The Harper Hullabaloo: October 2011

July? Really? I haven't posted since July? Wow. I realized that the reason that I first began this blog was to keep family and friends updated on our family activities, but I can do that so quickly on Facebook that I haven't been very good about posting on my blog. I also realized that there are a few of you who have told me that you like to see pictures of the kids, and you are NOT on Facebook. So, for those 2 or 3 people....I thought I would do a pretty quick update. Not going to catch you up on every event over the last three months, but thought I would post a few pictures of our recent trip to Disney World!

We had an amazing opportunity to take a week-long vacation and spend three days at Disney World and four days at the beach! We were able to keep it a surprise for the kids and they didn't find out that we were going until it was time to get in the van and go! That was so fun to be able to surprise them that way! Our hotel in Orlando had Mickey Mouse waffles that the kids enjoyed each morning!

We hadn't even been to Dollywood in a couple of years and Helen had only ridden a kiddie roller coaster until this trip! She was tall enough and she hit them ALL! No fear! (Well, maybe a little!) But she rode them all! Here is a picture of Helen with Sean and Beckett before she rode her first BIG roller coaster at The Animal Kingdom!

Helen was the only one who liked posing for pictures with Disney characters. Here she is with Pocahantas. Beckett was too cool for character pictures, and Will was pretty much freaked out by the over-sized stuffed guys! He liked to talk to them and give them hi-fives, but only if I was holding him!

We saw lots of 3-D shows and Helen and I always took our pictures with our 3-D glasses. Here we are at "A Bugs Life" in The Animal Kingdom. Cute show!

On our first day, we spent the whole day at The Animal Kingdom, then went to the hotel to change into Halloween costumes, then went to The Magic Kingdom all night for "Mickey's Not-so-Scary Halloween Party." The park stayed open until mid-night and we pretty much closed it down! LONG day! Here is a picture of the kids in their costumes as we were riding the ferry over to The Magic Kingdom! Beckett was a pirate, so he is trying to look mean. Helen was a princess and Will was "Tow-Mater" from the Cars movie!

At Hollywood Studios on Tuesday, Helen and Beckett both got to participate in the Jedi Training Academy show. It was so cute! In this picture, the Jedi Master had just told Helen to "Keep smiling. It confuses him." as she fought with Darth Vader. She really did smile the entire time! This picture shows Helen finishing her "battle" with Darth Vader and Beckett getting ready for his turn.

Will posing on some Star Wars creature!

Helen with Alice and the White Rabbit!

It was a little shady for this character picture, but I managed to get Beckett to join us for a picture with Tiger and Winnie the Pooh. Will loved them, but again, he wouldn't get down to have his picture made with them. He wanted me to hold him! So he and I are over to the right in the shadows next to Pooh!

Helen with her Minnie Mouse ears, eating a Mickey Mouse chocolate ice cream!

After three wonderful days in the parks at Disney, we headed to Indian Rocks Beach for a few days of rest and relaxation which you definitely need after three days at Disney! This was Will's first time at the beach and he loved it. He really enjoyed digging in the sand, and by the third day, when the waves were a little calmer, he even enjoyed jumping the waves!

We all enjoyed building sand castles and Sean liked the shade under his umbrella as he read a book!

Will running from our condo to the beach on the second day!

A picture taken from our balcony of Helen jumping waves while Sean sat under his umbrella!

Surfer dude!

We ate lots of seafood and had dinner one night on the deck of a restaurant. We were there during sunset and it was beautiful! We all enjoyed it except Will. It made him really sad that the sun went away!