day two: animal kingdom

Everyone else is asleep after another fun filled day here in Disney and I am drinking a glass of wine and thinking back to Sunday. Our day two was one of those awesome days where everything was just perfect! The weather-man was totally wrong, and the 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms turned out be a 5 minute sprinkling at the EXACT time we happened to be inside grabbing lunch. The kids were in G R E A T moods, David and I were having a great time, and we just enjoyed the day.
So nice...

One reason it was a fun and unique day for us because this was also my first time to visit the Animal Kingdom. So we all got to check it out together...




The girls got lots of attention when they started their modeling poses! So spunky!

We entered the park and did what many people had recommended, headed straight to "Africa" for the safari....

Thought this was a sweet moment between the twins....

We all oved the safari, and there were TONS of animals out and about. It was so neat!

Then we hopped on the train and took a ride to the other side of the park for the petting zoo...

Elise looking so grown up!

And we were pleasently surprised to run into Pochahontas...

and Rafiki!

Pochahontas started a new trend by kissing Elise's book. And, so now the girls are constantly asking the Princesses to kiss their books! I always tell them Pochahontas started it!

And Jimminy Cricket!

Then we made a quick stop at the petting zoo. But, when Bennett started kissing all of the goats (GROSS) I decided it was time to move on.....

After we got off of the train back in Africa the kids took turns playing some drums...

Then we saw the AMAZING Lion King show, which we all LOVED. It had singing, dancing, trapeze artists, floats....everything. Loved it, loved it!

All five of us survived the pretty scary Dinosaur ride! I rode with Elise, and I really think I was more scared then she was. She has amazed me with her fearlessness! She has really come out of her shell this year! She loves the rides and will try ANYTHING!

After that David decided it was time for an ice cream break (he is always up for ice cream!)...the did deserve a treat, they were behaving like little Angels!!

After that we went to see another AMAZING show...the Nemo show. It was gorgeous, and the characters were like a hybrid of puppets and kites...the kids just LOVED it. LOVED it.

We were very near the Everest ride when waiting for Nemo and Bennett kept begging to go on it. It is a major rollar coaster. I am pretty thankful that the kids didn't meet the 48 inch height requirement- because then I would have had to go on it!!

So, instead we settled for taking some pictures with "Everest" in the background.

Then we spent a little time on a Dinosaur playground...

And then headed to the rapids for another fun ride!! We all did it the first time and had a BLAST! Elise and Bennett loved it so much (and the lines had gone majorly down) that they did it 3 times in a row- and were SOAKED!!

We had planned on going back to our room to rest and get ready before our dinner Sunday night, but they were having so much fun in Animal Kingdom that we ended up just staying until pretty late and then heading straight to our reservation in the Contemporary with Chef Mickey...

Chef Mickey is a family buffet style restaurant where you get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald. They also sing songs and do parades....

Elise swinging her napkin and having a blast!!!!

Then the parade of characters started...Lila did a little bit better this night. She stayed close to the table. Minnie made a little headway by blowing her a kiss- which she blew back. So, it was a little more enjoyable than our Crystal Palace meal the day before..

The kids loved the Mickey Mouse shaped mac n cheese, and especially the Disney themed desserts. Should be interesting getting back to regular food and our old sleep schedule when we get home...but I guess I'll "worry" about that later...

And for now just enjoy the smiles on their faces at this very special time!