Walt Disney World with Twin Toddlers - Day 1

We recently got back from a trip to Walt Disney World.  I was understandably nervous about taking our twin 16 month olds on a couple flights, staying in a hotel, and being away from home for a week when they had never been outside of the state of Ohio.

The flights down to Orlando went really well.  Much better than I expected, to be honest.  On the first flight Kylie got a little fussy for about 2 minutes on descent, but that was it.  When we took off from Baltimore, both girls fell asleep within minutes, and woke up JUST in time for our beers to arrive.  Sigh...

When we landed, we stayed at the Hyatt inside the Orlando airport.  It was perfect to be able to just walk off the plane and go immediately to our hotel.  I was a little nervous about how well the girls would sleep in a hotel, but they did great.  We woke up ready to tackle our first day at Walt Disney World the next day!

We met my parents at the Magical Express Bus Stop and all boarded the bus together and headed to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It was a really neat place.  The girls LOVED seeing the animals in the Savanna, and were always running to the windows to look out at them.

Giraffe in the Savanna

The general chaos of trying to get into the room

Kendall happy to be in the room

Kylie checking out the chair on the porch

 After the girls took a nap, we headed out to the Magic Kingdom.  Unfortunately, by the time we got out of the hotel and over to the park it was 3PM and we only had about two hours before we would have to leave for our dinner reservation back at the AKL.

We did manage to get a few things in during those two hours:

The Entrance!

Parade!

Photo Ops!

Pirates of the Caribbean!  (Love the guy photo bombing on the right!)

Goofy!



It's a Small World!

 

 

We barely managed to get back to the hotel in time for our dinner reservation at 6:15.  We had a great dinner, and headed back to the room.  My parents decided to go enjoy Extra Magic Hours that night at the Magic Kingdom while we stayed back with the girls.  (We were exhausted!)

 

These ladies are ready for bed!



....to be continued...

We recently got back from a trip to Walt Disney World.  I was understandably nervous about taking our twin 16 month olds on a couple flights, staying in a hotel, and being away from home for a week when they had never been outside of the state of Ohio.

The flights down to Orlando went really well.  Much better than I expected, to be honest.  On the first flight Kylie got a little fussy for about 2 minutes on descent, but that was it.  When we took off from Baltimore, both girls fell asleep within minutes, and woke up JUST in time for our beers to arrive.  Sigh...

When we landed, we stayed at the Hyatt inside the Orlando airport.  It was perfect to be able to just walk off the plane and go immediately to our hotel.  I was a little nervous about how well the girls would sleep in a hotel, but they did great.  We woke up ready to tackle our first day at Walt Disney World the next day!

We met my parents at the Magical Express Bus Stop and all boarded the bus together and headed to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It was a really neat place.  The girls LOVED seeing the animals in the Savanna, and were always running to the windows to look out at them.

Giraffe in the Savanna

The general chaos of trying to get into the room

Kendall happy to be in the room

Kylie checking out the chair on the porch

 After the girls took a nap, we headed out to the Magic Kingdom.  Unfortunately, by the time we got out of the hotel and over to the park it was 3PM and we only had about two hours before we would have to leave for our dinner reservation back at the AKL.

We did manage to get a few things in during those two hours:

The Entrance!

Parade!

Photo Ops!

Pirates of the Caribbean!  (Love the guy photo bombing on the right!)

Goofy!



It's a Small World!

 

 

We barely managed to get back to the hotel in time for our dinner reservation at 6:15.  We had a great dinner, and headed back to the room.  My parents decided to go enjoy Extra Magic Hours that night at the Magic Kingdom while we stayed back with the girls.  (We were exhausted!)

 

These ladies are ready for bed!



....to be continued...

We recently got back from a trip to Walt Disney World.  I was understandably nervous about taking our twin 16 month olds on a couple flights, staying in a hotel, and being away from home for a week when they had never been outside of the state of Ohio.

