I Don't Know, I Don't Speak Wind!!

[declansdad]

Love the pictures of the girls. It seems like just yesterday that Bella was this shy little girl in her stroller.

 

[DWGal210]

What a fun Christmas party for the kids! I bet the younger ones really do think it's big stuff when the older kids come in. That's a very sweet tradition.

Bella could not be ANY cuter in her tutu!! What a precious angel! Her sisters look beautiful, as well.

I think everyone has those "intense" faces during the battle with Zurg. You really have to concentrate to get those points!!

Mom and I booked our February trip this morning - February 13-17. It's not exactly on the dates of my birthday, but no biggie - the flights were about $150 cheaper per ticket a week later, so that worked out great. I still don't know where we're staying. I e-mailed today about available points so we'll see where we end up.

So I have a question for everyone: what are the "must do" eating places, for a person that's not been to Disney very often? This will (I think) be Mom's third time to Disney but she's not done a lot of meals there. I was thinking Brown Derby, for that awesome Cobb Salad, and maybe a nice dinner at California Grill. What others would you all suggest?

 

[DWGal210]

[QUOTE

A little food afterward before everyone parted ways.

[/QUOTE]

Brooklyn and Bella have clearly done the "look here and smile" for multiple cameras. Sophie's little thought bubble is saying, "Why are all these people staring and what are those things in their hands?!"

 

[DetTigsGal]

They really need to update Buzz...those guns are terrible...please put in the pull ones like toy story. My scores this trip were awful...of course my husband had two 999,999's !

 

[2xcited2sleep]

That is a serious game face that Jill has! As always, really appreciate your photos and tales from our happy place...especially now a welcome break from reality!!

 

[MeMom]

Love the pictures of the girls. It seems like just yesterday that Bella was this shy little girl in her stroller.

And now she has the world by the tail!

What a fun Christmas party for the kids! I bet the younger ones really do think it's big stuff when the older kids come in. That's a very sweet tradition.

Bella could not be ANY cuter in her tutu!! What a precious angel! Her sisters look beautiful, as well.

I think everyone has those "intense" faces during the battle with Zurg. You really have to concentrate to get those points!!

Mom and I booked our February trip this morning - February 13-17. It's not exactly on the dates of my birthday, but no biggie - the flights were about $150 cheaper per ticket a week later, so that worked out great. I still don't know where we're staying. I e-mailed today about available points so we'll see where we end up.

So I have a question for everyone: what are the "must do" eating places, for a person that's not been to Disney very often? This will (I think) be Mom's third time to Disney but she's not done a lot of meals there. I was thinking Brown Derby, for that awesome Cobb Salad, and maybe a nice dinner at California Grill. What others would you all suggest?

Our kids adore the big kids, and it's great for them to interact with teenagers who set good examples in speech, dress, sportsmanship, etc.

We'll probably be having snow when you're in Florida. Yay for saving money on your flight!

We have not been to Brown Derby. It's somewhere I'd like to go with Jill sometime. It's expensive, and I don't know if the little girls would eat anything there. I always like to try new places. Does she like buffets or not? Cape May breakfast was my favorite breakfast ever. She may not want characters, though. There are so many good places to choose from! I'd let her check out the menus on allears ane see what she thinks.

Brooklyn and Bella have clearly done the "look here and smile" for multiple cameras. Sophie's little thought bubble is saying, "Why are all these people staring and what are those things in their hands?!"

She had slept through pretty much the whole show. She was bright-eyed during the picture taking.

They really need to update Buzz...those guns are terrible...please put in the pull ones like toy story. My scores this trip were awful...of course my husband had two 999,999's !

I bet they will update Buzz in the next 2-3 years, don't you? With all the new stuff they're doing everywhere, surely they will. Of course, I have thought they will surely get rid of Stitch's Great Escape, too, so what do I know?

That is a serious game face that Jill has! As always, really appreciate your photos and tales from our happy place...especially now a welcome break from reality!!

We are always glad to know that the pictures bring happiness. We need little things every day to keep us going. I have been getting phone pictures for the last two weeks from people who been down there, and every one of them has brought me happiness!

 

[marDgreen88]

It has not been crazy when we've been there. Others might want to chime in on their experiences.

Yeah, that's what it was for us in August, too. (New Dumbo.) I was pleasantly surprised!

Looks like a fun school party!

Bella must have done an AWESOME job dancing!

 

[MeMom]

When we came back to Earth, we saw flashes of light in the sky.

When small Earthlings see such flashes, they put their hands over their hearing apparatus.

A closed Buzz Lightyear.

Good night, outer space.

Cinderella Castle changing colors.

Making our way out.

Aren't these fun?

Back at Pop Century, it was time for a wonderful night swim.

The girls thought this was the coolest thing to swim late at night with hardly anyone else around.

This was the last night for Jill, John, and Bella. The next day, they would leave, and Brooklynn and I would stay on until the 5th.

