HItting the Road!

What child could not...would not....get excited about this?! A personal invitation (so T thinks) from Mickey Mouse himself. And there was G hoppin' along the party wagon just by reacting to his bro's reactions! It was a great night w/ a great video to match to tell the boys about our big family vaca! Everyday afterward T read the letter over and over again. It was too sweet. He even kept reminding G where we were headed! And even tonight, weeks later, we saw a commercial for Disney and T excitedly screeched " We just went there! Remember everybody?" Some pics from the commercial must have been familiar to G as well bc he came running to me "mommy, mommy...dis dis (this, this) tee bee tee bee (tv)" and clapped and nodded his yes repeatedly. I got teary-eyed! They remember and will for years to come with the hundreds of photos we have. More to come on that whole adventure but I just had to post the beginning stage of our expedition and the part I was most excited to present to the kiddos! Their little mini dream come true....and mine too bc it continues to be my happy place, too!

Do you feel Springtime?

His first egg discovery!

Awww!

Actually saying 'cheese' for the camera!


Choco is in heaven!

The long awaited dessert!

It was soooooo nice to return home from beautiful Florida weather to a NICE spring day here in Chicago. But don't get too excited...it's not like we took advantage of the nice day n played outside or had some massive outdoor egg hunt. The only reason I know it was nice out was bc we made last minute reservations for early dinner with the inlaws at Via Veneto and we HAD to step outside. Otherwise I would have remained inside w/ my laundry, cleaning, picking up, menu making, laying out of clothes (you know-all that daily grind stuff I DID NOT miss on vacation!). We are so beat that I was lucky to remember to make up the Easter baskets last nite and set them out before I crashed. Then even luckier to put together an impromptu hunt (a measley 6 eggs total-plastic ones filled w/ the Easter candy grandma sent awhile ago, thx grandma!) this morning while the boys played upstairs and were distracted.

As minor as it was they had fun! And we had fun following them around taking pics. I mean, who turns down candy at 8 am!!! Certainly not my kids, especially Grayson! After the dinky hunt we sat down for a massive breakfast (my eyes n stomach were huge this morning and I went all out -thanks to Caden) of eggs, rice, sausage, bacon, toast with peanut butter and Nutella, and pancakes with whip cream and strawberries. Okay now I am hungry again! Then we snuck in a lil nap before the restaurant.

As relaxing as I wanted the day to be it wasn't but I did have my chances to reflect on how blessed we are. Yeah it wasnt the picture perfect Easter in which all family members are present and laughing and dining at the same table but I was thankful. Thankful to be safe and healthy after a long trip. Thankful to be able to take our kids on such a trip and build some wonderful memories. Thankful that we had some time to spend with the inlaws who missed the boys alot. Thankful to have a roof over our heads and food and all those things we often take for granted. Thankful to know that this is an Easter holiday just the 4 of us and next year the 5 of us! Thankful for life! It was a blurry kinda day but worth it. I love my family and life and will continue to remind myself of that from this day on (especially til June 18th!). Thank you, God , for all you have blessed us with. I hope to continue to please you along the way.