Thanksgiving 2011

We got back from Disney and a few days later hopped in the car to drive to Rocky Mount for Thanksgiving!  My cousin David and his wife Claire were so sweet to let us crash there Wednesday night along with Sarah and Caroline.  It was like a huge sleepover!  We had the best time!  And I think we set a record for the most people ever at Thanksgiving at my Aunt Lyn's: 56!  Granmama had 13 of 14 grandchildren there and 11 out of 16 great-grandchildren.  When we all gathered for the blessing before the meal, she looked around and said, "I'm just amazed that I started all of this!".

David and Will with their girls.

I can't believe both of them are smiling!!

Hi, y'all!

Four generations

Sarah and sweet Caroline, just a grinning!

The Collins Clan

The attempt at getting Granmama with all of the great-grandchildren.

Granmama and all of the grandchildren 

Anna with an attitude!

My favorite: Granmama and her five children

...and with spouses.
I'm still shocked that my parents are the only ones still in their first marriage.

My crazy Aunt Cathy and her family

Four generations with Sa and Caroline

Babies...

...and more babies...

...and more babies.

Aunt Cathy goofing off with Jack.

Love her!

After a fun day with the Collins clan, we headed back west for dinner with the Hege family.

We have so many, many reasons to be thankful this year!  We are so blessed!

Our Trip to Disney World

In November, we left Jack with Mimi and Will and I took Anna to Disney World.  She is at the prime "princess age" and we knew she would absolutely love it.  I think Will was more excited about going than anyone!  We had been planning the trip for months and couldn't believe it was actually here.  We did the "big reveal" on Saturday afternoon before we left on Sunday.  We told Anna that she was going on a big trip and then had her open a gift with an Ariel figurine in it.  She immediately shouted "Disney World!" and started flailing all over the den in excitement.  We hurried to pack and were off the very next morning!

Waiting patiently at the airport (at least Anna was!)

Ready to fly!

We're here! Well, almost...

The wait to get on Mickey's Magical Express
to the hotel was a little much for our little traveler.

Mommy and Anna with leis at The Polynesian.

 We woke up Monday morning and were off to the Magic Kingdom...

Anna started to not feel so great this day...you can see it in this picture.
And Mommy was coughing like crazy!  But we couldn't be sick--we were at Disney World!

Anna was so excited about her Belle set!

We showered and changed for dinner.
The ladies that cleaned our room were so creative with the towels!

We went to Chef Mickey's for dinner and saw Mickey and all of his gang.

Anna really started putting everything together
once she got going with her autograph book.

Tuesday morning we headed for Epcot and Anna did not look or feel great when we got there.
A trip to the infirmary confirmed a 102 temperature.  We had to miss lunch with Snow White. :(

We found an "urgent" care and spent the next 4.5 hours there.
The grand result: Anna had a double ear infection, Mommy had bronchitis,
and we both ended up on antibiotics!

Anna bounced right back after a first dose of antibiotic and a night of rest,
so she and Daddy headed to Hollywood Studios while Mommy recuperated.

Everyone was better on Thursday, so we were off to Animal Kingdom.

Thursday night we meandered around Downtown Disney.
Anna was really impressed with all the Legos!

 Friday was the day we had all been waiting for...it was princess day and thank the Lord everyone felt better for it!

Mommy and Anna waiting for her turn in the Bibbiti Bobbity Boutique.

Surprise, she picked Cinderella!

Katherine--her fairy godmother in training!

All dolled up and off to eat lunch with Cinderella!

One happy princess!

 The only princess that wasn't at lunch was Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty).  We just HAD to find her so we could complete the autograph book!  Off we went on a furious princess chase!  We finally found her...and Belle had changed into her golden gown, too!

Look!

One wiped out princess!

Back for late-night at the Magic Kingdom

Sleeping Beauty had to ride the tea cups, too!

Daddy and Anna watching the last show.

Being silly on the way home.  What a trip!