MK All the Way

Vacation is in full swing and we've had two fun filled days of Disney park fun.  Magic Kingdom was magical to say the least with continuous ooh's and ahh's from the kids at all the larger than life rides, character greetings and excitement.

We rode on Buzz Lightyear, went to the Monster’s Inc laugh floor show, and rode the tea cups.  Avah enjoyed the rest of the afternoon as princess Snow White after being pampered at the Bibbity Boppity Boutique.  Avah and I even squeezed in a ride on the carousel while the boys took a break in the shade.  We left the park around 4 so the kids could rest back at the hotel and we caught a bus back to MK for dinner, the electrical parade and fireworks.

At the MK entrance.  Everyone is having a good time, but Benn fell and scraped his knee. :(

First view of the castle...Benn is feeling much better, ready for a full day of fun!

The Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin - by far Benn's favorite ride at Disney.

As Benn says, "That's my shooter gun!"

More spinning in the Tea Cups.  A personal fav that the kids enjoyed as well. Notice Russ is absent from this one. He doesn't do well on rides that spin.  :)

A family shot.

 At Mickey's Philhar Magic 3D show.  Benn rocked the glasses the entire show with a smile on his face. Avah chose to watch glassless because she said she could "see just fine without them." LOL...try explaining 3D to a 4 year old. 

It rained briefly in the early afternoon at MK and while most of the crowds were seeking shelter under an umbrella or awning, Benn chose to dance in it.  Here he is having his own dance party.  And, for those of you wondering, he's still shaking his tooshy and showing his moves of 5 states away!

The main attraction for Avah was the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique. To say that she felt like a princess is an understatement. She was in her element and enjoyed every minute of pampering, as well as the hours of ohh's and awe's from strangers there after. 

This was the final reveal. What a doll!

Snow White herself.

She wishes that she could live here...I don't blame her.

The smartest decision Russ and I made all day was to rent a stroller. After carrying the kids around AK the day before, our backs, legs and feet couldn't take one more day of hiking with kids on our backs, atop our shoulders and in our arms.  It turned out to be well worth the $15/day fee to see this bubs crashed and taking a snooze while we were still able to enjoy some attractions.

Back at the hotel and still gleaming with excitement.   

While walking back to the hotel, Avah looked up and said, "Mom, I feel like a REAL princess today."

Priceless.  Disney really is the happiest place on Earth.

Getting Away

Yeay! Vacation is finally here...

We've been planning a trip to Disney for a few months now, although it seems like everything has just recently come together with the help of a fabulous travel planner.  Its been a long time, if ever, that we (as a family of four) have taken a vacation together.  Its not that we're hermits, we actually travel quite a bit but when we do vacation we usually go with other people.

I'll be honest, I was a little nervous about this trip. I'm a planner and don't usually have qualms about making plans, but lets face it...the happiest place on earth, can be completely overwhelming even for the most experienced vacationer.  That coupled with 2 kids (one of whom still requires a nap) in an overly stimulating, overly populated place isn't exactly the ideal recipe for a fun and relaxing vacation if you know what I mean.

Now that we're here, its better than we imagined.  The weather is beautiful - upper 70's and sunny (a nice break from the cold reality of MI which topped out at a high of 20 the day we boarded the plane), the food (while expensive, I don't have to cook it!), the sights (from the plane ride to the hotel and everything in between), and the smiles on the kids faces, we are enjoying every minute of our vacation.

Excited to see Mickey!

This was their idea of "helping" me pack

At the airport anxiously waiting to get on the plane that hadn't arrived yet.

View from our balcony.

Downtown Disney visiting Pooh and friends

They've got their game faces on for Animal Kingdom

First ride and there was no wait. Walked right on...fabulous! AND, it SO sunny!

The huge tree and strong daddy!

Meeting Mickey. Benn was shy, but maybe by the end of the week he'll start warming up to the characters...

Stay tuned, more pictures from sunny FL to come!

Ev's Baptism - Sneak Peek

I had the honor of taking this one's baptism photos last weekend.  I just HAD to share a sneak peek of her special day.

The angel herself.

Blessed.

Pure Joy.

A Dogs Day

This is our dog. 

Her name is Dakota and she just turned 7 on January 12th.  Yes, I know my dog's birthday - she's part of the family.  We celebrate every year, but the parties have progressively gotten less exciting.  I suppose that's bound to happen after one throws a dog party complete with all the dogs in the neighborhood, made homemade dog biscuits with peanut butter and honey and cupcakes (of course).  This year we just had a quiet dinner at home (yes, she had her own plate too) with cupcakes (store bought, not home made).  Seven years have passed, but we love her just the same.  

