The moments to remember

I have over 1,600 pictures (between what I took, Lonnie, and then the Photopass people) and I was going to do a post of good pictures and stories from the trip then I realized that's the same thing I have in my facebook album (though not all of them) so I thought I'd share the pictures that I will remember forever.  Not the pose in front of the castle or get a picture with Mickey Mouse type pictures... the pictures that I make my heart smile, the moments.

Running their little hearts out at the hotel....

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Kailee jumping up and down when she got her "first" real view of the castle... 

His little hand waving SO hard during the parade... and I don't have a picture of it but when his hand shot straight up to ask "Crush" a question during Turtle Talk.  I would give anything for him to have been picked to see what he was going to ask! 

Dancing with the kids at the "Move-it Shake-it" Parade

Kailee when she saw her first princess (it was Cinderella).

These two kids who rode around in the double stroller (Thanks Aunt Lonnie for hooking us up!) and looked too cool for school.... and of course fought about who was taking up too much room!

I waited in line for 1.5+ hrs to meet Anna and Elsa and it was worth every minute, it made her trip!! Not to mention she was in her Elsa dress... EVERYONE commented and asked where she got it, that made her feel so special!

Pate always wanted to see the princesses but only from afar

The characters were all awesome, they made the kids feel like they were the only kids in the world. They were funny and the kids loved them!!!! Gaston made them (and me) laugh so hard. 

Just having good old fashion fun with my family....

It was the biggest pain in the ass that Pate would NOT look at and certainly would not smile at a camera... he resorted to closing his eyes during pictures.

Mine & Kailee's "kiss fight", as she calls it, at dinner

Pate was BEYOND ecstatic to meet Buzz & Woody (picture is him jumping to "infinity and BEYOND!") only to be so shy when we finally made it up to see them. 

 Pressing Buzz's buttons

Doing anything to keep Pate busy while we stood in line, which may have included handing him a phone or letting him poke my eyes out.... hey, he was happy!

The look Kailee gave the princesses when they talked to her (seriously, check out facebook... the look is there with all of them!!!) or the giggle when Alice made faces behind Kailee's new fan.

This hot sweaty little boy who just wouldn't stop!

The only place I wanted to eat was the Biergarten, I am sure you can guess why but here is a hint... 

and I was nervous the kids wouldn't make it... well they had the time of their lives! 

One of Kailee's favorite things was being a "wilderness explorer" at Animal Kingdom, she was so into learning and getting her badges (we did NOT schedule enough time at this park... we won't make that mistake again).

Being with this guy.... we have to spend far too much time apart during the week because of his job....

I made an effort to be "in the moment" and not behind the camera (though the thousand-ish pictures say otherwise). There is SO much we did and saw that we have no pictures of and just didn't pick up the camera but regardless I will never forget those things!! I can't wait to go back, next year! ;-)

The illusion of a perfect Mother's Day

From your first mother's day you have this illusion of what mother's day will be like, you know, what it's "suppose to look like". I mean it's your day, it should be perfect.

It's sleeping in late....

being woken by your perfectly groomed children with a gorgeous breakfast in bed...

 it's flowers....

and homemade crafts/cards (that let's be honest... require more than dad to come up with.... thank you teachers for helping out on Mother's Day! There is a reason mother's day is in May and not June like Father's Day!)

Well, guess what?? It doesn't ALWAYS go down like that, yes it's a day that you get a little extra attention and some homemade crafts that you'll save forever... but let's face it. You are still a mom and life is still very real.

Here is my "perfect" mother's day. 

At 4:50 this morning the electricity goes out which for whatever reason wakes me from my tossing & turning peaceful sleep.  I decide instead of fighting it I'm going to get up and read the new book I downloaded last night on my kindle.... "Score, me time!" take it when I can get it.  Not 10 minutes later Pate is screaming because he can't see anything.  I go up and get him trying to hurry before he wakes Kailee, though it's too late. We all come back down the stairs and I so lovingly ask yell to Reed that he should get up and join us.... I mean, it's Mother's Day if I have to be up with the kids while Pate cries because he can't watch his morning cartoons then he's not sleeping either.

Both kids and I cuddle on the couch (i.e. Kailee and I were laying together and Pate decided he needed to come lay on top of us) while Reed sits comfy in his recliner.  Due to the lack of electricity we opt for cold cereal for breakfast, though it was brought to me while I sat on the couch. #stillnocoffee  We are in the "dark" for about 2 hours, during that time I am smacked in the eye with Mr. Potato Head as well as attacked by Spider Man, all within 5 minutes.

Eventually the lights came back on and the coffee was flowing!  #ThankYouBabyJesusForCoffee!  I decided I was going to go on a quick run and Kailee wanted to join me. (After she put a flower in her hair and coordinating outfit on, of course!)  Well, my run turned into less than 1 mile with lots of walking.  But we did it together.

I got gifts, which included homemade crafts (a book) and learned I'm as fun as a puppy, which I don't know about you all but I can't think of ANYTHING more fun than a puppy. Yup, that's me. :D

I am also as smart as "me" (i.e. Kailee) and as awesome as an Eagle- again very awesome! Yup, I'm pretty badass, just ask Kailee. 

When I was younger my mom used to tell Kristin and I "don't get me anything, just dust, clean the bathroom, etc".  Of course, we thought that was dumb and would buy her something she didn't really need or want anyway.  Well, I get it mom, sorry for not just dusting the house for you or running the vacuum. I just want someone to clean my house!  I tried it this morning too, I asked both kids to go upstairs and just make their beds.  Much to my surprise they both ran upstairs.  Now, after a few minutes I figured Pate was just playing but assumed (since she is a good girl) Kailee had made her bed.  Well, I was wrong..... Pate came down the stairs like this (note the inside out pants)

As he quickly ran back upstairs I reminded him he was making his bed..... a few minutes later he came back down. 

 After he left these on the floor in the kitchen I decided to go up and see what damage he had done upstairs

Apparently he tried on more than the two outfits I saw and never once looked at his beds..... 

Knowing what a perfect child Kailee is I peeked in her room to see her perfectly made bed..... 

 Yup, neither one of them listened, and made their rooms look worse than it had been when I asked. Oh well...

My day didn't go as most would dream the perfect Mother's Day is but so far as been full of cuddles, giggles, tears, highs, lows and hugs... and I wouldn't have it ANY other way.... except now I'm off for a nap!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!!! Hope your days are filled with all the real moments that you never expected but wouldn't trade for the world!