Florida...part 1

This year's family vacation was a BIG one. We'd been saving for a long while and finally had enough to empty the Disney jar and embark.  The weekend before Memorial Day we headed to Florida with the kids.  We decided to take the trip in two days with a stop in Atlanta.  The kids were pumped about that as we got to stay at an Embassy Suites.  (Love awesome internet deals!!) They had a nice buffet breakfast.  John's comment on that was "I bet dinner here is really awesome with candles and everything!"  I think they would have also ridden up and down the glass elevator at least 100 times if we had let them.  After filling ourselves with breakfast, we headed for Orlando.  As always on our trips we played some car games including Name that Tune.  As we were playing that one, we discovered that the ABC song and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star have the same tune.  We also taught them the "Big Mac song".  And, as Horn family tradition dictates, we looked for those license plates.  This trip we saw all the states except for Hawaii and Alaska.   We were tempted to count Alaska though because one of the volunteers at a show we saw at Hollywood Studios was from Alaska.

At the Florida Welcome Center.  Those four have so much personality! 

Almost as soon as we got to Florida we saw Tropical Storm Beryl.  Most of the storm went north of Orlando.  We did have a few days of rain, but that is why they invented ponchos.  It was also very nice and cool on those days!

Enjoying a quick breakfast at the condo.  We had special treats like Pop Tarts and Nutella. We were so blessed to get to stay in a 3 bedroom condo that was very spacious.  You need some space after you have spent 18 hours together in a car or lots of family time at an amusement park.

Disney Tips

The fam just returned from a big trip to Florida which included Disney World.  Well, I guess the entire family hasn't returned.  The kids stayed at Grandpa & Grandma Horn's for an extended vacation.  I PROMISE pictures, but while the trip was fresh on my mind I wanted to share my thoughts and tips about Disney World for those who may be thinking about taking a trip.

• I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend that you get the book The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney Word (and the year you are going).  Don't plan on reading it cover to cover initially...you will be completely overwhelmed.  There are fabulous tips (some of mine below I got from the book).  They also have touring plans to minimize your wait times at the rides.  And, for additional $7ish you can get a subscription to their website.  The website includes a calendar of which parks are best to visit on which days.  It also allows you to get an app for your phone that gives you real time wait times for the rides.  
• Fanny packs....I know, I don't like fanny packs either.  That is why I didn't wear one :).  My kids did though.  I found some child size ones on amazon and they are perfect for them to carry their own snacks.  This eliminates one person having to carry a backpack with everyone's stuff in it.  I just had a small backpack purse for my own snacks and the sun lotion.
• Chums water bottle clips.  These were Joe's idea and it was brilliant (as most of his ideas are.)  These are D-ring clips that have an elastic loop on the end that fits onto most standard store bought water bottles.  You can then have everyone clip their water bottles to their fanny packs.  You can also then refill the water bottles to eliminate the need to purchase expensive drinks to keep you hydrated.  Although, I should warn you that the water from the tap their is rather nasty.  It does still hydrate you though...and it is FREE!
• If you have access to a lamination machine, laminate the tour plan that you have.  It enables you to read it after it has gotten wet either by rain or water ride.
• Even if you don't use a provided tour plan by the above book or elsewhere, I would suggest you go in with an idea of where you want to go.  This eliminates the debate in the middle of the park as to where you are headed next.  And it eliminates fighting among the children about which rides they want to go on next.
• Get to the parks at the ticket gate at least 30 minutes before they open.  We didn't stand in line for any of the rides longer than 30 minutes and I think one of the reasons for that is we were there when they opened.  On three of the days, they opened the park we were at 30 minutes before the "official" published time.
• An idea for lunch...this is one I came up with, unfortunately, on the last day we were at the parks.  I haven't tried it, but I think it would work.  We budgeted to eat one meal at the parks a day.  But even then, it is hurts when you pay the bill.  But we didn't want to have to go all the way back to the car to get food...especially at Magic Kingdom.  So you might try this...they have lockers at each of the parks.  I think they are around $7 to rent...which is so much cheaper than a meal!!  Pack your lunch in a soft sided cooler and stow it in the locker(s).  If we go back (which we probably won't) this is what we are doing.  It solves the issue of carrying it around all day and you don't have to spend an hour trekking back to the vehicle.
• Get some Dramamine and take it if you are prone to motion sickness.  I get sick on a regular swing at the park.  So Dramamine was a must for me and enabled me to ride everything I wanted.  Note:  I still stayed away from anything that spun A LOT.  No Mad Tea Party for me, thank you.  Also, I forgot my Dramamine one day and discovered that they don't sell it at the parks (at least at the one we were at that day.)
• And, lastly, have a great time!  We truly had an awesome time together as a family!

