Disney World!

 As I mentioned before, we left on Preston's birthday to Orlando, Florida for a week full of Disney World fun! Nathan, as he's grown to be an adrenaline junkie, has wanted to go to Disney World for a quite a while and has been discussing it for quite a bit. It had always been an idea that my brother-in-law, a fellow roller coaster rider and sister would join us. Well actually, the original plan began that Nathan drew a name from a hat (which happened to be my sister), and that person would get to go on the trip with us ;) We had a lot of fun and it was handy to have four more hands than those of Josh and I to help go in different directions with each child, basically. We went to each park with 1-2 parks where we spent two days. We discovered it is a better place to go for older kids, unless you do plan to just do Magic Mountain which seems to have a bit for everyone (and is most like Disneyland). Everyone had differing opinions on their favorite land. Some highlights!

On our least busy day, we went to the Medieval Times for a big meal and jousting. The kids enjoyed it!

Waiting on brothers, daddy, Aunt and Uncle

Main Street Magic Kingdom

Aunt Angie and Aaron were besties. They enjoyed the same type of rides. 

It was warm and humid some days in particular (that was my excuse)

That was Aaron's excuse too. 

The best $25 toy while we were there - entertainment while waiting for brothers on rides. 

It's safe to say we came some for the food.

Meet the Characters buffet in Animal Kingdom

Food in France

Visiting China

We had lunch at a German restaurant. The kids enjoyed the entertainment and the adults enjoyed...the beverages. 

Fun desserts

One of the hardest reservations to get - that we got lucky to get on cancelation - Be Our Guest! Eat a French meal inside the castle of Belle and Beast

Such a beautiful atmosphere inside - ceiling 

We sat in the main dining/dancing room. Snow was falling outside the windows. Basically my sister and I were in love.

This was a fun restaurant we had lunch one day : we sat in classic cars as sort of a drive in atmosphere

Toy Story land was neat, had some of the longest wait times for rides

Epcot! We liked one ride but enjoyed the different countries to experience their food.

Disney World : where donuts are as big as your face! Nathan earned Student of the Month for September, so this was a good celebration the day of the ceremony he missed 

Preson knows Mickey Mouse!

Have to try the blue and green milk in Star Wars land

Star Wars riding crew

We enjoyed the hotel's hot breakfast (where we filled up on Mickey Mouse waffles) and spent the day at the parks, but were mostly back at the hotel in time for early evening to decompress before bed and enjoy their nightly snack/adult beverage happy hour. Nathan stayed with my sister and husband in their room, which he enjoyed a lot - getting that time away from his brothers and getting a bit of independence-minus the incident where we will now not let him use a microwave unsupervised as he put his leftover pizza in a bit too long and almost caused a scene....

We came home tired but happy. Josh and I were very happy with how the kids behaved over those seven days; waiting in lines, not complaining over the walking...we're excited for our 2020 adventures!