Disney World - Boardwalk and Animal Kingdom

Thursday morning our goal was rope drop at the Animal Kingdom.  Since we weren't interested in being with the mass of humanity that wanted to do Pandora rides, we headed over to Asia to be first in line for Expedition Everest.   And we were!  Well, we were #3 and 4 in line!   After a few rides in stand-by, we stopped for breakfast and to enjoy the animals.   The monkeys outside Asia were SO LOUD!  I've never heard them chattering and playing like that; it was really fun!  I don't know if it's because we slowed down a little more this trip or if it's because it wasn't that busy in the parks, but we had a lot of fun, special adventures and magical moments on this trip.   Really made my heart full.

 

One new to us stop was Conservation Station out at Rafiki's Planet Watch where I met Doc McStuffins and he found his new best stuffed animal, Paws, the African Painted Dog.   And thanks to that train ride and adventure, William was finally able to finish his Wilderness Explorer book by collecting all the badges out there plus one final badge in DinoLand where he was awarded his Senior Wilderness Explorer Badge in a "Grand Ceremony!" 

There was a new bird show that opened a few weeks prior with Russell and Dug from UP!  It wasn't as good as the old show but William (and everyone else sitting along the aisle) got to be part of the show by making a bridge for a bird to fly through.  He said it touched his arm, which he was very excited about!   Of course we couldn't leave Animal Kingdom without visiting Pandora and riding Flight of Passage.  We got to ride it twice on this trip with Fast Passes.  It's probably my favorite ride at Disney World now.  And Pandora is my favorite land.   I can't remember what we had for breakfast or lunch this day, but I know I wasn't hungry/thirsty enough to get my Moara margarita, a favorite from last trip, but William let me share his slushy.

Our reservation the second night was a studio at Boardwalk Villas, so the Pop Century bell services moved our suitcase over while we went to the parks.   After the big day we'd had at the parks, we checked in at Boardwalk and hit the pool.  We were so tired by dinner time that we just got pizza at the Boardwalk pizza window to eat on our balcony and Ample Hills ice cream for dessert to eat on the Boardwalk.   I was so happy to be able to see pieces of  Epcot's Illuminations fireworks from the balcony, as well!  William has apparently developed an aversion to fireworks because he wouldn't sit out with me to watch them but he loved Boardwalk because it's one of the villas that has a fold down bed under the TV.  It's a pretty fun set up for a kiddo!

I really liked the Boardwalk.  John and I stayed there one year for Food and Wine but our room was a little dated.  The room we had this trip was updated and very fresh and nice.   The pool was fun but smaller than the other pools we swam at during the week.  The best part is the location: the fun restaurants along the Boardwalk, easy access to Epcot and Studios, and what pretty views!

Disney World - Pop Century and Hollywood Studios

We took our own version of spring break to Disney World!  Luckily school had another Friday off at the end of April, so we took a Wednesday and Thursday, too, and made our own post-tax season Spring Break!   Since I just kept adding additional days to the trip, we ended up splitting our four nights across three resorts.  Due to John's business travel, it was just me and William for the first few days so we tried out a lot of places we thought John may not appreciate!  Our first stop was our first stay at Pop Century!   I loved all the over-sized sculptures and decorations spread throughout the resort.  Our room was in the 80s section which had been recently renovated.  It was a small but very comfortable room for the two of us, including a Murphy bed that we unfolded for William.   My only complaint was the large number of school groups and their noise.

After an afternoon in the sunshine at the Hippy Dippy pool, we went to Hollywood Studios for a few of our favorite rides and dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In, a spot I've avoided with the three of us since the seating is better for two-somes.   William absolutely loved the theme, and our burgers and Oreo shake were tasty!  My original plan was to stay for the Star Wars fireworks at the Studios after dinner.  But William was worn out and wanted to hit the arcade at the resort before a relatively early bedtime.  

The Stairs Finally Complete the First Floor Redo

I thought we were done with house projects after summer's first floor redo. . . . but the beautiful first floor reminded me daily that the stairs we old and unfashionable.   I am so amazed how just a "little thing" like swapping out the carpet from pink floral to grey Berber makes such a huge difference!

The before (or the before after the professional painting was done).

Let me just say that ripping out "Hollywood Style" carpet (i.e. the kind stapled around the stair nose) is really, really hard.  I managed to listen to almost an entire audio book over the course of this project.   Of course that's the classiest installation look, though, so I made them install the new stuff the same way.   They didn't on the first few steps but the hubs caught them and made them redo it.   At least I won't be the one ripping it up someday.   The carpet better outlive my time in this house!

Finally done!  Many people asked me why we chose to recarpet the steps instead of keeping them wood.  A few reasons.   The stairs had some flaws from all the prior staples and staple removal.   The landing was particle board instead of hard wood.   The idea of falling down the steps when I sneak out of the house every morning in a dress in the dark was probably #1 though!

Professionals did the white paint, but I told them (last summer!) that I would tackle the java gel stain.  I mean, I watched the You Tube tutorials!  I knew what to do.   And it was actually a very easy project.  Messy.  Very messy.  But easy.  I did a very light sand and then two coats of General Finishes Java Gel Stain.  It's supposed to take a topcoat, too, but I haven't done that yet. 

The last four steps of the carpet required binding for the exposed sides.  Since we had a grandma babysitting visit upcoming, we asked them to come out and install all but the last steps so that our guest wouldn't have to live in a construction zone.  It's one thing for your family to troop up and down the unfinished steps avoiding the hidden staples.  It's entirely another to ask a guest.   But less than a week later it was finally all done!  We love it, and now I'm eagerly sizing up the bedrooms for their new carpet!

 

Easter Weekend(s)

This year was the coldest Easter we've ever had here!   The neighborhood Easter egg hunt was the week before Easter, and it was overcast and cold.  Luckily those kids grab those eggs fast and we were in and out in 30 minutes!  

William was on Spring Break for the entire week, but since he's a tax accountant's kid, we aren't going anywhere until the end of April.  Instead, he played at home for the week around mom and dad's work schedules. Since John was traveling, I worked two days at home.  My original plan was to take William into the office with me but I was too busy.  As in, I can't make the kiddo stay in my office for 14 hours - so I worked it at the dining room table and he played all day!  The next day, we couldn't go to the city because he had noon baseball practice.  But that lack of a commute meant we did have time to sneak in an hour for the Easter egg decorating!  

Thursday I got up bright and early and did my usual commute in.  Unfortunately it ended in this walking boot, as I slipped on a piece of plastic littering the steps as I was unloading from the train.  Good Friday was back at home as I nursed my ankle.  

William got two Easter baskets this year.  A Harry & David snack box from Uncle Ryan and Tarek arrived on Friday.  And another appeared on Saturday with mommy's favorite candy and his own iPad plug (so that mommy's iPhone cord can stop disappearing) and his new favorite game, Jenga!

 

Since we didn't "go" anywhere for Spring Break, we booked a room in the city for one night.   We lived it up!  Rolled ice cream, the Field Museum (with lots of breaks for sore feet - me in my boot and William in a new pair of sneakers we didn't realized needed breaking in), Jenga building, pizza and a cold swimming pool at the hotel, Easter brunch at Beatrix, and then a military history museum.

 

 

And when we got home the Easter Bunny had left eggs in the front yard!  He was so excited that one of the eggs was golden!