visiting the mouse. {sort of}.

yesterday was dave's last day here in florida with us. he headed back home last night to get back to real life and work. the boys and i will stay here with my parents until the end of the month when we will all head to atlanta for the weekend. i'll attend created for care {CANNOT wait} and the boys will have fun in the city with nana & papa. then, my parents will join us for the drive home.

when we planned this trip, it sounded like a perfect solution. the boys and i could soak up some family time here in florida while dave could get caught up on work and the current project-overload on his plate.

and then, yesterday came. dave had to fly home and we realized it will be three weeks before we will all be together again. it didn't feel like the perfect solution anymore.

all that we could do was enjoy our day together and then look forward to reuniting back in arkansas. {the boys and i are already missing having him here today. it's going to be a long three weeks}.

the day started out with an email containing scrumptious new photos of our girl taken by another adoptive momma who is there now to bring her daughter home. how i wish i could remove the hearts...this girl is sassy. dave and i laughed as we both remarked on her expression and thought she'll be able to hold her own with ben & nate. we studied every detail and fell more in love...

i'm sorry. can we have a conversation about those thighs?!?! i cannot stand it.
i have to squeeze them immediately. love. love. love. love. love. love. love. 

after thoroughly examining each photo at 300% resolution, we headed to downtown disney for a native of orlando's version of visiting disney world. as in, the free way.

our adorable fellas were so sweet and got so excited in the toy store when they saw a mickey stuffed animal. they both hugged the stuffed animals and then gave them right back to us {can you tell i have never bought them toys when we have gone shopping? we just always look at them and then put them away. i dread the day when they realize that these things are all actually for sale}.

and, i forgot my camera so the blurry phone pics are all i've got of this excitement.

they ran up to the character statues and hugged them and talked to them {dave and i cracked up and felt a teensy bit guilty with the fact that they were so thrilled with these plastic statues and had no idea we were holding out on them}.

they rode the mini train and thought it was the most fun ride ever. space mountain's got nothin' on this thing. they sat in the caboose for pete's sake. the caboose. they haven't stopped talking about it. two dollars well spent indeed.

we decided that i will have to take the boys to disney sometime while we are here. we have been to orlando so many times since the boys were born and we have put off the inevitable visit for this long. until now, we didn't think it would be worth spending the money. but, now, i think they are at a really great age to go to the actual magic kingdom. and, i'm even excited to take them.

honestly, i have dreaded going because i grew up here and spent so much time at the parks. i feel like they are over-priced tourist traps {i apologize to any die-hard mickey lovers out there}. however, i'm ready to fight the crowds and stand in the long lines and eat overpriced food because i think it will be magical for these two sweet little munchkins.

they ended the day snuggled up on the couch with their cousin mesmerized by "the polar express."

yes, they are wearing christmas pj's. don't judge.

and, just for fun...these silly boys {ben & cousin mike} make me laugh. they wanted to be "tacos" ...

we had a scary evening when dave's plane ran into trouble but i'll share more on that later. in the meantime, we would love a prayer or two for protection for our family and our girl. each prayer is so very appreciated.

much love to you all!