Disney World

Whenever I think about the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I think of the line "...the gang's all here!" as Mickey does roll call. Traveling with 5 children, 6 and under (and Zach and occasionally my dad), meant a constant roll call - do we have everyone? That makes me smile. Traveling in large groups does not always mean convenience, but it is sure to mean helping hands and great memories...

Woody made the flight down! Our plane left entirely too early to worry about changing clothes. We transferred babies from beds to carseats. Bennett entered our hotel as Woody - the staff loved it! He received a birthday button upon his arrival. We were conveniently located close to Magic Kingdom - a simple boat ride away!

Hanging by the pool...dancing to music, hula hoops, jump tic tac toe game (papaw and camden in the background), our party of 11 meant we eventually earned a hot tub to ourselves. The adults were rewarded with an afternoon frozen cocktail and the kids loved playing in and around the water.

Waiting to see Mickey! It was really nice to stay on the property. We could easily move around from resort to park without the need of car seats, etc. They are so prepared for small children and strollers...thank goodness.

Magic Kingdom in sight! The boys taking it all in. Our weather was amazing. The highlights and great memories are numersous. After deleting, I still have more than 300 photos (and we forgot our camera for one entire day). Just a few that come to mind now include Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party, breakfast with Handy Manny, Disney Junior Live on Stage, The Muppet Show, my entire family pictured wearing our 3-D glasses as we headed into an interactive Buzz Lightyear ride, Peter Pan, Main Street, ice cream cones, meeting Mickey and Minne Mouse

Pluto signing Bennett's autograph book. The characters are so wonderful with the children. All of the boys were comfortable meeting them and Elly Rose was intrigued, as well. She didn't care much for characters touching her if she was not being held by one of us and she let Minnie Mouse know about it...

Papaw and Memaw with their grandbabies! No small accomplishment to get them all wearing their hats and mostly looking like they are ready to be photographed. Papaw promised some ice cream after we did the photos...good trick...it worked! And Rosie loves ice cream. She was hysterical if we were not giving her a fair share.

Its a Small World! Bennett will randomly start singing this song now...warms my heart.

(fastforward...we didn't have our camera Handy Manny and many other highlights. Thankfully, my sis and mom did!)

Legoland! Daddy, Bennett and R2D2. Zach was thrilled to see a Star Wars presence at Disney and Legoland. Legoland is located outside Orlando and conveniently, in the same community where my grandpa and Tootie live. It just opened and we had a fabulous time. R2D2 is made exclusively of little legos. You can find this throughout the entire park. One exhibit, sponsored by Ford, includes a car - close to 1 million legos to make it.

Zach, Mom and Bennett are in the fire truck...it was a race. The sight of them pumping an air-compressor to move it along, then pumping water and aiming to the window was in one-word, hysterical. At least they won! Later in the day...Zach, Bennett, Camden and I faced off against Amy, Chris, Cooper and Carson...it was a battle and our team one again :) I think Zach's pumping method left my sis laughing too hard to contribute much help to her team...

We spent the end of our day at Legoland in the Duplo Village. It was perfect for Elly Rose (and Bennett and Cooper). Clean, gated areas to explore, play with legos and participate on simple rides.

And ending our last evening out for mexican and margaritas! Fun trip with family...Bennett talks about bits and pieces of this vacation regularly. It was his first exposure to pirates and peter pan...I have a feeling his fascination with Wendy, Captain Hook and gang will continue to grow.

Rollercoaster

We are back. We survived. We had a blast. I don't think I could have imagined just how magical it really is to see your own children (and cousins!) soaking up Disney World and a family vacation to see great-pa and great-memaw. There were a few tears (okay, one or two meltdowns), a couple long lines and moments of exhausted parents and grandparents...but mostly there was magic, happiness, laughter, excitement, Bennett stalking Handy Manny, dancing, trying new things, lasting memories, Elly Rose walking the streets of Magic Kingdom before the crowds, boat rides, fireworks, amazing shows, two -3-year-olds holding conversation and watching t.v. in bed together...the list goes on. I want to hold on to all those moments.

Oh, and there is this picture....

...which for some reason makes us laugh each time we look at it. Taken on our last day while visiting the new Legoland Florida. I think we were all pretty tired (Zach even delirious). We waited in line for 30ish minutes for the Coastersauras and this is the photo result. I have always thought, "who would ever buy a photo the amusement park snaps and over-charges you to take home..." Well, I now know. It is us.

