Disney Vacation!

It's hard to believe that our Family Disney Vacation has come and gone! It was filled with fun memories. We stayed at Disney's Old Key West in the Grand Villa, so we could all be together. The vacation was relaxing and we got to do what we wanted to do. We only had a few "you must be here at this time" moments. Those moments were all for food, except for our family photo session.

Disney Day 1: Boat to Downtown Disney before our Villa was ready. Character Dinner Buffet @ the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom to celebrate Maggie's first birthday!
Glad to be at Disney on vacation! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

Maggie Enjoys the cupcake and characeters...


...and her presents!


Disney Day 2: Pool time; EPCOT; Dinner in Japan--Hibachi style; Sounds Like Summer Concert with 52nd Street (Billy Joel tribute band)

Our chef makes Mickey Mouse from the onions.





Disney Day 3: Pool time; Family photo session at the Polynesian Resort; Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show--aka--the Luau
Can you believe it?? Mike at the pool! But he still thinks. . Do I look like I care?

Mike and I looking at Cinderella's Castle. Great idea, Katie! Can't wait to get the pictures back!

Mike LOVED the flame thrower and the rice and ribs at the luau.


Looking forward to going back again. It will have to be for a special occasion though.
Disney Day 4: Hollywood Studios for extra Morning Magic hour; Lunch with Andrew and Katie; Went with Andrew and Katie to the Vacation Club Members Welcome Home meeting. (I was hoping to win a prize. The last time I went with my parents, I won a door prize. But, no prize this time. Ony wishing I was a member of Disney's Vacation Club so I could say, "DVC means you and me"--with my hand on my head to make Mickey ears of course.) Andrew and Katie went to Animal Kingdom and I was heading to meet up with Mike. THEN, the adventure began. I was on or waiting for a Disney bus for at least the next 100 minutes!!! I was so glad to make it back to the villa. The bad part of the trip was that I didn't have my cell phone to tell anyone where I was. The good part was I saw the space shuttle for about 1 second before it when behind a cloud. Magic Kingdom @ night so Maggie could ride It's a Small World After All and Pooh. She LOVES Small World--even when you walk by it she starts getting excited!
We got fast passes for Toy Story Mania, but got in line too since the wait was only 40 minutes. So we got to ride it twice!!


Maggie just LOVES to ride "It's a Small World"!!! I loved watching the ride through her eyes.

Nothing like Cinderella's Castle at night and with fireworks!

Disney Day 5: Up early to eat @ Animal Kingdom in the Tucker House with Mickey, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy; Animal Kingdom; Back to the room to rest; Olivia's @ Old Key West; Magic Kingdom @ night




No wait for the Carousel so we enjoyed riding with Maggie and Abby!

After the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, there is always a water parade, "King Neptune's parade". (I don't know the official name, but that is what my family has always called it.) It has 14 barges that light up and play music. It is nice to watch while waiting for a boat, monorail or bus!




Thank you Mom and Dad for a wonderful vacation! Thank you for sharing your vacation points so all of us could enjoy a Disney family vacation celebrating together!

This is a MUST picture! Mike was having such a great time shopping on our last day, that he walked out of the store without paying for a puzzle we were going to buy. The funny thing is that my SIL asked him if he had paid for it and he said yes, but she thought it was odd since he didn't have a bag. When they all arrived at the restaurant, Mike was carrying the puzzle in his hand and realized that he didn't pay for it. (I wish I would have had a camera to capture the look on his face!) So this picture is proof that he went back to the store and bought the puzzle!

Guess Who's One Today???

MARGARET GRACE



I can't wait to see her tomorrow at Disney World. The entire family is celebrating her 1st birthday with Mickey. We will be eating dinner at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom. Looking forward to a fun time celebrating!!!

P.S. I wonder if she's getting a car for her 1st birthday!

Thanks to Kelly's Korner!

A big thanks to Kelly's Korner! Kelly's Friday, 'So Where Do You Live' has inspired me to update some rooms in our house. We have been in our house 3 years and with a house your to do list is never finished. We "practice" the Dave Ramsey plan. so we pay cash and only use a credit card in extreme cases. So we have to budget our projects carefully! This is my guest bathroom BEFORE the make over.


While on our vacation in SC, I went to the Miracle Hill Thrift Store and saw a new mirror with a gold frame. It was a brand new mirror and they were only asking $35! I had to have it. I didn't know where I was going to put it, but I knew I had to have it. My first thought was to put it in the guest bedroom, but then I measured in the guest bathroom and it fit perfectly! So then the painting and accessories followed. I used Benjamin Moore Celestial Blue to match the shower curtain that I had bought at an outlet store 2 years ago for $10. I love our bathroom now. I think I'm going to make over our bathroom next! This is my guest bathroom AFTER the make over. (All under $100)