Make Disney Delightful!

True to form I am posting about our Disney trip long after it has actually taken place. Would you expect any less from me?!

Okay, so we went at the end of April...actually that's not too bad considering it's been August since I last blogged period. I will try to post more often, I will try to post more often, I will try to post more often...If I keep repeating this perhaps it will happen. Maybe. Worth a shot.

On to the topic at hand - DISNEY!

The last week of March we decided that the time had come to take the family to Disney World. We wanted to take advantage of the lovely spring weather and my second-trimester-burst -of-energy which meant we needed to leave pronto! Planning the perfect trip to Disney with two kiddos under 5 can be daunting in and of itself but planning it to leave in three weeks is a task only a type-A, I-like-a-challenge, wanna-be-super-mama, like myself, would endeavor to take on. ;)

I armed myself with a book or two from my local Barnes and Noble, read way too many websites and blogs full of tips about Disney planning and felt delightfully, overly-prepared as we embarked on our vacay.

The results were spectacular...seriously, it was the best family vacation we've ever had. And now it is time for me to share some of the tips and tricks that I think helped make our trip so special.

1. MAKE A PLAN: (Yes, I know. Earth shattering tip.) I'm not saying plan every minute of every day (You'll want to shoot yourself if you attempt this...and so will everyone in your party.) But seriously, make a general plan for each day of the week. Here's how we planned our days - because we were not staying at a Disney hotel (and therefore could not take part in the "extra magic" hours) we looked at which parks had the extra magic hours one day and would plan to visit them the very next day to take advantage of fewer people. It worked. We arrived to each park early. (SO important!) Taking the first shuttle bus from our resort every day allowed us to arrive about 20-30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This was plenty of time for potty breaks, grab a map and schedule for the day, lather up with sunscreen, and be ready to make a mad dash for our "top" ride the moment the gates opened. Once the gates opened we would head straight to the priority ride for a fast pass (or go ahead and ride it if the line hadn't gotten too long. You'd be surprised the length of a line that can form in the first 10 minutes of opening...especially for any new attractions.) I knew before arriving to the park which rides/shows were on my MUST-DO list for the day. Try not to make this list too long. I had about four things for each park that I absolutely HAD to do. Just being able to accomplish those four things made the day feel successful. Limiting the MUST list allowed flexibility for when the kids wanted to stop and have an ice cream in the shade of Cinderella's castle or dance along with the street musicians outside of Pirates of the Caribbean. We had flexibility to really ENJOY the day without feeling like we needed to rush around the whole time.  Making a game plan is really necessary (did I already say this?) because you have no idea how many families I saw wandering about aimlessly with their maps the first hour in the park trying to decide "What should we do first?" Make a plan = be happy.

2. BOOK RESERVATIONS: You (and your kiddos) will be so very sad when you try to simply have lunch at the park and find the wait is 90 minutes. This is not just for eating at Cinderella's Table...but any sit-down restaurant in the park (any park!) We didn't mind grabbing a quick service meal a few times but for this preggo mama there was something so relaxing and necessary about sitting down for a nicer meal. Having only three weeks to plan the trip means we didn't get to enjoy the princess dining at Cinderella's Castle...but we WERE able to have lunch with princesses in Akerhus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway (Epcot). Which may have been even better! There were fewer little girls and more princesses in attendance than in the Magic Kingdom. It was also less expensive (whoo hoo!) The entire family enjoyed character dining at Hollywood Studios with the Disney Junior characters. The food at Hollywood and Vine was actually quite good, as was the food in Epcot. My kids didn't know most of the characters there, unfortunately, but they were excited to see "Jake" from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Next time we go I think we'll book breakfast with Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom. Assuming Beckett is still in LOVE with Pooh bear...this plan may change if the next visit occurs when he's 12 years old! Want your little princess to experience becoming a princess? BOOK IT! It fills up so very fast...I'm surprised we were able to still get in. (More tips on the Bibbity-bobbity-boutique below!)

3. HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS MUST-DO:

• Disney Jr. LIVE show - This was precious. Oh so precious. It happened to feature the only four shows (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Sofia the First) my munchkins have actually watched and so, of course, they were singing along and completely enthralled the entire time. So fun to watch them experience the "magic" of Disney.
• Toy Story Mania - This ride is perfect for ALL ages and we ALL loved it! Super popular - so you'll want to make a bee-line for this one or get a fast pass EARLY! We got our fast pass at 10am and still had to wait until 7pm to ride it...that's how popular it is! Wish we could've ridden it twice.
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set - This is basically a playground for kiddos and the perfect place to burn off some energy! I really think our kids would've stayed all day, sliding down giant pieces of grass and crawling through mammoth cheerios...so much to explore. It was the perfect spot to play after seeing a few sit-down shows...and it ensured that Beckett would take a nice long nap in his stroller.
• Muppet Vision 3D - This one had been around for a while but my kiddos loved all the 3D shows at Disney. Especially fun when water sprays out at you or confetti falls from the 'sky.'

4. EPCOT MUST DO:

• Soarin' - Best ride ever. Really it showcased the BEST of Disney "magic." The basic premise is that you are "hang-gliding" over California. The amazing details make the ride awesome - wind in your hair, smell of orange blossoms and pines trees, such a neat ride. The height requirement for this one is 40 inches which meant Beckett couldn't ride (but doing the "baby-swap" it meant Blake got to ride twice, once with each parent and only had to wait in line once.)
• Baby-Swap or Rider-Switch: One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride - either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.
• Turtle Talk with Crush - First of all, I kinda love this turtle in "Nemo." Second, he totally talked to ME. ;) Like, totally dude.
• Princess Dining at Akerhus Royal Banquet Hall.
• World Showcase - I LOVE Epcot for this reason alone. Where else can you sample authentic foods from so many different countries...and so many different beers. Bryan may, or may not, have thoroughly enjoyed his time at Epcot.
• GREAT place for autographs! Blake got entirely carried away with getting character autographs during our week at Disney. (I might have egged her on a bit.) She got the most autographs, by far, in Epcot. She keeps her autograph book on her nightstand now and I'm sure it was the highlight of her trip.

5. MAGIC KINGDOM MUST DO: (You have to understand...I could write a novel on my deep and profound love for the Magic Kingdom...I will try to be concise.)

• The NEW Fantasyland - Everything about this new section of the park is wonderful...seeing Rapunzel's tower and the Beast's castle, the new Dumbo rides, Goofy's Barnstormer (Blake LOVED this kiddie roller coaster.) RUN, do not walk, to this area first thing. It get crowded quickly and will stay crowded.
• Enchanted Tales with Belle - So wonderful, so magical, seriously I cried...I am not ashamed. This is not a ride or a show but an experience like I've never had at Disney...it is truly something new and groundbreaking. You are a part of the story...it is a character meeting experience but so much more. Boys and girls will enjoy it equally in my opinion.
• Other kid favorites: Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Philharmonic.
• Strolling down main street with your family is too sweet of a moment not to savor - Enjoy it! (Preferably with a caramel apple in hand.)

6. BIBBITY-BOBBITY-BOUTIQUE:

• Make reservations as soon as you book your trip!
• BEST TIP: Unless you want to pay $200 (yes, $200) for the "Castle Package" bring your own dress! I am soooo glad we did this. Blake had received a "deluxe" Rapunzel gown and shoes as part of her Christmas gift from her Nana and Papa. So we took our own gown, and shoes to the boutique. The quality of Blake's gown was FAR superior than the kinda-cheap-looking tea-length gowns that were included in the package. They had dressing rooms there for girls to change in before the transformation began. I purchased the $65.00 (cheapest) "Coach Package" which included everything the "Castle Package" did - minus the dress and shoes. So with her nails, make-up, hair, glitter, and tiara, all in place, we left the boutique with other moms' asking "Where did you find the floor length gowns?" and "I didn't see any dresses that elaborate here!" My advice if you don't already own a gown is to go to the nearest Disney store or order one online...you'll save a ton of money, and look better in the end! :)

7. MONEY SAVING TIPS

• Food in the parks is pricey. Surprise, surprise. ;) Bring your own snacks and a water bottle to refill! We packed half a suitcase full of granola bars, applesauce squeezies, trail mix, nuts, ect. and then had the space to use for souvenirs on the return trip home. Bringing a watter bottle was perfect for always keeping us hydrated. There are water fountains everywhere and the water was cool and tasty. WAY better than shelling out a few bucks for bottled water throughout the day.

