Halloween Party

We went to the family Halloween Party yesterday and had a good time - it's a great party every year! We missed the hay ride, which is always fun, but did make it for a little while. It was a crazy day - I had to run out and buy Madeline a costume after the soccer tournament, and it was too big, so I had to "hem" it using tape and safety pins! Why didn't I listen to my Mother when she tried to teach me to sew? Ah, the wisdom of being old - my Parents were so right in so many ways! If I only knew then what I know now :-)

Last Game of the Season

The Flames had their last games of the season yesterday - true to how it goes every fall, we had hot games in the beginning of the season, and a cold snowy end. The girls won their first game, and lost the second. We were proud though, because Madeline scored two in the second game, which was against a team that has not lost a game this season. She grown so much this year! It's amazing to watch her bloom in soccer - I have no athletic skills whatsoever, so it really trills me to see Madeline do well. She and I are both loving soccer! Next we start her first season of basketball - I'm anxious to see how that goes since she's never played.

She looks sort of like the Michelin Man in these pics :-)

Soccer Celebration

Check out these wild and crazy girls.... on the soccer field they are a disciplined (yeah right), serious (sometimes), group of fierce competitors.... at the soccer celebration they are a bunch of little girls having fun. It was a wild night!

Last Night at the Beach - a/k/a Vacation Heaven - Day 6, Part 2

Just a few more pictures from our last night at the beach - we took a long walk, and heard that a 1300 pound tiger shark had been caught by a fisherman off the pier that day - apparently a crew from Sea World helped them release it back to sea. Not sure it was a true story, but it sure was interesting!

It was a great peaceful night together - I hope we can carry that feeling for a long time!

Vacation Heaven - Day 6

We had the greatest day at the beach! I woke up early and walked out to the beach to see the sunrise - I took some pictures, but I am not sure they do the beauty of it justice. I tried to memorize the moment so I could bring that peace home with me. What a lovely world God made!



After I watched the water for a while alone, I went in and quickly woke Madeline. We were afraid that it was going to rain after lunch that day (it didn't), so we wanted to hit the beach early. We went out to the beach and Madeline and her Daddy set to work at making a sand castle.





Five or Six hours later, they had a fabulous HUGE castle! We had a laugh that Madeline has road construction in her blood, because she made a road to the castle, a bridge, and a giant moat. Daddy and daughter are so much alike, once they began the castle, they were on a mission! We named the castle Madiland, and in the end, it was so big it was hard to get it all in one picture :-) (In case you are wondering, while they were building, I was tanning, walking in the water, and reading a tear jerker :-)







I have so many more pictures, that I'll have to stretch Day 6 out into a later post, but I had to post this picture of my sweet pea - I love it!


I hope you aren't feeling like you are at somebody's slide show of their vacation pictures - I can't help it, I loved our trip so much that I have to put these on here. This picture didn't come out as well as I'd like, but Madeline drew her family on the beach - I loved it!

Vacation Heaven - Day 5

Day 5 was a more relaxing day. We spent the morning swimming at the hotel pool at the French Quarter. It was a beautiful morning, and after several really busy days at the park we were ready for some relaxing! The pool was perfect for a French Quarter inspired hotel - it was a big dragon, and the water slide was his tongue - the kiddos loved it! Madeline met some kids from Canada during the week, that girlie finds friends everywhere she goes :-) By that time we were having some blisters and tired legs, so the pool was good therapy.






After the pool, we left the French Quarter with heavy hearts, and headed into the Florida sun to Cocoa Beach. It was a short drive from Disney, and was a beautiful place! It was perfect after the crazy busy Disney World to go to the relaxing beach. I jokingly asked whether they'd give us a free upgrade room to overlook the beach and they did it! Actually we went from a regular room to a villa, which had two floors with a full kitchen and living room downstairs and two bedroom areas in a loft upstairs. I have learned to always ask - it doesn't always pay off, but lots of times it does! Here was our first view of the beach from the bedroom window.


After getting settled into the room, we headed out to the beach - we were a happy family!



Here is the classic pic of my feet in the sand (I love these pictures - Steven thinks I'm a dork!)



So beautiful - it makes me feel calm and happy just looking at these pictures :-)

Vacation Heaven - Day 4 (Part 2)

I loved the Magic Kingdom! So many bright colors and fun stuff everywhere :-) The balloon guys were holding so many balloons, I thought that they might float away!

