Weekly Whisper Update: DISNEY!

 This last week we surprised the kids and took a trip down South to Disney World!  They had no clue :)  We made it to the Orlando Temple Sunday afternoon and walked around the grounds then sat them down and gave them both gift bags.  In the bags were Disney shirts, Mickey water bottles, Disney Pez and washcloths and little Mickey and Minnie figurines (thank you Dollar Tree!).  They pulled everything out and we asked, "So do you know where we are going?  Looking at those things, where do you think we are going?"  Jane guessed: "Swimming?"  "Nope.  We are going to Disney World!!!"  It took her a second to register that.  Once it hit her she was ECSTATIC!  Grant took a few more seconds to process and then he caught on, too!  They were so excited :)  Jane was almost crying.
My friend Nick works at Disney and was able to get us a great discount on the hotel and he was able to get 3 out of the 4 of us in for free all 4 days we were there.  It was so fun getting to watch Nick perform...he was one of the few from High School who actually has made a living off entertaining.  I'm so proud of him and it made my heart happy to watch him "live the dream".
The first day we spent the entire day at the Magic Kingdom.  We tried to be all-stars and plow through all day but by 5:00 we were all toast!  We did get to see Mr. Nick as Clarabelle cow...he was awesome!  That cow has some mooooves!

The second day we were wiser and got there before it opened and were one of the first people in line to see Elsa and Anna (from Frozen.  The line is normally 300+ mins long...we managed to get through in 40!) Then we hit it hard with rides and I got to catch Nick's Trolley show and then we headed home for lunch, cooled off, took naps, and then went over to Hollywood Studios and played around there ending the night with my favorite show, Fantasmic!

The third day was similar.  We caught Nick's Welcome show at Magic Kingdom then were right in the gates when the park opened and got through several rides before the crowds started.  We went back to the hotel for lunch and a cool off and then hit Hollywood Studios again.  After we got in all the rides we wanted to do there, we went back to Magic Kingdom for dinner, the Electrical Parade, and Fireworks.  Once the fireworks ended, the lines were so short so we crammed in several rides before the park closed.  We finally got back to the hotel around 12:30.  What a day!

Thursday, our final day, I woke up with a sore throat (guess I over did it) and Nick couldn't get us into the parks until later so we took the morning easy.  That afternoon, we headed over to the Animal Kingdom.  I have to say, I wish we had left more time to do that park...it was wonderful!  We got soaked on the raft ride, Trent and I took turns on the wild Everest ride, the kids played in a dinosaur playground, we saw a 3D bug show, and went on a cool Safari ride where we got to see all sorts of animals.

Friday we took a dip in the pool in the morning, ate lunch with Nick, and then headed back to North Carolina.
We are back and still recovering but we had such a blast!  And we are so proud of the kids for going on rides that were scary.  They went on Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. A HUGE thank you to Nick who was a lovely host to our crazy family for almost a week.  We loved being able to spend time with him and partake of the magic the Mouse had to offer.

Weekly Whisper Update: Birthday and Charlene

*We had the pleasure of having my Aunt Charlene visit for the week.  We were able to work in the yard, work out at the gym, go to Fayetteville to see the Market House and the Special Ops Museum, show her the area, and just hang about.
*It was really interesting to go to the Special Ops museum because all of our neighbors, save the fire chief down the road, are Special Ops.  It was cool to see what exactly they do.  I have always been grateful for the men and women who serve in the armed forces, but the more I learn, the more respect I have for them and the families that are constantly sacrificing so that we can be free.

Bubba at the Special Ops Museum

Charlene and Grant at the Market House

*This last Saturday was my 31st birthday.  Trent surprised me on Friday with a trip to Myrtle Beach, just the two of us.  Charlene was nice enough to watch the kids while we went.  On the drive there, we ran into a Strawberry Festival and a car accident.  While we weren't able to help at the accident, it refreshed in me the desire to do EMT work.  I need to start working on getting my North Carolina licence....

Myrtle Beach

*Trent got us a hotel right on the beach and to top it off, it also had 2 indoor water parks!  Saturday morning we slept in (best. gift. ever.) and then walked down and had birthday bagels on the beach :)  After a stroll down the shore a ways, we went back and tried out the water park.  It wasn't huge but it had some water slides and several hot tubs so we were happy.  We checked out and walked along the boardwalk looking in all the little shops and stopping for some delicious burgers.

Surprise! Let's eat cake :)

*A Whitney birthday wouldn't be complete without a trip to a plant store and I got to go to 2!  On the way home I got some flowers at Home Depot and some more at Lowe's.
*Charlene had a wonderful dinner waiting for us when we got home and after she had a little surprise party planned with our neighbors.  We had cake and ice cream and just sat around and talked.  I had a killer migraine, however, so the party was cut short.
*Thank you to everyone for the calls and cards and birthday wishes.  I was truly spoiled!