Our "Magical" Disney Christmas...

We were very blessed to spend Christmas at Disney with Eric's family.  Eric's parents are now snow birds for six months of the year in Davenport, FL, real close to Disney.  So Disney it was!  Eric's brother, Brian also came to Disney for the week!  It was so fun to be at Disney over Christmas with all the Christmas decorations, lights, and parades.  Great memories for one year, but to be honest, we wouldn't choose to go back at Christmas because of how busy it was.  It's impossible to do everything at the parks regardless (although we sure tried!), but it's even harder when you experienced wall to wall people all week!!  We had our share of melt downs - kids and adults (ha!) - but it truly was one of my favorite weeks!  I know I've heard adults talk about Disney before, and I didn't quite get "it" but now that we have been with our children, I can't wait to return.  There certainly is a science to how to plan your time at the parks, so I was thankful to make daily texts and sometimes calls to my sister and brother (who have become Disney gurus and great travel guides!).  I really want to try to pick my favorite pictures, but bear with me, it will be difficult to do! 

Entering Radiator Springs for the first time

So excited to finally see McQueen in person!!

And Sally!

 First night was at the Magic Kingdom...Stanley's first ride was the tea cups, and Clara's was on dumbo!  Love their little faces so excited!

 This was the first of a series of pictures of Stanley in his Mater bed - it was a Murphy bed.  Stanley loved pulling his bed down every night, and there Mater was already sleeping!!  Every night, Stanley just had to have a picture in his Mater bed.  

 Mama and her girl on Christmas day, riding on the bus to Magic Kingdom

 Waiting for the Winnie the Pooh ride...one of their favorites!

 Stanley's first "holer" coaster ride on the Barnstormer with Uncle Brian, he rode this one three times!  He loved it, I can't wait until he can ride the bigger roller coasters, he was 3/4 inch too short for Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain which he would have loved!

 This is how our kiddos sat the whole week in our stroller...we have a love-hate relationship with that stroller!

 Stanley giving a play by play of his first "holer" coaster ride!

 One of my favorite shots of the kids - loving one of the Christmas parades!

 Papaw and Memaw George enjoying a break while we wait in line for a ride.

 Taking a break...

 Naps were hard to come by at Disney, so she slept whenever she couldn't go anymore!

 Merry Christmas from the George's!

 Christmas evening, we had dinner with all of our Disney friends...there was time to meet all the characters, a Christmas dinner, dancing, and a whole lot of fun!!  Clara loved the characters from afar, turns out when she was encouraged to go up to the characters, she wasn't too crazy about that!  So eventually Mommy had to help so she could see them up close, although she wasn't too crazy about it!

Memaw comforting little Clara after Donald and Daisy were a little scary up close! 

Notice Clara is still checking them out, she's just not too sure!

She still can't keep her eyes off of them, you just don't know what Mickey and Minnie will
do if you aren't watching them!

Eating ice cream bars

Dancing the night away!

Back at the hotel after a fun day at Magic Kingdom, here the kids are checking out the art work on the walls...

Photo bomb!!

 When the mice are sleeping, the cats will play...after a long day at Magic Kingdom, Eric, Brian, and I returned so we could ride the "big" rides!  Good choice, we had very short waits and got to ride all the rides I remember as a kid!

 The next day, we took it easy in the morning, we were already tired!!  Stanley was running around in his CARS pajamas while checking out all of his friends!

Swimming in the Nemo pool...we went swimming on the best day 

as far as weather, gotta love heated pools!!

 At Hollywood Studios, we got to meet Woody and Buzz!  And, McQueen and Mater (again!)...Still Clara is very unsure of these guys...

Mama, take another picture of me on bed, please!

Hanging out in the room

Doc!

 The decor of the resort was awesome!

 At Animal Kingdom, we enjoyed Finding Nemo and the Lion King Shows.  

AHHH, Mater, you are biting my head off!

 Celebrating Stanley's 4th birthday Mickey style!

Bathroom, too fun!
Below, ready to get in a line, and the kids were enjoying some music in the park!

Our last day at Disney

Our last night in our CARS dream world!