Kevin and Hilary live in Orlando, and so they got married there as well. As soon as I heard that the wedding was in Orlando, I instantly started planning our trip to Disney World. Martin was very against taking the kids to Disney this young, but since we were heading there anyway, he lost that battle.
Flights to Orlando aren't cheap. However, when you fly out of Atlanta it is MUCH cheaper. We decided we would drive to Atlanta, visit Josie, Bobby, and the kids, and then fly out of Atlanta. It was a great plan (saved almost $600), that is until Josie and Bobby moved to OKLAHOMA!!! How rude, right?? Since it cost an arm and a leg to change the flights to Nashville, we just got a hotel room next to the airport. It actually worked out better, because it would have been a nightmare getting to the airport in 8am Atlanta traffic.
We drove to Atlanta Monday afternoon after Miles' 15 month check-up. At the check-up Dr. Ragsdale said Miles had an awful double ear infection. This was after he had been on antibiotics for over 6 weeks (3 different ones). It broke my heart thinking about putting him on a plane with an ear infection. The pressure on landing and take off was surely going to hurt his ears like crazy. She informed us that as soon as we got back from the trip we needed to go see an ENT to talk about tubes. She gave us a new antibiotic and wished us luck on the plane. The drive to Atlanta was pretty miserable. He cried for the first half of the trip. We stopped at Cracker Barrel and got dinner, and luckily he fell asleep for the 2nd part of the trip. We arrived at the hotel around 7pm and Miles went right to sleep.
Our flight left around 9am, so we got the kids up and headed to the airport. The worst part of the entire trip was figuring out how to get all of our luggage (including 2 car seats) from the car to the airport. We finally made it past security (which wasn't as bad as I imagined) and then we headed to the plane. This was the first time Miles had been on a plane. We decided to put him in his car seat, because there was no chance he would sit still in his seat. That was the best idea ever! We strapped him into his car seat, and as soon as the plane started moving down the runway he was OUT! He slept from take off until landing. I prayed that his ears wouldn't hurt, and God answered those prayers. He was a trooper. Emory also did great on the plane. She sat next to Martin and watched her ipad.
Once we landed in Orlando my parents picked us up at the airport. We headed straight to the hotel. The hotel was so much fun. We stayed in the Finding Nemo suite and the Art of Animation Resort. There was a huge pool, and the room was perfect for us. There was a separate bedroom, living room, and little kitchen area. We got checked in, ate lunch, and the kids headed straight for the pool. After the pool it was time to get ready for dinner.
We had dinner at Chef Mickey's. Chef Mickey's is a buffet where you get to meet Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. They came around to each table, took pictures with the kids, and even danced around. We saw Pluto when we first walked in. Emory wasn't so sure about Pluto, but after that she loved all of the characters. Miles on the other hand did not. He loved them when they were far away. He would wave and wave, but as soon as they got close to him he would scream. Dinner was a blast, and the kids really had a great time.
Wednesday was our first day the Magic Kingdom. We ended up getting there right when the park opened, which was great because it wasn't crowded at all. There was a cute show right before the park opened, and Emory loved it. Probably my favorite part of the entire trip was getting to see the look on her face when she saw Cinderella's castle. Her jaw dropped. The first ride we rode was Dumbo. I loved this ride as a kid, so I knew she would too. Emory rode with Martin and Miles rode with me. We rode it a few more times and then headed off to check out some other rides. We rode Winnie the Pooh, the race cars, the Little Mermaid, the tea cups (Emory loved spinning them), the Buz Light Year ride, Monsters Inc comedy show, and the jungle cruise (wow, did Emory love this one!).
We had lunch at the Crystal Palace. It was a buffet lunch with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. Again, Emory loved them, but Miles wasn't felling it. After lunch we rode a few more rides. Emory wanted to ride the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, which is similar to Dumbo. Martin took her on the ride, and she fell asleep on his shoulder while waiting in line. As soon as they got on the ride she woke up, let him strap her in, and she fell right back to sleep. I guess that is what we get for not giving her a nap. Emory got to meet Alice and the Mad Hatter, Mickey Mouse, and Ariel. We headed back to the hotel around 4:30, had dinner, let the kids play on the playground and then went to bed. We were exhausted. Miles was a trooper! He took 2 naps in the stroller and really did a great job.
Thursday we headed to the park right when it opened again. The first thing Emory wanted to do was ride the Jungle Cruise. My great Aunt Barb came with us, and Emory said she wanted to show Aunt Barb the animals. After that we met up with my cousins Christopher and Justin! We got to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel, ride the carousel, tea cups(again), Pirates of the Caribbean, Winnie the Pooh (again), Dumbo many times, and even meet Daisy, Minnie, Donald and Goofy.
Martin talked Emory into riding a roller coaster. Granted it was a roller coaster made for kids, but I still thought Emory would be scared. They went around the first turn and Martin heard Emory yell "ahhhhhhhhhh", then around the second turn she yelled "ahhhhhhhhhhh I DON'T LIKE THE ROLLER COASTER!!!" Hahahaha....hilarious When they got off the ride I asked her if she liked it and she said, "yeah, I liked it because I am a big girl". Then I asked her if she wanted to ride it again and she said no....haha. !!!
