Disney 2012 Day 1

With our upcoming PCS and with Grandma and Grandpa visiting we took some leave and ventured back down to Disney and LA over the Easter weekend. We left Friday and came back Monday, we had planned on leaving Sunday and coming back on Wednesday, but due to J's work projects we hightailed it out of here late Friday afternoon instead. After getting some shut eye at the Clarion, going through the McDonald's drive thru for some breakfast, J dropped us off at the park to wait for the ropes to come down and ride the first ride. While J walked back from the hotel we (M, Grandma and me) set out to ride Space Mountain...maybe I should have started her off on one of the easier rides, but she seemed to like the coaster just fine! 

Next we met up with Grandpa (who sat out on Space Mountain since N is to short for it still) and hit up Buzz Light Year Blasters. Grandma seemed to have a good time, and might have mentioned that this was more her speed ;)

We met up with J (after parking the car he ran around getting Fast Passes) at the Dumbo ride.

After riding the Old Mine Roller Coaster, Indiana Jones, and Pirates we went over to the saloon and grabbed some lunch while listening to the HillBillies.

After lunch we used a FastPass and hit up Star Tours, the boys ended up going on it 3 times over the 2 days and saw 3 different story lines out of the 50.

Next up was Star Wars Jedi Academy, we had front row seats to the show.

So front row that both boys got to participate.

J and M got selected to go up and "train" in the show, which made their day. J battled Darth Vader first.

Then M got his chance.

M was also selected to do the last battle with Darth Maul.

He even came over and taunted N, who was a little disappointed he didn't get to go up...however, this made up for it.

With their "diplomas".

Next up was Toon Town. J took the older two boys on Roger Rabbit as N took a nap and we hit up Mickey's house. After waiting an hour...way to long...we finally made it to see the big guy himself.

Grandpa chose to stay out with N and enjoyed the sun and splash of the fountain instead.

He did get to meet Goofy, a much shorter line to wait in!

We headed to the Canoes next and the boys got to paddle around...

We teased the boys at how good Disney was at making their electronic animals so life like...we had them going for a while that this duck wasn't real ;)

At the end of the day everyone was pretty tired and after supper at Ihop it was off to bed.

Post Pre-Easter Fun...is that even possible?!

We celebrated Easter with the squadron a couple weeks ago, but never got around to posting the random photos of the boys (mostly N) running around having some fun. Each boy got to decorate their own pail to collect their eggs and then got to see the Easter Bunny.

M said he was too big for the Easter Bunny...again can anyone tell me how to stop him from getting any older?!

N collecting his eggs...

Finally one M agreed to get in ;) It was a beautiful day and the boys had fun playing with the other kids in the squadron, its going to be weird to be starting out being "new" again when we get to Scott AFB.

Accelerated Reader Awards

Before Spring Break started the boys were both awarded with certificates for completing levels in the Accelerated Reader program. J has now passed enough that he can test on chapter books and his confidence in taking tests is growing as well. He still isn't a book worm like M, but is enjoying the Magic Tree House series, Junie B Jones, and anything to do with with Pokemon and Star Wars.

M is amazing all the teachers with his level of reading, his goal is to finish the program before the end of school year so that he can earn a prize from the school. His teacher, Mrs. K, said that she doesn't know of anyone who has accomplished that as early as third grade. When we switched schools last year he had to start at the beginning again even though he did AR in first grade it didn't transfer with him...which makes his achievements even more amazing in my book.

Happy 9th Birthday!

When did this guy...

turn into this guy?!

Happy 9th Birthday M!

PCS Season

PCS (Permanent Change of Station) season is upon us once again. For most moving this cycle (the military tries to move most families in the summer, or around Christmas/winter break, however it doesn't always work out that way), they are busy prepping and organizing their moves...well now we get to join in on the fun of the season! J found out last week there was an opportunity to move to Scott AFB reporting in July, he called to see what I would say (after he already said yes). Of course I was all full of questions...what would he be doing, does this fit into his "plan" for his career (which if you are familiar with the military you now I use the term "plan" loosely), when we would have to be there, does he need to go for additional training, etc, etc...most questions he really didn't know the answer to at that point. Thursday he called saying he got an email saying that his orders were going to be processed!

Both of us are super excited about heading closer to home (which 9 hours to my parents farm is considered close when we have dipped our toes in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean within the past couple of years), to get back to a slower pace of living, and dare I say cheaper lifestyle (gas on base today is at a low of $4.05 today). As Grandparents and Parents age, it will be nice to be able to possibly have long weekends or summer breaks back in MN again without breaking open the boys' piggy banks. This summer we were planning on taking leave and driving back to MN, it will be two year since being back, but instead we will try to take leave with the PCS and be able to get reimbursed for some of our travel costs going east thanks to the military moving us.

We have brought up moving to boys in passing, but haven't officially said we are moving, and they seem up for a change. They did ask if certain friends will be moving with us, since it seems whenever we have moved in the past we have lucked out and have had similar assignments to other families we know (fortunately we do have friends already stationed at Scott, just not the specific ones they mentioned since they are stationed here with us now). I think they will be excited about being closer to their cousins and Grandparents, but most importantly to them is that they want to live somewhere with snow...check!

So starting today we have almost 100 days before we need to check into Scott AFB, that means less then a 100 days left here at Travis AFB (insert sad face about leaving some great friends). So less then 100 days to get things organized, have J go on a "trip", host my parents trip out in April, have the boys finish school and attend soccer camp, clean and pack up the house and hit the road for our new assignment. Hopefully we can fit in some fun trips and adventures in there somewhere since my CA to-do list still has some items that need to be crossed off!