Disney World Was a Blast!!

We obviously found the drums in the Africa section of the Animal Kingdom.




Maya was much more enthralled with meeting the characters. Ethan tended to take a swing at them until we got after him for being rude.


Todd and Maya trekking through the jungle. Okay, well somewhere within the Animal Kingdom. I'm not sure exactly where I snapped the photo.


ET and Stitch, before the feud. To test his strength, Ethan clasped hands with Stitch. They then both pushed to see who was stronger. Ethan pushed Stitch back a ways. It was about time for Stitch to go, so we started to leave. Stitch followed Ethan with his hands up to request a rematch. It was great fun.


Here's Maya kissing Tigger. She must really like Tigger, because he's the only character that received a kiss, at least from Maya. Ethan was kissing a cute French hostess at one of our dinners.

Christmas Soon Will Be Here

We can't escape the excitement of Christmas. Especially now that Ethan is almost 5. He is more than a little enthusiastic every time he sees Christmas lights as we drive around, or decorations in the stores.

We recently received a gingerbread house kit, which he saw. Of course he started hounding us to make it ever since we got it. So, one evening before he could ask yet again, we broke out the set and made a gingerbread house.

The kids loved it, and I have to say, with really young kids the sets are the way to go. We've baked our own gingerbread and made our own icing in years past. All that waiting wears on the patience of little ones. This kit had all the pieces cut and icing already in a squeezable bag. Simple, slightly neater and much faster for that holiday tradition.

I'm not saying we won't bake them in the future when the kids are older, have more patience, and better fine motor skills. But for the next few years I think I'm going to cheat a little. At least on the gingerbread houses for the kids. We may become quite the gingerbread family if the excitement factor holds out a few more years.