Animal Kingdom

On Wednesday we headed to the Animal Kingdom for some fun times. While the girls and I headed to Tusker House for Donald's Safari Breakfast, Cary went to get our first fastpass of the day. He happened to arrive just as we were being called to be seated. Perfect timing! On the way in the girls got their picture taken with the star of the meal. While we were eating we got to chat with Daisy, Goofy and Mickey as well. The meal was delicious and served buffet style with Krispy Kreme donuts as one of the many sweet pleasures. However, the highlight for Campbell was the Jungle Juice which she consumed six glasses of while we were there.

After our yummy meal and witnessing a marriage proposal we were off the Rafiki's Conservation Station to see some real animals.

Let me just say that the conservation station was air conditioned and packed with things to do. There was a petting zoo, medical observation windows to watch the animals get check-ups, animals to touch and learn about each hour, and even a few autographs to get. The girls had a blast and I have to say I did too.

On our way to the next ride we encountered a few characters and got some autographs. One of the great things about Animal Kingdom is all the autograph/photo ops are in the shade so you are not baking in the sun.

Now we were off to use our fastpass Cary got that morning for the Mount Everest roller coaster. I loved this funny picture we took before going on the ride. I am happy to report that we all loved the ride, even Campbell. I was not sure since it was her first roller coaster but she loved it and declared it Awesome! Too bad there was not enough time to go again.

Next we went to the Kilimanjaro Safari ride which was filled with information and all kinds of animals. The elephant pictured here is the smallest currently in captivity. The ride was entertaining and we got several family photos at the end of the ride too.

Around the middle of the afternoon we took a break for lunch and escaped to the air conditioning of the Rainforest Cafe. We got a table by the waterfall and I have to say it was quite chilly. No complaining from me though because it was such a welcomed treat. Kaylee and Campbell loved all of the animated animals and the food.

After getting our second wind at lunch we went to see the Festival of the Lion King show (amazing), rode Kali River Rapids (Campbell's favorite, she loved watching everyone else get wet but her), Dinosaur (big mistake, Campbell's least favorite by far), and got several more autographs. By the time the park was close to closing we were beat. I have to say we were glad this park closed early since it was Wednesday and we had been up late every night. Once we exited the park we returned to the resort and ate a quick dinner before calling it a night. The girls were even too tired to swim if that tells you anything.

Another successful day in the wonderful world of Disney!

Don't they look deliriously happy?

Hollywood Studios

Tuesday we ventured out to Hollywood Studios. Our first stop after entering was to get a Fastpass to Toy Story Mania since we had heard it was the most popular ride there. Once that task was accomplished we went to see the making of Narnia which Kaylee really enjoyed but Campbell was not a huge fan. While were on that side of the park we took in the Little Mermaid Show which was fantastic! Ariel sang beautifully and the rest of the characters as well. One of the neatest things were the effects like feeling as if you were underwater at one point in the show, having water squirted at you, and a gust of wind blow at your face. We all were let wondering what would happen next.

By the time we were done there we were able to go get another Fastpass so we got one for the Star Wars ride on our way to the Indiana Jones Show. Let me just say that the Indiana Jones Stunt Show has not changed at all from what I remember from high school. While I sat there the memories just cam flooding back.

Next up was the Star Wars ride which was newly opened. R2D2 was our pilot as we went on a simulated adventure through space. The end of the ride made us all jump a little. After that we went to get an afternoon snack and to watch the Disney Rocks show at the main stage area. We happened to run into our friends again so Kaylee and Reid had a good time talking about all the things they had done so far. One of their tips was to go to the Muppet Vision 3-D so that was our next stop and again the effects made the movie so fun.

Our meal reservation for today was at the Brown Derby and it was the best food of the trip and quite possibly one of my favorite meals ever. YUM-O as one of my favorite cooks would say.

By the time our meal was over it was time for the Toy Story Mania ride and we loved it. The ride is a lot like the Wii game with the same title only you are moving in a car with your own laser gun. The four of us competed against each other and it was a blast. I wish we would have had time to ride this one again.

Then we went to see the musical version of Beauty and the Beast which was beautifully done from vocals to costumes. The girls loved it and so did I.