The flights down to Orlando went really well.  Much better than I expected, to be honest.  On the first flight Kylie got a little fussy for about 2 minutes on descent, but that was it.  When we took off from Baltimore, both girls fell asleep within minutes, and woke up JUST in time for our beers to arrive.  Sigh...

When we landed, we stayed at the Hyatt inside the Orlando airport.  It was perfect to be able to just walk off the plane and go immediately to our hotel.  I was a little nervous about how well the girls would sleep in a hotel, but they did great.  We woke up ready to tackle our first day at Walt Disney World the next day!

We met my parents at the Magical Express Bus Stop and all boarded the bus together and headed to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It was a really neat place.  The girls LOVED seeing the animals in the Savanna, and were always running to the windows to look out at them.

Giraffe in the Savanna

The general chaos of trying to get into the room

Kendall happy to be in the room

Kylie checking out the chair on the porch

 After the girls took a nap, we headed out to the Magic Kingdom.  Unfortunately, by the time we got out of the hotel and over to the park it was 3PM and we only had about two hours before we would have to leave for our dinner reservation back at the AKL.

We did manage to get a few things in during those two hours:

The Entrance!

Parade!

Photo Ops!

Pirates of the Caribbean!  (Love the guy photo bombing on the right!)

Goofy!



It's a Small World!

 

 

We barely managed to get back to the hotel in time for our dinner reservation at 6:15.  We had a great dinner, and headed back to the room.  My parents decided to go enjoy Extra Magic Hours that night at the Magic Kingdom while we stayed back with the girls.  (We were exhausted!)

 

These ladies are ready for bed!



....to be continued...

First Trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

OMG.  My girls are obsessed with pumpkins.  They absolutely loved them!  We went to this place called Leed's Farm, and they have everything: hayrides, bouncy things, log rolls, corn (sand boxes), goats, pigs, cows, etc, etc, etc!

The girls had a blast (as did we).  This will be a definite must-do for years to come!



Holy poop!  Look at all these pumpkins!

Oooooo...says Kylie

OOOOOO!  Says Kendall

Cute pic of Kylie and Daddy smiling.

Momma, I see the pumpkin I want!

This one!  This dirty, discolored pumpkin is my favorite!

Kendall likes the pigs

Hi Mr. Goat!

Obligatory front porch shot!

OMG.  My girls are obsessed with pumpkins.  They absolutely loved them!  We went to this place called Leed's Farm, and they have everything: hayrides, bouncy things, log rolls, corn (sand boxes), goats, pigs, cows, etc, etc, etc!

The girls had a blast (as did we).  This will be a definite must-do for years to come!



Holy poop!  Look at all these pumpkins!

Oooooo...says Kylie

OOOOOO!  Says Kendall

Cute pic of Kylie and Daddy smiling.

Momma, I see the pumpkin I want!

This one!  This dirty, discolored pumpkin is my favorite!

Kendall likes the pigs

Hi Mr. Goat!

Obligatory front porch shot!

OMG.  My girls are obsessed with pumpkins.  They absolutely loved them!  We went to this place called Leed's Farm, and they have everything: hayrides, bouncy things, log rolls, corn (sand boxes), goats, pigs, cows, etc, etc, etc!

The girls had a blast (as did we).  This will be a definite must-do for years to come!



Holy poop!  Look at all these pumpkins!

Oooooo...says Kylie

OOOOOO!  Says Kendall

Cute pic of Kylie and Daddy smiling.

Momma, I see the pumpkin I want!

This one!  This dirty, discolored pumpkin is my favorite!

Kendall likes the pigs

Hi Mr. Goat!

Obligatory front porch shot!

Breaking the Bottle

When we went to the girls 15 month well check, the doc asked us if we were on sippies. I kind of turned my head and said no. The girls have been taking sippies for water since before they were a year old, but Kylie has refused to take milk from a sippy. Kendall takes her afternoon milk from a sippy, but still got a morning and bedtime bottle.

