Disney Characters

Not many words needed with these pictures. The kiddos warmed up to the characters as the week progressed. We met just about any character you could meet at Disney!

At some meals, we ate between photo ops!

 Sometimes we waited in line for 45 minutes to get pictures taken.

Sometimes we just happened upon a character. (And now it's time to introduce my kiddos to Mary Poppins...they've never seen the movie!)

Even Mama got invited for a hug.

Peter Pan was definitely the kiddos' favorite character. He was a hoot! 

The fairies of Pixie Hollow.

We even stood in line in the rain for a picture with Pocahontas.

We met up with our cousin, Bentley, mid-week. The kiddos were so happy to have him at Disney with them!

 After our very last, and very long day there were still smiles for Mickey!

Disney 2013

I'll start off with how the trip ended so as not to end the post on a sour note.

We came home from Disney 8 days after we arrived in Kissimmee, FL and got a flat tire backing into the garage. Seriously. Scott's metal rake had fallen over and we didn't see it. Three punctures later, the tire was flat. And then...at approximately 2 a.m. Buddy-Ro comes to our room and tells us that his belly hurts. Then he proceeds to throw up and have diarrhea at the same time in our bathroom. The norovirus slammed him hard, and has put him close to dehydration and complete misery for the past 18 hours. Oh, and Birdie still has a double ear infection.

That's how we ended our Disney vacation. Ugh.

But here's how it started and went -

Of course, the kiddos were diagnosed with RSV three days before we left. Fun times from the get-go. But when Disney has been fully paid for there.are.no.cancellations. So off we went! We left at 3 a.m. last Saturday...that's after Birdie woke up at 1:45 screaming that her ear hurt. Awesome. Thankfully, our wonderful pediatrician (and friend!) called in an Rx to Publix right outside our resort. However, Birdie is "resistant" to amoxicillin, and she did not feel 100% the entire time we were there.  Oh yeah, because she came home with the same stinkin' ear infections that she left with. :(

I'm not gonna lie. I was ready to pack everyone's bags and head home on Monday. Disney World is supposed to be the "Happiest Place on Earth," right? Not to sick kids. But we drugged the girl up with Tylenol every 4 hours on the dot, and trekked right along. Between Children's Tylenol and Goofy's Roller Coaster, she managed to have fun! And Peanut was happy as a lark because he was toted around all.day.long.every.single.day.for.a.week. :)

While we didn't plan our Disney trip around Buddy-Ro's birthday, he did turn 5 while we were there. As a special treat, we stayed in pirate rooms for our own little swashbuckler!

It was 86 degrees in sunny Florida when we arrived, so off to the pool we went!

Peanut pulling at his ears because he, too, had a double ear infection. Luckily we left his in FL.

Our first evening at DW, and it was off to eat with Cinderella and her mean step family. Here's our pirate (often mistaken for a prince when his hat was off) and our own Cinderella.

It's crazy to me how much the boy and Cinderella favor one another!

Two pretty princesses. :)

I was amazed at how the characters always stayed, well, in character. Drizella was a hoot! And even Peanut enjoyed her antics.

Sunday was our first official day at Magic Kingdom. We donned our Disney shirts and headed out!

The rain came about four hours into our first day. Lucky for us, we were prepared!

I can not tell you how many kiddos we saw in similar positions. Hilarious to me that kids can sleep almost anywhere!

This is what Disney exhaustion looks like.

And that was only after Day 1. ;)

Disney 2013

I'll start off with how the trip ended so as not to end the post on a sour note.

We came home from Disney 8 days after we arrived in Kissimmee, FL and got a flat tire backing into the garage. Seriously. Scott's metal rake had fallen over and we didn't see it. Three punctures later, the tire was flat. And then...at approximately 2 a.m. Buddy Ro comes to our room and tells us that his belly hurts. Then he proceeds to throw up and have diarrhea at the same time in our bathroom. The norovirus slammed him hard, and has put him close to dehydration and complete misery for the past 18 hours. Oh, and Sweet Pea still has a double ear infection.

That's how we ended our Disney vacation. Ugh.

But here's how it started and went -

Of course, the kiddos were diagnosed with RSV three days before we left. Fun times from the get-go. But when Disney has been fully paid for there.are.no.cancellations. So off we went! We left at 3 a.m. last Saturday...that's after Sweet Pea woke up at 1:45 screaming that her ear hurt. Awesome. Thankfully, our wonderful pediatrician (and friend!) called in an Rx to Publix right outside our resort. However, Sweet Pea is "resistant" to amoxicillin, and she did not feel 100% the entire time we were there.  Oh yeah, because she came home with the same stinkin' ear infections that she left with. :(

I'm not gonna lie. I was ready to pack everyone's bags and head home on Monday. Disney World is supposed to be the "Happiest Place on Earth," right? Not to sick kids. But we drugged the girl up with Tylenol every 4 hours on the dot, and trekked right along. Between Children's Tylenol and Goofy's Roller Coaster, she managed to have fun! And Tiny Fella was happy as a lark because he was toted around all.day.long.every.single.day.for.a.week. 

While we didn't plan our Disney trip around Buddy Ro's birthday, he did turn 5 while we were there. As a special treat, we stayed in pirate rooms for our own little swashbuckler.

It was 86 degrees in sunny Florida when we arrived, so off to the pool we went!

Tiny fella pulling at his ears because he, too, had a double ear infection. Luckily we left his in FL.

Our first evening at DW, and it was off to eat with Cinderella and her mean step family. Here's our pirate (often mistaken for a prince when his hat was off) and our own Cinderella.

