Bye-Bye!!

Maggie has a new trick. She has been clapping for a while now, but we have been working on her wave and I think she has got it. We are so proud!!

Walt Disney World

I am thinking that I should start with the Characters!! Maddox had a blast meeting them. He was so much fun this year. Everything is so real at his age. Maggie was a bit fearful of them. They didn't quite look like us, so she was unsure. Please note that none of these characters talk, so it is very interesting having a conversation with them just nodding.


Dale, Maddox, Maggie and Daddy. This is what I was talking about when I said Maggie was not crazy about the characters. This picture makes me laugh!


Maggie, Maddox and Minnie (she must have thought Minnie was pretty, she didn't cry with her!)


This was our 2nd visit with Minnie ~ I think she was following us around ;-)


Maddox and Goofy (or as Maddox would say "Gooky")


OK, I know that you can barely see Maddox, but he is standing between Lightning and Mater (look real close). I think he felt a bit intimidated, when he walked up there to pose, Lightning beeped his horn and Maddox jumped. It was kind of sad and funny at the same time.


Maddox and Handy Manny. Maddox was so excited to tell Handy Manny that he watched him on the Disney Channel every morning.


Maddox, June and Quincy. This was a big one. He is a huge fan of the Little Einsteins!


OK, maybe that is enough of the Characters. There are many more, but I would hate to redefine OVERKILL!



The Graves Girls
The first day we arrived at Disney World was Nana's Birthday. We ate at a yummy steakhouse to celebrate.
Happy late Birthday, Nana!! We love you so much. There is no better place to celebrate your birthday than Disney. We hope you had a Magical Day!!


The Graves Guys at Nana's Birthday dinner.


Maggie's favorite ride was the carousel. I know it doesn't look like it here, but when the ride started she thought it was hilarious. She laughed so hard on this ride! "We see your belly little lady!"


My sweet girl! We were headed to the pool. She was sporting her "Princess" hat that Pop and Nana gave her.


One of the many rides that was on Maddox's favorites list. NEMO


Maggie loved the fireworks, she clapped every time she heard/saw them. I thought she would have cried, considering how she is so sensitive, but I was wrong! Maddox, on the other hand, kept saying, "That's too LOUD!!"



Maddox and Mommy about to ride Buzz Lightyear. This was Maddox's MOST favorite ride! He is still talking about it and I do not think he is going to stop anytime soon.


Maggie and Mommy on the Winnie the Pooh ride. Maggie liked this ride a lot because we got to bounce like Tigger. Anything that moves in a vertical motion turns over Maggie's giggle box.


Nana and Maggie at Magic Kingdom.


Pop and Maddox at Magic Kingdom.


Uncle Brock dancing with Goofy at the Playhouse Disney Dance Party.


Maddox and Uncle B hanging out at Mickey's house.


Maddox and Daddy, who was not feeling so well after a ride in the teacups!

This is actually only a fraction of the pictures we took, but again, the overkill thing!

Thank you, Pop and Nana, for inviting us on such a fun and memorable trip. We can't wait until next year! Until then, we will relive the memories we made this year!

Ahoy, Matey!

I know that I haven't posted our Disney World pics yet. Sorry for the delay, I will post soon.

Last night, Maddox spent the night with Big (my dad) and it sounds like they had a blast. They have a tradition of going to Cracker Barrel every time Maddox spends the night, and he ALWAYS gets a toy after his pancake breakfast. This morning when they went he picked out a pirate costume, complete with pirate hat, bandana, patch and telescope (the sword is from Disney World). I thought I would let you see how he makes the most adorable pirate ever! Too bad it is not close to Halloween!

Feels like HOME!

As most of you know, we are Disney freaks! We love this place, everything about it. Maddox thinks this is our home now. He asked me this morning if I like living here. We all do!! When we check in they say "Welcome Home" and every day they are telling us to "Have a Magical Day," and usually we do. I just wanted you all to know that we haven't dropped off the planet, even though to us it feels that way. We will be back in town on Feb. 14th. We are going to make a quick stop in Sandestin just to break up the drive back home. I will be posting pictures from our trip soon!

About the Circus

I am NOT a big fan, but the kids loved it and thought that it was wonderful (that was the most important part!) But, I did not like it one bit! I was a nervous wreck the entire time. It wasn't the animals that made me nervous, I was acutally really calm when they were out. It was the CRAZY people on the motorcycles that got inside the "Ball of Death" and were riding around with 6 other motorcycles inside (That is a total of 7 motorcycles in the ball.) One of them makes one wrong move and they are all goners. Then there was the guy that was basically hanging from the lights BY HIS FEET, without anything but a little cushion under him (No, not a net, a CUSHION!) As we were sitting there, I prayed this prayer...

Jesus, unless my children are excited about scooping elephant poop, PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM JOIN THE CIRCUS!! AMEN!!!

Anyway, It was definitely wonderful to be with my family, but my heart goes out the mommy's who have sons and daughters in the circus.

The "Ball of Death"

Meet our new pet "Quish"

There names are Sally and Lightning. You guessed it... Sally is blue and Lightning is red.

Maddox is so excited about his new "quish." He checks on them about every 5 minutes to make sure they are still there.

And yes, I am already concerned about the day we have to flush them. What are we going to tell him?? As his mommy, that was the first thing I thought about. When something happens to these fish, his little heart is going to break. It already makes me sad to think about it :-(

Little Chef

Maddox is always wanting to help me in the kitchen. Tonight we made enchiladas. He got to sprinkle the cheese on top. He was SOOO proud!!


"Look at me Mommy, I'm sprinklin' the cheese!"



"Sorry about those, Mommy!"