Disney World- Day 1 (Flight and Not So Scary Halloween Party)

Our Disney 2012 trip (better known as the trip of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles... PLUS... buses, trams, shuttles, escalators, elevators, and moving sidewalks) began early Tuesday morning with a chauffered trip from Papaw to the Chattanooga airport.

 This was the first time either of the munchkins had flown, so getting there was half the fun.  I'll admit, I had nightmares, NIGHTMARES about how this plane ride would go with a 19-month-old.  I SO wanted the "cute baby" on the plane, not the "SCREAMING, obnoxious baby" on the plane.  But, I vowed to be chilled and calm no matter what.

Easybreezy...

Thank you, eye infection for costing me hundreds of dollars I'd much rather have spent in Disney, and causing me to look hideous and scary in my glasses on Day 1.  (Which will be preserved in pictures for all of eternity)

 I'd packed enough snacks, books, and toys for a 2 week plane ride, but luckily didn't even have to dive into them until the Atlanta-Orlando leg, even though we sat on the runway in Chattanooga for 30 minutes before take off due to storms.  :(

I started sweating then...

But we made it to Atlanta in plenty of time to make our connection...

 

The trip was supposed to be 23 minutes to Atlanta (wrong... try an hour), an 1.5  hour layover in Atlanta's airport, and then a 1.5 hour flight to Orlando.  WRONG again!  About 20 minutes outside of Orlando, (after the captain had announced to a mostly child filled plane that we were in fact in Orlando, home of the Mouse) we begin circling, and circling... and circling the Orlando airport.

Again, sweating...

After what seemed like a short forever, the captain announced that they had closed Orlando's airport due to severe storms and that we were LOW ON FUEL and going to have to land in Sarasota!

 Excuse me, come again?  Do they know I have a year and a half old on board that has been restrained for way too long now?  I'll take my chances with the storm.

Up until this point, she had totally been the "cute baby" on the plane, but things could turn at any moment.

Luckily, she fell asleep in Jimmy's arms and slept all the way through the landing, refueling and re-taking off in Sarasota.  Thank you Benedryl.

30 minutes later... we were there!!!

To put things in a time perspective.  My dad dropped us off at the Chattanooga airport at 7 a.m., went back and picked up my mom and they started driving to Orlando.  We were supposed to arrive in Orlando at 12:23 p.m. and have the afternoon to relax, check-in, nap, and change into Halloween costumes before heading to The Magic Kingdom that night.  When we finally landed, it was 3:00 on the dot and my parents were about an hour away.  So essentially we could have saved a couple a hundred buckaroos and arrived at the same time. Sigh.

Easybreezy...

Jim and Sylvia, who had driven to Destin a few days earlier and were flying in from Panama City, were supposed to arrive about 45 minutes before us and go on to Epcot for the day.  They barely made it in before the storms, and when they saw that our flight was so delayed and being re-routed, they sat in the airport all afternoon, worrying and waiting on us. I felt so bad!

We were very glad to be reunited.  Now... on to the fun!!

Aboard Disney's Magical Express

Someone didn't quite get their nap out...

We checked in to the Caribbean Beach Resort, and then hopped another bus to the Magic Kingdom. Sisty and Granddaddy headed to Epcot to eat dinner in France.  (They missed their lunch in Germany waiting on us in the airport.)

Because of the plane delay, our luggage didn't make it in time to change the kids into their Halloween costumes for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Easybreezy... 

They would have been adorable in their Hawaiian outfits, but we didn't care.  WE WERE THERE!!!

 We grabbed some dinner at Cosmic Ray's.  The Disney family meal plan is the way to go.  Such a good deal!!  We each got a snack, a quick serve, and a sit down table meal everyday we were there.  The only money we spent was tipping at the sit down meals!

We met up with the Dishmon's, who are Disney pros!  Seriously, Lucia could draw you a map from memory of that place.  That is the best way to see The Magic Kingdom. Jimmy and I hadn't been since we were kids, so lost doesn't even begin to describe it!  It would have been the directionally challenged, non map reading blind, leading the blind. 

