wedding mention...

Remember that beautiful wedding we were in last summer at Rosemary Beach?  It

was recently mentioned on a blog and my little beach bum Ethan was featured.  I am fairly certain he looks more California than Nashville!  Whitney planned such a lovely wedding...every detail was thought out and executed perfectly.  You can see the blog HERE.  

If you are wondering why I am making such a crazy face in photo above, this was snapped when I saw Ethan for the first time after the ceremony.  He had been with the groomsmen all day and I was so proud of him and how well he did.  David dressed him and it was the first time I had seen him with his little suspenders.  

"I'll eat you up I love you so!"

fourteen!

A New Year has just begun and while i keep thinking back to 2013 I can't help but wonder how we can top 2013.  Call me a little sentimental!  Our little  family had awesome vacations in 2013.  We kicked off the year at Disney World,  had a relaxing time at Amelia Island, celebrated a bachelorette in Vegas, were part of gorgeous wedding in Rosemary Beach, unplugged on a camping trip in Canada,  celebrated the fall in mountains with family, and David went hunting for week with his Dad and Brother.  David's company Dogwood Homes built some pretty amazing homes and I had a several families leave an impression on my heart at work that will always impact me and my nursing career.  Our boys have grown bigger and remain joyful and healthy.  
As I look forward to 2014 I can expect that a dear friend will move faraway in early spring to London.  This bittersweet move will hopefully lead to new adventures for my own family in land of the Royal Family.  I hope to slow down and learn to sit and read a good book with a cup of tea way more often than I do currently.  We  only made one resolution as a family:  to use kind words towards each other.  I'm  hoping this will help the boys {and us} learn to find better words to express their anger and frustration when playing together. 
So cheers to a 2014!

Animal Kingdom...

Our second day we went to Animal Kingdom.  We kicked off our day with a character breakfast at the Tusker House with Mickey, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy.  After breakfast Ethan had a parade with Donald and a few other kiddos.  My sister-in-law gave the boys pillow cases that had mouse ears appliqued on them with their names monogramed on it.  We used these to get the character signatures on in place of a book.  They were perfect!  Ethan loooved it!

 Mickey signing the boys pillow cases

 kiss with Mickey

We then took the boys on the Kilimanjaro Safari.  

 our ride

The best part of the Animal Kingdom is all the attractions.  AKA- kinda nice for the parents to sit down and rest from all the running around.  We watched The Festival of the Lion King where we had a close call with Ethan loosing his lovie.  It was dropped underneath bleachers at the Lion King Show and took some serious convincing {"it is his favorite thing on earth....would ruin the trip if we lost it...} on my part for the attendant to fetch it.  We also watched the 3D It's tough to be a Bug movie and Ethan's favorite was the Finding Nemo Musical.  We also met Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyor.  Those photos will come later when we get our professional photos {photo pass} back from Disney in the mail.

We then watched another parade.  I snapped this picture below of Ethan waiting on the parade.  I thought he looked so young sitting there after looking so old as a pirate the day before.  Bennett had a big moment at the parade by waving for the first time to Donald Duck.  He loved the parade and the music.  He was bouncing in David's arms and waving.  It was adorable.  Bennett was so excited that people on the floats started taking pictures of him!  Someone I managed to catch his first waves on camera.  Ethan got several high fives from his favorites like Chip and Dale.  Mickey also played peek-a-boo with Bennett.

 high five

waves

 all smiles

peek a boo with Mickey

After a little shopping we headed back to the hotel to clean up a little before Dinner.  We ate at Tony's Restaurant which is Lady and the Tramp themed Italian.  It was one of my favorite dining experiences. Bennett snoozed in the stroller while we ate.  Disney tip:  if you little one is asleep in the stroller they will let you bring the stroller in...just ask!  

After dinner we headed back to rest up for one more day of fun.  

Disney World...

We recently took a last minute trip to Disney World.  It was our first time to take the boys.  We went with David's brother and his family.  It was magical for both the boys and us.  I wasn't expecting to have as much fun as we did.  Taking the boys was like experiencing Disney for the first time again.  I had forgotten how much fun it was to be kid! 

The Grand Floridian

We stayed at the Grand Floridian Hotel which is located on the monorail.   It was so nice to step into the lobby and hear a pianist playing after a busy day.  It was nothing short of lovely.  

1900 Park Fare Dinner

Our first night we booked a character dinner at 1900 Park Fare last minute.  It was here Ethan started to find out just how magical Disney is...   This was his first time to meet characters and he was little nervous to let go of mommy at first.  Note to self...don't stand next to Cinderella right after you have flown with two small children.  

Pirates League

Ethan had pirate makeover at Pirates League.  This was a highlight of the trip!  Bennett got his very first tattoo here and kiss from a pirate girl!

 picking his pirate name:  Tom Chipcutter

waiting to be turned into a pirate

taking his pirate oath

 getting his sword and taking another pirate oath

checking out Thunder Mountain roller coaster

Thunder Mountain

Right after Pirate's League Ethan took a ride on his very first roller coaster, Thunder Mountain.  Good thing we had those pirate ears on, after he rode it twice he was told he wasn't tall enough!  You would never know this was his first time to ride a roller coaster.  When I rode with him I was clutching him and he said "no mom, you put your hands in the air like this!"  

Parade

We had great spot for the afternoon parade!  The kids got high fives from all the characters!  He and his cousins were sharing popcorn {Ethan's fav} when the wicked stepmother from Cinderella came by.  She was pointing her finger and talking.  It scared him so much he knocked over his popcorn and then she stepped on it!  Of all the scary characters...this was the only one he was terrified of!  

 Goofy

Hook

 Wicked Stepmother

 stepping on popcorn

Cinderella and her prince

more photos to come later....