8. YOUR FIRST DAY IN THE PARK

• Drop by Guest Relations your first day at any of the parks and pick up a free button for the kids to wear. Blake and Beckett wore their "1st Visit" buttons everyday and received a little extra attention from park workers, characters, and such. It was a small way to make the trip extra special.

I'm sure I could go on and on...but I need sleep. ;) I  hope this will make planning your own trip to Disney much easier!

Safe travels and Enjoy!

There's so much to say about...Chick-fil-a.

I believe I've sat down to write this blog post about half a dozen times in the last week...each time wary of whether or not I should post it. We've seen where having an opinion can get you.
(Sigh)

We've got it wrong. Both sides of the argument...people have lost their cool. They've taken simple statements and twisted them into something that bear no resemblance to what was said in the first place. Both sides have done this. We are all "guilty as charged."
I have watched this heated debate grow on my Facebook page. From "2 of your friends posted about Chick-fil-a" to 6 to 12. Reading the comments have been amusing...it has just reminded me of the wide range of friends I keep.

I feel I need to preface this post with a description of the person writing it. I'm a Georgia girl. Southern to the core...ain't tasted nothin' better than homemade apple butter on my Granny Sue's biscuit (unless, maybe, it was a Chick-fil-a biscuit.)  I was born in ATL and Chick-fil-a always has and always will hold a special place in my heart. Aside from making a damn good chicken sandwich they are a good company that does great things for their communities. I have my roots in the "theater world" and a good many of my friends are gay...and I LOVE them. Some are single, some are married, some have precious families. And I LOVE them all. I am a Christian - I believe following Christ's example means loving ALL people. I am an American and my understanding of the constitution leads me to believe that any man or woman should not be denied the right "to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." In my mind people should be free to marry whom they choose simply because they love them. It is a right that completes me. Were I denied the ability to call myself married to the man I love I would not be whole. I believe in equality. I believe in respect.

I think to comprehend the full weight of the situation one has to look at the facts.

FACT 1: On July 16th Dan Cathy gave the following statement to the Baptist press. ""We are very much supportive of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit," he said. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.…We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families."

This simple, honest statement has been so grossly twisted as an attack on the gay community. Since when has someones differing opinion equivocated to hate? An analogy if you please, I breastfed both my babies. I love nursing. I openly discuss how much I loved nursing...do I hate people that give their children formula?! Not at all. I respect their choice and the needs that necessitated that decision. I really don't even think twice about it.

Chick-fil-a also states quite openly that they support healthy eating choices and an active lifestyle...do we see obese people picketing stores because Chick-fil-a must hate them because they're fat?! No, the answer is no, they don't.

Support of one thing does not equate to the discrimination, or as some have labeled it HATE, of another. As much as some want to believe and perhaps even wish it were so - it simply is not true.

FACT 2: The following is Chick-fil-a's corporate purpose: "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us, and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

It's doing just that. Since opening it's doors in 1946 Chick-fil-a has remained closed on Sundays in keep with the 4th Commandment. It gives and gives and gives to schools, community programs, and Christian groups. Should it be a surprise that a company based on biblically sound principles believes in traditional marriage as outlined by the bible?

FACT 3: The following actions have been taken by men in office. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is attempting to block the fast food chain from expanding in his city, saying “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values.” The chain isn’t welcome in Boston either, according to a letter written by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, in which he pledges to stonewall Chick-fil-A from opening an outlet in the city limits.

Would there be the same reaction from a company operating under the beliefs of another religion. If a Jewish or Muslim or name-your-religion based company said that they supported the principles outlined in the Torah or the Koran would we call them unwelcome? Would we call them bigots? Would we spew messages on every media outlet that they were anti-Christian? Is that what we've been reduced to? Bullying based on a personal opinion? I guess when it's an opinion held by a majority of Americans it's okay to bully.

