animal kingdom adventures

Yesterday, the boys, my mom and I piled in my car and drove for what felt like hours {it was really only 45 minutes or so but it felt like longer...why is everything SO spread out in Orlando?? drives me all kinds of crazy}, payed $212 in tolls {it was really only $4 but it was still ridiculous...why are there so many toll roads in this town?!} to visit another Disney attraction: Animal Kingdom.

Okay, we didn't actually visit the Animal Kingdom park, just the Animal Kingdom lodge.

But, the boys were just as excited walking around the lodge viewing the safari animals {for free!} as they would have been if we had visited the park. I'm sure of it. In fact, I'm thinking of penning a book for parents of toddlers titled, "Visiting Disney Without Actually Visiting Disney. " It's sure to be a best-seller {I'm kidding. Or am I? Interest level??}. :)

Our next chapter would be: Riding Around on the Monorail. In reality, I'm actually planning to go do that one of these days with the boys. We're wild adventurers over here.

Seriously, though. Here is photographic proof of the fun day we had together...

First up, we got a little lost and ended up at the Wilderness lodge instead of the Animal Kingdom lodge due to a miscommunication with my brother-in-law who suggested the visit but, no worries, we turned that little mistake into another adventure. These two didn't mind a bit. :)

Potentially my favorite photo. Ever. :)

We eventually made it to right place and ooh'd and awe'd at the giraffes and zebras. I may or may not have ran faster than the boys to see the giraffes. There is no proof. 

Nathan wanted to feed the flamingos his carrots. I didn't stop him. It was so cute. I've been scanning the news today to make sure there weren't any flamingo-choking incidents reported yesterday. All clear so far {which is why I'm publishing this evidence}.

The boys had a chance to play African drums. Be still my heart. These two. Can they be any sweeter? 

We also snapped this little shot after pointing out where their sister is living...

And, after spending our day exploring a man-made "Africa," I checked my phone when we got to the car and found out that our dossier had FINALLY been delivered to the actual continent!! TWENTY-SEVEN days after sending off that important stack of papers, it has finally arrived on the same soil as our precious daughter!!! I can finally let out that breathe I've been holding...

I'm immensely thankful for these sweet days with my boys and for progress toward getting our daughter home!!!

What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? {Romans 8: 31}