Yes, I Know

"Dana," you say...

"Where is the post about Santa and Mrs. Claus coming to your door and sending your family to Disney World for a week because your children and the one and only RICE kids?"

"And how about ALL the hundreds and hundreds of pictures you took while you were in Disney World?"

"And what about Christmas Eve/Day pictures of your perfectly behaved (not whiny or cranky or overly tired) children?"

"AAAAANNNNDDD what about that new puppy of yours? We hear he is only a pound and a half but there are no pictures to prove it!"

Geezzzz.

Everyone!

Get off my back. please.

Remember my computer died? But good news for all of you. A Christmas Miracle happened at our house and I (and the 5 other people that live with me) got a new computer for Christmas so blogging will regain its top tier status in my life as soon as we set that bad boy up.

It will happen soon...well, kinda soon. I still have laundry to fold and Christmas toys to put together and a puppy to potty train.

Soon, my friends, soon.

DISNEY WORLD

was amazing.

Santa was a genius for sending us there.

Pictures are coming.

A few of my favorite things:

Ansen meeting the Beast...the size difference just was too cute.

Braley meeting Cinderella. Seriously, she was hyperventilating.

Jayden and Mulan knuckle bumping. Cause that's what tough girls do!

It was a wonderful week.

Mexico

Hola.Our last stop was Mexico. It was also the last charm collected for the kids masks. Don't they look amazing?
Look at these ninos.

This day was amazing and one of our absolute favorites! Thanks World Showcase for an awesome adventure.

Norway

Norway, ya.

I have to admit. I love Norway like Jason loves Morocco. It is a fun pavilion to look around and they have a great little ride (the Maelstrom) that tells you all about Norway's, it's life and traditions. I just love it.

I love wearing blonde braids too. The Christmas storyteller here was a Norwegian girl who told us all about Norway's Christmas Gnome, Julenisse. He is a playful gnome full of trickery andddddd.....
oh my goodness he showed up to play some tricks on our storyteller.

And then he got someone to help him play tricks!

A poor little girl in a pink hat and glasses.

Wait! That's Braley!

She was very good at helping the gnome trick our story teller and

in the end Julenisse admitted it was him!

God Jul!

China

Ahhh the beauty of China.

We got here later in our day just as the paper lanterns were lit.

It was very beautiful. Because China is not a Christian country we were able to be lucky enough to hear the Monkey King tell us about Chinese New Year.

And then came the moment Jayden has been waiting her whole life for.

She got to meet Mulan!

The girl about died of happiness! Really.

We were so excited for her. She doesn't put much stock into the Disney Princess' but Mulan is her very favorite booty kicking, boy smashing Princess.

Our very best Chinese acrobat pose.

Zai jian!

African Outpost

Beat some drums.

Dance around.

Sing a song.
Look at that drumming.
Stellar.

Germany

Um-pa, Om-pa.

Ahhh, Germany. The sights and smells of yummy Bavarian food and music. And the home of Snow White.

In Germany we watched this funny German woman tell us about the Nutcracker that appears during Christmas in Germany. She was so entertaining.

Frohe Weihnachten!

Italy

Benvenuti!

Holy canoli this pavilion was one of the kids favorites.

There was so much to see. Street performers
who juggle.
And who need cute little blonde boy assistants from Oregon.
Ansen helped him start the show and he was great!

And tall blonde girl assistants from Oregon as well.

Jayden was a big part of the show and she was so great.

Look how far back she is going for the catch!

Next we were able to hear about Italian Christmas from la Befana.

She was the most captivating story teller. I can't even summarize the story that she told so below is a printed version.

Buon Natale!

Morocco

Everyone had their favorite country around the world showcase. Morocco is Jason's favorite. He just loves it. Like Love loves it. Someday we will go to Morocco for real.Aladdin and Jasmine are the official Welcome crew of Morocco and these two (especially him) were totally in character. It was cute.

how cute is Jayden's pose?

The market place is beautiful. The colors, music and smells.

Heaven, heaven, heaven.

Something I forget to tell you. In each country when the kids added another charm to their masks they also had their name written on the back of their mask. So this is a picture of them seeing how their names would look in Morocco.

There were plenty of places places where you could just sit down and take 5.

It was awesome.

Before we left we were able to use rose water to cleanse our hands.

Salome Alikome!