It makes me wonder what's next...will businesses be required to fill out a survey of their personal beliefs before being granted a permit?

The level of outrage should be embarrassing. It's been making me nauseous all week long from reading about Roseanne Barr's tweet: “anyone who eats Shit- Fil-A deserves to get the cancer that is sure to come from eating antibiotic filled tortured chickens 4Christ.” to seeing friends posting on Facebook that they will "defriend anyone still eating there."

It makes me sad. It reminds me how much we all need to GIVE the respect we hope to receive. Minority. Majority. Right. Left. Or in the middle...like myself. ;) Let's step back. Look at the facts and think logically as to whether or not they line up with the reaction that's occured. I love my gay friends. I love my fellow Christians. AND I love my Chicken sandwich.

I realize tomorrow when I wake I may have ZERO friends on Facebook. Half will have defriended me because I STILL eat at Chick-fil-a...half will have defriended me because I voted for Obama (oh, I didn't mention that before, did I?) And I'll be here...perched precariously on my fence, sipping my lemonade (yes, from Chick-fil-a), and watching the war rage below.

"Come on people now. Smile on your brother. Everybody get together try to love one another right now."

Nope that wasn't a quote from Jesus. The Youngbloods 1967.

Totally born in the wrong decade y'all.

The gift of now...

Every moment is precious. Enjoy the present. Blah, blah, blah....

For a person that lists "Carpe Diem!" as a favorite quote on my Facebook page it seems incredibly ironic that I have quite sadly NOT been following through with my own mantra.

I blame the uncertainty of our moving situation. I blame the plans that need to be made but can't be until we know when we're moving. *sigh* I blame the stage of life I'm in where it seems that all moms are desperately clinging to that magic word that gets us through the day - bedtime. But in all truthfulness, I blame myself.

I have always had a problem with relaxing. Doing nothing is an art I simply have never cared to master. So when my darling hubby informed me of his upcoming promotion that would relocate our family to Nashville, TN (but he didn't know when he would begin the position because it depended on a variety of factors I have no desire to bore you with here) I was thrilled for him. I, however, was not thrilled with the idea of doing nothing. No registering for preschool, no planning, no house shopping...not until the position officially began...and who knows when that would be. I was to do nothing. Of course in my mind for everything there is a purpose, an objective, and a plan to accomplish it - or so I always believed.

But God has been interrupting my philosophy on living the last few months. In the midst of uncertainty and a time that should be fraught with worry he is teaching me stillness. In the chaos of raising two small children he is teaching me peace. In moments where I tend to get too far ahead of myself and start planning my future I feel His gentle hand on my shoulder guiding me to rest in Him.

Trust me when I say this reliance did not come easy. I certainly didn't wake up one morning with the resolve to chill out and the ability to accomplish it on my own. I could sing "Take it Easy" all day long and I doubt it would do me a bit of good...though The Eagles do lift my spirits a bit. ;)

God has used people and scripture in the most unconventional ways at the most unexpected times to get his point across to me. God is good at unconventional. He is exceptional at the unexpected...and he always, ALWAYS delivers.

Friends of mine have spoken words of truth when I needed it the most. Sometimes they weren't even speaking to me...I just had the pleasure of overhearing him. (Which I am certain God orchestrated...nothing is coincidence.) One friend told me that she had the phrase, "Be patient, be peaceful, be present" on her mirror to remind her how to live each day. This could not have come at a better time for me. Another friend shared that some of her sweetest moments have been resting in God in that very moment and allowing Him to reveal everything in His perfect time. Each word of encouragement lifted me higher and pushed me to the place I should have been living all along. The moment of NOW. The gift of the present experienced in the best way possible, leaning into God and feeling him catch me. Like those trust games one plays in 6th grade church camps. Only this was no game.

