Sunday, August 31, 2008

Keep it up!

On this day I caught Caroline snug and cozy with her 'Big Pink Gampit (Blanket)' and some of her favorite books. She really enjoys curling up with a good read. Keep it up, girl!

It's Baseball Time in TN! What???

Ok, so, wrong sport to post during the weekend of the first UT football game of the year... Well, anyway, just check out this great picture of Caroline looking on at her second Smokies game. If you haven't been, these games really are a great family event. Good times.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Disneyworld (3/3)

Disney Studios

Go Wildcats! It’s a High School Musical block party! Caroline is wearing her “I Majored In Vacation” shirt, just like in the movie! One of the performers yelled to Caroline in his microphone...'I like your shirt!'



Back to EPCOT for a special fancy dinner at “Les Chefs de France”. Do you see why I love Disney? Shorts and a t-shirt and upscale dining can go together!!



Just plain cute! Spaceship Earth in the background.



What a nice looking couple on the Mexico ride!



Last day...back at Magic Kingdom

Caroline in Minnie’s house: “Nana, look! I didn’t know Minnie was a quilter too!”



Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Some relief from this Florida heat...a splash in Pooh Bear’s fountains!



Beautiful shot from the bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island.



Back at the hotel...

Disney All-Star Resorts are great. Inexpensive, but kids love them!!! We stayed in the Toy Story building.



Yes, that’s a 3 story Buzz! “Tall Buzz”, as Caroline calls him.



Daddy and Caroline enjoyed a swim on our last night at Disney. What a fantastic week it was! We are so blessed to be able to share these great times together.



I apologize for the many posts all at once! It’s just so hard to get it all in...and these pictures and descriptions only begin to scratch the surface of our trip! Well, we hope you enjoyed a glimpse at our WDW vacation ‘08!

hope you enjoy,
beth

Disneyworld (2/3)

EPCOT
Just FYI, that stands for “Experimental Prototype Community (or city) of Tomorrow”. It was Walt’s vision to have a place where technology was cutting edge, and the world came together to experience each other’s cultures! EPCOT is my personal favorite.

Meeting Daisy was the best. There was nobody around, so Caroline got to hug, laugh, and dance with Daisy as much as she wanted. It was definitely a Disney Dream Come True moment!



Next we met, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip n’ Dale, and Goofy...all in one stop!! Caroline was not scared at all...she ran up and hugged every one!!





We got awesome seats at the Mexico pavilion restaurant to watch “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth”



Late Night Planning! Since Caroline was in the room with Mommy and Daddy, we had to do our planning for the next day by flashlight. Notice Beth is unwrapping a chocolate to stay awake!



Animal Kingdom

Meeting ‘Pooby’ and friends near the entrance to DinoLand.



The ‘Hontas’ show was Caroline’s favorite at Animal Kingdom. She was especially impressed when Pocahontas carried out a live snake!



Back at Magic Kindom...yeeeaaah!



Caroline takes on the Evil Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin!



one more disney post to come!

beth

Disneyworld (1/3)

Alrighty! It’s time for the long anticipated Disneyworld posts! At the end of May, we were so fortunate to tag along as ‘chaperones’ on an eight day Disneyworld trip through Roane County High School (where Pappaw teaches building trades). Thank you Misty and Jason for inviting us! We had such a good time…I can’t even describe it! But I will try anyway…

One of the really fun highlights for us was a special dessert reception at Fantasmic (the nighttime show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios), reserved specifically for groups. While thousands of others waited in a grueling line, we made our way behind the scenes to a special ‘deck’ above all the regular seating. There, we were served all the cookies, brownies, ice cream, punch, etc. that you could eat! We then were able to watch the show from this private viewing area, while continuing to stuff ourselves!! It was so great!

We also visited the Disney Water Parks for the first time. We don’t have any pics from those days, but we had an absolute blast! We will definitely be visiting again…particularly Typhoon Lagoon. There Jon, Dad (Pappaw), and I swam with sharks (no, I’m not kidding), and rode the world’s first uphill water coaster…Crush n’ Gusher! That thing was awesome! Caroline loved the huge kiddie area, and there was plenty of shade for her and Mimi in the calm waters! Then, of course, Jon wanted to ride the huge wave that comes every 90 seconds in one of the biggest wave pools in the world. When it comes, you hear this huge thud and then a rush of water, closely followed by loud screaming from everyone in the enormous pool! It was a sight to see. Jon said he had never seen a wave that big, even in San Diego…they even teach surfing lessons there in the mornings before the park opens.

We also had some of the best service ever in WDW. Cast members (that’s what they call all their employees, even the guys who take out the trash) were everywhere asking us if we needed help, and creating special experiences. Mom and Dad had their 36th anniversary while on this trip...they had buttons that said so. We had cast members from near and far yelling ‘Happy Anniversary’ every few seconds! Ok, ok, enough of my Disney fanatic ramblings!!!

So here are Pappaw and Caroline waiting for our flight at the Knoxville Airport. People actually came up and gave a donation at this bear (for Friends of the Smokies) because Caroline was so cute standing next to it. I’m not even kidding you!




The Magic Kingdom

Her first Disneyworld ride...What else, but “The Happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed” - It’s A Small World



Meeting the Princesses was so cool. Caroline’s instant favorite was “Shoopie”, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty. She let her draw a picture of King Stephan’s castle with her special quill.



The classic shot. Anyone see the Hidden Mickey?



Hint:Check out how Mickey’s ears from the statue look like they are on Caroline!

2 more wdw posts coming...

beth