When You Wish Upon a Star

Call us crazy. We took Miriam to Disney World...again! Craig's family went for the entire week of Gentry's Spring Break, so we decided we would join them at the end for a few days. Once again, M was a trooper and did great. She is still unsure about the characters.

We arrived on Wednesday night in time to meet the rest of the family at Chef Mickey's for dinner. M loved the characters from a distance, but it was a completely different story when they came to our table. Needless to say, we gave up on pictures this night.

Our first day was spent at Magic Kingdom. M loved riding Dumbo, the Little Mermaid, and It's a Small World. We took a break in the afternoon so she could take a nap at the hotel before our princess character dinner at Epcot. 

We met Belle, Snow White, Aurora, Mulan, and Ariel. M was not as scared of the princesses, but it still took her a little while to warm up to them. 

We spent day 2 at Animal Kingdom. We had an early character breakfast, so we arrived before the park opened. It was nice to walk through the park and past the tree without the crowds. M loved dancing at breakfast, seeing the animals on the safari, and watching the Nemo show. 

On our last day, we started at Magic Kingdom with the welcome show and a few rides. We went to Epcot for a few hours, but M slept most of the time. She did wake up to have her picture made with Mickey, Goofy, & Minnie. We finished our trip with dinner at Be Our Guest and a few more rides at Magic Kingdom. Craig enjoyed late hours on the last night with Charlie while the rest of us slept. 

Thanks Meme & Papa for a wonderful trip. 

Ice Ice Baby

 

Every winter I want one really good snow. You know the kind: building snowmen, throwing snowballs, sledding. You wake up and the ground is completely covered in the most beautiful, white powder that leaves no trace of dead grass. Well, I had high hopes last week. Yes, Craig was off work for three days, which was so nice, but my dreams of snow were shattered. We were given ice with a dusting of snow a few days later. It was freezing, and I was trapped in the house for five days. M did enjoy being pulled in the sled and walking outside for short periods of time. I hope we have more snow as she grows older, but for now, I'm ready for Spring.

 Thank you for Target for this $4 sled.

Enjoying the snow on day 3

 It was pretty!

Her feelings by the end of the week.

She's ready for warmer weather too.

You've Got a Friend in Me

 

Meet my friends the Turkeys

Senior Year 2006 (that's why we look like babies)

In college, I met some of the most amazing friends. We call ourselves the Turkeys. The name derived on a road trip to Centerville at the beginning of our sophomore year. We were walking in the field on our friend's land when one of the guys made the comment about how we looked like a bunch of turkeys. You see, we were always together. You didn't see one of us, without seeing the rest of us. Some people may find that annoying or intimidating. We just found that's how we functioned best. Life would not be the same without these friends. In hard times, they are there to cry with me, pray with me, and encourage me. In happy times, they are there to celebrate with me, laugh with me, and enjoy the special moments with me. In every other time between, I know they are praying for me, loving me, and ready to drop anything for me. What a beautiful friendship!!

We started a tradition in 2009 that may be my favorite. And believe me, we have had some great memories and traditions over the years. Every year we take a trip over MLK weekend. No kids are allowed, so it's just us girls. We laugh. We reminisce. We share the latest joys and frustrations. We stay up way too late. We eat too much food. And we just enjoy being together. It's one of my favorite weekends of the entire year. I get to spend an entire weekend with some of the most incredible women in my life, and I'm so thankful to God for this friendship.

 2009 Chicago

me, Sarah, Jenny, Meaghan, Emily, Betsy, & Kristen

 2010 Kansas City

Kristen, Emily, me, Jenny, & Betsy

2011 Hot Springs

Kristen, Betsy, Meaghan, Sarah, Emily, & me

 2012 Birmingham

me, Betsy, Emily, Meaghan, Jenny, & Allison

2013 Wise's Lake House

Top: Meaghan, Allison, & Kristen

Bottom: me, Emily, Betsy, & Jenny

Not pictured: Sarah

2014 Atlanta

Miriam was a month old, so I missed this trip

2015 Destin

Jenny, Emily, me, Kristen, & Betsy

A lot has changed over the years, but one thing will always be the same. These girls are friends I can depend on no matter what happens. Remember, we just do life better together. Love you girls!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

2014 Girls Night

I have some special little girls in my life, my cousins. I will always refer to them as "the little girls" no matter how old they are or how tall they grow. You see, two of them were flower girls in my wedding at the age of 2. The other 4 have been born since that time. 