He looked at me and said "Now is the time. They need to get off the bottle". I set a goal of October 1st to transition them completely. I wanted to get through vacation first. We actually started on September 29th. Kendall has done fantastic with the transition. She may not drink as much milk, but she still takes between 15 - 18 oz a day. Today is October 9th. Kylie has not taken an ounce since the bottle went away.

It stinks. I know she wants it, but she sees her sippy, and either pushes it away or throws it (with terrific force I might add.) I've tried every type of sippy, a straw sippy, a cup without a top, a cup with a straw; she rejects it all. I pulled a sippy out of our old rejected sippy stash last night, and she was actually contemplating it this morning. Crossing fingers she may break soon.

Does anyone have a similar experience with a success story? I would love to hear it! This is beyond frustrating!

When we went to the girls 15 month well check, the doc asked us if we were on sippies. I kind of turned my head and said no. The girls have been taking sippies for water since before they were a year old, but Kylie has refused to take milk from a sippy. Kendall takes her afternoon milk from a sippy, but still got a morning and bedtime bottle.

He looked at me and said "Now is the time. They need to get off the bottle". I set a goal of October 1st to transition them completely. I wanted to get through vacation first. We actually started on September 29th. Kendall has done fantastic with the transition. She may not drink as much milk, but she still takes between 15 - 18 oz a day. Today is October 9th. Kylie has not taken an ounce since the bottle went away.

It stinks. I know she wants it, but she sees her sippy, and either pushes it away or throws it (with terrific force I might add.) I've tried every type of sippy, a straw sippy, a cup without a top, a cup with a straw; she rejects it all. I pulled a sippy out of our old rejected sippy stash last night, and she was actually contemplating it this morning. Crossing fingers she may break soon.

Does anyone have a similar experience with a success story? I would love to hear it! This is beyond frustrating!

When we went to the girls 15 month well check, the doc asked us if we were on sippies. I kind of turned my head and said no. The girls have been taking sippies for water since before they were a year old, but Kylie has refused to take milk from a sippy. Kendall takes her afternoon milk from a sippy, but still got a morning and bedtime bottle.

He looked at me and said "Now is the time. They need to get off the bottle". I set a goal of October 1st to transition them completely. I wanted to get through vacation first. We actually started on September 29th. Kendall has done fantastic with the transition. She may not drink as much milk, but she still takes between 15 - 18 oz a day. Today is October 9th. Kylie has not taken an ounce since the bottle went away.

It stinks. I know she wants it, but she sees her sippy, and either pushes it away or throws it (with terrific force I might add.) I've tried every type of sippy, a straw sippy, a cup without a top, a cup with a straw; she rejects it all. I pulled a sippy out of our old rejected sippy stash last night, and she was actually contemplating it this morning. Crossing fingers she may break soon.

Does anyone have a similar experience with a success story? I would love to hear it! This is beyond frustrating!

Oktoberfest!

So, not quite Germany, but Columbus has an Oktoberfest celebration every fall. (Yeah, it was technically in September, but whatever!)

The girls had a good time, enjoyed some potato pancakes, while mommy and daddy enjoyed some beer. It was a great time, we will definitely return next year!

So, not quite Germany, but Columbus has an Oktoberfest celebration every fall. (Yeah, it was technically in September, but whatever!)

The girls had a good time, enjoyed some potato pancakes, while mommy and daddy enjoyed some beer. It was a great time, we will definitely return next year!

So, not quite Germany, but Columbus has an Oktoberfest celebration every fall. (Yeah, it was technically in September, but whatever!)

The girls had a good time, enjoyed some potato pancakes, while mommy and daddy enjoyed some beer. It was a great time, we will definitely return next year!

Vacation

We just got back from Walt Disney World with the girls and my parents. It was great but exhausting. Certainly much different than the vacations we used to take just the two of us.

