Family Trip to Orlando - Part II: Epcot and Magic Kingdom

The next morning (Monday, February 13th), Wade, Karen, Missy and I got up early and headed to Epcot! Since Epcot is not really a "kid friendly" park we decided to leave the three little ones behind with Grandma and Papa. 

We got to the park about 30 minutes before it opened and when the gates officially opened we headed straight to "Future World West" where we went on Soarin' Around the World and Living with the Land.

I LOVE Soarin' Over California (in California Adventure) so I was beyond excited for Soarin' Around the World! The ride was so fun!

After those rides we went to "Future World East" where Wade, Karen, and Missy rode on Mission: SPACE and Test Track. Since I was not able to ride, due to the bundle of joy growing in my uterus, I babysat their backpacks.

After these rides we walked over to the "World Showcase" where all the countries are. While we were heading that way we saw these street actors that were part of the "Festival of the Arts".

After getting a few pictures we headed over to Canada where we bought a parmesan-truffle-wild mushroom risotto. I love truffles but the wild mushrooms were a little overwhelming so Karen ended up finishing it :-)

We then went to "O Canada!" which was a 15 minute film about Canada which is hosted by Martin Short! 

After Canada we walked to the United Kingdom where Missy and I (still hungry) split a platter of fish and chips! YUM!

After lunch we walked over to France where we watched "Impressions de France", a short film about France. I loved it! I kept saying, "Oh! I've been there!" or "Man, I should have gone there!" It just made me realize there is still so much to see!

Throughout the day Missy and I tried to teach Wade and Karen how to properly take a selfie and what a "photo bomb" is.

[Photo bomb!]

Before leaving France we went to Crepes des Chefs de France and got some authentic French crepes with ice cream! YUM!

We then walked to Morocco where we were drawn in by all the delicious food smells! We decided then that we would come back for dinner.

Our next stop was Japan!

[Selfie practice!]

[Success!]

We then wandered over to "The American Adventure" were were took power naps *cough* I mean, we watched a 30 film about the United States.

Next, we walked over to Italy! It was like being back in Venice! Only much, MUCH smaller!

And, of course, we got gelato! You can't go to Italy and not get gelato!

Our next stop was Germany where the four of us spilt a HUGE pretzel and a bratwurst. Delicious!

After our snack we walked over to China where we went to a 14 minute movie about the beautiful country. I added everything I saw to my bucket list!

After China we walked back to "The American Adventure" where we attended a short musical experience at the Gardens Theatre. I am so glad we went to this! The man who played Mufasa and the woman (I don't remember their names) who played Nala in Lion King on Broadway performed various Broadway hits. They were AMAZING!

After the show we walked back to Morocco where we got some gyros and hummus. YUM!

Then we walked to Norway where we got some delicious treats and then we went on the "Frozen Ever After" ride (thanks Missy for getting us Fast Passes!).

Our last country to visit was Mexico! We went on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros ride before walking back to the entrance of the park so we could ride Spaceship Earth.

Epcot was amazing and I would definitely go back! There was so much to see and so much good food to eat!

Tuesday, February 14th

Today the whole group went to Magic Kingdom! I don't know who was more excited, me or the kids!

The park wasn't completely open yet and we were not able to get to the rides, so we walked down Main Street and spent a few minutes taking pictures of the Castle.

We then headed over to Adventureland where we waited for the official opening of the park. Once the ropes were let down, we headed straight to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Then we went on the Jungle Cruise!

After those rides we walked to Frontierland where everyone, minus Cole and I, went on Splash Mountain. While they were on the ride, Cole and I walked over to the "viewing area" so we could see the family while they went down the big drop! At this time we FaceTimed Josh and I made sure he knew how much we missed him!



I put Cole up on this ledge and let him lay against me. He had a great time touching my face and I think at one point I had two little fingers up my nose!

First we saw the group cruise by in front of the waterfall

and then we saw them on the big drop!

After Splash Mountain we walked over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad where the family, minus Cole and I, went on the ride.

