DaySeven:Disney

DaySix:Disney

DaySix:Disney - Breakfast @ The Crystal Palace

DaySix:Disney - Kurt & the Clown

DaySix:Disney - Magic Kingdom One Last Time

DayFive:Disney - Hollywood Studios

DayFive:Disney - Hollywood Studios

Disney Junior was another favorite at Hollywood Studios.  We watched the Disney Junior show and then went and ate at Hollywood and Vine where some of the Disney Junior characters were hanging out.

Top Row:  Sorcerer Mickey and Jake from Jake and The Neverland Pirates
Middle Row:  June from Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso and Jake
Bottom Row: Army Men from Toy Story and Handy Manny

DayFive: Disney - Hollywood Studios

DayFour: Disney - Epcot

DayThree: Disney - Characters

DayThree: Disney - Parades

DayThree: Disney - Chef Mickey's

Day Two: Disney

Day Two @ Disney World:  For our first day at a park, we started at the Magic Kingdom.  We were there all day and it was a long day because it rained late in the afternoon, but we had to stick around for dinner.  Before it rained, we rode some favorites like Buzz Lightyear's ride, the Silly Tea Cups, Dumbo, the train and we drove the cars on the racetrack.  We probably waited in the longest lines of the week, but lines got shorter as the week went on.  

We had dinner reservations at Tony's Town Square so we could eat and watch the Electrical Parade.  While waiting for our reservation time, Brody and I slipped in and met Mickey Mouse.  He was beyond thrilled to meet the REAL Mickey Mouse.  Because of the rain, we ended up eating inside so our view of the parade wasn't as good, but it was definitely warmer!  The fireworks were just starting as we exited the park and watching them from the bus stop seemed about perfect for my kids...not as loud, but a decent view above the tree line.  After a magical day, there was no fight from anyone when we settled them all in their beds that evening.  

Day One: Disney

Day One: Disney

Our Magical Vacation

On January 5th, in the middle of a nasty fog of a cold, we packed our bags and headed for Indy to catch an early morning flight on the 6th to sunny Orlando, Florida. For the record, I felt miserable and felt like i walked in circles the whole time i was trying to pack but managed to pack most of the essentials. I was more nervous about our flight than the kids. Brody finally told, 'mom, it's fine!' And you know what, it really was fine. As we were taxing down the runway, he kept wanting to know when we were blasting off into outer space? Once we were in 'outer space', he asked me if we were in heaven yet? I know the people behind us got a good chuckle out his continuous questions and statements.

We landed and had our luggage gathered by noon or so and off we went to find the Magical Express. The first of many lines that the fine folks at Disney would have us waiting in that week. After a short bus ride, we arrived at our resort. Brody thought the bus ride alone was magical after watching the video on the bus about everything we would get to see and do! After getting off the bus, we made a quick bathroom break while waiting on our shuttle to our rooms. I took Brody to the bathroom and as he was finishing, the toliet flushed on it's own and he turned to me and said, look mom, it's MAGICAL!! And I do think that set the tone for the rest of our trip! It really was magical!

What we’ve been up to…

In a matter of a few days, we went from playing in the snow…

to wearing shorts at Disney World and swimming almost daily!

Now that we are back to reality, we have lots of updates to post from our trip, Brody’s 4 year interview and annual tie picture, and who knows what else is on the camera? 

A very Merry Christmas!

Super Heroes

Aunt Katy outdid herself this year.   Super Hero capes for everyone!  Batman Brody and his sidekick Robin Riley, The Flash Cohen and Super Eli.  Miss Harper received a WonderWoman cape and Master Crewe is Captain America Crewe.  She somehow weaved magical powers into them because Brody had to give me a kiss this morning just in case he flew so high he didn’t come back down for awhile.  Thanks for the awesome gift, Aunt Katy!

Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Grandma’s Birthday Party

After we wrapped up Brody’s birthday party, we quickly transformed our home for Grandma Yakey’s birthday party.  We definitely had a house full of people and hopefully they all found a seat and got their belly’s full.   Thankfully, Grandma had plenty of help blowing out her candles…they were kind of tricky to blow out.  If only the Illini would have won, we could have called the evening a complete success.  Hope you had fun, Grandma!

