Walt Disney World Day Three--Animal Kingdom

Our third day was the last day with Erik's mom. Her flight left in the early afternoon so there was no point going to a park and risking losing track of time. Instead we headed over to the Disney Marketplace and had fun looking around at some of the various shops. Erik then dropped Timmy and I off to take a nap while he took his mom to the airport. 

When Erik got back we headed over to Animal Kingdom again. This time we went into the Dinosaur area and enjoyed some of the rides over there.

Timmy and I by a pirate skeleton at the Disney Marketplace

Timmy and Grandma by Buzz Lightyear

Timmy in the temporary Lego store by a Lego Woody from Toy Story

 Me with Timmy after getting soaked on the Kali River Rapids

Erik with Timmy after getting soaked on the Kali River Rapids

Looking at all the different birds that we might be able to see

Erik on Expedition Everest (he's about halfway up in the red shirt)

Timmy and I on TriceraTop Spin

Timmy and I with Pluto and Goofy

Walt Disney World Day Two--Magic Kingdom

For our second day we decided to go to the Magic Kingdom. I had read in the guidebooks that before the park opens Mickey and his whole gang ride up on the train and welcome everyone. So we got up early, ate some breakfast and then headed over on the ferry (Timmy's choice). We saw the train come as we were just getting up to the gates but Mickey and his gang weren't on it (not that we saw anyway). Oh well.

We were going to get started right away but Timmy wasn't having the best time. He wanted to go back to the hotel right away. After some deliberation, Erik and I decided that we would go to a character breakfast buffet. Timmy ate a ton of food so he must have still been really hungry. Erik had a great idea and I'm really glad that we went to the breakfast.

Here's a shot of the castle

Timmy with Winnie the Pooh--he was so excited to see him coming around to the tables

Timmy seeing Eeyore come to the table

Eeyore, Timmy and Erik

Me, Timmy and Tigger

We have pictures with Piglet too but seeing as he is my least favorite...if you want to see some pictures with Piglet (and a lot more) there are pictures on my Facebook account.

A family shot on the way to Adventureland

Timmy and I on Aladdin's Flying Carpets

Timmy with Aladdin and Jasmine

The kiss that Jasmine planted on his face (we let it stay there the rest of the day)

In the Magic Kingdom we went on a lot of rides. We walked through the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House (for some reason I've always enjoyed this--simple as it is). We then went on Aladdin's Flying Carpets and Pirates of the Caribbean while we waited for our FastPass time for the Jungle Cruise. After that Timmy got his picture taken with Aladdin and Jasmine we went over to Splash Mountain. Erik got FastPass tickets for him and Timmy to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and then we went on Splash Mountain. Timmy LOVED Splash Mountain and wanted to go on again right away (we didn't). After Splash Mountain we took the Railroad around the park (I don't remember ever doing that) before Timmy and Erik rode on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Erik's mom and I waited for them--and I got a show I wish I hadn't. Turns out that if you are wearing a skirt and bend down to prepare a bottle that wearing underwear that covers everything is probably a good idea. Just a thought.

Timmy wasn't as big a fan of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as he was of Splash Mountain (he didn't want to go on again) but later said it was one of his favorite rides. We got some lunch and then went on the Haunted Mansion. Erik and I had not been able to go on the Haunted Mansion when we were there for our honeymoon because it was being renovated and cleaned--what a disappointment! Timmy was not a fan of the Haunted Mansion but that's because of the pure dark that you get plunged into before the ride, he actually didn't seem to mind the ride itself.

After the Haunted Mansion we went on It's a Small World which Timmy really enjoyed. After that he wanted to go on Peter Pan and so we waited in line forever (literally about an hour) for the ride. It was the longest wait we had the entire trip but he seemed to enjoy the ride a lot. The long wait actually seemed to work out well because Timmy was able to take a few bathroom breaks before the ride.

