Disney Vacation - Part 1

The beginning of the new year took us to sunny Florida (during the ice storm in Tennessee)!

We took Cole on his first flight to Orlando to go to Disney!! or as he calls it - Mickey's Home!  He didn't do great and didn't do terrible on the flight.  It was pretty much what I expected from him.  He was excited to be on an airplane but not so excited to sit still in a seat for 2 hours. 

Disney World is the most magical place on earth!

It was such a great treat to be able to go on this trip, get away from reality for a few days and enjoy ourselves.  Disney makes you happy.  And that's what we were the entire trip:  Happy!

This little guy absolutely LOVED Disney World.  

I had no expectations for him.  I think you just never know what you will get with a toddler.  He had so much fun and was so excited the entire trip.  It made our vacation that much better just being able to enjoy it through the eyes of a child. 

We spent the first two days at the Magic Kingdom. 

With fast passes and a wait time app with maps we did minimal waiting for most rides.  

The It's a small world ride is a classic and was one of Cole's favorites!  

Cole eyed the race cars and was excited that he was tall enough to ride!

We had breakfast at Chef Mickey's with all the classic Disney characters.  

So. much.  fun.  

"I want to see Mickey."  

"I want to see more mickey momma!"

Morning snack:  ice cream!  

Rules are different at Disney - or so the grandparents say ;) 

(the parents were off riding Space Mountain when this happened)

The parades at Disney were great!  The kids (and adults) loved watching them!!

 Even the Clemson band marched on by!

More rides, more parades, more characters, more fun!

I love the castle!  

Magic Kingdom was great.  

Stay tuned for pictures from the rest of our trip!

Christmas Catch- up Part 2

We decided to spend Christmas at my sister's house this year.  

My sister and I are super close.  talk every day, keep no secrets, would secretly (or not so secretly) love to be next door neighbors close. Our husbands think we're funny. 

 We think what are sisters for if not to be your best friend. 

So we had a fun, chaotic, hard, sad Christmas this year.

We went to Nora's grave before heading to Laura's house. 
We took a small white poinsettia to leave there.  

Christmas Eve Activities:

decorating some sugar cookie Christmas tree's 

Christmas eve family dinner and presents from Mimi and Grandad

Uncle Jason reading the Christmas story to the kids. 

They look calm but those were some excited kiddos going to bed!
Santa's elves had some major work to do after bedtime!

Christmas morning chaos! 

We spent the afternoon at my parents house. 

all the cousins opening stockings from Mimi and grandad

attempted to get a picture of all the cousins together.  fail.

I cried when I saw this precious ornament my mom had made for her tree.

My sister and my sister-in-law got/made me some sweet ornaments and keepsakes in memory of Nora.

It was good that we made it through our first Christmas without our daughter.  We had some joys and distractions.  Enjoyed feeling loved from all of our families and glad that it has past now. 
We'll always miss her but maybe this first one will be the hardest. 

Christmas Catch-up

Here is our Christmas season Catch-up for 2013.

It was a different year.  A hard year.  There were joyous moments amidst our sadness.

We decorated our house.

 Bought some new ornaments for our tree. 

We played a lot with the nativity.  Baby Jesus obviously belongs on top!

 

 I'm not a "crafter" but I did make some ornaments for me and all the grandparents for their tree that had Nora's hand and foot print in them.  My original idea did not work so after lots of tries this is what I came up with.  (With the help of my sweet friend, Rachel, and her embroidery machine!)

I made one for my new sweet friend Lauren, who lost her baby boy last May. 

We had a fun bowling night Christmas party for Ray's work.

And attended a fun annual Christmas party with friends. 

 

We painted, decorated cookies,  and made gingerbread houses with friends.

Got some sweet surprise gifts in memory of Nora

A poinsettia from our church family and an angel ornament from Children's Hospital where Nora was in the NICU.

That's enough for today.  Tomorrow I'll give a run down of our Christmas in SC with my sister.  :)

New Year, New Hope

I've been quiet on the blog lately. 

I've just been making it through.

We made it through the Christmas season of December and now we are making it through January. 

I wouldn't have said it but in some unknown form I guess I was thinking that things would be better in January.  New year,  new hope right?  It is a new year and we do have hope but that doesn't mean things are automatically better.  I've been hit this week with deep grief on just living the rest of our lives without Nora.  I've been so focused on getting through the holidays that now I feel faced with life. 


 I was reminded this morning that God raises up the valleys and the rough ground becomes level again.  So quickly I can forget.  So thankful that the glory of the Lord will be revealed one day. 

A voice of one calling: 

"In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; 

make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 

Every valley shall be raised up, 

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level, 

the rugged places a plain. 

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, 

and all mankind together will see it.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Isaiah 40:3-5

Up Next: I will share some joy in the midst of sadness moments during December & January. Lots of fun with family lately.  Lots of joy in our sweet Coleman.

advent season.

It's advent season. 


Part of me feels like I just want to get through this season and another part of me wants to try to make it special for Cole.  So I've decided to make a list of stuff I would like to do this month.
I  am also giving myself grace to say no to any activities that feel overwhelming or if I'm not having a good day.  I'm not making a schedule just a list of some fun things I want to try during this month.

 

Pick out a Christmas tree

Decorate the tree/house

Watch Boz Christmas video

Play with our Little People nativity

Go to Fantasy of Trees

Elf on the Shelf

Read Christmas books

make and decorate Christmas cookies

Gingerbread House decorating party with friends

Library Christmas story time

Make tree ornaments with friends

Visit Santa

Drive around to look at Christmas lights

Read the Christmas story A LOT

Enjoy a Christmas parade

Read/discuss Advent devotionals with Ray

Christmas crafts for Cole - pick some from Pinterest

Christmas window cling ons

Make cinnamon ornaments

What's on your advent calendar or December to-do list??