Day 4. Disney World. Magic Kingdom

Love the mickey mouse ears!  So cute.  Easton was so amazing on this vacation.  He was so good in his stroller.  He would ride in it for hours and hours.  He took his naps in it too.  We are so lucky that he is such a good baby.  He was easy to travel with.  He wasn't scared of anything, characters, shows, rides, etc.  And he was very entertained by the fireworks.

This pic is actually my favorite of our family in front of the castle on the trip.

We were all so excited when we saw Buzz Lightyear in the park.  We are huge fans!
The Dumbo ride.  A classic!


We ate dinner at the Crystal Palace.  It was another character meal and we met Winnie the Pooh and all his friends.

Bring on the poncho's.  It started raining and we weren't about to leave the park.  Aaron headed to the gift shop to see if he could find rain poncho's.  $40 later we were all geared up and ready for more rides.  
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an awesome ride!  I love these next three pics because this is the ride that was their very most favorite.  Dallon and Dawson were absolutely thrilled about the rain.  Because of it they were able to ride this ride over and over again, running back around to board it as fast as their little legs could take them. No lines, of course.  Most people ducked for cover.  They rode this ride 10 times that night before the park closed.  

Day 3. Disney World. Animal Kingdom

We loved it too.  When you enter the park you see this amazing tree and all of it's carvings. It's so beautiful.  Dallon and I took dozens of pics of just it... and none of them do it justice. I've always wanted to see this tree!

Inside the tree there is a 4D movie, It's A Bugs Life.  The movie was so great. Definitely a Haley family favorite.  If you click on this picture you can make it bigger and then you can see a lot more of the detail in the tree.

The kids started their own Disney Pin collections and loved trading with the workers there. You can just walk up to any worker and ask them to see their pins and if you like one you see you can ask them if they would be willing to trade.  So fun!

This is the vehicle you ride in on the animal safari.

Dawson and I in front of my favorite ride in all of Disney World... Expedition Everest.  It's a coaster that is inside of that mountain.  It goes forwards, backwards and in total darkness for a period of time too.  It was a pretty good thrill.  Honestly, I can't believe he liked it enough to ride it not only once but twice.  Once with his mommy, and once with Daddy.  

Animal Kingdom was so beautiful.  Everywhere I looked there were placed I wanted to take a picture of.   What I would give to do a photo shoot there.  

Ohana means family in Hawaiian. Ohana was a restaurant.  A little fancier than our kids have been to before.  There were cloth napkins...  that was the first sign that things were going to be "nice". Aaron was trying to teach Dallon that it is proper to place the napkin on his lap.  Dallon said out loud, in a totally discusted voice... "Dad's trying to make me be fancy!" Aaron and I laughed so hard.  

Day 2. Disney World. Magic Kingdom

We spent the whole day at the Magic Kingdom riding the rides and meeting lots of the characters! The boys eyes would light up when they would spot another character in the park. They wanted to meet each and every one and it didn't take long for them to want autograph books so they could start collecting.  They were the perfect ages to totally enjoy it all.  

Dallon with his favorite character, Goofy!

Dawson thinks this is so funny that Goofy was trying to eat Easton's head!  He laughs every time he see's this.

The view at our hotel.  We stayed at Disney's Carribean Beach Resort.  The hotels across the water are also a part of it.  It's huge.

Dallon took this one of Aaron and I.

The next five photos were taken at a character dinner.  It was Chef Mickey's.  It was tons of fun. It was a buffet so we just helped ourselves to the food.  As we ate our dinner the characters would come around and get pictures with the kids, give high fives, and sign autographs.
This picture below makes me laugh every time I see it.  Dallon and Dawson had been hauling around their special autograph books all day long.  They treasure these books.  Aaron and I were so busy taking pics that we didn't even notice Easton grabbed one of the books and gave his autograph.  Dawson was too busy looking at Minnie to even notice.  It wasn't until we got home and looked at the pics that we noticed what Easton was doing in that moment.  Too funny!

Day 1. Disney World. Magic Kingdom

After months of anticipation and excitement... our family took our very first trip to Disney World! It was, to say the least... Magical!

