The Happiest Place on Earth

So I'm still way behind and catching up on September.  The girls and I had a very fun trip to Walt Disney World in September!  We met up with Holly, Tara and Abby for a long weekend.  Holly and I have had a bit of bad luck in our recent travels together... Tropical Storm Beryl, Hadley getting sick on a camping trip with a hail storm, 100 degree and stormy camping at Kentucky Lake... but this trip was great.  The only time we got wet was leaving the Magic Kingdom one afternoon.  The girls did great and had so much fun.  It was really neat to take them while they are still so in to the princesses.   I also enjoyed catching up wtih my friends who I don't get to see often enough.  I think Jim and Tommy enjoyed some good bonding at home too :)

First stop, Epcot for breakfast with the princesses.    Neat to see the park before it really opened for the day.

Breakfast with the princesses was definitely a highlight of the trip.  Nothing like seeing Belle, Cinderella, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White at breakfast.  Then they got to do a princess parade where they walked around the restaurant with the princesses and Hadley held Ariel's hand.  She also told Ariel she was her favorite princess.

After princesses, we lined up to meet to Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto... that was 11 signatures and pics before 10 am!

After Epcot in the morning we moved to Hollywood Studios.  We love the Toy Story movies and Madeleine was so exited to the see the Army guys.  She wanted them to move for her but they were in toy mode.

Jake and the Neverland Pirates is one of the girls' favorite shows so it was a nice surprise when they got to meet him.    Then we saw a Disney Junior show that had Jake and the other characters from the show in it. 

Posing for a picture with Mickey's hat.  Holly made the adorable shirts the girls are wearing.

Love the film slide at Honey I Shrunk the Kids, not that the kids know what film or Honey I Shrunk the Kids is.   They did love playing in the play area though.

At the end of the day, we got pictures and autographs with Buzz and Woody. 

The girls also loved riding the parking lot tram.  Who knew that would be such a hit.  

Classic Disney Main Street picture with castle in the background... only way I could get Hadley to participate was by doing silly faces.

While spinning on the tea cups, I spotted Alice and knew we had to meet her as Hadley planned to be Alice for Halloween.  This is Alice explaining to Hadley that it is very important to have the black headband to dress up like her... Thanks Alice, that cost me another $10 at the Disney Store.

Madeleine and Holly on the Dumbo ride. 

One of the girl's favorite rides was Aladdin's Magic Carpets with the spitting camel. 

Our last day started with a morning at Animal Kingdom.  Hadley and Abby had to have the baby Simbas they are holding.

We ended the trip by going back to the Magic Kingdom.  Again a classic Disney shot with some interesting poses. 

The Goofy roller coaster was Hadley's favorite ride.  Unfortunately she was a little too short to go on Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain.   Abby was a tad taller and really enjoyed those rides!   Madeleine didn't like the roller coasters but did love the Buzz Lightyear ride which we went on 4 times.

Waiting for the Main Street Electrical Parade.  The parade and fireworks were a great way to end the trip!

Biking, School and Family

So much to catch up on so I'm going to start with the rest of August.  The end of August meant the beginning of school.  Madeleine started kindergarten at North Glendale and Hadley went back to KECC to start in the Duck room.  The school year is off to a good start for both girls.  Madeleine is really becoming more independent now that she is a kindergartner.  She loves playing outside by herself and is working on her kindergarten spelling.  Hadley is really enjoying being a duck.  I also signed up to be the co-president of the KECC PTO.  It is been a lot of work so far but will hopefully slow down now until after Christmas.   Tommy is busy busy busy.  He loves to climb and run.  He has quite the scream when he doesn't get his way.  It is so fun to see him interacting with the girls and playing more and more.  He also loves to be outside and has started bringing his jacket to you and then going to the front door.

We also got to enjoy a brief visit from Amy and Seth at the end of the month.  They stayed with us while in town for a friend's wedding.  We spent a fun Saturday with them going to the Botanical Gardens and to lunch on the Hill.

Amy and Madeleine at the Botanical Gardens

Hadley at the entrance to the Children's Garden... more playground than garden

Concentrating on walking down the rope ladder

Tommy and Madeleine splashing in the water

Hadley decided to try and take a shower in the water area

These sheep are always a favorite picture taking spot

Hadley and Seth being silly

Madeleine's First Day of Kindergarten 

Madeleine started to get a little nervous at this point and I started to get nervous  that I wouldn't be able to hold the tears in

Saying good-bye to Madeleine by her classroom.   Now she says good-bye to Jim at the crossing guard... already becoming such a big girl

Hadley and one of her teachers on her first day in the Duck room.

Madeleine and me on a Grant's trail bike ride

Waiting at the intersection... looks like they are about to do a family cheer

Hopefully, I will have a chance to share some of our September fun soon.

Camping on the Jack's Fork

We had planned a camping trip for the 2nd weekend of August not knowing it would basically be the first weekend in the summer that was not over a 100 degrees.  Finally, we lucked out with great camping weather with sunny, mild days and cool nights.  Jim, Hadley, Tommy and his mom headed down on Friday last weekend. Madeleine and I stayed back so she could do her swimming lesson Saturday morning.  Then we headed down with Butch on Saturday.  The campsite was very remote and there was no one around!   The Jack's Fork is a great river and the kids really enjoyed playing it. 

Tommy hanging out on the river

Getting ready to float... the princess innertube is a great way to experience the river :)

The river was very slow moving... in the kayak I actually floated upstream

Hadley practicing her paddling skills

The big flashlight from Todd is a lot of fun... and it can be used to scare away raccoons later at night

Enjoying a Sunday morning PJ walk

Hadley likes to find the biggest possible rocks to throw in

Tommy napped outdoors while we packed up

July Photos

Here are some photos of our July fun

Madeleine, Hadley and I enjoyed a Cardinals game... game time temp was 106!  But we stayed for the whole game and had a great time.

One Sunday we packed up and headed down to the Current River.    We had a great spot for a picnic lunch.

Tommy enjoying the water

The girls loved floating down the river in their inner-tubes.

Jim had to had this kid's kayak.  Trying it out the night before we left for the lake.  I must say it was a big hit and very fun to paddle around.  All the kids loved it.

Tommy's first dip in the lake.

Dock jumping was definitely the favorite activity.   Hadley said she wasn't going to do it until she was 6 but then spent the whole time jumping off the dock and boat.  

Tommy's swim spot on the dock

Go Karts - Hadley enjoyed going fast with Daddy

Madeleine opted for a slower ride with Tanya

Madeleine showing off her jumping skills

Tommy swimming off the back of the boat

Madeleine jumping off the side of the boat.  Amazing how she started the summer not wanting to put her head underwater.

Swimming was a great way to beat the 100+ heat

Jumping is fun in the inner-tubes too

Uncle Dave and Butch's new toy