Florida!

Our winter getaway has already come and gone. We had a very good time. I can't say it went as I had imagined, but that's not a negative thing. We spent one day at Sea World, which was "meh...okay"; drove to the Atlantic at New Smyrna Beach where Max got soaked racing the waves and Cate built a sandcastle; and toured three Disney World Parks in 4-1/2 days.

Kyle did have to remind me at one time that if the kids want to wait their day away in lines to meet the Disney characters then that is what we should do because they were so thrilled when they encountered each one.

I wasted my money buying the Unauthorized Guide to Disney World for Kids because once we got there, I didn't even open it up. The kids pretty much guided us to where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. The parks were crazy-packed, but for the most part, everyone was civil. The only truly frustrating time was trying to get across Main Street as people crowded along the sidewalk waiting for the 3pm parade. It was a freaking traffic jam!

In total, we experienced sensory overload; rode a few rides; met many, many characters (see all of them here); ate very badly and were sad to go home at the end of the week.

So enjoy a sampling of the photos we took of our trip. If you're really into it, view all of them here. You should be able to tell in the middle of them that we had themed days for most days. Gaggy? Yeah, a bit; but it certainly made it easier to find each other in the mobs of people.

Manatee at Sea World

Four Things

Shamu Show - "Believe!"

Is that house really upside down? Yes...it's Wonder Works

Max the Astronaut

Cate the astronaut

Tons of fun things in stockings delivered to our hotel room
Running into the waves

Cate making a sandcastle

Max getting really wet

Two people in the way of a fantastic ocean view
Cate was in heaven eating shrimp
The castle at night
Getting Princess Aurora's (Sleeping Beauty) autograph
Princess Aurora is ready with the ultimate Princess pose
Meeting Minnie and Mickey
We learned that Max really likes Donald Duck
Hugs for Donald
Family photo with Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Even Santa hangs out at WDW Running them ragged after many days helps them sleep well

Santa Goofy--notice all three heads tilted!
Another Donald encounter--can you tell who was so thrilled?

Donald autographed stuffed Donald's foot!

Dinoland USA in Animal Kingdom

Yeah, that's right...Mickey waffles!

Just about ready

We're less than 48 hours away from departing for our vacation to Florida. The preparations thus far have been quite smooth. We really don't have any last minute things to do, so the last night home will be a calm one.

We're headed down to Orlando, Florida to spend Christmas with a certain Mouse and several Princesses. It will be a dream come true for two little ones. It's nice to be able to grant wishes.

I checked the temps today. It looks like it will be in the 60s when we're there. That's about 50 degrees warmer than it is here, so we'll enjoy it. I'm hoping it will be too cool for others to think about going to the Parks and the lines will be that much more manageable. We'll see.

So maybe you'll hear from us during the week and maybe you won't.

If not, well...I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. We'll be thinking about you.

Girls' Weekend, Here I Come!

Tomorrow evening, I and my best girlfriends from high-school head out on our seventh annual weekend getaway. This evening it occurred to me that Kyle is being left with a lot to do. Cate has swim lessons Saturday morning, a birthday party Saturday evening. He has to try to find someone to watch the kids Sunday morning so he can go to choir practice and sing at Mass.

I can't wait to get away...downtown Saint Paul, here we come!

Photos I took while on a walk

Here are a few extra photos I took while I was out for a walk one night after dinner. This is also the same road I would run, so there's no wonder I was able to just relax and go.

Photo Highlights of our week up north

Saturday, July 5

Our Cabin

Sunday, July 6

Max and Kyle in the pool

Cate in the pool

Max watching Papa ready the fishing poles

Cate waiting for a bite on her line

Monday, July 7

Max "helping" Grandma with the green beans

Papa sharing his strawberry sundae with Max

Tuesday, July 8

Cate making easy chocolate crescent rolls (I ate a lot of them)

Tie-dye prep time

Family around the bonfire

Cate watching the bonfire from inside

Max and Cate enjoying their s'mores

Thursday, July 10

Cate fishing from the boat on the lake

Jennifer and Cate (by this time, she was "over" fishing and wanted to get back onto shore)

Papa, Cate and Grandma with Grandma's fish
Cate modeling her new tie-dye t-shirt

Cate and Jennifer in new tie-dye t-shirts

Kyle helping Max roast a marshmallow

Max, Papa and Cate

Friday, July 11

Sweet picture of Max at Itasca State Park

Cate and Nick crossing the headwaters of the Mississippi River

Cate in the Mississippi River

Max and Cate at Itasca State Park

The final sunset