Walt Disney World

As if there aren't enough pictures on the inter-web of this family and their Disney obsession, here is yet another post depicting our love of the Disney Parks! We sure do love them and aren't afraid to spend all our vacation time there! What made this trip even more exciting was that my mom and Joe agreed to join us on our adventures.  We sure did LOVE everything about our trip and can't wait to go again.  So, if you've got some time on your hands, I give you our Disneyworld vacation in oh-too-many pictures.

We stayed at the Saratoga Spring Resort right there on property. Mark spent a lot of his time working at this resort during his College Program days, so he was in deja-vu a lot! We scored a delightful 2 bedroom "villa" which allowed us our own private space yet to be together. The only way to travel in my opinion.

Day 1: EPOCT and Le Cellier Steakhouse: One word-epic.  I don't usually go to Epcot as our first park on the trip; but dining reservations forced us to have it no other way.  I have always loved the World Showcase and meandering through the countries.  We had the disney dining plan again, so we made a stop in at the steakhouse in the Canada pavilion. Holy moly worth it a thousand times over.  It costs 2 dinners on your plan but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. So delicious.

Day 2: Hollywood Studios. Highlights included Mark getting me on Tower of Terror even though I dislike that ride. Catching all Cameron's favorite Pixar characters. And seeing the Home Alone crowbar. Our dining reservations here wasn't anything to shout about, so we'll just breeze over it without much mention.  We ate.

Day 3: The Magic Kingdom: This was a packed day! Since our last visit 5 years ago, the Magic Kingdom has gone under a ton of improving construction.  Specifically, the Haunted Mansion que and Fantasyland. The new Seven Dwarfs mine car had just opened the month before, so we snagged us some fast passes and took a ride on that.  It was a GREAT roller coaster but in my opinion, not worth more than at 15 minute wait.  The 90+ standby line is really not worth it.  We also enjoyed the new Be Our Guest restaurant for our dining choice; fantastic. Although "the grey stuff" isn't all that delicious; my chocolate cupcake was a much better option.

Day 4: Resort day and resting. Swimming and naps had by all.  Much needed and super delightful. Cameron became so much more confident in the pool, I just loved watching him try to motor himself around in the water. Too cute.

Day 5: Animal Kingdom. This is by far my least favorite of the 4 parks.  I'm not sure if this feeling came because I spent so much of my time working here during my college program days; or if it is just the park as a whole that doesn't suite my fancy. Whatever it is, we only spent the morning here and then headed back to the resort for more swimming and resting.  We hit up the Hoop De Doo Review that night and had a hoot of a time there. Yummy BBQ and really fun entertainment.

Day 6: Magic Kingdom. We spent our last day in Orlando visiting our favorite park of them all.  Ate a ton as we used up the rest of our dining plan meals, and just relaxed as we saw whatever we felt like. And I must mention that our good friends the Marcums who now live in Tampa made the trip up to visit us while we were there. It's always great to get together with old friends and renew those ties. Loves.  This was just a super fun trip and we can't wait to go again!

October - Check

Welp - so much for my blogging goals this month.  My priority list shifted a bit and blogging got bumped down the line.  It happens.  So here is a quick re-cap of the month we've enjoyed.

- I've been sewing like a champion this month!  Christmas gifts this year are almost down with everyone's family accounted for! I am loving how they are all turning out.  I've spent most of my sewing hours down in Orem with my Mother-In-Law.  I have truly loved my time there and how our relationship just gets better.

- I started making my own Laundry Soap.  Say what? that's right folks. After reading ump-teenth million blog posts about it, and seeing it on my Pinterest board too many times, I decided to make the plunge.  And, wouldn't you know, I LOVE it.  It took a round of Laundry to really decide that it is great being that there is a whole make it and shake it process involved.  But now that it's been a month, I agree with all the blog posts out there; it really does smell better. It feels cleaner.  And it is LOADS cheaper. (no pun intended.)

- We started prepping for our first Say ChEARS Foundation Christmas.  We've shifted the focus slightly in that now we are going to gift our Disney themed gifts to deserving families every Christmas.  (they will actually experience them during the year). Which means that it is coming up quick!  It'll be a small year being that we just launched, but we are so excited to have our first one. A thanks to everyone who has donated. There will be updates and reports on the family we gift on our website to come.

- Cameron is potty trained! It was a rough go for mom, but he really was a champ. By far the most patience trying time yet; but he got it and now we're out of diapers.  Party on y'all.

- Halloween is just around the corner! I'm a little worried it'll be too cold for Cameron's adorable Pirate get up; but we're braving the weather and we're going to celebrate come what may. Thanks to my sister for sending her son's costume bits. Made my job easy.

- I quit my Tell Me the Stories gig.  Honestly, it was a fantastic run.  I got 14 stories done for Cameron's collection and really boosted my confidence in art and teaching.  So-despite the fact that my only 2 sales were my to sister and Mark's friend; it was a nice thought none the less.

- There is some shifting going on over at the Jazz organization (where Mark works) which is proving to be very interesting. There hasn't been any decisions yet, but there is a ton of dust in the air.  I'm interested to see what it looks like when the dust settles.

- We adopted a dog. That is a shocker, to me especially.  I am not a pet person; so when the whole dog thing came up - I was shocked.  Even more shocked that it was suggested by - yours truly. I know. But, she had been living at my in-laws for her whole life, and we felt that she could be loved on and played with better with us.  So-we brought her home.  So far, it's been a nice fit.  I'm still not totally confident with her, but she'll lick you to death before she is at all dangerous.  So, that's been fun.

- I know it's really early, but I have been seriously considering homeschooling my little ones. (assuming the Lord blesses me with more someday). I can't say I'm totally shocked, it is something I love to do; school and teaching; curriculum and worksheets; learning and fun.  Plus, I would love to spend the short 16 years left I have with my son as much as possible.  And, excuse my tangent, but I have a serious dream about running a "neighborhood home school" out of my house someday.  The end.

I still love my calling at church, primary music director.  It's awesome. I love my neighborhood and ward friends. Seriously, like I never want to move. I am happy, healthy, and things are good.

Off to November.

The Farm

Alright y'all.  Back to blogging.  Don't hold your breath but, I have goals.  So - we're off to a start on this, the first day of the month. 

We were blessed with the chance to spend some time up with Uncle Tom at the farm this summer.  And it was delightful as usual.  I'm not sure how it happened, but now going to the farm equates with "junk food weekend." And we love it.  We dine at Moore's Cafe or Maddox, have bowls of "gaming food" like M&M's and Twizzlers, and always make Granny's Frosties.  This time around I made a Pinterest find, Salted Carmel Cookies.  Yes, they too were yummo.  Sure, we leave feeling fat and sick, but in the moment, it's totally worth it!

 This particular time around, Mark's project was working on the water pipe that had broke in the shed. I laughed as I sat in the recliner and supervised while Mark relived his Pool Man days.  He does a good job!  Sad that we didn't have a onsie for him to work in.  Gramps always worked in a onsie and the boys sort of loved that.

I also ventured to a new corner of the farm and found a huge collection of cars in what appeared to be a car graveyard.  No, these didn't belong to gramps, but rather an uncle who inherited the property after Gramps died.  And now, here they sit.  All old and abandoned.  Be still my history heart.

We sure love our time at the farm and are planning on stopping by again before the snow hits.  Delightful.