Hollywood Studios

We spent Sunday at Hollywood Studies. Seth was SUPER excited about this because that's where the Star Wars attraction is. I have never seen a Star Wars movie in my life, but the kids also love it.  

 Seth's aunt bought them these J.Crew Darth Vader shirts. Perfect for the day! 

 We left earlier than the rest of the crew so that we could sign Seth up for the Jedi training (it's first come, first serve). Seth and Adelyn went to ride on a Star Wars ride and I took James with me to sign up Seth. When I got to the front of the line I told the man I'd like to sign up my husband. He kindly told me, "Ma'am, this ride is for 4-12 year olds". Alrighty then, sign up my daughter please! Ha! We were given the 1:00 time slot. 

After getting that arranged, we met up with everyone else and rode the Toy Story ride. Oh my gosh- SO much fun! You had to shoot at all of these targets. I loved it- very cool!

 We had 11 am reservations to eat with the Disney Jr. characters. Hollywood & Vine had great food! It was buffet. 

 Jake and the Neverland Pirates (side note, we rode the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Magic Kingdom and Adelyn was SCARED out of her mind- crying, the whole works. I'm surprised she's anywhere near another pirate!)

Handy Manny and nose picker :)

 

Adelyn and the other kids (there were 15 training) adorned these brown robes

And were each given a light saber

They were taught how to use the sword to block and fight

Darth Vader and Darth Mall came out and tried to lure the kids to the "dark side". It was truly like a scene out of the movie. The kids  used their powers for good and each had a chance to fight one of them. 

View a video of her fight with the Darth Mall here

 This is one very proud Daddy (and probably jealous too)

While we did this, Bobby and Brenda took James to see a Disney Jr. show. James fell asleep before it even started. :( 

We went to meet Lightening McQueen and Tow Mater, James's favorite characters. But he was so scared! Lightening McQueens engine kept roaring and it really frightened him. 

 

Um, do we have a future car model? 

This picture does not do this justice. She loves to make wishes in fountains. She will tightly close her eyes, whisper intently to the coin, and toss it over her shoulder. It's absolutely adorable. 

We saw a Muppet Show program that I think the adults enjoyed more than the kids and just walked around the park for the rest of the day. We left around 4 to head home to Georgia. It was an awesome trip. The weather couldn't have been prettier and we all had fun being kids in DisneyWorld. I can't wait to go back now that we've had a little taste!

A race and a *magical* trip

On March 14th, we went to Seth's race in Sebing, FL. It wasn't the greatest ending race (kinda crazy actually). 

Bimmerworld Family at Fan Walk

Emily and Adelyn did their girly thing and played princesses 

James loves sitting in Daddy's car. When did he start looking so old?

Thomas sitting in Uncle Seth's car

After leaving Sebring, we headed to Orlando and surprised the kids with a 2 day trip to DisneyWorld! They didn't truly know we were going until we drove beneath the blue Magic Kingdom sign. There was lots of excitement from everyone. I haven't been since I was in 6th grade, so I was pretty pumped!

We stayed at The Contemporaries, which was really nice and right on the monorail. We gave each of the kids a "Disney" surprise (thinking maybe that would curb the "I wants"). Emily and Adelyn got Anna/Frozen dresses and Thomas and James got Planes gifts. We were going to eat at Kona Cafe, but the monorail was broken so ended up dining pretty late at Wave (the restaurant in The Contemporaries).

On Saturday morning, we had 7:10 am reservations at Chef Mickey's. Adelyn was a little overwhelmed and kept asking up to stop taking her picture with the characters! They met Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy. This was a GREAT way to start the trip!

Group shot at park entrance

The Durands headed to Space Mountain and we rode the rides I remember most- teacups, It's a Small World, Goofy roller coaster, Merry Go Round, and Winnie the Pooh. The kids were in heaven!

Pure joy on the tea cups

  We also took them to Ariel's Grotto to meet Ariel

And they all met Mickey again!

 I look pretty serious about shooting the targets on the Monsters Inc ride! Did James spot the camera?

Love the facial expressions!

Cars!

We got both kids to nap in the strollers and had a mini date/Mickey Mouse ice cream break. Dang, those things are good. 

We had awesome seats for the 3:00 parade and BONUS....Frozen characters! This is a new parade and it was great! James slept through the whole thing. 

Afterwards we met several princesses (Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Rapunzel, and Snow White) with Emily, Brenda and Melissa. James was HILARIOUS. He kept telling them about his tractors and monster trucks. They said, "Oh, we don't have those in our castle!" in their princess-y voices.  

Adelyn loved the princesses! She twirled for them and rubbed their silky dresses. 

 Snow White spent lots of time with them

Walking through Magic Kingdom with Uncle Bert and Daddy

We wrapped up the day with dinner and a train ride. We had SUCH a fun day! Next up....Hollywood Studios!

Preschool Daddy

A couple weeks ago it was Daddy celebrations at the kids' preschool. James's was Monday morning- Donuts with Daddy. Here they are before school. 

Adelyn's was Tuesday evening- Pirate Night. Seth had already left for his race in Sebring, so Grandpa filled in. 

These kids are lucky to have wonderful male role models!

And speaking of lucky, here they are dressed up for St Patricks Day

Challenged Child 5k

This past Sunday was 72 degrees. Weather lately has been one extreme to the other! We took advantage when Seth's cousin's wife let us know about a 5k that afternoon. Challenged Child is a facility in Gainesville that assists children with developmental delays and disabilities. I volunteered there a couple years ago with Junior Service League and was excited to do a 5k that benefits this organization. 

Adelyn and I after registration

Emily, Conner, Adelyn, James, and me. The race was at 2:30...so glad James will still fall asleep in the stroller! 

So it's not the greatest time, but my girl did it! There were some tears, a couple 30 second rest stops, and fruit snacks and a granola bar bribes....but she did it! :) We jammed out to the Pandora Disney channel. 

Right after the race, she collapsed in the grass. A LITTLE melodramatic, but that's Adelyn 100%