Disney World 2011

It just happened to work out that my dad and Shea had conferences in Orlando during the same weekend.  Because of that, we started talking to my parents about meeting there and going to Disney World.  Although Shea didn't end up thinking his conference was worth the time and wasn't planning to go to any of it, we still decided to join my parents in Orlando for a week of fun.
We surprised our kids since it was such a quickly planned trip.  They had no idea we were going anywhere.  They woke up that Saturday morning and Shea made them Mickey Mouse pancakes.  He told them that they would be going on a scavenger hunt with a surprise at the end.  They couldn't wait to get started!  The hunt sent them from the car to the sock drawer to the coat closet and ended when they opened the armoire in my bedroom that had a sign and a picture of Disney World.  They picked up right away that I had typed the clues in Disney font, so they were excited.  They never guessed Disney World, and I think they were in shock until we boarded the plane that afternoon.
We flew over a tornado in Louisiana, which was an adventure, and landed in Orlando late Saturday night.  We finally got to the hotel room at about 1 a.m. because I made Shea stop at a CVS and I bought cereal, milk, ramen noodles, sandwich stuff, and some food to get us through Sunday.
Sunday we wandered around the hotel for most of the day.  Because of our late night and the time change, we slept through the 9 a.m. church meeting that was the only one close.  I looked for a later and farther away meeting, and didn't find anything.  So, we packed church clothes but didn't end up using them.  We did let the kids go on a boat ride on the pond at the resort and we ended up letting them swim for about two hours.  I'm glad we did, even though it probably wasn't the best way to observe the Sabbath, because they didn't get another chance.

Monday morning we went to Magic Kingdom.  Wow.  I hate the driving to, parking, ferry ride, waiting in line for tickets routine that comes with Disney World.  We got into the park and headed over to Thunder Mountain to get fast passes.  We ended up riding most of the rides there and then braved Fantasy Land after lunch.  Holy crowded.  Don't go to Disney World during Mardi Gras and Spring Break.  It was miserable.  I have decided that we love Disneyland more right now for the ages of our kids.  We had a great day though.  It's still so magical to be surrounded by Disney's vision!

 






On Tuesday, Grandpa joined us and we went to Animal Kingdom.  It was super crowded at first, but it got much better later in the day.  My kids loved the park and the safari ride.  This was such a fun day because it had the perfect mix of rides and animal shows.  This was also face painting day.  My kids beg every time to get their faces painted.  We've let them a few times, but not recently.  They were so excited.  My kids didn't ride, but Expedition Everest is one of the best rides!  I loved it.  The kids loved the Lion King show, the Dinosaur ride--after it was over and then they wanted to go again, the bird show, and Kali River Rapids.

 Wednesday was spent in Hollywood Studios.  This park was fun, but it was too slow for my kids.  They wanted to ride stuff!  We went to the Beauty and the Beast show, the Indiana Jones stunt show,  the Little Mermaid, and the American Idol Experience, but the only ride they wanted to do here was Toy Story.  We had fast passes for 6 p.m. so they waited the whole day for one ride.  My parents and Shea and I rode the Rock n' Roller coaster and Tower of Terror.   My mom and I got stuck on Tower of Terror for about 10 minutes.  At the end of the ride the elevator turns around and the doors open to let you off.  Well, the elevator didn't rotate and my mom started getting nervous.  She is claustrophobic and she was sweating!  We were both glad that none of the kids decided to ride with us that time!

We did get to meet lots of characters at this park.

 Thursday was Epcot day.  We loved seeing the flower and garden show as we walked around to the rides.  True, there aren't that many rides at Epcot, but more there than at Hollywood Studios, so my kids were happier.  We rode Soarin', the awesome ride through the fish hatchery and garden, and some of us rode the space ride and wished we hadn't.  We finally got smart and made a reservation for lunch at the restaurant marked $$$ in Italy.  It was really yummy and finally an escape from the other park food.
We ended our day being stuck on the Norway Maelstrom.  Wow!  What a lame ride!  We were sitting for 45 minutes in our boat right next to a door that was marked as an exit.  Interestingly enough, the workers that kept walking past told us that we had to stay seated and that the door really wasn't an exit, and we couldn't use it.  And of course, the maintenance guys can't help you, you must wait for someone in a Norway costume to help.  Really?  My dad kept us all entertained by his off-hand and sometimes off-color remarks.  I just hope my kids don't start asking to get off the "d#*@ boat."

We had a wonderful vacation full of laughter, sunshine, a little rain, and family!

My little buttercup...

Okay, if you are sensitive, don't read this post.  I grew up with 5 brothers who were not like all boys, but they were like most boys.  I thought this email thread between my boys and my twin brothers who are serving missions was hilarious.
Back story...Cam and Coop were having a problem one day with a kid at school.  The kid wanted them to duel, and my boys refused him,  Kid then punched Cam.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't a hard punch because Cam is tender, and I didn't get a call from him when it happened.  There was no sign of injury anywhere.  He also wasn't emotional when he was telling me the story a little later that day.  I didn't get that worried about it, and it has been taken care of in an adult way.
We were at my parents' house that Sunday for dinner and I told the story to my parents.  Grandpa decided to teach my boys all about which pressure points to push and exactly how to get even with this kid, or anyone, that messes with them.  After all the finer tactics of pressure points were mastered, my dad moved on to buttercups.  My boys didn't know what that meant, so the started asking for an explanation.  I was NOT going to tell them in order to protect their innocence for a little bit longer.  My parents also refused to tell them, but my dad suggested they email Matt and Marc and ask them what a buttercup is.  It was funny then because it took me back to 11 years ago when we were having the exact same Sunday night conversations with Matt and Marc.  They turned out relatively normally, so I'm only a little bit concerned that I'm watching the pattern repeat.

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 12:53 AM, Shea Taylor wrote:

Dear Matt,

 

How is Argentina?  Happy Birthday!  Do you know what a buttercup is?  Grandpa wanted me to ask and my parents won’t tell me.  He said it is something like a covered wagon, but I don’t know what that is either.

 

From Cooper

 And now from Matt (who has been gone just over 1 year)

ha ha ha ha ha no I don´t know what a buttercup is... ha ha it is something like a covered wagon, but a little bit different. Ha ha what are your grandparents teaching you? Argentina is awesome buddy. It is a little different than Utah, but it is so fun. Imagine little kids your age speaking spanish and playing in the mud all day because they don´t have toys... But it´s awesome. Sorry I don´t have much time, but tell your family that next week I will reply to them. I love you buddy. Have a good week in school. Don´t kiss too many babes.

And Marcus, of course, who has been serving for 6 months,

I just figured I had to write and explain a buttercup to my homies. Alright Cam and Coop this is what you do:
Make a cup out of your hand
Put your cupped hand close to where you fart (fluff, flactuate, pass gas, relieve yourself, whatever)
Release your internal gas into your cupped hand
With the gas in hand, place the hand over the nose of the punk kid and hold it there until he breathes it in
After all this, punch him back right in the nose. He deserves it.
Anymore advice just let me know!Elder Burr

Brothers!

A teaser

We just returned from a magical vacation to Disney World.  We left Charlotte here with the most amazing, loving Nana and Papa ever so we could focus on the older kids.  We are so glad everything worked out and that Charlotte was an angel for Nana!  (She has been a little less than angelic since I've been home with her though.  I'm sure I don't spoil her as much, and she was used to living the high life!)

Until I get more pictures from my mom, here are a few of our Disney adventures.