Disney World Trip–Hollywood Studios

When we woke up Monday morning it was pouring rain.  We quickly stopped by the grocery store and picked up ponchos for the week ahead. We parked and donned our ponchos and ran through the rain to be first in line to get in.

And then we waited for the wet park to open up.

Luke studied the map.

By the time the park opened the rain had pretty much stopped and we folded up our ponchos and ran straight over to Tower of Terror.  With no line we were on the ride in 30 seconds.  Most of us love this ride – Chris, Ryan, Katie, Emily and me included! {It’s Ryan and Emily’s favorite} – but Megan, Luke and Matt were a little nervous.  They followed the ‘you must try anything you’re tall enough for’ rule but it was NOT their favorite ride. {Even Monae tried the ride and didn’t like it at all.}  It’s a love it or hate it kind of ride.   Poor Luke still talks about how scary it is.

While Dad and the big kids went on it for the second and third time Megan, Luke, Matt and I explored the gift shop and particularly liked the Ghost Mickey and Minnie.

Then off to explore other things…  so fun to be here altogether.

The ride for the Toy Story Woody ride was WAY too long but we got some good visiting in.

We enjoyed the Frozen Sing Along.  The hosts were really funny. One of my favorite things from the day.

The official gold carriage from the new movie, Cinderella.

Meeting some interesting characters…

We went to the Lights, Camera, Action Extreme Stunt Show, the Great Movie Ride, the Indiana Jones Epic stunt Spectacular, played in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, saw the Muppet Vision 3D and then headed back towards the Tower of Terror for some dinner, and then the Rock n Roller Coaster and scary Tower drops.

At the end of a fun first day, we were exhausted – but not the teenagers, they wanted to stay longer.  We left them there so they could go to Fantasmic and Chris dropped us off at home and went back to pick them up when it was over.  What a good dad.

Back to Georgia

For our Spring Break trip this year we planned a Walt Disney World Vacation and booked our 3 bedroom World Mark Resort a year ago – which seemed like forever.  Since flights into Orlando were so high we looked at flying into Atlanta instead -- which was much cheaper for our family of 8.  We got so excited about seeing our best friends, the Starbucks, visiting our old neighborhood, house, and ward.  With a rearranged Georgia school spring break the Starbucks planned to come with us on our Disney Vacation which was SO MUCH FUN! 

We flew from Denver to Atlanta on Friday night after work and got in WAY too late.  The line for renting our 12 passenger van! was so long.  By the time we loaded up and drove down to Columbus it was 4:00am.  Monae, Brianna and Austin were awake to greet us.   After a minute to visit and peek around their gorgeous custom home we headed to bed.

Saturday morning Aaron and all the kids woke up first thing and I could hear them playing outside in the big yard and on the tramp after eating a pancake breakfast.  Chris and I and Monae slept in a bit and then had a real tour of the house.  So fun to be hanging out with Monae and talking about every detail.  It’s really sad that we’re not next door to each other – we would have been, had we not spoiled the plan and moved to Germany. 

The kids picked up where they left off.  Even Luke and Matthew who didn’t really know their cute little boys – Scott, Ryan and Ethan had a great time with their new best friends.  We watched with excitement as the fourteen kids break off into three perfect groups and totally entertain themselves… THE TEENS– Ryan (16) Brianna (16) Katie (14) and Austin (14)  THE GIRLS – Emily (12) Brooke (almost 12) Megan (10) Erika (10) and Abby (8)   and  THE BOYS: Luke (7) Scott (6) Matt (almost 5) Ryan (4) and Ethan (1).

At noon we and picked up Chick fil A for lunch and took it to one of our favorite places… FLAT ROCK PARK.  Chris, Aaron, Monae and I ate at the picnic tables with the little boys and all the rest of the kids took their lunch over to the big rocks to eat.  Here are all the kids except little Ethan…

So fun to walk around Flat Rock Park.  We came here all the time when we lived here.

The girls on the Flat Rock Park swing.

