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!
We had a great time doing a whole lot of little things, as you will see, but yes, the parting itself was not fun.
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.
It's a mom thing. Once you have kids, you spend the rest of your life getting misty about stuff.
Jill has said more than once how much she likes the omelets at AoA.
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!
You are too sweet to say such kind things. If I am able to put words together that make sense for others, then hopefully that is a good thing. I definitely work toward putting a positive spin on anything I can. There are too many negative and sad events in this world, so I try to look beyond and around to see what good can either come from them or when we are through them.
I think you'll enjoy walking around Art of Animation. It is bright and colorful and very fun for the kids.
Saddest Un-Magical Express ride ever right now. DH told me the awful news right away, but I avoided details & definitely kept DD in the Disney bubble. We will have to tell her today, and then she will understand why I kept hugging her so extra-long & hard. Last week, a dear friend's incredible mom finally succumbed to cancer. Then this tragedy. But we have hope, appreciation & each other to keep us moving forward. Thanks, MeMom, for helping us see silver linings that help us cope now & look ahead to many "big, bright, beautiful tomorrows."
As I said, so much can get us down, so we have to lift each other up. This has surely been a year of a lot of loss and sickness among people I know.
That would be hard to leave part of the group behind.
I would NOT want to be the one leaving.
I know! I felt so sorry for Jill. We were all fine in a short time, though, and Brooklynn and Bella both got some good spoiling time.
Swimming is the one thing Hollie begged to do this past trip. But, I forgot to pack some suits!! Eek!! I told her I promised the next time were were at Disney, she could swim. I think I plan too much stuff for them to do during the day. I need to learn to add swim breaks! 
Love Bella's recital pictures! Too cute!!!
You remembered the make-up but forgot the swimsuits!
Did she not realize she could have talked you into buying some from the gift shop?
Super cute picture.
Love the hula hoops at Pop! My cousin's daughters are expert hula-hoopers. He's a missionary in Brazil and apparently it's very popular over there. When they were here for Christmas last year, they were hula-hooping and Seth wanted to try. He was only about 15 months old, so of course he couldn't get the hang of it. So the girls would hold up the hula-hoop around him and spin it around, and then he would stand in one spot and turn in circles. It was so cute!
Sad for the departure of Jill, Bella and John. Happy that you're still there.
Brooklynn used to do the same thing, but she can do it for real now. I never could get one of those silly things to stay up - even when I had a waist.
Oh, I remember that day very well. You were a bundle of mixed emotions.
Late night swims are always a great way to get ready for bed! Just as Mickey waffles are a great way to meet the day!
It was an emotional morning. I was sad that Jill was leaving, and I was really going to miss my bright-eyed morning girl.
Late night swims and morning Mickey waffles will be a part of that heaven thing I was talking about earlier.
I remember you both posting about how hard it was to leave WAY back in July! Man, time flies!
Still enjoying the report and reading along!
Happy Holidays!
And Happy Holidays to you, as well!
Do you think I can finish putting up pictures from July 1-5 by the time I leave in 13 weeks?
Great TR, Looking at all the pictures and hearing about your trip, I cannot wait for my January trip.
Glad to have you here!
I love that people can go in January and bring back pictures to share. It helps me make it through the winter.
Oh my goodness, Bella is the cutest ballerina!!
She has the perfect long, lanky little body for dancing, and she loves it. She was in her element, for sure.
Every year, they make a point of telling us not to dare watch Disney movies, because the Disney police send people to schools all the time to bust people. Who knows? I know I saw a teacher watching Little Mermaid earlier this year. I was jealous...but I wasn't jealous enough to risk my job if some movie 'god' was to come along and see what I was doing. I'll just be content to watch legal movies at school and 'illegal' 
