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

[MeMom]

What a busy day. I saw the pics on FB. Brooklyn looked adorable in her graduation gown.

Today was the actual recital. After that, we had lunch, and I headed back to Nashville. John's dad is helpig him move bunkbeds today. Jill is pulling everything out of the playroom and putting it into the living room, then putting it all back (for now, until she can get around to dealing with it) into what will be Sophie's room.

-Vero really isn't that bad! $270 a night, in my book, is pretty decent!
-Love that blue mk shirt!
-The crocs are adorable!
-I've never had a mickey pretzel! It's going on my list for sure!
-Congrats Brooklyn!! I still remember my kindergarten graduation, even though it was 15 years ago!

Seeing Brooklynn in cap and gown brought back memories of my three doing the same thing when they were little.

$270 is not bad, I guess, but every one night there, I could stay two at Pop. I'm kind of cheap.

Hi. I was wondering what part of Disney the picture with your girls in the steel mickey ears in your introduction was taken? I Love it and would love to get a pic of my girls there when we go in December ....cant wait to read about your trip. Im super excited, its been almost 7yrs since we last went (who stays away from Disney that long ugggg). Thanks!!

That steel ears thing is out in back of Contemporary Resort, like you are going toward the pool.

Seven years??????? Waaaaaaay too long!!!!!!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Yay, graduating from Kindergarten!! Time really flies, doesn't it?

 

[MeMom]

Hi. I was wondering what part of Disney the picture with your girls in the steel mickey ears in your introduction was taken? I Love it and would love to get a pic of my girls there when we go in December ....cant wait to read about your trip. Im super excited, its been almost 7yrs since we last went (who stays away from Disney that long ugggg). Thanks!!

By the way, I don't know if we have officially welcomed you to the gang, but if not -

Yay, graduating from Kindergarten!! Time really flies, doesn't it?

Faster and faster every year, it seems.


*************************************************


In order to stay focused on Disney trip reporting and not bore you with our mundane lives, I will post only a few pictures from the last couple of days for those who are interested.

Here are a few from Brooklynn's graduation.

Cookie time for Bella!

Jill asked John to grab Bella's brown sandals as we were leaving the house. He grabbed two brown sandals, but they did not match, so this day was called Carrying Bella.

Bubby and his oldest rat.

Then later that afternoon there was dance rehearsal.

This was followed by swimming at the pool where John's parents were staying.

We ate at a pizza place last night, and before we got home, Brooklynn had crashed. Bella had had a nap in the hotel room while Brooklynn was rehearsing, so she was able to stay awake, but when we did get home, bedtime was early for everyone.

Today was the dance recital.

Brooklynn focuses so hard that she forgets to smile.

Two sweet, silly girls.

Bella complained about her sandals hurting today, so it was Carrying Bella Part II.

Back at the house, we had a barbecue lunch, flowers, and a cookie cake.

After that, I headed back to Nashville, since I had been gone from home since Thursday morning when I left for school. John's parents are staying until tomorrow. John and his dad moved the girls' bunkbeds into a different room so that Sophie can have the smaller room as a nursery.

That's our excitement for this weekend. Anything exciting going on at your house?

Five weeks from tonight, we will be having our first bedtime for this trip at Pop Century.

 

[Kgroo]

All I have to say is awwwwww!!!! What a beautiful family

 

[jedijill]

Great pics of the family!

I'm flying home Thursday to see my nephew graduate from pre-K...its not possible that he is almost 5 and going to K this fall....he was just a tiny baby yesterday!!!

Jill in CO

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Brooklynn looked so pretty and grownup in her graduation gown and cap! I'm sure her part in the recital was serious, so of course she wouldn't smile!!!
I'm in love with Bella's swimsuit! So cute and perfect for her.

I should be working at school this weekend to get grades in and my room ready for summer. Not happening though, I'm sick.

We will be spending the night in your neck of the woods in about 3 weeks!

 

[micandminforever]

I love the Mingos on Bella's Swimsuit.

 

[LookinUp]

Congratulations to Brooklynn on her big weekend! How wonderful that she had so much family come to celebrate her. It's hard to share your favorite grandbabies, I'm sure, but good for them to know they're so loved.
I hope your Sunday is beautiful, and that your last three crazy days with the kids fly by. Seems like just a blink ago, you were telling us about your new class, & now you're about to say goodbye. And then it really will be just a blink until WDW.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wow! Lots going on for you this weekend! Congratulations to Brooklynn! I too love Bella's swimsuit - absolutely perfect!

Only 5 weeks til your trip! Those will fly right by!!

 

[MeMom]

All I have to say is awwwwww!!!! What a beautiful family

I am rather fond of them.
I feel very, very, very blessed.

Great pics of the family!

I'm flying home Thursday to see my nephew graduate from pre-K...its not possible that he is almost 5 and going to K this fall....he was just a tiny baby yesterday!!!