The girls did great for the most part. We definitely had some "moments" but find me someone traveling with two 16 month olds that doesn't have a "moment" or two. I will elaborate on our trip coming up, but I am waiting on pictures from my dad (who is the equivalent of the paparazzi taking 1200+ pictures.)

For now, here is one of my favorite pictures of us and the girls...yeah, Disney is exhausting...

We just got back from Walt Disney World with the girls and my parents. It was great but exhausting. Certainly much different than the vacations we used to take just the two of us.

The girls did great for the most part. We definitely had some "moments" but find me someone traveling with two 16 month olds that doesn't have a "moment" or two. I will elaborate on our trip coming up, but I am waiting on pictures from my dad (who is the equivalent of the paparazzi taking 1200+ pictures.)

For now, here is one of my favorite pictures of us and the girls...yeah, Disney is exhausting...

We just got back from Walt Disney World with the girls and my parents. It was great but exhausting. Certainly much different than the vacations we used to take just the two of us.

The girls did great for the most part. We definitely had some "moments" but find me someone traveling with two 16 month olds that doesn't have a "moment" or two. I will elaborate on our trip coming up, but I am waiting on pictures from my dad (who is the equivalent of the paparazzi taking 1200+ pictures.)

For now, here is one of my favorite pictures of us and the girls...yeah, Disney is exhausting...

Hair!

The girls came home from daycare today with little ponies in their hair!  I was DYING.  I can't believe they let them put stuff in their hair.  I have been dying to do their hair since they were born.  At almost 16 months they finally are starting to have enough!

The girls came home from daycare today with little ponies in their hair!  I was DYING.  I can't believe they let them put stuff in their hair.  I have been dying to do their hair since they were born.  At almost 16 months they finally are starting to have enough!

The girls came home from daycare today with little ponies in their hair!  I was DYING.  I can't believe they let them put stuff in their hair.  I have been dying to do their hair since they were born.  At almost 16 months they finally are starting to have enough!

Reflections of the Past

I don’t know if anyone is like me in the fact that I always remember details associated with specific events, times, and places.  Two years ago today we were getting ready to leave for Jamaica.  Kevin was just getting home from his poorly timed conference in Chicago, and I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get everything else in order (cats and dogs taken care of, my bags packed, getting last minute things together, etc.)

When he was gone, I would get home from work at 3 to let the dogs out and finish the end of my day at home.  I remember sitting in our front office with the windows open and the sunshine streaming in.  I took our dogs for a walk / run each night to get myself and them some exercise (I was in crazy “get my body into awesome shape to feel ok sporting a bikini” mode).  There I was, running with 150+ lbs of dog carrying me along.  I was happy, and never felt freer then during those runs with the puppies.

The night before Kevin came home I drove to Giant Eagle to get myself something healthy to make for dinner.  I called my best friend Danielle on the way.  She picked up the phone and said “OMG.  Are you pregnant?!?”  “No”, I responded with a laugh.  “Why would you ask that”?  She said, “You called during dinner time, I just thought you may have big news!”  How silly of her, I thought.  Little did I know how right she was.

The next morning, I was trying to get our last minute stuff taken care of.  I needed to go to the OB’s office and get my blood drawn.  Then  I had to run to Meijer and get last minute toiletries, run to the mall and get a pair of shoes, and then go home, get the car loaded up with the dog crates, beds, dog food (and dogs!) and take them an hour away to our pet sitter.   I walked back into the house after dropping the dogs off and almost cried.  I felt so sad to walk into this empty house.  I bet it was those pregnancy hormones already kicking in.

Kevin got home late that day and I tried to explain it to him, but couldn’t.  We went on to have a great trip which ended up being a blur, due in large part to the copious amounts of alcohol flowing all week! (Sorry K & K!)  It just always surprises me how I remember these small, seemingly insignificant details about the few days before we left on our trip, and all I can think is “I can’t believe I was pregnant during all of that”.  It’s funny the things the mind hangs on to.

