Goodbye Walt

We stayed a week and truly enjoyed ourselves, but were ready to head home.  Suffering from Disney overload we decided we'd wait at least 5 years before heading back.  One last look at the magnificent castle, all decked out in Christmas lights:

The Yearling

While we enjoyed Orlando, Christian and I needed a little breathing room from the Mickey and pals, so we headed two hours north to the historic property of Marjorie Rawlins, the woman who wrote The Yearling.  Cross Creek was small town in every sense of the word - one restaurant (and it was closed of course), a few big homes hidden behind huge trees, a couple trailer parks, and some swampland.  But for some reason it was magical.  I've never seen Spanish moss like this before and the palm trees (Or are they bushes?  Someone please educate this desert-grown girl) mixed in with every other kind of living thing made our nature walk feel like the jungle.  It was quiet and warm and delightful.

At her home sat neglected citrus trees and a backdoor to a national park - it was incredible.  We happened upon a few old gentlemen who come periodically to tend the house and pick the fruit then drive it 100 miles back to their town and become Robin Hood, doling out fruit to the poor.  Quite a lovely arrangement and quite lovely men - old, southern, country folk who loaded us up with oranges and memories.

 We asked the boys what their favorite part of the trip was and Jack said it was picking oranges and spending time with Gammy.  So much for the $$$ we spent on Disney!  I was happy to hear it though.
This is some homemade orange picker - a wire hanger bent in a loop and duct taped to a pole.

 Kumquats!  They were incredible - right off the tree and you eat the whole thing, peel and all.

 Just look at this park.  I've never seen anything like it.  Georgia stayed tucked inside - warm.

 It's amazing to watch children enjoy a standard playground as much or more than the roller coasters and show that Disney puts on.  I suppose in the end kids just like room to run.

Charles was in heaven - sticks everywhere!  Disney World was pretty low on sticks.

Characters

Oh we loved the characters!  Charles especially seemed enchanted by them.  

Winnie the Pooh was, in my opinion, the softest and most cuddly of all the creatures.

We had lunch with the characters from Winnie the Pooh and although the food wasn't stellar, the boys thought it was pretty awesome.  Georgia?  Well, I wonder what I would think if a giant orange and black animal came up to me and kissed me on the head, which is exactly what Tigger did.

Wonderful Walt Disney World

 Disney World - the magical realm where all your dreams come true, except perhaps warm, balmy Florida weather.  Despite the wind chill (really? wind chill in Florida?) we had an exceptional first experience at the great Walt Disney World.  Janet and Genevieve (filling in for Mark who stayed home with a very sick and injured dog) upped the adult-to-child ratio and made our trip so much better.

 Ah Dumbo...it really is a great ride, especially when you don't have to wait in a line.   Because we went in early December the park was rather calm and slow and we never waited longer than 20 minutes for a ride.  Christian and I vowed never to come back in the summer.

In the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse - a must for our boys who watch that movie nearly every Sunday afternoon.

Georgia was a dream the entire vacation.  Christian kept her warm and snug zipped up in his jacket.  I don't think she ever cried.

Charles thoroughly enjoying his Mickey waffle while we waited for a parade to start.

Jessie and other characters stopped to shake hands with the boys who were standing at the edge of the parade. 

Gorgeous Georgia

Our Georgia is the most precious thing at our house these days.  Everyone adores her.  I mean, just look at these eyes and twinkly smile!  Love this little girl.

And look at our darling in her Christmas dress that Gammy made.  

Someone has clearly had enough of the pictures.

Win the Rock Monster

Winfield finally got a proper birthday with friends and games and the whole bit.  In true Win fashion, he requested a Rock Monster party.  You know, that obscure Lego series that few have ever heard of?  It was a challenge, but we had a great time.  The boys made axes (they are power miners digging for crystals).

Win trying to push Charles the helper out of his candle blow-out.

The boys decided to see what effect water had on their rock candy.  To give the party a surprise twist, Christian dressed up and hid in the basement which we decorated like a cave.  The boys went down looking for crystals (glow sicks taped together in clumps) and heard some growling (the rock monster) and headed for the stairs back to safety.  They actually thought there was something scary down there, and frankly Christian did look a little menacing in the dark!  There were a few tears, I'm embarrassed to admit, but all ends well when there is cake and ice cream involved.

Their first birthday cake

I turned 32.  No big deal, not a noteworthy age, but gosh it made me feel old.  Every year I face the realization that in a family it's the mother's job to decorate, buy gifts, and make the ever important cake.  So when it's mom's turn to be queen either you do it yourself or you wait for the store-bought cake to come the following weekend.  Don't get me wrong, Christian always treats me well around my birthday, but there is something to be said for a cake on your birthday.  Janet had the inspired idea to start a tradition: the children make the cake.  I helped them this time and I'm sure I will next time, but after that I'm hoping the tradition will stick and I can let them take over.  

I really only had decent pictures of Winfield because it turns out they needed a LOT of help (eggs are tricky!) and it's hard to do that and be cameraman at the same time.  Doesn't he look cute though?

They were so proud of themselves and although the cake was not one of the best, it was such a wonderful feeling to see them doing something together so cheerfully.  It was the best birthday present.  Oh look, Georgia thought she was turning 1 and dove right in with both hands.  Your day will come, little one, and before you know it, your babies will be baking your cakes.  Now there's a thought to make me feel old...

We went to dinner and left the boys to decorate the cake with the babysitter.  It was quite the presentation topped with licorice, m&m's, chocolates, sprinkles, and caramels.  Wow!