Orlando Fun

A few weeks ago the girls and I were able to tag along with Jay on a business trip to Orlando.  The story went a little like this:  Jay came home from work one day and said that he had to be gone the week of his birthday on a business trip to Orlando.  He was then going to take Friday off and spend time with his brother and sister in law and niece and nephew who live only one hour away.  I was all "I can't believe you get to have a business trip to Orlando!  How awesome!  I feel horrible you will be gone on your birthday and the girls want to see their cousins too.  They are going to be SO jealous!"  The next thing I know he asked if we wanted to come too.  I didn't even hesitate to say "YES!"  Emma was out of school and we had nothing planned.  What more fun than to go to Orlando and have a little time away and get to see family?!?

We stayed at the Marriott where Jay's conference was and it had a huge pool and a brand new splash pad/kids waterpark area.  We spent a few days just lounging by the pool while Jay had meetings.  Girls had a blast going down the slide and playing in the water.  My sister in law Jenny brought Kole and Sydney one afternoon to play in the water with us and it started pouring the minute we walked out the door!  We spent that afternoon running up and down the halls of the hotel - which was huge.  (Largest Marriott in the world!)  That night Jay's brother met up with us and we all went out to dinner for Jay's birthday.

Splash pad at hotel

Emma and mermaid coming down slide

 

Two girls = mermaids wherever we travel!

 

4 cousins reunited

The girls easily convinced their dad to go back to Disney for one day.  Jenny and the kids were able to meet us there for the day and the girls had so much fun back at Disney with their cousins!  The only thing on our "Must Do" list was to meet Rapunzel.  I have heard thousands of times since our big trip last October how she was the only princess that they hadn't met.  "Mom, we NEVER met Rapunzel!  I want to go back to Disney so we can meet her!"  I was beyond sick of hearing this!  Needless to say the girls had a great time and got to see more princesses = 2 little girls in heaven.  Emma got to play the part of the Beast (and Anna was Chip) in their meeting with Belle.  This meant that she got to dance with Belle at the end and she loved it!  (No pics because that private room in the Beast's castle is so dark!). 

Emma's true favorite

Kole and Sydney loving the teacups

 

Daddy met us after his meetings and had some more "Magical moments" at Disney

Anna and Sydney on carousel

Kole and Emma on carousel

At last!!!!

Anna had to show Cinderella her sparkly shoes too!

After our day at Disney, we headed to Melbourne to spend a couple nights with Seth and Jenny and kids.  The girls had a great time playing with their cousins.  We spent one afternoon at their pool while Jay and Seth went surfing.  It was a great time!!

 

Three girls wanted their hair done exactly the same

 

Oops - almost forgot this one I took of the girls at TRex cafe in Downtown Disney.  Jay had a work dinner one night so I took the girls to Downtown Disney.  We shopped a little and had a great dinner at TRex Cafe.  Emma has been asking a gazillion questions lately about dinosaurs so I thought she might love this place and I was right! 

We have been home for a while and settling in to our routine.  Girls have had swimming lessons and we swim in our pool all the time.  It is hot down here and pretty much unbearable to be outside unless we are in the pool.  We signed up for the summer reading program at the library and they love picking out new books.  They also love the DVD's at the library and we rented Despicable Me last week.  Emma loved it and begged to watch it a million times!  Otherwise we hunker down inside with the A/C.  They both love princesses and barbies.  Emma will sit and change their clothes and shoes for hours.  The picture below is a typical view in our house:

Here are some pool pictures:

 

We also had some great friends from our old neighborhood in Katy come and visit for a weekend.  We enjoyed time out by the pool and went out for dinner.  It was so nice to catch up and see them agian!!

Emma and Lexie

Emma, Lexie, and Chase all trying to jump in at the same time

The last big thing that has happened in our house is that Anna has graduated to a true "Big Girl Bed!"  No more toddler bed!  She has been ready and we finally bought her new mattress over Memorial Day so that we could convert her toddler bed to full size.  She thinks she is hot stuff now that she has a real bed! 

Anna's first night in her big bed!

These last two videos are of Emma on her last day at swimming lessons.  She has learned the back stroke.  We aren't quite ready for the Olympics but I am very proud of how good she is doing!