We are getting closer to the cruise, my friends. But I can not talk about our trip without doing an entire post just on Disney World. SO MUCH FUN!! Kalianna talks about it constantly. I bet Magdalyn would too, if she could talk, but her view might be a little different. She fell asleep on Peter Pan cause it was nice and dark. Then woke up in the middle of Small World. Biggest eyes I have ever seen! She looked like a mix of complete surprise and confusion. Can you imagine what a ride like that must seem like to a baby? It was hysterical! But I am getting ahead of myself...
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| Sound asleep at the beginning of the ride |
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| Huge, surprised eyes when she wakes up. |
We went to my parents house Thursday night, December 29. We had dinner with them and put the girls to bed early. Then we were up at 4:30 AM to catch our early morning flight. Thankfully the idea of getting on an airplane was so exciting to Kalianna that she woke up happy and excited. We met up with the rest of our group at the airport. It consisted of my parents, my three sisters and their husbands, Kristine's three boys, the four of us, Brent, my mom's parents, and her brother Richard. Bryan and Ricci were already in Florida with her family for Christmas, but the other 19 of us were all on the same flight. We were thankfully on time (early in fact) for our flight, otherwise we might have looked like a scene from
Home Alone, racing to our gate. We had a layover in Denver and then it was on to Florida. Kalianna was very excited to fly! She giggled when we took off and landed, if only she knew there would be more rides to come! We could have just flown there and back and she would have been perfectly content.
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| Hanging out, waiting to board |
Both girls slept most of the way, since we had an early morning. The plane ride went very smoothly. We got to our condos in the late afternoon. The kids ran around, releasing much pent-up energy, while several of us went to buy some food. We basically crashed that first night. It's amazing how exhausting traveling can be! Even though you are just sitting there.
Saturday we spent the day by the pool and relaxing. It was New Year's Eve but we didn't do any celebrating this year. We actually went to bed early to prepare for the next day. And it was totally worth it! Because Sunday was Disney World! Yes, I am openly admitting we sinned. But it was my Grandpa's idea, and he is the patriarch of the family, so that is my excuse and I'm sticking with it. We knew a lot of people would be hungover from the previous night,so we got up early and were some of the first ones in the park. It was awesome! The party-ers (yup, makin' up words now) got to the park in the late afternoon. All morning we barely had to wait in line, just going from one ride to the next.
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| On the ferry, crossing the lake to Disney World |
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| Waiting with aunt Julie |
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| I love that they have these buttons for the kids. Kalianna wore it on her monkey backpack all day |
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| Our view from the ferry |
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| Anxiously awaiting |
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| Seth, Julie, CJ, Mom, Grandma Gallacher, Richard, Me & Magdalyn, Grandpa Gallacher |
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| Kristine and Theresa with the boys in front of the castle |
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| CJ and Josh on Dumbo. Our first ride of the day |
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| The four of us all fit in one |
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| Small World. We took up our own boat |
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| Kristine & Hayden on the Carousel |
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| Me & Magdalyn |
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| Brent, looking too cool for the horse |
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| Matt & Kalianna |
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| Julie, Seth, & Hayden on Winnie the Pooh |
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| Kristine & Ian having fun, Logan...sleeping? |
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| Gallachers and my mom |
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| Hitching a ride. This was the nice part of having 16 adults & 5 kids |
We didn't know how long the girls were going to last, so Matt and I decided we would play it by ear. Taking it one ride at a time, expecting to have to leave in the afternoon. The girls were awesome! And Kalianna seriously had the time of her life! She loved every ride, especially the teacups! She's my kind of girl! Matt hates spinning, but for both Kalianna and I, it was the faster the better. We had a ball riding them 3 times in a row. When Kalianna saw the huge drop at the end of Splash Mountain she begged to do that ride too. Unfortunately, she was too short =( I hope she keeps up her fearlessness as she gets older. I can't wait to take her on roller coasters!
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| Teacups! Bryan, Julie, & Josh |
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| No one else would ride with Seth. He didn't want to spin fast |
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| First time with me, Kalianna, Ian, Brent, & Kristine. Brent was awesome at getting us going super fast! |
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| Having a ball |
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| Kalianna just giggled hysterically the whole ride. It was awesome! |
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| 2nd time around. Brent was our officially spinner |
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| Matt & Magdalyn watching us have fun |
Before we left, a friend of mine told me to bring our front carrier backpack for Magdalyn. I was so glad she did! I didn't know babies could go on the majority of the rides like that. She stayed pretty happy being carried around all day! And I think she enjoyed all the colors and lights. Kalianna started getting cranky mid-afternoon and we were afraid we were going to have to call it a day. But she fell asleep in the 3D movie and took a good nap. When she woke up, she was ready to go again! We opened the park at 8:00 AM and didn't leave until 9:00 PM. It was such an amazing, awesome day! So fun to watch Kalianna light up with each new ride and character and everything there was to see!
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| Matt, Kalianna & my dad on the Buzz Lightyear ride |
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| I love this picture of my Grandpa. He may be a little too into this game |
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| Richard, Ian, and Kristine with Chip and Dale |
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| Joshua with Chip and Dale |
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| Maggie hanging out in her backpack, enjoying her first Cheeto |
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| Yum Yum! |
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| Jungle Cruise. It was really fun saying "21" whenever they asked how many was in our party. We got some awesome looks |
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| The kids really enjoyed this one |
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| Ricci and the boys on Aladdin |
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| Kalianna loved to see the characters, but wanted nothing to do with them when they approached her |
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| The boys with Woody and no-neck Jessie |
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| Theresa & Kristine with all the kids on the train |
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| Watching one of the shows at the castle |
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| The kids were enthralled! This was also Kali's first time eating cotton candy |
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| Magdalyn even looks entranced |
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| Too many people kept standing in front of us so we had to continually shift |
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| Bryan & Ricci by the castle |
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| Our family |
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| Much needed ice cream break |
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| Turner family. Yay! Logan stayed awake this time! |
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| Us and a nice Chinese family |
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| The castle was gorgeous at night! The Christmas lights were still up |
At the end of the day, both girls were exhausted but glowing with excitement. We took Kalianna into one of the stores to pick out a souvenir before we left. Her favorite movie right now is
Lady and the Tramp. Matt noticed a Lady doll earlier in the day so we went back and showed it to her. Pure joy! She hugged Lady so hard and held on tight to her the rest of the evening, while we made our way through the parade crowds and out to the car.
Monday we spent the day hanging out at the condos again. We swam and played and got prepared for the cruise.
