Grateful

As I sat here on Sunday evening- ready to blog, these were my thoughts. What a great weekend. I am the worst blogger ever. I said I would blog about Disney and then I didn't. I better get some posts up so I can remember this crazy, wonderful stage of life. Random, I know - but, it's true.

Life got in the way. The very best part of life. Last weekend, we celebrated Everly turning FIVE (how is that even possible?) surrounded by people she adores. I snuck out to get a massage with a girlfriend on Sunday afternoon. We spent our last week of summer with nights by the pool. We would run into friends we knew while we watched the girls shriek with excitement as they ran in and out of the pool. I had a girls night dinner with two of my mom friends where we laughed and agonized over the upcoming school year (why is it so hard to wait for class lists to be published?). This weekend, we hosted my work team for a Saturday bar-b-que because we had friends visiting from the Philippines. The girls had a Saturday night play date while Wes and I snuck out for a cup of coffee, just the two of us. And, because our friends have started trickling back in from overseas, we had a playdate at the trampoline park today. As I looked around and I saw my girls back together with their besties (they were both able to make it today!) my heart was just so full of gratefulness for this life we have created here. 

The first 9 - 12 months were so dang hard, and at times, I wasn't sure we were cut out for this. We craved human connection - best friends for our girls, other adults to laugh with, activities to go to. And slowly, but surely it got easier. And 100 times better. I am grateful that we leaned into this crazy adventure and made the most of it. I am tremendously proud of the four of us for doing so well.

I get teary eyed just thinking about the girls saying bye to their friend group this coming June (and me too, if I am being honest). We are going into this year and giving it everything we got! We have so many adventures ahead of us :). 

Well, hello, there

So much has happened since I last checked in. Nonni arrived in China - we spent one weekend at Four Sisters Mountain and one weekend in Guilin where our baby girl turned FIVE. We had so much fun with her and were sad to see her go back. Can't wait to get you all caught up, but first back to Paris Disney.

Paris Disney, a Tea Party

A Tea Party with Mickey and friends was included in our hotel package - we had very low expectations and no idea what to expect, but it turned out so so fun!! They greeted us with a tray of goodies and a drink of our choice sitting us down at a table. Before long, Mickey, Minnie and Goof came out on stage to do a song and dance! There were hardly any others there - we enjoyed our snack and before we knew it, the characters came by each and every table! 

Minnie came by first and we all agreed we had never seen a fancier Minnie Mouse. The girls were ooohhhhing and aaawwwwwing over her dress and wished they had one for themselves.

Then Goof! We all love us some Goof :).

Goof came back around at one point and "stole" Nala for a minute ;).

After this, they all went back on stage and did some singing and dancing and then we got to have some time with Mickey!

Such a fun fun fun way to spend a few hours at Disney.

Paris Disney, Meeting the Characters!!

Do you want to know why I keep going back and back and back to Disney? And will long be a Disney fan, even when the girls have outgrown it? Solely for the look on Emma and Everly's face when they get to meet the characters. I know that is a bold statement, but sometimes I literally tear up, I just feel so happy. The characters are always just so so so nice to the girls and they always make them feel so special and it warms my heart with all kinds of goodness.  It is really one of a kind magic that I just don't think you can get anywhere else.

This was our first time staying at a Disney property and it was so much fun! Wes got us a package that came with all sorts of things including a Photopass so a lot of these photos that you see are not from me, but from the Disney photographers. I couldn't narrow them down, so here are way too many picture of my girls:). 

Minnie was in our hotel when we arrived! So so fun that we got to see her right away (and the line was short!).

Cinderella is always one of the girls favorites! They loved that the characters signed the autograph books (fyi, this is not common at the Asia Disney's).

Winnie the Pooh!

We didn't quite catch Pluto and Goof - but Emma got to give them a high five! That I captured the end of, haha!

Everly has taken a strong liking to Princess Jasmine (she even picked it out as her souvenir on the first day) so she was pretty thrilled (and shy!) when she got a chance to meet her!

I feel like this picture sums our Everly Gracie up -the sweetest, a little hesitant and just so full of joy!

Emma adored Snow White!!! 

On our last morning, we got to meet Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. 

Emma was really into giving all the princesses her famous squishy hugs -I thought it was endearing that they all really embraced it :).

And then we got to meet Mickey Mouse!!

This is why you need to go to Disney when your kids are little - pure magic!!

And we rounded out our three days at Disney meeting Daisy Duck!!

The most special of special memories :).