All I Want For Christmas Is an Okapi, a Dinosaur, a Herd of Elephants and ...

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Monday! I am in love with the picture of Bella talking on the play phone. So precious!!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Bella is so cute with that little play phone! I had a guess it was going to be chilly that day when I saw her all bundled up!

Yay for being first in line at the Character Spot!

 

[vamassey1]

My, it does look like a cold morning! Even Goofy was bundled up in a scarf. Bella's piggie tails are so cute! I'm so glad you have someone to do your early morning walks with.

 

[DWGal210]

Oh I love an Epcot morning!!! . We did more rope drops & EMH this time around & it makes such a difference. I do like to sleep in but not having those lines makes it worth it.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

How fun to be up early and out and about with such a cutie pie!

 

[TCKK]

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I have not gotten into the pin trading yet, but I'm starting to get more and more interested in it. We'll see what our next trip brings. I sure like looking at your pictures of all of them. Look out DH, I may be about to develop a new addiction.

I can't wait to see this again!!!

 

[Kgroo]

Bella is so cute with her pigtails on the phone. Chloe loves those phones. So much fun to have a companion on your early morning walks and I am sure that she loves having some special Memom time.

I was successful in making all of our ADRs on Saturday morning. The online system has been acting up, so I had to do it the old fashion way - on the phone. Got up at 5:30 for nothing , but at least now they are complete. I love the new credit card guarantee system - it is much easier to get what you want.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday.

 

[MeMom]

Pop AND Epcot?! Two of my very favorite places!

You're pretty close to the double digits, right? I am very excited for you guys!

You missed it. We started double digit dancing a few days ago!

Wigd has been sending pictures from Epcot today. It is beautiful.

HOORAY FOR DOUBLE DIGITS! (I'm obviously a bit late on this one hahaha.) I'm not gonna lie though, those dancing smiley guys (especially the one BREAK DANCING) had me cracking up!

Those scarves are so cute. Speaking of cute... Bella looks SO HAPPY to grab those Mickey and Minnie stuffies! Too cute! Hooray for Epcot! Can't wait to see the character pictures.

We allow many kinds of dancing to go on in DIStown.

The scarves are cute, and they would be a good souvenir, except for it would have to be for someone else, because I don't wear them.

I love seeing the early morning pics because I am never up THAT early.

I have a few of those scarves.

Bella looks so cute mailing the cards.

Woo Hoo for meeting some characters first thing.

Things are fairly quiet in the early mornings. It's interesting to see a park or resort slowly come to life.

I am not a scarf person, but if I became a scarf person, I would become a Mickey scarf person.

Hey, you shouldn't have given away the pool pic answer so quickly. I actually knew that one!

I love those scarves. The solid colored ones, like the white, are actually very good souvenirs for adults b/c when they are on, other people don't really know it's covered in Mickey heads, but you do! We got one on this last trip and I love it.

So, am I understanding correctly that only the first family at the character spot gets all five in the picture? Btw, good job on beating everyone out to the front!

The guessing games are just for your own fun. Next time, I'll remember to wait until the next day to reveal.

Yes, the first family gets all five characters, and then they each go to their individual stations.

Popping in tonight to say hello! I managed to get all my papers graded and rewarded myself with enough DIS time to post, not just read. I do a pretty good job of reading and keeping up but just don't have much of a chance to post.

I loved those last few pictures of Bella. She's so darn cute shopping! Takes me back to when Ellie was small and we would hit the mall after we dropped Ben off at preschool. We always made a stop at the Disney store to look and "play". Sadly, that store closed up.

How much longer until your spring break? We have 3 weeks left which seems like forever. Yet, the 22 days until our cruise seems like nothing. It's the end of our 9 weeks so hopefully I will be so busy that the 3 weeks will fly!

Have a great week!

We are supposed to be getting a Disney Store back when the Opry Mills Mall reopens. We are excited about that!

We go this week and next, and then we are off the first week in April. We are used to getting out in March, so everyone is so ready for April to get here!

It's so much fun to see all the pictures you take when everything is still closed up tightly because you're up so early! I must admit, that nothing is still closed by the time we venture out!

A good thing for me about Pop Century is that Everything Pop opens at 6. At most other resorts, I don't think gift shops open until 8.

Happy Monday! I am in love with the picture of Bella talking on the play phone. So precious!!!

She's a sweetie. I talked to her on the phone a while ago, and she was headed out to the backyard to play on her swingset. That girl never stops!

Bella is so cute with that little play phone! I had a guess it was going to be chilly that day when I saw her all bundled up!

Yay for being first in line at the Character Spot!

The mornings were chilly, but the days were perfect. A lightweight jacket that could be tied around the waist during the day and pulled back out out night was the way to go.

My, it does look like a cold morning! Even Goofy was bundled up in a scarf. Bella's piggie tails are so cute! I'm so glad you have someone to do your early morning walks with.

She's an early bird, alright. When Brooklynn and I stay this summer, I'll have to let her sleep a little later in the mornings, especially since we won't be doing parks.