Jill in CO

Enjoy your special family time.
He will be so happy to have his special people with him.

In another blink, 5 turns into 10. Have fun with every stage - good or bad - and treasure all the sweet moments you guys have together.

Brooklynn looked so pretty and grownup in her graduation gown and cap! I'm sure her part in the recital was serious, so of course she wouldn't smile!!!
I'm in love with Bella's swimsuit! So cute and perfect for her.

I should be working at school this weekend to get grades in and my room ready for summer. Not happening though, I'm sick.

We will be spending the night in your neck of the woods in about 3 weeks!

Definitely made with Bella in mind!

Sorry you are sick. I hate being sick. Thankfully, I rarely get sick.

My neck of the woods is on the way to Florida, so that's a good thing. I will see you that night, and hopefully Trent will be around, too. Maybe even Drew, if a miracle happens. What night is it, again? I am going to try to work it out for the girls to be here, if it's not during camp or when Ihave to go to workshops.

I love the Mingos on Bella's Swimsuit.

Wasn't it nice that they made that just for her?!?!?!?

We were looking at a Kilimajaro Safari video on Friday, and when she saw her mingos, her whole face lit up. She said, "Some of dem are in da water, and some of dem are in not in da water."

Congratulations to Brooklynn on her big weekend! How wonderful that she had so much family come to celebrate her. It's hard to share your favorite grandbabies, I'm sure, but good for them to know they're so loved.
I hope your Sunday is beautiful, and that your last three crazy days with the kids fly by. Seems like just a blink ago, you were telling us about your new class, & now you're about to say goodbye. And then it really will be just a blink until WDW.

I get to see the girls more often than John's parents, so after the festivities, it was the right thing to move on and let them hang out with the girls. There's not any competition or anything. John's mom is a hit because she brings a lot of things - candy and toys. Brooklynn is in a stage where getting things is a big deal, so I'm pretty sure Grammy is her favorite 'grand' right now.

I think they were going to get out and go shopping, too. Brooklynn had a Toys R Us gift card, and she was anxious to spend it. She was going to buy her sister something, too, and I loved hearing her thoughtfulness. I hope they were both able to get something special. I'll ask them about it when I talk to them next.

Honestly, this class has been one of the overall best I have ever had. They have their quirks, some of them, but as a whole, I would be fine having this group again. One of my students is in Disney World right now. her mom told me they were going, but it was a surprise until they left on Friday. C knew she was going somewhere, but she didn't know where. Every day, I would write a different teaser in her planner, such as 'Have fun in Japan! Be sure to look at the beautiful kimonos.' She didn't have a clue what all of it meant, of course. I wish I could have seen her face when her mom finally told her.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

This crud has taken me by surprise. The first time I've been sick all year long, and with so much to do! I'll be making my way to school sometime today to try to make a dent in the end of the year cleaning...

We will be staying the night of the 11th. I hope we will be at the same place as last year, it was really nice!

 

[MeMom]

Wow! Lots going on for you this weekend! Congratulations to Brooklynn! I too love Bella's swimsuit - absolutely perfect!

Only 5 weeks til your trip! Those will fly right by!!

This will be a quiet day. I have school paperwork to do, and I have some errands to run. I have to take back a couple of nightgowns to Disney Store, because the girls don't like the tight arm bands on them. I knew it was iffy when I got them, but I thought we could cut the elastic, if needed. The way they are made, though, you can't really cut it, Jill said. Plus, the material is not the silky kind they prefer. I'll either exchange them for a better choice, or just let them pick their own next time they are here.

The yard needs mowing, too, so I may start on that. I enjoy getting out and moving a little.

Five weeks will really fly by with all that we have to do. Wrapping up school this week will be all consuming. I have three workshops in June and church camp. The night church camp ends, we will go to AL to be ready to go to the airport first thing Sat. morning. That will be one crazy week, and I will be an absolute zombie that night! Disney World will be a wonderful sight, for sure!

 

[Charleston Princess]

A week behind and as I was reading, I was thinking, "Okay, going to comment on that and that and that."

And now here I am and can't remember any of it. My brain is fried.

Congratulations to Brooklyn! She does look so big in her cap and gown!

Poor Bella and not having shoes. Thank goodness she is so tiny and easy to carry around.

Oh, I did want to comment on the "incident." Parents never cease to amaze me.

Are you finished with school? Our last day was Friday! Hurray! I always hate to see my eighth graders depart, but I am so ready for a break. We have a post-planning day and I am doing CRCT remediation and retesting, but those are just half-days. Totally doable!

 

[lmillercrew]

I really hope that I see you in passing in 4 weeks! EEEKKK!!! Brooklyn looked so cute in her little dance outfit and you can almost see her thinking 1,2,3. 1,2,3.

 

[Poolrat]

Love the graduation and dance pictures. Sounds like a great weekend. Very quiet here. And I actually appreciate that for once.

