The Mouse-KIDS are in charge...a Jan '12 PTR NEW 2/5 TR link & new tickers

[mousescrapper]

We also celebrated Santa Lucia Day, a Swedish holiday tradition (which took the place of Bekah’s 30 day pick a Mary Poppins night…Bekah as our oldest girl made us a breakfast treat (first time she did it almost by herself) and then dresses in a special costume and serves us:

Somehow we managed to take a Christmas picture of the kids:

Even though Rachel is a bit blurry…this is my favorite!

On Christmas Eve, Matt’s side of the family came over and we had lunch together and opened gifts:

Poor Naomi-Ruth wasn’t feeling well after visiting the ER at 4 am w/ matt for a bad ear infection…

After going to service at our church, we hung our stockings

Recognize those jammies Amy?

And put cookies out for Santa, I snuck out later in the night to see if he left 4 red sacks, and he did…

The next morning, the kids were raring to go

Matt and I were a bit tired staying up late and playing w/ our new toys ipads (SWEET!) but we got moving and had a lovely Christmas morning filled w/ love for our Savior’s Birth and good times and food. Here are just a few shots:

One of the unfortunate highlights was one of our living room windows breaking as matt slipped to bang the glass to scare the nasty neighbor dog out of our yard…luckily just the front pane busted and Matt wasn’t seriously hurt.

​

 

[mousescrapper]

The last Disney countdown for 20 dayshad a Christmas theme as was Nathan’s choice to have a Muppet night, originally we were going to watch a Muppet Carol, but he got Muppets treasure island so we watched that instead…”we got cabin fever!”

As well in the last week, I ordered and received our passes into the parks from UT, finalized our GG order, went over budget stuff, packed most of our toiletries and a lot of our clothes…I still have a good list of stuff left to do, plus one more Disney night planned (Matt’s choice)…so hopefully I will be able to jump in here and give some updates in the next two weeks!

I’ll leave you w/ this fun Country Holiday Tree pictures of us at the Museum of Science and Industry in downtown Chicago…enjoy and Happy new Year all…many happy and Disney blessings,

Julie

Ireland

Germany

Poland

The “pink tree”

Sweden

​

 

[DisMomAmy]

LOL! I was thinking, "I recognize those PJs" then I read under the picture & saw my name! They look great on her - especially for Christmas!

Yikes about that window! And sorry to hear that NR was at the ER with an ear infection. Hope she's feeling better!

I love all the holiday pictures & fun things you did! I get so caught up in the craziness that I often forget to take pictures when we are in the midst of things.

We just learned about that Swedish tradition of the oldest daughter serving the family breakfast... Zach's class studied holidays around the world & each group of 2 kids presented a few sentences (and a food) from their country. Zach had Israel so we made potato latkes with his partner but one of the other groups had Sweden & they told us about that tradition. Cool to see you participating in the tradition!

Your countdown is looking fantastic!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Love your Christmas pics! Everyone looks great!

 

[WDWCP96]

Love all the pictures from your countdown days. I am hoping I can do those when we start getting closer to our trip.

I am so jealous you have less than 2 weeks to go.

So glad to hear that Matt is doing better and that the trip will not be an issue.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Thanks for taking the time to post that mega update!

NR is looking so much older! Maybe it's the new hair style on her

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love all the Christmas pictures! Looks like everyone had a great time! Of course, what caught my eye was Rachel got an AG Rebecca! I miss those days with Chelsea -- I wish she were still young enough to play with hers -- she totally would have gotten Marie-Grace or Cecile (from New Orleans) for Christmas if so.

 

[teekathepony]

Looks like you guys had a really great Christmas! I love those different Christmas trees.

 

[mousescrapper]

LOL! I was thinking, "I recognize those PJs" then I read under the picture & saw my name! They look great on her - especially for Christmas!

yes, she really likes those pj's thanks to you

Yikes about that window! And sorry to hear that NR was at the ER with an ear infection. Hope she's feeling better!

it was a bit scary, luckily no major injury than the pane itself She is feeling just fine now, stinky to be a bit ill on Christmas, good thing we had a mighty relaxed day...i was in pj's all day

I love all the holiday pictures & fun things you did! I get so caught up in the craziness that I often forget to take pictures when we are in the midst of things.

I try to remember to get those pictures...I love to put together a little Holiday scrapbook shortly afterwards going to do a digital one this yr

We just learned about that Swedish tradition of the oldest daughter serving the family breakfast... Zach's class studied holidays around the world & each group of 2 kids presented a few sentences (and a food) from their country. Zach had Israel so we made potato latkes with his partner but one of the other groups had Sweden & they told us about that tradition. Cool to see you participating in the tradition!

very cool, now you can tell him and show him pictures that you actually know someone that does that...for all the grammer school yrs for the twins, she'd dress up and bring treats to her classroom, it was a fun memory. Rachel had a similar project going on at school too before break about her tradtions and i brought in the costume, and her 3rd grade teacher remembers when bekah dressed up in it almost 5 yrs ago

Your countdown is looking fantastic!!

I know

Love your Christmas pics! Everyone looks great!

thank you...it was a ver busy time, but looking back at the pixs makes me appreciate the fun we did have

Love all the pictures from your countdown days. I am hoping I can do those when we start getting closer to our trip.

yes they are fun to do..make it as simple or festive as you like...it really is just the thought

I am so jealous you have less than 2 weeks to go.

you'll get there!

So glad to hear that Matt is doing better and that the trip will not be an issue.

thank you, yes despite some no rides which is a bit stinky...it will be a good trip!