Oh I love an Epcot morning!!! . We did more rope drops & EMH this time around & it makes such a difference. I do like to sleep in but not having those lines makes it worth it.

If you can do 3-4 major attractions in the first hour or two, it really makes the rest of the day so much easier to enjoy - at least for us.

How fun to be up early and out and about with such a cutie pie!

She is a mess. I love seeing the pictures and reliving those precious moments.

I have not gotten into the pin trading yet, but I'm starting to get more and more interested in it. We'll see what our next trip brings. I sure like looking at your pictures of all of them. Look out DH, I may be about to develop a new addiction.



I can't wait to see this again!!!

It's a very happy sign, isn't it?

I think you should start a pin collection. I'm telling you, the sight of them can make you really happy when you are back at home.

Bella is so cute with her pigtails on the phone. Chloe loves those phones. So much fun to have a companion on your early morning walks and I am sure that she loves having some special Memom time.

I was successful in making all of our ADRs on Saturday morning. The online system has been acting up, so I had to do it the old fashion way - on the phone. Got up at 5:30 for nothing, but at least now they are complete. I love the new credit card guarantee system - it is much easier to get what you want.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday.

I love getting to spend alone time with each girl. I don't think Bella is going to be too happy when she, Jill, and John leave this summer and Brooklynn gets to stay. We'll have to tell her we're not going to do anything fun. But how can I lie to that sweet face? We'll just let her know that she'll get to stay when she's a big girl, too. :cutie



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Most of you have heard us mentioning our friend, Mike, who has been battling cancer for a few years. He has had several surgeries, and back in December, they told him he would live about three months. He passed away this afternoon. He leaves behind a wife, who is a teacher at the school the kids went to, and three children - two grown girls and a boy who is in high school. Mike was one of the nicest, most pleasant guys you could know. He was at peace with what was going to happen to him when he died. He only wanted to be sure his family was cared for. If you are so inclined, please keep this sweet family in your prayers in the days ahead. There will be happy tears and sad ones, and there will be laughter and smiles in memories of Mike. Pray for them to let people surround them and comfort them and do whatever is needed to help them through this difficult time. Thanks.

 

[reelmom]

So sorry to hear of your loss. I will be praying for his family.

 

[<3myfamily]

I'll be keeping them in my prayers.

LOVE the pic of Bella with the phone. Hmmmm... wonder who she is talking to?

 

[Kgroo]

So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. I will definitely keep his family in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[disney<333]

So sorry for your loss! Hugs! Sounds like Mike was a great guy! I will be keeping his family in my thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

 

[disneyfan61]

So sorry for the loss of your friend
Boy you have had your share of losses lately.
His family will be in my prayers.

 

[MeMom]

So sorry to hear of your loss. I will be praying for his family.

I'll be keeping them in my prayers.

LOVE the pic of Bella with the phone. Hmmmm... wonder who she is talking to?

So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. I will definitely keep his family in my thoughts and prayers.

So sorry for your loss! Hugs! Sounds like Mike was a great guy! I will be keeping his family in my thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

So sorry for the loss of your friend
Boy you have had your share of losses lately.
His family will be in my prayers.

It's nice for me to know that people from all over the place have this family in their thoughts right now, even though they do not know it.

As for the losses, did I even tell you about the lady at church? I can't remember. There is a little group that sits on the back left side (if you are facing the preacher ), and we chat every Sunday morning and catch up on the latest with kids and grandkids. This lady was 85, but was still getting around quite well. She fell in the driveway going to the car to come to church, hit her head on the car, and it killed her. It was the most unexpected thing! This was not this past Sunday, but Sunday before last. She wasn't there, but nobody thought much about it, as she would miss occasionally if she didn't feel all that great. It was so gut-wrenching to know that as we were sitting there talking, she was experiencing such a tragic event.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Memom- I am so sorry for the loss of two friends. Mike sounds like he was a wonderful person. Prayers for their loved ones.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Oh dear, so sorry that you have another loss. Mike's family will be in my prayers. The poor lady from church as well. very sad.

 

[marDgreen88]

How sad on both accounts. I will keep the families in my prayers, for sure.

 

[MeMom]

Memom- I am so sorry for the loss of two friends. Mike sounds like he was a wonderful person. Prayers for their loved ones.

Oh dear, so sorry that you have another loss. Mike's family will be in my prayers. The poor lady from church as well. very sad.

How sad on both accounts. I will keep the families in my prayers, for sure.

Thanks, all. Also keep our DIStown girl, Cara - Momof2TNboys - in your thoughts and prayers, as well. Her dad has been sick for a while, and it seems he has taken a downturn. We will keep you posted as we know anything with him.

 

[disneyfan61]

No I do not remember reading about the lady from church. That is so sad.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I am so so sorry to hear about the loss of Mike and the woman from your church. I will definitely be keeping both families, and yours of course too, in my thoughts and sending well-wishes!