Disney Vacation 2015: Down Town Disney and Animal Kingdom

Off we go!  Flying to Disney.... not only a dream for the kids but also for Brent and I as none of us have ever been there before!  Ben, Allie and I sat together on the plane.... Nathan and Daddy were a few rows infront of us!  They did awesome on the plane!  Ben colored, watched a movie, ate his breakfast and played with Allison.  Allison played, clapped, smiled and then ate and fell asleep.  She thought she was pretty hot stuff sitting in her own seat like a big girl!

Welcome to Disney!!!  Let the magic begin and boy it did!!!  We got on our Disney Magical Express Bus... the boys thought it was pretty awsome that their were TVs on the bus and they of course play disney shows and movies and give you sneak peak ideas about each of the parks!  After about 10 minutes Ben and Allison were asleep.... I knew that 7am flight would catch up to them at some point!

Welcome to the Animal Kingdom Lodge Jamba House!  This is some "room with a view," If you didn't know better you would think you were looking at an African Savanna complete with Giaraffes, Kudu and loads of other African Wildlife!

The grounds surounding our hotel were beautiful!  Animals grazing, walking paths, bonfire pits, African carved tables and chairs.... 

It was then off to Downtown Disney to check out the sites and to eat at the T-Rex Restaurant!  

We found Buzz and Woody at the Lego store.  The boys spent lots of time building cars to enter in the Lego car races!  They could have stood there all day but there was tons more to see!

Pooh, Tiger and Piglet!

Dinner with the Dinos.... think Rainforest Cafe on steroids!  We even had a Valcano dessert complete with dry ice!  The details are perfect!

Day #1 in the parks we headed to the Animal Kingdom bright and early.  Coffee in hand we ventured off to our 1st Fast Pass of the day... The African Safari!

The animals were sooo close!  Cheetahs, giraffes, Hippo, rhinos, kudu, it was pretty fantastic... not quite as large a true African sufari but awesome!  The boys thought that the "rickety" old bridge was so fun! Truly, if you didn't know better you would think you were walking through an african village on your way to the safari.  Disney TRULY thinks of everything!

Family Safari

3D glasses for "Its tough being a bug!" Bugs Life 

The Tree of Life!

Tricerotops ride... the boys went on it 3 times! They thought it was pretty cool!

Character Lunch at the Tusker House with Mickey and Friends.  We also met my Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Tom!  We ate traditional African Cuisine... which I love from my time in Africa... bring on the chutney!   The boys loved meeting Mickey and the Gang... and Allison was oh so intrigued with all these crazy characters!

It was then off to The Lion King... It was  cirque du soleil meets a broadway production! We all sat amazed and we got to experience this with Great Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Tom

And no day is complete without eating something Mickey Shaped.... because as they say in Disney...

"Lets not forget that this all started with a mouse!"- Walt Disney

The favorite ride of the day was the Dinosaur Ride!  Luckily for the boys they got to ride it twice... because Allison was to small to come with us!  

Stay Tuned for Part 2 of our Disney Adventure....

Valentine's Day

This is is our new little Love!

Celebrating Valentine's Day at Preschool!

They picked out suckers and gummy bracelets.  Last year I micro managed to writing of the Valentines... this year I didn't have the time or energy between work and getting ready for Florida.  They weren't quite as perfect as I wanted... but they did them all by themselves and there is something to be said for that (especially when I looked through their bag of treats and about 1/3 kids didn't even write their own names!). 

I did laugh at this one Ben did!

Mom: Ben why is your "E" uppercase? and why are there so many lines???

Ben: "That is my super special one for Brody... all the extra lines are because he is my friend!"

Valentine's Morning mommy brought home valentine doughnuts for breakfast and yummy cupcakes for a special dessert with Grandma and Grandpa Utech!

Valentine's Day Gifts!

Boys got Legos and Lego boards

Allison got hair bows and new food utensils. 

Her cute Valentine's outfit from Grandma Utech!

Mommy had to work... my valentine's dates this year were these lovely ladies!

