1/4th of July

Jo was interested in how to draw Mickey after seeing all the photos from Disney World.  So I used the memory on how we were taught at the Disney class to teach her.

AWESOME!  She is such a good student and was very proud of her Mickey.

Paper Thompson Rifle w/clip

We are going to have to take stock in scotch tape and paper.  Cole sure creates impressive guns with detail and movable parts.

Another tooth!

Jo wrote to the Tooth Fairy again asking what she looked like and the tooth fair wrote back!

Jo said she is going to ask the Tooth Fairy next time if she could have a picture of her.  Oma and I will see if we can't catch the Fairy in the act of putting that gold coin under the pillow.

Time for a kiddy pool for Doug.

Ok, it turns out that Doug isn't thrilled with water yet but his best buddy Leroy and Jo love the pool.  We will just have to work with Doug and loving water.

Happy 4th!

Their Loot

Those loud ones are horrible! Their called screaming cats or screaming whistles, or screaming *^#(@&!

We also learned that Doug does not much like fireworks.  Poor guy.  We took care of him though.

We then drove to the side of the Expressway like many other spectators and watched the big fireworks after the local rodeo.

Maybe next year we will just go to the Rodeo and enjoy that too.

Family trip to Mt Hood

We met up with the S side of the family for a day in the sun.

Always wanted to try out the Alpine Slide and what a gorgeous day to do it!

Dan (in blue) and then ALL the kids.

(left to right) Cole, Sam, Jo, Lanna, Maggie, Chloe and Jordyn.

The Hamster Balls were a HUGE hit with the kids.

Climb inside and run to make them roll in about a foot of water.

Yes, the kids fell through the holes many times and ended up soaked, and loving it.

Carol and Dan with Mt Hood in the background.

WHAT? Sandy photo bombing!

Lot's of laughs and good family fun.

Jo was the only one who rock climbed.

She climbed up almost as fast as she came down only run to the next activity.

Family picture with Mt Hood.

Kids are sure growing up.

The trampoline bungee was also a hit.

Lanna, Sam and Jo.

Thanks, Bets, for planning this day!

BS Family w/ Jordyn & Uncle Don, Cousin Betsy with Chloe and Sam.

Welcome to Epcot!

Our last full day at Walt Disney World was spent eating our way through Epcot.  We did see quite a few people drinking their way around the world and by the time they were in Canada they were quite "happy".

I didn't really grasp what the Epcot park was like.  I knew it was set up with countries around the world but it still didn't make complete sense.  Oh, I understand now and it was a wonderful way to end our trip.

Started off with tasting drinks from around the world.

They all tasted GREAT!

Ok, not really.

Italy was REALLY bad tasting to all five of us.

However we all enjoyed the soda from Germany.

Still sporting my poncho as Debby was still here.

Or, rather, I was told to take my poncho off as the sun did smile on us this whole day.

Sunny and warm all day!!

And we played a little in each country as well as ate.

 See, no wet heads and still smiling after many days.

This was France and the food was delish!

I just really like this photo of Riley and Mandy.

So I'm posting it.

When I say we ate around the world I wasn't kidding.

We only bought samplers and shared with each other so we could keep eating around the world.  Heck, even Riley was all over tasting each food by this day.  (I don't think he will just be a steak and potato's guy any more.)

Our Moracan Dinner

Waiting for the evening show over the water.

This was a wonderful show with lots of lights and fireworks.  I think the best show is still the Hollywood Disney park.  But all very different and very fun.

Our day of departure we walked around Down Towne Disney a little.  Did a little shopping and just kept it casual and not hurry.

The cartoons came to life in Lego's.  Just amazing!

And time to leave our home away from home.

What a vacation to remember!

The best group of goofballs to vacation with as we came, we saw and we left our mark on some of the employees I'm sure!

Thank you Trish, Andrew, Mandy & Riley!

Hollywood Disney Day

YEAH!

And we are excited yet again, rain or shine!

I did say rain, still.

Tropical Storm Debby joined us for day 3.

Andrew was picked to participate in the Indiana Jones movie.

He played it up on stage and we had extra fun watching.

Star Wars.

Had Mandy take this photo for Cole.

I love Star Wars.

Jedi Andrew: "These are not the guests your looking for."

