Trip to Orlando, part two

The rest of our days in Orlando were less exciting than the day at Disney, but lots of fun too.  Lori had to attend her conference Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  Keeping Austin happy was unbelievably easy.  The condo had STEPS.  Lots of steps, because it was actually 3 1/2 half stories.  So sometimes he just wanted to go up and down the steps lots of times (good exercise for Grandma!)  Other times we threw Mickey Mouse up and down the steps to each other.  And of course, there was always the backpack to drag up and down, which was especially loud and enjoyable on the two non-carpeted steps between the kitchen and dining/living room area. 

Lori had also brought a brand new Thomas the Train track and set it up on the coffee table.  We spent a lot of time there.

The place was surrounded with walkways, so every day we walked and walked and walked - of course with the backpack.  The weather could not have been more perfect.

One morning Lori had to be at a 7 AM breakfast.  Guess what we were doing as soon as she left?  It was a glorious morning.

The first time we went for a walk I discovered the hot tub and pool.  We were not dressed for swimming, but Austin didn't care.  I let him walk around the ledges in the hot tub.

On Monday evening after Lori came home we spent several hours in the hot tub and pool.  We had it to ourselves!  We seriously hated to go inside.  It was so relaxing and refreshing.  

While we played in the pool we watched a small airplane writing in the sky!

On Tuesday afternoon when Lori came home I took her and Austin to meet a shuttle to Animal Kingdom.  I got on I-4 and headed over toward Tampa to the gym where Sophie takes gymnastics.  It was fun to see how she's improved since I watched her in July.  

Afterward we went to a great, little Mediterranean restaurant and had good food and more time to talk than we had had at Disney.   Then I said my goodbyes to them, went back to Orlando, and picked up Lori and Austin at Downtown Disney. 

Back at our condo, we were faced with the grand task of packing up.  Our brains were weary as we tried to figure out what to do with the food we had bought, but not yet eaten.  We ended up bringing some things with us, throwing some things out, and leaving some unopened things there.  Maybe the cleaning ladies would be hungry!

We left for the airport at 8 AM Wednesday.  Austin was all vacationed out and cranky.  About an hour into the first flight he fell asleep.

So when we got to Philly, we did everything to not disturb him, and Lori ended up sitting for over an hour in the airport as he continued in a deep, deep sleep.  

Our second flight to State College was less than an hour, and Anthony was there waiting for us.  How I wish I had had my camera ready when Austin saw him and ran toward him and hugged his neck.  It was so precious!  

Tomorrow Dick and I will be driving to see Sammy after church.  I can hardly wait to get my hands on him again!  We'll get to see Destiny too. So my next post will be more grandchildren pictures, especially baby pictures!  Here are two pictures from last Sunday when Dick was at Sam and Jenn's.

Trip to Orlando, part one

Warning!!  There are a lot of pictures ahead!  A week ago today Lori, Austin, and I left from the little State College airport for her conference, and of course Disney, in Orlando.  Austin was just toooo cute that day, and quite a head-turner with his little backpack on wheels!

He took a good nap on the longer flight from Philly to Orlando.  So did I.  I woke up with my mouth hanging open, and I was in an aisle seat.  Ughhhh.

We met up with Lisa, George, and Sophie, as well as George's mother Sharyn that evening for burgers in Downtown Disney.

We were all incredulous when we saw the condo we'd be staying in.  These condos were built to be sold, but because the housing market in that area has gone completely south, they just started renting them out to tourists.  At an unbelievable price!  We had four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths, an amazing hot tub and pool.  We LOVED it!!

Saturday morning we headed to Magic Kingdom with Lisa and family.  This was a first for Austin and me!  Actually, I think it was Lori's first time too.

My first view of the iconic castle.  

Everywhere we turned there were amazing sights, gorgeous autumn decorations, parades, music, rides, people, little girls dressed like princesses....  We couldn't possibly see the half of it!

The Magic Carpet ride.

The best coffee floats EVER!  (Sophie's was a pineapple float.)

Hulahoops!!

Later in the day we took a shuttle to Epcot.  

By that time Austin was in this mood!

So we split up, Lisa and family took in the wine and food tasting festival in the many different countries represented there.  Lori and I took Austin to some really cool rides and shows - Nemo, Turtle Talk, etc.  Actually, what he liked most was walking around on ledges, going up and down elevators and escalators,  under bridges, getting his feet wet, simple stuff you could do anywhere!

We met up with Lisa and family at closing time and took a boat ride back to their hotel where our car was parked.  Why, oh why did I not pull out my camera?????  It was incredibly beautiful seeing everything lit up against the waters of the lake.  It was like being at the Baltimore Harbor.  What an amazing place!!

We were EXHAUSTED when we finally got back to our condo, but alas, our coffee floats kicked into gear right about midnight, and both Lori and I had trouble falling asleep.  

So that was day one and two of our trip.  More later!

Back home, Show and Tell coming later!

I'm back home after six days with Lori and Austin, my first time at Disney, fun with Lisa, George, and Sophie as well as George's mother Sharyn. I have SO MANY PICTURES!! And so much to do. I'll be back here to show and tell as soon as I catch up with some other things.

40 Magical Years

Forty years ago today was one of the happiest, most anticipated days of my life - our wedding day. And I am not just saying that because it sounds like a good thing to say. I had lived and breathed and planned and dreamed wedding for the two years of our engagement. As dated as this picture looks now, at the time I thought our dresses (made by my sister Mary Ellen) and our flowers were the most beautiful ones I had ever seen. I made sure that every autumn leaf color was represented in the dresses worn by our mothers, my sisters, gift receivers, guest registrars, waitresses.

I truly felt like a princess that day. And I remember almost every detail of the entire day even forty years later. Forty years goes by very, very quickly. I'm thanking the Lord for forty years together. On the day of our wedding, both sets of our parents were celebrating their wedding anniversaries. Yes, you read that right. (I kid you not - before we were even engaged, when I found out his parents' anniversary was October 2nd, just like my parents', I checked ahead to see how many years it would be till October 2 would fall on a Saturday!!!)

Sadly, neither of our parents reached forty years of marriage because cancer took both of our mothers before that milestone.

Thank you, Lord, thank you, Dick, for forty magical years.