Our second day at Disney World was all about Epcot.
And this is where we met up with once-online-but-now-real-life friend and photographer, Sennu Maria Keith, who came armed with a very big camera and an even bigger dose of joy and enthusiasm…
Ready to take pictures of our humongous family for the entire day.
Last October, Sennu had reached out to me and graciously (and bravely) offered to travel from her home in Vero Beach to photograph our family at our home in one of her gorgeous Day in the Life sessions. I replied about 1.87 seconds later with something along the lines of, “Oh-my-goodness – your pictures are gorgeous and you are so talented – ummmm, yes!”
Over the next few weeks we messaged back and forth, trying to nail down the when. On October 21, her message to me ended with a quick comment that made me chuckle as I read it, “You wouldn’t be planning a trip to Florida by any chance 🙂 ?”
I remember thinking to myself, “Of course we aren’t planning a trip to Florida. How in the world could we be planning a trip to Florida?”
Three weeks later, Audrey Shook messaged me with her jaw-dropping idea of sending our family to Disney World for the week. Orlando, Florida. An hour and a half from Sennu’s home in Vero Beach. And Sennu? Happens to be a Disney Annual Passholder.
Our God is the very best at everything He does.
He knows the desires of our hearts.
And He delights in giving the sweetest surprises to His most unsuspecting children.
Having Sennu along to capture the day brought such a sweet relief for me – not bringing along what felt like another (incredibly fragile) child: my big camera.
I could just enjoy… alongside my kiddos, soaking in every drop of the magic and wonder of this place.
Our first stop was at the Seas with Nemo and Friends (which was surprisingly scary for Magnolia, especially the really dark, tunnel-y part) and we landed right in front of the aquarium that was on the other side.
I was not expecting an aquarium at Disney World.
But this place is chock full of surprises.
Especially exciting for them were the dolphins, the giant manta ray, the lone shark and the rescued manatees.
Then to Test Track. One of the kids’ favorites of the day.
While the girls and I waited for them to finish, we had a little picnic in the shade. A bottle, a snack, and they were good to go.
Then, while Isabelle and all the boys went to Mission: SPACE, us girls got to meet some Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot… specifically Mickey, Goofy and Minnie Mouse.
(If you have an extra minute and 32 seconds, you might want to watch the video – it’s pretty cute. Both Magnolia and Clementine have a full-on, mouse-struck moment.)
And then, like girls are wont to do, we talked about meeting the Mickey and Goofy and Minnie…
and recounted all the other characters we’d met so far…
and talked about it all some more.
Oh, and waited for our time to go on Soarin’.
Jude, intent on losing every tooth with the tiniest bit of wiggle, lost another tooth.
And then we talked about our favorite characters a little more.
(It is still crazy to me just how much my girls enjoyed meeting the characters at Disney… it was the sweetest thing to see them get all giddy and chatty and carried away by the magic of this special place.)
Candy breaks…
and water breaks…
punctuated our day.
(Gotta keep the energy up, you know?)
After the entire crew (minus me and the littlest) rode Soarin’ – the most favorite-y favorite ride of the day – we hustled over to the Norway to get to Frozen Ever After. 
This was a fun one, especially since we could all ride together.
And the backwards part? Well, I might have screamed a little.
At this point we contemplated walking all the way around the World Showcase but, since the sun was already starting to get low, and a few in our party were complaining of sore feet, we decided to just go to China instead.
We enjoyed the Reflections of China show and, since we weren’t in a hurry, let the kids run around and play a bit afterward.
Next we stopped in at Club Cool.
I’m so glad Sennu mentioned that she’d heard this was a fun place to go – otherwise we’d have probably walked right by it.
I mean, strange and un-pronouncable sodas (all made by Coca-Cola) from all over the world, served all-you-can-drink style?
Even with the few gross unusual flavors tossed in, the kids loved it.
Then, with Sennu’s encouragement, we went back over to Soarin’ so I could have a turn. I think the kids were pretty pumped about getting to go on it again, too.
And I’m so glad I listened… what fun. It was my favorite ride at Epcot.
As the sun went down we broke out the glow bracelets and got ready for the bus ride back to the room – knowing the next day would be jam-packed with more magic and more adventure.
But, sadly, with no more Sennu. Wah. We absolutely loved the day we spent together. (Aren’t her pictures just lovely? The one of Clementine in the Minnie ears with her mouth open might just be my favorite of her, ever.)
If you’re interested in learning more about her work – she does beach sessions, too (!) – be sure to visit her website here.
Day 3 up next… Animal Kingdom.