Thanks for taking the time to post that mega update!


your welcome

NR is looking so much older! Maybe it's the new hair style on her

I know she is getting older..when she lets pull the bangs out of her eyes she does look so much older

Love all the Christmas pictures! Looks like everyone had a great time! Of course, what caught my eye was Rachel got an AG Rebecca! I miss those days with Chelsea -- I wish she were still young enough to play with hers -- she totally would have gotten Marie-Grace or Cecile (from New Orleans) for Christmas if so.

That was her big gift this yr from Matt's parents...she really loves her doll, my Mom bought her several accessories...we have to call her Rbecca the doll vs the real Rebekah it was a bit confusing on Christmas day...my Bekah has two dolls and doesn't really play w/ them either, but likes to change up their clothes w/ the seasons...but got the mini Holiday Marie Grace for Christmas to add to her collection of mini dolls. They are wonderful gifts...my sil joked though she'd give bekah a $100 if she takes one to college just wait till her little girl is old enough to weant for her own

Looks like you guys had a really great Christmas! I love those different Christmas trees.

thanks wendy...from one Christmas decorating fanatic to another that means alot ...one other tree not pictured was in our kitchen. and has nativity ornaments and crosses on it

 

[lledman]

I love the idea of Disney theme nights - I've seen others on here do them as well. I wish I had the time to pull them off, my kids would love them.

 

[KatMark]

Julie, I'm joining in since we are sharing our photos this month.

I'll be back later to catch up.

 

[exwdwcm]

Hey Julie- i've been a total slacker on your PTR! So sorry!

Gosh your family is just beautiful! Love all the Christmas pics. What are the red bags you use under the tree- does it have their names on them? too cute!

I can't believe how close you are to leaving now. Another fabulous Disney trip. I have to say, if you can fit it in 4 suitcases, then you are my hero! I am going to try and pack lighter next November when we go since we will have a w/d again. It is so hard though when you have so many cute disney clothes, right?

all the plans look great. Love all the pins for trading. I think i will order some this year for Will. I think he will get into that this year!!

Happy New Year!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

It looks like Santa was good to the Scrappie family! Great Christmas pictures.

Sorry to hear Naomi-Ruth was sick for the holiday. That's never fun.

Love the St. Lucia Day tradition. Those are things the kids will always remember...I love traditions like that!

Beautiful Christmas trees!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oh my gosh Julie! You are 9 days out! (haha, had to edit this b/c your ticker said 8!) I love knowing that your PTR will have almost as many pictures (I think MORE this time) than mine! Christmas looks like a blast and Santa Lucia Day looks fun as well!

 

[mousescrapper]

In celebration of 10 days (well now 9…didn’t get a chance to post this yesterday) till Disney over the next few days I want to take a trip back thru time and remember some of our favorite moments over the years and our trips to WDW…As a family we have been 4 times, so this will be our 5th trip coming up!

For a while I just wasn’t very excited for this trip and it dragged me down…but now that I have been posting about my October trip and getting more things done for our family trip, plus the fact its crazy close and the kids are getting excited, it makes me excited too!

Looking back thru the years makes me realize how much I really do love DISNEY and the wonderful family memories and moments we have had there. Being a very busy Mother of 4 and caregiver to two more..my life can be very overloaded especially w/ raising special needs children…but to see joy and happiness not just in my children’s faces but on my own, brings joy to my heart…something I know you all know so well!

So let’s get started…happy 9 days till Disney (I know my ticker says 8 whoops off by one day…but at this point no need to adjust it)

Rebekah my oldest…how this child gets picked for everything I don’t know, she has opened an ice cream stand in AK, drove a Jungle Cruise boat, was part of Jack’s Crew twice and even fought his sidekick, plus this moment we will never forget from our 2009 trip, she was 10 yrs old.

We just happened upon this show as I wanted to backtrack to take a picture here, when she was picked to be in the show, I thought it would be for a trick or two not almost the whole end. It was a wonderful experience for her and memory she will always talk about…


She has a way w/ the characters…talking w/ the Mad hatter about making hats, or joking around w/ Aladdin and standing pretty w/ the Princesses, but two of her and my most favorite character moments come from our 2008 trip when she was 9 yrs old. Her Dad dared her to go up to Captain Hook and tell him he’s an “ol codfish” like Peter does in Peter Pan…well of course she did it and to make matters more funny her and Nathan started taunting him w/ “Tick-tock…tick-tock”…even though the Captain and Mr. Smee don’t “talk” the body language told it all…you can tell in the expressions on her and Nathan’s faces…how much fun they were having w/ this!

I think one of the BEST ever character moments came at the end of our O’Hana breakfast I was dealing w/ the bill and the kids were having fun w/ the characters near our table again, when I hear this “Psst” in my ear from behind me…I assume it’s going to be one of the kids, as I turn around I see this big blue blob of a face and literally jumped out of my seat and exclaiming “Stitch!” Everyone had a great laugh and I captured one of my most favorite pictures of Bekah:

Be back w/ replies from earlier and mosre planning news soon...plus more memories and pictures to come ​

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Happy single digits!!!! Those are such sweet character moments! I love when they have fun special interactions! And it definitely sounds like Bekah has a way with the characters too!

 

[KatMark]

I am now all caught up. The plans sound great, and I can't believe you are in single digits.

 

[irish dancer]

Hi Julie! So sorry I haven't kept up, I've been a bad DISer lately but I'm all caught up now just in time for some single digit dancing!

Love the theme nights and "mouse-ear" mantra, great Christmas pictures, amazing job on the to-do list and YAY that Matt gets to go on the trip!

I know you'll be crazy busy now with all the last minute stuff before leaving. Sending lots of PD your way for a great trip!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'm so happy that you are getting excited for the trip!! Thanks for sharing some Bekah moments!! Can't wait to read about the other kids!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I can't believe you are leaving so soon! Feels like you were just there