I don’t know if anyone is like me in the fact that I always remember details associated with specific events, times, and places.  Two years ago today we were getting ready to leave for Jamaica.  Kevin was just getting home from his poorly timed conference in Chicago, and I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get everything else in order (cats and dogs taken care of, my bags packed, getting last minute things together, etc.)

When he was gone, I would get home from work at 3 to let the dogs out and finish the end of my day at home.  I remember sitting in our front office with the windows open and the sunshine streaming in.  I took our dogs for a walk / run each night to get myself and them some exercise (I was in crazy “get my body into awesome shape to feel ok sporting a bikini” mode).  There I was, running with 150+ lbs of dog carrying me along.  I was happy, and never felt freer then during those runs with the puppies.

The night before Kevin came home I drove to Giant Eagle to get myself something healthy to make for dinner.  I called my best friend Danielle on the way.  She picked up the phone and said “OMG.  Are you pregnant?!?”  “No”, I responded with a laugh.  “Why would you ask that”?  She said, “You called during dinner time, I just thought you may have big news!”  How silly of her, I thought.  Little did I know how right she was.

The next morning, I was trying to get our last minute stuff taken care of.  I needed to go to the OB’s office and get my blood drawn.  Then  I had to run to Meijer and get last minute toiletries, run to the mall and get a pair of shoes, and then go home, get the car loaded up with the dog crates, beds, dog food (and dogs!) and take them an hour away to our pet sitter.   I walked back into the house after dropping the dogs off and almost cried.  I felt so sad to walk into this empty house.  I bet it was those pregnancy hormones already kicking in.

Kevin got home late that day and I tried to explain it to him, but couldn’t.  We went on to have a great trip which ended up being a blur, due in large part to the copious amounts of alcohol flowing all week! (Sorry K & K!)  It just always surprises me how I remember these small, seemingly insignificant details about the few days before we left on our trip, and all I can think is “I can’t believe I was pregnant during all of that”.  It’s funny the things the mind hangs on to.

I don’t know if anyone is like me in the fact that I always remember details associated with specific events, times, and places.  Two years ago today we were getting ready to leave for Jamaica.  Kevin was just getting home from his poorly timed conference in Chicago, and I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get everything else in order (cats and dogs taken care of, my bags packed, getting last minute things together, etc.)

When he was gone, I would get home from work at 3 to let the dogs out and finish the end of my day at home.  I remember sitting in our front office with the windows open and the sunshine streaming in.  I took our dogs for a walk / run each night to get myself and them some exercise (I was in crazy “get my body into awesome shape to feel ok sporting a bikini” mode).  There I was, running with 150+ lbs of dog carrying me along.  I was happy, and never felt freer then during those runs with the puppies.

The night before Kevin came home I drove to Giant Eagle to get myself something healthy to make for dinner.  I called my best friend Danielle on the way.  She picked up the phone and said “OMG.  Are you pregnant?!?”  “No”, I responded with a laugh.  “Why would you ask that”?  She said, “You called during dinner time, I just thought you may have big news!”  How silly of her, I thought.  Little did I know how right she was.

The next morning, I was trying to get our last minute stuff taken care of.  I needed to go to the OB’s office and get my blood drawn.  Then  I had to run to Meijer and get last minute toiletries, run to the mall and get a pair of shoes, and then go home, get the car loaded up with the dog crates, beds, dog food (and dogs!) and take them an hour away to our pet sitter.   I walked back into the house after dropping the dogs off and almost cried.  I felt so sad to walk into this empty house.  I bet it was those pregnancy hormones already kicking in.

Kevin got home late that day and I tried to explain it to him, but couldn’t.  We went on to have a great trip which ended up being a blur, due in large part to the copious amounts of alcohol flowing all week! (Sorry K & K!)  It just always surprises me how I remember these small, seemingly insignificant details about the few days before we left on our trip, and all I can think is “I can’t believe I was pregnant during all of that”.  It’s funny the things the mind hangs on to.