We had a great Christmas back in Alabama (click here for Christmas pictures), and have finished moving into our new place in Cincinnati.
As if our January wasn't busy enough, Jason's program at GE hosted another global training event in Orlando, so we decided to make a road trip out of it. This was probably the longest trip we've taken together by car, and we were pretty thankful for the overhead DVD player in our new van! The highlight of the trip down was dinner the night we arrived - Bubbalous bodacious barbeque, an Orlando favorite.
The event was held again this year at the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. During the week, Jason attended the training event during the day while Sue and the kids hung by the pool or drove around Orlando hitting some favorite spots. They also got a chance to visit Universal Studios Islands of Adventure on Tuesday, along with our friend Marigny Bostock (wife of one of Jason's friends and co-worker Jon).
Unfortunately, Sue developed strep throat during the week and needed a day to recuperate, so Jason snuck out of the Thursday session and took Aerin and Jack to Disney's Animal Kingdom! They had so much fun, and he was really glad to have the time with just them.
At the end of the week we made our annual visit to the Magic Kingdom. This year's theme is the "Year of a Million Dreams", so we were able to catch the new Dreams Come True parade, and several updated attractions including the Pirates of the Caribbean update with Captain Jack Sparrow! Anyone familiar with Jack's obsession with pirates will know just how much he enjoyed this ride - and you must check out the pictures to see the pirate hat, sword, and hook he wore all day long at the park (literally, from about 1pm till after park close).
The characters got a kick out of Jack's pirate outfit and paid special attention to him. Look closely at the pictures and see Donald being scared at the parade, and Mickey sword fighting with Jack. Not pictured is Peter Pan, who made a sword-fighting motion at Jack from his position atop a parade float! At the end of the day, Aerin was tired and feeling a little sick, so Jason and Jack rode Goofy's Barnstormer (a kid-sized roller coaster) in Mickey's Toontown Fair three times. Jack would have ridden it many more if he'd had the time! We'll hit that earlier next time, for sure.
Absolutely no one enjoyed the parade more than Aerin - year after year it is her favorite (she asked at least once per hour when it was going to start). She had such a fun time, and also enjoyed visiting Pooh's Playful Spot, a new play area behind the Winnie the Pooh ride in Fantasyland (on the site of the old 20,000 leagues under the sea ride). Of course she was also excited to ride It's A Small World, her favorite ride as a little kid.
It was a really fun day at Disney - I think we'll go back! :)
Click here for pictures from the Orlando trip!
