Disney World Part IV: The Final Chapter

Just a cute picture of me posing as I picked up a flower.
Enjoying some popcorn late one night with Grandpa while we wait for Grandma and Daddy to finish riding Star Tours. It was a great opportunity for Grandpa and Mommy to teach me the fine art of people watching.
A picture at the Animal Kingdom. They tricked me into thinking the characters weren't behind us.
I climbed in to Mom and Dad's bed one night and we watched some Disney channel before we all fell asleep. It was too cute to miss a picture so Daddy called Grandpa to come take the picture.
At the princess breakfast.
My favorite princess, Cinderella. I was eyeing her from across the room. My least favorite princess is Snow White I was scared of her.


Meeting Mickey and Minnie on the last day. I did much better this day when I saw them. I had a whole week of practice with lots of other characters.
I even gave Mickey a kiss, and Minnie got a kiss and a hug.

This is how many adults it took to manage me in Disney World! Our last day in Epcot.
The last day on the boat ride from the Magic Kingdom back to our hotel. It was an exhausting vacation and I could not take it any more. Notice the sign in the background, "No wake" Dad had to point that out to Mom after the pictures were downloaded, too funny.I've become a pro at this flying thing. Notice my cool crocs. Grandma got them for me and I wore them the entire trip. We even got "bling" mickey, minnie and goofy to go on them.

We had an amazing time at Disney World and Mom and Dad have been bragging about what a good traveler I am. They know they are lucky with me, but I do have to admit I am an amazing kid and very well-behaved. I only remember two major meltdowns, and they were when I was tired and hungry and Mom happened to be in the bathroom changing my diaper alone...sorry Mom.

Disney World Part III: Birds and Foutains

Mom and Dad knew going in that taking a 2 year old to Disney World would be an adventure. They did not realize that I could care less about most things Disney, but I loved all the birds and water fountains. If there was water or a water fountain I had to check it out. For you scrapbookers out there, Mom anticipates at least a four page spread just about fountains.




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Disney World Part II: The Birthday

I was able to spend my 2nd birthday in Disney World and boy did Mom and Dad plan an exciting day for me.First Grandma and Grandpa hung these streamers in their room to celebrate and I got to run through them while we got ready in the morning. Very cool.
We had breakfast reservations at the Crystal Palace, with the Winnie the Pooh characters, so we got to go onto Mainstreet before the park opened.
I was not a fan of the characters, they are much bigger in person than they are on tv. I was okay looking at them from the comfort of Mom and Dad's arms, but I did not want my picture with them.
Our waitress sprinkled confetti on our table and brought me a cupcake with a candle. I tried to eat the candle, oops it wasn't edible.
I also got my first haircut on Mainstreet at the Magic Kingdom. I was very well behaved for my hairdresser, Mary Lou, who was from Indianapolis, IN.

After my haircut she sprinkled pixie dust on my head and then I got Mickey ears that say "first haircut."
Posting for a picture with Roy Disney and Minnie Mouse before our breakfast.
I even got a birthday button so I could wear it all day and everyone would know it was my birthday just in case the shirt that says Birthday Girl wasn't obvious enough!
We had lunch at the Whispering Canyon in our hotel and I got another birthday cupcake, candle and more singing. It was one special birthday.
I prefered the sprinkles to the cupcake, but Grandma, Grandpa, and Mom and Dad tasted the cupcake for me. Everyone laughed at me because I did a lot of my eating sideways like this. I think it makes the food taste better.

Well that's it for the birthday post. It was a great birthday and I know how to say I'm 2 now. Whenever anyone asks how old I am I say 2, but I ask for helping showing them with my fingers. I just haven't figured out how to hold up two fingers yet.

Disney World Part I

Hello again everyone, we are back from Disney World and finally unpacked so we can update the blog. We took over 900 pictures so Mom is going to select just a "few" to update our blog, which we'll do in three separate posts, so be sure to check them all out.
The Strock's got me my birthday present early so that I could take it along with me. It's called a trunkie, isn't it cute. It fit my carry-on items and I can ride it through the airport and hotel!I did really well on my first plane ride. I sat nicely, ate a snack and read some books. Mom and Dad were very pleased with my behavior.
Mom and I sharing a drink while we wait for Illuminations in Epcot the first night.
We had lunch one day at the German Beirgarten and they have a band play and their dancing. Our waitress, Isabel, took me out on the dance floor to dance. We had a lot of fun together. I tried to get her number for my Uncle Brett.
I only fell asleep in my stroller 3 or 4 times the entire trip, which Mom and Dad were very surprised by. Even though we went back to our hotel every afternoon for a nap it was still long, hot days.

