Did You Miss Us?

Well, it's been a while since we posted anything on our beloved blog. At first my excuse was there was nothing to write about, and then we had a better excuse which was our holiday in Florida. I've noticed that British people or Canadians say holiday instead of vacation, and I quite like the sound of it. Because you see, we had so much fun at Walt Disney World that it might as well have been an actual holiday.

The trip started out on a Friday afternoon. David and I packed our things, boarded Spirit Airlines flight (which no wonder it was so cheap... Checking luggage was $20 a bag unless it was purchased online for $10, no blankets on the flight, sodas or peanuts cost $3, and the flight attendants didn't even have uniforms), and a few chapters into The Alchemist (great book) we were in Florida. After the airport, rental car place, and finding our way around we ate at one of the only places open: the International House Of Pancakes. For some reason this was so much fun to me. Maybe it was because we were back in America, or because the pink haired server told me I was pretty, or because we were able to eat a meal at a sort of restaurant for under $20, but whatever the reason was I will always remember the night at IHOP that started off our vacation.

The next day we did a few things together before the rest of the family arrived. Here come the highlights...

Highlight: the temple! We hadn't been to the temple together since last summer, so it was well overdue.

After the temple we did some quick shopping at the outlets and greeted the family at the airport. We were excited to see Simon, Amy, Kibson, Payson, Bethany, and Libby, my mom, dad, and Emerald. It was our first time seeing Libby in real life, and we enjoyed every moment with her.

Since my dad is retired from the Air Force, he gets these great deals with timeshares. Basically we get to stay at nice hotels/condos for an entire week for the price of one night. We can do this pretty much anywhere around the world. Anyway, I love the above picture because my dad is making one of his famous picture faces (like the one in front of Ivars in Seattle two years in a row) while he's holding the remote (probably watching black and white movies on AMC or TCM), and my mom is on the phone (probably working her magic to get us more deals). Anyway, the first place we settled into was not as nice as we were used to. There were many options of places to stay, so my mom chose this particular place because it was close to Disney. But, despite the location and free Krispy Kreme doughtnuts, mommy was not at all satisfied. After she worked more of her magic, she was able to get us moved to an amazing place. She was only able to get one condo in the new place, so of course she, my dad, and Emerald sacrificed and stayed at the not-so-nice place while Simon, Amy, the kids, David, and I stayed at the very nice place. They are so unselfish. Luckily, my mom got her way again and moved her, my dad, and Em into another very nice place close to the one we moved into. I guess this is a lot of explanation of where we stayed, but I just think my mom deserves the credit for everything.

That weekend we all spent some time at the pool. this picture is so cute of little Bethany. One of the first things she said to us at the airport was, "I have a new swimsuit. It's pink and white." 

The kids had so much fun playing with Uncle David. They especially liked wrestling with him. He was the king of the bed and threw the kids off into the hot lava, or whatever it was that they were playing. You know the chiche part of movies where the girl sees the guy with kids and starts to fall in love? Well, there were many of those moments. He was so cute with all of them.

Highlight: When David was tired he'd say it was "half time." I think I heard Payson say, "Half time is over!" a hundred times during the trip. Another funny thing was when Bethany would randomly sing, "Everybody dance now!" or, "We are the champions!" when they were playing. 

We also played a lot of hide and seek. At one point I forgot everyone was playing and I went into the pantry to throw something away, my mom and Emerald were both in there hiding. They are so funny!

Monday was the first day at Walt Disney World. I learned this trip that it was originally just called Disney World, but when Walt Disney died his brother requested to add Walt to the title. I decided I am going to call it Walt Disney World from now on. It was my sixth or seventh time, but David's first.

The first day we went to Epcot. David and I took the shuttle, and waited for the rest of the family at the entrance. This was David's first introduction to how slow my family can be. We were waiting at the gates for an hour and a half before my parents, Em, and Simon's family came. My mom had our tickets, so we couldn't wait inside. David said it was like Christmas morning when you have to wait for your parents to set up the video camera before opening presents. 

Well, the waiting was well worth it because we had a blast. Epcot is a lot of fun because of all the different countries to visit. Our favorites were England and France. England because of The Beatles cover band that was playing. They were so good and even looked like The Beatles. When they were singing early Beatles they wore certain outfits and then changed into clothing that fit the later songs. I really enjoyed their little performance. We also loved France. We shared a little strawberry tart at a French cafe and enjoyed the beautiful gardens. 

Someday we'll make it to all of these countries, but for now Epcot does a pretty good job of giving the feeling that you are actually there.

At the wishing well in Italy the kids were making me laugh. Payson wished for a new hackey sack and to miss another day of school (both very realistic wishes that can be granted quite easily), Kibson wished to stay at Disney for 90,000 more days and to be thirteen so he could watch the third Star Wars because it's PG-13 (not quite as realistic), and Bethany wished that Spongebob were at Disney (random). 

The day ended with the movie Oh Canada. Simon's favorite part of Epcot. I have no idea why he loves it so much (there are so many other countries there that are so much better), but it is funny nonetheless. One year when his family didn't come, he made me hold the cell phone open the entire movie so he could feel like he was there. 

