W&L - June 2023 (DISNEY WORLD!)

We started off summer vacation with a fun day at Six Flags!

It was so hot...

Lilly got some courage to ride a really big ride. We went all through the line and then, right as we were about to board, the workers said she was too short. So, we got a picture of her in a seat outside of the ride. 

She revisited the bus ride she loved so much and realized- it wasn't that much fun to a big kid!

Lilly finally got to show her courage when we all rode the Ring of Fire. She loved it!

Continuing to cook with the kids, Lilly chose donuts (again). 

I made three different glazes for the donuts: Vanilla Bean, Orange, and chocolate. 

Trying to entice the kids to read over the summer, I told them when they finished a (chapter) book, I would get them ice cream. Their first cash in was a sweet success!

Our next adventure was a new water park close-by. We all loved it!

Pool day with friends!

We even chased down the ice cream truck. 

Once PJ and I booked our Disney trip, we knew we needed to prepare the girls for what it would be like to walk long distances in the heat. So, we started going on 4-5 mile hikes with fans, water bottles, and plenty of snacks. 

Lilly cooking again: sheet pan pancakes!

Urban Air! (We had a free Slushee coupon from a birthday party)

Playdate at a friend's pool where the girls put their mermaid tails to good use!

I taught Wendy the beauty of a pizza bagel. We had many pizza bagels over the summer. 

Wendy finished her Panda pillow!

Lilly had a go at this Panda embroidery craft

Park day!

Lilly got soaking wet in the splash pad. This is pretty much how summer was structured. We had general days every week: Prep Day, Outing Day, Park Day, Pool Day, Craft Day. And there were plenty of iPad days too...

On another steamy morning walk- being sweet. 

Then, one day we started off with church (where Wendy gave a talk in Primary). 

And ended the day in Disney World!

We were able to score rooms in the Riverside Resort and even had Tiana Suites (where the head boards light up and shoot off "fireworks")

It was a beautiful resort but we were ready to hit the parks!

The rest of the pictures might be out of order but we did start off with Hollywood Studios. One of the last rides we rode was Rockin' Roller Coaster and Lilly LOVED it!

In Magic Kingdom we braved Thunder Mountain. 

The line was always too long to meet Pooh Bear but we got this picture with his statue. 

Waiting in line isn't so bad!

Right after we snapped this pictures, the attendant to the right asked the girls how old they were. Apparently you can't ride by yourself until you're 7? So Lilly's birthday became a bigger deal...

Eating at Beast's Castle!

The dessert was super yummy and the kids got this kit where they could paint their chip cup before eating it. 

We sat in the West Wing with the rose. Beast would come out and wave every 45 minutes. 

It was lovely to sit down in the air conditioning!

Wendy met Peter! He freaked out when he learned her name. 

He loved Lilly's name too. They posed as Tiger Lilly would have. 

Since we were in Magic Kingdom 30 minutes before the park opened (and we wanted to stay until the fireworks at 9:00 p.m.), we took a dinner break from the park and rode the monorail to the Polynesian. 

We chilled in the lobby (in the air conditioning) for a while until our food was ready. By sun down, we were ready to go back in!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was a blast!

Back in Hollywood Studios on my favorite ride!

The fireworks were awesome!

She sure looks pretty at night....

Some fun special effects from taking pictures with the photographers on Main Street USA. 

Hands up!

Lilly did not like the Haunted Mansion. 

But loved Space Mountain!

On our off day, we couldn't find Lilly and then she came out of this crevice like a creature jonesing for cheese balls. 

On our resort day, we went to the pool and it was the one day it rained! Good thing we were already wet...

Pop came to visit and, after we all dried off, we walked over to the boats to go to Disney Springs. 

Happy Anniversary to us!

Alex joined us and the kiddos all enjoyed a bubble waffle cone after dinner. 

The next day we tackled Animal Kingdom!

(You can see Pop, Alex, and Wendy in the dinosaur behind us)

Expedition Everest! We rode this many times. Another favorite!

At the end of a full day at Animal Kingdom, we had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. 

Thanks for joining us Pop and Alex!

Our last day, we circled back to Magic Kingdom to catch the things we missed. PJ caught this sweet moment between the girls 🥰

The Pooh Bear ride and Peter Pan rides were always a long wait so we were thrilled when we could finally ride them!

Astro Orbitor! The girls fit great.

PJ and I ... not so much

Recreating a picture from our honey moon!

The girls met so many princesses at Cinderella's castle!

And Lilly got a special cupcake since it was her birthday. 

More Main Street Magic!

The second time riding Pirates. We were all enraptured in the story!

It was a great trip! But tiring. This was literally the last ride we rode before we went back to the resort to pack and watch a movie before we left.