dinosaur Cafe at the Disney Boardwalk

Very cool Lego art outside of the Lego store

Character Lunch at Animal Kingdom (highly recommend these)

I decided that I would let them get wet!

Tree of Life

  

We visited Walt Disney's master planned community, Celebration Florida, where people really live.

Ice cream!