Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Disney World part 1

We had a fun, memorable week at Disney World.  Tom planned every day with Tour Guide Mike.  We highly, highly recommend it.  We went to Animal Kingdom on Tuesday and Thursday.  On Friday and Saturday we went to Magic Kingdom.  Then we went to Disney Studios on Sunday.  Tom's parents, Frank and Linda, came from Washington State to spend a week with us.  We had a great time with them.  

It was fun to watch the boys on all of the rides.  DJ, who is 7 1/2, has surprised us this year.  He rode all of the roller coasters and loved them!  He wanted to ride them again and again.  What a difference from last year.  Last Summer we went to Hershey Park, and DJ went on one of the smaller roller coasters.  He said he never wanted to ride another roller coaster.  This year that's all he wants to do!  Noah loved the rides too.  Since he's only 2 1/2, he was limited on the rides he could go on, but he did go on his first roller coaster!  They had a kid's first roller coaster in Toon Town.  It was surprisingly fast.  When Noah got off Tom asked if he wanted to go again.  Noah said "No sanks".  After all the other rides, Noah would ask to go again.  I guess he's not ready for roller coasters yet.  Lincoln, who just turned 6 months, was such a happy and content baby.  He happily came with us to each park, even though is was incredibly hot and humid.  

We went to Flipper's Pizza three times last week.  We were hooked!  After we put the kids to bed each night, we spent the evening on the balcony playing Oh Heck with Frank and Linda.  It was sad to see them go when we said good-bye at the Orlando Airport.  Next time we'll see them it'll be in Italy. 
   









Monday, June 22, 2009

We made it to Florida.

We're staying in an amazing condo (thank you Grandpa Frank and Grandma Linda!) in Florida.  We're a few minutes from Disney.  We got here on Sunday afternoon.  It felt great to get here, unpack, and hang around the resort.  I thought this picture was pretty funny of Tom and the boys.  The resort has lots of fun things to do, including swan rides!  

We spent Sunday and Monday hanging around the resort.  Tomorrow we're heading to Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Tom is working with DJ on swimming.  He is doing great!

Lincoln isn't too sure about the pool yet.

On our way to Disney World . . .

On our first night (Friday), we only made it to Virginia.  The next day we drove through South Carolina, North Carolina and then stayed in Georgia.  

Tom had the fun job of emptying our car at each hotel.  Our Honda Pilot is packed with all of the things we need for the next month.

Our stop in NYC.

With moving to Italy in a few weeks, we planned several trips to say good-bye to family.  We drove to Brookyln to see Carey's brother Paul, sister n law Carisa, and nephews Jae and Daniel.  This picture is from a fun day at Central Park.

Grandma Diane and Lincoln in Central Park.

The boys loved traveling by subway.

Merry-go-round in Central park.

Noah feeding the fish with Aunt Carisa at her city garden.

Uncle Paul, Lincoln and Daniel swinging in the backyard.

We had a great time with the Curtis family and Grandma Diane.  During our trip, we went to Central Park, road the subway, had NY pizza and bagels, and went to Crossroads Christian Church.  We will miss being only a 4 hour drive away from them.  

Monday, June 1, 2009

Our trip to Washington State.

We flew out of Baltimore on our way to Washington State.  It was Noah (2 1/2 years) and Lincoln's (5 months) first plane trip.  

Both boys did amazingly well.  We were happy and relieved.  

Noah loudly screamed "Weeeeee" as the plane took off down the runway.  It was pretty funny.
  
Lincoln didn't cry at all on the plane.  We missed having DJ with us.  He was already in Washington State spending time with his grandparents.

Grandpa Frank and Noah go exploring at the Rain Forrest Cafe in Seattle.  Grandpa Frank and Grandma Linda (Tom's parents) met us at the Seattle Airport and we had dinner together before driving to La Conner to pick up DJ and visit Grandma Diane (Carey's mom), and visit Grandpa Larry and Grandma Loree (DJ's grandparents and Carey's aunt and uncle).

Grandma Linda spends time with Lincoln during our dinner at the Rain Forrest Cafe.


Group shot with the frog.

Noah had fun in La Conner where we visited Grandma Diane's house.

Grandma Diane with Lincoln.

Noah at the park in La Conner.  We had beautiful, sunny weather.

Grandma Diane enjoyed her time with the boys.

Noah LOVES slides.

We arrived in La Conner on Wednesday night and stayed with Grandma Diane.  Then on Thursday we had a bar-b-que at Larry and Loree's house where DJ had been staying for the past week.  He had a great time getting spoiled by his Grandma Loree and Grandpa Larry.

DJ is a very good big brother.

Brothers together again.  Noah and Lincoln were happy to see DJ again.

Lincoln with his Great Uncle Larry. 

Then on Friday we drove to Olympia where we stayed a week with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Frank.  DJ, Noah, and cousins Malia and Mikayla had fun rolling down the hill at Grandpa Frank and Grandma Linda's house.

We walked down to the beach.  Grandma Linda and Grandpa Frank live right on the water overlooking the Puget Sound.

Malia and Noah digging in the sand.  This was the first time Noah met his cousin Malia.

DJ, Noah, and cousins Mikayla and Malia.
 

Tom holding Noah, Carey, Tom's brother Chris, Linda, Frank, Pam, Mikayla holding Lincoln, DJ, and Malia.

We went to cousin Mikayla's basketball game and then we all went to lunch at Red Robin.  This is DJ with his cousin Malia who is holding Lincoln.

After lunch at Red Robin, we went to a park.  Lincoln is hanging out in the shade.

Noah playing at the park while DJ, Mikayla, and Malia played soccer.

Grandpa Frank and DJ at a park in Olympia.  We had just gone to church and then picked up sandwiches at Subway to eat at this park.  

After lunch, we went on a walk around the park.

Grandma Linda reading to DJ at their house.

On Memorial Day, we had a bar-b-que at Tom's older brother Tim's house.  Tim took everyone out on his boat.

Noah and DJ had a fun time.  

Grandpa Frank, Grandma Linda, cousin Mikayla, Pam (Tom's sister), Heather (Tim's wife), their son Gehrig, Tim (Tom's brother), Carey holding Lincoln, Tom, DJ, and Noah.  We're at Tim and Heather's house in Lake Tapps, WA.
 
The cousins.


Tim and Tom holding their sons.

Grandpa Frank and DJ up EARLY for their fishing trip.  It was a special trip because Tom was able to go with his dad, two brothers, and DJ.  They made some good memories.

Grandpa Frank caught his first steelhead.

Tom's youngest brother Chris.

Tom's older brother Tim.

Chris and Frank both caught a steelhead.

Group shot.

Another group shot.

We took several walks/jogs on a nearby jogging trail.


Noah helping out at Grandpa and Grandma's house.



Grandma Linda and baby Lincoln.  


We celebrated Grandma Linda's 67th birthday by cooking her a meal and eating out on the deck.  It was a beautiful night.