Disney Week {Part One-moments}

We took our kids to Disneyland for the first time in September.

It was a great vacation.  It was also such an exhausting vacation. 

Going to Disneyland is never a slow-paced vacation.

I would do it all over again, and then make sure to schedule more naps for when I get home.

This is what Disneyland looks like when you get home:

Ugh!! So much for a nap.

My parents, sisters, bro-in-laws, niece and nephews joined us for our Disney trip.

It has been 2 months, and the kids are already asking when we are going again.

Along with college funds, I think we may have to start putting away money in a Disneyland fund.

It has taken me these 2 months to sort and edit all the photos.  I ended up with 664 photos that I want to keep from the vacation.

I used 2 camera’s while I was there, and of course I have a few that came from my sister’s cameras.

This week I am going to share all about our trip, and I just can’t do it in one post.  There is too much to share. You should know that by now if you are a regular J&A follower. I don’t cut out pictures or words easily.

At the end of the week, I am going to share a few tips on taking pictures in Disneyland.  I will also cover my thoughts on my big girl camera verses my iphone camera. Make sure you stay tuned for that.

Today, We start with the moments.

These are the pictures from Disneyland that make me want to get down on my knees and praise God for the invention of a camera.  Have you ever thought about what a wonderful blessing the invention of the camera is?

Maybe it is just because I love photos so much, but I am just so thankful to have little moments in time captured; to always be remembered.

Here are my favorite Disneyland moments:

Sharing Disneyland with these 5 special people.  I remember this moment of watching them all walk in front of me.  It was this ah-ha moment.  I will always remember my trips to Disneyland as a child, and now, here I am giving it to my kids.  Even better, I am sharing this tradition with Jonathan.

Taking a break to have a little snack.  I want to remember how many people commented on this braid that she had in her hair.  I braided her hair like this mostly every day.  It kept it off her neck, out of her face, and looks so darn cute.  Hopefully, I can put a little princess braid tutorial together for the blog.

Time…

spent…

laughing, and…

talking, and…

…waiting together in the lines.  Memories can be made while you are anticipating how awesome it’s going to be to ride Cars for the first time.

London made a friend while we were waiting to watch the parade.  Her new friend shared the bubbles from her bubble-maker. It entertained London and some of the parade watchers for quite some time.

Tess entertained them also, with her graceful dancing.

Suckers and parades with Grandpa.  My dad loves Disneyland.  He is like a kid in a candy store at Disneyland.  It was fun to share it with him, and have my kids see him in this light.  It brought back a lot of childhood memories for me.

The kids each got a couple of Disney gift cards for their birthdays.  We brought the cards with us to Disneyland to use on souvenirs.  Tess couldn’t wait.  She saw this Tigger right off, and talked about it all day.  We went back to the store on our first evening in the park and spent her birthday money on Tigger.  It wasn’t long before Tigger was her pillow and she was out. 

Splash Mountain was my favorite as a kid.  I couldn’t wait to see what my kids thought.

I am laughing because this picture is about the 3rd time we went on Splash Mountain.  Tess loved this ride, but insisted on wearing the poncho.  She did not want to get wet, not even one little drop.   The dollar store ponchos came in handy.

Grandma and Grandpa took one for the team.  We don’t do spinny rides so well.  Grandma and Grandpa do just fine.

Sharing all the little moments with cousins.

Twin dresses that Aunt Kristin bought the girls for their birthdays.

I want to remember that the ride we rode the most was Ghost Galaxy(aka:Space Mountain.) This is the ride that I thought Tess would hate.  I assumed she was going to be so mad that we took her on it, but I was wrong.  It turned out to be her favorite, and she begged to go again and again. All of our kids were willing to ride every ride.  I was grateful for that.

I don’t want to forget the moment I took this picture with my iphone.  I remember thinking how lucky I am.  It’s always good to count our blessings.  I can count 5 right here.

She has got the map, and she knows how to use it. Follow me.

As you can see, I captured some fun moments with both my cameras; my Nikon and my iphone. Who ever thought that we would be taking pictures with our phones?  It has taken me a long time to realize that my iphone actually takes pretty good pictures.  Regardless of which camera it came from,  I am grateful for each picture.  They remind me of a great week spent with people I love, in a place that knows how to create magic.

