Orlando!

This May, we jumped at the opportunity to head to Orlando, Florida for my cousin Ann Marie's 40th birthday party. I had been wanting to see my family down there for awhile now, and the thought that they hadn't met either of my kids yet was a huge motivation to make it happen. Plus, since I'm still on maternity leave, I didn't need to use any vacations days!

We flew down on the Thursday before memorial day and stayed until Sunday evening. We scored big time on a rental through home away, which was a townhouse with 4 bedrooms and a private "soaking pool" within a larger resort. This rental had more than enough room for us and my parents and was similar in price to hotels! 

We were nervous about flying with the two kids, but both flights went amazingly well! Emmy fell asleep on both (halfway through the first and pretty much the entire time on the second!), and Nolan fell asleep on the second and was happy to look out the window/watch his iPad the rest of the time. 

The first day we hit the larger resort pool to get some sun. I think Joe has all the photos on his phone, but here's the one I had on my phone. It doesn't show how huge the pool was with all the water falls! Nolan was a bit timid at first since it had been a year since he's been in a pool, but the puddle jumpers I bought this year were a huge hit and he gained confidence throughout the entire trip in swimming independently using them. Emmy wasn't a huge fan even though she loves baths. The water was a bit colder than bath water (which felt nice in the Florida heat, but she just tolerated it for a bit).

Part of the resort pool

The first night we headed over to Ann Marie and my Aunt Barbara's house for a casual dinner. It was great to see all my cousins (my cousin Thomas flew in from California with his family and my cousin Luciann was there with her kids and fiance too). Nolan again got over being shy very quickly and was running all around with his older cousins and having a great time. He passed out in the car (we stayed way past his bedtime) and didn't even wake up being transferred to his bed.

Saturday was the day of the party, but we took advantage of our little pool in the rental in the morning before the party. It was the perfect size for us! I finally remembered to pull out my nice camera for pictures!

Nolan and Pop Pop hanging out in our enclosed private swimming area in the rental

Emmy still not feeling pool time.

That face!

This was more Emmy's speed :)

Best photo of both of them in the pool haha

Nolan learning how to swim with his puddle jumpers

Eyelashes for days!

Happy kid!

The party was held at my cousin Luciann's house and was a ton of fun. Minor disaster occurred when we got to the party and realized we forgot to bring all our swimsuits that we had put aside to bring and the rental was a half hour away. A quick trip to target around the corner and all was well again! Glad we got Nolan a suit because he loved playing in the water slide they rented for the party!

Hanging with the big kids!

party fun!

 Birthday Girl

Mom on Baby Emmy duty

SO happy my Aunt Barbara finally got to meet my kids!!

Ann Marie and my boys

Love these people!

Like many houses in Florida, Luciann's backs to a gorgeous lake (which we were told not to go too close to as an Alligator lives there!) It make for a beautiful back drop for some family pics!

Me with all my first cousins - Ann Marie, Luciann, and Thomas! Nolan was being so silly for the pictures!

Nolan was making us all laugh!

Nolan with two of Luciann's kids, Jacob and Clarissa - cousins!

Again, we stayed out past Nolan's bedtime and he fell asleep so hard we just transferred him directly from the car to his bed. So funny he did this twice in Florida and never here - he was definitely over stimulated and not napping! Apparently the only way Emmy would nap there was snuggled up with Nonna ;)

Best place for a nap!

Sunday we had late flights back home scheduled. I tried to rally up Nolan for one more dip in (either) pool, but he was so zonked he just wanted to veg all morning. We did get one more visit in with family at Chili's near the airport. So nice to see my family that I rarely get to see!

The fam at Chili's

Couldn't get enough of my Aunt Barbara interacting with Baby Emmy <3

Emmy and her Great Aunt

When we were waiting for our airplane in Philadelphia on the way to Orlando, we saw the pilot and I had Nolan go over to meet him. The pilot assumed we were going to disney and asked Nolan if he was ready to meet Mickey. Nolan of course agreed enthusiastically that he was and then proceeded to ask for Mickey a lot of the trip! We made up for this gaff by having him "meet Mickey" at the Orlando airport on the way home by posing next to a big Mickey statue and letting him go in the Disney store there and pick out a stuffed Mickey (and Minnie for Emmy) to bring home. Phew - that was enough to satisfy him for now ;) I'm sure we'll be back in the future for the real deal - especially with family in the area!

Nolan meeting Mickey