A Magical Weekend

Two weekends ago, Sydney turned seven.  As we often do, we decided to head to Disney to commemorate the birthday.  It was a somewhat last-minute decision, but the fact that it centered around attending Mickey's Christmas Party made it worth the hasty details.  I couldn't wait to see what you thought of your very first Disney trip.  Too bad you won't remember a thing!

That first glimpse of the castle is always magical, even if it's a blurry-through-the-monorail-window glance.

 We arrived Friday afternoon and made a quick stop at Downtown Disney while Daddy checked into our hotel.  It turned out it was the Festival of the Masters, a weekend of art-related special events.  We instantly stumbled upon a chalk artist at work, art booths and free arts and craft stops.  "Free" and "Disney" aren't usually mentioned in the same sentence, so we had to partake!  You were a bit overwhelmed from the car trip already, so it took a bit for you to acclimate.  Once I let you walk (barefoot, of course) while your sisters made picture frames you started to come around.

Walking on fake grass at Downtown Disney!

Making their own Vinylmation Mickeys at D Street...such a cool store.

I was a bit obsessed with this table.

Posers.

Contributing to a pop-art mural.

Something tells me we've found the right place.  Now what could it be?

That night was the highlight of the trip.  Mickey's Christmas Party!  We've been to this event once before and it is always magical, but it was your first time. Disney reopens at night for a much smaller crowd, decorated to the hilt for Christmas.  We had to buy our tickets way in advance.  Almost all of the rides are open, including part of the newest area with the princess castles.  We got to be among the first to see Belle and Ariel's attractions.  There are free cocoa and cookie stations all over the place, special "dance party" areas, Christmas music playing throughout the park and the castle is dripping in lights.  It culminates in several back to back events, including fireworks, a Christmas parade, a Christmas show on the castle stage and SNOW ON MAIN STREET.  Need I say more?  I could've sat on Main Street and watched that fake snow drift down between the fake evergreen boughs that were strung across the sky all night.  That's a Florida girl for you, I guess.  I get all choked up over fake snow.  Your reaction was priceless: reaching out for the "snow" with a look of wonder.  You were a party animal.  You were awake until well after midnight with only a short nap to hold you over.  Sydney, however, had to be woken up at midnight, as we left the park, to be told it wished a "happy birthday."  None of this surprises me.  

Disney + Christmas = Magic!

Meeting Ariel

Belle has arrived!

Being rewarded for being in Belle's play.

Inside a cocoa and cookie spot.  You were in awe of all of the people.

Hot (cocoa) Date.

A chance run-in with Peter Pan & Wendy.  They were tiptoeing and whispering because you were asleep.

There's nothing like Disney's lights at Christmas.

Sydney on the Carousel

Syd's favorite character.  Disney's new tactic: funky lighting at character spots so you're forced to buy their photos.

Stunning.

Getting ready to watch the show & eating your second cookie of the night.  You were a party animal.

The finale.

Snow on Main Street!!!

And again...looking back toward the castle this time...because you can never have too many.

We didn't have to carry Kylee this year!  Yet.

Main Street, all lit up.  Why can't downtown Naples look like this.  And SNOW!

After a very uncomfortable night of sleep (tiny beds) and a pancake breakfast, we returned to the Magic Kingdom the next day with Uncle Adam.  Still beautiful during the day, I enjoyed every minute of the walk down Main Street.  We packed in a few activities at the park, mostly based on the birthday girl's requests.  All-in-all, you rode It's a Small World, Ariel's Grotto, The Jungle Cruise and Pirate's of the Caribbean.  Not bad.  I wanted to get you on the carousel, but you fell asleep.  Guess we'll have to go back.  Darn.  Sydney rode her first roller coaster: Thunder Mountain!  And you had your first taste of Dole Whip.  It won't be your last.  Promise.  We ended up spending the evening at Hollywood Studios after finding out our tickets were blacked out at Epcot.  It was worth it for one reason alone: The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights!  After sunset, there is about a two-block stretch of facades coated in every imaginable form of Christmas lights.  Every minute or so they would dance along to Christmas music, alternated with a showering of fake snow.  It was spectacular!  You woke up in the middle of the ordeal, so I can only imagine what must have gone through your mind!  I love that you don't cry over loud noises or crowds like your sisters used to.  You just take it all in stride.  Maybe with an extra tight hug now and then, but no tears.  