Brody’s Birthday Party

Yesterday we celebrated Brody’s birthday with a small gathering at home.  He had really wanted to go to Chuckie Cheese, but we offered a pizza party at home instead and he approved.  He only asked for a Lego cake and Lego cookies and Lego cupcakes.  Thankfully, Aunt Jody made 2/3 of his requests and I filled in the last 1/3.  

His cake really must have been his only wish because his parents were just a nice added bonus.  Thanks to all who came and celebrated with us, and an extra special thanks to Aunt Jody for the awesome cake and cupcakes!  It definitely made turning FOUR even better!

Ninety-one

Today Grandma Yakey is 91! She is claiming to be 89 though because you are to start counting backwards after your 90th birthday. She was feeling quite foxy this morning and told me she thought she and grandpa should just run away somewhere. Last I knew they were still perched on top of their hill waiting on their next visitors though. Hope you had a happy day, Grandma!

FOUR!

Somehow our first born turned four today?!  He was so excited to go to bed last night.  He told us when he woke up he would be FOUR just like Cohen!  So if celebrating his birthday wasn’t enough, he also had a Christmas party at school, he took treats to Miss Julie’s house and then this evening he kind of participated in his school’s Christmas program.

 

Brody didn’t request gifts for his birthday.  Instead he wanted lego cupcakes for Julie’s and star cookies for school.  Wish granted!  We even got Grampy, who had never iced a cupcake until last night, to participate in the decoration process.  Aunt Jody will fulfill his last request on Saturday with a lego cake!

Blowing out candles at breakfast is the best!  He was so excited about his day that he couldn’t sit still to eat breakfast.  He had to be going on fumes by the time he sat down for his lunch.  A doorway full of streamers and a floor full of balloons was by far better this morning!

All spiffed up for his Christmas program.  I think he managed to pick his nose, flick his lip and sing a few words, but refused to say his line.  My sources say he said it during practice, but tonight he stood there and shook his head no when it was his turn. 

And because I never have pictures of myself with either of the boys, I include this last shot too!

Happy Fourth Birthday, Brody-ody!  

All Our Love, Mama, Daddy and Ri.

Terrified and thrilled!

Skinny pants

Riley fills out his skinny cut pants like his mama does!

Reindeer Ranch

  

Saturday, we visited the Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul.  We kind of had a parent failure and didn’t obtain tickets to feed the reindeer like we intended.  Oops.   We promised a return trip next year before they tear up the corn maze.  Seemed to appease all parties.  I actually think the only disappointment was the fact that Rudolph didn’t live at the Reindeer Ranch.  We looked high and low for him, but alas he wasn’t there.  

Thanksgiving

The only picture I took on Thanksgiving...lots of little dudes coloring it up at Aunt Helen's! We definitely have so much up be thankful for.

The countdown to Brody, Grandma Yakey, Harper and Baby Jesus' birthday is on.

Giving Thanks

Brody’s Prayer:

Thank you God for this day.

Thank you for the things we like and the things we don’t like

Thank you for our house and bricks.

Thank you for our mama and daddy.

Thank you for grammy and grampy.

Thank you for aunts and uncles.

Thank you for our food and milk.

Amen.

The Greats

Ssshhh…don’t tell Grandma and Grandpa Yakey, but we attempted to get all nine great-kiddos in one picture.  We really needed Kelly McCormick to come save the day, but we tried to make do.

Will’s face is priceless…appears to be giving Natalie and Ri the biggest scolding.  Probably making sure they didn’t try to snatch his smarties?

the boys.  (this marked the end of photos – look at ri’s face – pouty lip and all)

from left to right: Brothers Crewe (7 months) and Eli (2 1/2), Brody (almost 4) holding Brooke (1 month old), Cohen (4) holding his sister Harper Rose (11 months old), Natalie (2 on January 1 and big sister to Brooke), Riley (2 1/3), and then William (16 months).  In March, Cohen and Harper will add their little brother to the mix!

November

 

Happy Birthday, Grampy!

Arch or Arc?

Bedtime Conversation:

Me: "I drove by the arch today."
Brody: "Did you see Noah??"
Me: "Nope. I didn't have Allison with me."
Brody: "Well, did you see all his animals??"

It took a second but I finally caught on.

Someone does not want to nap...