Day 6 was our last full day at Disney and the day one of the events Jillian was most looking forward to… Breakfast at Cinderella’s Castle. It did not disappoint. This is the best character meal by far because the food is excellent and it’s not a buffet. Jillian LOVED meeting the princesses and was over the moon ecstatic to meet her favorite princess in pink, Aurora (Sleep Beauty). We also got to meet Merida before leaving Magic Kingdom. Mommy and Jilly were both big fans. Merida and Jilly talked about how their brothers pestered them. Ha!

We finished our last day back at Hollywood Studios. Owen got to make a light saber and the kids got fun light up drinks at the 50’s Prime Time. Great restaurant.

Oh – and as you can see in the one picture, Jilly is crying. She was sad it was her last full day at Disney. She said she wanted to stay for 100 days. Bless her heart!

Day 5 was a hot one in Florida. We spent the day at Magic Kingdom, took a break and went swimming in the pool at our resort, then went back at night. This was quite an experience because we were able to see Magic Kingdom turn from Halloween to CHRISTMAS!  I’m not a huge Christmas person, but there is just something about being there at that time of the year that totally gets you in the spirit.  And this is going to sound silly, but when we went back at night, we were able to see them light up Cinderella’s castle for Christmas and it was breathtaking. Like, it gave me goosebumps and and my jaw dropped. Nothing much “wows” me in my adult like, but that certainly did.

Oh – and we had a small brush with a famous football star.  I was having Mike take a picture of Jilly and I in about the same place as our last visit when she was a baby. We noticed there was some production event going on behind me and it was Charles Woodson with Mickey and Goofy filming a segment of some sort.  Pretty neat!

 

Day for at Disney was a full day at Epcot. We must have had too much fun riding rides, meeting characters, exploring the World Showcase, and eating yummy food at the Wine and Food Fest because I hardly took any pictures. Wine and Food Fest is amazing. I want to go back and do it again some day!

Day 3 at Disney was a full day at Hollywood Studios followed by a nightcap at Epcot. Our first Fast Pass that morning was Star Tours. Jilly was very apprehensive, but her brothers, Dad, and I assured her she would love it. Once the ride started her face lite up like the sun. She was hooked. I think we rode it 7 more times that day. We got to see all kinds of Star Wars stuff and meet Chewy and Kilo Ren. Jillian was very excited to meet all the Disney Jr characters and all the kids (and PeePaw) thought Pluto was pretty cool.

It’s no secret that one of Jilly’s top favorite Disney movies is Frozen. The Frozen Sing along was great and very very funny. Elsa even sprinkled us with snow, in Florida! Jilly and I also got to meet Olaf. What a pal.

Owen participated in a side show with the green army men. They liked his red hair and called him “Copper Top”. He was a very good cadate and showed he does indeed know how to follow directions so he has no more excuse not to listen at home! Ha!

The kids enjoyed our Halloween themed dinner at Hollywood and Vine and really soaked up getting to meet Minnie and her pals in their Halloween costumes. The dinner even came with special seating for Fantasmic!

The best part of the evening was riding the newer version of Soarin’. IT.WAS.WONDERFUL! I was totally amazed. It’s beautiful, fun, and relaxing. And the aromatics during the ride are the best. I kept saying they should turn them into candles. I wish I could ride it weekly!

Day two, which was Halloween, started out at Animal Kingdom and ended past midnight at Magic Kingdom at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. I mean, what better way to spend Halloween night than at the happiest place on earth at the funnest Halloween party ever dressed as a family of super heroes! The party was so great. Very very crowded at first, and a little dicey, but after the fireworks it started to clear out and it felt like we had the park to ourselves. We walked right on rides, got TONS of candy, and had a special character meet with Belle at Gaston’s Tavern. It was the very end of the night and we saw the line was short to get pictures so we hopped in line. We were told we were the last for the night. Whoo… well Jilly was afraid to go up to Belle b/c Gaston was there too and he’s a villain. Jilly doesn’t like villains. Well, Belle walked over to her, knelt down to her sitting in the stroller, and coaxed Jilly over. She took her hand and it was so sweet. Belle took her time and they had a nice, special moment. Definitely a memory I won’t forget.

At the end of October went headed to Disney for a fun filled week. Jilly was always promised she’d get to go back to “Rella’s Castle” when she was the “number 5”, so off we went.

We flew out pretty early in the AM and were up at 4:00, so it was a long day, but we enjoyed ourselves at Magic Kingdom. Benny didn’t say much about the trip leading up to it, but he was up first and so exited to leave. His exact works were “I’m as excited as heck to go to Disney!”. We road the Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Buzz LightYear, Tomorrowland Speedway, the carousel, the People Mover, the Ariel ride, and got to meet 3 princesses… Rapunzel, Tiana, and Ariel. Jillian was shy at first, but as the week went one she loved meeting as many characters as she could. We ended the say with a yummy dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Jilly was at her limit by that point and fell asleep at the table. Our little sleeping beauty.