Your first glimpse of the Magic Kingdom, by daylight.

The Birthday Girl!

Jungle Cruisin'.

Best seat in the house for Jack Sparrow.

On the ferry to Tom Sawyer Island and getting squashed by Uncle Adam.

Come on, with your sweet snuggles!

Ready to explore the island!

Squirrel-sighting.

Yeah, this actually happened.  Taking the spirit of Tom Sawyer a bit too far.

The bridge.

Hanging out in the fort.  Can you tell this island is our favorite spot?

Farewell, Magic Kingdom.  You are even festive by day!

Ridin' the rails (on the monorail).

These two.

Birthday lunch at Hollywood Studios.

My painted ladies, part one.

My painted ladies, part two.

The Spectacle of Lights was just that!

Amazing displays!

See the "snow"?

Sunday was a lazy day.  No theme parks.  Just a detour back to Downtown Disney before heading home.  After hitting up Earl of Sandwich for breakfast and taking in some mind-blowing chalk art, courtesy of a contest that was being held, your sisters ordered massive Ghiradelli sundaes, blew some money at T-Rex and kissed Disney goodbye.  You were ready to head home, I am certain, but I'll never forget the look of recognition on your face when you connected the Mickey Mouse at Disney with the Mickey Mouse from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  You even started saying his name!  I realize I shouldn't be as okay with this as I am.  Of course, Disney is over-commercialized and overpriced.  But maybe it's the Floridian in me.  Disney is a magical part of my childhood and something I enjoy passing along to my children. I have somehow made peace with their money-hungry ways.  I look forward to deeper and more impactful vacations with my family, but this one was all about fun.  I'm okay with that.

Petting a Lego pup at Downtown Disney

Staking out the places we must hit before heading home.

Making herself comfortable.

Chalk art contest.

First train ride.  Daddy is such a good sport.

My beautiful girl, texting like always.  I love her freckles.

Who knew tacky tourist magnets would be such a draw?

My crew!

A giant sundae at Ghiradelli to make up for the lacking birthday cake.

One more sop!

Sister kisses.

Final destination: T-Rex

M-I-C- see you real soon!  K-E-Y- why?  because we like you.  M-O-U-S-E.  Until next time, Mickey!

A Berry Fun Halloween

Don't ask about the pine needle dangling from you.  I was letting you play with anything and everything to distract you from taking off your headband.

I may be stretching it a bit with that title up there.  Truth be told, Sydney takes after your aunt (my sister).  She is a holiday spoiler.  I never thought I could bring one into the world, but it appears I have.  When I was little, Christmas morning was magical.  My eyes would pop open all by themselves sometime just before sunrise.  I didn't need any time at all to "wake up" because instantly I knew it was Christmas.  Kids have a special sixth sense for these things, you know.  I would eagerly spring out of bed, trying not to wake my sleepy parents, and head straight for my stocking- the only thing that wasn't off limits before the folks woke up.  The only thing I'm leaving out of this little anecdote is the part about my sister.  Of course, I would never break the sibling code and raid my stocking alone.  But somehow I always had to wake her.  She didn't seem nearly as overjoyed about it as I would've expected, either.  Quite the opposite.  She would wake up a bit grouchy until I got it through to her that there were presents waiting just down the hall, if only she would get out of bed.  By the time my folks were awake she was looking pretty grumpy, and about halfway through present-opening she would be pouting in a corner or possibly even in tears.  It wasn't just Christmas either.  Halloween, Easter, even birthdays weren't safe.  All of our holiday photos seem to depict the same scene: overly bright-eyed me with a pouting, glaring little sister. 

Reclaimed, repurposed "Green" Fairy Costume!

Berrylicious!

Somehow this genetic defect has made its way to Sydney.  I can't recall a birthday or Halloween or any other holiday that didn't end in some sort of melt-down at some point.  This year it was over hair-brushing, made worse by the fact that her makeup was already in place and threatening to run down her face if she truly cried.  But, of course, she did.  By the time I took any pictures of you girls Sydney's face was streaky and her eyes were red.  But at least I took pictures.