Next we made our way to the Rockin Roller Coaster which Campbell was not tall enough to ride so Cary and I took turns riding with Kaylee. I have to say it was crazy fast and really fun! The build up that everyone had given it turned out to be true.

While Kaylee and Cary went to ride the Star Wars ride again, Campbell and I did a little window shopping and enjoyed a concert.

Our last stop was the Fantasmic Show which kept us all amazed. Definitely our favorite of the trip. What a wonderful way to end the day! We even ran into some of our sweet friends who were there too.

Epcot

Once we all had a good night's rest we headed out on Monday

(Our 13th Anniversary) to Epcot. Our first stop after a quick photo opportunity was Akershus Royal Banquet in the country of Norway.

We were so excited to walk into the breakfast and be greeted by Belle who is a favorite around our house. I think that Campbell just stood there in awe for a little bit before speaking to her. The rest of the meal we were greeted by Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, and Snow White. As for the meal it was served family style and consisted of hashbrown casserole, eggs, bacon, assorted pastries, fruit, and sausage. I think it ended up being the best breakfast of the trip. During our meal they even had a parade around the banquet hall for the girls to join their favorite princess in strutting their stuff. Of course, Kaylee was too shy to participate but Campbell had no problem joining in on the fun.

Kaylee & Ariel

Campbell & Ariel

After the yummy meal we headed to our first ride which was the Viking Voyage also located in Norway. You can see that Simba has made another picture.

Then we used our first ever FastPass and rode Soarin. Thanks to that ride we can now check flying to California off of our to do list;-) The girls were not sure about their feet dangling in the air but after it was over declared it awesome! Then we tackled more rides including Living with the Land,

The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Journey to Imagination, Captain EO (which I had to leave with Campbell because of the scary supreme leader), Mission Space, the Kim Possible Adventure for Kaylee, and Spaceship Earth.

Our little vikings!

Here is Kaylee Participating in the Kim Possible Mission. She was so excited to do this and had been talking about it all morning until we found the training center to get her started. By the end of the day she had completed two missions and saved the world. Whew! I was worried;-)

While Kaylee and Cary were doing the Kim Possible Mission, Campbell and I found a duck to befriend for entertainment.

Campbell & Daddy in the clam shell for the Nemo ride.

Kaylee & Me in our clam shell.

Playing in the shark.

After all the riding of rides and watching shows it was time for our last meal of the day. Since it was our Anniversary I chose Les Chefs de France. Who doesn't want to go to France for their Anniversary, right? The meal was fantastic but I will have to say the creme brulee for dessert was my favorite part.

By the time we were done with our meal it was time to use our last Fastpass of the day on Test Track. We all loved the ride and wished we had time to go again but alas it was almost time for the Fireworks Show and these cute faces were waiting on us. We actually got to meet up with some of our dear friends from home and visit for a little bit before going back to our resorts for the night. The fireworks were amazing and we all left tired but excited about what the next day would hold for us.

Kaylee & Reid

Legos & 1900 Park Fare

After the girls were transformed to Princesses we did a little shopping. We all found the Lego Store to be amazing! I could not believe all of the sculptures they made out of them. What a talent and patience that I do not contain. While we were checking out all the goodies Campbell found her new favorite stuffed animal, Baby Simba. He got to take a tour all over the park with us as I am sure you will see in the coming blogs.

Next we boarded a bus to go to the Grand Floridian because we had an invitation to eat with Cinderella and her hilarious family. Each of the people were in character but I have to give the highest rating to Lady Tremaine (aka the wicked step-mother) She kept us laughing the whole time she was at our table with her sarcasm.

Our little Princesses can also say they have met Prince Charming who was very polite and charming;-)

Here is our family after a half day of the Disney experience. We were all so please with our trip so far and went to sleep excited about what the next day would hold for us.

Arrival & BBB

Well I know that you have all been on the edge of your seats waiting for the cruise post so I will try to update one day each day this week. In my defense I have been working on the memory book of the trip so blogging hasfallen by the wayside.

