Disney 2015: Magic Kingdom

January 5th-11th: The Girls First Trip to Disney

The Monks, Richard and I had been DREAMING of this vacation for over a year. We had shared plans, looked at everything online, booked our resort, planned our menu and scheduled our Fast Passes. We were WAY ready for this vacation!! Time is not a concept that toddlers understand very well, so we waited to tell the girls until Christmas day. Everyday Blakely would wake up and she would ask if we were going to Disney that day, and then we would count the number of days until our vacation. FINALLY the day came, and we got to say "It's Disney World day!!"

I know in the grand scheme of things this is a small consideration... but I was really bummed when I thought that Blakely wouldn't fit into her Disney clothes that mom and I had made. So I was super, super happy when we were able to get her shirts to fit over the cast!!

Dressed and ready for their first day in Magic Kingdom!!

I mean.... does it get any cuter than these two birthday girls?

I just can't get enough of them in their Minnie Mouse Birthday shirts and polka dot ruffle pants. I love my new hobby! So much fun to create adorable outfits with GG, that my girls can actually wear!

We stayed at Old Key West Resort on Disney property, so the parks were just one bus ride away!

If you are looking at a picture of Katy Ellis from this trip, then you are also looking at a picture of GrandPop! These two were inseparable! GrandPop carried her everywhere we went; this will be one of my lasting memories from this trip. There is no doubt as to how much he loves his littlest grand-daughter. So precious.

Blakely wearing her "Princess Cape." The day before we left, I realized it was going to be kind of cool in Disney the week we were scheduled to be there. Blakely didn't really have a light coat that fit over her cast well; so I emergently made her a poncho for the trip. We called it her "Princess Cape," and she absolutely loved it.

My favorite moment from the that first day was definitely when Blakely saw the castle for the first time. I am no sure she really understood what Disney World was other than "where Mickey and Minnie live" and the location of "Cinderella's Castle." When we turned the corner and she saw the castle, her jaw dropped. She kept saying "So bootiful. So bootiful!"

First stop.... MICKEY MOUSE!!

Waiting for our turn to meet.... "THE" mouse.

It was great! They let you into Mickey's dressing room all by yourself to meet Mickey Mouse. This was perfect, because large crowds of kids going crazy over a character tend to make Blakely a little nervous and shy.

She did so great and she was so excited to meet Mickey Mouse.

This is like meeting a celebrity for her. 

Mickey made Katy Ellis a little nervous.

When we walked up to the castle they were putting on a show with the Mickey Mouse clubhouse characters and all the best Disney princesses! Blakely loved it!

She LOVED the Dumbo ride. Since it was January, there was really no lines... so we rode it 3 times in a row!!

Katy Ellis first ride!! It's a small world with GrandAnnie and GrandPop!

Both girls LOVED this ride!! Katy Ellis wanted to look at EVERYTHING!

Blakely pointed to every single thing going "Oh! Mama look at ..."

All the excitement was just too much for Katy Ellis. She decided to take a little nap while Blakely rode Dumbo again.

Surprise GrandPop got Blakely and Katy Ellis a Mickey and Minnie balloon!

So sweet!!

Long first day in the parks and it is time for snuggles with GrandPop!!

Seriously, this girl loves her GrandPop. And I think the feeling is mutual!
We had a great first day, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the vacation will hold! Next stop... Animal Kingdom!

Princess Party!!

January 1st: Blakely's 3rd Birthday Party

Despite the events of the night before (ie Blakey's ER Adventure), we decided to still have Blakely's party the next day. Before her injury, we had spent the afternoon decorating for the party, and she could not have been more excited. Even in her delusional state when we got home close to 11pm on New Years Eve, she wanted her daddy to see how pretty her "princess pardy" looked. PARTY ON!

In this era of instagram/pinterest/facebook, I feel like moms spend a lot of time, money and mental energy making parties for their kids that looks good "online." This is not one of those parties. HA! This is a super amazing, tacky, Disney princess party...and it was EXACTLY what Blakely wanted!



Blakely even got to go to Publix and pick out her cake! She LOVED these princesses!

Blakely and I had so much one day searching Amazon for decorations for her party. This crown was one of our favorite finds... it lights up!

Craft time! We had a craft station set up where you could decorate your own prince/princess crown.

The kids really loved this activity.

The Royal Family

The menu was 100% catered to Blakely's favorite things!
-Chick-fil-A Nugget Platter
-Country Crock Mac N' Cheese
-Sister Schubert Yeast Rolls
-Salad Bar with Homemade Dressings (for the Adults)

It was a hit!



Can you tell they are related?

This was the HOT present! Banks and Blakely LOVED the horses that the Cogdills gave Blakely.

They were SUCH a hit.... it was REALLY REALLY HARD for Banks to leave without one. HA!

Super attractive... we could not get the mermaid tattoo, Doc McStuffin's sticker or the hospital bracelet off her. She thought they looked "so pridy!" Ug.

GG stealing some Katy Ellis snuggles... and yes, I am super slack! My littlest came to a birthday party in her jammies! The worst part is I didn't even realize it until after the party. Ha!

Still cute... even in her jammies.

Happy Birthday Blakely!!

Banks with Cake. Ha.

Blakely wasn't even interested in the cake... she only had eyes for the Princesses.

Never mind that they tasted like frosting!

Katy Ellis got in on the action and had her first taste of cake! Only 1 month from now, and this little cutie will be celebrating her first birthday! I cannot believe how time flies. My girls are getting to be so big!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAKELY!! Everyone had SO MUCH FUN celebrating you today!! We love you so much, and Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the smart, kind, fun, crazy, hilarious, creative girl that you are becoming!!