I've gotta admit, since the day I became a mother, I looked ahead to trips to Disney World with a bit of dread. In fact, the whole idea seemed downright crazy. I imagined the crowds. The heat. The daily afternoon rain. The whining children. The exhausted parents. The exhausted children. The exhausted parents + children + the heat. And absolutely nothing about this scenario seemed like something of which I'd like to take part, let alone did anything about it sound FUN.
Jump ahead a few years. Our girls were getting older. School friends started going and then returning and sharing stories of the fun. Those darn Disney Jr. commercials started getting to them in between episodes of Sofia the First and Star Wars Rebels. Despite all this, though, I was still standing my ground: Disney World did not sound fun. (Note: hubby had never been as a child, so he had no opinion one way or another.) That's all until Carter's love for Star Wars took a central role in her interests.
So, one day when we were chit-chatting because we'd arrived thirty minutes early for a movie, because Mommy apparently couldn't read the showtimes, she asked me if Disney World had anything from Star Wars. Unsure, I did a quick search on my phone and came across this...

The Star Wars Lovers' Ultimate Destination.

I took this quick screenshot and sent it to Lindsay who was just as excited as Carter was. As a mother of three girls, it never crossed my mind that our first trip to Disney World would be based on the limited engagement known as Star Wars Weekend. But, alas, within the coming weeks, I found myself connecting with our amazing Disney travel agent and ensuring that we would be able to schedule a brunch with Darth Vader, Jawa, and the Storm Troopers; if not, the trip would need to be rescheduled. {No joke.} 

We told the big girls that we were going but we did not tell them when we were going. {Littlest sis sat this trip out. Next time, Little Princess, next time.} So the next few months involved lots of anxious anticipation, guessing, and speculating on their part and planning, organizing, and arranging on mine. They were also extra good and extra helpful around the house as they worked hard to earn spending money for the trip. 

On the evening of May 15, the stage was set: suitcases were packed. Pops and Misha were in town to watch spoil Wrighty Pie. American Girl Dolls, Nora and Murphy, were in on the surprise.

Custom made Princess Leia outfits

thanks to my super talented friend, Christine and her mom.

We scooped the girls up out of bed right at 6:00 AM, carried them downstairs, and let them figure out the surprise. Murphy took one look at the packed suitcases and knew what was happening. A groggy Carter took a little longer to figure it out. Regardless, within fifteen minutes, this was the scene on our front porch. 

Wooooo Hooooo! 6:15 never looked so excited!

Even Murphy broke her usual fancy schmancy dress code to get in on Team Star Wars.

{Though, she did ask that I would rejoin her 'Princess Team' the next day.}

Touchdown in Orlando!

 Excited for our first Mickey sighting, on the airport wall. HA!

MagicBands activated.

Lewellen Family Fun Commences! 

After a quick check-in at our resort we were on our way to 

Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Fan or not, the Star Wars energy was electric in this place.

So. COOL. 

Carter especially loved seeing all of her favorite characters roaming around the park.

The girls have both said this moment was the highlight of their trip:

Meeting Princess Leia. 

She wasn't supposed to stop and pose for pictures. 

But she was swayed by their darling faces and their Mommy's subtle begging.

While we were in line to meet these guys,

the girls were asked to film a promotional video for Star Wars Weekend!

Ready for their close ups...

Her chosen line?

"Leia is my favorite princess."

Carter chose to reenact Darth Vader revealing his identity to Luke.

Carter's reaction to meeting Anakin Skywalker was one of my favorite parts of the trip. She was trying to get him to admit that he is Darth Vader. 

It. Was. Hilarious. 

Refusing to admit his connection to the Dark Side.

"OH, COME ON?!?!?" she exclaimed.

She gave up, struck a pose, and then opined on the conversation 

for the next three days.

Aside: I was so grateful that my girlfriend, Denise, who is always in the know about all things gave me a head's up on the autograph books and the clicky sharpies! As a Disney novice, I had no idea! 

The fireworks that night were timed to a Star Wars soundtrack and really were amazing to see. I was so proud of all of us for hanging tough till nearly 11:00 that night. 

Well, Murphy, who'd made a costume change earlier,

did take a quick shoulder nap while waiting for the bus.

Day two began early as we headed to the Magic Kingdom for breakfast in Cinderella's Castle. 

Had to snap a pic of the three Disney first-timers!

The must-have Disney pic.

Sweetest sisters.

Greeting Cinderella. 

The girls met several other princesses at breakfast but were still mildly disappointed in Rapunzel's lack of appearance. Carter decided against her original plan of telling the princesses that she doesn't 'like princesses' and that she only came 'because of my sister'.  Glad she made a well-mannered choice. 