Once we touched down in Orlando we were all so excited to see what was ahead of us. I realized that it had been 20 years since my last trip to Disney so I was sure that things had changed a lot. We arrived at the Pop Century Resort around 1:00pm and checked in with no problem. The groceries I ordered were already delivered and we were on our way to a week of Disney Magic. I could not have been more happy with the smooth process of checking in and the resort. (Granted it is no Grand Floridian but for as little as we were in the room it was perfect for us.) after a little time to freshen up and get settled in the

room we were offto catchour bus to Downtown Disney.

The girls had a reservation at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and we had some hungry tummies. We stopped for a delicious meal at the Wolf Gang Puck Express and enjoyed some pizza and salad. Then we were off for the real fun. When we got to the BBB both girls picked out the hairstyles they wanted but opted to not get a dress-up outfit which was fine with me.

Here is Kaylee going from young lady to Princess with the help of her Godmother in Training.

Now it is Campbell's turn to be transformed into the Princess she thinks she is all of the time.

I thought the Mickey clips in the back were a cute touch and we got a lot of use out of them this week.

Here are Princess Kaylee and Princess Campbell with smiles galore and ready to shop.

Happy Birthday to my Favorite 6 Year Old!!

Happy Birthday to our 6 year old Princess!!

Campbell has been excited for months to have her birthday and the day is finally here. I think she is more excited about her birthday than she was about Disney World;-)

Some things I want to remember about Campbell this past year:

1. She loves kindergarten and gave me a report each day about everyone's behavior as well as what they learned that day. She does not miss a thing, Ever!

2. There is nothing she would rather be doing than be pampered. Anything that includes a pedicure, manicure, make-up, or getting her hair styled in a special way is up her alley. Shopping for clothes or shoes are also a pleaser. That's my girl!

3. She loves her friends and always greets them with a smile and big hug.

4. She has started to turn into a Daddy's girl, I guess I had a good run with her. Now Mom takes second place most of the time when Dad is around.

5. Most days you will find her with a pad of paper and something to draw with either practicing her letters or drawing a beautiful picture for someone.

6. Reading is coming along great for her. It is so much fun to watch her face light up when she reads a word correctly.

7. She loves learning all about God and is always so excited about the stories they learn in Bible class.

8. She is still my cuddle bug who like to be praised and have your undivided attention.

9. Her favorite things to play with are dress-up clothes, My Little Ponies, Squikies, DSI, and Barbies.

10. She loves her family and especially her sister most of the time. ( Kaylee used her own money to buy Campbell a birthday present and she spent quite a bit. When I told her she did not have to use it all she said, "But Mom, she is my sister and we love each other." Really? She continued to say that they just fight because that is how they show love. I am so comforted to know that they argue out of love. )

Campbell Grace,

Happy Birthday to our sweet 6 year old daughter!! You are our little firecracker who definitely keeps us on our toes around here. ( I know that strong will is going to serve you well in the future so I try to embrace it most days.) We are constantly amazed by your love of life and knack to not miss a thing. The Lord blessed us so much when He gave us you and we are so thankful. We cannot imagine our lives without you. You are our Princess. This past year has gone by so fast especially since you started school. You will always be our baby and we will always be here to dry your tears, rejoice in your achievements, pray for your decisions, and love you to the moon and back. We know in the coming year you will accomplish even more and we are so glad that we have a front row seat.

All our love,

Dad & Mom

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!

Well we did it...I do not know how but we did!! Back in January I booked a trip to Walt Disney World for our family and we kept it a secret from our girls until the day of the trip. Thanks to our family and close friends who knew for keeping the secret also. I ordered Disney themed shirts, packed suitcases, made reservations, and ordered autograph books all without a single slip. The travel agent even sent all our documents in unmarked envelopes. The whole time the girls thought we were going to Tennessee because the groomer asked where we were going in front of the girls in March when I booked boarding so the first thing I thought of was Tennessee. Why you ask? Well one of my very best friends in the world lives there and I graduated from high school there so my cover was that we were going to see Kathy and her precious family. (Sorry Kathy, we really are going to make the trip soon.) The story was so believable that Kaylee did a state report on Tennessee and had charted all the areas of Tennessee she wanted to see along with the best tourist attractions for that area. It was pretty hilarious!! At this point in her nine year old life Kaylee felt everyone had been to Disney World and they had a ridden a plane so we have heard about wanting to go very often. However, we had her so convinced it was going to be a while before we went that she told us at dinner one night she was "over it" and Tennessee would be just as good. I about choked on my dinner.