 

[MeMom]

Yeah, that's what it was for us in August, too. (New Dumbo.) I was pleasantly surprised!

Looks like a fun school party!

Bella must have done an AWESOME job dancing!

Bella did great. She got to extend her stage time, as today she went to a birthday party where they all dressed up, got 'painted up', and then sang and danced on stage.

The girls have not balked at leaving the play area, but one time Bella did say she didn't want to ride Dumbo, but rather just wanted to walk on out. I guess she was tired and ready to leave or something. I just told her we had to ride to the exit, and she was fine, of course, and enjoyed the ride. It might have even been this night that she did that. I can't recall exactly.

 

[punkin413]

I have not watched much. It is so sickening to hear. I can take it only in doses, and I cannot imagine being one who does not get to turn it off, but has to live it.

I've been so thankful this weekend for the distraction of Disney Junior and Seth running to me with a movie in his hand saying, "Watch, watch!" It's kept our TV on more pleasant things. I do catch up when he's in bed but I think you can only take so much. And like you, I'm so very thankful I'm not living this nightmare. My thoughts, prayers and heartache go out to those poor souls.

Sweet girls! And what a beautiful little ballerina you have there!

I also love the intense faces on Buzz.....and John's "I'd rather be back in the room" face. I'm SO familiar with that!

 

[Stasieki]

Loved your real life update. Bella looks like a natural on that stage.

Caren reminded me through text today that I haven't updated on my friend battling cancer. She had an MRI last week and the spots on her brain haven't gotten any bigger which is what they projected! There is talk that it may be scar tissue from her past surgeries. Or, perhaps all the prayers are working. She is over the moon right now. Still doing once a week chemo but
Her prognosis is better thAn 2 months ago

Memom, the Rockettes were amazing. Ellie was on the edge of her seat clapping thE whole time. Abby enjoyed too but she seemed tired.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Bella's dance recital looks too cute!!! All of the girls are getting so big so fast!

Hahaha you're definitely never one to pass up a photo opp! I don't think I've ever seen the picture-during-a-ride-picture before!

 

[vamassey1]

Bella's dance costume is fabulous!

Loved all the fun y'all had in the MK. A night swim is the perfect way to end it.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Bella is quite the little ballerina! Just lovely and how lucky to dance to Beauty and the Beast! One of Paige's dances this year is from Hercules (zero to hero). She has a BOY on her line!!

Love all the pictures - as usual! Who took the picture of you taking a picture on a ride??? COOL!

Oh, I could totally go for a nighttime swim! Too bad it's 20 degrees here. It'll have to be the hot tub!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Bella iS quite the dancer! I think she has a future on the big stage!
We started the day off with a pre-contract day prayer meeting at school. It was a tearful time and then we had a staff meeting with a scripted way of talking to the kids, especially the k-2 grades about what had happened and the reason for the flags being flown at half staff.
We were told not to have a class discussion, but to tell students if they wanted to talk that we would talk to them one on one, but we were there to keep them safe and that what had happened was in a state very far away from Kansas. (quite vague) I did not have a single student want to talk or ask a single question.
I'm thinking they had not watched it on the television.

Baylor had a basketball game this evening, they won by 30 points, but he rolled his ankle when he came down from shooting the ball. He can hardly walk and it's really swollen.... No practice for him tomorrow. Good thing they don't play again until after Christmas Break is over.

 

[MeMom]

I've been so thankful this weekend for the distraction of Disney Junior and Seth running to me with a movie in his hand saying, "Watch, watch!" It's kept our TV on more pleasant things. I do catch up when he's in bed but I think you can only take so much. And like you, I'm so very thankful I'm not living this nightmare. My thoughts, prayers and heartache go out to those poor souls.



Sweet girls! And what a beautiful little ballerina you have there!

I also love the intense faces on Buzz.....and John's "I'd rather be back in the room" face. I'm SO familiar with that!

We go on, just as we expect others to go on when we are going through trials. Of course we appreciate thoughts, prayers, and stopping for respect of our situations, but we don't expect everyone else to stop living their lives for us. If we don't go on, then we are letting the bad things overtake the good, and we can't let that happen.

I didn't even look at the pictures from Buzz when I took them, so my first good look at them was when I put them on here. I thought it was pretty funny.

Loved your real life update. Bella looks like a natural on that stage.

Caren reminded me through text today that I haven't updated on my friend battling cancer. She had an MRI last week and the spots on her brain haven't gotten any bigger which is what they projected! There is talk that it may be scar tissue from her past surgeries. Or, perhaps all the prayers are working. She is over the moon right now. Still doing once a week chemo but
Her prognosis is better thAn 2 months ago

Memom, the Rockettes were amazing. Ellie was on the edge of her seat clapping thE whole time. Abby enjoyed too but she seemed tired.

We are so happy to hear this news for her!