Five years ago, we lost their amazing Gran (my aunt, my mom's only sister; yes, that's why my mom goes by the name Gran today) suddenly. It was unexpected and a whirlwind of days in the hospital. That Christmas my mom wanted to do something special with the little girls, and Bethany and I wanted to start a tradition with them that their Gran had done with us. That Christmas we had a tea party, and it was magical. Bethany and I started giving the little girls Christmas ornaments, because their aunt gave us one every year. It was something small we could do to keep her memory alive. Each year we try to do something special with the little girls as well as give them the ornament. Here's a look back...

2009 Tea Party

Elsie, Lucy, Grandma, Sophie, & Naomi

 2010 Gingerbread Houses

Grandma, me, Sophie, Lucy, mom, Elsie, & Bethany

2011 Handprint Trees

Lucy, Sophie, Lola, Bethany, & Elsie

2012 Marshmallow Snowmen (not pictured)

2013 Brunch at my house but no craft...I had a baby who was less than a week old. I think I deserve a pass for this year.

This year Bethany & I decided to have the little girls over to my house one Friday night, so their parents could go out for a few hours. (One year we may try a sleepover, but we aren't brave enough yet.) We ordered pizza, made our own lip gloss, made & decorated sugar cookies, painted fingernails, and had fun being together. Oh how I wish, their sweet Gran could be here to see them now. For now, we will try our best to show & tell them about her.

 Making sugar cookies

 Decorating cookies

I'm sure their parents loved that we gave them lots of sugar before sending them home. 

 Painting nails

Sweet cousins helping each other

2014 Ornaments

Elsie, Lola, Sophie, Lucy, & Corinne 

magical

 

 A Magical Birthday Celebration

Both of my parents turned 60 this year, so we planned a family vacation to the happiest place on earth. More than anything, Mom & Dad enjoy us all being together, but it doesn't happen too often with Adam, Cathy, & Latham in Virginia and Bethany (until recently) all over the map. Well, Disney did not disappoint. We all arrived at different times on Friday. We spent Saturday, Sunday, & Monday in the parks before leaving on Tuesday. We packed it full and went nonstop. We visited every park (Magic Kingdom & Epcot multiple times) and had a wonderful vacation together. Until our next family adventure, enjoy the following pictures. I'm sure you will wish you were with us!!

 We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort

 Day 1 started at Magic Kingdom

 Dumbo was our first ride

 M loved all of the rides

 Magic Carpets

 Dad, Luke, Mom, Bethany, and me

By the afternoon, MK was getting crowded so we hopped over to Epcot for a few hours. 

 MK had late hours on our first night. Thanks to Gran & Granddaddy for keeping M, Craig & I were able to enjoy some rides with Bethany & Luke way past our normal bedtime.

 Day 2 started at Hollywood Studios

Doc McStuffins was one of the few characters M liked. It was so nice to enjoy a character meal each day, even if M screamed. Watching Latham with the characters made it all worthwhile!

 Toy Story Mania

 The lights at Hollywood Studios were amazing!

Notice M: She was a trooper. She was completely off her schedule and out way past her bedtime, but she did great! 

 The original Copeland gang

 Day 3 started at Animal Kingdom

The Tree of Life

 Gran & Granddaddy enjoyed being at Disney with Miriam & Latham

 We were sad Luke had to leave early and missed meeting Minnie & Mickey

 M liked the characters if they left her alone. Thanks Minnie & Mickey

We ended our trip back at MK with late hours. M slept through the parade.

Happy 60th Birthdays to Mom & Dad! I'm so glad we could celebrate & spend time together. We look forward to more family vacations in the future.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6