Disney Day One-2013

The Military's best perk are the Disney Park Hoppers. Such a fantastic discount! We take advantage as often as we can because maybe one day they will not offer it anymore. That would make us Sad.

We got to the park at 7:45 like true adventurers! Little did we know that the park doesn't open until 9:00am during off season! So we waited, and were a little bummed that we didn't know this. We usually go in summer show up at 8am and stay til midnight, hardcore! Now we know.

 We started our day in Cars land, we wanted to get fast passes to Radiator Springs Racers! Best ride at the park, its so much fun. Fast Passes run out within an hour of opening so you have to be first and you have to be quick.
These are GOLDEN!! Disney also has the parent pass, so if you have a little kid who is to short to ride, you get a pass to go to the front of the line when the other parent comes off. Brilliant!

Luigis Flying Tires

 Mater driving through Radiator Springs!

The one huge plus about Disney in the Spring was the weather and the foliage. It was so beautiful! It smelled amazing too.

 I surprised Hailey with a trip to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, she has always wanted to do it and I thought she was old enough to appreciate the expensive trip to the salon. She had so much fun!

Meet Princess Hailey!

 1:00 back to Racers! So much fun.

 Radiator springs is done so well, they didn't skip a single detail when building it. Its my favorite place in California Adventure.

 The Cozy Cone hotel! They have the yummiest Pretzel Bites and such good slushees!

 Our friends came to hang out with us for the day. It was so nice to see them and the kids were so excited!

 Epic group shot.

 A beautiful first day At Disney!

After our friends left, we went and explored Adventure Land and Frontier Land and Toon Town.

 Sadly in Spring, Disney closed at EIGHT! What!?  Again we were shocked haha. In spring there are no lines, beautiful weather, beautiful plants, but I was really bummed about the times. We like to party all night!

 We had ice cream as the park closed and then ran over to California Adventure (who closes at 9)  to see World of Color!

 World of Color is done completely on water, projecting movies onto the water, it is so beautiful!

 Here is a scene from UP.

 and Buzz and Woody

Such a fun first day!!!

Moms Weekend Away

A couple of years ago when we moved to Colorado I had high expectations of all the friends I would reunite with. It turned out that Colorado Springs was a lot more isolating than I imagined and driving to Denver everyday for friendship was not going to cut it. After just 10 days of living here Russ was off to Korea and I was left to fend for myself with the 3 kiddos. One of the first things I did was look up the Mops in my area. I started at one church and they were meeting every other Thursday, I tried it out and just didn't feel like I fit in. Then after Winter break came and went I tried another Mops, I was excited about this one because it was ONCE A WEEK! Socialization with other moms?! Yes please!

Turns out, it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I made a huge community of friends who are all amazing people. I have never in my life had this big of a support system filled with so many great friends. I am so glad I went to mops, even better moms weekend away!

Every year we go off to the Hideaway, a bed and breakfast tucked away in the woods, we have a speaker and FREE TIME, plus hot tubs, plus those aforementioned women, and it turns into quite a weekend of fun!

This is Ruth, she was my mentor mom last year in Mops and again this year, and probably for always. I cherish her dearly!

 We spent time frolicking in the woods without a care in the world!

 and found a weapons shack just in case of apocalypse? maybe?

 We stared and stared at the beauty of Pikes peak.

 Created a table in the hot tub to trap the escaping heat. Pivot!

 Spent a lot of time here...

 our hideaway.

 We brought along a friend who couldn't make it this year.

 She had a fun weekend!

 and so did I with my loves. If you are a lonely mom, I highly recommend finding yourself a Mops group and building a community. Every one should have a net.

P.S. If you read my blogs, leave me some love in the blog comments so I know you're out there! No one likes to talk to themselves :)