Fighting back the tears.

Taller than a pumpkin!

To top it all off, you got a chicken pox vaccine a week before Halloween.  A mini chicken pox outbreak began to appear, primarily on your face just before the big day.  Combine that with a giant mosquito bite on your cheek, a dwindling cold and a mouthful of teeth just waiting to burst through your swollen gums and you have a recipe for disaster.  

I wasn't lying...look at those chompers coming in!

Flashback Alert: What a difference a year makes!

Hard to believe this is your second Halloween.  This is you, in all of your ballerina glory, at just 3 weeks old. 

Fortunately, Halloween was not a disaster at all.  It had hiccups, for sure.  But what day doesn't?  Your costume was very simple and completely homemade.  For some reason it occurred to me that you are quite berry-shaped in a onesie.  So I died a white onesie red (it actually came out watermelon-colored after a machine wash...oops).  I stitched on black seeds with embroidery thread and hoped and prayed nobody would think you were a watermelon.  Your leafy headpiece was made by freehanding some leaves onto felt, cutting them out, overlapping them and then sewing them to a Dollar Store headband.  The entire costume only cost about $4 to make (because I had the onesie).  It was very important to me not to make anything expensive since you surely won't need it again.  Now if only you would've left on the headband!

Walkin' berry well (I'm wearing out this joke.  Quickly.)

Constantly trying to remove your stem.

Your sisters had more extensive requests.  Sydney bypassed every dress-up item we have in favor of an ancient Tinkerbell-Princess dress that Ashley wore for Halloween at her age.  I waited until the last minute to pull it out of the closet to inspect it and foud that it had seen better days.  It took some doctoring just to make it slightly presentable.  But I love a challenge.  Thank goodness for leftover supplies from your party!  She ended up being a green and pink fairy and looked shimmery and beautiful...once the crying stopped.  Kylee's costume involved four trips to the store, despite my early reminders that I was not spending money on her costume.  Your dad shelled out money for quite a few things, including a wig she never wore...but that's a story for another day.  She ended up trick-or-treating with friends this year.  It's so strange to watch your sisters outgrow family things.  At least that is temporary.

Wondering why I've dressed you as food, I'm sure.

You love your Pop Pop!

We hit the Halloween jackpot this year, weather-wise.  A cold front blew through the day before, leaving the air nippy and requiring an extra layer of clothing that we usually never need.  You seemed curious, but not freaked out by the trick-or-treaters.  You were a trooper, and stayed awake till the end.  The candy intrigued you the most.  I'm pretty sure that you were quite disappointed that you didn't get your hands on any.  And no, your father and I didn't use you as bait for candy.  You just came along for the ride.  No trick-or-treating this year.  We met up with friends and family and scoured Grammy and Pop Pop's neighborhood (and you say "Pop Pop" now!  he is thrilled!) until we decided that the chili waiting for us in the crockpot at home sounded better than another Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  (Chili is our traditional Halloween dinner as you will soon realize.)

Trick or Treat

It got a little chilly so I added leggings and a furry vest.  And then I compared you to a fuzzy, old strawberry on IG.  Sorry, kid!

Holding Daddy's hand.

 When it was all said and done, we returned home with a small mountain of candy, one very tired fairy and the cutest little strawberry I've ever seen.  Not bad for an evening's work.  Halloween used to feel like the kick-off to the fall Holiday Season, but lately it feels like the kickoff to Christmas.  I know it's around the corner, and I get giddy over Christmas carols and lights, but my favorite day is a week away.  Thanksgiving!  You, my solid-food-eater, will love Thanksgiving!  I am way behind on my posts.  Halloween was two weeks ago.  We just got back from celebrating Sydney's 7th Birthday at Disney.  Once I catch up, we can focus on the three days of baking, roasting, football and, yes, finally Christmas music, that is Thanksgiving in this house.  I hope we all slow down and truly reflect on what we are thankful for.  I certainly have been lately.  But we will save that for a future post.