Though we did hit the classics like It's a Small World, Dumbo, and the Tea Cups, I'm oh-so-proud to say, that my girls are thrill seekers! So, most of our day was spent riding the big, fast rides. 

My big girl and me about to go on my favorite ride. Ever.

Space Mountain.

A quick selfie before boarding.

{It was her favorite, too. She took Daddy on it an hour later.}

An action shot while riding Thunder Mountain Railroad.

She road it three times and was begging for more.

The whole crew on Splash Mountain.

Not my fave. {Holy. Wet. Shorts.}

During most of the trip, the girls really did look just like this.

Sweet. Happy. Fun.

But, for the moments when they did not, we'd all take a moment to pause...

Sit for awhile...

Until we all loved each other again.

Daddy doubled up on the shoulder seating for the laser light show,

but for the fireworks, Murphy moved over to my shoulders. 

Princess. Out.

A human head asleep upon another human head is much heavier than you may think.

Day three was a combo day split between Hollywood Studios (for the must-do Star Wars breakfast) and Epcot. 

You can lead a princess to the Star Wars breakfast, 

but you can't make her dress the part.

I'm going to go out on a limb here,

and say that Lindsay was the most excited person in this picture...

Being Star Wars-y.

Insisted she do it, too.

Front row. Left side.

Our family.

Our family riding the Tower of Terror.

Yes, one of our children is only four and a half.

Don't judge.

They freaking loved it.

Us.

So, I guess I wear Star Wars clothing now?

Oh, and that light saver in my face? NBD.

Yep. That pretty much sums them up.

Except those Pumas on Murphy's feet. 

She reminded us more than a few times that they were not fashionable.

The Festival of Flowers had just ended at Epcot. 

Everything was blooming and so gorgeous!

No matter where they are,

they search for fairies.

A final pic of our bunch.

We opted out of any evening activities at Epcot. Instead, we returned to our room to relax a bit and let the girls survey what they'd purchased over the course of our trip.

Carter's assortment included Star Wars goods {well, of course},

Brave and Tinkerbelle figures, and a NASA spacecraft.

Murphy went BIG with a Rapunzel tower 

and added a Sofia jewelry set to finish out her savings.

We spent our final day enjoying the hotel pool.

And, just like that, our magical vacation was over...

I've never been so happy to be proven wrong about something. Sure, it was hot, and there were crowds, but I'd say each one of us was genuinely sad to see our trip come to an end. {Though only Carter cried actual tears while in the backseat of the uber van. HA!} 

Our family trip to Disney World was fabulous in every way. I loved seeing both my children and my husband experience it for the first time, and I loved sharing some of my favorite memories with them. I can't wait until the day we'll go back as a complete group, with little Miss Wright along, too. 

PS... I must add, it did not rain one, single, day! It was like a Disney miracle!

The Sweetest Things, 2015, Q1

As I sat down to begin writing this post, I quickly skimmed through my last one. I noted that it ended with me mentioning that I hoped to be able to do more writing in the coming months. Yet, here I sit, three months later, and for just the second time in 'blog history' I've written nary a single post from one Sweetest Things to the the next. Oh well. Life happens, doesn't it? Many mornings I've hoped to use my kid-free time to write, yet I've let pesky things like grocery shopping or school volunteering or household chores take precedent. One day I hope to be better about using me time as me time, but for now, I'll just move on. But first, here's a look back.
The Sweetest Things of 2015, Q1...

1. Mommy's New Hobby...this one has to be number one on the list because (a) it's occupied so much of time time these past few months, (b) it's the reason that when I began looking for photos for this post, rather than tons of pics of the kids, my phone was filled with pictures of old clothes, shoes, and toys, and (c) I've gotten more joy and excitement over this than I have out of anything in a long time. In late January, I was having coffee with a friend when she showed me a pair of shoes that she'd bought from a Facebook Moms' site. She told me how much she'd paid for them and what a great deal that was for the particular brand. I realized that I had a pair of shoes just like them at home that our girls had never worn and asked her if she would add me to the site just so I could sell the shoes. Oh. My. GOSH. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This Facebook site, started by a local Charlotte mom, quickly became my addiction. My joy. My delight. Not only did I sell those little shoes, but I sold toys, household items, my clothes, and clothes that the kids had outgrown. This thing is infinitely easier than consignment stores or sales, as it only requires that I snap a picture, post it with a  description, secure a buyer, and then set the item on my front porch for pick up. As the money started rolling in, my competitive nature kicked in, too.  I began to set little goals for myself, and I've now almost doubled my initial sales goal. I've kept my buying to a minimum, and spent less than $30 on the site. The girls have gotten excited over my new hobby, too, and love checking the hiding spot for any money deposits each day. It's also inspired them to clean out their own rooms and closets. They were so excited the day they made their first sale, and earned $5 each to go towards their Disney World spending money.  The site has grown into a fantastic mom resource, too, and it the go-to place for local recommendations on everything for pediatric dentists to landscape architects. As hobbies go, it's not a bad one to have!
2. Creativity for Days...I've often commented that one of the things I most appreciate about my children is their ability to play on their own. I love that if I need (or, to be more honest, want) some time on my own, I need not rely on a movie to occupy them. As my mom and grandma said to me years ago, I just say, 'Go play!' and they do! 
   
