Alabama & Atlanta

We got to Aunti Jo's house, near Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday afternoon. We got to spend some time with her parents, Steve & Mary (I grew up with this family). The kids had an awesome time playing with Emma & Nick and it was really good to catch up with Jolie and spend time with her & her family. We went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. Joles did a great job cutting all of our hair--the kids loved it! We left Friday morning and headed to Atlanta, to have lunch with Sarah. We helped her celebrate her birthday, which was on Sunday. It was good to see her and to pass through Atlanta.

Florida

We made it to Michelle & Daniel's house pretty late on Friday night. We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese on Saturday morning. I went to visit my Grammy's house that afternoon. It was hard to be there, but also good. I loved her very much, I miss her and I wish she had met Daniel, but she died 3 days before he was born. We enjoyed our time with Michelle and her family and then we went to Gainesville, to go to church at Campus. It was so good to see everyone...it brought back so many good memories and I'm thankful to God for them and the friends and family in Christ that I have there. GO GATORS!

DISNEY WORLD!

We had a WONDERFUL time at Disney World! We got to spend a week there with my family, from Sunday, Aug 24-Sunday, Aug 31. David was able to join us for most of the time this year. He drove home on Thursday-- he left Orlando around 9am and was home at 2 o'clock in the morning, Friday night/Saturday morning--yes, he drove straight through--and he had to get the oil changed too! My mom & grandparents also left on Thursday, as my mom had to work on Friday, but she came back Friday night. Here are the pics I bought from the professional photographers...and then mine from each day. ENJOY!

Monday was our first day together and it was spent at the Magic Kingdom (everyone was here, except Pam, as she had to work).
David, Andrea, Mick, Jay, G-ma Faye, G-pa Bobby & Grandma Bobbie
Daniel (22 months), Ashley (3), Michael (4), Elizabeth (6), & Katie (10) On Wednesday, we ate lunch with the princesses at Norway, in EPCOT. Ashley was beside herself! Ashley could not believe that Belle was holding her hand! Thursday, Jay & I took the younger kids to the Animal Kingdom. Mick, Pam & Katie joined us later. I love this pic in front of the Tree of Life. We LOVE Tigger (Daniel does, as long as Mommy is with him--Ashley has no fear of the characters anymore)! Friday night we went back to the Magic Kingdom. Ashley went on Splash Mountain for the first time and thought it was awesome! This is the pic from her second ride (she rode with Mommy the first time). Then she went on Thunder Mountain and actually laughed b/c she liked it so much! I love that we don't have wimpy kids & that they enjoy a good adventure! Saturday morning we got up early and went to Hollywood Studios (not called MGM anymore) to go on the new Toy Story ride--it is always over an hour long wait and if you don't get a fast pass before 11:00 in the morning, they're gone! It is an awesome ride though--6 minutes of shooting at targets, in 3D--so cool! Yes, we wear matching shirts!

Day 1--Monday, August 25

We went to the Magic Kingdom on our first day of our WEEK's vacation at Disney World! We had so much fun, despite the humid, hot weather! We did most of Fantasyland and then headed over to Tomorrowland. We were going to go back that night, but there were terential downpours from tropical storm Fay and we ended up eating at our resort--Saratoga Springs (nice resort, but the bus system is lacking).
Our 1st pic...while on the bus to Disney World! Ashley loves her Aunt Jay. Our kids are actually excited to be there & enjoy being with each other.
Mick's kids are tired and onery...but they perked up later! Daddy with his little horse riders. Cool pic on Peter Pan...my dad used to try to take pics in there, so I had to try. He would have liked a digital camera (we had some funny pics of Hook's hand & speakers & whatnot).
On our way to Tomorrow Land...in front of the Tea Cups. We love the Buzz Lightyear ride!

Day 2--Tuesday, August 26

We went to Hollywood Studios on Tuesday (it's not called MGM anymore). Daddy had to stay home and do reports...and then go golfing! We went on the new ride, Toy Story Mania, and it is one of our favorites. The line is long--about an hour wait every time (and the fast passes are gone by 11:00), but it is a 6 minute ride where you get to shoot at 3D images and it is a blast! We went back 3 different days, just to go on this ride! Daniel loved seeing the Muppet 4D Movie (he kept saying, "Kermit, the Frog!"). We chilled out that night, so as to not over do it too early in our trip!