Disney in Numbers... Our Magical Vacation

In all honesty, Disney World had never been on my priority list of vacations.  I had never been in my 35 years and my kids had never been either.  Chris had spoken with a Disney Planner while at work and the ball got rolling for a Disney Vacation.  Mainly, a Disney Cruise but we also got to spend a day at Magic Kingdom.

To say I had a lot to buy and plan after we booked the trip was an understatement.  I am not a big "character" fan so my kids owned no shirts or clothes Disney related.  Actually, other than toys, they had nothing Disney... so the shopping began!

I thought it would be fun to share our experience with Disney in numbers!

35

Number of days left until the trip when we finally told the kids.  We kept this a secret for over two months which was hard but we did it!  A scavenger hunt on the last day of school led to surprises along the way and ended with a Disney Cruise video and a huge box of Disney surprises!

6

...in the morning.  The time we left the house for our trip.  Waking up at 5:00 was bad enough for me.  Waking the kids was even worse!  As you can tell, Sullivan was not very thrilled with being up this early and having her picture taken!

8.5
The number of hours we had to drive to get to Disney World.  Why didn't you just fly, you ask?!  I hate flying.  Like, really hate it so driving it was!

6-28-14

Our full day in the Magic Kingdom.  It was a long day but so worth it.  I was just as excited as my kids were and it totally lived up to everyone's love for it!

2

Number of minutes we waited to meet Elsa and Anna.  Thank you Fast Pass... that was the best choice I made the whole trip and to see the excitement on Sullivan's face was priceless!  I had kept meeting them a secret just in case Fast Pass lines were long as well!

120

Number of minutes people without Fast Passes had to wait to meet Elsa and Anna.  Again, thank you Fast Pass!

20

The longest amount of minutes we had to wait for any ride and/or character.  It was an awesome day! Chris and the kids are waiting to go on Ariel's Under the Sea ride.

13

Hours spent in one day at Magic Kingdom.  Our kids rocked!  They never complained, they never whined, they never once said they are tired.. nothing.  Nobody fell asleep in our arms and everybody had fun!  But by the end of the day, they were done!

6-29-14

Day we drove to Port Canaveral and boarded the Disney Dream.  So, so exciting!!!

14

Number of passenger decks aboard the Disney Dream

8612

Our stateroom number aboard the Disney Dream.  We loved our room and I have already asked Chris to book the exact same room on the next cruise.  I'm sentimental and think it would be neat!

35 (again)
Our table number at each restaurant.  The kids loved it because our table number was the same as Mama's age!

217 and 1115

The height in feet  and length in feet of the Disney Dream

26

Approximate number times Camden and Chris rode the Aqua Duck... Disney Dream's Water Roller Coaster.

13 (again)

Number of feet the Aqua Duck hangs over the open waters of the ocean without the ship under it!

765

Number of feet long of the Aqua Duck.

24

Number of cookies ordered from room service.  We would order 4 Chocolate chip and 2 Oatmeal Raisin (for me) every single night around 10:30 or 11:00.  Those cookies were huge too!

1

A few things fall into the number one.  This is number of escargot I tried.  I thought they were disgusting!  This is also the place our kids took in the Vegetable Car race aboard the ship.

6

Number of Disney Princesses aboard the Disney Dream.  Sullivan was so excited to get to meet Tiana, Ariel, Rapunzel,  Snow White, Cinderella and Belle.

7

Number of Disney movies we watched while swimming in the pool.

0

Number of times anyone got sea sick!  Thankfully, the trip was smooth sailing and no one had problems!  We did have back-up just in case.

1258

Number of pictures I took myself on the trip.

100 

Number of pictures the ship photographers took of our family!

I hope you enjoyed our Disney in Numbers!  This does not even begin to touch the pictures I have to share but thought this would be the most fun way to bring you our Disney Memories!

Pink Sassafras

If anyone really knows me, you know I have a "If they can do that, I can do it, too" attitude.  So, when I see things created on Pinterest, I always recreate them myself and try them!  Especially when it comes to invitations, party ideas, gift tags and more!  

I have always created and made my own children's invitations, party decorations, labels and tons of other items.  I thought, why not sell it too?!  So I opened up a little shop on Etsy - Pink Sassafras.  I guess it was sort of named for our daughter, Sullivan.  We have always called her Sassafras as a nickname and being the girly-girl she is, pink is obviously her favorite color!  

I thought I would give you a sample of items I create and sell.  Plus, I can for the most part do any custom order you would like also!  Visit Pink Sassafras by clicking here!

Examples of Iron on Transfers for shirts, bags, towels and more!

Examples of Invitations

Examples of treat toppers and tags

Happy First Day of School!!!

Today is the day!  My sweet kiddos start a brand new school year!  I am not a morning person so waking up early to prepare for them waking up is not fun for me!   But I did it and went upstairs a little later to first, wake up Camden.  He is a morning person (normally) but today did not want to wake up!  As I am dragging him up, I hear a door slam, peek out his door and Sullivan, who likes to sleep extra late, is wide awake with a smile on her face, ready for her first day of Kindergarten!

Of course, we had to take pictures galore and take their teachers a back to school goodie!  We get to walk them in to school the first two days which makes this mama happy!  But after I got to each room, they just went on their merry way and kind of ignored me!  

Of course, I posted the First Day of School signs on here for everyone to use but I always create my kids their own, more personalized one.

New backpacks and lunch boxes...

Arriving at school...

And of course, their goodies for their teachers... I sell all of my fun creations in my Etsy shop as well - Pink Sassafras!  Stop by and visit for these cute tags!  The marker tags are not posted yet but will be later today!

Pink Sassafras on Etsy - Bright Year Tags (click here)

And last but not least - Who wouldn't want to learn in this super cool classroom?!?!  Sullivan's class has an awesome Reading Loft they can climb up in and relax with a good book!

Twas the Night Before School Started

Oh my goodness... it is so hard to believe the school year is already upon us!  This year, I will have not just one but both kids in "big" school.  Camden will be a 2nd Grader and Sullivan begins her journey in Kindergarten.  

I never thought I would get emotional because let's face it, who doesn't get excited over the thought of a quiet house all to your self?!?!  Well, that didn't work so well for me!  My sidekick for the last 5 years has left for school and I have no one to talk to each day, no one to run errands with each day and no one to keep me entertained!  I guess now, my husband will expect me to keep our house clean all the time since I will be home all day!

Mommy and Sullivan shared hugs and snuggles before her 1st day of big school!

We continued our tradition of tucking each child in and getting excited for school and with Sullivan, we did the same thing as we had done with Camden and we read The Night Before Kindergarten with her and read her surprise from her teacher.

Her teacher had given her a special card with special glitter to sprinkle under her pillow for good sleep!  She loved it but Daddy had to read it so I would not cry.  I read the book and got a little choked up a few times.

 

Back to School Fun

What parent doesn't love taking precious pictures on the first day of school?!?!  And even better, pictures of your children holding that infamous 1st Day of School sign!  I have done it every year for both of my children and I usually make my own sign the night before.  I decided this year to share my signs with everyone!

Enjoy this set of chalkboard style first day of school signs!  Grab them below and print as manny as you would like!  Of course, I feel like I am clueless with being able to print these from the blog.  I recommend saving them as a download and then printing or you can go to my Teachers Pay Teachers site and download all of them for free!