Disney 2014

We recently took a trip to Disney World. (which is why this blog has been a little ignored)

This was Maddux's 2nd time there... and it was so incredibly different than the year before. I love going to Disney. My kid... honestly believes in all the magic.... which in turn.. makes it magical for me. He truly believes he is meeting princesses... and characters... and everything in between.

We got to Magic Kingdom the first day, and we were walking in and he says "This is a whole new world Guys!!!!" and he was in awe. Instantly. And it was... Perfect.

It was a week of him flirting with princesses, fighting Darth Vader, dressing up in costumes, watching fireworks, cheering on parades, riding rides, and genuinely just smiling ear to ear... It was a week filled with Magic.

Here are a few of my favorite moments from our trip.

Hanging out with my Jedi.

He loved meeting Merida. He loved talking to her about fighting Bears.

Pretty pumped about riding dumbo.

:) 

Fireworks!

My favorite characters from the trip. These gals were hilarious.

Pretty much telling her he would fight any pirate for her... 

Face Painting!

Roar!

He was really wanting to meet the beast. This grassy version seemed to do

I think he was most starstruck for this guy.

Battling Darth Vader.

His Heroes.

Preparing to face Darth Vader.



That was our week.
Pure Magic.

Looking forward to years of memories at Disney!

Vacation Jar Collection

I don't know about you... but this weather is really getting to me.
I am not the type of person that complains about winter. I actually enjoy winter most years. It is my second favorite season. But this year... it is too cold to go sledding... or make a snowman... or ... anything. It is freezing.

So right now I am daydreaming of a vacation. Counting down our days until Florida. I just want warmer weather... And I want it.. soon!

When we go on vacation ... we make vacation jars.

We try to grab souvenirs that will fit into or jar. Souviners that are specific to that vacation. Now we will be going to Disney time and time again... so a lot of our jars will be Disney related. But I try to change up what is in there by making it what was the highlight of that trip.

For instance, the first year we went my son (he was 2) was in love with Minnie Mouse. In love with her. He thought she was the prettiest girl on this planet. And every time he saw her... he would honestly blush and became quite smitten with her. So that year we featured a couple of different Minnie mouse figurines in that jar with an autograph from her to him. We put in a group shot of the people we went on vacation that year... and my son's pin that said "first disney vacation"

We also have one from a little weekend away we took back when Maddux was only a year old. We went to Cincinnati... and visited the zoo... a ballgame.. children's museum... and an aquarium. We collected baseball tickets and little trinkets from the various places we went.

I love these vacation jars... because it is almost a time capsule of our vacation... and I love the idea of having a few shelves in our library holding vacation memories.
And even if you don't go anywhere on summer vacation.. I think these would be adorable filled with memories over the summer. Really... you could almost use them for anything :)

So while day dreaming of warmer weather... I thought I would share with you... one of my favorite... very simple... projects.

 How do you capture your vacation memories?

Disney 2012

This was Maddux's first trip to Disney World... hopefully the first of quite a few. I love Disney World. It's magical. Still as an adult... pure magic.
I just love everything about it.


I loved going at this age. For me this was perfect. Even if he doesn't remember it. I will always remember it. His face lit up every time he got to meet his favorite characters. He truly believed... these were the real characters on TV. He was ecstatic.

I think for me that was the best part. Not the rides... but Maddux getting to meet these special characters. I love how these characters took the time to give him attention and just make him smile.

In future years... he will start to enjoy other aspects of Disney just as much... if not more. I am so grateful that I got to go though at this age and witness the true Magic.

Here are a few of my favorite moments to witness.

Jake... Maddux's favorite pirate playing and tickling him. Maddux developed a new found love for anything pirate after the trip. 

Hanging out with Lightning McQueen.... Just look at that smile :) 

Using the force on the speeder bike. Next time he will be hold enough to go to Jedi Academy. I. CANNOT. WAIT!

Maddux was so excited to meet Buzz Lightyear. We had to stand in line for 45 minutes to meet him. He could not wait. Woody bent down for a hug... Maddux had his sights on one thing. Buzz. Straight past Woody... practically tackling Mr Lightyear. (Poor woody. so sad)

Playing with one of the many weapons he walked away with. This kid was loaded up with toys by the time we left...  

We stopped and saw Santa while in Disney. My favorite moment. He talked to this Santa for quite a while. I believe they discussed the need of a Hawkeye Christmas morning at great length....

And my favorite moment of the whole trip. His love of Minnie Mouse. My son has the biggest crush on this mouse. It's by far the cutest thing I have witnessed in my life. He loves her. Watch out Mickey... Maddux is coming for your girl.