Happy New Year!

E-mail from Robert:
"Last time I was here is was the 30 rounds of 120mm mortar illumination rounds that 2-70 AR shot just 75 yards from our building that nearly gave us all collective heart attacks....yeah, they didn't tell us about it beforehand. Took about 15 rounds before we realized they weren't shooting AT us.

This year it was the 2 x F-16s that flew over at midnight at what felt like breaking the sound barrier at 500 feet."

Last time he was there, I enjoyed the Music City Bowl in Nashville with some Auburn friends while my dad and grandparents kept baby Gabby. We went to a bar near the stadium after the game for something to eat and a beer and toasted "Happy New Year" on Baghdad time (3pm in Nashville). Then I went back to my grandparents and was very asleep at midnight. No staying awake when there is a baby to take care of.

This year, it's not yet midnight in Washington and I hope to be sleeping by midnight since I have to be up by 8 for the Auburn game. And I will probably be up earlier. We wished Daddy a Happy New Year at 1 PM and had dinner with our neighbors. I missed seeing the ball drop (9 PM here) because I was putting the kids to bed. Hoping for no F-16s flying over at midnight here.

Since everyone else is talking about what they were doing at the beginning of the decade, I will add that for good measure. Robert and I rang in 2000 dancing at a resort in Tunisia in North Africa. We didn't worry too much that the computers would go nuts and we wouldn't be able to fly back to Germany. We spent a week there relaxing and seeing the Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, and Rommel's old territory. Maybe I'll dig up a picture...

Anyway, hope everyone has a Happy New Year. I'm counting on 2010 being better than 2009.

Well, one more day

Wilderness Lodge

Pooh

Sam did love Tigger

Mary Poppins

And Alice

Sam and Granddaddy

We had one more day at Disney, just not in the parks. Our flight didn't leave until 6 that night so we had a few things planned for that day. Robert's folks drove down and met us for the day. We did some pictures at the Grand Floridian and then had brunch at 1900 Park Faire with Alice in Wonderland and friends. We then went to Downtown Disney for shopping and playing in the fountain. Then we did finally have to head to the airport and catch our plane. We didn't get rained on the whole trip. It started raining as we were boarding our plane.

Magic Kingdom, Last Day

Sammy loved the slide near Splash Mountain

Lunch at the Crystal Palace

Sammy was so excited to see Tigger!

Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen

Gabby finally decided she could ride with her hands up

The back car of Big Thunder Mountain Railway

Buzz Lightyear

Zurg!

Our last day we spent at the Magic Kingdom. We had big fun but were glad it was our last day. Most of our trip we had very easy crowds and short lines. A good, relaxing time. By the Monday of Thanksgiving week, it was packed. But we had done everything at least once and just went to hit our favorites and have a good day. Sam discovered he loved the train that runs around the park. Someone would take him to ride that while the other would ride Big Thunder or Splash with Gabby. He cried every time we got off the train, even though he loved the playground in the area too. We rode Buzz Lightyear a bunch of times during our trip and every time Sam would refuse to get his picture made with Zurg. The very last time we rode it, he hopped over there and took a picture. One last time to see the fireworks and then we headed back to the hotel. As always, Disney is a good trip!

SeaWorld

Santa in the Polar Express Experience

Sam in the splash park

The merry-go-round

Shamu!

Dolphin show

We took a break from Disney and made use of the free day for military at SeaWorld. The kids both love fish and dolphins so we had a fun time seeing all the shows. We even got to see Santa at the Polar Express Experience. A nice bonus.

EPCOT, Part Two

Belle and Beauty

Gabby and Snow White

Notice how Sam is hiding from the pretty lady

But when she walked away, he sure wanted a good look!

Trying out games in China

Sam has to have a turn

Gabby's eagle eyes found Mulan

Hi, I'm Bruce

EPCOT was next on our list. We started early with the princess breakfast in Norway. Gabby was the prettiest princess there but Sam was very shy with the other pretty ladies. It was funny. We then hit a few rides in Future World before heading back to the countries. Sam loved the Nemo ride, just like his mommy. We just kept walking back on it. Once the countries opened, we headed around. The kids made their masks and got their passport books stamped while enjoying the different things in each country. We came back around to Future World and did some more riding. We were smart enough to rent a double stroller for EPCOT day, knowing how much walking it is and that Gabby probably wouldn't make it. We were not smart enough to eat often enough and Robert and I got worn out. We rode everything in Future World but decided to head on back without seeing Illuminations. We were just too tired. Gabby added Mission:Space to the list of rides she can now ride and we rode the revamped Spaceship Earth, which they did a great job with. It was a great but tiring day.

EPCOT

Heading in to EPCOT

Making their masks in the countries

Everyone loves a churro

Playing in the maze in England

Gabby and Daddy on the big screen in Spaceship Earth

Hollywood Studios, Part Two

Mickey at Chef Mickey's

Gabby sleeping in the stroller

Goliath and Sam (under the princess blanket)

Gabby and Goliath

Minnie Mouse!

Donald Duck, too!

Our Hollywood Studios day started early after a late night at the Christmas party. We had early breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. Then we headed out to the Studios. We managed to ride Toy Story Mania three times, which is good for a new ride. Gabby discovered the Rock N Roller Coaster and loved her first upside down roller coaster experience. As with Everest, she rode this one four times using Fast Passes and Ride Swap. We ate lunch at Hollywood and Vine with Playhouse Disney folks. Unfortunately Sam fell asleep as we were walking over there and slept through the whole thing. But Gabby enjoyed. Then she fell asleep during the parade in Sam's stroller. She must have been tired because we were right in the sun and it was quite warm. She slept through the parade and the walk to the car show. We had the leave the stroller and she woke up for a minute but then fell back to sleep once we sat down and slept through the whole loud stunt show. One tired girl. We managed to make it Fantasmic! and then went back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep.

Hollywood Studios

Dancing with the Stars

Toy Story Mania

Hugs for Mickey

My little Jedi

Mater

Queen

Chef Mickey's

More Very Merry Christmas Party

We've been back two weeks and the kids are still finding Mickey heads on everything.

Dancing with the stepsisters.