Perhaps no one has been a greater asset to teaching me to live in the moment than my 14 month old son. A child with a vocabulary limited to his current favorite word, "ball." Leave it to God to choose my baby to teach me something I so urgently needed...and to teach it without words at that! Unconventional and unexpected, right?!

We were playing quite contently in the backyard one afternoon waiting for sissy to wake up from nap. We watered the flowers. We swung on the swing. We played at the sand table. All in all we were having a marvelous time on a glorious spring day. We were active. We were doing something. I watched Beckett toddle about the yard for a few minutes until he settled himself onto the sled in the middle of the yard (don't ask.) I went and sat with him. We sat....and sat. And sat. Several times I found myself getting restless and thinking of what we could go do. My mind started to wander....we could go swing again, we could get snack ready, we could... And then I looked at him sitting happily (yes, on a sled in Texas in March) and I realized he was perfectly content with what he was doing. Plucking grass merrily from the ground and crunching leaves in his small hands. He wasn't just content, he was joyful. He was savoring the moment. He was enjoying the blessing of the beautiful weather. And he was teaching me to do the very thing I'd been fighting my whole life. Doing nothing. But in that nothingness finding everything.

God knows where I'm going to end up. He's had it planned from the beginning. I have full faith that he will place me exactly where I need to be, when I need to be there, to serve His will, and bring glory to Him. I think he just had a few things to teach me first. ;)

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

Carpe Diem, everyone!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday

My favorite book from childhood has recently grown even more popular...thanks in part to the new line from Pottery Barn Kids. I adore Eric Carle's vibrant and cheerful artwork, particularly from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. There's something about it that just exclaims the simple joys of childhood! That being said, my children have more than a few Eric Carle things: they dressed as The Very Hungry Caterpillar duo for Halloween this year (Blake as the butterfly and Beckett as the caterpillar,) Beckett has the shoes, Blake has the Memory Game, they both have the PB Kids dish sets...and if that wasn't enough I decided that my life simply wouldn't be complete without throwing a Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party for my little caterpillar, John Beckett! We had just a few close friends over to share the special day and the decor would have made Eric Carle, himself, proud! ;) Here's a few pics to commemorate Beckett's 1st Birthday:

 I designed and printed Beckett's invites from home on linen textured cardstock I purchased from a local stationary store in Fort Worth, Paper Planet.

His invite, book, and caterpillar "friend" were proudly on display in the foyer.

These flags, constructed from scrapbook paper, cardstock, and strung with green yarn, made for a low cost, high impact visual. A BIG thank you to the lovely, Jamie Cain, for cutting the triangles for all the patterned paper!

Oh-so-easy tissue pom-poms are constructed with 10 sheets of tissue paper and 1 pipe cleaner...seriously, that's it! Instructions can be found on Martha Stewart's website. Very simple...albeit, a bit time consuming!

Paper lanterns (courtesy of the incomparable, Jennifer Smith) pack another visual punch to our food table.

I made some quick-fix lemonade, but floated lemon slices for a festive look!

Bright primary colored treat bags from Target.

Delicious cupcakes from Amy's Cakery at The Brownstone Village in Arlington.

Anna and Sweet Sophia

A kiss from his mama!

Happy Birthday to you!

Not quite sure what to think!

"Oh, this is a BIG cupcake!"

Cute Carson!

Big Sister, Blake, enjoyed her cupcake!

Beckett got his first basketball...Papa is so proud! ;)

What is Montessori?

I get this question fairly often...and it's no surprise!

There's a lot of mystery that shrouds the word itself - Montessori. What is it? A person? A philosophy? A type of educational materials? Well...yes, yes, and yes.

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea myself for the longest time. In fact, I was an education major and the little information I received on Montessori in my "Foundations of American Education" course was grossly inaccurate.