It seems like the family, especially the boys, really enjoyed these rides!

We then headed over to Liberty Square so that we could kill some time before our Fast Passes for Haunted Mansion were available. We tried to go to The Hall of Presidents but it was closed. While we were standing outside the Hall we were approached by a Cast Member who told us that he was sorry it was closed. We asked him what else we can do while we wait for our Haunted Mansion Fast Passes to start and he informed us that he was a manager and that we didn't have to wait until our Fast Passes started because he could get us into the Haunted Mansion RIGHT NOW! Yeah!

After the Haunted Mansion we headed over to Fantasyland to go on It's a Small World.

[Dad with Don Quixote and Sancho]

After a nice lunch at Pinocchio Village Haus (where I got a caesar salad with no dressing), my parents took the grandkids on Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.

Missy and I then took Dane and Brady on Dumbo the Flying Elephant!

We finished off Fantasyland by going to the Mickey's PhilharMagic show and then riding the Little Mermaid ride and Peter Pan's Flight.

We then headed over to Tomorrowland where we rode the PeopleMover and went to the Carousel of Progress.

[Brady used his birthday money to buy him and Dane lolly pops. Such a nice kid!]

[Grandma and her boys!]

While we waited for our Fast Passes for Space Mountain to start we walked back to Main Street to get ice cream!

[The boys with their matching shirts that their mom made for them!]


We then went to the Castle where we watched the Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street Party!

[Party on Main Street!]

We then walked back to Tomorrowland where most of the family went on Space Mountain. While they were on the ride I took the double stroller, Dane, and Cole, and went for a walk around the whole park. We got back just as the rest of the group were getting off the ride. 

We then walked down Main Street and left the park. The whole family had such a great time and I am so excited to go back one day with Josh!

Family Trip to Orlando - Part I: Traveling and Gators

Yeah! The time had come! Our family trip to Orlando was happening and I was so excited! The plan was for me to dive down to Ohio, stay with Ryan and Missy for a couple of days, and then fly with Missy and the boys to Florida where we would meet up with my parents, Uncle Wade, and Aunt Karen.

A few days before I was to leave, two things happened: (1) I got a call from my Midwife informing me that I failed my first glucose test. And (2) Missy informed me that all of them had the flu.

Oh great. I failed my glucose test! And, of course, right before that I had ordered a bunch of Girl Scout cookies from a family member AND Josh had gotten me See's Candy for Valentines Day! UGH! I was already planning on bringing the majority of the Girl Scout cookies to Missy and the boys, but I really wanted to eat just a few of the See's Candy! 

Nope, nope! I tend not to eat a lot of sugar anyways and at the same time I decided to splurge a little I get my wrist slapped!

Oh well. It's for the best, right?

I was also told by my midwife that I should get a flu shot and stock up on probiotics and Vitamin C before I left on my vacation. No arguing here! 

I left on Thursday, February 9th, and made the drive to my parents house in Cincinnati. Right after I arrived I called my brother to see if he could come help me find a chirping smoke alarm. Missy ran to the store and got a battery and then came over to help. At that time I told her I was pregnant and that I wanted to do a "FaceTime conference call" with Luke and Andie on Friday so I could tell them too!

The next day I went to Ryan and Missy's to hang out and have dinner. I then called Luke and Andie and told them (and Ryan) that I was pregnant. They were so excited! Andie is only 10 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy so our kids will be really close in age!

The next day (Saturday, February 11th) Ryan took Missy, the boys, and I to the airport so we could fly to Orlando!

Brady and I had an empty seat next to us so Dane came over an joined us while Missy and Cole sat across the aisle from me. Before the plane took off the boys kept asking, "Are we in the air yet? How about now? Now? Now?" They were so excited! 

We arrived in Orlando late that night, met my parents at the airport, picked up our rental car, and headed to our adorable condo at the Lucaya Village Resort.

The next morning (Sunday, February 12th) we all gathered in the kitchen for breakfast and I thought that would be a good time to tell my parents I was pregnant. I gave them a small box and told them that it was a present from when Josh and I went on that Epic Fall Road Trip (which wasn't a lie... *wink wink*).

