Return to Minnie's House

It's a Small World was closed during Finley's first visit to Disneyworld and Minnie's House was her most favorite place to visit.  For this past visit, Miss Finley loved It's a Small World, it was her most favorite ride, but she did not forget her friend Minnie's House.  We visited it every time we were in the Magic Kingdom and Finley delighted in watching Minnie's cake bake.  It is good we got to see it one last time because next month it is being demolished.  Let's hope that the next time we visit there is a new favorite ride or place to visit, because I am scared to see her reaction when we tell her Minnie's House is no more. I get sad just thinking about it...

Video Fun

Endless energy....

Opening at the Magic Kingdom

We boarded the boat to the Magic Kingdom 30 minutes before opening time in order to be there when they opened the gates.  Every morning there is a big production of the opening of the park.  Anyone know how to get to be the family that helps open the Magic Kingdom in the morning?  Methinks you have to know someone special.  After we made our way into the park, we headed straight for Fantasyland.  Finley's first ride was the Flying Dumbos, then it was off to Small World.  We also covered Peter Pan's Flight, Winnie the Pooh and the Mad Hatter's Teacups.  The first day, Finley was working herself back into her Disney groove.  She loved Small World and the Teacups really freaked her out, but she still went on them nearly every day we were there.

Almost as much fun as a ride at Disneyworld

Checking In at the Wilderness Lodge

We arrived to Disney late on a Friday night, so there was no time to get any park fun in, but Finley did get to experience some Mickey magic.  The towels had been laid out to look like Mickey Mouse.  There were also two towel creatures made of washcloths.  Finley loved the creatures and asked for her "creatures" every night to be in the crib with her.  The first night she managed to take them apart, I wasn't able to put them back together.  The next day, they had been put back together and the housekeeper had put two of Finley's hairbows on them.  Of course, I forgot to snap a picture of the cuteness, so a picture of Finley in her Snow White finest with towel Mickey will have to do.  I will have to figure out to make towel creatures here at the house.  They worked as fantastic toothbrush holders!

Big Girl Spoon

Finley has really been fixated on using "big girl" things.  This includes glass bowls (ack!), which is quite interesting.  It sure makes lunch more interesting.  So far, she has been doing great with all the big girl adjustments.  I think it is finally time to retire the high chair, it has been quite a while since she has used it.  People still do use it during playgroup, so I will probably keep it in the kitchen for a bit longer, but I think it has seen the last of Finley Ann.  Finley has figured out how to get her own big girl spoon out of the kitchen drawer and of course she chooses the biggest girl spoon of all.

Note the "Astro Orbiter" in the right of the pictures.  Finley loads up her Minnie and Mickey Mouse toys onto the circus airplane ride, calls it "Astro Orbiter" just like in Disneyworld and says "Ready, Set, Go", sending her Disney pals for a thrill ride!

29 Characters to Meet and Greet!

From Alice to Winnie the Pooh...Miss Finley met as many Disney characters as she could!

Christmas in January

Presents!

I got this big one all by myself!

Which one should I open next?

Even Camden wanted part of the fun

Race race, zoom zoom!

Is it really my very own refrigerator?

Who is going to help me move this upstairs to my kitchen?

Let's get this thing stocked.

I don't want to pose for pictures, I want to play, don't you see all my new toys?

Collecting Acorns

Finley is obsessed with acorns.  And pecans.  And any other random piece of nature she can find on the ground.  We have tried to take her collection to the Swap Shop, but everytime we are there and remember to bring the stash with us, the Swap Shop is closed.  Hopefully, one day soon, we will remember our goodies and it will be open for trading.  I wonder if Finley will give up her collection for something new from the zoo.


Of course, Ugly Bear has to go on the walk for Finley's acorn hunting expedition.

Indoor Picnic

Who do you invite to an indoor picnic?  Ugly Bear, Winnie the Pooh, Snowflake, Pink Doll, Elephant, Tigger, Grammy and Grandad.  That's who.

Just one more present...

