Memorial Day weekend 2008

Kim here. Thought this would be an easy way to update you all on our wonderful weekend.

We went to San Marcos, Texas this weekend. We stayed at Pecan Park RV park.
Our first non-state park campout since we arrived in Texas.

Friday- did not arrive until around 9:30pm. Set up in the dark, off to bed!

Saturday- breakfast- cinnamon rolls in my new Dutch oven. Sooo good!
We rented a canoe for the day. They were at first hesitant to let us do a trip until they found out were used to be whitewater kayakers. The river is not rough, but winding and has 2 class I rapids on it. Lots of down trees. Just need to be able to read water and you are good to go. As we were waiting for them to bring the canoe down to the water we see friends of ours floating down towards us on tubes. We had no idea we were camping so close to them. A fun surprise. We canoed for about 2+ hours. Ran a couple of rapids- the kids loved them!!. We saw cows, turtles, snakes, wild turkeys and ducks and only about 8 other people. Both boys spent time paddling and both took mini-naps inside the canoe.

Once back at the campground we swam for about 2 hours and then cooked chicken and rice in the Dutch oven. Again- so good. Seeing a theme to our cooking yet? We headed over to the Jones' (our friends we saw on the river) and spent about an hour visiting at their campfire, then home and off to bed.

Sunday: Breakfast- homemade biscuits- a bit dry, but still good.
Tubing time- we found a place that will provide an inexpensive shuttle. We climbed into our 4 tubes and spent about an hour floating the river (San Marcos). It is spring fed and around 72 degrees year round. The boys loved having their own tubes and the freedom to jump around in them. They had recommended we take out before the "waterfall". Well they don't know our boys. Team Mast spent the next 2 hours shooting "tube chutes". I wish we had a picture. It is a 3 drop waterfall, the first part the biggest with a chute into about 3 standing waves then down 2 more drops. Benjamin always went down on one of our laps, Samuel did run it by himself. So proud! We ate lunch by the river and then decided to float it one more time. Samuel wanted to sleep in his tube going down river. We ran the chute one more time and finally made it back to the campground at dinner time. Dinner was beef stroganoff in the Dutch oven. Yummy. The 4 of us walked down to the river for one last view, then hit the showers and fell into bed exhausted.

Monday: That's right- cinnamon rolls in the Dutch oven. Check out was at noon so we packed up, let the kids play on the playground and headed home. Only about a 3 hour trip home.

A fantastic family weekend. We had wondered how the boys would do with just us parents as playmates and no other camping buddies. Well- it was grand.


Samuel's favorite thing: "floating down the river"
Benjamin's favorite thing: "my favorite part was going camping"


Pictures below- there are very few

Memorial Day weekend

Samuel's 7th birthday party

Today was his birthday party. What fun.
We had 8 boys here. Here is how it went...

Arrived- put on their trainer necklaces (cut out cardboard circles)- goal earn 8 badges.

Badge #1: Draw their own pokemon on shrinky dink paper- Samuel was the only one who had ever done shrinky dinks before. Then they made Perler bead pokeballs. (Slight panic on my part- this took much longer than expected!)

Badge #2: pin the fire tail on chimchar- blindfolded climb through a tunnel then Chris would spin them at the end-

Badge #3: Catch the pokeball- think hot potato

Badge #4: Rock smash- break balloons- find the 8 with a message hidden inside. (didn't quite get the balloons full enough- tough time breaking them)

Badge #5: Egg hunt- 58 eggs hidden- find the 8 camoflage eggs with the hidden message inside

Badge #6: Attack the pokemon characters hanging on the fence with silly string- a tradition at his parties.

Badges 7 & 8: An obstacle course set up by Chris- a huge hit. The best part was one of those balls with a handle that you sit on and bounce. The kids kept falling off and laughing!

Now- hot and tired we went inside for pizza-cupcakes and presents.

All are gone now. He got some nice presents and had a great time. We are tired and glad to have it behind us. A very nice group of boys. Pictures below.

Samuel's 7th birthday party

Home

Up at 7am, packed and out the door at 8:15 for our shuttle to the front of the campground.

