For the first week of December, Andy and I took a trip to Florida.
We have wanted to visit Matt and his family for a while, as well as bump Andy up to Gold Medallion status on Delta (he was so close.) Our trip was December 2-6, and was SUPER FUN!! We arrived on Thursday night, and immediately went to the temple for Matt and Crystal's ward Temple Night. I mean IMMEDIATELY, (I changed in the airport bathroom!) After the temple we went to Matt's house and his kids were super excited to see us... or they just didn't want to go to bed. I am pretty sure the latter is true. Matt and Andy went to go grab some pizza for dinner and I caught up a little with the kids.
Kaily: You're Aunt Ashley?
Ashley: Yup, that's me.
Kaily: Oh... There is another aunt Ashley who looks like a boy.... she has short hair....
Ashley: I'm the only aunt Ashley that I know of... Do I look like a boy?
Kaily: No... there is another one, who has short black hair and looks like a boy. BUT talks like a girl and she is a girl, just looks like a boy... NOT YOU!! :)
It was hillarious, those kids had me
laughing constantly!! On Friday, Matt had a member of his ward pick us up and get us in to Disney World for FREE!! Him and his wife both work at the park and their families are not able to visit as much as they would like, so they have some extra passes, they also expire in December, so they decided it would be fine for us to use them. THANKS SO MUCH!! We started at the Animal Kingdom, and then when we were finished, Crystal came and picked us up, then we hung out for a while and then all went back out to Epcot. It was a super fun night!!
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Since we had been to Disney World last, The Animal Kingdom changed a lot!! They've even added a new roller coaster; Expedition Everest. It was super fun, but we both ended up being a little quesy after. We're getting too old for this stuff!! ;) After that we just walked around a little making sure to explore all the areas... including Rafiki's Discovery Island (which was mostly for kids) and Camp Minnie Mickey, (which is also just for kids to meet the characters.) It was really fun. When we
were over going on Dinosaur! Andy decided he wanted a turkey leg. Halfway through it, he remembered he didn't like rotisserie turkey legs!! When we had seen everything we wanted to in Animal Kingdom we called Matt to see what they were up to. They were almost finished with the day's activities and errands so we had them come pick us up so we could all grab some dinner together and then head over to Epcot.
EPCOT
After running to the craft store with Crystal, Quin and Kaily, we had to wait a little bit for Matt to finish up with work and then we were off to Epcot! The first thing we did at Epcot is run over to the land (because it closed first.) We road the boat ride, and looked around. Matt had been promising the kids lollipops for a while, so when he saw them at a shop he bought them all one. They LOVED them. I was able to get a picture of all of them showing me their lollipops. It was too cute! Then off to the Living seas. Wow has it changed!! Instead of the elevators, now they have a finding Nemo ride that is SUPER cute!! After that we checked the lines for a few of the other rides
in the front of Epcot, but the lines were super long. We also were getting hungry for a snack so started walking back to the World Showcase. Boat rides in Mexico and Norway, sweet treats from the bakery in Norway and a leisure walk through all the countries on our way to find a seat for the fireworks. What a great night. The nighttime presentation was fun, and still the same as I remember. What a day!!
The next day, Andy and I woke up late and it was POURING!! We just hung out at the hotel for a while and then decided that we would bear the weather and trek the 100 yards over to Pizza Hut for their lunch buffet. When we were finished we contemplated trying to find Matt and Crystal's house on foot, but then looked outside and it was pouring EVEN HARDER! So long for that idea. Matt came and got us when he finished work, and we picked up the babysitter and went out to dinner were able to go and have a nice double date. What a fun night.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
The next morning we woke up fairly early and headed off to Disney's Hollywood Studios. (The have recently changed the name.) First we stopped by Wal-Mart and picked up some ponchos because it was still raining. When we arrived we headed straight on over to Tower of Terror, and then Rockin Roller Coaster. The kids and I found a Discovery Kids station where they were able
to decorate paper CD's with stickers. They were having so much fun, that the Disney employee at the station let them do 2 each. They had a lot of fun. After that, we tried to go on Toy Story Mania, but the line was WAY too long and ended up going on The Great Movie Ride instead. Then it was time for the new car show. It was super fun to see all the great car stunts and how they do it all.
After the car show we decided that Kaily and Random both needed
to go home for naps, so Crystal took the kids home and Andy, Matt, Quin and I were dropped off at the back door of Epcot. We all took turns finding food that we liked and ate. Then walked up to the front to look at some of the rides we had missed the night before, but the lines were still really long. Our final ride at Epcot was Spaceship Earth, Reimagined, and I really like how they have changed it. Off to Magic Kingdom!!
MAGIC KINGDOM
Andy and I took off to the Magic Kingdom while Matt and Quin waited for Crystal and the kids, and then we all met up in a little
while. Andy and I kept with our Disney tradition of going to Buzz Lightyear first thing when we enter the park, and then rode The People Mover and a couple more. Matt, Crystal and the kids finally got there, and were lifesavers with coats for everyone. It was COLD!! We went to Monster's Inc. The Laugh Floor, which was really funny!! Then wandered around a little more, going on anything that looked appealing. Much to Quin's dismay, we did not go on Space Mountain. :(
It was a super fun trip and it was really great to see Matt, Crystal and the kids!! We had been MISSING them!!
Thanks guys for everything, and making it such a fun trip!!
As we headed back to the World Showcase we OF COURSE had to stop to share a pastry in Norway. They are too good to pass up! 
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