Disney Makeovers

Right outside our Hotel, in Downtown Disney, there is a store called "Disney 365" where they do Rock Star Makeovers! The girls had so much fun! They got a cool hair-do and make-up.

Violet's hair-do included a hairpiece, she kept her hair like this for a FULL WEEK! I couldn't believe it!

Veronika's hair was so cool, it was styled like a Bow! She had a TON of gel in hers so we took it down that night.

Princess Breakfast!

Thursday morning we had a "Magic Hour" at California Adventures and a Breakfast Reservation for Ariel's Grotto. The main ride we wanted to ride early was "Toy Story" but it was closed, so Steve took the little two on King Triton's Carousel and they rode it over and over and over. While they were riding that, Veronika and I rode this...

California Screamin'! Last time we were at Disneyland I didn't get to ride this because I was pregnant with Phoenix. Steve had no interest in riding it again, so I got to take Veronika. It was her first upside-down rollercoaster and she LOVED it! There was absolutely no waiting at that early hour so we rode it twice, after the 2nd time I was feeling a little nauseated, so she rode it again by herself! That afternoon she got to go back and ride it was Jackson too! The Toy Story ride finally opened and we were able to ride that before heading to our breakfast!

This was the event Violet was most excited about! We ate breakfast at "Ariel's Grotto" and got to meet several of the Disney Princesses. Here are the girls with Sleeping Beauty/Aurora.

Beauty/Belle

Snow White

Cinderella (We're not sure why, but Cinderella was the only Princess that Phoenix wanted to autograph his book or take a picture with)

Cars Land at California Adventures

From the moment we knew we were going to Disneyland, Phoenix has been P.U.M.P.E.D. about Cars Land! So, after a nap Thursday afternoon we headed straight there!

Lightning McQueen

'Mater

We had to get a pic in front of this sign since Poppa and Daddy are both Radiator Men!

Waiting in line for 'Mater's Junk Yard Jamboree

Flo's V8 Cafe

Disneyland

Thursday morning before our breakfast at Plaza Inn we headed out bright and early for our "Magic Hour" at Disneyland. I've never been at the gate for opening of a Disney park and it was so fun! They did a big countdown and opened the gates and people took off running! We headed straight to Space Mountain...

and we ALL rode it! Violet and Phoenix did so great! Afterwards they said they didn't like it, but I was SO proud of them for trying it! I'm sure not many 3 year olds are able to meet the height requirements to ride!

Next, we headed to "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters," this was more in tune with Phoenix

He got to shoot a "gun" at all the bad guys from Buzz Lightyears planet!

The girls enjoyed it too!

After breakfast, we headed through Sleeping Beauties Castle and made our way into  Fantasyland!

Riding King Arthur's Carrousel

 

Plaza Inn with Minnie and Friends

Thursday, February 28, 2013: We ate breakfast in Disneyland at the Plaza Inn with Minnie and Friends! This is a great family picture...but someone is missing! Our Tucker Bear! We didn't even notice until a friend pointed it out when Mom put the picture on Facebook! We think he was at the table recovering from his ride on Space Mountain!

The Mad Hatter was HILARIOUS! He told Evie her Little Mermaid pen was a "fish and she smelled like tuna." When I told them to say "cheese" for the picture he said, "No Cheese! I'm lactose intolerant, it'll give me gas! Tea!!!"

Goofy's Kitchen

We arrived in Orange County, CA; took a shuttle to the Grand Californian, checked in and headed out to dinner at Goofy's Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel.

One of my favorite parts of a Disney Vacation are the Character meals! You eat delicious food while Disney characters walk by to sign autographs and take pictures!

It is rare to get 17 people in a photo together! We're so blessed that we all enjoy each other's company enough to vacation together!

Disneyland-Travel Day

 Near the beginning of February, Mom started talking about a business trip in Southern California...and Poppa said, "Let's go to Disneyland!" We are certainly not ones to turn down a super fun vacation with our family so we all said, "Let's GO!" Because of the timing, we were able to surprise Veronika as to when we were going! So, Wednesday, February 27, we went to check her out of school and told her the exciting news!

I told Veronika she should "eat a frog for breakfast" (a Mark Twain quote I believe). She said, "EWWW!" I had to explain it to her, here she is "eating her frog" aka doing her make-up work before we head out.

The Dowler and Tripp cousins waiting for our plane in Little Rock. The Thomas Family flew out the day before to have an extra day.

Waiting to take off!

Daddy and Phoenix were buddies on the airplane rides!

This picture depresses me! Violet is hiding behind my body!

While walking through the Houston Airport we ran into Corey and Willie from "Duck Dynasty"! We were SO excited! They were so sweet and gracious to pose for a picture for us!

My Baby Boy

This morning Phoenix woke up and told me he had to go pee-pee, he got up and came back in underwear (he sleeps in a pull-up then changes in the morning) and new shorts, t-shirt and socks. He curled up next to me in bed and settled in to watch "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood." I laid beside him rubbing his curly hair and inhaling his scens and I started thinking about how far my little boy has come. In July 2010, shortly before his 1st Birthday he went in for Hypospadias Repair Surgery. During the pre-op we were told that Phoenix had "Spina Bifida Occulta." I had never heard that phrase, and I just remember telling the dr, " I don't know what you mean? You must have the wrong file! He doesn't have Spina Bifida!" A few weeks before his surgery, P had some x-rays done to prepare for his surgery, and apparently this spinal malformation was found during those. During his surgery I Googled it, but couldn't find much info. In the weeks that followed I read everything I could get my hands on. I was so angry that no one had told us about it, that we were informed in such a nonchalant way! At that point, we didn't know what Phoenix's life would hold...would he be able to walk, run, play ball, potty-train? I had so many unanswered questions and no one really had any answers for me. Aunt Paula's friend is a Physical Therapist at a wonderful place called Kidsource Therapy, so I took him in to be evaluated. I fully expected Phoenix to qualify only for Physical Therapy, I was shocked when they recommended Speech and Developmental Therapy. In October of 2010 he started Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Developmental Therapy. He has been through a Hypospadias Repair, a Hypospadias Fistula Repair, a Frenulectomy (clipping a tied tongue), a set of tubes, a Head-Neck-Upper Spine MRI, and numerous doctor visits. He still has no "official" diagnosis, I don't know if we ever will. He still goes to Speech and Physical Therapy and loves Miss Nicole and Mrs. Katie. He was diagnosed with Speech Apraxia this past year and he has made such amazing progress. I would say we understand him 95% of the time, and what we can't understand he acts out for us! As I lay next to him this morning I couldn't help but tear up as I thanked God for his progress and for how far he has brought my baby boy!