At the front desk they take our luggage and tag it and print our boarding passes. Now when we get to the airport all that is left is for us to go through security.

The Disney magical express bus picks us up and transports us for free to the airport. Of course there is a short video to watch while you are traveling.

Uneventful flight until we land.

Benjamin refuses to get off the plane. "I no go home, I live in cabins." Chris waits until every person gets off the plane, then escorts a crying Benjamin off.

They both sleep on the way home. Once home out come the legos from the Lego store at Disney and back to reality.

Thanks for reading.

It was an amazing week, an amazing trip, an amazing time as a family. We will go back!

pics below

Home

Last day at Disney

Up at 7:30- to the Magic Kingdom for one last day.

We rode the boat over and arrived at the park as the opening music was playing.
Each person got to pick their 2 favorite rides for one last go around today.

Here are the choices:
Samuel: Indy race cars- big thunder mountain
benjamin: goofy barnstormer, carousel
Kim: pooh bear and peter pan
chris: pirates of carribean, transit authority

Well it turns out there were NO lines. It was amazing. We rode Pooh bear back to back. We just hopped from ride to ride. By 11am we had been on all of the above plus some for a total of 11 rides. We rode the transit authority around twice. It was cool, the lights were on in Space Mountain so we could see the roller coaster tracks.

It started to spit rain as we left to head to Downtown disney. We rode the monorail again. We got to ride in the conductors cabin up front. So fun. The conductor was from Illinois. From there we toured the Grand Floridian and then boarded a bus for Downtown Disney. Benjamin fell asleep on the bus ride over. We hit some shops- too busy for all of us.

From here we went to the Boardwalk. We rented a 2 seater bike with a front basket for the kids to sit in. Just as we are about to pull away it started to pour. Benjamin wouldn't sit in the rain so he sat between us under the cover and samuel put on a poncho and rode up front. He LOVED it. Every time we hit a bump the rain would poor off the canopy onto Samuel's head. He and we laughed so hard.

Dinner: The flying fish
so yummy- again the kids ate our food instead of the kids meal

We took a bus to the magic kingdom then the boat to our cabins. Samuel quietly cried as we pulled away from the magic kingdom.

Bed: 8:30

we pack and get ready to head out.

pics below

Last day at disney

Disney- day 5

Up at 7am- when will they learn to sleep in?
Out the door and to the Animal Kingdom by 8:40am.

Colder today- still beautiful.

Rides: Safari
Expedition Everest- samuel rode x 3, kim x 2, chris x 2
Triceritop spin- benjamin x 5
Primeval spin
Dinosaur
Lion King and Nemo shows- very very good

Characters; Pooh, piglet, eeyore, tigger- no lines at all. So wonderful.

Today was low key. The boys spent over an hour playing at a play ground and sand pit called the Boneyard. We got to talk with lots of nice people.

On the bus ride home Benjamin made friends with a little boy. As we were getting off the bus he says, "bye bye friend".

More pin collecting and autographs today.

Expedition everest has got to be the greatest roller coaster ever and yes I have been to Cedar Point. You do a portion of the ride backwards and in the dark. I think Samuel would ride it 100 more times.

Dinner: Boma
Our favorite place of the week. A buffet filled with African food at the Animal kingdom lodge. The boys loved it. Samuel wants to stay at this lodge next time we go so he can eat at Boma every day.

Bed: 830

pics below

Disney day 5

Disney- Day 4

Boys up at 7:30 and off to epcot by 8:45am.

Today we made the wise decision to get a double stroller. Samuel is wearing from all the walking. A wise decision!

Almost no lines today. The weather is overcast but beautiful.

Rides today: Test track- samuel rode 3x
Nemo- benjamin rode 3x
Soarin- kim's favorite
Living with the land, Universe of Energy, Imagination, Spaceship earth

Characters today: Mickey, minnie, pluto, goofy, chip and dale, genie

Dinner: Marrakesh- morrocan food- so good. kids got the kids meals and ate our food!

We got to ride the monorail today. So much fun.

For the first time we had rain as we left the park- everyone put on Ponchos and enjoyed the walk.