Riding my trunkie through the hotel. Everyone loved it.
A great invention by dad. Put the poncho over me and my stroller. We got lots of looks when I was rolling around the park in the rain, people thought I was adorable, naturally.
I decided to really check out the big mickey and minnie mouses by just climbing on the shelf with them. I did get a big mickey mouse as part of my birthday present from Mom and Dad. He fit in my trunkie on the flight home, but he was the only thing that fit in there.
Grandpa and I on the monorail.
Mom, Dad and I at Epcot one night. Too bad I didn't want to smile for the picture, it would have made a nice Christmas card otherwise.
Grandma and I before my first ever trip into the Magic Kingdom. Mom and I will update the blog later this weekend with more pictures from the trip including the festivities of my 2nd birthday!

Schahl Visit and Andrew's Auction Groupies!

Can you believe in just 3 days I will be heading to Disney World to finally meet Mickey Mouse in person?!? I figured I better update the blog before we go, plus Daddy is in Washington D.C. for work and I know he'd like to see what Mom and I have been up to while he's been away.

First of all I had my 2 year doctor's appointment and I am 33 inches tall and 27 pounds, which puts me in the 60 percentile for weight and the 25th percentile for height. The doctor said I am doing well, so as long as I stay healthy I don't go back until I'm 3!
A few weeks ago Mom and I went to Lincoln, IL to visit with her college friends. I got meet up with Addy and we went swimming in her big pool. We had a lot of fun together.
We went to a picnic at Aunt Patti's for the 4th of July. I decided to try my hand at tennis. I have to figure out which sport will be mine. I wasn't very good at tennis, but isn't my dress cute?
I also learned how to use a squirt gun. It was so hot out that no one minded getting a little wet.

The other night at dinner Mom and Dad decided to let me try eating corn on the cob. I've had the corn cut off the cob, but finally I got to eat it like they do. It took me a few tries to figure it out, but once I did I went to town. It was very good.
See I'm already a pro, I think I'll be ready for Corn Fest in DeKalb next month!
Mommy and I love to hit up garage sales on Fridays when we're off. We found this great Little Tykes desk for $5. Mom got it all washed up while I napped and now it's in the basement craft corner.
And now onto this past weekend, so that Daddy can see what I've been up to. Mom and I headed out to Byron to Uncle Andrew's auction. We met Gram, Bakka, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Jason, Aunt Kim, Carly and Molly there too. We had Ellie with us because she slept over the night before so she could babysit me. During the auction we hung out by Uncle Andrew's car. Mom said we are Uncle Andrew's groupies. We had fun at the auction. After the auction Mom's entire side of the family came over to our house for a cookout.
I even got to get up really close to the auction and watch Uncle Andrew hold things up. He has a really funny auction voice, it was fun to watch him work.Mom mentioned how she hate our kitchen curtains and wanted to do something different. Aunt Kim couldn't figure out why she didn't just get rid of them. Here Aunt Kim is modeling a new dress she designed with the curtains. We didn't need to throw them away, they could be repurposed! Everyone got a kick out of this outfit. (I bet Aunt Kim doesn't expect to see this picture on my blog)
Some of us cousins eating lunch. Mom and I picked up this picnic table for the Schahls. They had been looking for one...we bought it for just $3.
After the cookout we decided to take everyone to Ollie's. I can't believe we haven't brought all of them here before. Here's our big group.

Mom got me my own little dish, but I was more interested in Gram's cone. She was nice enough to share with me.While Dad has been gone his day lilies bloomed, so we had to take a picture so he could see them

Sunday it was HOT!, but that didn't stop us from heading to the park. We only played for a short time before heading back to my house for pool time.
Here we are enjoying pool time before lunch. Thanks Uncle Jason for getting such a cute picture of all us girls.
This is just a cute picture of Molly that Mom snapped and wanted to include. Molly likes to open her mouth and eyes really big and squeal when she's really happy and mad. It's very cute and makes mom crack up every time she does it.

Well I hope you enjoyed the pictures, we have to go finish packing our carry-on bags. I can't believe I'm going to the home of Mickey Mouse in just a few short days!