Around here:

I am starting to think about Thanksgiving around here.

It’s probably time since it is the 14th of November and I am hosting.

YES!!! my whole family is coming to my house for Thanksgiving.

This has never happened before. 

We have always lived away and mostly had Thanksgiving just the 6 of us, or with friends.

(Thankgiving 2008, Houston, TX)

So… I am so excited to share this holiday with my family in my own home.

The plan for decorating is mostly to use what I already have.

I did buy a beautiful new table cloth.  I hope to add some pumpkins, pretty dishes, and a few thankful quotes on chalkboards.  Hopefully, it will look beautiful and feel special.

But we all know that the holiday isn’t about the tablescape.  It is about sharing it with those I love.

I’m so excited for my kiddos cousins to be here in our house. 

We currently live about 2 hours from my family.  That can be challenging at times, but it also turns out to be awesome too.

…Because that means these cute little kiddos get to sleep at my house for the whole weekend.  There is something wonderful about having your family all stay together in the same house.

I am looking forward to game nights, late night visits, yummy food, and listening to my kids play with their cousins.

Our family always divides up the meal, and each person is in charge of a few things.  It makes it so easy and really no stress for me at all.

I look forward to all the yummy food.  I mostly look forward to the sweet potatoes and the stuffing.

I have some favorite recipes, I would love to share them with you.

It will add to your Thanksgiving dinner, and make you look forward to eating them each year.  I know I do.

 

Sweet Potato Souffle:

Mix together:

3 C. boiled and mashed sweet potatoes

1/2 C. sugar

1/3 C. milk

1/2 C. melted butter

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

Once it is mixed place in a 9x13 pan.  Add the topping.

Topping:

1 C. brown sugar

1/3 C. melted butter

1/3 C. flour

1 C. chopped pecans

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes

Cornbread and Wild Rice Stuffing

Ingredients:

1 cup of wild rice(I use uncle bens microwave kind)

8 slices of stale Italian bread cut into cubes

1 tube pork sausage(Jimmy Dean)

4 T. butter

1 large onion, chopped

3 medium celery ribs, chopped

3 cups packaged corn bread stuffing like Stove top

1 Cup dried cranberries

1/2 C. chopped parsley

3 t. thyme

3/4 t. ground pepper

2 to 2 1/2 C. chicken broth

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Microwave your rice for 90 seconds or cook your rice in water until moist.

2.  Meanwhile spread cubed bread on a jelly roll pan and bake until lightly toasted.  Stir once.  Takes about 15 minutes.

3.  In a large skillet cook sausage until browned.  Rinse the fat with hot water in a colander.  Add it to a large dish.

4.  Add butter, onion, and celery to a skillet.  Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the vegetables are softened.  Pour into dish with sausage.

5.  Add rice, bread, bread stuffing, cranberries, parsley, thyme and pepper.  Toss to mix.  Drizzle with 2 cups chicken broth, tossing until evenly moistened.  Add remaining broth if needed.

I like to put this in a dish that I can put in the oven to keep warm until I serve it.

I actually make both of these recipes the day before, and then bake them the day of.

You will not be sorry with either of these dishes; they are simple & delicious.

Now that I am finally thinking about Thanksgiving, it was time to pull out my holiday planner and start making some lists.

I love this little binder.  It comes out the first part of November and I plan out the next 2 months.

Let’s face it.  There is a lot to remember this time of year, and lists are a must.

If you would like to have one of these SWEET binders for yourself, you can find the FREE printable here.

I thought it might be fun to leave you with a look at how my Thanksgiving mantle has changed over the years.

Enjoy!!

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

(taken with my iphone)

That Thanksgiving banner has been around a while, but I still love it. I’m glad I made it. 

P.S.  I made it out of brown paper sacks, and book pages; so it was completely free.

I hope and pray your month can be full of blessings and thankfulness for all you have been given.

Today

Today was a cold and wet day.  Did I mention it was a cold day?

We woke up this morning, and about an hour after our little peepers opened the snow began to fall.