It seemed like I had a long time to wait until all three of my kiddos would be in school. But man, did those 5 years fly. Jillian was born on Owen’s very first day of Kindergarten and as I laid in the hospital looking at my newborn baby girl, time was on my side. I had months and years before I had to send her off to school like I did that day with her big brother. Well, this week that day finally came. I wasn’t emotional when I sent the boys off to school. I was with her. Weeks leading up to the first day of K I’d find myself shedding tears. For almost 5 years she went with me daily to work. I got to carry her or hold her hand into and out of work every day. I got to listen to her stories and her songs on our commute. Once I sent her off to school, it was the first time in 7 years that I had a future ahead of me of a daily journey to work solo. Before Jillian there was the boys and even then, I use to commute to work with Mike. The car is very lonely now.

And not only did I have to send my baby girl to Kindergarten, I had to send my big guy to Middle School. A whole new world of lockers, changing classes, organization, waking up earlier to catch the bus, etc. I was just as nervous for Owen as I was for Jillian. I knew Benny would be fine. He’s got EPE down pat. This was the first year the first day of school had me filled with more nerves and mixed emotions than the kids.

They all did fine. Benny held Jillian’s hand as they walked onto the bus and as the bus pulled away she had a smile on her face awaiting the adventures of the bus ride.

The only big positive of all kids being in school is no more daycare payments. But that money now just gets funneled to pad the savings account back up after paying for braces, etc.

So, here are my 3 little loves on their first day of school. No pic of the boys together this year. Since they are no longer at the same school, that picture is now of the two EPE kids.

Jillian now gets her own daily communication folder!

Her spiffy new backpack and lunch box.  Unicorns and rainbows of course.

On the boys first day of school I bought them cards.  Well, they can read and Jilly can’t so I had to come up with something different.

I made a note like was in one of the “First Day of Kindergarten” books we read.

And this was the first year I had to buy Owen school supplies.  The elementary teachers always supplied them at EPE.

3 Back packs. CHECK. 3 Lunchboxes. CHECK. 1 Chromebook for Middle School. CHECK.

This years new kicks… a Men’s size 8!

And he wanted a new backpack for Middle School. First day of school outfit matches too!

Time to quickly get some pics of all 3 together before the Middle School bus comes.

Benny – off to 3rd Grade!

He loves neon and he wanted high tops really bad for back to school, so mom granted his wish!

And if the other two got new backpacks, so did this guy.

And here she is… our Kindergartner!

Excited and nervous all at the same time.

And of course, our Croc lovin girl got new PINK crocs for the first day of school.

Ready or not. Here she comes.

The two Thomas kids of EPE.

Silly picture is a must!

We just finished our third summer of NFL Play 60 Flag Football. Mike coached Benny’s team, the Steelers. He was also the Pony Commissioner. Owen was in his last year of Midgets playing on the Cowboys. The difference in their play was so much better than last year. Both boys started to grasp the game better. Lots of flag pulls, good defense, great job in the pocket as QB, and Owen had a few really nice touchdowns at the end of the season. Good job, boys!

When Benny plays QB, he gets really passionate and loud when yelling “Set. Hut”. I thought it was funny I caught it in a picture.

The boys and their biggest fan. She was a trooper going to all those games.

For an end of school year celebration, we booked a 2 day trip to the new Kalahari resort in the Poconos. So much fun. Our room was amazing. We stayed in the Royal Hospitality Suite which was HUGE. Double doors, kitchen area with island and 8 person table, a living room area with a fireplace, 2 pull down Murphy beds, a separate bedroom and bathroom for Mike and I, and a bathroom for the kids. So worth the extra $65 for the bigger room.

My kids LOVE pools, water parks, and water slides. Indoor water parks are great because it’s not too hot and no sunscreen. Jilly was a champ. She had no fear and rode all the big slides. Ben not so much, but we got him to at least ride one. He’s making progress on expanding his horizons to more than kiddie slides. We’ll definitely go back. The water park was big, but they aren’t done yet. It will be 2/3 bigger by 2017!

Disbelief. I’m in a state of disbelief for many reasons, but it all circles back to one key element… TIME GOES TOO FAST. I’m in disbelief that the school year is over already. I’m in disbelief that my first born just finished his last year of elementary school. I’m in disbelief that my baby girl will be off to school in the fall and these will be her pictures too…she won’t just be the little sister proud to get her picture taken with her big brothers. I’m in disbelief that Benny will be the BMOC Thomas kid at EPE next year. Time goes so fast. Faster each school year. This past school year was a good one. Good grades all around and way more positive behavior notes than bad (only a few really). Progress keeps on being made. Still room for improvement, but each step forward is wonderful. I’m curious to see how it will be with three in school come August, but for now, I’m going to relish the summer months and just maybe time will slow down just a little for me to enjoy these three kiddos even more before we are thrown back to the school year routine.

And look at the differnce in this kid from this first day of elementary school to this last. Much taller, braces, even smarter, but still with the heart of my Owie Pies.