This was the view from the train station:



Big Thunder Mountain (as seen from the train) - Madeline loved this ride!




We loved all of the shows :-)



Steven loves trains, so he enjoyed riding the train at the Magic Kingdom - they have 4 steam engines, which is pretty cool.





At night they light the castle up in pretty colors...



Minnie Mouse's house is cool - I could live there :-)



To top off our perfect day at the Magic Kingdom, we had a double rainbow.... how did Walt Disney arrange for that? :-)

Vacation Heaven - Day 4 (a/k/a the Big Birthday Celebration)

On Day 4 we went to the Magic Kingdom, and it truly was magic. The Disney people have perfected the Magic Kingdom - I don't know any other way to put it. Even a jaded old woman like me can feel the magic in the Kingdom. Before the park opens, they allow everyone to go through the gates, but then sequester everyone into the entry of the park. After waiting a while in anticipation, you hear the classic Disney tunes and then an announcer comes out to announce Mickey's arrival on the train. Such anticipation! Smiles all around, and a whole lot of excited people. Madeline said it was "exquisite", which is how she kept describing the day.



After the exciting opening show, we had our first view of Cinderella's Castle - young and old alike loved the view :-)



Right away we enjoyed fun, fun rides - Big Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion first - Madeline LOVED Haunted Mansion - she was gripping Steven's arm hard! Big Thunder Mountain was fun too - the girl was up for a thrill for sure! Couldn't get pictures on either ride, but I'll remember the look on her face without a photo :-) We rode "It's a Small World" - LOVED it!



Steven and Madeline had a ton of fun Daddy - Daughter time. It's the best feeling for me to see the two of them laughing and playing together :-)





Madeline and I had some silly Mommy - Kiddo time too :-)



This was undoubtedly one of the best days we've ever had in our family. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it! It's going to take two days to blog that wonderful day :-)

Vacation Heaven - Day 3

We spent Day 3 in Epcot - and once again had a great time! We rushed to get there at 8:00 am. Staying at the park gave us a lot of benefits - riding to the parks on the bus for one, and also extra magic hours, when the parks are open only for people staying in the Disney Hotels. We got there early, and rode Soarin, Test Track and the Dinosaur ride, all before 9:00! Loved Soarin... it was so much fun! Madeline had that Disney awe after riding Soarin, I think she was really amazed. She declared it the best ride at Epcot, and we ended up riding it twice.



Epcot is a HUGE park - so much walking! Plus, I don't mean to dwell, but it was HOT! We loved it though, and managed to ride all of the rides we wanted to ride, and also saw the fun 3D movie Honey I Shrunk the Audience - it made all of us jump!



After much running around and riding rides, we walked to the World Showcase, and ate lunch in the USA. There was a great Fife and Drum group that played patriotic songs, and I enjoyed seeing some old guys saluting while the songs were played. They did cheers for our soldiers, and people paused and gave a big Cheer. We also enjoyed checking out the other nations, although honestly the heat put a bit of a damper on our wandering around and shopping. We enjoyed the Viking Ride in the Norway Exhibit, Japanese drummers in Japan, relaxed in some blessedly cool air in the China exhibit. Germany had a train exhibit that reminded me of pictures from Europe from my childhood at a park with a miniature city - I can't remember being there, but remember cool pictures of that park.






Madeline purchased herself some fabulous Minnie Bride ears, and proudly wore them around the park. Several girls stopped and pointed at them, which as you can imagine pleased our little ham to no end!



I can't remember whether I mentioned the Birthday Celebration in my last blogs - Disney does a Birthday right! We were there for 4 days, and Madeline wore a Birthday pin the whole time, so tons of people said Happy Birthday! A "Cast Member" pulled her aside and gave her a phone call - which turned out to be Goofy wishing her a Happy Birthday - I love the look of surprise she has in the picture :-)



We got more character autographs in the World Showcase, it was tons of fun and the lines were not as long as they had been at Animal Kingdom or at Magic Kingdom - brilliant Disney planning once again, all of the kids were excited about autographs!






At the end of the day we came back to our hotel, and took a blessed dip in the pool - Madeline loved swimming at night, and the pool was really neat, so it was a fun part of our day too.




All in all, we are glad that we chose Epcot over Hollywood Studios, we had a great time!