Smart girls

I am constantly impressed with how much my girls are learning in school. Today we were talking about days of the week. Elle asked if it was Monday. I said "no, it's Wednesday." Them I asked them a question that I assumed only Scarlett could answer. "Today is Wednesday. Scarlett, yesterday was?" And Elle shouts "Tuesday!" Impressed, I continue "and tomorrow is?" And Elle yells "Thursday!"

I opened Scarlett's folder the other day and saw a sheet of paper with clocks on it where Scarlett had written out the time. So far just hours, but still!

Elle has officially mastered saying her ABC's and loves to say her prayers (mostly just "Father, Son, Holy Spirit, AMEN!!!).

Scarlett can count to 100 and is doing so well with her reading. She's reading menus, signs, really almost anything everywhere we go. She loves to read simple stories at home.

So proud of my girls!

Disney Trip - February 2013

The girls had last week off from school for Mardi Gras vacation.  We had planned to take a trip with Cameron's parents to New York City for the week.  We were supposed to fly out on Saturday, February 9th and return the following Saturday.  Well, mid week before our trip, we started hearing of a blizzard heading for the northeast.  We kept packing and hoped for the best.  On Thursday, they began canceling flights as over a foot of snow was expected in the area.  So, on Friday with conditions not improving and more flights being cancelled, we decided to do a QUICK change of plans.  We were able to cancel our hotel and flight to NYC (because let's face it, even if we COULD get up there, were we really prepared to sight see in FEET of snow?)  So where else to go, but the happiest place on earth?  It made for our 3rd trip there in 12 months, but hey, the girls LOVE it, it's drivable and easy to book on short notice!  So after dumping all the winter clothes on my floor and repacking more appropriate Florida winter clothes, we were off.  

Day 1 was at Epcot where we started off the trip right...breakfast with the princesses!  

Elle chose to go as "Cinderella wedding" and Scarlett was Periwinkle

Elle was a bit scared at first.  She wouldn't take a picture with the first 2 princesses we saw, but luckily she warmed up quickly so we were able to grab Belle and Aurora for a re-do.  Then it was off to meet Mickey and Minnie.  Belle, she's scared of, but a big giant mouse, no problem...hugs all around!  

We rode lots of rides that morning.  We all went on the big golf ball (whatever that ride is called) and Nemo.  Scarlett, Daddy, Coco and Grandpa rode Spaceship Earth and I got to ride Soarin' with Scarlett for the first time.  We had a delicious lunch in Italy, met Mulan in China and did some shopping through the other countries.  Elle took a nap after lunch, so I stayed with her while the rest of the gang rode the Norway ride.  I'm told by Scarlett that there were trolls, so it was high on her list of "cool things".  

Waiting for everyone to finish their ride.  

Elle is terrified of Mulan.  

Loving on Duffy.

Day 2 was at Sea World.  This was the girls' first trip to Sea World and the first time Cameron and I had been in many years.  We all enjoyed it!  

First off, meeting Shamu (notice no fear from Elle in greeting a giant whale).  

 We watched the Dolphin show first, which was really impressive.  They had acrobats, birds, and dolphins all choreographed to music.  There was a trainer dressed in pink (the princess as Elle called her), so this show was a winner in both girls' books!  

After the dolphin show we saw some manatees, turtles and flamingos.  Cameron fed some seals and sea lions (paper plates of dead fish...eww!).  Then we headed to the Shamu show. It was much the same as I remembered it and the girls were impressed (although not quite as impressed as they were with the "princess" dolphin show)

After lunch we saw a polar bear and Beluga whales in the Arctic, then walked through the shark encounter.  

Day 3 was at the Magic Kingdom.  We started off in the new Fantasyland.  We rode the Ariel ride, which was really cool.  I rode with Scarlett who has become much too smart for a 5 year old.  You ride in shells and at the beginning of the ride, the shells turn backwards and you go down a little hill where there are bubbles on the wall (you are going underwater to see Ariel).  I grabbed Scarlett's arm and said "ooh, we are going underwater!"  She looked at me and said "Mom, it's just a tv screen.  We aren't REALLY in water".    After Ariel's ride we walked through Belle's village and happened upon Gaston.    