This was her day.

Dakota blowing out her candle after we sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

Eating her birthday dessert.

She is the greatest dog ever.  Patient with the kids, nuzzles you when you're having a rough day and is just as cute as the day we brought her home.  We're lucky that she's party of our family.

Happy Birthday Dakota Mattie!

Memories, Dreams and Reflections

I saw this on a friends blog and thought it was a great way to review the year in pictures. I hope you enjoy!

Me. (And the hubby)

I Love You...

My mom and my best friend. I Love Love Love you!

Still Laughing.

We took the kids ice skating for the first time this year, they did pretty well staying on their feet.  Guess Russ should've taken notes.  And yes...he was even using one of the PVC walkers and still fell.  To his defense he was trying to hockey stop - a very challenging thing to learn!

Winter Wonderland.

My angel making a snow angel.

Birthday.

Bennett's 3rd birthday. Baseball themed. Do you notice the inch long gash on his forehead? In addition to celebrating his big day, he also got to visit the ER when he ran into the corner of the wall playing basketball with a new over the door hanging hoop that we had JUST bought him. No stitches, just glue and a very memorable day.

Friends.

Girlfriends, need I say more. These two are inseparable at daycare.

I Was Inspired.

I had the privilege of getting away for the weekend with some amazing girls to scrapbook. This is the beach view from the house we rented ON lake Michigan. It was inspiring to say the least, and helped get our creative juices flowing too!

Spring Fever.

I took this picture as soon as our weeping cherry tree started to bloom this year. Its the most beautiful sign of spring and I look forward to the whitest white blossoms every spring.

Travel or Vacation.

This was Benn hamming it up with grandma's hat while we were in Traverse City.  Just trying to make people laugh, and it worked. Sun and smiles make for a great vacation!

Summer Days.

Or the "Dog Days of Summer."  Our kids (and dog) spend a lot of time in the kiddie pool this summer. Note to self...may need bigger pool next year. :)

A Day in My Life.

The loves of my life.  This is what we do, we play, we're silly, and we have fun. 

All Smiles :)

This was earlier in the year when we stayed in GR for the weekend. Just a mini vacation get away with the kids. The kids have so much fun staying at hotels.  Here Benn and I are just being silly. His smile is upside down, but I think it still qualifies for a SMILE.  :)

Autumn.

The kids and I playing in the leaves.  It was so sunny this fall day that we had a hard time getting a good picture that wasn't too shadowy.  Thank to my mom for capturing this moment for us.

Family or Home.

My family. The ones I love more than anything on Earth, and the ones I could never live without.

Celebrate.

I became an Aunt for the first time, twice this year. That's a reason to celebrate! Lucas was born in August and is truly a miracle.

Let's Do It Again.

Having fun on the water slides. Another one of our fun weekend trips. The water was freezing, but it didn't stop the kids from diving right in, again and again.

I Miss You.

My cousin Kris. Our cousins Matt and Kristina and their families traveled from GA and FL to see us this year and we so much fun.  We're hoping to make the trip to see them in 2012. It was so good seeing them and their little ones.

Beautiful.

Is there anything more beautiful or precious than a newborn?  I had the honor of taking this darling's picture just days after coming home.  Probably the most beautiful picture in 2011.

Dress Up.

My kids on Halloween. How appropriate right? This year, Avah was a ballerina and Benn was a baseball player. Very suiting (and not a big surprise) if you've ever met my kids. :)

My Favorite.

My girl on top of the world. Well...actually she's climbing on the playground.  I love the clouds and her confidence shining through in this photo.

Don't EVER Change.

I love this picture because it captures such a special moment.  The innocence, curiosity, and amazement of the kids in this picture are just the sweetest thing.  Wish they could stay this age forever.

Just Because So THERE!

2011 was a big year. Something that made it especially big was when Russ graduated in November. He's worked so hard to earn his bachelor's degree. I'm so proud of him.  Good job babe!

Hopes and Dreams For 2012.

This is Benn...surprised? Probably not. Benn's love for baseball and his excitement for the game are something that I hope stay with him forever.  In 2012 I hope for another healthy happy year full of great family memories. Honestly, I dream of making time stand still. I love my life, quite honestly I often feel like I don't deserve all the blessings God has blessed us with. More than anything, I want time to stand still. I know this is unrealistic, so I'm dreaming of taking thousands of pictures in 2012 so that I can look back and remember every important moment that the future has in store for us.