Disney World!!

Where do I begin....with the saying that it's the HAPPIEST place on Earth or that it is truly MAGICAL? Doesn't matter because it is ALL TRUE! Hailey and I just got back from a short vacation down to Disney World. We met up with my good friend, Alicia, and her son Mark. Alicia and I met early on during our first year of teaching middle school. We only taught together one year, but the friendship has stuck through the years and I was so glad that we planned this trip.

Ok, I was the person that believed you take THE ONE family trip to Disney World, so you have to wait until the kids are older. Well, in April, I changed my mind. It was a brilliant move on my part I must say. The reason for the trip...well....to be honest, it hasn't been the easiest of a few years around here. After my mom died, I made a promise to myself that I was going to live life to the fullest with my hubby and my girls (and Jake...let's be honest, I love that dog). And....no person ever says, "your kids will grow up slow...they'll be in your house forever." I am well aware that this phase of life is short-lived and I intend to make lots of great memories along the way. I asked Trey what he thought about me taking off with Hailey for a few days. I'm always surrounded by three little girls and the thought of just spending some quality, one-on-one time with her in a super-fun environment sounded like music to my ears (plus...a break in constant diaper changing sounded fabulous). I am also well-aware that this is my last year before she starts kinder and then she's a school girl from here on out. Trey immediately told me to BOOK IT. And so, Alicia and I did.

We arrived on Thursday afternoon, spent that evening at Downtown Disney, spent Friday at Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom and all day Saturday at Magic Kingdom again. Hailey's favorite part....meeting the princesses (shocking) and watching all the shows. When she met the princesses, she and I had discussed all the things she wanted to tell them...like how she loved them and they were so pretty....when it came time....all she could do was smile from ear-to-ear and stare. Precious. I have it all on video.

I can't even begin to list out all of the rides we hit because there were so many. And the shows, well, we saw 6 and I was highly impressed with every single one. Here are a few pics I took. I will be getting lots more in, it's just that we're waiting on the ones from Disney and Alicia also took quite a few, so my camera wasn't used too much.

Waiting to fly to Orlando! (I cannot even begin to say how much I love flying SWA over ANY OTHER AIRLINE. They are, hands-down, the best.)

We ate breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto!

Rode the tea cups (ok, I didn't...spinning in small circles doesn't do well for my brain).

Waiting to get on the Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios. It is the most popular ride in all the parks. As soon as it started, I realized why. Unbelievably great. A must-do.

Meeting June from "The Little Einsteins"

Outside Mickey's house. We toured it...and Minnie's too!

She drove a race car. The girl went nuts. I couldn't stop laughing.

When she first saw the castle she said (after a large gasp), "MOM, STOP! YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF CINDERELLA'S CASTLE!!!"

Her new pillow. When she got it the first night there, she said, "When I see Cinderella tomorrow, I'm going to say....Cinderella, LOOK AT THIS....YOU ARE ON MY PILLOW!" Hailey also insists that she can sleep MUCH better on a Cinderella pillow than any other....worked well here!

On our way home. So many smiles and laughs. We lived it up and I loved it.

And for the record, I've already told Trey that I cannot wait until HE and I take the other girls in a few years....one time family trip....NOOOOO WAY!