When Grammy and Grandad were visiting, I think Finley opened at least 4 presents before the presents had been put under of the tree.  Finley loves opening presents, especially ones that play music.  Everytime music is on, Finley is a happy girl.  I normally listen to sports talk radio in the car, but whenever Finley and I are going somewhere together, we listen to music on the radio.  For the record, her favorite song is Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina's "Stereo Love", which is a pretty amazing song.  She proclaims it as her favorite whenever it comes on.  It is the funniest thing ever.  At least she is liking dance music from the start.  Must be all that ATB I play for her.  Finley opened a music player and she loves it, just like we knew she would.


After present opening time, it was time for an indoor picnic by Finley's kitchen.  This girl will cook all day long!  I wonder why...

Shopping at Berings

We went to Berings this morning before playgroup because I needed to get a set of keys made. Berings is a really neat store, it is a cross between an old timey hardware store and a fancy boutique. They have smocked dresses on one side and powertools on the other. They also have kid sized shopping carts and Finley had to have one. She did such a great job pushing it around the store, I think she was more excited to have her own cart than she is at the regular grocery store in her car cart. She did comment "It's not pink!" After the keys were made, the man put the bag in her cart and she replied with a thank you. We made our way to the check out and she put the keys up on the counter to buy them. Then she proclaimed they were "Finley's keys" and we headed off to playgroup.

Beautiful Dancer

After a month long break, Finley was back at ballet today.  Mr. Carlos was filling in for Miss V, which is a very good thing.  We all asked at the end of the class to make it a permanent change.  He is so gentle and good with the kids.  Everyone was put at ease and enjoyed dance class!

Happy Birthday, Joe!

Joe's 3rd birthday party was this past weekend at Pump It Up.  Finley had a fantastic time and once again, she was slow to warm up to the jumpy houses.  The typical Pump It Up party consists of 45 minutes of bounce house and slide fun in one room, then another 45 minutes of bounce house and slide fun in room two, finishing with pizza and cake with the birthday boy.  All and all, a perfect party.  Especially for Finley.  She takes a solid hour to warm up to the idea of going in the bounce house, but once she gets the nerve to do it, she loves it!  I took her down the slide in room one and she was not a happy camper.  When we got to room two, she spied her favorite bounce house with the basketball nets and balls.  She spent the majority of the party jumping inside and playing with all the balls.  Clifton did take her through the bounce obstacle course, but I don't think she was a huge fan.  The funniest part was on Monday, she kept asking to go to Joe's house.

"Joe's house has bouncy houses"
"Joe's house has slides"
"Joe's house has balls"
"Joe's house has pizza"
"I wanna go to Joe's house"

Don't we all...



Daddy did what he had to do to get Finley through the obstacle course.  She was all tears once we had to leave the bouncey house room, but the tears stopped as soon as she heard "pizza" and "cake".  The fantastic cake was Shannon's last cake before the arrival of little Shelleycarrieharriet.  It was delicious!

Children's Museum with Grammy and Grandad

Last week when Grammy and Grandad were visiting, we headed over to the Children's Museum to have some fun.  Finley loves the area where you can pretend to grocery shop.  Considering how much she loves the regular grocery store, this is no surprise to me at all.  She also loves the area where you pretend to be a veterinarian, this little girl adores animals.  There are so many fun activities for toddlers at the Children's Museum.  It has been so wonderful to watch Finley explore more of the museum than just the Tot Spot. 

More Presents...Again!

Grandma came over today to bring Finley more presents for Christmas.  Betty Foley and Mike Foley had sent presents for Finley.  Finley was so excited to open her gifts!  I think she is going to expect a present whenever the doorbell rings.  She already thinks that all the packages that get delivered to our house are for her.  Considering how much I order from Amazon, she has this thought quite often.  Finley got a awesome new Mother Goose book and a tent with a giant tunnel.  Finley loves the tunnel, but I think Camden and Wrigley love it even more.  I have caught both of them scurrying through it and Wrigley has been playing with the strings all night.