Jonesboro Christmas Parade

 Genesis had a float and siblings got to join!!  The girls have wanted to be in the parade every year and they finally got their chance.  They were so excited!  Go Genesis!

Harvesting Memories. Thanksgiving 2013

 We did our big Thanksgiving with the Browns this year on Saturday.  We started with breakfast and games that afternoon, then ended with our big turkey and dressing dinner.

 You may think Burt would be less dangerous playing a card game than carving a turkey, but I think it is the other way around...

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to Grandma's for breakfast with Grandma, Granddad, and Adam.  Then for our big turkey and dressing lunch we went to Nanner and Poppy's.  John, Susan and the kids were here this year.  They got to stay through the weekend.

The cool kid table..

We all went to see the new movie, Frozen, that evening.  Then Katherine and I went to find some Black Friday deals.

A Magical Birthday! Emma is 12

We celebrated it up!  One reason we were in Disney World was for her birthday.  She got several cupcakes, ice cream, and the celebrated song.  She is turning into a beautiful young lady who keeps our lives organized and by a plan.  She loves to be with her friends, loves ballet and volleyball.  Loves church, pesters her sisters like no one else,  is very independent and opinionated, has the most beautiful freckles across her nose and cheeks, has a giving heart, is incredibly thoughtful, loves her family and cherishes those relationships, loves to watch movies, and build tents.  We currently wear the same size shoe and some of the same clothes.  I am having to keep her out of my closet, but I'm sure that will change soon!  She loves her ipod, loves to cook, hates to do chores, loves to eat sweets and candy, loves to make things, and enjoys running to briefly describe her.

Birthday dinner at Ohanas in Disney.  She got a lei, 3 scoops of ice cream AND a cupcake!

 Birthday dinner at 1900 Park Fare in Disney.  She got a birthday placemat and cupcake.  She also got a birthday button when we checked in to wear the week we were there.

The actual day :).  12 powdered donuts in the shape of the #12 with candles.  She wore her birthday shirt with the #12 on it.

School go out early for Thanksgiving break so Grandma took her birthday shopping and for ice cream.

That evening the family went out for birthday dinner.  She picked King Kong.  Nanner, Poppy, Grandma, Granddad, Adam, Andrea and Sadie joined us. She got 2 volleyballs and a lime green work out shirt from Uncle Adam, Aunt Andrea and Sadie.  Nanner and Poppy got her some money and a pretty bracelet and Granddad got her a tree house (Christmas and bday for all girls).  Earlier, John, Susan and the kids had sent her some fruit and chocolates in the mail.  That was a huge hit as well!

Happy Birthday, Emma :)

Disney World 2013 SURPRISE!!

Somehow we kept it a surprise!  The girls woke up Monday morning expecting to go to school.  Each had this letter from Mickey Mouse beside them when they woke up.  Emma woke up first, then quickly woke the others. They were in disbelief.  It was time to get dressed and go.  Bags were packed and loaded...  We had 3 excited girls on our hands.  We were pretty excited too!

We stayed at Art of Animation, where the girls had been wanting to stay.  When we arrived, we decided to play there rather than go to a park.  It was warm there so the girls wanted to swim in the amazing pool that played music underwater!  Eva Grace competed in a pool side trivia game.

For dinner, we had reservations at 1900 Park Fare's Happily Ever After.  It was Ella's big night as CinderELLA!

  

 Eva Grace loved the step sisters.  They were her favorite part of the day!

   The Grand Floridian had a lifesize Gingerbread house.  Everything on the structure was edible!   After dinner, we went to Downtown Disney for the evening.  Ella found a Fairy Godmother and got some pixie dust while she made a wish.

Emma's dessert after dinner.  Gummy bears, rice krispy treat, and a chocolate mousse cupcake dessert, plus her birthday cupcake.  Only at Disney on vacation :)

New to the trip this year was our pin trading experience.  We started with 50 pins evenly divided between the 3 girls.  They traded with all Disney cast members throughout the trip.  This was a trip highlight. Ella and Emma ended up with a couple of sets and learned some tricks of the trade.  We will do this again when we go back!

We loved our Finding Nemo Suite!  The fold out couch and table were super cool. The separate bedroom and bathroom was also fabulous!! 

Day 1 favorites:

Burt-

Amy- seeing Ella as Cinderella and watching the EG with the Stepsisters at 1900 Park Fare.

Emma- seeing he lifesize gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian

Eva Grace- seeing the step sisters at 1900 Park Fare and swimming at the resort

Ella- dressing up like Cinderella.

Day 2

Epcot

We LOVED the new Magic Bands! Brand new, still in testing phase.  We all got red, birthday girl got her favorite color of green! So Christmasy!!

Ella did not like most any of the rides this trip.  We convinced her to ride test track... here was her face afterwards... FAIL!  She was all about the pictures with the greenery though!

