Vacation Trip to Disney World and SeaWorld

In the middle of March, we flew down to Orlando, FL for parts of four days.  We haven't taken a vacation for the purpose of ourselves since our honeymoon almost 3 years ago!   Usually, when we travel places around the country, it is to visit our spread out family so we decided to cash in some of Jon's points through his various frequent traveler programs and take a little cost to us vacation!

It seems like we like Florida, because on our honeymoon we spent a week in Florida and now we went back.  :)  We flew down on a Wednesday after Chelsea was done with school.  Her school does not have a Spring Break but we sort of made our own.  Chelsea had Friday off but was supposed to have in service on Thursday, but Jon booked the trip without Chelsea knowing so her principal couldn't really say anything about it... :)

On Thursday, we spent all day at two of the four Disney World parks.  We started at Magic Kingdom in the morning, went to Epcot in the afternoon, and then came back to Magic Kingdom for the later afternoon and evening.  By the time we got back to the resort, it was about midnight.  It was a tiring day, and we kept commenting how bad we felt for the couples who have young kids and try to enjoy Disney.  They must have been more exhausted than we were!  We wanted to go before we have kids so that way we could enjoy it.  We were able to go through two Disney parks in one day but we could have spent more time in each.  However, some families who go to all four parks in four days, we didn't think we'd be able to handle that bc we were so tired!

Then, on Friday, we spent all day at SeaWorld and Aquatica (SeaWorld's water park).  It was about 70 degrees that day; not necessarily the temperature that is perfect for enjoying a water park, but Aquatica was not busy at all and we didn't have to wait in any lines!  We also were able to go down all of the slides/rides in Aquatica in 1.5 hours!  We spent the morning at SeaWorld and rode their three roller coasters, saw a dolphin show, saw a sea lion show, touched sting rays and much more.

That evening we went to a couple's home in the Orlando area who Jon met while on his work cruise that he took to the Mediterranean in November.  It was nice to visit/meet them and to have one of the best steaks we've ever had.  They even prepared several gluten free side dishes for Jon which was super nice as well!

Finally, we flew home Saturday morning to complete our super short and compact trip.  :)  Not sure when we will go back to Orlando, but we know we don't want to take kids to Disney until they are at least 8-10 on the young age.

Disney:

Our resort where because of Jon's travel program was only
$160 total for 3 nights!

Our nice Villa.

Entering Walt's playground.

Once inside Disney's gates, we still had to get through Magic Kingdom's.

Right when we got to Disney, there were kids everywhere and
we didn't want to wait in lines so we went to some of the mini
museums in Magic Kingdom. Chelsea loved the Hall of
Presidents like a history major should!

While lines were still long, we took the monorail
over to EPCOT.  We loved this park!

Chelsea in the German Village of EPCOT; unfortunately we
did not dine in our heritage culture but we saw a bunch of
sauerkraut!  :)

A panoramic view of the 3 p.m. parade at Magic Kingdom. 

The Festival of Fantasy Parade Lead Float.

Daisy and Donald.

Mickey!

Enough said.  :)

At the 3D mini movie, Mickey's PhilHarmagic.

Tomorrowland Speedway.

Chelsea was nervous about Jon's driving abilities. 

Our favorite ride!  Thank goodness we had a fast pass and didn't
have to wait for 80 minutes!

Jon and his gluten free Edy's Ice Cream treat.

This was frustrating for Chelsea.  She ordered a double scoop of ice cream.  Jon ordered the kid version single scoop that was supposed to look like Mickey.  First, Jon ordered the cookies and cream flavor and mentioned he had Celiacs.  The manager put on gloves and went back to prepare his specially.  She came out and said she was sorry but the cookies and cream had gluten in it.  :(  Then she went back and made it with vanilla but the special huge chocolate chips they use for Mickey's ears also had gluten in it so she took back the second one.  Finally, she came out with more ice cream than Chelsea's, with two gluten free chocolate chip cookies for the ears and put peanut butter sauce on top!  :)  It was amazing, and $1 cheaper than Chelsea's.  Sometimes, having a digestive disease pays off because people feel sorry for you and give you more than others!  :)

We loved our time at Disney!  Notice: Mickey's
ears sticking out of Jon's cap.  :)

SeaWorld and Aquatica:

Sea Lion Show Stage.

Dolphin Show Stadium.  This show was our favorite! 

Journey to Atlantis.  This ride was Chelsea's favorite.  Basically,
it was a log ride on steroids.

Touching a sting ray.

At the entrance to SeaWorld. 

Freezing after our time at Aquatica.  :)

January Catch Up Post

After not posting since the summer, we wanted to start back up for 2014.  So far, it's March and we haven't posted yet so it was time to get back on track.  :)

STOP IN BILLINGS, MT:
For Christmas in December, we celebrated in Kalispell, Mont., with Chelsea's family.  We drove this year so we didn't have to board Ace at the kennel but that also meant for 4 long days of driving in wintry conditions.  However, one benefit of driving was being able to stop in Billings on the way home and see Jon's brother and sister-in-law and their two twin boys!  Jon's birthday was over break and we all celebrated in Kalispell (thanks to Chelsea's mom who made a delicious ice cream cake in the shape of a tennis ball!) but when we got to Billings, Amy had also decided to treat Jon with a homemade Oreo pie (Jon's favorite and only pie he likes).

