2012 Hughes Family Picture Collage

So long 2012, it was fun while it lasted!

Yes, Another Disney Post. You Can Thank Scott.

Yes, we are those kind of Disney people. 

Yes, we've been to Walt Disney World 5 times in the past 7 years.

Kids hanging with Ralph & Vanellope

Why, you ask?  

Well, it's not just because Scott and I met there nearly 25 years ago, although that does lend some weight for sure.

And it's not just for the kids, because Scott and I love it, too.

I think a huge part of why we go so often is because Scott LOVES to plan the trips.

Mickey & my gang!

Seriously.  

He spends a LOT of time - months in advance - on the many and varied Disney-lover forums, learning everything he can about predicted crowd levels, what rides/attractions are open or closed, what routes through the parks are best at what time of day, which restaurants have the best menus for the best value, which characters will be where at what time, etc.

He knows the square footage of each of the resort's rooms, which have double beds vs. queen beds, how far one has to walk to catch a bus and what the pools look like.

Cinderella's wicked step mother and step sisters.
I told them they went a little heavy on the rouge and they claimed that they never wore makeup, it was just their natural beauty.

Scott does ALL the pre-planning and we just pack our bags, get in the car...

...and go have fun!

First time riding Expedition Everest
for Will and Eliza Grace.  Eliza Grace loved it
and she and I rode it three times that day.
Once was more than enough for Will, however.

Also, for those of you not in the know, they just opened "New Fantasy Land" in the Magic Kingdom 

New Little Mermaid ride is open

Now there are TWO Dumbo rides!

And they updated the Test Track attraction in EPCOT, so there were lots of new things to see and do this time around.

The newly refurbished Test Track.
Eh, I kinda miss the old one.

This trip was extra special, too, because we qualified for the free dining plan and had some great meals at restaurants in which we would've otherwise never eaten.  

These included the Japanese Teppan Edo restaurant in EPCOT - which Will declared the "best meal EVER!" 

The new "Be Our Guest" in New Fantasy Land

We asked about the "grey stuff"
but they don't serve it at lunch :(

We ate in the forbidden 
West Wing of the Beast's castle!

T-Rex in Downtown Disney

Loud.  All I can say is this place was LOUD! 

'Ohana in the Polynesian Resort and many more.

Stitch was his typical naughty self
and tried to steal Will's trading pin lanyard
because it had so many Stitch pins on it.

Lilo grabbed Eliza Grace's hand for
the parade around the room.

Um, yeah, they got a kick out 
of this statue's backside in the restaurant.

Thanks, Scottie, for all the planning and effort you put into making this a really great trip, once again!

Kid+Dog+Another Kid

My oh my.

This kid is moving from little girl to not so little girl way to quickly.

Her eyes say, "I'm my own person."

She'll be 11 in 17 days.

 And this not so little kid really loves her dog.  

Hey Chewie, look over here!

 I can hear her saying, "who's a good Chew Chew?" in that Mommy-speaking-to-a-baby voice that comes so naturally.

 
 And then this kid.  The one in blue? 

I think he's up to something. 

Fun Photography of Our Festive Foyer!

(Say that five times fast!)

I love our home.   

But I love it most when decorated for Christmastime.

I love playing with Lightroom!

O Tannenbaum

Like so many, we have spent the past two days decorating our home for Christmas.

And, might I add, I really thought by this age we'd have kids old enough to do all the work for us.

Ah, God, always stretching us, aren't you?

Anyhoo, Scott and I tackled about 90% of the work while Eliza Grace and Will were with their Grandmother.  Of course we waited to decorate the tree until we were all together.

As I've mentioned before, we have an artificial tree. We've had the same tree for about ten years and I've wanted to get a bigger one for about five of those.  

Every year we say we'll buy one on big time sale the day after Christmas.  And every year we don't get out of our pajamas until somewhere around December 27th, which means that all the good trees are loooooooong gone.

So this year, with the help of a great deal from Home Depot, we got a new 9' tree!  A "snaps-together-in-three-easy-pieces-and-is-prelit" tree.
  
It wasn't much of a hard sell for Scott.  "I'll never have to string lights again!" he declared gleefully as he snapped it together.

For the first time ever he had to use a step stool to put the angel on top!

Santa's little helpers were on the ball.

Except for Chewie, who had planted himself firmly in front of the space heater.

 

Will only had to pause once to indulge Chewie in a well deserved belly rub.

I wanted to get one last shot of the finished product.

First try and it looks like we have leaping ghost. In Lego Star Wars jammies, no less.

This time it looks a lot like a curious Schnoodle poking his head in there.

Ah, finally.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!

Thou tree most fair and lovely!

Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!

The sight of thee at Christmastide
Spreads hope and gladness far and wide

Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Thou tree most fair and lovely!

Our baby is SEVEN!

A very happy birthday to our little man Will (or William or Wilbur or Willby or Willberforce or Bubby or Dude or Frat Boy...and a dozen more nicknames).

You are the sweet, sensitive and silly man of our family and we all love you so!

How Will Does Math Homework.

Never a dull - or quiet - moment around here.

Frat Boy

One of the nicknames we call Will is "frat boy." This pose is why (with his best buddy, Lexi).

No one ever asks him to pose like this.  

It just comes naturally to this happy, silly, fun-loving kind of kid.