 She also loved the fireworks which provided 2 of my favorite pictures of the entire trip :).

Our own monorail car is never a good idea.

For dinner we met some friends from college, The Roachs, at Whispering Canyon.  The food was good.  The favorite part was when you yelled for ketchup and everyone from all tables brought you all their ketchup.  This was located inside Wilderness Lodge Resort which has one of the prettiest and tallest Christmas trees!

Day 2 favorites:
Burt-
Amy- Soarin'
Emma- getting personalized ears, riding the golf ball and Test Track
Eva Grace- getting ears, riding Test Track and Mission Space
Ella- riding Soarin' and seeing the band perform at the country of America.

Day 3

Hollywood Studios

Toy Story!!  Our first time to ride it...after 3 trips!  It was AWESOME!  

Ella was very excited to see Minnie.  We didn't go up to any other character this trip.   We saw her twice.  She even got her Magic Band autographed by Minnie!

 My little dancer participating in a dance show.

Just Singin' in the Rain...

 Ella looks like she rode these rides but she didn't get any closer than the pictures.  Actually, she did some fabulous pin trading at these gift shops!  Eva Grace and Emma rode Tower of Terror 7 times and Rockin Roller Coaster 4 times!  We headed back over to Toy Story where I did something I said I would never do... wait 90 minutes to ride a ride.  Ella's expressions made it very wortht it!  She even loved waiting in line!

 We all ate lunch at 1950's Prime Time Cafe. It was delicious.  At 5:45pm, we headed to the Osborn Family Dancing Light Show to see the lights turned on at 6.  It was the trip highlight for me.  We were all in awe.  Beautiful.  We came back to see it before we left.  It was snowing and perfect!

DAY 3 Favorites-

Burt- 

Amy- Osborn Christmas Lights, Toy Story with family and Ella, the snow.

Emma- Rockin Roller Coaster, saluting the toy soldier and him saluting her back, riding Toy Story,the Osborn Christmas lights, Fantasmic.

Eva Grace- Rocking Roller Coaster x6, Tower of Terror x3, Fantasmic

Ella- Toy Story, Fantasmic

Day 4.

Magic Kingdom

  Teacups.  Classic favorite, especially for Burt who vows every trip he is not riding it.

 

Tomorrowland Speedway.  Ella's favorite ride at Disney.  She is a danger to everyone around but this makes her trip complete.

 

DINNER AT OHAHA

The birthday girl at meal # 4.  Best meal and dessert yet.  They brought her a lei, then ice cream, then our whole family dessert, then her a personal cupcake.. it just kept coming.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!!  Snow on Main Street, as much hot chocolate and cookies as we wanted (and apples), beautiful fireworks and parades and a gorgeous lit up castle..  We also met up with some college friends, The Roaches.

Main Street.

 Ella did not like the big rides but she LOVED the dance parties with the characters.  We hit them all up.  Here she is with Santa Goofy, Chip and Dale.  She also loved her 6'6 seat for the Castle show.  Thank you Mr. Mark. (Sorry I didn't warn you before the picture).

Buzz Lightyear... Some people got a little competitive.  We might have ridden this ride several times to try to beat some high scores.  We did realize that the system scored randomly.  EG started off by beating us all by over 1,000,000 points. 

 He might have figured out where the camera was... I, however, did not and was only interested in taking photos of my own.  Burt, of course, has to aggravate.

Ella LOVED the parades.  This trip reminded us she is only 6.  We tend to forget that in our everyday lives :).

 Great big sister, right there!

DAY 4 FAVORITES: 

Burt-

Amy- lights on the Castle, Christmas Party, snow

Emma- Castle, cookies and hot chocolate at the Christmas party, Space Mountain x6, Thunder Mountain, Fireworks, hanging out with Abby, seeing the castle with lights.

Eva Grace- Splash Mountain, hanging out with Dawson

Ella- Buzz Lightyear, hot chocolate and apples at Christmas Party, the dance parties.

DAY 5 

Heading Home

Here are some pictures of our awesome suite at Art of Animation.  Our reef couch that turned into a bed.

 The table that was also a murphy bed.  Check out sweet Nemo and his dad.  Very roomy.  There was also a kitchenette and 2 bathrooms.  Everything was themed with Nemo.

 Flying home.  One of the prettiest views is out an airplane window.

Overall Favorites from trip:

Burt-
Amy- Chrismas Lights (Hollywood and Castle), being reminded that Ella is only 6, seeing Ella as Cinderella. Christmas party, our room, I really loved it all.
Emma- pin trading, personalized Mickey ears, celebrating her 12th birthday.
Eva Grace- pin trading, rides, and the Christmas lights.
Ella- pin trading, spending time with family and the dancing Christmas lights... and the cars (Tomorrowland Speedway).