I don't like letting bags go unpacked and laundry piles to build, but this trip squeezed between birthdays of my littles and halloween festivities last night...I am learning it doesn't all have to be accomplished immediately. Just letting the laundry sit, because my fireman and dalmation doggy loved running with friends door-to-door last night and we have a little boy turning 3 this weekend...

Imaginitive Play

I love this little guy's imagination. It is vivid, pure, fun and without hesitation. He isn't shy about creating a scene. On this morning, it was fireman play in the backyard. We had to save "Ben"...a dog from one of his library books. He had a hose, a ladder, a truck and sirens.

Really all we had were his fireman boots and hat (part of halloween costume) and a stick he uncovered from our ivy.



Over the weekend we visited a playground equipped with a pretend fire engine. Bennett literally could not get out of the car fast enough to begin driving and creating a new pretend "fireman" scene. It must have been quite the site to see me, my mom, my dad and Elly Rose seated in this child-sized fire engine...responding to Bennett's orders...running to the slide to "save Ben."


We have some exciting adventures planned for this little guy over the next two weeks. Sites and sounds that I am sure will play-out in future mornings of imaginative play.

Hoot of a Day

Over the weekend we celebrated our little Elizabeth Rosemary's first birthday. I enjoy celebrating birthdays - making our babies feel special...because they are. I think Elly Rose enjoyed her day and we enjoyed having friends and family gathered together.

It was so much fun making photo frames, party hats, treat bags and owl-themed desserts. I love homemade and thankfully my mom knows how to sew. She made Elly Rose this dress and surprised us by making a coordinating dress for a cabbage patch doll from my childhood (and didn't let out of my sight as a little girl...playing "dolls" was something my sis and I did daily).


Rosie is so easy-going. Unphased by all the other children and parents moving about. She just takes it all in. That said, she is still a determined little climber. We are having to move low furniture out of her reach everyday. She can "hike" her leg over the side of the tub and tumble in within a couple seconds. It is fun to see the similarities and differences between she and Bennett as this age.

Party hats for all to wear!

How cute is this? I love her little face...as if to say, "really...a doll baby with a matching dress...for me?!?!?"

Elly Rose was not bashful when it came to tasting her big iced cupcake. As soon as it was within her reach, she began eating the icing...right through the "happy birthday" song!

It took a few "blows", but Bennett finally helped her with the candle. She didn't mind, just kept right on eating the icing off the cake. We are just really getting into table foods, but so far Elly Rose likes most things we offer her...much like her brother at that age.

Holding this baby doll like a little mama. It is fun to have a few toys around the house that before this weekend were quite unfamiliar to Bennett. A teapot now resides on Bennett's toolbench after playing pretend "tea and crumpits" this evening.

Love her many expressions. She really is a hoot.

We are looking forward to her one-year well-baby visit, but travel schedules have pushed it back to mid-November. In the meantime, we are planning to hear the fire alarm ring as we plan a 3rd birthday celebration for Bennett!

One year ago...

One year ago today (the date), we were soaking up what would be our final day as mommy and daddy to just Bennett. It was a Sunday and we spent some time at Holliday Park. Zach snapped this photo with his phone...

I remember those final days before Elly Rose joined the world like they were yesterday. A little anxiety for life with two and how would Bennett adjust, etc. I remember squeezing him tighter each night after books - trying to figure out how I might help him understand.

The same set of swings (babies facing the other direction) about 10 1/2 months later. Bennett looking less like a baby and more like the adorable big brother he is. Elly Rose growing like a little weed. On this day (3rd Monday of the month) one year ago, we were within hours of meeting this little lady. Our babies have changed our life dramatically...challenging us in ways I could not have imagined.

Over the weekend we celebrated this little girl's first birthday. Tomorrow we will celebrate becoming a family of four. Just enjoying the miracle they are. The love we have for our babies is like none other. Happy Birthday to our sweet girl!

Side note: I wrote this post quickly in the last few minutes of my work day. It would not publish, so I saved it and packed up to pick-up my babies. Brought them home to find Rosie has a new trick...she stands up in the middle of a room with no help and she walks. 6, 8 or 10 steps. Like she just planned it all along. When I turn one...I will walk.