Christmas Day

Jason, Jessica, and Ruby joined us on Christmas Eve again this year! We had Christmas dinner that night which is actually nice...we can relax all day Christmas! I didn't feel too great (horrible cold that is going around), so I ended up sleeping on the couch most of the day!

Traditional picture on the steps Christmas morning!

Dad is so excited and surprised about his fleece elephant pull-over!

Jason is too!

Jessica with a gift from Jason

Granddaddy!

I have no idea why he is laughing, but it is a fun pic!

"Ruby, get down!"

Ruby opening her gift.

A bottle that has treats inside that will come out if the dog pulls the "rope" just right! She loves it!

Finally! I can't wait to sew!!!! I have been ordering lots of cute fabric!

The family in our matching pajamas!

Flashback Friday

With Disney World still fresh on my mind, I thought I would share these flashback moments!

Pluto and Jessica (1988?)

Jason, Pluto, Me at a character breakfast (June 1989)

Jessica, Pluto, Jason, Me (just 2 weeks ago, Dec. 2008)

Christmas Extravaganza!

The Saturday before Christmas, I headed to Nashville to enjoy Christmas with some friends from OT School. We enjoyed our 2nd Annual Christmas Extravaganza with shopping, dinner, an ornament exchange, scavenger hunt of lights, Christmas trivia, Christmas word scramble, winter treats at Starbucks, and catching up with each other.

The girls with their graduation ornaments I had made for them...they turned out really cute.

In our Christmas PJs ready to go get Christmas treats and look at lights around town!

Girls in the back!
It is never a dull moment in Hannah's car. We had a fun experience at Starbucks but it was kind of one of those moments where you had to be there to enjoy it and laugh about it!

I want a sign like this!

At a house with tons of lights. There is a story about it, but I am not completely sure if I can get it right. It was for their son and now they do it in his memory. They have a place for donations to go to the hospital where he was when he was sick...I think. There were lights everywhere and it really was pretty cool!

I had so much fun that weekend! Can't wait for next year!

Jessica's Graduation

I am still trying to catch up on blogging since I had so many Disney memories to share!

The day after we got back from Disney, Jessica graduated with her Masters in Nursing from Union! She had graduation activities throughout the day and then we joined her and her family for dinner, graduation, and celebrated a little more back at the house. Congrats Jessica! We are so proud of you and know you are so glad to be finished with school!!

Even More Pictures!

Here are some pictures that may or may not be in one of many (maybe too many) Disney posts!

Outside our home away from home.

The beautiful tree inside our home for the week! Loved this place and would stay there again and again!

I took this while on the boat heading back to the lodge.

Fort Wilderness

Ok, so I already posted this picture, but it is one of my most favorites and was hard to get a good picture of, so I had to share it again.

Same tree as pic #2..this one was at night.

Most of these pictures are Christmas trees from the parks or resorts. I didn't label all of them...can you match each tree to the park where it is located?

Hint: There are only 3 park trees pictured. I missed out on one park tree picture.

Now it's time...

to say goodbye

to all our company.

M-I-C...See you real soon

K-E-Y...Why? Because we like you!

M-O-U-S-E!

Back on the magical express and heading home after a wonderful and much needed family vacation!

Disney Trip: Part VII

After a wonderful and fun breakfast, we made our way back to the Magic Kingdom. There were some things we missed the night before and some things we wanted to try out again.
I wanted a picture with Cinderella's castle in the background. We did get one of the whole family, but we will have to order that one if we want it.

This ride was one of the family favorites. I even liked it as a little 6 year old back in the day. The best part about this ride was at night during the Christmas party. The sky was so clear and full of stars. It just made the whole experience that much more magical.

I LOVE this picture. Something about it just screams fun and crazy Donald Duck. I am growing to love that duck!

Cute Mickey having some fun during the parade. We did actually miss this parade. I ran out of the restaurant to see this float passing by and made a mad dash to get ahead of the float and catch some pictures!

What were we eating during this parade? Enjoying a little piece of dessert...Ooey gooey toffee cake I think is the name. I really believe it is the best dessert I have ever put in my mouth. I mean seriously. I ate it all! (We all had our own dessert...another perk to the meal plan!)

We asked how it was made and received a recipe. I cannot wait to make it...maybe for my birthday unless I decide to pack up and head back on my special day.

Buzz...gotta love him! I mean we did spend a lot of our time with him on one of the coolest rides ever!

Kind of blurry, but I was probably being rushed to go find a spot for the parade. Cinderella and her friends found a way to make the castle beautiful for Christmas with the help of her Fairy Godmother...very cheesy but a cute little show.

During the Spectromagic parade. We did not have a great view because of the line police.

Our day was over and sadly it was time to say goodbye. I was not really ready to get ready to come home. This trip was all I had imagined and more. I am so glad we had the opportunity to spend time as a family at the most magical place on Earth and the only place you can act like a kid again and just have fun!