We also rode Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Mickey's Philharmagic (a first for us, but really fun!), Dumbo (Elle's FAVORITE!), Winnie the Pooh, the steam train (also a first) and Cinderella's carousel.  It was pretty crowded (mostly with people from Louisiana as evidenced by the Saints, LSU and Mardi Gras gear!).  

We had lunch in Pinocchio's House and ended the day with ice cream, balloons and Minnie ears. 

Day 4 was at Hollywood Studios.  We caught a sneak peek performance of the new Disney Junior show starring Doc McStuffins and Sophia the First.  The girls were thrilled with the show!  After that we saw the Ariel show, rode the Toy Story ride, then watched the Belle show.  We headed to the Muppet show, which Elle and I had to duck out of early for a potty emergency, but everyone else enjoyed it!  Elle fell asleep as Grandpa, Daddy and Scarlett went on the Star Wars ride.  We caught the tail end of the parade as we finished our daily ice cream, then called it a day.  

Day 5 was back to Magic Kingdom.  We started the day with the new attraction - Enchanted Tales with Belle.  Even though we ran right over there at opening, the line was already 50 minutes long (our longest wait of the trip).  It was worth the wait though!  Once we were inside Belle's house we were magically transported to Beast's castle on the day Belle and Beast fell in love.  Each child in the room (about 10 of them) was given a part to play as they acted out Belle and Beast's love story.  After the parts were handed out, Belle came in to watch the show and meet each child.  The girls have been talking about this one non stop!  We then headed to the other side of the park to Adventure Land and Frontier Land.  We rode the Haunted Mansion, Aladdin's Magic Carpets, Pirates of the Caribbean  the Jungle Cruise, the Tiki Room and walked through the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (another first).  We met Jasmine & Aladdin, Chip & Dale, and Jessie & Woody.  Scarlett, Grandpa and Daddy rode Big Thunder Mountain railroad and Coco, Elle and I found a little playground tucked away for Elle to run around in.  We had lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern.  

Scarlett in front of Belle's house

Elle is scared of Aladdin!  

But she can't get enough of these giant chipmunks!  

First time meeting Jessie and Woody!

After a full day at the park, we headed to Downtown Disney for some amazing ice cream at the Ghirardelli store.  We went in the really big Disney store, then headed to dinner at Wolfgang Puck's cafe.

Elle HAD to have this princess hat, complete with Rapunzel hair!

We decided to forgo the Animal Kingdom this trip and head back to the Magic Kingdom for one more day (Day 6 of our trip).  With all the lines this time, it took us 3 full days to get through all the rides!  We were lucky enough to catch the opening show on our last day.  The girls love watching Mickey arrive on the Steam Train to open the park.  Coco and Grandpa were exhausted at this point, so they slept in while the 4 of us ran off the very last of our energy hitting the remaining rides.  We started off with Goofy's Barnstormer (a kiddie roller coaster).  This was one of the girl's favorites from the September trip where were rode it 2 or 3 times.  Scarlett loved it this time, but Elle turned a bit green.  I was scared for her, but when she got off she declared "I like that ride!"  We couldn't bypass Dumbo without giving it a second ride.  Elle declared as soon as we passed through the gates of the park that "I RIDE DUMBO!!"  We went to the teacups next where it was MY turn to turn green as Cameron whipped us around.  We got to see Alice and the White Rabbit together after we got off the ride.  We went to the Toy Story ride next, and then hit Ariel one more time.  We got a snack in Gaston's Tavern, then Elle and I rode the Peoplemover while Cameron and Scarlett rode Space Mountain and Stitch's Great Escape.  We watched the Dreams Come True show on the stage of the castle, then met Coco and Grandpa for lunch at the Plaza restaurant on Main Street.  After one more stop in the shops, we said goodbye to Disney - until next time!  

See...I was there!  

Krewe of SPN

Scarlett got the privilege of riding in the St. Philip parade this year!  The PK4 kids all decorate a wagon as a float and are pulled through the street in front of the school by the middle school kids.  Scarlett was absolutely thrilled to get to throw stuff to the crowds!  With the whole school (PK3 - 7th grade) present, plus families, friends and a few local neighbors, it makes for a big crowd!

Scarlett's theme was Periwinkle (Tinkerbell's sister and frost fairy from the newest Disney Fairies movie).  Elle wasn't allowed to walk along with us, but my friend Tonya was able to let Elle stand with her and they caught a TON!