Orlando fun!

The first full day at the hotel we spent playing at the parts and possibly swimming? Can't remember for sure! The next day we stocked up on tons of lego at Downtown Disney and went to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch.  All of us were so happy to be able to go outside!! And we really love being able to go back to a familiar place every year.  It's so low stress that way.

Off to Orlando!

This was our fifth year in a row to Orlando.  Although in the past I have blogged about every day, as they were often action packed, we really relaxed a lot on this trip, and most days were really quite similar.  I won't have too much to say in terms of the things we did! 

Our flight was at a slightly more reasonable hour this year: 8:30.  Waking up at 4:30 was just fine, and we managed to get to the airport lounge to have a bit of breakfast for about 25 minutes.  We did have to go to the gate to attempt to sort out our really bad seating arrangement that had been giving me nightmares for weeks.  In the end we were able to swap around with people and sit all in a row.  This will be the last plane ride having to hold a toddler in our laps.  The next time we fly Henry will be 2.  It's still so much easier for Mike to hold Henry.  He is calmer when he sits with Mike for some reason, and so am I.  I don't like holding him for take off and landing as I am really nervous during that time.  It's better for mike to be able to hold him a lot tighter.  We had it a bit easier this time as Henry now likes tv shows and the iPad.  Our flight was really smooth, and soon we were in warm Orlando.  It was a beautiful day.  We went for McDonalds upon arrival as it is tradition, even though it made us feel gross, and didn't bode well with the stomach bug that Rose and Paige had.  

Our room wasn't ready at first, so we ended up changing at the pool and playing at the "sand park" by our soon-to-be room.  I went to the store to grocery shop after a little while and when I got back we went into the room with the food and all of our stuff and mike immediately set off to get Grandma Val who had just arrived.  Yay!

 This is one of my favourite photos ever.  Someone said it looks like "Henry's Angels", and that is so true!

Mommy/daughter outing

Rose and I went for a pre-Florida manicure and pedicure.  Paige already had her nails done a few days earlier with her Brownie group at a spa (??!).
Rose was really excited, and very patient even though mine took so much longer.  I think she was so worried about letting it fry properly that she just sat very still.  She was so happy with it, and the lady painted flowers on her big toes and thumbs.

Barbie and Let it Go

Henry in Elsa shoes.  He still loves singing and dancing to "Let it Go".  It has been going on for about  a month and a half now.  He plays with the Anna and Elsa doll non stop, and constantly talks about him.  His favourite show is still Barbie, and he has been asking to wear dresses.  He probably won't like any of this information when he's older, but really he's just being the cutest little brother, and trying to be just like Rose.

Henry's class

Henry at his Wednesday morning class.

Baking with mommy

Henry was a great helper.  He carefully poured in the ingredients, and helped to stir the cookie dough.   He was ecstatic when we dumped in the chocolate chips, and immediately started eating them.  It was confusing for him that he couldn't eat the raw dough when it was on the cookie sheet unbaked.

Outside fun

A little bit of outside fun a few weeks back...

Taking liberties

Henry is climbing a LOT now.  He climbs up onto the kitchen table and crawls right across it.  What a little scammer.  He prefers to eat his after school snack on a real chair now too. 

Great Wolf Lodge December 2014

A few days after Christmas we packed up our bathing suits and drove to Great Wold Lodge! The great thing about the hotel/waterpark is that it can only be so full.  It's not like going to Disney World and battling through the crowds.  At GWL you can only go to the waterpark if you are staying at the hotel.  

Mike and I both had colds, so that part was kind of a bummer, but the kids were fine.  However, when we got to the hotel and Henry woke up from his car seat nap he had a severe limp?? So weird.  We had no idea what it was at the time and it was slightly worrying, but we have since decided he must have slept funny in his car seat and caused some sort of sciatic nerve problem or something.  Who knows! It lasted for about 5 days.  

Anyway, after we got there and checked in, we went to the waterpark for a few hours.  This time Rose was a little less nervous.  Paige still isn't tall enough to go on most slides, but i think that helps keep us all together.  I get super cold there so it's hard to wait around if we split up.  Mike took Henry on the wooly mammoth this time, while the girls and i went in a separate tube.  Apparently Henry was saying no and repeatedly saying "mommy daddy mommy daddy", since he was scared.  

Because of our colds, we spent a little more time doing MagiQuest this time.  We figured out how the whole thing works and rather than randomly running around with wands, the girls completed 2 quests.  What a way to get you to go back.  There are multiple quests and you can just pick right back up the next time you go back.  

Here is Paige's fake note she left in the room from the "hotel staff" when we got back from breakfast. I had told her we had to go back and check out but could still go to the waterpark.  I laughed so hard when I saw it.

So even though we checked out we were able to put our stuff in the car minus one backpack with clothes and shoes, and go back to the waterpark.

We decided to make the most of the day and get Henry to sleep in the stroller while the girls did more questing, rather than going home.  Poor Henry was done and was having a tantrum because he couldn't spoon his ice cream into his mouth properly.  He was flinging it onto the floor.  As soon as we got the stroller he fell asleep in about 10 seconds.

So the girls both want to go back for their birthdays.  May be a lot more GWL in the future.  At least its a short drive, and 1 night feels like a long time there.

Boxing day present opening

Often we open presents with the McLaren/Davoren's on Boxing day.  We had the usual crepe lunch and lots of coffee!

Paige's new horse