   Love the detail created during some American Girl doll playtime.
   (One doll tending to another whose head hurts, another walking a dog, 
   one doing acrobats, another waving, and one alone because she was being bad.)
   Carter especially excels at independent play and is a great leader at guiding her little sisters in all sorts of creative endeavors. Beyond just playing though, I am often impressed at the creative ideas she concocts. 
   
   A Saturday morning playdate consisted of converting a box 
   into a getaway carriage for their wedding.
   Carter describes Michael's, the craft store, as her 'wonderland' and would rather spend time there than just about anywhere. Here's the result of an afternoon browsing for ideas for her Hundredth Day of School hat.
   
   She wore it again on the 101st Day, too.
   Poor thing just hates drawing attention to herself...
   
   Here, the girlies are pictured having a fancy tea party 
   at the luxurious Staybridge Suites.
   They kept themselves happy in the is little nook for well over an hour.
   Valentine's Day brought the chance for all of us to get our creative-on. It's the one time of year that I actually enjoy being crafty. I even headed up leading Carter's class in a craft (secret messages in bottles) at the Valentine Party. Our Valentines are always handmade and candy-free (when, oh when, did Valentine's Day become another Halloween?!?!) and really show the unique personalities of each girlie.
   
   Carter's Star Wars Cards.
   Glitter card stock. Carefully selected clipart (carefully cut out by Mom and Dad). 
   Light Saber favors (intended use is as cupcake toppers). 
   She wrote on each one,  'May the force be with you, Valentine.'
   
   Dressed the part.
   
   Murphy's Gem cards.
   Colored squares of card stock. Gem printed paper cut into circles.
   Fun straw favors. Mom wrote, 'Valentine, you are a gem.' 
   Murphy signed and personalized each one.
   My sweet, sparkly Valentine
   
   Conversation heart topiary tree.
   Carter spotted this on a google images search, 
   and she really wanted to make one.
   One afternoon in March, Carter hopped off the bus and was talking nonstop about a challenge from the music teacher to create an original instrument. On her own, with a little brainstorming with Lindsay and me, over the next two afternoons, she created this:
   
   A Marac-uitar.
   
   As her directions state, pinching the bands will lead 
   to popping of the rocks inside and make music.
   She anxiously awaited the winner to be announced - girl's got her Mom's competitive nature a mile deep - and we all celebrated big when she brought home the winning prize slip!
   Carter wrapped up another acting class session in March, but this time, she wasn't satisfied with playing just any role, so her teacher encourage her to create her own. 
   
   Not content to be a turnip like all the others,
   I present to you, Tabitha. Tabitha the Turnip Stealer.
   
   Miss Michelle has become more like a family member than a teacher.
   We heart her.
   Now, every once in awhile all this creativity can get to be a bit much. Like, for instance, when I'm cleaning up the playroom and I come across something like this: 
   
   I mean... what does one really do with a plate of zig-zag cut paper thingies?
   For all I know it's actually gold. Or food. Or credit cards.
   I do know that, whatever it is, I will be chastened heavily if I toss it...
   so, I will go hide it in under bigger things in the garage trash cans.
   And, if they ask about it?
   I'll blame the cleaning lady.
3. Celebrating Life...not only did this quarter bring Valentine's Day, it also included Lindsay and my nine year wedding anniversary. At times, nine years feels like a flicker and at others, an eternity. Regardless, we have made it almost a decade, and we celebrated by getting a sitter and spending an entire 24 hours alone. Together. 
   
   Gorgeous Skyline.
   Beautiful Life.
   Lindsay doesn't save his best dates just for me, Murphy Girl got two special dates with Daddy over the past few months.
   
   She treated him to a special manicure before they headed out to the Hornets game.
   
   She talked about Donuts with Dads for months before the big day.
   
   We all joined in to celebrate our fave on his birthday.
   