As for the incident... I deal with similar things too. Always fun getting down to the bottom of it.

 

[Megablocks]

I love the pictures! Brooklynn looks like such a big girl in that last picture...it's crazy to think I have been around here for three years and watched her and Bella grow up!

Are you almost done with school? Charles's sister graduates high school on June 6, and his cousin graduated college yesterday, so we have a party next weekend, and his sister's graduation the week after. I remember his cousin's high school graduation party four years ago, and we started dating when his sister was just twelve. I seriously can't believe how quickly the time goes!

 

[DisMomAmy]

All caught up just in time to join in the Brooklyn celebration! Congratulations to the graduate & on the dance recital. Sounds like it was a busy & fun weekend!

I'm enjoying all of your MK updates too. I loved looking at the Future Fantasyland painting too... Since I've been to MK since Storybook Circus opened, I can tell how massive the whole expansion is going to be when it's finished. The little section that opened this spring is so tiny compared to everything else on the map! I can't wait until it's all finished!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

By the way, how did it all turn out with the parent incident?

 

[MeMom]

This crud has taken me by surprise. The first time I've been sick all year long, and with so much to do! I'll be making my way to school sometime today to try to make a dent in the end of the year cleaning...

We will be staying the night of the 11th. I hope we will be at the same place as last year, it was really nice!

I know there is no workshop that day or the day after, so I'm good for meeting. I'll talk to Jill about whether the girls can be here or not. I wanted to take them for a few days just to give her some peaceful time, but I don't want Brooklynn to miss any of her major field trips. I'll get with you after I talk to Jill.

I am officially out of school Friday, but I will be going back one day next week to do some housekeeping. I have already been giving away a lot of things to the students, so I have a good start, but I need to do a lot of organizing.

A week behind and as I was reading, I was thinking, "Okay, going to comment on that and that and that."

And now here I am and can't remember any of it. My brain is fried.

Congratulations to Brooklyn! She does look so big in her cap and gown!

Poor Bella and not having shoes. Thank goodness she is so tiny and easy to carry around.

Oh, I did want to comment on the "incident." Parents never cease to amaze me.

Are you finished with school? Our last day was Friday! Hurray! I always hate to see my eighth graders depart, but I am so ready for a break. We have a post-planning day and I am doing CRCT remediation and retesting, but those are just half-days. Totally doable!

You'll have to use a notepad while you are reading.

Yay for a summer of not dreading Sunday nights because Monday morning is almost here!

Yeah, Bella is easy to carry around. Good thing Jill was the one who got Brooklynn's shoes. She wouldn't have been nearly as easy, and her classmates might not have liked her going on stage barefoot. Gives Alabama folks a bad name when people do stuff like that!

I am ready for a break, too, but not nearly as much as I was last year. This class has been a good one overall.

I really hope that I see you in passing in 4 weeks! EEEKKK!!! Brooklyn looked so cute in her little dance outfit and you can almost see her thinking 1,2,3. 1,2,3.

We will be there midday the 23rd. Where and when can we cross paths?

Love the graduation and dance pictures. Sounds like a great weekend. Very quiet here. And I actually appreciate that for once.

As for the incident... I deal with similar things too. Always fun getting down to the bottom of it.

After church, I did my errands. It is hot out there today! I am resting in my cool room with the ceiling fan running now, so all is good.

You can always 'accidentally' knock some of your grouchy parents into the pool.

I love the pictures! Brooklynn looks like such a big girl in that last picture...it's crazy to think I have been around here for three years and watched her and Bella grow up!

Are you almost done with school? Charles's sister graduates high school on June 6, and his cousin graduated college yesterday, so we have a party next weekend, and his sister's graduation the week after. I remember his cousin's high school graduation party four years ago, and we started dating when his sister was just twelve. I seriously can't believe how quickly the time goes!

We were telling Brooklynn that people have watched her grow up on the DIS. She thought that was funny.

I am officially out Friday. I have to go back one day next week to work in my room, but that's it for next week. The week after that, I have three days of workshops. The week after that is shopping for camp and working one afternoon at senior camp. Then our camp (3rd through 6th) starts Sunday, the 17th. We finish Friday night and leave for WDW Saturday morning.

Happy celebrating with all of your people!

All caught up just in time to join in the Brooklyn celebration! Congratulations to the graduate & on the dance recital. Sounds like it was a busy & fun weekend!

I'm enjoying all of your MK updates too. I loved looking at the Future Fantasyland painting too... Since I've been to MK since Storybrook Circus opened, I can tell how massive the whole expansion is going to be when it's finished. The little section that opened this spring is so tiny compared to everything else on the map! I can't wait until it's all finished!!

Good to see you! I guess you are officially back into the real world now after your good trip. Time to think about the next one.

We are looking so forward to seeing the open part of Fantasyland and Art of Animation. It will add extra excitement to this trip.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Great pictures!

I would say that later on in life, Brooklyn can call that her game face.