Tess was so excited and of course she wanted to run right outside to check out the snow.

I think she is excited about ski season.

After we got the kiddos off to school, Tess and I went to the gym.

Tess laughed the entire walk from our car into the gym.  She was laughing about the snow.

It made me think about how differently children and adults think about life.

I’m thinking about how cold it is, and how I don’t want to drive in it.

Tess was thinking about how fun this was going to be.  This simple little thing was so amazing to her.  Especially since it has been a whole year since she had seen the snow. 

I am thankful children can bring us back down and help us get excited about the little things too.

so… today I am savoring being a mom and enjoying the little things.

I am trying hard to be better about my journaling.  I am trying to find time to write down the little things that happen in a day, and also find the time to write down the big things.

Stella made me laugh this morning when I asked her what she wanted for Christmas. 

She told me, “I want a 4 wheeler.” 

I replied, “okay, I need another idea just in case Santa can’t bring the 4 wheeler, or find a way to get it in our house.”

Stella said, “I have another idea, tell him to park it outside.”

I love Stella’s personality.  She is so stubborn, determined and blunt, but she does it all in a loving, funny sort of way.

I love that she knows a 4 wheeler might be a hard gift to come up with, but she is going to tell you she wants one anyway.

These are the funny little moments I want to remember. I made sure I took the time to write it down this morning, and stick it in my smash journal.

Speaking of smash journals, I have enjoyed making them for a few friends and family members as gifts lately.

I have such strong feelings about keeping records.  I know that writing things down can have so many benefits. 

There are so many ways to record our thoughts and happenings in life now with instagram, facebook, smash journals, and blogs.

Even a #hashtag can say so much

for example:

Posted on Instagram: After school snack.

#feedingthestarvingswensons

I also made a smash journal for Jonathan and I.  We have started writing simple notes back and forth to each other.  This little smash journal gives us a place to stick all those little notes.  I keep thinking how fun this will be for our kids to go back and read someday. These simple notes will be part of our history someday.

As our life gets busier and busier, I struggle with finding the time for writing down the memories.  I hope and pray that I can work on this and get better; especially here on this blog.

….because I don’t want to forget about the little things like laughing because it’s snowing, or asking for a four-wheeler for Christmas.

It’s the times when I sit down to digital scrapbook that I realize just how special and important writing can be.

I incorporate my blog into my scrapbook and as I go back and read what I wrote clear back in 2008 I am so thankful I wrote it down.  There are so many things I would have completely forgotten about.

In the past, blogging has been such a big commitment for me.  It has been very time consuming.

I spend way to much time editing pictures, uploading, and including everything.  I need to simplify this process somehow.  Any ideas? I’ve never been known to keep things simple.

Today, I want to commit to just sitting down and writing more.  Even if it’s just a few lines here and there. 

Today was a good day. 

Next week I probably won’t remember much about it, but now I have this to remind me.

I am thankful for that.

I’m thankful that in 2019 when I finally get around to scrapbooking the year 2014, these words will be here.

Laughing about snow, and 4-wheelers for Christmas will not be forgotten.

Family

There is something amazing about the word family.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. 

Each family is unique and different.

My favorite part about my family is that we get each other.

I can almost guess what my husband or kids are going to say and do sometimes.

My children almost always know what to expect from me.

It’s because we spend so much time together.

It’s because being a part of a family is comfortable and safe.

I feel so lucky that I am a part of this family.

God knew what he was doing when he designed the family.

He knew it would be much easier to journey through this life as a family.

I am thankful he knew I needed a partner to share in this journey.

I am grateful he led me to this partner.

I have recently struggled as a mother as I’ve watched my older children grow-up, and do so many more things outside of the home.

It was also such a bittersweet day when my little 4 year old turned 5 a few weeks ago.

….and then I found this quote.

Family:

like branches on a tree,

we all grow in different directions,

yet our roots remain as one.

I just pray that I help strengthen their roots, and nurture them the way that is just right for them.

That when they do go in different directions, they know where their roots are planted.  I hope and pray they are planted firmly in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for this family.

Family photos taken this September by: Emily Chadwick

Edited by: Me