Disney World, Day 1 Epcot

 After 15+ hours in the car (broken up of course) we finally made it to Disneyworld!!  Our hotel wasn't the nicest (not the worst either) but we got a really good price and breakfast was included so it didn't bother me too much.
Our first day (October 28) was spent at Epcot.  It wasn't too crowded and the weather was good.  There was a little bit of waiting around because Elisa was too little to ride a lot of the rides, but at least we got to sit down and look at toys!  I'll let the pictures do most of the talking:

 Leaving the hotel to go to Disneyland!!

At the bus stop.  We decided to take the bus to save some $$...not sure that it was worth it to take the bus though!

 Waiting for Gabe and Mommy to finish the Test Track ride (which was newly remodeled--at least since we've been there 6 years ago).  Gabe loved this ride!

 More of Elisa waiting around for Gabe and mommy/daddy to finish a ride

 Elisa loved to play in the cars they had on display in the Test Track ride.

 Playing with toys while she waits...

 ...more waiting

 Gabe enjoyed the coloring stations they had set up all over Epcot

 

 Who needs a $2,000 trip to DisneyWorld when one can have just as much fun watching a model train drive around?!

 Me and my princess!

 

 

 The kids LOVED playing in the Imaginarium place.  I couldn't get them out of there!

 

 The drums were so much fun for the kids!

 

Erik and I sure loved trying all the yummy food at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival!  One of my favorite parts about going to Epcot at Halloween time!!

Happy Halloween!

...A month late!

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids in their costumes.  I choose Peter Pan and Tinkerbell for the kids because they really got into that movie for awhile there.  Normally I'd like to stay away from the Disney-theme costumes, but the kids got so excited about being Peter and Tink that I couldn't say no.  And look how cute they turned out!  The kids too.

 

 

 We crashed some other ward's Trunk or Treat because we missed ours (DisneyWorld trip, but more on that later).  Nobody seemed to care and it was dark for most of the night so I think we got away with it...!

 

 

 

 Erik as India Jones

 

It is becoming tradition for Erik to carve an elaborate pumpkin!

Gabe's First Parade

 Gabe had the opportunity to be in a parade back in October (the 16th).   It was a homecoming parade put on by the high school that runs his preschool program.  The teachers pulled the kids in wagons.  Gabe had a great time!  I think the candy was his favorite part, but I'm sure being pulled around ina wagon and getting a free balloon is also fun!
I've never been to a parade that hands out so much candy! I guess it makes up for that no-candy parade we went to way back in July, haha! Elisa's adorable-ness was like a candy magnet. People in the parade would go out of their way just to give this little princess some candy!  Oh, and she dressed herself this day.  I have trained her well.
Such a fun day for the kids! It was fun seeing my cute, smiley little man in a parade!

Elisa and The Little Gym

 A month or so ago I had a friend invite us to an open house at The Little Gym.  It was something to do so we went!  I took both Gabe and Elisa.  Gabe sat down for the first half and eventually warmed up and had lots of fun.  Elisa, however, took to it right away!  I've never seen the girl so happy and excited.  She wouldn't stop trying out everything there that was available to her!  Tumbling is totally her "thing" and she enjoyed The Little Gym so much!  She still talks about it to this day.
A week later, I signed her up for a free trial class.  At first she was sad for some strange reason but when it was over, she didn't want to go home.  She enjoyed swinging on the bars.
I would LOVE to get Elisa enrolled in the Little Gym.  However, it is verrrryy expensive, especially for us in our situation right now.  $75/mo, yikes!  If we had the money I would promptly enroll her.  I would love to see her in the Little Gym because not only does she love it, she can also be a little wobbly on her skinny little knock-knee legs sometimes and I think tumbling would help her gain muscle, balance, and confidence.  She seems to always trip over her own feet and hurt herself, poor little girl :(
I would like to get a 6-month membership to the Little Gym for Elisa for Christmas, but Erik is not excited about it, so I'll continue pestering him about until Elisa is too old :(

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