After playing around in the streams at Flatrock, we headed down to the River walk downtown Columbus – another of our favorite places to visit.  We walked along the river (which divides Georgia and Alabama) and talked and reminisced of the many times we’d been there before.

I love this one with the boys running to get back in the picture.

Katie and Brianna

After doing some jumping tricks off this rock, we headed back home – on the way stopping to take pictures of our old house, the golf course Chris was a member of. 

Good memories!  Then we cooked some pizzas and watched the last Hobbit Movie while the Starbucks finished packing. 

On Sunday we were able to go to church in our old ward.  It was so fun to talk with some of our friends who are still there… the Frasers, the Murphys, the Coates and the Shilligs.  It was especially wonderful to be there for Riley Fraser’s homecoming talk – one of my favorite young women when I was a leader in the ward.  So good to see her and perfect timing to be here on this exact Sunday.  I also loved listening to Monae teach Sunday school – she’s fantastic!!!

Sunday after church we put the suitcases in the vans and headed down to Florida!  We took half the Starbuck kids in our Party Van and the kids had a great time talking, laughing, singing Disney songs and doing Disney character quizzes.

Writing Samples from Luke

It’s been fun to read the first grade writing samples that Luke brainstorms and then writes during Writing Time at school.  The teacher gives a topic and then they spend some time making a idea web and then writing.   Spelling corrected so you could read it!

Topic – The Best Christmas:  Germany Christmas

My favorite Christmas was my Christmas in Germany.  First my mom and dad woke up and then woke up everybody.  After mom and dad woke every body up, then dad opened the line.  Everyone rant to see their stockings.  I got almost everything I wanted.  Then we ate breakfast.  Mom made Christmas breakfast.  I was so yummy!  It was yummy like a big pile of ice cream!  After we ate breakfast, we started to open presents.  My favorite present was Woody of a Potato Head.  I loved the Woody Potato head because every time it’s arm fell off.  Then I laughed the hardest I could.  After we opened presents, we had a good prayer “Heavenly Father, thank you for our dear blessings.  Please bless that we will have a great day.  Please bless that we will have a great day.  Please bless that we will have some great holidays like this holiday.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”  My dad said a good prayer.  I think Christmas is the best, only if it is at Germany.

Topic – The Best Part of the Playground:  The Swings

The best part of the playground is the swings.  I think it is the best because I swing high.  When I go on the swings I pretend that I am flying like Superman.  It is also my favorite part because I like jumping off of the swings.  It makes me feel as high as space.  In my opinion, the swings are definitely the greatest part of the playground.

Topic – My Favorite Animals:  Turtles

I love turtles.  Turtles are my favorite animal.  There is a bunch of reasons why.  First, they are the best because they are so slow.  I like that they are slow because it would be fun to go easy on them if we play tag with them.  Another reason why I like how they are slow is when they walk on the sand, it makes a big turtle trail.  They look cool in their shell, and it is cool with their shell protecting themselves.  It is ridiculous when the turtles are in their shell and they float in the water.  Another good reason is that they can go on land and water.  It is cool because if a scary animal chases a turtle from far away, it will go slow on land.  Once they get on the water they start to go faster and faster.  I think turtles are the best water animals in the whole wide world.

Topic – What is Winter

Winter is a bunch of pillows on the ground outside.

Winter is sledding on a giant hill.

Winter is the North pole.

Winter is making a snow angel.

Winter is freezing fingers.

 

Topic – My Hawaii Vacation: Kauai Hawaii

Me and my family went on a trip to Hawaii.  One of my favorites was going to the Beach.  It was fun because we made a lot of sand castles.  Then we got in the water and then ran away from the waves.  We played with sand toys too.  I like the sand toy that you put sand in it and then it spins and lands on the sand.  Another place I liked that was at Hawaii, was the swimming pool.  The swimming pool is fun because there is a big hot tub and it was fun to swim in the deep end.  At the pool we have water toys that are Hulk, Ironman, and Captain America.  We went to restaurants.  My favorite one is Bubba Burgers.  My favorite food is a Burger.  At Bubba Burgers me and my family liked to say ‘Aloha’ to the people.  We also went snorkeling too.  I like snorkeling because we get to see fish.  The first day we went snorkeling I saw one fish but the next time I went I saw a lot of fish.  Me and my family will go to Hawaii again because it is the best place ever.