We ate lunch at Be Our Guest, which is the Beast's castle from Beauty and the Beast. It was a really neat place! After lunch Em wanted to meet Ariel again, and then we went to Enchanted Tales with Belle. This was one of my favorite attractions. The kids got to act out a play for Belle, dance with Belle, and take a picture with her. The best part though, was that Martin was actually in the play. They picked him to be one of the guards. He had to stand up front and stomp his feet. It was hilarious. That afternoon Emory said she wanted to go see the "funny monster show" again. So my mom and Aunt Barb took her to the Monsters Inc comedy show. Well, she fell asleep before the show started and slept through the entire thing! After that we headed back to the hotel and ate dinner there. That night there was a movie under the stars. They played a movie on the lawn. Emory was picked to be the director! She had to speak into the microphone and say "lights, camera, action" and then close the clapboard. She was so proud of herself. They let her keep the clapboard and wrote her name on it. The only problem is they wrote Emily instead of Emory. She wasn't happy about that, but I told her I would fix it. She stayed out on the lawn to watch the movie with my parents and Martin while I put Miles to bed. She had a blast running in the grass, dancing, and eating snacks.
Friday morning was check out day, and most importantly the start of the wedding festivities! Hilary's family was nice enough to let all of us stay in their guest house for the wedding. It was perfect. We had plenty of room, and we were on the property where the reception was held. Friday afternoon my mom, Emory, and I went to Hilary's bridal tea and then to get our nails done. Emory was SOOOOO excited. We went to a cute tea room and had tea and sandwiches. I wasn't sure Emory would like the tea, but she did! She loved sharing Dara's tea (or Aunt Dara as Dara likes to say), and she also loved sitting with Aunt Hilary and helping her eat her food. After tea we headed to the nail salon. Emory sat with me while I got my toes done, and then she had her toes painted. That evening we went to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. We went to the church and ran through the ceremony, and Emory did a great job holding her sign. Her job as flower girl was to walk down the aisle right before Hilary carrying a sign that said "here comes your person". Then she was suppose to stand up in the front next to Dara, and follow her into the pew when it was time for the bridesmaids to sit down. When it was time for the bridesmaids to go back up to the alter, Emory was going to walk over and sit with my parents. Then at the end of the ceremony she was suppose to follow Kevin and Hilary as they walked down the aisle, and carry her sign that said "Mr. and Mrs. Jones". So cute, right? She did a great job at the rehearsal!
After the rehearsal we headed to a cute place called the Wine Barn. They had pizza and wine in a cute private room. This place was perfect and fun for everyone, except Miles. This place was a disaster for a toddler. Wine bottles and wine glasses...what could go wrong. Miles wanted to get into everything, and he started getting tired so we left early. Miles fell asleep on the way home and went right to bed in the pack n play.
Saturday was the BIG DAY! We woke up early to get hair and make up started. The hair and make up people came to Hilary's parents house, so lucky for us we didn't have to go anywhere. Emory loved everything about this day. She loved watching everyone get their hair done, she loved playing with Hilary's dad and brothers, and she loved hangout out with all the girls. At one point we were getting ready to head to the church, and I told Emory it was time to go. She looked at me and said "No, Mommy! I want to stay here with the girls."
When we got to the church Emory was starting to be difficult. I asked her why she wasn't listening to me and she said "I'm just tired, Mommy". Poor thing didn't have a nap that day, so it was catching up to her. Martin had a long day with Miles. He had the fun task of keeping him entertained all day. Martin ended up missing the ceremony because there was no chance Miles was sitting still without screaming through the entire thing. You're welcome, Kevin and Hilary. Haha
When the ceremony started and Emory did great! She carried the sign like a pro! She stood next to Dara and followed her into the pew perfectly. I was sitting at the very end of the pew, so I kept looking down at her. She was being great! She was sitting perfectly still, I couldn't believe it! Well...then it was time to stand up and go back to the alter, and Emory was suppose to go sit with my parents. When we stood up I looked down and Emory and she was 100% asleep! Her eyes were closed, and she was leading forward, about to fall off the pew...haha! Hilary's dad was sitting right behind her, and he was so sweet! He tried to grab her so she wouldn't fall off the pew. I ran down, picked her up, ran her over to my parents, and then went back to the alter. It was one of the funniest and cutest things EVER! Needless to say, she didn't follow Kevin and Hilary out with her sign. She slept for the rest of the ceremony on my dad's shoulder. Miles and Marin showed up for pictures, and Miles looked ADORABLE!!!!
After pictures we headed to Hilary's parents for the reception. The reception was on their law under a beautiful white tent. The weather was perfect! Miles was SO difficult to wrangle during the reception, he just wanted to run and mess with all the lights. He did have fun dancing on the dance floor. I put him to bed around 8, and then I was able to enjoy the reception! Emory had so much fun! She danced like crazy with my cousin Sara's little girls. They loved playing together. Towards the end of the night they went inside and watched a movie together. Emory made it up the entire night and loved every minute.
The reception was so much fun. It was great to see all of our family and friends. Kevin and I even got to belt it out our favorite song, Mr. Jones and Me. Our flight left early Sunday, and the kids did great! Miles slept the entire flight again. The dive home was awesome too! Both kids slept or watched tv the whole way.
Everything about this trip was perfect. I was more fun than I could have ever imagined, and the wedding really was perfect. I sure wish we lived closer, but I am so exited to have a new sister-in-law, There is nothing better than knowing your brother has met the love of his live, and she's pretty awesome.
I am already planning our return to Disney in 2018!!!
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