It's crazy to me how much the boy and Cinderella favor one another!

Two pretty princesses. :)

I was amazed at how the characters always stayed, well, in character. Drizella was a hoot! And even Tiny Fella enjoyed her antics.

Sunday was our first official day at Magic Kingdom. We donned our Disney shirts and headed out!

 The rain came about four hours into our first day. Lucky for us, we were prepared!

I can not tell you how many kiddos we saw in similar positions. Hilarious to me that kids can sleep almost anywhere!

This is what Disney exhaustion looks like. 

And that was only after Day 1. ;)

Multitudes on Monday

1625. a mostly WONDERFUL 8 days at Disney World

1626. celebrating Buddy-Ro's birthday with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald at Chef Mickey's

1627. eating amazing food all week long

1628. meeting all of the princesses

1629. all of the kiddos warming up to the characters throughout the week...even Peanut reached out and touched a few

1630. spending time with the kiddos and grandparents

1631. making fantastic memories

1632. already talking about going back for Peanut's birthday...in a few years

1633. Birdie riding Expedition Everest!!!!! Such a Big, BRAVE girl!

1634. letting Buddy-Ro and Birdie-girl ride "Goofy's roller coaster" over and over and over and over

1635. being at the Magic Kingdom until closing and riding roller coasters under fireworks

1636. Peanut being flexible and adaptable to sleeping and eating "off" schedule

1637. pirate beds for our birthday boy

1638. coming home safely

1639. AAA for when you get a flat tire backing into the garage. Seriously.

1640. Zofran for the boy who gets slammed with a horrible stomach bug during our first night home

1641. taking Peanut for his 9 month check up (finally) and hearing how well he's doing

1642. Peanut happily eating puffs while the nurse does his blood work

Ezra 3:11, "With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: He is so good!"

Multitudes on Monday

1625. a mostly WONDERFUL 8 days at Disney World

1626. celebrating Landon's birthday with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald at Chef Mickey's

1627. eating amazing food all week long

1628. meeting all of the princesses

1629. all of the kiddos warming up to the characters throughout the week...even Porter reached out and touched a few

1630. spending time with the kiddos and grandparents

1631. making fantastic memories

1632. already talking about going back for Porter's birthday...in a few years

1633. Ella Beth riding Expedition Everest!!!!! Such a Big, BRAVE girl!

1634. letting Landon and Ella Beth ride "Goofy's roller coaster" over and over and over and over

1635. being at the Magic Kingdom until closing and riding roller coasters under fireworks

1636. Porter being flexible and adaptable to sleeping and eating "off" schedule

1637. pirate beds for our birthday boy

1638. coming home safely

1639. AAA for when you get a flat tire backing into the garage. Seriously.

1640. Zofran for the boy who gets slammed with a horrible stomach bug during our first night home

1641. taking Porter for his 9 month check up (finally) and hearing how well he's doing

1642. Porter happily eating puffs while the nurse does his blood work (check out the Instagram photo for proof!)

Ezra 3:11, "With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: He is so good!"

5 year old interview

One of my favorite traditions once my kiddos turn four is to start their yearly interviews. Gotta love the things a 5 year old boy has to say:

(M)ama: What do you want to be when you grow up?

(B)uddy-Ro: A fireman.

(M): Why's that?

(B): Because I want to spray out fires.

 

(M): What is your favorite thing God has made?

(B): Daddy. (That's the truth!)

(M): What is it you like about Daddy?

(B): He plays monsters with me.

(M): What's your favorite color?

(B): Orange and blue.

(M): What is your favorite food?

(B): Cereal. Any kind of cereal. (And this hasn't changed at all from last year! He would eat it 3 times a day if we'd let him.)

(M): What is something that you don't like to eat?

(B): Mustard on hotdogs.

(M): What is your favorite song?

(B): The Robot Song from church.

(M): What are you looking forward to about turning 5?

(B): Going to Disney World and riding all of the cool stuff!!!

(M): What is your favorite thing to do?

(B): Ride things at Disney World (though we haven't been yet), and play on the Fun Bus at preschool.

(M): What is your favorite thing to wear?

(B): Clothes. (Well then. I guess that's a good answer. ;))

(M): Who is your favorite friend?

(B): Hayden

(M): What is your favorite thing to do with Mama?

(B): Give kisses. (Oh. My. Word. I have tears!!)

(M): What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

(B): Wrestle and play monsters.

(M): Do you like school?

(B): Yes.

(M): What do you like about school?

(B): It helps me learn. :)

(M): What is your favorite thing about Birdie?

(B): She doesn't bother me. She plays with me, and she's kind to me. (Melt.)

(M): What is your favorite thing about Peanut?

(B): He's fun to play with, and I like his toys.

(M): Where is your favorite place to go?

(B): Disney World (we hope!) and preschool.

(M): What does Daddy do all day?

(B): Go to work. 

(M): What does Mama do all day?

(B): Stay home, feed Peanut, play with me and Birdie, make my food.

(M): What is your favorite restaurant?

(B): ChickFilA

(M): What do you want to eat on your birthday?

(B): Cake! And then surprise me, Mama!

(M): I love you, Buddy.

(B): I love you, too.
--
Oh, I could just eat you up, Buddy-Ro! You're stubborn and hard-headed, but Buddy, you are one sweet little boy. I love your heart for others, how you see a need and you meet it the best way you know how. I hope you always know how loved you are. You are so important to our family, and I am blessed to be your mama.

Happy Birthday!