We haven't seen the Rockettes yet. That may be something coming up in the next 1-3 years. How long is the show?

Bella's dance recital looks too cute!!! All of the girls are getting so big so fast!

Hahaha you're definitely never one to pass up a photo opp! I don't think I've ever seen the picture-during-a-ride-picture before!

My Tower of Terror pictures look the same - camera in front of face.

Bella's dance costume is fabulous!

Loved all the fun y'all had in the MK. A night swim is the perfect way to end it.

The girls loved the nights swims. Brooklynn wanted to do that every night!

Bella is quite the little ballerina! Just lovely and how lucky to dance to Beauty and the Beast! One of Paige's dances this year is from Hercules (zero to hero). She has a BOY on her line!!

Love all the pictures - as usual! Who took the picture of you taking a picture on a ride??? COOL!

Oh, I could totally go for a nighttime swim! Too bad it's 20 degrees here. It'll have to be the hot tub!!

This dance company had a couple of boys, too. They were in groups older than Bella's group, though.

That was the ride picture that you can purchase at then end of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, so I took the picture of me taking the picture.

Too cold to swim here, too. Not 20, but far from swimming weather! I have been getting pictures from people who are in WDW, and they are saying it is nice there.

Bella iS quite the dancer! I think she has a future on the big stage!
We started the day off with a pre-contract day prayer meeting at school. It was a tearful time and then we had a staff meeting with a scripted way of talking to the kids, especially the k-2 grades about what had happened and the reason for the flags being flown at half staff.
We were told not to have a class discussion, but to tell students if they wanted to talk that we would talk to them one on one, but we were there to keep them safe and that what had happened was in a state very far away from Kansas. (quite vague) I did not have a single student want to talk or ask a single question.
I'm thinking they had not watched it on the television.

Baylor had a basketball game this evening, they won by 30 points, but he rolled his ankle when he came down from shooting the ball. He can hardly walk and it's really swollen.... No practice for him tomorrow. Good thing they don't play again until after Christmas Break is over.

We had a faculty gathering before kids arrived, as well. A few of our kids talked about it, but only momentarily. The day pretty much went on as usual, other than the fact that I had six kids absent! Another second grade teacher had seven out. We've got a virus running through our school. I am hoping I can escape it for the next day and a half that kids are there.

We also were greeted with the news that our school nurse lost her husband in a sudden and unexpected death Sunday morning. This year has been full of sickness and death in my school, church, and DIS world.

Sorry to hear about Baylor's ankle. That hurts so much! Glad he has some time off to heal now.

 

[MeMom]

So, today is December 18th. It is cold or cool now. Red and green decorations greet us at every turn, and Christmas music fills the air. Sugar is the food of choice as it fills every pretty little tin around shaped and baked in different forms.

Or,


it is

July 1st.

It is warm.
It will be hot later on.
The colors are the aquas, purples, oranges, and yellows of Pop Century buildings.
The food of choice for this morning is going to be breakfast at Art of Animation. There will be sugar at some point in the day, of course.

The girls enjoy putting new things in the windows.

A trivia question for passers-by.

We walked over to AoA.

Good morning, Mickey waffle!

After breakfast, I watched the girls while Jill and John got everything packed up and taken down to luggage services.

The view from the table.

Looking up.

Going back to the room.

Brooklynn was thrilled with the purchase of a Mickey nightlight.

A simple and favorite activity for the girls.

This is where Brooklynn has honed her hooping skills, and she is getting pretty good at it!

These guys were sing, dancing, hooping, and having fun on the job.

Jill and I were fighting back tears as we prepared for this departure. I was going to miss this little girl,

and Jill was going to miss Brooklynn.

Not gonna lie - there were tears all around. Brooklynn and I were going to enjoy our special days together, and Jill was going to get some quality time with Bella, but the departing was difficult. The next time I do alone time with one/both of the girls, we're going to make it happen on the front end of the trip with Jill coming to join us. That will make for a happier situation.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Awww I can definitely see how half of the group staying/leaving would be hard! But I'm sure you and Brooklynn had an awesome time together!

 

[vamassey1]

I remember you posting live about that departure. It made me misty then and it's doing it again.

On a lighter note, breakfast sure looked good.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

A trivia question for passers-by.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!
I remember your posts about when some of your group headed home. I think you're right to switch it up and put the small group time at the front end. Much easier!
AofA looks so great - wish we would have had time to go visit it when we were there in October. Next time! Thanks for sharing the pictures!

I just have to say one thing. You have such a way with words of comfort and healing - it's just beautiful how you can say things that really are meaningful and helpful to everyone. I can see why your family and students and church and friends all love you so much. You just find the right words and it all makes sense. You have definitely helped me feel better about all the sadness and tragedy going on lately. It's so hard to think positively and find something good. But what you have shared, and these fun wonderful pictures have really helped!! Thank you.

Okay that seemed like more than one thing!