Highlights of the first day at Disney: David pulling the rolling cooler. My mom brings tons of snacks and drinks to the park to save money, and for some reason poor David always seemed to be pulling that cooler! He didn't mind, and we did enjoy the snacks and drinks. Another highlight was when my dad stopped to talk to a little quartet outside of Norway. They were putting on a little performance for those walking down the streets, but of course my dad had to tell them he was in the Navy and Air Force band for thirty years, blah, blah. He's such a people person and always makes the rest of us laugh. 

Tuesday was a rest day from the parks. Simon, Amy, the kids, and Em stayed at the hotel to swim in the pool. There was even a little water park for them to play at. My parents went on a one day cruise, again one of those random deals that my mom found. David and I did not want to waste a moment, so we still went to one of the parks. We enjoyed the day at Hollywood Studios, formerly known as MGM studios. 

Highlights: We had a lot of fun going on the big rides together. It always made me laugh when we were on big roller coasters because David laughs at the top of his lungs as hard as he can! I don't know why, but drops and fast rides just make him laugh. I love it.

Tuesday morning David and I went to a timeshare presentation. Some guy talked me into it at the rental car place. I worried that since I was such a push over and couldn't even say no to the guy trying to get us to go the presentation, that I would be a gonner and we'd sign over all the money we've saved to own a one week timeshare in Orlando. We had to put money down at the rental car place, but we could get it back at the presentation. We were also promised $100 Disney dollars if we listened to the one hour presentation. Well, it was not one hour, it was three. We had to act interested at first, otherwise the guy would not have gone through with the presentation and we wouldn't have gotten our money back. Then at the end we said no to everything. The poor guy tried so hard and even called in two guys for backup. I was actually very impatient and didn't know I could be so rude, but I was so annoyed. Luckily we got free lunch, our money back, and $100 cash instead of Disney bucks, that covered our food that week. So, I thought it was worth it. I probably won't do it again, but I guess I wanted to see what it was like since my parents do it almost every single vacation. They are pros at it and have come away with a bunch of free stuff. I would just love to sit there and listen to the excuses my mom and dad have for not buying. I asked my dad what he tells them when they ask if he's been to a timeshare presentation and he says he tells them that they have years ago. They've done it so many times that they wound up with the same sales guy a couple years later!

Wednesday was the day we all went to Magic Kingdom, which would be the park that is most like Disney Land. This is the park that makes you feel like you are a kid again. We had several "magical moments" as Disney staff calls them, one including a free ice cream. 

The bottom right picture is missing Amy and Libby. I think Amy was changing Libby's diaper during this time. Anyway, Amy we did not forget you two. :)

Highlight: Simon finding all of the different ways he could make Bethany about one inch taller so she could go on the big rides. Notice the picture above where he stuffed napkins under her foot. The final solution was her wearing the boys' shoes which made her taller than when she was wearing her flip flops. 

This was also the first day that Uncle Eddie, Auntie Mye, and Marc came. They live in Seattle and met us all the way in Florida to come to vacation with us. They are the nicest people in the entire world. Auntie Mye had clothing to give to both David and I and Uncle Eddie always insisted on buying us food and snacks at the parks. We had a blast with them. 

One of the very fun things we did with everyone was Karaoke night. Filipinos love karaoke, and my mom bought this amazing system in the Philippines. 

Highlight: Simon and David singing Total Eclipse of the Heart. Auntie Mye and Uncle Eddie singing The Wind Beneath My Wings. They are pros at this stuff.

Not a highlight: Watching David Cook winning American Idol. I have never been so into a season of this show as I have this year and I have also never been so disappointed. I'm sorry, but I cannot stand him and I wanted cute little Archuletta to win. The worst part is, Disney is opening up an American Idol attraction in Hollywood Studios where we get to sing, judge, and vote. If you go to the website David Cook is singing If You Wish Upon a Star and it makes me want to vomit. I'm being so mean right now, but I was very disappointed.  

Thursday was spent at Hollywood Studios with the entire family. It was our last day, so it was bitter sweet. 

Highlight: David speaking Portuguese to a Brazilian family at one of the shows. They were a very cute family. I brought a couple pass along cards on this vacation and was having the hardest time finding people to give them to (it can be so intimidating!). Luckily, this cute little family came along and it was the perfect moment to give them our emails, conveniently written on a pass along card. :)

We were so tired by the end of four days in a row at the parks. My dad fell asleep on our bed (with the remote :) while we were all singing karaoke in this picture. The days were so draining.

We left on Friday morning and the rest of the family stayed one more day. Once again, it was sad to say goodbye. My mom and dad deserve the biggest thank you. They are so generous and have provided this wonderful vacation for the past several years. We are so spoiled! We've had so many fun memories of going to Walt Disney World in the past and we look forward to many more to come! Asialene- we missed you and your family, so let's start planning the next one now!

Highlights of the week after the vacation:

Another baptism in the branch! That makes five newly baptized male members (the branch was in desperate need of preisthood holders). 

Watching one of my piano students play The Entertainer at a school concert. She has only been playing since September or October and is already playing this hard song. I was so proud.

Wow, this was a very long post. I'm sure you all have better things to do than read about our vacation, but if you are still reading this I promise to be a better blogger and update more often instead of forever long posts every once in a while. Up next... a glimpse into a few new things. New job, new car, new Swiffer Sweeper, new recipe, new shoes...