They opened the box and this is what was inside:

They were very surprised and excited!

After my announcement, my dad and I took Brady and Dane to the Club House to see the pool and to play some video games. The only games they had were for the XBOX (which I don't know how to use) but we figured it out and played a few "kid friendly" games before heading back to the condo.

The whole group then got in the cars and headed to The Boggy Creek Airboat Rides so we could go on a 'gator tour!

[He's seriously so cute!] 

The airboat was LOUD so when we arrived we were given noise canceler headphones and the little boys were given life jackets. We zipped around the wetlands looking for 'gators, turtles, and exotic birds. Every so often the driver would stop and we could take off our headphones while he told us about the creature we were looking at. We all had a blast and the boys seemed to really enjoy it too! Cole was a huge fan as long as the boat was moving and he could feel the wind on his face!

After our ride Missy and I went to Disney Springs (similar to Downtown Disney at Disneyland) to get some Sprinkles Cupcakes for Brady's 6th birthday.

She decorated them with Mario characters and Brady loved it!

Happy birthday to my first nephew!

Sushi Night and an Early Valentines Day

After I found out I was pregnant I bought a book and really started researching things that I could and could not do and could or could not eat.

I knew that raw fish was on the list of things I had to avoid, BUT I can still have "sushi", we just had to make sure the fish was cooked all the way through. So Josh bought some sushi rice, seaweed, salmon, and avocado's and made us some delicious sushi!

[Sushi! Complete with lightsaber chopsticks!]

I knew I was going to be gone for Valentines Day this year (I was last year too... oops!) so we did Valentines Day early again!

I love flowers but I am super allergic so Josh got me chocolate covered strawberries, a stuffed bear, a balloon and the best Valentines Day card EVER!

I got him some "safety approved" Oakley sunglasses, but they didn't come until after I had left for Orlando... oops! 

SURPRISE! I'M PREGNANT!

I'M PREGNANT! Josh and I are THRILLED to announce that we will be joined by a beautiful baby BOY on August 16th!

THE STORY:
You can stop reading now if you don't want intimate details... you've been warned :-)

Just before Christmas I was starting to feel some strange womanly symptoms: breast tenderness and chest acne. I thought it was strange, but then I realized that I didn't remember when my last period was (I guess I just lost track during our Epic Road Trip). Josh and I decided then that we should really start "trying" (tracking my cycle, ovulation test, etc.) in January, so on our way home from seeing Rogue One we stopped by a Walgreens and I purchased two pregnancy test and ovulation test. I was so sure that I wasn't pregnant, but I wanted to make sure before we went to Wisconsin for Christmas.

Welp, I took the first test and not even a minute later the screen showed "Pregnant". I honestly didn't believe it. So I drank a bunch of water and took the second one. Same result: "Pregnant"

What to do now?! We started to really rack our brains so we could figure out how far along I was. We came to the conclusion that I was probably only 6 weeks along (at the most) so we decided it would be the best to not tell anyone just yet.

Christmas in Wisconsin went off without any problems. Once we got home I found a local OBGYN and made an appointment. On January 9th Josh and I went to see the OB. When we got there we were told we would be set up with a Midwife (unless that was not what we wanted) and that is when we met Heather. She was super nice and answered all our questions. We then scheduled an ultrasound for later that week so we could see our little gummy bear.

During the ultrasound we saw our little guy (even though we didn't know it yet) and we got to listen to his super strong heartbeat.

Over the next few weeks I started to really feel pregnant. I would either be super hungry or uncomfortably full (sometimes at the same time), I would feel dizzy and nauseated a lot (especially in the morning and at night), excess gas, and I'm having aversions to sugar (most of the time).

[I got freakishly hungry one night so we went to Cracker Barrel! YUM!]

So far my pregnancy has been pretty normal and I am beyond grateful for that! Stay tuned to see how I told my parents and my trip to Orlando!