Disney World

Since moving to Tennessee, it has become a tradition to take a vacation during the kids' week-long fall break each year! It is my favorite vacation of the year because I love the Fall temperatures and the low crowds this time of year.  Usually we try to plan long in advance so we can get reservations and such. However, this year's planning didn't go as smooth as most. 

First, there were a couple options where different parts of us would be going different places. I really wanted to be together since it will be our last fall break with everyone before Alex leaves on his mission. Through many discussions, we decided to stay together. 

Once we finally made that decision, Eric realized that he hadn't written it down on his work calendar (which he usually does 6 months in advance). In the meantime, 3 other people had asked for that week off.  In the spirit of compromise, his work decided to split the week and give Eric Thursday and Friday of the week before and Monday and Tuesday of fall break.  Not our favorite solution, but we were grateful for their generosity and decided we'd work with it.  So with lots of help from Kyle, we made plans to come to Florida.

Then, about a week before the vacation was to start, the government shutdown!!! Since Eric works for the government, they told him that he had to keep working without pay in hopes that backpay would be included in the resolution and all leave was CANCELLED!!  We were distraught.  The kids kept asking about fall break. We didnt know when the government would reopen. Finally, the DAY before we were to leave, Eric got permission for leave.  Needless to say, a lot was up in the air up until the very last minute. 

Eric left Wednesday night for a golf tournament with his brother and dad on Thursday. He took Jarem with him. I brought the rest of the kids Thursday after school to meet them in Huntsville, Alabama at Kyle and Jes' house.  

Someone had the brilliant idea of waking up at 2am Friday morning and driving to Florida. (Truth be told, we all agreed to the 2am plan because we wanted to get there before the water slides closed at the hotel).  Micah didn't go to sleep until 10pm and then woke up at 12:45am and had no plans of going back to sleep.  He was fine with me holding him unless I got near his bed, then he would cry.  I wanted Eric to get some sleep so he could drive and didn't want to wake the other kids, so there was no place to take Micah where I wouldn't disturb someone.  I walked around and rocked him until 2 am and he was still wide awake.  Then I woke Eric up and said, "Lets go". My only hope of Micah going back to sleep was in the car. He hated the pack n play. 

Kyle and Jes said they were getting up at 2am to go also. Eric got up and we packed up our few things and then we waited. Kyle and Jes weren't up yet. The house alarm was on.  We didn't want to set it off.  We didn't know the code.  We didn't want to wake up Kyle and Jes cause I knew Jes had been up multiple times with her kids too, so there we sat. We woke up our other kids and still couldn't get out. Finally, Eric texted Kyle and he came and set us free!!  Kyle and Jes got packed up in record time and we were on the road by 3:30am!  

Now I'll be brief. The trip was smooth. We got to the hotel(which Kyle found and was AWESOME for $99 a night). It had water slides and everything and was super fancy.  We swam, played on the water slides, and slept. The next day we spent at Magic Kingdom. There were some new things in Fantasyland with two new castles.  

Alex holding Micah on the monorail

Baby's first time at Disney

Our first family photo with Micah. (of course he is looking away)

Waiting for speedway race cars

Yep, I'm driving and it WAS a bumpy ride but Eric promised not to say a word. Our car had problems.  The steering wheel was super loose and you had to turn it all the way one way or the other for it to turn at all.  Eric thought it was hilarious that I couldn't drive it! :)

My brother, James and wife RaTray spent the day with us. They live in Orlando now. It was great having them along. 

Micah and his Daddy

The girls with Grandma Cindi who also spent the day with us. It was nice having her along as well. 

Micah's first ride on Dumbo!

Jes and Grandma riding Dumbo

Kyle, Jes, Tessa, Taegan, and Porter. We had a great group. 

Cool interactive honey walls while waiting in line for Winnie the Pooh ride. 

Alex's body formed into honey

Tangled 

Micah sleeping in the stroller. He was such a good boy all day. 

Jesikah took a picture of me taking a nursing break. She thought his little hand sticking up was so funny.  He loves to try to reach for my mouth and nose now when I feed him.  He did not like being covered and fought it.  I just wished I could find a place to sit with an armrest or a backrest, but most places to sit were backless benches with not side rails.  It was painful to sit that way when feeding him.

The others waiting too. Everyone was very patient.

Jarems favorite ride at Disney. He kept asking to go again. 

Another nursing break courtesy of Jesikah. :)

All in all, a tiring but great day!! I loved the new Little Mermaid ride and the new castles.