In addition to eating a delicious meal, not sure how Amy does it all managing two 18-month old twin boys and preparing a wonderful meal every time we come to visit, but the pesto chicken was great!  We also found time to play a game of Stone Age as well as catching up on everything in our lives.

Cody and Jaden got into some fun with Ace in the nursery.

The boys getting kisses from Ace before dinner.

Aunt Chelsea reading Jaden and Cody a book before bedtime.

Jon and his birthday cake.  Thanks Amy!

Jason and Amy with the birthday boy. 

Playing some Stone Age; Birthday boy Jon won the game.

ALEXA VISIT:
One of Chelsea's best friends, Alexa, and former roommate from college came up to visit from Texas for a weekend for Val's bachelorette party.  It was great to see her and spend some time with her for a few days.  Thanks for helping Chelsea with all the prep and getting ready for the bachelorette party and for driving all the way up for a weekend.  We owe you a visit!  :)

Chelsea, Val and Alexa before
going out for dinner.

Thanks for a great visit Alexa!

YOUNG ROADS SKI TRIP:

On a Saturday in late January, a few of us from our Bible study community went outside Omaha to a "hill" here in the midwest plains.  It was the first time that either of us had been skiing since middle school but it was a lot of fun.  Jon went down the sole black diamond a few times while Chelsea said once was enough.  We haven't had a super snowy winter so the ski place made a bunch of fake snow but it started turning to ice so that was the only downer; it wasn't very powdery.  However, it was a great day with friends and we hope to go again next year!  

Front Row: Bre and Matt
Back Row from L to R: Andie, Chels, Jon, Mark, Wendy,
Amanda and Benjy

SHOES FROM BE WELL SERVE WELL:

A perk to working for a Lutheran organization is the health insurance and their rewards program.  We had to document our working out routines, daily fruits and vegetable intakes as well as our preventative screenings.  We then earned several visa gift cards based on our performance for the year and we decided to use those for a series of new shoes.  Jon got a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of volleyball shoes as well as a pair of winter boots.  Chelsea was able to buy a pair of volleyball shoes, a pair of running shoes for her upcoming half marathon in May for her training.  Chelsea also got a pair of leather brown boots but they hadn't come in the mail yet so they aren't pictured.  Thank you Concordia Plan Services!  We also got a new home phone with two handsets as well as paid off our dental bill.  What a great use of funds!  Can't wait to fill out the Be Well Serve Well information for 2014.

FIRST ADULT BAPTISM AND GAME NIGHT:
At the end of January, Jon was able to witness his first adult baptism.  One of the perks about working from home is that he has flexibility to go to church for a half hour and come home without a problem.   It was pretty special to see as this girl is a part of our Bible study community and with the help of her neighbor, another friend from Young Roads, she decided she wanted to become a Christian.  It was special to be there and Pastor Schnake did a great job making it a mini service and not just the baptism insert in the front of the hymnal.  Also, that following night, we then had a mini celebration and get together to play some games and celebrate.

Pastor Schnake baptizing Betty; Rachel and Kensy watching.

Patrick, Chels, Kensy, Kyle, Angela, Rachel and Betty playing
WhooNu at the game night.

Montana Trip #3

  Everything Else We Did In Montana

We were in Montana for parts of 11 days in May and we were able to see a lot of people and do a lot of things.  Here is a snapshot of some of the things we did.

We made a trip to Glacier. 

We are completely surrounded by water :)

Jon, Chelsea, Dad, Ashlea, and Heidea were even
able to hike up to Avalanche Trail. 

We made it to the lake!  What a beautiful place!

We watched cousin Amber play soccer.  Gooooo Amber!

We had a fire... and of course we had s'mores 

And of course we had lots of opportunities to play games!
Thanks Brent for coming to play pinochle.

Some dominoes with the Reiner family.

And 8 handed Pinochle.  What is the Vaudt family game?
Pinochle!

We were able to worship at The Church of Creston
where we were married and where Grandpa is
the pastor.  

Mom Vaudt and her lovely sister Dena.

 

Jon thought it was hilarious that Chaco
loved drinking out of the bathtub facet. 

Some People We Saw...

Grandma and Grandpa Jan were able to make
it for Kailea's Graduation from Iowa.  

Grandpa Reiner's sister Norma came for a visit.  She lives in
North Dakota and Chelsea had not seen her in years.
It was a nice visit and Jon was happy to meet her for the first time.

Of course we were able spend some time with Meghan!

Chelsea and her good friend Ashley Harriot went on a hike up Lone Pine. 

It was also so fun to be able to see Katie Stewart and her son Logan!
They were also visiting from Oklahoma.

One last family shot.  We had such a great visit!