Epcot Center

We spent one full day at Epcot Center.  It was 85 degrees and pure sun so we found several ways to stay cool including Chinese umbrellas, beautiful water fountains, ice cream, German beer, Mexican margaritas, and indoor rides with plenty of air conditioning!  My favorite ride of the entire week was here - Soarin.  It was equivalent to going hang gliding across the country.  It was awesome and if the line wasn't so long, I would have rode it again and again!  It was definitely a good ride to use our fast pass for.  Russell's favorite ride was also at Epcot - Mission Space.  This was exactly as it sounds.  You are in a team of four traveling to outer space.  Each person has a title (Russell enjoyed being Commander) and job to perform.  Aron and Russell rode this ride two times, but Sloane and I chose to pass on the 2nd turn.  We did not like feeling dizzy upon exiting the ride.  We all enjoyed touring the 11 countries, especially Norway where we rode a viking ship and Sloane met almost every princess while eating at Akershus and even saw Queen Elsa and Princess Anna (from Frozen) up close while they walked to their meet and greet location.  Life doesn't get much better than this!

Sloane used powerful persuasion in order to get this Chinese umbrella.  It definitely came in handy on this hot sunny day.

Meeting Belle at Akershus for lunch.  She also met Snow White, Ariel, Aurora, and Cinderella.

Family photo while touring the countries.

In front of Japan.

Lady and the Tramp in Italy

Ice cream for the kids, beer for dad, and margaritas for mom.

We ate Mexican for dinner and Sloane cooled off by a water fountain.

Sloane and I headed back to the resort for an evening swim while Russell and Aron stayed on to enjoy Mission Space one more time.

Animal Kingdom



The kids hopped out of bed at 4:30 a.m. Monday with no problem and were thrilled to board the airplane at 6:15. We were in sunny Florida by 10:30 and off to Animal Kingdom shortly after. We didn't have a lot of time at Animal Kingdom, but we were sure to take a safari, enter into a bug's life, and ride up Mt. Everest!  We left Animal Kingdom in order to make our dinner reservation at Chef Mickey where the kids met many characters and enjoyed a dessert buffet.  After dinner we took a ferry ride where we could see Cinderella's castle lit up in the night sky and then back to our resort for an evening swim.  Our vacation was off to a fun start!



5:00 a.m. and ready to roll!

Our family in front of the Tree of Life.

Fun in the sun.

Goofin around.

Russell meets Russell (from the movie Up).

Standing in front of Mt. Everest on our way to ride the roller coaster that zooms over, under, backward, and forward around this Mountain.  Maybe not the best choice for the kids 1st roller coaster, but they were troopers.  Russell came off of it shaking his head and Sloane was wiping away tears.  Thankfully they recovered and were willing to take in more rides the rest of the week.

Chef Mickey!

And Goofy too!

 

Wrestling Season

January marked the beginning of another wrestling season.  This year Aron is an official coach for the team which means a lot of work for the men in our house.  They practice two evenings a week for 2 hours each practice and travel to tournaments every weekend.  They've only missed one tournament due to our winter vacation.  Aron is pulled in every direction at the tournaments so he can coach each of the boys.  It's exciting to watch Russell, but it is also exciting to watch Aron.  His passion for the sport is obvious.  Many of the parents have praised his coaching skills and other coaches have praised him for the sportsmanship of our team.  It is awesome to see the boys cheering on the sidelines and hugging each other after matches.  I never imagined loving this sport, but it has truly grown on me.  I look forward to my weekends in the gym.  In between matches, Sloane and I play games and color.  It has become a family sport.  Russell has grown so much this season.  He has earned 3 first place medals and a 2nd place medal.  We have regionals next week.  

A Trip to American Girl

In January, Sloane and I had a girls' weekend with two of our favorite friends. We packed up and headed to Columbus, OH where we visited the American Girl Doll Store.  The girls were in Heaven and us moms had a fabulous time as well.  We are already talking about doing it again.  

We made it!

Sloane's doll, McKenna, getting her hair done at the store's beauty salon.  McKenna also got her ears pierced.

Sloane and Sadie waiting at the doll salon.

Having dessert at the store's cafe.  Sloane had chocolate mousse in a flower pot.

Mom and daughter.  Love her!!!

These two cuties have been friends since the infant room at Grace Christian Childcare.  Time flies!

We decided to try all the dessert.  Yummy brownie sundae!

Ice cream cone trio.  Mmmmm...

I'm an Aunt!

On January 12th my beautiful neice Sara Joy was born!  She is absolutely perfect and we are all so thrilled to have a new member in our family.  I was able to spend a little time with her after she was born and am anxious to get my hands on her again.  Both Russell and Sloane are excited to be BIG cousins.  We can't wait to spoil little Sara!

What a Year!

Happy 2014!  It's only been 6 days, but oh what a year it has been!!!  We had a fun New Year's Eve hanging out with our neighborhood gang at a bowling party followed by some good eats and drinks at our house with some friends.  A fresh batch of snow came just in time for the kids and I to head back to school on January 3rd.  After a slow and long commute to school, the kids were excited to be back with their friends and teachers.  However, (due to MORE snow and below freezing temperatures) we have not been back to school since! Snow day Friday, snow day today, and another snow day has already been called for tomorrow.  Aron's work even called for a snow day (now that's a first)!  We have been taking full advantage of this extra time together.  It's funny because I have never enjoyed cold weather.  At least, not since I was a child.  But there is something magical that takes place when you have your own children.  What you once thought you no longer enjoyed changes through the eyes of your children.  I am now a "four season girl".  I can not imagine living without each of Michigan's beautiful seasons.  The spring time tulips, the summer sunsets, the donuts and cider filled falls, and the beautiful snowy winters!  Don't get me wrong, summer remains my favorite and by February I will be over this cold stuff, but for now we are having a BLAST!!!  Happy 2014!!!

A few of the boys on New Year's Eve

Two cuties celebrating the New Year

Let the countdown begin!

 

On this day, we played in the snow for a combined 6 hours!  Sledding, shoveling, snow angels, snowmen, fort building, and snowball fights!!!  You name it, we did it!!! 

It was nearly 8:00 p.m. before we headed indoors.  We still had to eat dinner!

Temperatures dropped and wind chills picked up, but these two crazy kids were back outside having fun!

Can you see him under all that coverage???

We've gone through LOTS of hot cocoa, marshmallows, and whipped cream.

Cuddling with Mac while trying to stay warm.