Disney World! Cadie & Kam 12th Birthday Trip

Wednesday: 6:30pm flight to Orlando

Landen dropped us off and we didn't have any problems. We got there pretty late at night and rented a car to head to the hotel. We stayed at the Old Key West resort and it was awesome! We had groceries delivered to the hotel so the kids could have some food before dinner and we could eat breakfast before we went to Magic Kingdom on Thursday morning. Our hotel was one of the trip highlights. We had plenty of room for everyone! Cadie and Kamryn had their own room with 2 queen beds and a bathroom. Jack Ranger slept on the pull out couch in the living room. Grant and I had a huge room with a king bed and a big bathroom with a jacuzzi tub that was more like a small swimming pool. Colton floated around the condo and slept once in the laundry room, once on the floor in our room, etc. We were right across the street from the main clubhouse and the kids went swimming every night.

Thursday: Magic Kingdom

We were up bright and early to head to Magic Kingdom! We were really glad we had rented a car because buses and transportation were running less frequently and fewer people were allowed on. We parked and then rode the ferry over to Magic Kingdom. There were lots of changes due to COVID. No fast passes, no character meet & greets, no magic hours, no dining plans, parks closed early around 6pm with no evening activities (e.g., no fireworks) and long lines with 6 ft. markers between groups. With all the changes, it wasn't nearly as magical. We still had a good time and the kids loved riding Space Mountain 5x in a row, they loved the "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" ride, and we were all thankful Grant made us a lunch reservation at The Liberty Tavern. It rained a bit in the afternoon, but we didn't get too wet and that helped to clear out a bit of the crowd. 

Friday: Hollywood Studios

Mickey's Runaway Railway was my favorite new ride at Disney. Since there we no fast passes, we did a lot of "Mom Fast Passes" where I waited in a long line while Grant and the kids did other rides. I waited at Mickey's Runaway Railway for about an hour while they did the Rockin Rollercoaster and the Tower of Terror. I was so glad that I waited because I loved it! We also enjoyed seeing the new Star Wars area and the new Toy Story Land. We were a bit disappointed that the big new Star Wars ride "Rise of the Resistance" filled up on the virtual line within seconds. We ate lunch at Mama Melrose's. I was so thankful that Grant had made lunch reservations because all the food places were packed! We also needed the break each day. We didn't really take any good pictures on Friday. I also had to head back early on Friday for a work event. I then went and picked up Grant and the kids from the Swan and Dolphin resort so they could ride the new gondola. We went to eat at Denny's and everyone was tired and starving.

Saturday: Epcot

We did all the good stuff at Epcot! My favorite ride that I hadn't done before was the Frozen ride. I also loved the Coral Reef restaurant. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, we had already made a loop around the lake and we were ready for a break and it was such a surprise! We sat right in front of the huge aquarium. It was beautiful.

Sunday: Animal Kingdom

Our last day! We packed up the car and checked out before we went to the park. This was the rainiest day, but the kids didn't seem to mind it too much. We had fun lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and the girls got a huge dessert with a sparkler! The kids rode Expedition Everest 3x and they loved it! We also tried a new ride since we were already wet, Kali River Rapids, and it was a big disappointment. We were ready to get soaked and the ride was short and not very exciting. We wrapped up the day with A Bugs Life, which always makes me scream, and then some souvenir shopping. We headed to the airport for our 7:30pm flight back home. We were all a bit tired, but we made the most of our 4 days!

Back to School

What a mess of a back to school season. The kids were virtual Aug. 27-Sept. 4 and then back into the classrooms at school on Tuesday, Sept. 8 after Labor Day. Nina and Papa helped a ton, especially with Colton, during virtual school. Colton and Ranger also tried a week of the learning academy at the YMCA, which I had hoped would be fun, but they didn't like it at all. We made it through, but it wasn't pretty. One of the craziest things was that Ranger was put in a virtual class and we didn't find out until a week after school had started when Grant started to ask some questions. Mrs. Judd let Ranger pick his class because of the mistake and he picked Mrs. Chancey so he could be with Hunter Meyers.

Colton: Mrs. Virginia Schmidt with lots of his friends (Luke, Hayden)

Ranger: Mrs. Hannah Chancey

Cadie: First, Cindy Hodgkinson, but then she didn't come back after virtual school. Then, long term sub, who Cadie really liked, named Ms. Anne Iler. Then, a new advisory teacher named Julie Magusiak.

A few new things:

- Cadie doesn't get to have a locker due to COVID, not sure why, and her backpack is SO heavy.

- Kids have to wear masks all day and they each have a specific door they have to go in and out

- Colton and Ranger have a plexi-glass barrier that they have in their classroom and they carry with them to lunch

- Each class has a designated area for recess so that they don't interact with other classes, and they have assigned seats at lunch

Good-bye Daisy and Bluer

Daisy has moved to tortoise paradise at the home of Carol Swingle and Bluer has moved on to fishy heaven. Cadie decided she didn't feel attached to Daisy anymore and so I posted an ad on Park Cities Chatter. A turtle and tortoise enthusiast in the neighborhood paid Cadie $100 for Daisy. Daisy is going to be so much happier in her huge backyard.

Just shortly after the Daisy good-bye, Bluer reached the end of his long beta life. The kids were not very shaken up about it and I had to try to get them to look sad as we took a final picture and then flushed her with reverence.

Colton is 7!

 We had a really fun and really HOT birthday party for Mr. Colton Alexander. Luke and Colton celebrated together with a HUGE blow-up waterslide in Breah's yard. We had pizza and cookie cake which was decorated by Cadie. Then, around dark the party moved to Curtis Park for more cookies, rocket copters and glow sticks. It was an all day event!

Other birthday festivities included:

- Colton, Mom and Dad dinner date to Sushi Kyoto for fried rice, one of Colton's favorites

- Turkey sub dinner (Colton's pick) with homemade chocolate cake at Nina and Papa's house

- New bed tents for both Colton and Jack Ranger

Colton is an awesome 7-year-old. He still gets in bed with us in the mornings about half of the time. He LOVES baths and sometimes wants to take a bath in the morning and another in the evening. He dresses the way he wants and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. He is quickly learning to read. He has a silly laugh and loves to tell riddles and jokes. He loves to ride his bike and sometimes just rides in circles around our block. He gives huge hugs and is friends with everyone.

Jack Ranger Heads back for more!

 On Saturday, we asked all three kids if they wanted to go to Sky Ranch on Sunday for one more week! It was the last session and Jack Ranger jumped at the chance! Cadie and Colton wanted to chill at home, but Ranger really wanted to head to Van for more fun. There was a wait list, but on Sunday morning I called Sky Ranch and they said they could squeeze him in!

Jack Ranger and I scrambled to get him packed up and Big John drove him to Sky. Ranger said it was a great week and he even had one of the same counselors. There were some new things like a huge slip and slide that he thought was fun. He also reported that there were some signs that it was the last week, like no more candy in the gift shop. Lol!

I loved his camper award of "Fresh Squeezed Lemonade," Hilarious. It says, "Ranger, Bro! This week you were awesome! You were definitely a huge light in the cabin all week! Just like a lemonade on a hot day refreshes you, your energy was extremely refreshing to us! You are great and your attitude is unmatched! Continue to carry that attitude in all you do! So proud of you! Gibbs, Matt, Dylan"

The smile on his face says it all! Sky Ranch is awesome!