Rocket Fizz Grand Opening

Our local Besties opened up a soda and candy shop!  It was a really fun event!

One of our other friends make really amazing Halloween costume, and last year he made himself an Iron Man costume.  It lights up and everything!  He made an appearance at the grand opening.  

I haven't tried that Ranch dressing soda...yet.  The thought makes me want to vomit. 

They have a wall....a WALL of different rootbeers!

The salt water taffy is SO GOOD!  It is always soft and fresh, and the flavors are delicious!

Audrey with her best friend, Mazie!  Audrey was so happy to get her face painted like a tiger!

Circus 2014

Going to the circus is one of our favorite family traditions every year.  Each year, the circus has a different strength.  This year, the dog show was my favorite.

Hollywood Studios

This was our first time going to Hollywood Studios, and I LOVED it!!!  

They had a Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground...I cannot even imagine how much I would have loved this as a kid.  That was one of my favorite movies when I was younger.  In typical Disney fashion, the playground was awesome!

Phoenix loves Lightning McQueen.  He wears his red lightning McQueen shirt as many days in a row as I let him.  I don't know if he would ever take it off if I didn't make him.  Seeing a life size Lightning McQueen and Mator was definitely the highlight for Phoenix!

Chris's parents came with them, and they were so generous when the offered to watch all 6 kids while we hit up the Rock n Roller coaster and the Tower of Terror.  I totally was not expecting to ride any "adult rides", but I must say, it really elevated my experience!!  

Admittedly, I was too old to like Power Rangers when they first hit the scene (many moons ago), but I was a sucker for Kim's and Tommy's love story.  Here is Kim's actual pink ranger outfit!!

Easily my most favorite dress in Gone With the Wind (my favorite movie)...I cannot believe I got to see it in real life!!!

Turkey legs are a must at a place like this...

We went to a car show, and Lightning McQueen drove out!!!  The kids were in complete awe!  Especially Phoenix and Jordan (one year older than Phoenix)

So...Audrey and Austin were totally holding hands...

Though the weather was all over the place this day, we all had an awesome time!  I loved Hollywood Studios way more than I thought I would.  I want to go back!!  

Beach Day

We went to the beach when we were in Florida.  Both Travis and Chris love surfing, and me and Laura are definitely beach people!  We spent many good times at Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach when we all lived in California.  This time, with 6 kids between all of us (our two and they have 4 boys), our beach experience was different than "the old days" but in pretty much every way, MORE fun.

Audrey, Austin, and Laura all tried surfing for the first time!  Audrey was a natural!

A Surprise Trip to Disney World!

We surprised Audrey and Phoenix with a trip to Disney World!!  We didn't tell them until we were at the hotel.  Their reactions were...not what we expected.  Audrey yelled "You LIED to us!" and Phoenix started to cry and said "I don't want to go to Disney World!".  Talk about a let down!  We still managed to have a wonderful time.

I made the kids these costumes last time we went (2 years ago), Audrey refused to wear her Tinkerbell costume last time (I hand dyed the top and the leggings to be skin colored), but this time she was excited to wear it.  Phoenix wore a Lighting McQueen shirt under his Woody top. 

We had already been thinking about going to DW for this week, but when our Canadian friends (Chris and Laura) told us that they would be there that exact week, we HAD to go.  It had been about 5 years since we last saw them (in Hawaii).

Yes, these are pictures of the pictures that they took on the rides...I ain't paying no $15 to get them!  That said, I always enjoy looking at them.  Austin went on Space Mountain with me and Laura. 

Austin in exactly 6 days older than Audrey.  Me and Laura emailed each other all throughout our pregnancies, and Audrey and Austin were each other's first friends.  They rekindled their friendship surprising well, and were inseparable the entire time!  

We had a great time at Magic Kingdom!!  Phoenix cried before almost every ride, I am not sure what happened to him because last time HE was the one who wanted to go on everything!  During the rides he would be totally good though, so I didn't feel bad making him "have fun".  

Snow Day!

We had a snow day this year!  A whole bunch actually!  Audrey was one of the lucky few to be on the only track that was not in school during the many snow days (in my Northerner opinion, only about 3 of them were legit...leaving I think almost 7 that were shall we say excessive?)  The kids had a ton of fun sledding down our hill.

Travis sat at the bottom to catch the kids.  And yes, we use pool tubes and boogie boards for sleds.