Disney World - Days 1 and 2

After saying goodbye to the Disney Dream (and The Bahamas), we boarded the shuttle to Disney. If anyone is interested, there is a bathroom on the bus (I get paranoid mass transit without bathrooms) and they showed some short cartoons. It was a quick ride (less than an hour). The whole thing was very convenient. 

We were very fortunate...it was only 10AM when we got to our Disney Hotel (Caribbean Beach Resort) but they were able to accommodate us and get us into a room immediately. We were exhausted from a very early morning, so this was awesome. We had one of the special pirate rooms, which was a lot of fun. Marino loved all the little pirate details. 

We were worn out from our cruise and it was a rainy day, so we decided to just hang out at the resort for the day. It was a shame it was a rainy (and cold) day, because the resort had some amazing features. Each section of rooms has its own little "beach" complete with hammocks (you can't swim in the lakes) and a pool.  There's a large, pirate themed pool and splash area along with a food court, a restaurant, shops and a video arcade. Across the bridge from that area is a playground hidden in a gorgeous "jungle" landscape.  Eating allergy-free at Disney is a breeze. Everywhere we went (food courts included), when we mentioned allergies, they sent the chef out to discuss our meal. Each place had special gluten and egg free bread, buns, cookies, etc, that they kept in the back (presumably in a freezer). They obviously take allergies seriously, and it was a relief! Marino and Evan enjoyed the video arcade.

                                                                                           

The next morning we got up and went to breakfast at the food court and SURPRISE! Pap Pap and Gramma Barb were there! Marino was very excited, but still totally oblivious about where we were going, even on the shuttle to the Magic Kingdom!

                                     Then he saw the castle, and he knew! He was so excited!
                                                     Does this look like a happy boy?!

Family photo. We're all wearing buttons that says "First Visit" 

(which was true for Marino and Evan, but not me). 

Marino was so glad to see his Pap Pap! 

The Monster's Inc Laugh Factory was our first stop. We all loved it (we're all Monster's Inc fans). It really was laugh out loud funny. 

Our next stop was Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Marino loved it (and still talks about it, months later).

We hit the Tommorowland Speedway next. Marino enjoyed it, but was annoyed he couldn't drive (not that he could have reached the pedals). 

We used our Fast Passes to ride the new ride, The Great Goofini (small roller coaster). 

Does he look excited? He and Evan always want to ride in the front of the roller coaster.

Before lunch, we headed to the Haunted Mansion, which wasn't terribly crowded (comparatively, anyway)

Marino loved the ghost in our car at the end!

Meeting Buzz Lightyear was definitely a highlight of our trip. Can you tell Marino is excited?

Pap Pap and Gramma Barb

                                          

Marino fell asleep waiting in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but woke up before we got to the end of the line (that was a long line). He loved the ride and still talks about it. 

We were all pretty exhausted by about 4:30, so we headed back to the hotel to rest. For dinner, we headed to Shutters at Old Port Royale. As with everywhere we went at Disney, we had a great experience with the chef accommodating our allergies and bringing out great gluten-free goodies!

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. At the park on Wednesday, Marino, out of no where, ran up to me and said "Hey Mama Mia!"

4. The other morning I said something to make him laugh and he very seriously said "Mommy, you know something?" ::bites apple:: "You're pretty funny."

3. Marino had an existential crisis when while asking me about being born. "Why, just why, Mommy? Why is everything the way it is!?"

2. My Aunt Kerry babysat him on Saturday night. The first thing he asked her when we shut the door was
"So, are we going to Chuck E Cheese?"

1. Yesterday, Evan asked Marino if his feet were stinky (Evan's feet).  "Not at all, Captain Leadbelly!" he replied. Really, where does he get this stuff?!!

Park Days Are Back!

After a super long winter (a rarity in Maryland), we're finally getting some warm weather! Last night we met up with some friends at the park. The boys were red-faced and sweaty, but happy to be outdoors!

Fun This Week

Fun moments captured this week: 

T-ball practice this week went well, although the kids were freezing! First game is this week!

                           

After school park fun

 

And fun with our buddy Uli.

                                     

Marino took this picture. "Look, Mommy! I took a picture of the sun!"

Kickball game with friends - Marino loved it (the kicking part)

Practicing throwing with Daddy

Enjoying the sunshine at Adventure Playground

Out to dinner for our anniversary. 7 years!

5 mile hike on a gorgeous day at Rockburn Branch Park

Silly dinner with my Aunt Kerry and cousins Miranda and Samantha. 

We always crack each other up!

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week: 

5. Last week at storytime, I asked what is every one's favorite thing about Spring.  All the kids said something about Easter except Marino, who said "riding my bike." 

4. Also at storytime, the kids were rating the different candy in the eggs I hide. Marino said "I like all the candy in the eggs, because my mommy filled them"

3.  Marino got in trouble and put in timeout last week. Afterwards, we sat down for dinner and he said, "Mommy, can you talk to Daddy about something else, something that doesn't involve me getting my butt popped?" Honestly, I was so proud of his sentence construction, I just said yes.

2. Marino started t-ball a couple weeks ago and he loves it! Everyday he asks to practice and gets excited anytime he sees anything baseball related. 

1. We got a report from school yesterday that Marino had "an amazing day" and "made all the right choices." So proud!

Easter 2013

Our Easter started on Saturday this year. I did a Springtime Storytime at the bookstore and we did an egg hunt after stories. Egg hunt + bookstore = fun!

After storytime, we headed to Gramma Debbie's house. Aunt RiRi was home from school and Aunt Chelle put together a fun egg hunt for Marino. An hour later he asked if we could do it again! We were fortunate to have a beautiful day. 

Krissy, Aunt Rianne, Sammy, Marino, Aunt Richelle and Gisele, post-egg hunt. 

We finished the day with a great meal. 

Easter morning, Marino woke up to this:

He was super excited to see the Easter bunny came! Favorites from his Easter basket:  Melissa & Doug Firefly Flashlight, the book Creepy Carrots, and Lindt Chocolate Carrots. 

Later that morning, Aunt Chelle and Aunt RiRi took Marino to see The Croods, which he loved!

That evening, my friend Chandra came for dinner with her daughter, Hannah. They live in Atlanta and I haven't seen them in a couple years. Marino generally needs a while to warm up to people, but not Chandra and Hannah! He immediately showed them all his toys, was jumping on them, hugging them, sitting on them, etc. It was nice to see him so open! He and Hannah had a great time - she even played cars, Transformers and super heroes with him. 

This morning he said "I wish them could visit again every day." 

Great weekend, great friends, great family!