Closet Redo

One of the things that I still don't understand is why and how people can live with the "builder special" closets that are installed in a new house.  Our house is 5 years old and the previous owners did...maybe they don't like organized spaces like me, but the $400 that we spent to take Arabella's closet from this...

to this....

was worth every penny!  She now has a organized closet that can grow with her.  Jay did a great job designing and installing it. One closet down 5 more to go!

Fun In The Florida Sun - Part 9 - Jacksonville...The End

The final leg of our Florida vacation was a stop in Jacksonville to spend a couple more days with Grammie and to see Grandma Kay and Grandpa Al.  We were able to do this because Jay had been in Florida for work and we were driving home with him instead of flying like we did on the way down.  The drive wasn't too bad, but with all of our stuff the car was crammed.  It is also hard for Jay to drive with the infant seat in the car as he can't put his seat all the way back so the driving 6 + hours home was all on me...and we all know how much I like car trips over 4 hours...not very much.  Needless to say, this was a reminder for me that I am just a better traveller when we fly.

Anyway, I digress, our time in Jacksonville was fun.  Arabella loved feeding the fish and turtles in Grammie's pond.  She even was able to catch a few of the small ones in a net and then throw them back in.  Max loved to sit on the deck and watch what she was doing. 

Arabella also had fun playing and giving Bennett treats!

Fun In The Florida Sun - Part 8 - Magic Kingdom Night Magic

One of our favorite memories from the Magic Kingdom was the light show and then fireworks that happened at night.  It started pretty late, I think close to 10 pm, but we planned for that and knew it was going to be a long day.  We were told by many friends who had visited that it was totally worth it and not to be missed.  And they were right.  Unfortunately, I don't have many still photos as I was too busy taking movies.  And honestly, the pictures don't really do it justice.  How Disney is able to pull of the magic of a 2 shows like this back to back is mind boggling for me so I don't even try to figure it out.  It was so magical and Arabella loved it, heck we all did.  During the show, we split up, Grammie and Jay hung back in a quieter place with Max who was sleeping, while Arabella, Uncle Mike, Uncle Jeff and I made sure we had prime viewing spots in front of Cinderella's castle...our seats were perfect.  Sure we were sitting on the ground, but as soon as the show started, we totally forgot all about it.  Max was fine for the light show part, but as soon as the fireworks started, the poor little guy was woken up and started screaming...Jay hot footed it to the baby care center and finally got Max calmed down and in the process, Jay missed most of the fireworks show...hence the movies...good thing I was taking them.  Anyway, the light show started with the castle changing colors and then many scenes of the Disney movies and characters were projected on the castle with music and sound.  Arabella was in awe and it was pretty special to see.  We tend to forget (at least in our house) that there is more to the Disney story than princesses and Toy Story and this reminded me of all the great movies that Arabella (and Max) have yet to see.  For instance, the Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland and even some good ole Mickey Mouse.

One of the most magical parts was when the show started, Tinkerbell, yes the real Tinkerbell flew from the top of the castle over the crowd, it was so awesome.  Arabella couldn't believe that Tinkerbell was waving her wand and sprinkling fairy dust over us, it was priceless.  I have a movie of it and every time I watch it, it brings back the pure childhood magic that it is meant to impart.  Arabella will get older and grow up, but this trip is something she will remember forever.  I am so glad we went at this age, it was perfect.

And we can't forget about the fireworks...

One of the things that I tend to forget and that they reminded us of, in Walt Disney's own words and voice, is that "we shouldn't forget this all started with a little mouse."  That is for sure, thank you Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse for such a wonderful time and memories we will have forever.  We will see you in about 4 1/2 years when we take Max back for his 5th birthday!

Thursday's Thoughts

Hearing: The humming of our central air.

Seeing: A destroyed playroom...but that means we have been having fun this week.

Tasting: Cool, crisp water that I am drinking.

Smelling: Fresh Cut Grass candle from Yankee Candle.

Feeling: Tired...it has been another long week of single parenting with Jay traveling.

Fun In The Florida Sun - Part 7 - The Magic Kingdom...Finally!

We finally made it to the Magic Kingdom and it truly is where Dreams Come True!  We had a wonderful and night at the Magic Kingdom filled with fun, laughter, magic and surprise.  We all agreed after spending such a fun day there, we should have really skipped the Animal Kingdom and spent 2 days here.  Because we knew we wanted to stay for the fireworks and light show, we headed to the park after lunch instead of 1st thing in the morning.  Arabella couldn't wait to see Cinderella's castle.  This was our first glimpse of it from the monorail...she was so excited.

Our timing was perfect.  Just as we entered the park, the Parade down Main Street USA was beginning.  We were able to grab a perfect spot to view the parade as it went past.  It was fun to see all the characters and to see the magic again.  We were making memories from the start.  We all loved it, but poor Max slept through the whole thing!

After the parade we were off and running.  First stop, the castle!  You can't get very close to it, but still it is picture worthy.

 Just a reminder that it all started with a mouse...

Uncle Mike and his favorite...Donald Duck!

 Arabella & Uncle Mike in front of the castle!

Next up...Tommorrowland...this was pretty fun.  Arabella enjoyed the rides and dancing with Pluto and Stitch.  Us adults, rode on Space Mountain...we all had so much fun.  Uncle Mike redeemed himself for chickening out when we were here in 1988 and finally rode it. 

Soon we were on to Fantasyland.  Our first ride was...

Jay sat this one out with Max, but Grammie, Uncle Mike, Uncle Jeff, Arabella and I had a blast.  We laughed and spun our way dizzy!

We then paid a visit to Dumbo...

The off to Ariel's grotto.  On the way we saw a castle...not sure whose...

Even Max liked this ride.

Next we went to Gaston's Tavern from Beauty & the Beast...

The off to ride Prince Charming's Carousel...

And who can pass up "It's A Small World"??  It hasn't changed since the last time I visited in 1988...it even has that "old smell" to it!

We passed Rapunzel's tower along the way...

We then rode Splash Mountain (and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad).

And before we went to grab our spot for the fireworks and light show, we rode Aladdin's Magic Carpets.

And as we arrived, the evening parade was finishing up.  But that was OK with us, we really were waiting for the grand finale to our day...but that is a whole separate post. 

As if you couldn't tell from the pictures, we had an amazing day.  It was perfect!  Max just went along for the ride and Arabella couldn't get enough of everything going on around her.  If we thought Disney was magical during the day, we were totally in for true magic once the stars came out.