Here's some basic info on what Montessori IS:

• Montessori education emphasizes internal motivation.
• The classroom is a precisely prepared environment for individual instruction and self-paced learning.
• Teachers have to be acutely aware of the level each child is working at and present them with individualized lessons that challenge them accordingly. The amount of work involved for the teacher in keeping track of each child's level and progress is very rigorous.
• The morning work cycle is for uninterrupted work time. Then the class may have music/story time, a cultural presentation (a different continent in studied each month in the pre-primary classrooms), cooking lessons, lessons in the outdoor classroom, ect.
• Teachers show students how to create order and discover principles by means of carefully demonstrated lessons that can then be practiced at will. Lesson are given one-on-one or in small groups.
• The multi-age classrooms allow students the unique opportunity to act in the role of youngest, middle, and oldest at some point during their three years in the classroom.
• The students live in community together, each one having roles in the classroom to benefit the group. It emphasizes an ownership of their environment.
• They eat family style, one child setting out place mats, another forks, another knives, another glassware, ect. After eating children are responsible for clearing their places, throwing away trash, taking dishes to the sink, and wiping down the table.
• Teachers at a fully certified Montessori school are not only required to have a four year college degree, but a Montessori certification (two year minimum), and many hold Master's degrees.
• Introduction of new lessons is tailored to the individual needs and interests of each child.
• Within constructive limits, a student can work on his or her lessons at whatever pace and in whatever order he or she chooses.
• Independence, initiative, responsibility for making choices, and persistence in seeing tasks through to completion are qualities fostered by this approach. (i.e. Children are required to finish the work they choose and return it to it's proper place.)
• *My favorite factor in a Montessori environment is the fact that there is simply NO limit in what the students can learn. They are not restricted by curriculum...if a 5 year old student has successfully completed all the mathematics work in their classroom they simply begin introducing them to elementary level work. The same goes for the 6th level (6th grade) students...the teacher simply continues to present them with work that challenges them at the level they are at...they never have to wait till they reach the next grade. It is for that reason that many students work at a level far advanced for their age group (compared to a traditional classroom.)

I spent this past Saturday at my daughter's school walking through a four-hour demonstration called "Journey of Discovery." I was able to experience the work in each classroom: toddler (18 months-3 years), pre-primary (ages 3, 4, 5), lower elementary (1-3rd grade), and upper elementary(4th-6th grade.) I was able to study the materials used at each level to teach everything from shapes and letter sounds to Pythagorean theorem and square roots. It was amazing to delve so deeply into how children's minds learn and absorb information. Montessori essentially presents everything students learn as a hands on activity - there are materials and manipulatives for every concept taught and when they have a full grasp on the concept using the materials they then proceed to doing the work on the abstract level. (The pictures I took of the work done at each level illustrates this and speak for themselves.)

Toddler puzzle work with the book, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear."

 Toddler sorting work with small scoop to aid fine motor skills and concentration.

Pre-Primary (ages 3,4,5) shape work...I'm sure I didn't know what an ellipsoid was at that age!

Sensorial work in Pre-Primary class. Three year olds spend the more time in this area than four and five years olds. Since we take in so much of what we learn through our five senses, sharpening their senses aids in preparing their minds for more advance work. It also extends their concentration span.

Bead wall for mathematics. All math work begins with concrete bead work and then becomes increasingly abstract.

Pre-Primary animal work

Pre-Primary animal work

Pre-Primary science. Parts of a flower.

Sound Cylinders in Pre-Primary class.

Beginning reading work. Three year old level.

Letter sounds. Two's and Three's. (This is introduced in toddler for students who show early interest/aptitude for reading.)

Early math in Pre-Primary.

Bead work. Unit, tens, hundreds, thousands.

Four and five year old math...seriously.

This is the problem above illustrated using the materials, just as the students complete it in class.

Map work. Miss Dawn informed us that she currently has one three-year old that can complete the map of Asia...and name the countries! I would be lucky to complete half of that...okay 1/4 of it!

2nd and 3rd grade Botany work in Lower Elementary Class.

Work boxes. These include weekly checklists for what work a student must complete each week, which in turn must be checked by the teacher to ensure successful completion. So, while a student is able to choose what order they complete various works they have specific work that they must complete. Freedom within limits. Work to challenge each student at their own level.

Living in community!

More Lower Elementary work.

2nd grade multiplication.

2nd grade long division.

4th grade Pythagorean theorem.

5th grade square roots.