Christmas Gift Opening at Home

It seemed like Christmas never ended for us this year. We opened some gifts as they arrived before we left for Florida. Gifts from Santa were opened on Christmas Day in Florida. Ally got gifts from cousins in Florida, and from Grandma Barbie and Grandpa Frank, then we got home and opened the rest of our gifts on New Years Day.

 

Becky and Ally played dress up in the morning while eating breakfast. I just couldn’t resist the picture of Becky – she is such a good sport. Finally it was time to open gifts.

Ally sat next to the tree – she asked for blanket to sit on because the floor was so cold. She ate her toast and chocolate milk and handed out the presents.

Becky and I received new pajamas from Debbie and Dave.

It was lots of fun to open gifts together – Becky got a new special foot for her sewing machine. Ally received lots of very nice gifts, a couple dinosaur books, new pajamas, a matching Princess dress for Dolly and Baby (to match the one Becky made Ally and her cousins for Disney World), and a bead kit that Ally has been eyeing since she was 5 – but it says its for 6 and up on it and now  that she is 6 she thought it would be fun.

Ally made Becky and I cards and put them under the tree for us – they were adorable and it was so sweet to get gifts she thought of and created all on her own.

Ally’s Resolution

Ally had homework this week – and it was to draw and write your New Year’s Resolution. As usual Ally did the work without any help from Becky and I. She came up with it all on her own. We are so proud of her!

Read Better – what a great Resolution for a 6 year old.

Disney Highlights

 

This trip was to celebrate my mom’s (aka Grandma Barbie’s) 70th birthday. On our first day, her actual birthday Becky got Barb a Birthday button to wear – so all day people said Happy Birthday Barb.

Ally’s first ride was Figment and the Journey into Imagination. It was pretty cold, but we all enjoyed the Candlelight Processional  which was a choral and orchestral performance of carols with Gary Sinese narrating the Christmas Story from the bible.

 

Day2 was spent at Hollywood Studios – we met Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc., had dinner at a drive-in themed restaurant and then experiences the Osborne Lights. It was a great Christmas Eve.

 

Magic Kingdom was Day 2. We got up really early and were in the park by 830 – we managed to ride 6 things before we tired out and went home to open our gifts from Santa. We were delayed a bit when Barb and Becky were stranded on the train for 35 minutes.

 

 

Mickey ice cream bars, popsicles and corn dogs were yummy to eat.

 

Day3 – some of us went to EPCOT in the morning and met up with Kurt and his family at the Studios in the afternoon. Riding Star Tours was a huge hit with everyone – and of course anything that requires 3-D glasses is fun.

Kaitlin, Jackson and Ally participated in a Jedi-training event – they learned how to use light sabers and fought Darth Maul.

After the Jedi training we visited the Osborne lights again.

There was lots of togetherness in the strollers and scooter.

2 character breakfasts gave the kids and grown ups the opportunity to meet 5 Princesses and 4 classic Disney characters. Jasmine and Daisy Duck were 2 of them.

 

 

Frank and his family enjoyed the tea cups, all 14 of us rode on the Kilimanjaro Safari together.

Fun with cousins – being silly in glasses, coloring and playing with the light sabers Grandma bought them.

 

Our last morning at the Magic Kingdom.

 

One thing Ally really enjoyed were the street performers on Main Street – we watched this show on 2 different days.

Buzz Lightyear Spin was a huge hit with everyone. Ally actually rode this 4 times in one day! Ally, Jackson & Meredith posed with Zurg (Buzz’s enemy)

Pictures on the ride – Dad two handed and Mom riding with Jackson. Below are Ally and I on her 2nd ride of the day.

My mom’s favorite ride is Splash Mountain – she and Becky and Kaitlin rode it twice! Ally and I got soaked and passed on a 2nd time.

 

 

Our last night Becky, Ally and I went back to the Magic Kingdom just the 3 of us – we watched the parade and the saw the fireworks show. We had a great time!

First Snow 2013

Actually the snow came in 2012, but since we were in Florida Ally had fun in it in 2013!.

I dug out her snow pants from last year and let out the length an inch – got to love the growth built in especially since Ally never wore them last year!

After school Ally asked to play outside – so she did – at school for a bit and then on the way home she pleaded with me to play outside in our yard. The high temperature  today was 28 degrees and she played outside for over a half hour – I was the one begging to come inside.

Snow angels are always fun

And Ally was delighted to see bird tracks in the snow!