Our first trip to DISNEY!

So, many of you know that I was planning a trip to Disney for Avery this year - and I had started doing all the research months ago. I learned way too much - and that this is not a trip that you can just "do". It has to be planned, researched, reserved and discussed. After all the work that I did, we decided that it probably wasn't going to work this year...so, sadly, I decided that I could wait one more year to take my daughter. UNTIL... I get a phone call from Clint & my father-in-law- saying that their company wanted to send them down to Orlando and put them in a luxury, Disney resort for three days. I was like, "OK - let's go". So, I scrambled in a week and found a few reservations for character meals. Then, we packed up the car and woke our kids up at 5 am one morning & headed down! It really was a last minute trip, but it turned out to be the most perfect trip.

Our hotel was perfect, they were on Disney property, and had shuttle susses running every 15-20 minutes to the parks. Sadly - Clint and Papa had to work during the day a little, but luckily Grandma Janell and I made a great team with the kids. We would get the kids up, fed, dressed and to the park within a reasonable time. (we are not early morning people, so it was never as the gates opened or anything)haha. Avery and Hunter rode rides together and had a blast! When Hunter got tired, he would just snooze in his stroller (with two fans blowing on him constantly)as it was in the upper 90's each day - and full on sun. Grandma would take Hunter to find some shade if he was sleeping and then Avery and I would ride some rides.

Avery's bravery & endless energy really impressed me! I didn't know what to expect, as some kids are not ready for all the loud noises, dark rides, fireworks, and all the characters walking around...but Avery loved every moment of Disney. She never complained, wanted to do everything, and meet everyone. Her favorite part of the trip must have been meeting the Princesses (and Prince Charming whom she now has a crush on). She had an autograph book that she carried around and collected autographs from everyone. One morning we waited in lines for over an hour to meet Cinderella, Belle, and Aurora - then Mickey & Minnie Mouse - she never complained!

The Grandparents were also amazing - they had their hotel room adjoined to ours so that we could get the kids down in one room - and then sneak into their room. It was the perfect set-up. (hopefully they didn't think they were going to get a minute of privacy that week!) And Grandma taught me a neat trick when traveling - to hang up a dark sheet as a "wall" in between the crib and the bed. It was like Hunter had his very own room. It worked great.