Magic Kingdom

We started our first full day at Disney where else, but The Magic Kingdom. We started our morning with breakfast at the Polynesian. There we had an awesome family style breakfast and go to meet Lilo and Stitch. After breakfast we took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom. It was wonderful to see how amazed the kids were by all of the sights. They wanted to do absolutely everything. I figured we would stop back at the hotel for everyone to take a rest. Nope. Not my kids. They were on the go from the time the park opened until it closed. We started our day on Thunder Mountain. Renee was just under the height limit so we put some lifts in her shoes. LOL. We hit all of the favorites, Buzz Lightyear, Small World, Pirates of the Carribean, and Tom Sawyer's Island. Poor Kenny ended up with the flu and had to go back to the hotel for a few hours to sleep. Luckily, he was feeling better around dinner time so he came back to join us. We had a fabulous dinner at Tony's on Main Street. Then we were front and center for the Electric Parade and Wishes fireworks.

The wonder of Small World

Yo ho ho

At Tom Saywer's Island

Baby Chef

Dessert to die for

Big Chef

Hello Stitch!

Disney 2014

We were so fortunate that Santa brought us a trip to Disney for Christmas this year. The kids were so surprised! They had never been before, and Ken and I had not been since we were married ten years ago. I was able to take a few days off from work, so we flew down on a Wednesday in January, and were able to stay until Sunday. We stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter which was very nice.

On Wednesday we woke up super early and drove the the airport. I think the kids were most excited about the plane ride since they had never been on one before. We flew on Jet Blue, and both the kids were fasinated that each seat had its own TV. The flight was smooth and uneventful.

Once we landed in Orlando we headed straight for the hotel. We unpacked quickly and took the kids on a shopping trip in Downtown Disney. They were both dying to go to Ride Makers, a place where they could each build their own remote control car. Renee built the cutest pink Mustang, and Patrick, of course, built his own monster truck. The Lego Store was also a big hit. The kids spent about an hour just building lego cars and racing them. That night the kids and I got to bed early so we could be fresh for the next day.

Christmas 2013

I had the best Christmas this year. We were all moved into our new house, and the kids were healthy! I even got to host Christmas Eve. I worked so hard. We had a fire in the fireplace, lined the walkway to our house with Christmas candles, and had an awesome buffet of food. We were also lucky because Auntie Chrissy was able to spend Christmas with us. Santa was very generous this year too. He was so kind in sending the Johnsons to Disney world. The kids were so surprised!

Trying New Things

This Fall we all began trying some new things. Renee went back to dance, but at a different studio. She loves it! Parents are not allowed inside so I have to wait until May to get some photos of my little one. Boo. Pat played soccer and was great at it! I was his soccer coach. Of course we don't keep score in Kindergarten soccer, (but my team was only defeated once. lol) He also began Karate, and has become quite the star student. Kenny, the crazy boy, began running with the intention of completing a marathon. He did it. Of course the kids, and I, and my parents were there to cheer him on.

Halloween

Anyone who knows me knows Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I do, however, try to make it super fun for the kids. This year I thought the kids were old enough to go to the pumpkin stroll at Roger Williams. We had a really nice time, but it was soooo cold. Patrick was also able to be in the Halloween Parade at his school.

Outside Education

When I was growing up I loved going on outings with my parents. I remember going almost every Sunday to a different place. This fall we took several family trips. Some we went together and some I went solo with the kids. We were also fortunate enough to have a visit from Ken's sister Chrissy. The kids loved going to the zoo with Auntie Chrissy and Uncle Tom. I also took the kids on a Sunday morning to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Patrick had been asking me for quite a while to see a real meteoriod and I know they have several different types of space rocks. They loved seeing all of the pretty gems, and many of the dinosaur bones.

1st Day of School

I can't believe it. I'm now one of those mom's who has both her kids in school. This year Patrick began Kindergarten at our local school, and Renee began her first year of preschool right down the street from our house. Ken took Patrick to his orientation at Kindergarten, where he took to school like a duck to water. Luckily, I had the Jewish holiday off so I was able to put him on the bus for the first time. There may have been a few tears. (All mine of course, and only after he left. ) After putting Pat on the bus, I was able to bring Miss Renee to her first day of school. She was so excited to be one of the  "big kids". No tears at all from her when I left. After school, I loved hearing all of the chatter about how their day was.