I've decided to blog the trip by day. That way I just need to do a little piece of the vacation in each post... it's really for me. This way I don't get too overwhelmed with the blog project. So, here is day one. We flew into Orlando this day. The flight was especially exciting for Dawson. He hasn't flown since he was 2 years old and has no memory of it. He was totally fascinated with the take off and landing, and thought that eating snacks on his tray was awesome. We dropped off our bags at the hotel and we headed straight for the Magic Kingdom as fast as our little bus would take us! After entering the gates and heading onto main street, we got our first glimpse of the castle. It was so exciting to see it... now it really felt like we were at the Magic Kingdom.

The next two photos are of the characters in a show that is done in front of the castle. We totally loved this show. So cute!

Easton climbing on back of the sit and stand stroller to hang out with Dawson in his seat. We bought this stroller for the trip so that Dawson could jump on back for a ride anytime he wanted. It was a lifesaver. Yes, 6 year olds do need a stroller at Disney. Heck, I needed one too!
Aaron and the boys in front of Mickey's house.
It's the most exciting and exhausting vacation all in one!
We were able to experience some of the best parts of the Magic Kingdom all on the first night. We LOVED the night parade! It rocked! Best parade you will see in your life!

Another family favorite at Disney World... the fireworks! I love these next two pics that Aaron captured. The fireworks are set off to music, the castle changes colors, and the whole thing just takes your breath away. Our good friends Amy, Ben, and Isabelle were also at Disney World that day and we were able to meet up and watch them together... we should have gotten a pic together guys!

There is more to come. Six days more!

M is for Mother's Day...

I had the best Mother's day ever.  We were away on vacation... (post on that is coming) and I was able to spend the day having so much fun with my family. Early mother's day  morning Dallon went to his suitcase in the hotel room and pulled out a gift for me.  He is always so thoughtful.  He had made me something extra special at school and had thought to pack it and bring it along on our trip so he could give it to me that morning.  He gave me this book...  M is for Mother's Day.  It's an ABC book.  Where he wrote one thing about me for each letter of the alphabet.  I was so touched by the words he had written and the cute drawings inside. It was so obvious that he had spent a ton of time making it.  It's my favorite gift he has ever given me.  I cherish it.

Dawson made me this awesome framed Painting at school this year.  I love it! He helped me find just the perfect place to hang it in my room and I've been enjoying his art ever since.
I love this "all about my mom" page Dawson did.  Love that he thinks I'm 20 feet tall.  And that my favorite thing to do is talk on the phone all the time. Ummm, that would be my sister's fault.
This card is from Dallon and I love it too.  Wow, was I ever spoiled with the sweetest gifts.

I feel so thankful to be a mother.

Fourth Grade Talent Show

About a month ago Dallon came home with a paper all filled out and ready for my signature. It was a sign up sheet for the fourth grade talent show.  He had picked out two songs he'd like to perform and entered in all the information about his piano performance all on his own.   He was excited to be able to perform for his classmates.  

This morning, I woke up to the sound of music...  literally!  He had gotten up extra early to practice.  He was nervous, and I think maybe regretting even signing up in the first place. Today was the big day. Aaron even got the morning off work to attend it with me. Dallon did awesome.  We are so proud of him for having the courage to get up in front of his classmates and perform for them.  That takes guts! You rock Dallon!   (only one of his songs is being posted on the video here - you'll have to silence our music at the bottom to be able to hear it)

taking a break

We have finally decided to dig into our backyard and make it what we need it to be for our family.  When we bought our home it was way too landscaped.  With trails and such.  It was pretty, but there wasn't much for lawn area.  It's taken us 3 years to finally decide to do something about it.  We have been working in the yard almost every weekend for the past two months as a family.  It's been so good for us to get outside and work together.  This picture was captured last weekend after a long day.  Dallon and Dawson had really put all they had into the job and were taking a little break on top of the wheelbarrow full of all their hard work.

"excuse me"

The cutest thing just happened.  I was standing in front of the computer.  Easton was trying to squeeze in between my legs and the computer desk to get under it.  He's wiggling and pushing to get through.  Then I hear the cutest word...  "youmeeeee"  (excuse me) and he held it out just like I always do when I say excuse me to him. I always say that to him when he is in my way and I need to get by - so I knew exactly what he was saying.  It was so cute.  He is always surprising me these days with cute little words.