Fast forward to June 5th at 4:15 am, yes you read that right. I booked an early flight so we could get to Florida in time to experience Downtown Disney a little the first day.

Cary got the video camera ready and we went to wake each of the girls up. I had placed some precious Minnie Mouse outfits on the couch in the den and Cary had printed a note saying, "Get dressed...we are going to Disney World!!" I figured Kaylee would know exactly what was going on when she saw the outfit but I guess it was a little too early to notice the Minnie Mouse on the shirt. They looked at the autograph books and still nothing. Then Kaylee read the note and got a huge smile on her face. She kept saying, "Really? Really?", followed by "Will we see Reid?" (Some of our good friends from church were also going the same week so she was wondering if we would see them.) Campbell just kept laying on the couch still in a sleepy state. Both girls got dressed quickly and we were on our way to the airport.

We landed in Dallas around 6:35 am and had some McDonald's for breakfast before catching our next flight to Orlando. Kaylee and Campbell both loved flying. I do not know if we will ever get them in the car for a long trip again;-) Through the whole trip Kaylee was over the moon excited and Campbell was laid back then bout ten minutes before we landed in Orlando that all changed. Campbell turned to me and in a semi loud voice exclaimed, "We are going to Disney World!!" Yes, we are sweet girl. Guess Campbell is not fully awake till around 11:00am, just another thing she gets from her mother;-) Yeah for having a Disney Day!

Campbell's end of Kindergarten

Campbell's last few days were also filled with fun thanks to her amazing teacher Mrs. Powell. Each day the children took a trip on their imaginary airline to different countries and immersed themselves in that culture. She came home with a passport and book filled with many facts and beautiful pictures. The day they were going to Alaska she told me that she needed a jacket because it was going to be cold. I assured her since the temperature was suppose to be 100 degrees that day no jacket would be needed. Then I chuckled to myself. I love that girl!

Thank you Mrs. Powell for making the transition to kindergarten go so smoothly for all of us this year. You made each day a joy and taught her so much while making it fun. You will forever be in her heart as well as ours for all the love and kindness you showed to her this year. I am so glad that we are friends and we will still get to see you at church. Campbell has already said that she wanted to stay in kindergarten with you;-) We love you!

After the last day of school Kaylee went to a birthday swim party and the rest of us went to the pool to celebrate with some of our dear friends. The girls enjoyed lots of swimming, cupcakes, drinks and laughter. I love all of these sweet girls and their precious moms.

Thank you Lord for another wonderful school year!

End of 3rd Grade

Well we ended school with a bang this year.

On the last few days of school Kaylee's class competed in a kickball tournament. If you know my sweet daughter at all then you know that this was right up her alley. I had planned on watching the first game but after her team kept winning I ended up staying all day to watch and had the sunburn to prove it. Kaylee's class ended up winning the whole tournament and got to play the teachers in the final game. I even checked Campbell out of school a little early to watch her sister play since she had asked so nicely that morning. Of course, the teachers won but every child in her class had a huge smile on their face while playing. I am so thankful for moments like these when I am able to stay and watch.

Campbell watching her sister at the tournament.

Kaylee also took the TAKS test for the first time this year which was a new experience around our house. I knew that she would give it her all but had no idea she would make a PERFECT score on the Math and the Reading. That means she was commended all areas of the test. I told her I was so proud of her for doing her best no matter what the score above all. Then I stated how she should be proud of herself above all else.

Here is Kaylee with one of her amazing teachers she had this year. I cannot say enough about all the wonderful lessons, words of wisdom and love that Mrs. Jones gave Kaylee. She will forever have a special place in our hearts. I do not know who was more sad on the last day of school Kaylee or Me? I also got to know her teacher well this year due to my weekly copying duties and am so proud to call her a friend. Thank you for everything Mrs. Jones!!