Sheep

Joe's parents have recently started a sheep farm.  This morning we got to introduce the kids to the sheep.

This is "Lamby" with Joe.  She was bottled fed so she is very friendly.

Checking out the pasture

Grandpa doesn't need a Border Collie if Nathan is around.  He is a natural sheep herder.

And it's a wrap....

 School wrapped up here this last week.  I now officially have a 1st grader, 3rd grader, 5th grader and 6th grader in my house.  (Whew!)  Here's some shots from this last week including the family picnic on the boys' school...one of my favorite events of the school year.

First day of school....

Last day of school...

Nathan with one of his buddies, Ryan, at the school picnic

John and his best buddy Aiden.  John got the special treat of getting to spend the night with him on the last day of school.

John and Nathan after the picnic

Random pics from a Sunday evening

Joe and I were sitting outside Sunday evening watching the storms go around us.  We could have used a little more rain, but it was nice to sit and watch and listen to it.  I decided to get my camera out and play around with it a little.  Here are some of the shots I got.

I planted some daisies to border our new driveway.

This is our squirrel feeder.  We enjoyed watching a squirrel yesterday morning stuffing his cheeks with the corn and then burying it in the yard.  We are really hoping we don't have corn sprouting up anytime soon!

My hummingbird feeder that my boys got me for Mother's day.

This hummingbird (you can barely see it as it is blending in with the fence) was flying around.  I tried to get a picture of it on the feeder but I was never fast enough.  I was pleased the I caught this shot.  Initially I thought I had snapped it too late.

A little bit of culture

Friday night the girls and I got to enjoy an evening out.  One of the seniors at our church was performing in her last musical with her home school group.  So Sara, Ashley and I joined some other woman from church at the performance.  It was a Gilbert and Sullivan and really good.  Sara decided that she would have enjoyed it more had there not been as much singing.  Ashley whispered to me in the middle that she was fairly certain that if she was sneaking away and eloping she wouldn't be singing as it would call to much attention to her. 

What happens when....

you have a six year old boy.  Nathan had his field trip today.  He went to an area Children's museum and had a picnic in the park.  Then a friend invited him to go to the local splash pad after school.  It sits right near the playground equipment.  So, of course, we must play on it too.  So Nathan decided to go down the slide, wet, in his swimming trunks, no shirt...on his stomach.  As he told my friend who was there with him..."I went a little fast."  He slid right off and stopped himself with his chest.  I actually thought it was going to look worse than it did.

Before and After

We got a new driveway!  And it looks amazing.  Here are some before and after shots.  These make me appreciate both my new camera and the new driveway.  (The before pics were taken with Joe's phone.)

You can kind of see the old, decrepit driveway

when they were starting to take out the old one

the finished product

we love our new gravel almost as much as the new cement

The bunny, the bunny, oh I love the bunny....

Being a mom of four, I can never seem to talk about bunnies without singing Veggie Tales.  These are my nemesis.  As I was planting more green beans in my garden this evening where they had eaten my broccoli, they emerged for their late evening snack.  I figured since I couldn't exactly go have a little chat with them, that I might as well make use of the scenery and practice with my camera. I took all of these with my super zoom lens. At least they are good for something....

Joe's favorite pic of the rabbits

My favorite pic of the rabbits

Trying out my new camera

My girls

One of the first pics I took

I was blessed to have my mom visit this weekend!

Joe was getting dinner supplies so I played with my camera in the car.

Nathan getting ready for movie night.  We introduced them to The Man from Snowy River.

My dad and John

The sunrise this morning

Nathan and Ashley contemplating how to find and catch a toad

My rosebush

Playing with the settings on my camera...these are flowers from my flower beds

Love the daisies in my yard this spring