Trimming the Christmas Tree 2015

Hannah and I always look forward to the day when we put up the Christmas tree!  This year was no different and it was a sweet time with my girl! 

First step was to string the beads.  Mommy started the boring way and then Hannah spiced it up!  Love her creativity – even if she does make me nervous as she climbs around!

Adding the angel to the top is always a fun if not silly moment with my overly ticklish little girl who giggles through the process every year.

Unfortunately the flash on my camera  is broken so some of the pics are a little dark but it kinda helps with the mood.  Sunday evening we took time to take a few more pictures.

Our perfect tree for 2015, decorated with love by my amazing 6yo sweetheart!

Merry Christmas from us with love! 

Disney 2015 ~ Magic Kingdom, Day 4

(Sunday, Sept 20, 2015)

I’m finally wrapping up our 2015 Disney posts.  Life just got busy when we got home and finding time to blog took a back seat to other things.  I’m hoping to find time to get things caught up now.

Our final day in the parks for Hannah and I was at Magic Kingdom, the perfect place to end or start any Disney trip in our books. 

We left a little later in the morning so had lots of room in the bus which doesn’t happen often.

Hannah used the travel time to draw a picture of Mommy.  I’d recognize me anywhere, wouldn’t you?

Hannah had patiently waited to purchase a new pair of ears this trip and she chose these cute silver sparkle ears.

One of our favourite rides is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train so we enjoyed one final ride on it this trip.  Look at that face!

Hannah waited patiently for our entire trip to meet Elsa and Anna.  Today was the day our of our FP+ reservations and it was time to meet these wonderful ladies. 

I love this sweet pic of Hannah with Belle.  Hannah played the part of ‘Mrs. Potts’ in Enchanted Tales with Belle and afterward she was able to meet her.

One of the characters we hadn’t met before was humble Gaston.  We stood in the heat for about 45 mins to meet him and then Hannah was outta there when it was her turn!  LOL – After all that time I didn’t want it to go to waste so mommy stood in and Hannah turned into the photographer.  Great job Hannah!

As we made our way to the front of the park on the train Hannah took advantage of this time to catch a quick nap.  I love the ease that Hannah has sleeping when she needs it.

Our final dinner of the trip was with Cinderella and friends at 1900 Park Fare.  It’s one of our favourites.   Mmm strawberry soup!

Hannah visited with Prince Charming

Lady Tremaine

Drizella

Anastasia and

Cinderella!

(The flash on my camera had broken by this time so I’m thankful the pictures turned out as well as they did.  Thankfully Canon has agreed to repair the flash and it’s in right now being repaired. )

All too quickly our trip came to an end.  To make leaving easier I had booked what is known as a ‘BounceBack Offer’ which is an offer you can book for your next stay while still staying at a Disney resort.  Hannah and I are booked to return to Disney next September and I was able to secure Free Dining for that stay which is a huge savings and my favourite deal when booking Disney.  Let the countdown begin!

Hannah bought this cute set of Princesses with the money she had saved for Disney.  They entertained her the whole flight home.  Mommy in turn napped.  

I know it’s taken a while to finish up all of these posts.  Thank you for following along and the great comments and questions you’ve shared.

Keep checking in as there is more Disney fun to come sooner than later!!

Disney 2015 ~ Magic Kingdom, Day 3

(Saturday, September 19, 2015)

I have a couple more Disney posts to put up as I wanted to capture as many of our memories here as I can.  Better late than never.

Saturday was another one of those days that continued to change on the fly.  This is the first trip that we’ve done as much of this and I must say it was wonderful!  Rather than being tied to a schedule we’d change as we wanted or as other moving parts led us to change. 

I will say here that the ability to change things up is one of the many, many reasons why we like MagicBands.  MagicBands (MBs) are the bracelets you see on all of us.  They are our room key, park ticket, hold our FastPass+ (FP+) reservations, credits of our dining plan and also allow me to enter the park without a purse as I have charging privileges tied to mine just by entering a 4 digit pin I set up.  Each trip we’re offered the opportunity to order new bands so Hannah and I have quite a collection of colours.  It’s fun to mix and match our bracelets with what we’re wearing for the day.  Changing our FP+ reservations was a simple as using my phone or iPad and the MyDisneyExperience (MDE) app to make the changes.  FP+ reservations are basically 3 rides/attractions each day where we get to bypass the line and go directly onto a ride.  They’re wonderful and offered to every single Disney guest free of change.

Hannah and I enjoyed a quieter start to our day on Saturday.  We started with a swim with the family.

Dave and Trish headed to the Magic Kingdom while Hannah and I headed over to the Art of Animation (AoA) resort to attend an animation class.  Hannah has talked about doing this for a number of months and what fun we had! 

My budding artist did so well!

Posing with our final drawings.

Hannah with the animator.  Great job Hannah!!

Our final pictures.  We’ll be sure to do this again for sure!!!

We hadn’t had breakfast so by now we were hungry and visited the AoA food court which is one of our favourites.  We really like the design your own pasta…and it looks like the chefs enjoyed making it for us too.

Even Pluto was excited to munch on our lunch!

By this point we’d received a text from Dave and Trish that the MK was hot and packed and they were headed back to Pop.  It was an easy decision to put our bathing suits back on and head back to the pool. 

Today was Kallen’s 3rd Birthday so we celebrated with supper at Chef Mickey’s.  Unfortunately he slept through the first part of his dinner

but it sure did make for some adorable pictures!  Mickey was so cute as he had us move the table so that he could pose for this picture!

Minnie too!

The girls always enjoy time with the fabulous 5!

The night was still young when we left the restaurant around 7:30.  (Sadly the flash on my camera had broken by this time so this will be the end of indoor pictures.  Now saving to buy a new camera since I had mine repaired a year ago and it’s broken again. I just can’t justify paying the $170 to have it repaired again. )

Dave, Trish and Makenna went for a ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train while Hannah, Kallen and I rode the Carrousel.

So sweet!

Happy 3rd Birthday Kallen!  It was a treat celebrating with you!!

6th Annual China Travel Group Reunion

Sunday afternoon Hannah and I, Mom and Dad had the privilege of getting together with the wonderful people we traveled to China with in 2009.  Our group gets together only once a year so it’s a special day when we do.  It’s always so neat to see how the girls have grown and to touch base with those who we share such memories with! 

L to R: Meigan, Jiana, Tessa, Hannah, Kristie and Emma.

And a walk through reunions past….

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

So thankful to have share friendships with these special people!

6 year Forever Family Day!

6 years ago today Hannah was placed in my arms and heart forever!!! 

And now 6 wonderful, amazing, awesome years later!  Hannah I love you more than my heart can express and I am forever grateful to God for creating our family is such a perfect way!  I love you Lovey Bug!!  xoxo

‘The Lord has done this and it is marvellous in our eyes.’   Psalm 118:23

For more stories and pictures of our time in China please see posts here.