We had a blast, and Trace loved having Kate and Bailey to ride everything with.  Bailey took Keatyn on every ride she could and she was so amazing with her.  She was either pushing her in the strolling or carrying her the whole time.  She's a natural born mamma!  Keatyn adores her!!

Because you had to buy tickets for this event, they kicked everyone else out at 7:00.  So we literally were able to hop on and off rides without waiting in line.  Not to mention, it was nighttime so it was really cool.  We got a little spoiled!  We rode Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, It's a Small World, The Barnstormer (Trace's first roller coaster!!), Dumbo the Flying Elephants, and Buzz Lightyear.  Then Mike took all the kids on the "People Mover" train, while Jimmy, Lu, and I rode Space Mountain.  Lord, they told me I screamed like a little girl, but I have no recognition of that.  I must have blacked out. 

That thing should be outlawed.

It's a Small World

Dumbo

Buzz Lightyear

We ended our night on the Tomorrowland Speedway.  As we were rounding the track, the fireworks started.  Talk about magical.  From every angle you looked, the sky was lit up.  It was beautiful.  I couldn't believe Trace actually kept his hands on the wheel to drive, instead of plugging his ears!  ha!

Cinderella's Castle.  I'm so glad we got to see MK at night.  We were there 3 times, but didn't make it until dark the other two days. 

The Crystal Palace, where we ate lunch with Winnie the Pooh...

We left several hours before Lu's family.  They stayed until midnight and watched the parade.  Pros, I tell ya!

It had been a LONG day for us and we were just beginning...

A "homemade" birthday

Well, it's birthday season at the Cofer Casa again.  In the Mullendore/Cofer bloodlines, you are either born in February or August.  Everyone else is just an outcast.   No. I'm kidding.  But seriously nearly ALL of Jimmy's family (and there's a lot of them) are all February or August babies.

We usually celebrate Sisty and Granddaddy's b-days together.  This year, Trace decided he wanted to make them a homemade, colorful cake.  (Since his recent discovery of food coloring and sprinkles in my pantry.)

To clarify.  By "homemade" I mean "a Betty Crocker cake" as opposed to "a Baskin Robbins cake" like daddy got a few weeks ago.  There was no churning butter, sifting in flour...blah, blah, blah.

I finally turned the reins over to Trace and allowed him to use the hand mixer.  Gulp. One of my most vivid memories as a child is cooking with my Mamaw.  She was a great cook, and I think of her every time I smell turnip greens simmering.

When I was about Trace's age, she let me use her hand mixer and in my excitement, I pulled the hand mixer out of the bowl while the blades were still going.  I have no doubt she cleaned cake batter off her ceiling and cabinets for days, but she laughed with me about it at the time.  Those are the fun memories I want to make with my kids in the kitchen.

Well, without having to repaint my ceiling. ;)

He wanted color.
One green... one blue.

 

 The best part of making any cake...

 

 Purple frosting with sprinkles.  Oh, SO many sprinkles...

 Cake complete.  Candles and all...

 It's safe to say that Federal Bake Shop won't be calling anytime soon, but luckily grandparents are easily impressed!

 So proud...

   

And then onto the cards and gifts...

 

Happy birthday Granddaddy and Sisty.
You are so very loved!!!

Sassy goes to School

Keatyn started her little Mother's Day Out program the day after Trace started Kindergarten.

Oh, my heart.  Didn't I just have them both yesterday???

She's going to Hixson Pres. on Thursday mornings, to the infamous Ms. Barb's class.  Trace adored her, along with every other child and parent that comes through the program.  She is the ultimate preschool teacher... gentle, calm, kind.  Just what you would want for your babies first teacher. 

Here she goes...

Mom, I got this.  You don't even have to walk me in.

This one made her Papaw cry when I sent it to him on his phone.  He's now added an 8 x 10 to his office shrine.  If ever I want to see pictures of my children from birth to present displayed, I can just stop in at Nationwide Insurance.  My parents may have to construct a room addition to house all the photos after dad retires!

