Day 4 of vacation: Ben's 3rd birthday

Ben's birthday got off to a good start with a delicious brunch buffet. We spent the first part of the day at the hotel, exploring and playing. It rained all afternoon but cleared up right as we were heading to the Magic Kingdom around 5pm. We were going to spend the evening at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It's an event they have on certain nights throughout the holidays were they close down the park to everyone except those who have tickets for the party. The whole park is decked out in Christmas decorations and there are Christmas shows, parades, fireworks and all the hot chocolate and cookies you want. We had a great time at the party, even in the freezing cold.

After breakfast

Too bad it was too cold all week to go swimming

The best view of animals we had 

Awkward but the best we could do

Sleeping through a lot that evening

Ben got another light saber that night. We couldn't tell him no on his birthday

There was a castle lighting show which Ben loved. He still talks about the castle.

Ben's best friend

He wasn't letting the cold stop him from having fun 

Jack on the other hand wasn't too thrilled with the situation

Seeing the excitement on his face that night as we waited for the parade and while we watched the parade made the whole trip worth it

The boys shared a huge chocolate chip ice cream sandwich. Where is Ben's jacket you might be wondering. That stubborn boy wouldn't wear it.

After the parade we headed back to the hotel. Ben fell asleep while waiting for the bus and didn't wake up until the next morning.

Day 3 of vacation

We had a full day on Friday at the parks but it was a very successful day. My planning was paying off and everything went very smooth. Saturday was a down day for us that would include no parks. Instead, we had a restful morning and spent the afternoon and evening at downtown disney.

The giraffe that greeted us when we woke up

Ben went from the bed to this chair every morning to see outside

Jack followed him

Since the hotel we stayed at was African themed, there were lots of instruments for Ben to play with. He spent about 30 minutes playing these drums after breakfast.

He got a wooden flute

He also got his mickey ears

He insisted that the string went right under tip of his chin

After lunch, he wanted to show us what he ate

He also wanted to make dad wear the ears

and the helmet

Then Ben and dad built a light saber together

Drew couldn't figure it out so we had to ask for help

Ben was excited when it was finished. The next morning I asked him if he and dad built a light saber together and he said to me, "No dad did it. Dad did it all by himself."

We all shared a rice crispie treat covered with chocolate and sprinkles. It was delicious.

Some people hogged it

We ate dinner at a restaurant called T-Rex. It was all dinosaur themed and had huge dinosaurs throughout the restaurant that moved. Every 20 minutes, there was a meteor shower. You will have to wait and see the video of it.

You wouldn't know it by the pictures but Jack was with us all day

Ben got dessert and a nice "happy birthday" song

Before we left, Ben built a dinosaur. He picked out a triceratops.

Jack's first word

Any guess on what it was? It was the same word that Ben said as his first word... mama. Actually, Jack's sounded more like mamamamama.

Ben is quite the teacher and has been working with Jack to say it. He will say over and over, "say mama, say mama."

I have a feeling that Ben will be teaching Jack a lot. Good and bad.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions

As you grow up and become an adult, a lot of holiday traditions change and you start new ones. One tradition that has stayed the same for me for as long as I can remember (I think it started in 1986) is my Christmas book. It's something that my dad started when my sisters and I were very young and he has kept up with it every year. Every Christmas, he gets us each a Christmas themed book. The special part is that he writes on the inside cover. He talks about the past year. The importance of our relationship. His happiness to be a dad. Now he talks about the pride he has in being a Grandfather.

I look forward to reading what he has to say every year. Who doesn't want to hear a reminder of how much they mean to their dad. This year's book definitely did that. Thanks dad.

Christmas

This year, Christmas came and went quickly. With our trip right before Christmas, we got a late start. Then the week before, the stomach flu hit our house and made quite an appearance. By Christmas eve morning, Drew and I were struggling. We still made the trip down to Fresno (more on that later) and even though some of us weren't feeling too well, it was still a good Christmas.

Ben walking in the room where Santa left his presents

Ben's Buzz Lightyear space shooter. I think all of us got hit in the face more than once. 

Ben opening his new baseball bat

Jack chewing on his new teether

The Hanson's tree. They set up Drew and Michael's old train for Ben to play with. He loved it.

Even though it doesn't look like much is going on here, between those four boys, there is a lot going on.

Ben got a doctor set from Santa

Drew had forgotten that he asked for this but was pleasantly surprised to get it

Jack didn't know what to make of it all

Drew opening up the ipad that his parents got us. Ben, Drew and I love it!

He doesn't look sick but this poor boy was not feeling well

My boys sure don't look too excited

Helping Papa open up his present

and lastly, the award for worst son and daughter in law go to... Drew and me

When we headed down to Fresno Christmas eve, we thought that since no one was throwing up anymore, that we weren't contagious. Boy were we wrong. By Sunday, both Cary and Loree were sick and the next day it hit Noni. We still feel so bad about getting everyone sick. Sorry :(