   And Carter was mesmerized by his gift of a record player.
   One of my favorite things about being a mom is creating traditions and making memories, from heading to Seventh Street Public Market on Saturday morning to Chuy's on Friday nights to Saturday night church followed by lazy Sunday mornings, I just love how, whatever we do, we do it all together. 
4. The Baby by Choice...when I last reported on our little Wright, she had just turned two, wasn't doing too much talking, and was in the midst of expressing herself via tantrums, violent outbursts, and occasional spitting. Now, three months later, she's become a princess obsessed, knock-knock joke telling little girl who has {strong} opinions about everything from what she's going to wear to what she's going to eat to what placemat she wishes to be served on to what song she'd long to hear sung while having her teeth brushed. {She of sweetly asks strongly demands All About that Bass in the place of the ABC song and Welcome to New York rather than The Wheels on the Bus. What can I say? The girl likes her pop music.} She has no problem vocalizing such opinions or shouting 'Stop it!' or 'Zip it up!' at any member of our household at nearly anytime she sees fit. (Fortunately, her teacher has described her as 'laid back' and 'easy going', so apparently, she's not such a bully - Murphy's descriptor - outside the home.) She's also quite opinionated about what developmental transitions she'd like to make, or not make, as it were. 
   
   Though she finds sitting on the potty quite entertaining,
   actually using it is a whole other story.
   The pediatrician says our big girl is ready to potty train, and, in fact, she can 'hold it' for hours on end. So I let her choose her own big girl underpants, offered her her favorite treats and toys, and plopped the potty down right in front of her favorite princess movie, but Ms. Wright has absolutely no interest in potty training. 'No panties! Wrighty wants diaper on,' she insists. And, not wanting to cause some sort of freaky Freudian issues later in life, I'm letting her lead the way on this one. She feels the same about moving to a big girl bed, 'Wrighty sleep in Wrighty's cribby. Sack (sleep sack) on,' she says after snuggling under the covers of the big girl bed for a few minutes. She also requests that I 'rock-a-baby', which, of course, I am more than happy to do. She's begun taking a keen interest in what she wears, and her fashionista big sis is always there to guide her in her wardrobe choices.
   
   The third little Lewellen lady to rock the blazer. 
   I texted this pic to a friend who said she loved Wright's 'pixie' hair style. 
   Yea, that's it. It was an intentional style. We'll go with that.
   
   Big sis, who was breaking out of her typical look and sporting high tops,
   is always happy to pose with the 'baby'. 
   
   My favorite of her preschool runway choices thus far.
   And, those hands in her pockets? Melt. Me.
   She's really jumped into play time with her big sisters, often being their puppy complete with fetching, begging, and panting. Many afternoons, she greets Carter at the door in puppy-mode. 
   
   Murphy, of course, only plays puppy in full royal attire.
   She enjoys a good movie, whether alone or with her sisters, and we were ALL happy when she branched out beyond the constant loop of Frozen. One could only watch Selsa and Anna so many times before feeling not-so-sane. 
   
   The biggest and the littlest.
   
   Solo viewing in Mommy's bed while sisters are at school.
   
   She loves being Murphy's baby,
   and Murphy has really embraced the big sister role lately.
   Our tiniest one really has a bold personality. Murphy and Carter often refer to her as a little bully, yet never dare retaliate in response (they are probably scared of what could come next!). I often joke that she is the one who rules us all, and in some ways she does. 
   
   All I wanted was a picture of my sweet girls in front of the tulips.
   She just refused. For three minutes straight, she refused to look up.
   
   And? Every now and then she gets completely exasperated 
   with running errands with Mommy all morning.
   So, she doesn't want to use the potty. So, she wants to stay in her crib. She is our baby, and I really don't mind if she wants to stay just that for a little while longer. 
5. Spring is Coming...after months of pseudo-snow (more like slush) days  and lots of rain and way too much cold, the first hints of spring early in the year were just wonderful. And, because we knew the warm days likely wouldn't be permanent, we took advantage of getting outside as much as we could. 

This is the first of what has become four fairy tee-pees the big girls have built.

Creativity + cooperative play + a sunny Sunday afternoon = Perfection.

One afternoon as I worked in the kitchen making homemade pizzas for dinner, I set the girls up with their own dough out on the back porch. 

That flour on the deck surface may actually still be out there.

{Who knew it would turn to glue when it rained that evening?}

Carter engaging Murphy in an author study on Dr. Seuss

one afternoon after school.

Something about open windows, green trees, birds chirping, sun shining, and flowers blooming just lifts my spirits. Of course, the girls immediately began asking when the pool will open, but I try to soak up every moment of the mild spring days being fully aware that summer's hot, humid days will be here before I know it. 

Well, I'm wrapping this post up two and a half weeks from when I began typing it. Little things like spring "break" (I can barely type that without laughing. Whoever named it that surely did not have three children under the age of seven.) and stomach bugs got in the way of my picturing editing and writing. And I'm looking ahead to just three more short weeks until preschool will end for the year (insert tears) and summer will be just around the corner for big school as well. It doesn't look like free time with be magically appearing anytime soon. 

Life is busy. Life is hectic. Life has never been Sweeter.