No better way to revive this blog than with some Disney magic! Ah sweet space, how I’ve missed you. The beauty of blogging is that it’s like a digital scrapbook; I get to share the memories and look back on them. And this memory is one my family will always look back on, and one that I cannot delay in sharing.
Buckle up, friends! We had a week vacay hitting all the parks. Day one was not only an arrival day, but our first stop at a park for none other than…
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! Very merry (and very exhausted) indeed.
Our first day started with a 5am wake up call to catch our flight. Once we landed we headed to our beautiful resort, Saratoga Springs. As we were walking to our villa we saw a hot air balloon in the distance. *sigh*
Even Disney resorts are magical.
So as a mom I, too, had to sprinkle some magical pixie dust for our first day. When the kids walked into our room they were surprised with some fun gear for the party: matching t-shirts, an autograph book, and some festive necklaces.
I had read somewhere to purchase a Disney themed book for autographs, and I must say that was such a genius tip. Now anytime we read this story we will see all the autographs and reminisce on the moments we had with each of those characters. And boy did we have some heart-melting moments that I can't wait to share.
Once we were party ready we hopped over to Magic Kingdom to kick off the holiday season with Mickey and friends!!
Peter already sleeping... :) I'm telling you Disney is all fun but it's also all so very exhausting. This little 3-year-old tried his best.
First ride for Jack: Mad Hatter's tea cups!! This kid also rode his first roller coaster, the Barnstormer! Little did we know that he was going to conquer & enjoy so many rides that week!
She's a beaut, Clark. But seriously it never gets old to me. When we were walking into the park I felt emotional because it just brings back memories when I visited Disney World as a kid, and then to share that with my kiddos.. woof. Jack's reaction to seeing the castle for the first time was SO sweet. His big eyes somehow grew bigger as he took it all in.
Little man got a quick nap in and was ready for... cookies!! The Christmas festivities included "free" *ahem, yeah we know we paid for those bad boys* cookies and hot chocolate all over the park. It was hilarious whenever we spotted a cookie stand me and my mom made sure we got some. And they were worth every penny. Like Cheryl's quality cookies and creamy hot chocolate that had a marshmallow hint to it. Chef's kiss.
Jack is parade ready! Boy, Mickey sure knows how to throw a Christmas party. The show and parade were so, so good. It's been a tradition for me to watch the Disney parade on TV every Christmas morning since I can remember, so seeing the iconic toy soldiers stomp around and the reindeer prance right in front of my face was quite the moment for my inner kid.
Peter and the beast. This kid saw the Beast's castle while walking in the park and asked about it, and then from that point on kept saying "grandpa's going to smash the beast." It was a riot. We don't know where it came from or why he insisted we know grandpa was going to take care of him, but he sure had a strange love/hate relationship with the beast.
Peter's face (and shirt) says it all. ;)
The only time it snows on Main Street is during this party, and, oh my, it really was something to witness. I’m a Michigander, I'm highly familiar with snow. BUT snow while it’s 70 degrees? While falling magically in a Christmas fantasy of a town? Nothing like it.
I've landed on seeing time as a wonder.
I've called it the cliché "thief" before, but I am realizing that perspective is as if time is stealing from me. How much sweeter it is to see passing moments as landmarks we can reflect on with awe. Like the first day of school. A moment in all our lives that we stretch our wings and take a step big step towards responsibility and ownership of who we are growing to be.
Jack's first day was wonderful.
He didn't shed a tear. He was confident. He was ready. And that hit us with tears of gratitude as this little boy mounted the bus steps. A passing of time. A wonder that he's already here in this time of life. Oi. These moments make life so rich.
Nothing like finishing the first day with homemade banana bread, and hearing about all the newness of school!
We sent with Jack a worksheet I made for his teacher to list all her "favorites" so we can intentionally thank her throughout the year. Teachers are my heroes. I've heard it said, looking at you @sharonsaysso, if we care about children like we say we do, we have to care about teachers. So I'm doing what I can with where I am. It's a beautiful thing when a little kindness touches a heart and overflows to other little hearts.
Here is the free printable to your kiddos teacher to remind him/her that they are seen and their job matters greatly. xo
Peter is officially 3. It dawned on me Jack was 3 when Peter was born and now here we are as little kids. I am so thankful for their brotherhood. I would have never predicted brothers could be so tender and kind to one another and then suddenly be pinching and biting all within 10 minutes. But alas they're my boys and I love them so.
Because July flies by with all. the. things. (birthdays, cabin trips, anywhere but inside) I am sharing Peter's birthday post a month later than I hoped, but hey it's here. ;)
The cutest little request for a Popsicle Party on his actual birthday with a piñata.
So we done did it. And the birthday boy loved every second of it.
As tradition for our family... the birthday interview! I was jazzed Peter could finally take part in this since he's able to share his answers with us, even though they are highly repetitive and silly (looking at you "Mario" for everything).
FAVORITE COLOR: Pink
FAVORITE ANIMAL: Elephant
FAVORITE BOOK: Standing Cat
FAVORITE THING TO WATCH: Blippi
FAVORITE THING TO WEAR: Mario
FAVORITE GAME: Mario
FAVORITE ANIMAL: Elephant
FAVORITE BOOK: Standing Cat
FAVORITE THING TO WATCH: Blippi
FAVORITE THING TO WEAR: Mario
FAVORITE GAME: Mario
FAVORITE SONG: Pump It Up
FAVORITE BREAKFAST: Chicken Nuggets
FAVORITE SNACK: Chicken Nuggets
FAVORITE FRUIT: Strawberries
FAVORITE TREAT: Candy
FAVORITE BREAKFAST: Chicken Nuggets
FAVORITE SNACK: Chicken Nuggets
FAVORITE FRUIT: Strawberries
FAVORITE TREAT: Candy
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT: Dinner
FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE: Play on the swings
FAVORITE THING TO DO INSIDE: Play
FAVORITE TOY: Mario
FAVORITE STUFFED ANIMAL: Molly
FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Summer
BEST FRIEND: Aiden, Finn, Corinne
I AM REALLY GOOD AT: Mario
WHERE I WANT TO GO ON VACATION: Super Mario World
WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP: Dad. I like to be Peter.
WHAT WE DID ON MY BIRTHDAY: Played with balloons and waterslide. Popsicle party!
FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE: Play on the swings
FAVORITE THING TO DO INSIDE: Play
FAVORITE TOY: Mario
FAVORITE STUFFED ANIMAL: Molly
FAVORITE HOLIDAY: Summer
BEST FRIEND: Aiden, Finn, Corinne
I AM REALLY GOOD AT: Mario
WHERE I WANT TO GO ON VACATION: Super Mario World
WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP: Dad. I like to be Peter.
WHAT WE DID ON MY BIRTHDAY: Played with balloons and waterslide. Popsicle party!
You are everything sour and sweet. The comedian of the family. The cuddle-bug. The instigator.
We love you, kid.
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