Monday, May 23

The girls ready to go--we haven't started to melt yet...

Taylor, Pooh, and Shelby

Canada

Victoria Gardens in the Canada expo



Germany



Italy



France


 

Les Chefs Du France Restaurant

 While we were in Disney, it was incredibly hot and while we loved the fact that it was not raining and 50 degrees, 95 degrees and 80% humidity is also a bit uncomfortable.  And since it was so uncomfortable on Sunday, we didn't see everything in Epcot that we wanted to so we went back on Monday.  We had such a good time!  As you can see most of what we saw on Monday was in the World Showcase, an area of Epcot that profiles different countries around the world.

Sunday, May 22 Epcot Center

On Sunday, we went to Epcot Center to enjoy the day. We spent the morning in Future World and afternoon in the World Showcase. Since my Aunt Marianne (Taylor and Shelby's grandmother) is German, we had dinner at the Oktoberfest in the Biergarten in Germany. The entertainment was great as was the meal and the beer. Here are some pics from the day:

Magic Kingdom May 20

Art and I have had this tradition where on our first day at Disney, after check-in, we always head to the Magic Kingdom to have a hotdog, ride some rides and watch fireworks on Main Street, USA. So not wanting to break with tradition, that is exactly what we did. 

Art tries to stay out of as many pics as he can but here he was trying to get Taylor to use his camera and she took advantage of the opportunity to snap his picture

Magic Kingdom

Main Street USA

Yum! Hot dogs and fries!

All-Star Music Resort

This year we stayed at the All-Star Music Resort.  We had a nice room, clean, and comfortable all for a good price.  The best part was it had a small kitchenette where we could keep snacks, water, iced tea, and Taylor's extra insulin

Vacation---Birtville goes to Disney World!!!

Last week (5/20-5/28), as many of you know, Art and I were on vacation.  This year our vacation was one that we haven't had the finances for about eight years now because of other responsibilities.  Then with my cancer and recovery, well, we just haven't been able to take the time.  It's been awhile since we have been to Disney World in Florida and I needed a Mickey fix.  Bad.  So we did something that we've wanted to do for a  few years now--planned a surprise trip to Disney for my cousin Steve's girls, Taylor and Shelby.  Their mother Theresa, Steve, Art and I, were able to plan the whole trip and keep it a secret for almost four months.  (Something that actually AMAZED Theresa and I).  We told NO ONE until just a few days before we left on May 20 because we were so afraid that someone would slip and say something to them.  But, we pulled it off.  We did have to tell them they were coming to "Birtville" for the weekend and might do something special, but that was pretty much the extent of it.  Friday morning we woke the girls at 5 am, and told them to get ready because we were going on an adventure.  We gave them a gift bag with clues consisting of tropical flavored shower get and body lotion, a journal that had a picture of Mickey Mouse on the cover, a neck pillow, and lastly a tee shirt that said, "I'm going to the Walt Disney World Resort".  They were pretty excited to say the least.  So off, we went for the next eight days and oh what fun we had!  Will post some pictures over the next few days!

Waking up at Ass-crack o'clock

Shortbus was NOT impressed with being woken up at 0445

Looking for clues--I'm surprised the bag didn't give it away

Now she's impressed

Even Yogi is going on vacaction



At JFK in New York City