 Mandy: "Your Jedi mind tricks will not work on, ummm, what?"

Speeder Bike

The chance to sit on a speeder bike? AWESOME!

And look, No Debby!

Andrew and Riley argued who would drive.

The crowd waiting for their photo turn gave us an applause when we finished with our photos.  We were a fun group I tell you what.

Until now that is.

Debby came back again.

Dates with Mr. Incredible & Frozone

Yup, Mandy and I asked to have a date photo with these two.

 Mr. Incredible looked longingly into my eyes while Frozone walked away arm in arm with Mandy after the picture.  Guess they were headed out for a real date.

Mandy then asked if we could arm wrestle Mr. Incredible.

Yes, two against one!

We might be winning...

WAIT!

Mr. Incredible cheated!

He reached around with his other hand and tickled me under my arm pit.

Mandy and I hope they had as much fun as we did.

M-I-C-K-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E

We took a Disney drawing class and learned how to draw Mickey.

We are all artists!

Andrew and I were the only two willing to brave the TOWER OF TERROR!

I think we both thought is was too short of a ride.  FUN!  Would have rode it again if there had not been such a long line.  Where is that Debby to send all those visitors home?

Final activity before heading back for some needed sleep?

Fantasmic show!

They had water spraying up and showed movie pieces on the spray.

Along with live action on this set.

The dragon in the center had started fire on the water and Mickey (bottom right corner) came out to defeat the dragon.

I think this was the BEST ending to all our nights at Walt Disney.

Magic Kingdom day

Day 2 brought us more Debby, however she became a tropical storm instead of a hurricane darn the luck.

We entered Magic Kingdom on this over cast day happy and joyful.

Getting along on day two as we had more days of togetherness in store.

One of the best plaques ever, I might print this and hang at work.

Welcome to my mind's world!

See, happy normal family.

Just chillin' at the MK castle.

Alien Attack!

The challenge?  Shoot the aliens with your laser beam, high score wins.

Serious competitors and not to brag, ok, I will.  Yes, it was me, the winner!

Twice in fact as Andrew couldn't believe I beat them all so I had to do it twice.

Came out of the ride to an arcade thank goodness as it was a waterfall of rain from Debby.  She too will pass so we hung out for a few games and stayed out of our rain gear a little longer.

This four way air hockey was fun, started with one puck and they ended with four flying around the table at the same time.

Lightsaber Build

Yes, you're never to old to build your own Star Wars lightsaber.

Mandy is holding the one Andrew built for Cole, Riley built a double and Andrew, I can't remember what he said about his.

And I just thought this was cute...

Never too old to walk around with a lightsaber sticking out your backpack.
(don't let Riley know I said he was cute with his lightsaber)

Through the Tree House

There are just some things you must always do while in Disney.

Pirates of the Caribbean was fun.

I enjoyed how different the tunnels into each of the rides were.

Have you noticed that we were not wearing our rain gear yet?
It didn't last. However keeping dry was GREAT up to this point!

Thrilled to, yet again, dig out or gear.

Oh, and a HUGE THANKS to Mandy for getting us those as it made it pleasant to be hanging with Debby so much.

Didn't damper our spirits though as we rode the train.

SPLASH!

Thought of Jo while on this ride as it is her favorite.

Oh Trish, we were suppose to look Cool and Calm again.  Well maybe next time. Love this picture!

Who is our secret service to the Presidents?

This was neat as an adult, very educational and emotional for me.

I saw the Presidents when I was a kid and remember that it was a real yawner and thought it took way too long to get back out to the rides and the real fun.

Can you guess where the three of us went?

Hint: The boys didn't want to ride this one.

Does this picture help?

Small World.

Again, a ride that is really a must while visiting the Bid D.

And what did the boys do while we were enjoying "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all ... " (your welcome to putting this song in your head)

They ate Turkey Legs.

Last but not least...

The final  show of the evening.

And that brings us to the end of day 2..

"What character did we park in today?  What number?  Are you sure?"

We did remember each time where the car was.  I laughed as each evening we heard car alarms going off as other guest just used their panic buttons to locate their vehicles.

Yup, all smiling and full of energy still.  We have more days ahead people!  COME ON!

(I bought a new hat this day too.  I love my hat.)