Disney World - Day 3

We were greeted by a cowgirl playing with a lasso on our way into the park today.  She let each of the kids take a turn.

Then we continued on our way to Thunder Mountain Railroad.  After collecting Fast Passes to return again a little later.

While Grandma Sharon and Papa made their way to Sleepy Hollow to split a ginormous ice cream cookie sandwich, we went to the Haunted House and saw ghostly footsteps.

And body-less apparitions.

Then back to Thunder Mountain Railroad for another ride with hands in the air!

Even though it isn't in focus, I just love the smile on my boy's face!

We finally headed over to Fantasyland and Chloe got to ride Prince Charming's carousel.

While guzzling down a gigantic pixi stick she bought with her own money at a gift shop.

We saw a skywriter drawing this message out when we walked to the Mad Tea Party.  Amen!

Chloe rode with Grandma and Papa while I went with my guys.  It was quite dizzying being inside the tea cup with Owen twisting us away as fast as he could.

We visited Buzz Lightyear.

And shot targets in the dark.

The kids wanted to go to an arcade and another gift shop to spend more of their money.  Chloe and I played air hockey while Owen jumped on this game to beat the spinning lights.

On our way back to the front, we stopped to watch the marching band.

Before taking one last trip on the old steam locomotive around the whole Magic Kingdom.

The kids cashed in their Guest Conductor passes to welcome everyone aboard the train.

They were quite enthusiastic.  And loud.

And so thrilled with this special privilege.

Disney creates so many opportunities to make kids feel special and make an absolutely magical visit that won't be forgotten.  Well done, Disney.

Before catching the Monorail back to the parking lots, we stopped for one last family picture with the grandparents.  Thank you for coming on another Thanksgiving vacation to Disney World with us!

Afternoon in Cocoa Beach

We drove out to Cocoa Beach to go to an art fair, walk on the beach and visit Kelley's friend Marie (from AT&T).  The beach won out over the art fair.  Pelicans were all over the place!

It was a very windy day, but that didn't stop the kids from running into the ocean.

It wasn't quite as warm as Clearwater Beach, but that didn't stop the kids either.  :)

We didn't stay very long.  Owen was still really sensitive from the sand & salt water in Clearwater roughing up his skin, so we headed to Marie's sooner than later so he could take a shower.  Marie had shrimp ready for baiting hooks so the kids could fish off her dock in the backyard into the canal.  Papa was kind enough to bait the hooks for the kids.  Thank you, Papa!

The kids didn't catch anything.

But they had fun fishing and watching the bobbers jump as the shrimp were sneakily eaten by the fish underwater.

Chloe was a little chilly, so Marie's daughter loaned her a sweater.  To wear over her swim suit.  And Marie's son DJ helped the kids with fishing and baiting their hooks, too.

Afterwards we enjoyed a great dinner together with Marie's family.  Awesome day all around.  Until Todd drove us back to Orlando and his navigator fell asleep in the back seat and he drove an hour out of the way.  Whoops.  Sorry honeys!

Disney World - Day 2

The day after Thanksgiving, we headed to the Animal Kingdom.

The Tree of Life has hundreds of animals carved into it...so cool!

That is Expedition Everest way back behind us.  

We went on the African Safari first, but not before we grabbed Fast Passes to return a little later.

There was only one hippo above ground.

The happier hippos.

Look at those snappers!

The giraffes were friendlier with the safari truck ahead of us.

Love the ripple of hair along the neck.

Wildebeests are such neat looking creatures.

The vultures stayed close to keep these rhinos clean.

This was on our second time through the safari with our friends Paul and Janice and their twins.

These flamingos were loud AND stinky!

The cheetahs were lazy.

And so were the lions.  We didn't get to see much of them.

Then we walked through the Pangani Forrest and got to see the hippos from another vantage point.   Check out those snaggle teeth!

Our kids were thrilled to be sharing the Animal Kingdom with two of their friends.

African Cichlids circled around the sleeping hippos.

We LOVE meerkats!

This gorilla has really let herself go.  She's in her 30s and has a belly almost dragging the ground.  There aren't any babies in there, either.

We went on a DinoLand ride in the dark which was jerky, loud and scary.  Seeing the dinosaur skeleton beforehand was really the best part.

While the daddies took Owen and one of the twins on a tilt-a-whirl roller coaster, I took Chloe and the other twin on a flying dino ride.

The girls sat in the seat behind me.