Discovery Cove

Last October we had the amazing opportunity to spend a day at Discovery Cove. I never would have guessed that the following October I'd be there again, this year with my kids and Tyler's parents!

Tyler's parents were able to visit us for the last week of October and we had lots of fun. But the highlight was our Thursday at D.C. We had told them how great it was and they decided to go for themselves. Since Jackson is free until he is 3 it was the perfect time to go :)

I wanted to take tons of pictures and walked away with not that many. Hopefully I can get a few more from Tyler's phone... But it was a great day! The weather wasn't perfect, overcast and breezy, but it was 80ish so it was still warm enough that we didn't mind being out in the water all day.

Terry & Vicki swam with the dolphins and we all got a picture with the group. Abbie was great, she took a great nap in her stroller during the morning and slept in my arms during the afternoon while the others were snorkeling. I was a little worried about Jackson and how he would do, but he did great. He didn't take a nap, but did have some "quiet time" watching yo gabba gabba on a lounge chair for about an hour. He looooved swimming in the resort pool, who wouldn't? But he loved the waterfalls, rocks to throw, sand, and most importantly the shallow water. He was able to swim around while touching the bottom which was a new world for him.

Started the day in the aviary, Jackson was intrigued but a little scared of the birds getting a little too close.

Tyler aka birdman

Grandma and Abbie with one of our favorite birds spotted.

Tyler trying to comfort Jackson

The setting is just so beautiful

Our Private Cabana!

Checking out the sting rays daddy snorkeled with

Jackson and Abbie weren't too sure about Axel the dolphin...

Checking out the fishies

Standing in front of the sharks

Jackson loved these parrots and still recreates their funny dances when he sees a colorful bird

This shallow pool was heaven for Jackson!

Family Week = Disney Week

What do you do when your husband goes to China? Have a party with your family of course! Luckily Tyler's trip coincided with my brother's October break so I got to spend 5 days with my parents and brother last week. Jackson is finally getting old enough to that he remembers his family and is excited to see them. It took no time to warm up to them, he was in heaven when he woke up to see them Wednesday morning.

We started out the trip with a bang and went to Magic Kingdom that morning. We just got our Disney passes renewed so Jackson had gone a few times recently but is still so excited to go each time. I have pictures of us on most of the rides, but we also rode Dumbo, Small World, Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain, and the kids rode the People Movers.

Having a little too much fun on Buzz- our first ride of the day

So excited to drive a racecar! @ Tomorrowland Speedway

He wanted to ride with Grammy on most of the rides.

Getting ready to head off on the Barnstormer Rollercoaster.

Grandad kept buying Jackson treats and drinks

Say Cheese on Winnie the Pooh

Ste and I rode Splash Mountain and apparently I was really excited although I have no memory of raising my arms or making this face.

I couldn't help myself and snapped this picture while feeding Abbie. Love those thighs!

After Lunch & The Jungle Cruise the park got crowded so we peaced out.

We headed home for some much needed naps, then ventured back out to Epcot and the Food & Wine Festival. We tried some cheddar cheese soup, spicy sausage, pork sliders and finished the night off with crepes in France. Steven and I rode Soarin while my mom braved the Aquarium alone with Jackson and Abbie.

Outside the Nemo Aquarium

 I don't have any pictures of Thursday but it was much more chill. Jackson went to joy school in the morning and then we headed up to Winter Garden Village for shopping and lunch. That night we went to Downtown Disney and Jackson had a total meltdown... maybe that's why I have no pictures...

But Friday got better when we went to Hollywood Studios!

Waiting intently for the Mickey Mouse Show to start.

Cute little Abbie always happy to be along for the ride

Happy after being fed and facetiming with Tyler - love technology and wifi at disney.

Abbie turned 6 months old, and it was also Tyler's birthday in China that day.

Steven, wearing the bright blue shirt in the middle, was a baller and rode Tower of Terror alone.

Abbie getting ready to ride Toy Story for the first time

After riding with Grammy

OK so these scores aren't impressive until you reazlie my mom (1) had Jackson on her lap and I (2) had Abbie on mine.

6 month photo shoot

Saturday we went over to Blizzard Beach! It was mid-October but in the high 80s so it was a perfect non-crowded day to be at the water park

Loving life going down this slide by himself.

Smiley baby girl

The boys in their matching suits.

His first time riding this tube slide!

Ste, so hot right now.

Jackson was spent after running and swimming all day, he took a mega 3 1/2 hour nap and didn't wake up til after 6. So that night we kept in simple and went to Chick-fil-a for dinner.

The next day was Sunday and the last day of their trip. It was so great to have such a fun week with my family and have them help out with the kids too! Luckily we will see them in less than 2 months for Christmas break :)

I had a birthday

So it's been a week but I had a birthday! It honestly seems like forever ago but I haven't  had time to post it until today.

I turned 27 and dang I don't like how that sounds. 25 was ok, 26 was upper twenties and now 27 just has no ring to it, I kind of have started forgetting how old I am. Well not forgetting, more like I just have to think for a second before I answer the question. That is still kind of pathetic I guess, I'm getting old. But the weekend of my bday we had fun. 

We went to magic kingdom on friday night and once we started driving we noticed the rain clouds... We were hoping they'd go away but right as we got on the monorail it started pouring hard. We debated not going in, but we ended up just hanging out in the shops on main street until it passed less than an hour later. We didn't have a ton of time but we hung out in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

Abbie's first ride on dumbo, loving my diaper bag strap

The boys had the elephant in front

Tyler and short hiding Jackson rode the Barnstormer and he loved it!

Sleeping Beauty at her castle while the boys rode Small World

The next morning we went to Blizzard Beach and I even took a few photos! It was a really fun time because I actually rode some slides this time! We got there right at 10 and Tyler was nice enough to drop me off while he unloaded the car and got the kids in the stroller. Meanwhile I rushed in the park with no bags, kids or worries :) and was able to rush up to do a couple slides before they even got in the park. I was actually the first person on the toboggan racers and was there alone, so I went down alone even though it's normally an 8 person race. But wow I hadn't ridden that one in years and I forgot how much I love it!

Tyler and Jackson on the ice burgs

The boys going down the slide

We also floated around the lazy river as a family and rode the big tube slides with Jackson. He rode with Tyler twice and me twice. Super fun day and pretty empty being September although the weather was still hot!

That night we dropped Jackson off at a friends house and Abbie came with us to Epcot's food and wine festival! It's crazy that this is our fourth year here ...

We have gotten this every year - the sausage in a pretzel roll at Germany.

New item this year, lamb chop with a mint pesto sauce -so good!

 We also tried food in Singapore, ravioli in Italy, Mongolian Beef in China, Hawaiian Sliders, a Greek  gyro, cheddar cheese soup in Canada and School Bread in Norway.

We ended the night at the Beach Club Resort (where we parked) for a ice cream sundae for dessert.

 My birthday was Sunday and the first treat was sleeping in til 9! Then Tyler didn't have meetings and was able to help get us off to church at 11.

Abbie fell asleep like this in Young Womens ... random girl!

 That night we had some friends over for a dessert party, we made cake, they all brought dessert and the sugar intake was a little out of control haha

The only picture of the event ... there were lots of babies and toddler as you can tell in the background

 Jackson helped me blow out the candles at the party and after everyone left we recreated the event again and again and again. Tyler took the photos below of the process. He got so excited each time :)

 Totally didn't plan it but Abbie and I matched with our coral and cream colors :)