Together is the Perfect Place to be...

While I'm not a fan of traveling for the holidays - I knew that this year it would be important to do so, so that we could be with family.

The weather forecast changed on us - and we had to quickly throw things in the truck and head out a day earlier than planned - and it was a good thing too - because Mother Nature sure comes with a fury this time of year. (Who needs pajammas, make up or a hair dryer anyway?)

Winter roads made for a, shall we say, interesting?? trip back to North Dakota?

Once we got there, all was right with the world - as the hubs made a run to The Red Pepper -

And while we can get it here at our local grocery store - they don't stock it here like they do there!

We brought Bmann along - though he's getting up there in age and it's tough to get in & out of the truck...I think this was his last trip *home* - He just does better at home these days! :(

Christmas came & went very quickly, even without squeezing in Mass and the other things that go along with Jesus' birthday -

Simple gifts were huge hits this year - and that will forever be important to me...(Please let them always love simple gifts!)

One of the first things D opened were these glow in the dark gloves...and for the next long while - he was content to hang out wearing the gloves, and could have cared less if he ever opened another gift.

In the morning, Santa had been to Grandma's - because he knew that we weren't at home.

Our little tool man got himself a new set of tools - upon seeing it - he said - 'Oh, I didn't even know I wanted these! But now I DOOOO!'

Seriously - A. Frackin'. Dorable!!

We ought to get all of our home improvement projects done in no time now!!

And as soon as we got to Grandpa Larry's on Christmas Day...the kids got right to work on Grandpa's home improvement!

The other awesome 'big' Santa present...?

Light Saber's of course!

(Santa also brought Monster Trucks (matchbox sized), dry erase markers, new toothbrushes, gumballs, junior mints and other essentials!)

The highlight of the Santa stop for the girl?

A new baby doll!!

Equally loved from Santa - a Little People Castle with a Repunzel the size of a Polly Pocket!

After Santa stopped, we headed to Grandpa's house -

We don't spend as much time with them as we'd like to -

(3 Generations of Gust Boys)

but you'd never know it when we're there...the kids had a great time - and I think it's safe to say that Grandpa & Grandma haven't lost the touch when it comes to picking out gifts for the pre-k crowd!

Upon opening this gift - D yelled out 'CRISS CROSS CRASH!'

I had never heard of such a thing - but he certainly had!

I love watching my boys playing together -

D helps Grandma Tammy open her gift - though the camera angle is just so that it looks like he's opening H's GRAND gift -

A life sized Repunzel Doll!

We almost needed to get an extra car seat to get her back home with us - but...she made it safe and sound!

Our visits were short & sweet - and just as quickly as we arrived, it was time to head back home.

Mother Nature provided us her escort of blowing snow once again...

And now, we've got plenty of new toys to keep us busy until spring!

I hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas...

Because it takes a Village...

So because it takes a village - and because I love and adore most all of you out there in internet land...because so many of you invisible friends have become my friends in real life and you get me through a lot of my days...
Because of that...I come to you for help and advice now!

So as you may or may not know - I booked a big family trip for us this winter...I feel like I'm ready, especially with this dumping of snow and the recent cold spell we are experiencing...though I'm not sure if the rest of the family is ready...

So that's where YOU come in...Any words of wisdom to share with me? Advice for traveling (via air) with two small children? Their first flight...our first time flying & having to be responsible for anyone but ourselves!

I've read a few books, done quite a bit of internet research...but I want to hear from YOU...the people that have been there done that...
And since the hubs & I are more the go with the flow kind of vacationers...the kind who don't really care to have an agenda...we aren't going to book any shows or dinner reservations ahead of time, etc, etc, etc...
We figure there will be plenty to see and do without adding THAT stuff in...the kids are really quite young yet and we know we can have a great time without adding in too much extra via scheduling...if we happen upon it, great - but we don't want to be worried about having to be somewhere at a certain time if one of the kids, or the mom for that matter, is having a meltdown or needing a nap...
* I know we should bring our own small soft sided cooler along with drinks/snacks etc
* Do we lug bring the laptop so the kids can watch dvd's on the plane?
* I've been given conflicting info on the stroller sitch - I know Disney involves a lot of walking, and our resort itself is situated on 45 acres...a stroller is a necessity right? If not for the kids, then for my camera bag, the soft sided cooler...and anything else we might end up lugging around? I was going to rent one there IF we needed it, until I found out it was $31/day...Do I really want to spend that on a stroller rental when I could be buying mouse ears, cotton candy or other useless stuff??? or... do we check our own double umbrella stroller at the gate and use that...or do we take two smaller umbrella strollers instead of the double umbrella for quicker/easier/smaller fold up?
* What are the chances I can get away with NOT checking luggage? The hubs and I NEVER check our luggage - EVER. But I have to check at least one bag for this family of four right? We aren't renting a car as we're staying on Disney property and they take care of everything from getting our luggage at baggage claim for us and bringing it to our hotel and shuttling us between our resort and the four Disney Parks...and checking a bag or two is cheaper than paying a Cabbie or having groceries delivered to our hotel...not a lot of groceries, but bottled water and granola bars/pop tarts, etc...

What else...Anything you guys have to offer to make this trip smooth sailing and successful so that we can do it again one day?