 

Topic – If I could be any Storybook Character: Ash

If I could be any story book character, I would be Ash Ketchum from the Pokémon TV Series.  I really want to be Ash because he’s in Pokémon and Pokémon is my favorite video game in the whole world.  He is good at catching Pokémon.  If I was Ash I would catch all my favorite Pokémon like Sither, Julteon, Blastoise, Charzard, Muck and a bunch of other Pokémon.  Ash is going to be the greatest master of them all.  I want to be the greatest master too.  I think Ash Ketchum is the best story book character any one can pick.

Topic – My Favorite Movie – Lord of the Rings

My favorite movie, of course, is Lord of the Rings.  Lord of the Rings is about Dwarfs and Hobbits trying to kill the eye.  First, Lord of the Rings is awesome because there are awesome characters.  The characters are awesome because they fight good and they have cool weapons.  Another reason why I like Lord of the Rings is that it is sad and awesome at the same time.  The sad and awesome part is when Boromir is fighting a bunch of orcs.  Then the boss orc shot an arrow in Boromir, but he was still fighting.  Then another arrow zoomed through him when he still was fighting.  then another arrow went in his stomach.  But he was still fighting.  Then he fell down and could not fight.  Then another arrow was about to go in him.  But then Aragorn saved Boromir by not letting Boromir get killed.  Then Boromir dies.  Aragorn was mad so he killed the boss orc.   In my opinion, Lord of the Rings is the most awesomist movie ever!

Topic – My favorite Season – Winter

Winter is the Best.  First, it is so fun because we make snow angels in the snow.  You can make them big or small.  You can do whatever you want to.  Another reason why I like winter is that we can make snowmen, and that is why we have winter.  You should not be like Elsa and stay in your room.  Be like Anna and build a snowman.  The last thing why I like winter is that you can go sledding, but do it on a big hill.  I like sledding because we go as fast as a flash in the sky, and it is funny when we fall off into the snowy snow. I think winter is the best season this world could ever have.

Topic – How to Blow a Bubble

It is tricky to blow a bubble with bubble gum.  First, you need to unwrap the wrapper because you can not blow a bubble with the wrapper.  You also need to put the gum in your mouth.  Next, you need to chew.  Be patient!  It will take a while!  Once you are done chewing, then there are more steps to do.  You should remember to flatten the gum on the roof of your mouth.  Then, stick the gum to the top and bottom teeth.  Finally, you just blow.  Then it makes a bubble! Watch out!  It can get really big!  Blowing a bubble is hard and exciting to do.

 

Luke’s teacher added these words at the end of the quarter:  Luke, you are an amazing writer!  You have excellent juicy details in your paragraphs!  I love how you read with great expression!  You also remember what you read.  Continue to stay focused during writing to improve time management!!

Saturday Morning

Sometimes when I wake up on a weekend morning I find the kids like this – all squished on Katie’s bed doing an activity together.  Sometimes they are working on a Journal entry, or coming up with a plan for secret service.  Sometimes they are drawing pictures or making lists of favorite things.  My Katie is pretty fantastic at coming up with great activities to keep this kids engaged and thinking she’s the best big sister ever.

 

Kauai Trip–Highlight Video

When we got home from Hawaii, Chris had already had his last day in the Army, hadn’t been officially hired in the GS position and had a wonderful week off in between Tele Radiology night weeks.  It was the first and last of those ‘between’ weeks – but he used it to work on the Hawaii video.  We had such a good time – and this video helps us remember every detail.  Thanks hon.

Johnson Richins Kauai Trip Video