Today Samuel has enjoyed getting all the characters autographs. Different from his trip 5 years ago. Benjamin just loves to hug every character he can find. Both boys want lanyards with disney pins. Pin trading is a big deal, but no trading here, they just like to collect some of their favorites. Samuels are the rides he has been on, Benjamins are characters.

Memories: As soon as it gets dark on a ride, Benjamin will reach over and say, "you hold my hand". Never afraid after that.

Bed: 8:15

Pics below

Disney- day 4

Disney -Day 3

Boys up at 8am. To MGM- now called Disney's Hollywood Studios. Arrive 9:30am

Day full of shows. While one of us rode the bigger rides with Samuel the other would take Benjamin to shows.

The boys have been collecting those stamped pennies from each park. Very fun.

Rides/shows: Tower of Terror- Samuel and kim
Rockin roller coaster- chris only
Star tours- Samuel and Chris
Little mermaid, Beauty and the beast, Indy jones stunt show, Star wars demonstration, muppet 3-D movie.

Home for a brief nap at 3:30.

Back to MGM at 6pm for the evening show Fantasmic. Ate at the show. It was so wonderful. Everyone loved it.

In Bed: 9pm

Pics below- including some from our cabin. It had a back bedroom with bunk beds and a full bed. Bathroom, full kitchen and murphy bed. We ate breakfast each morning there and took a packed lunch into the park. Dinner was all Disney!

Disney- day 3

Disney- Day 2

Up at 7am- breakfast in cabin- off to the Magic Kingdom

Beautiful day. Sunny and in the 70's. With the holiday over lines are much shorter. Longest wait was 20 mins. Will be the longest wait of the week!

Rides today: Peter Pan, Dumbo, Pirates of Carribean, Space Mountain, Mickey Philharmonic, Big Thunder Mountain, Its a small world, Poohs ride, Carosel, Transit Authority, Speedway, Carosel of Progress, Train, Buzz lightyear, and Goof Barnstormer.

Favorite memory: While riding the train around the park the boys got to be honorary conductors. They rode in the back of the train with the conductor and gave the "all aboard" and their names.

Characters seen today: Pooh, eeyore, Mickey, Piglet, Tigger

Samuel's favorite ride: Big thunder mountain- roller coaster
Benjamin's favorite ride: Goofy Barnstormer- roller coaster
Kim's favorite ride: Big Thunder mountain
Chris' favorite ride: Big Thunder mountain

Cool disney feature- rider switch- one parent goes up and rides with Samuel who is tall enough to ride that ride, the other parent gets a rider switch ticket and sits with Benjamain. As soon as they get off, the other parent plus up to 2 more people get in the fast pass line and wait a max of 5 mins. to ride the ride. Samuel rode many coasters back to back with us.

Dinner: Crystal Palace- character meal buffet dinner. Chef came out and walked us through the line to tell me what was safe for samuel to eat.

Favorite dinner memory: Benjamin is waving and bouncy in his seat at Pooh bear, waiting for him to get to our table. Just as Pooh arrives, Benjamin falls out of his seat with excitement and hits his head on the ground. Note the picture of him sobbing with Pooh. Once he recovers, we find Pooh is more than willing to see him again. Benjamin dives into his arms as Pooh bear rubs his head.

Bedtime: 8:30

Pics below

Disney- Day 2

Disney- Day 1

We left Grams house and raced to get the rental car back in time- no sweat, 30 secs. to spare.

We took the shuttle to the cabins, unpacked the food and hit the road to the Magic Kingdom (4pm).

The lines were long today. While waiting we saw some friends the boys know from Adventure guides. Go figure.

Rides: Pooh ride, Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion

Dinner: Whispering Canyon in the Wilderness Lodge

Bed: 10pm

Pictures from Day 1 below

Disney Day 1

Florida 2008

I thought I would try and get some information regarding our trip on the blog for all to enjoy.

We started out trip with a stop at Great Grandma's house. What a great time. We were quickly joined by Frank and his family. The cousins had so much fun together. It was a fast but wonderful 48 hours.

Those we got to visit with include: Great Grandma, Grandma, Uncle Keith and Aunt Salli, Joshua, Frank, Katherine, Olivia and Elias.

Florida 2008