5 Years!!

I probably say the same thing every single year...and every year it's still true!  I can't believe it's been 5 years!  I can't believe Wesleigh Jane is about to be SEVEN years old!!  I can't believe how little she was when we got her!  I can't believe what a life changer she has been!

Wesleigh has been very curious about her Chinese heritage.  She wants to go back to China so badly.  I have promised her that I will take her to China but not until she's a little older.  Honestly, I can't wait to take them back, but now isn't the time.  I sat with her and read through the photo book I printed about our journey to her.  In there, I describe the Christian church we attended and how you had to show a foreign passport to be able to attend.  She can't seem to let that go.  On the way to church, she made this statement, "I just really want to go to China.  It's ok if I can't go to church.  I will wait for you".  Oh my heart...as I remember back to our guides having to wait outside for us.  Of course, I explained that she is an American now and she would be able to go to church.  The bottom line is she does not understand how that is fair...and it's not.  Her last comment about it, "Good thing I live here so I can go to church".

What a little miracle she is!

As we looked through the book, I came across this comment from my blog.  My mom wrote this on my blog while we were in China.  I can't help but get choked up every time I read it.

"Our God is in the business of healing hearts. Ps. 68:5 says He is a father to the fatherless. He called her by name from the womb (PS 139)-- and that name was Wesleigh Jane Doughty! He has been... with her all along and soon she will know His name! I remember the story of Hellen Keller who, although blind, deaf and dumb was taught to communicate. When she was told about God, she excitedly signed, "I KNOW HIM - I just didn't know His name!" When little Wesleigh lay her precious head down in her crib in that orphanage, He hovered over her! What a God! God knew little Wesleigh would be a southern belle, bows and all. For Acts 17:26 tells us "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation". Wesleigh's boundaries has been extended and so have ours!"

Happy 5 years sweet girl!!!

The Frozen Castle

Disney World Day 4: Magic Kingdom

We spent our last day back at the Magic Kingdom.  The girls and I got out there early and let the stinky boys sleep in :)  We were able to see everything else we wanted to and do a couple of our favs a second time :)  (Their favorites were super easy things...the carousel and the mad teacups!)

 

 

Rapunzel's tower

 

I still can't get over how big my boys are!  I am not short!  5'6"!!  I love that!  I hope they keep growing!!

 We had a fast pass for something called "Enchanted Tales with Belle".  I had never heard of this before, but it sounded like something the girls would enjoy.  It ended up being the highlight of the day!!  It was so much fun.  Basically, they gave all the kids a part to play and they acted out the story of Beauty and the Beast.  Gracie was chosen to be the beast!!!!  Seriously???  There were boys in the room, but she was chosen.  They must be good at reading personalities and choosing someone very animated for that part! 

 

Yes!  That is Belle all dressed up!!  We had met Belle in Epcot, but not in her yellow dress!!

Gracie had to jump out and roar at Belle.

 

Wesleigh was Mrs. Potts which was perfect for her!

At the end of the story, the beast dances with Belle.

 SO fun!!  If you have girls...you do NOT want to miss this!  Belle didn't sign autographs but there was a photographer there who took each child's pic with Belle at the end.

 

I wish I had done these of the boys where they were little!



 

In the middle of Tomorrowland, we all of a sudden hear 4 girls squealing each others' names.  We ran into two classmates of the girls.  You should have seen them hugging each other and squealing together.  So cute!

 We went and camped out in front of the castle for all the evening festivities. 

 

Stage show:  Dreams Do Come True

 

They brought around a dance party right in front of the castle.  It was fun and the girls had a blast.  I was just a little nervous keeping up with them because there were SO many people!

They each grabbed one of Stitch's hands and did the conga line with him.  I was the crazy mom just trying to keep my eyes on both of them.  These are times when I LOVE having older kids too.  They are always such a help!

 

My favorite of the night was Elsa freezing the castle.  AMAZING!!!  I posted the video on fb but I will post it in the next post here.



 

The fireworks were next, but I guess I didn't get any pics of that part.

 

Richard had barely turned the stroller around and Gracie was out!  The first time this whole trip she fell asleep in the stroller.  It was perfect.  Wesleigh does NOT suck her thumb!  I don't know why she was doing this :)

 

 

What a great trip!  Honestly, I don't think there is anything I would change!  It was everything I had imagined it would be.  We had such a great time, and the girls are already saying "I want to go back!"

 

For now though, it's back to school for them today!  It was time!  I will admit that I am enjoying my quiet house this morning :)

Frozen Sing Along Video

Disney World Day 3: Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios ended up being the home of our favorite attraction!  We had a great day enjoying the great weather and time together.

 

The whole crew.

 Beauty and the Beast stage show

 

We just happened upon Mr. Incredible and Frozone.  They loved it!

Loved these dresses!!!  Loved Gracie's hair today!!  Her very own mouse ears!!  lol...

 

 Boy were these girls excited about getting their faces painted!  Gracie chose the "snow queen" and Wesleigh chose the "lovely princess"  lol...

 

 And here is our favorite attraction of the trip:  The Frozen Sing-along!  We waited in line for a good while for this show and it paid off.  We got great seats and it was worth every second!  I have a video of the last song, and will post it in the next entry.  The girls attended a Frozen acting camp this past summer where they learned hand motions for every song.  What this translated into was our two girls sitting in seats next to each other, belting out every song and doing the exact same hand motions the entire time.  Richard and I compared notes afterward and both of us had scanned the crowd to see if anyone else was enjoying the show as much as we were.  We didn't see anyone else getting into it as much as our girls.  There was a teenage girl and her mother sitting in front of Gracie and they kept looking at each other and giggling.  We even had people that had been sitting behind us come up to us after it was over so they could see the girls' faces.  I know I'm biased, but these girls rocked this sing along.  We all enjoyed every second of it!  One funny thing is that for some reason, Wesleigh thinks the spotlight was on the two of them the whole time.  I really don't know why she thinks this, but we haven't told her any different :)

 

We had to buy them the Anna and Elsa sing along dolls!

Waiting for the Fantasmic show

Loved this show!

Big kids (Richard included) ended the night with a friendly game of poker :)

Disney World Day 2: The boy version...Universal

Grandad took the boys and Amanda and Christopher to Universal on day 2.  From all accounts, they all had a great time!  They loved all the rides and Harry Potter World.  My boys haven't even read the books but they still loved it. 

Christopher was in heaven.

I think Day 2 was a win for everyone!!