Ms. Barb and her class were on the playground when we got there which made the transition really easy.  She said she didn't cry at all, other than when one of the little boys pulled her bows out.  Ms. Barb said the pigtails + the twirly bows were just too much for Nate to pass up.  He is the baby of 3 boys and isn't used to all that hair!

I didn't know what to do with myself for 3 whole hours, so I happily wondered the aisles of Target and leisurely tried on clothes in the dressing room.  It was a strange feeling without my little sidekicks.  Ms. Shannon, the preschool director, said that whenever a child is upset and crying for their mommy, she just tells them they're at Target and will be back in a few minutes.  She's usually right. ha!

Disturbing

So I drop my baby girl off at my mom's the other day, and a few hours later, she greets me at the door in this...

 This is so disturbing, I hardly have words.

Apparently, Nana was looking for Keatyn a replacement for some wet britches and came upon this little number in her drawer.  She thought it would be the perfect princess dress and even accessorized with a gold chain link necklace.  I think Nana may have a warped definition of "princess."

To add insult to injury...

She insisted it hadn't been worn in YEARS, and tried to claim she got it as a wedding gift, 42 years ago.  I wasn't around in 1970 (but now know what I was most likely conceived in 1974 in... ugh) but it doesn't strike me as lingerie from long ago.

I don't know what's worse, seeing my parents "sex" clothes (to quote my favorite show Friends) or seeing my toddler so happily twirling about in it. 

Another hand-me-down. At least it wasn't blue.

We may both need therapy.

Singin' the blues...

Hey ya'll this is Keatyn,

I've got a little bone to pick and the word on the street is, there are like 4 people that read this blog so I'm hoping to get some help.

As you know, I'm a girl. (Even though they named me a name that could go either way.)  A girlie-girl that loves her shoes and glittery Hello Kitty t-shirts, a girl that spins and twirls to show off her dress.  But lately, I've noticed a trend.  A blue trend.

I get that I'm the second child, that Trace came first and he was clearly a boy, therefore prompting all the blue.  But you'd think those tightwads could spring for a little pink and purple in a poor girl's life.  

It began very early...

Here I am, 2 days old, in a brown pack-n-play with a blue sheet.  Seriously???  They couldn't have managed a pink sheet???

Apparently, when Trace was born, Daddy thought he would be their "only baby" and since he was a boy, they went all out with the brown and blue.  Mommy eventually worked her magic on Daddy and got me, and I subsequently got all the hand-me-downs. Sigh.

Honestly, have these people not ever heard of Goodwill?

Again...  A blue swing at home and one at Sisty and Granddaddy's.

A blue bicycle helmet...

blue bumbo seat...

blue float...

ANOTHER blue float...

a blue lifejacket...

I've heard babies are expensive and you gotta save where you can, but come on!!

I've sucked it up and tried not to get my diapers in a wad, but the other night they crossed the line.

Apparently, my pediatrician told Mommy at my 18 month checkup that I'm as tall as the average 27 month old.  I have no idea what that means, but it seemed to be a big deal to her, because that night, I slept in this...

Trace's old, used (with holey feet) 24 month pajamas.  They let me run around the yard in them, where people could see me!!  They could at least have put a bow in my hair!

Mommy claims she'll get me some of my own pj's and was feeling a little mommy guilt over cramming me in sleepers that were obviously too small, but a girl needs a little pink, a little purple, a little sparkle on her sleepwear, not trucks and trains.

I guarantee you, if I had come first, there is NO WAY Daddy would let Trace be walking around the yard in my princess pajamas and he wouldn't be caught dead in his bass boat sporting a pink lifejacket.

I've heard a rumor that my Aunt Bonnie has bought me a pink tricycle, that I will soon be big enough to ride.  I can't wait to have my own outdoor toy, that's not a ride-on fire truck or lawn mower.

Mark my words... when the time comes, instead of getting my own Barbie battery operated car with built in mirror and car phone, I'll inherit this...
 

Daddy may try to spray paint it or bedazzle it up but, I'll know.

Thanks for listening and letting me sing the blues...

Keatyn