Brent and I could not be more thankful for these blessings!  We love them with all our hearts... and someday when the sticky hand prints fade and the chaos is gone we will have a quiet Valentine's Day dinner... but for now we will enjoy Valentine's doughnuts, crazy work schedules and lots of LOVE:)

Allison 7 Months

7 Months old!  Such a little delight!  

This has been a big month of firsts and new adventures!  

Allison  continues to handle it all like a champ!

Food: We continue to add new foods to Allison's diet!  So far she will eat anything and loves meal time!  She especially LOVES when she gets to pick up little pieces and feed herself.  She is so proud of herself... you can tell she thinks she is one of the BIG kids!

Allison eats: squash, carrots, peas, beans, sweet potato, apples, bananas, oatmeal, Puffs, Cheerios and avocado.

Uncle Stephen and Auntie Christine made the BEST homemade apple sauce

Thinking this sippy cup was fun to play with!

Usually eats food twice a day.

Drinks mama milk 5-6 times a day.  If she takes a bottle she usually takes 5-6 ounces (before bed). If she breastfeeds 5-10 minutes... but she is easily distracted... I wonder why?????

Sleeping:  This little lady LOVES her Gramma blanket and sleeps with it nightly.  She holds it in her little hand up next to her cheek.... this night I found it over her face, probably not the best but she loves it.  She has started rolling over in her crib and moving all over... we never know where we will find her. She still sucks her thumb when falling asleep but doesn't seem to suck it much else. She still takes 2 naps a day, one is usually 1-1.5 hours and the other is usually 2-3 hours. Bed time is usually 7-730 and she usually sleeps until 7-8 the next morning.  She loves to poop at night and a couple of times a week daddy has to change her diaper in the middle of the night.  After a brief stint of waking up at night while we were in Disney she is back to sleeping through the night.

She continues to love her big girl tub!  

She again LOVES when she is doing what her big brothers are doing!

Daddy likes to " blow dry" Allison's hair! She of course thinks it is hilarious!

Allison still wears size 2 diapers, she still poops through at least once a week and she is currently wearing 6 month clothes... if anything they are getting too short!

Playtime: Her favorite playtime activities include books, sitting up, chewing on Sophie, her blocks, and any toy of her brothers that she can get her hands on!

Touch and Feel books are her favorite and her brothers love to read them to her! They love to tell her about the pictures, colors, animal sounds and letters.

She is rolling with more frequency and can spin herself in circles. She is also trying to figure out the proper crawling position but so far she can only go in reverse!

The LOVELY stage where they sit in one place and play with toys.  She actually sat earlier then her brothers so we have gotten to enjoy this stage longer!  I'm in no hurry for her to move.... I know from experience it will happen and then we will have lots of baby proofing to do!

These block are one of the only toys that are not hand me down from the boys and she loves them! So do Nathan and Benjamin....they use them to prop up their ramps and jumps for remote control cars and Legos.

Getting so big in her car seat!

Sitting up in the Target cart for the 1st time!  She was SO PROUD OF HERSELF!

We transitioned her stroller into a Big girl stroller!  She thinks its pretty cool to face forward and watch her brothers and the world around her!

This is what happens when you go to Target with Mommy!

First trip to Look Out Ridge to play

First Valentine's Day

First trip to Disney World!

Allison is the best little Traveler!  She was an easy baby to travel with.  She only cried a few times and easily napped in her stroller, smiled and looked around both in the stroller and the Ergo!

The Little Things:

* her two little bottom front teeth are easily visible now when she smiles

* Is starting to squeal when no one is paying attention to her

* Sat up in her swing.... I guess its time to put it away:(

* claps all the time

* No longer likes the bundle me over her face.... even if it is below zero

* waves... but usually with her hand facing herself instead of out

* signs more

* reaches and wiggles for everything

* Loved her 1st flight, got pin on wings and all

* giggles uncontrollably when daddy blow dries her hair

* figured out how to take off her socks and shoes

* snaps herself in the face with her bows

* jumps in her jumper and exa-saucer and studies all the inter working of the toys/books/lights and buttons on her equipment. 

Happy!!!!  This little Lady is a Happy Happy Baby!  We often play the song by Pharell Williams called "Happy"!  Now she knows it and will clap her hands and smile while the song plays!

Nicknames: Allie Boo, Al, Allie Girl, Lovey, Squeaker