That was the last ride we went on of the day and actually called it a day not too long there after. We went out to dinner with Erik's mom before heading back so she could pack and we went to the pool. It was the only time we went in the pool the whole trip but it was a fun time.

Leaving On a Jet Plane

A few weeks ago we were able to take our first true vacation since Timmy was born. We've been able to go on trips before but they were always to visit family. There's nothing wrong with taking trips to see family, but sometimes you want to actually do something for yourself.

Erik and I both love Disney World and Timmy really enjoys a lot of things Disney. We started talking and planning this trip last Easter (so Easter 2010) and then talking about it in more concrete terms beginning in August and November. We opened the trip up to whomever would be able to come. Erik's mom was able to come with us for a few days but she was the only one. It would be great to take a trip like this again with more family but that's for some time down the road.

Here are a few pictures of us getting ready to go.

Timmy and I waiting at the airport

Family picture

Us on the airplane--I can't believe that Timmy is old enough to sit in his seat without a carseat!

Train Fest 2010

For the past two years we've been going to Train Fest during November. It's a nice time to see a lot of model trains set up and just enjoy some of the simple pleasures (at least that Timmy enjoys).

Timmy by one of the first train sets

Timmy and I by a larger train set (guess I make a pretty good stool to stand on)

Timmy and Daddy looking at trains

Timmy by some of the Lego set up--this was pretty sweet--you can see Lego Hogwarts in the background

Lego Eiffel tower

Lego Chicao

Building with Legos

Such concentration

Waiting for the train to come by

A little fire station

More trains!

Timmy waving as the train goes by

Looking at more trains with Daddy

One of the smallest scale trains I have ever seen

Halloween

This year for Halloween Timmy went at Buzz Lightyear. We were able to find him a costume for pretty cheap at Toys R Us (and it was made of sweatshirt material--awesome!) and overall he seemed to really like it.

Here he is in his Buzz Lightyear pose

Since Timmy's costume didn't have wings, I asked my brother for some help making wings. Here are the awesome wings that Paul created for Timmy's costume. The ends of the wings even light up!

Timmy out trick or treating (you can clearly see the wings). He had a great time and I'm so glad that we were able to enhance his costume a little bit.

Apple Picking

Back at the beginning of October, we decided to go apple picking. We've done it the past few years and have really enjoyed it a lot. This year, we decided to invite family and friends to go along with us. It took a while to figure out a date but once that was decided we were good to go.

It was hot when we finally went, well, hot for October. It was in the mid-seventies with not a cloud in the sky. That's pretty warm for us. Since we'd had a warmer fall anyway, turns out that apple picking had been pretty popular. We ended up not picking the apples from a tree but selecting them from some barrels. Oh well, it was a fun time anyway.

Timmy with Erik and Jake

Timmy with Amy and I

Erik, Timmy and Paul (Gretchen's husband) looking for apples

Beth trying to avoid the sun (and my camera?)

Timmy offering a taste of his delicious apple to Uncle Jake

Gretchen and Timmy still looking for apples

Timmy with our basket after the selection process

Look how strong he is!

Bowling

Last weekend we wanted to take Timmy bowling but they didn't have any bumper lanes available by the time we went (it wasn't even 6 yet but whatever). Today I decided we would go again. I really wanted to give it a try and was unsure of how it would go. Timmy LOVED it! He was so excited to learn how to roll the ball down the lane and eventually didn't even want any help with it. We went earlier this afternoon and then came home for naps. Timmy just asked about 15 minutes ago if we could go bowling tonight. Not tonight, little man, but we will be going again. Success!

Timmy looking at his bowling ball while Daddy sets up the names

Daddy putting his bowling shoes on

And it's off (sorry for the blur, didn't have the flash on so it wouldn't distract other bowlers)

So serious!

Mommy's turn to help

Watching the ball go down the lane

He loved being able to get his ball and take his turn

Not so great about waiting to see the results of his bowling though

Ready, set, bowl!

Watching the ball

Final score. Pretty horrible for Erik and I but a great first for Timmy