Disney World 2011

Way back in October, we spent a fun six days at Disney World.  We arrived on the Saturday afternoon before Columbus Day.  Compared to our fall trip in 2008, the crowds were quite a bit heavier.  The one-day holiday really boosted attendance for our week.  I'm sure it was still less busy than summertime though.  We actually had to do some waiting and take advantage of fast passes this time.  The weather was not pretty when we arrived, but thankfully it stopped raining and blowing on Sunday at lunchtime.  We were thrilled to put the ponchos away!  The weather was perfect for the rest of our visit!    

Getting ready to fly out of St. Louis.  Kieran did awesome on his first plane ride!

Cole & Caden on the Magical Express to Bay Lake Tower

Kieran's napping spot for our vacation--He put himself to sleep usually twice a day for good naps. All the excitement wore him out! 

The view from near our elevators at Bay Lake Tower--This hotel is new and attached to the Contemporary. It was nice to be so close to Magic Kingdom, our favorite park.

Heading to Magic Kingdom on the first day--We took a bus because it was raining.

Caden enjoying his mouse ears ice cream at Mickey's Backyard BBQ before taking a very chilly, windy, and rainy boat ride back to our hotel. We had a very wet (despite the ponchos) but fun first day!

On day #2, we headed back to Magic Kingdom for a full day of fun. We snapped a quick photo during a break from the rain. 

Escaping the rain to meet Aladdin & Jasmine

Cole & Caden with Aladdin & Jasmine

Cole scored a kiss from Jasmine. In 2008, Princess Aurora gave him one. He does appear very kissable.

Cole playing on the slide that gave him a black eye in 2008

Enjoying a carousel ride and happy that the sun is out!

Caden

Cole using his muscles without luck

Caden's turn to try

Kieran's first ride on Dumbo

Curt & Cole on Dumbo

The fast spinners

Kieran & I tried to spin as little as possible

Kieran taking in the crowd and excitement--He was so good!

Cole at Casey's Corner

On day #3, we headed to Hollywood Studios.



Cole transformed into Spiderman while...

Caden & Curt rode Tower of Terror. (Better Caden than me!)

Caden & Cole in line for Star Tours--They LOVED it and rode a few times with different experiences each time!

Cole riding a speeder bike

Caden's turn

Lunch at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Toy Story Mania!

Such a fun ride!

Cole (sweating off his Spidey face) & Caden in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids area

Caught a Green Army Man for a photo

Caden became a Clone Trooper.

Chatting with Phineas & Ferb

Saying good-bye to Hollywood Studios

We spent that evening at Magic Kingdom's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Kieran was thrilled to have his own "boon."

Cole dancing at Stitch's Dance Party while Curt & Caden rode Space Mountain

In line for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin--still a family favorite

We LOVE Disney at Halloween time!

Before heading back to the hotel, happily exhausted

On day #4, we were at Epcot. Cole, Curt, & Caden rode Test Track first.

We ate lunch at Biergarten, a German restaurant. Here, the boys are watching the performers.

Caden & Cole outside of the Nemo ride; Kieran enjoyed this ride too.

Cole getting some love from Mickey

Caden joined us to meet Donald after riding Mission: SPACE with Curt.

Kieran did not want to get too close to any of the characters!

We spent a couple evenings in the pool at Bay Lake. All of the boys had fun in the splash pad area.

Kiearn trying to catch the water

The boys spent most of their time going down this water slide.

On day #5, we started out at Chef Mickey's for breakfast.

Kieran swatting at Pluto's nose

Kieran's first haircut--She put tons of stickers on his shirt, so he was distraced the entire time. I still use this genius trick for his haircuts. Disney knows what they are doing when it comes to kids!

Getting his first mouse ears after his haircut

While Kieran got his hair cut, the big boys transformed into cursed pirates at the Pirates League. Here, Cole is taking the pirate oath.

Francis Chipcutter (Cole HATED the name!)

Caden taking the pirate oath

Francis Chipcutter & Batholomew Stormwater

Curt & our cursed pirates finishing Splash Mountain

With Mickey & Minnie

Enjoying an ice cream snack



Kieran looks like such a BIG BOY with his haircut!

Cole hitching a ride out of Magic Kingdom

On day #6, we ate breakfast at the Crystal Palace.

After finishing breakfast, we walked through Cinderella's Castle and headed back to the hotel to pack.

Disney does not disappoint! We had a fantastic time and cannot wait to go back!

Kieran at 15 months

October was an eventful month for Kieran!




Papa and Kieran watching football



Official 15-month photo

The highlights...Kieran is walking everywhere now and quite proud of himself. He met Mickey and the rest of the Disney crew for the first time. He was okay with the characters if they kept their distance. Had his first haircut and loves his new shoes. Signing and saying more words. "Mmmmm" while hearing me order food in the drive-thru. Now that he's walking, he likes to practice his soccer skills. Favorite book is Goodnight Moon. Has 8 teeth now and is still a little peanut, weighing less than 20 pounds at his check-up.

Fall Fun

We had a very busy October, enjoying lots of fun fall events.  We also took a fantastic trip to Disney World, but I'll save those photos for another post (soon!).

At the Auburn corn maze with Ali, Brady, and their mom



Kieran enjoying the corn maze




Cole studying the map




Cole, Caden, Ali, and Brady--We made it through the corn maze with these four as our leaders.




An angry scarecrow and...




a happy scarecrow



Concentrating on their pumpkin paintings

Cole, Sophia (our neighbor), and Caden at Washington Park's Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular



A feverish Cole and Mia resting on the couch




Our little Cardinals fans wore their Cardinals gear to celebrate the World Series WIN



With Curt's jack-o-lantern masterpiece

Cherry Hills Preschool Halloween parade--Cole is Black-Suited Spiderman.



Cole's preschool class



Halloween--Cole as Black-Suited Spiderman, Kieran as Incredible Hulk, & Caden as Red Samurai Power Ranger



Our very sweet Hulk (Caden & Cole got to pick Kieran's costume this year.)




Kieran's seat for our trick-or-treating adventure--He tagged along for half of the journey, and then Mommy dropped him off at home to help Daddy pass out candy.




The cul-de-sac crew




Caden bobbing for apples (and not having much luck due to missing teeth) at our neighbor's post-trick-or-treating get-together




Sophia's turn, but she had as much luck as Caden.




Cole has all of his teeth and figured out the trick (grabbing the stem), so he was the first to experience success.



Back at home to count and sort their candy

Other fall events...a visit to the pumpkin patch, Caden's first time as acolyte at church, Church Mice for Kieran, Cardinals playoff game for Curt and Caden, World Series game for Curt, Skippyjon Jones play for Cole and Kieran, Halloween story time at the library, Caden's classroom fall party, Cherry Hills Fall Festival, haunted hayride for Caden, and a trip to Illinois Wesleyan to watch Chatham Glenwood's football team in the playoffs.  It has been a very FUN (and fast) fall!