Disney Social Media Moms: Some Quick Pics Day 1

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We started our AMAZING Disney Social Media Moms celebration with some GREAT family fun at Magic Kingdom. Then, I was able to attend a press event for the 20th Anniversary of Disney Weddings. (I TOTALLY want to renew my vows at Disney now.) Finally, we were treated to a FABULOUS family dinner and fun on the Grand Floridian lawn.

I’ll go into more detail when I get home, but I know you want to see some pics.

After checking into our hotel, we headed to Magic Kingdom. It is CROWDED this time of year. One of the reasons we’ve never been in March. It’s still FUN though!

We ran into Ohamanda right inside MK.
We stopped for a quick pic and then she and her hubby were off to park hop.

The view outside our balcony. We’re at the Grand Floridian. Yes, I’m getting spoiled.

What greeted us at the Wedding Pavilion. We all filled up boxes for our “kids.”

All the ladies received fun “Bride Mickey Ears.” I’m wearing mine proudly.

I was so excited to meet Lou from WDW Radio. My Sweetie LOVES his podcasts and videos, and I got my picture taken with him JUST so I could text it to my hubby. SO fun.

Those are just a FEW of the pictures I took. More to come in the days (and perhaps weeks) to follow!

Disclosure: My family and I were given accommodations and park tickets at a reduced rate as part of the conference. In addition, Disney has treated us as wonderful guests complete with special surprises. All opinions are my very own.

Surprise: The Reaction

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WOW! We had some serious traffic on the blog yesterday! Everybody wanted to see how we were telling the Princess we were going to Disney World for the Social Media Moms Celebration.

If you missed it, we made a video telling the Princess SURPRISE and explaining what was going on. She was ABSOLUTELY surprised.

When I picked her up at school, she was complaining that she didn’t feel good. Her tummy hurt. She felt achy. I was seriously trying not to panic. We’ve had a rough winter, and it seems she’s only well for like three weeks at a time. We’re nearing the end of the three weeks.

I ushered her out to the car where she was surprised to see Daddy. We were supposedly heading to the dentist (at 1:30 in the afternoon) and Daddy doesn’t usually go with us. We sat her in the car and gave her my laptop on which to watch the video we had made. Daddy recorded her and I took still shots. This is the (unedited) reaction:

Now, those of you that don’t know my child might think that’s not much of a reaction. Those of you that do will know that the grinning from ear to ear and eyes shifting back and forth is pure joy and excitement while her brain tries to adjust her entire week’s schedule to the fact that we are going out of town. (She gets that from her mama.) She was THRILLED. She was EXCITED. She was SURPRISED.

After the being overwhelmed wore off, she started to get really excited and by the time we hit the FL state line was giddy. Interestingly, she’s been much more appreciative this trip than any other one. She’s been here at least nine times – always in the fall. It seems that changing it up has made her realize it truly is a gift and blessing to be able to come.

And it is SUCH a blessing to be at Disney for this conference. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us! I’ve got some posts lined up as I don’t know how much time I’ll have to actually blog while I’m here. I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures and share them with you when I can! If you twitter, be sure to follow me (kathill).

Surprise!!!

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Today is the day we head to Disney Social Media Moms. To say that My Sweetie and I are excited is an understatement. We have been bursting. Why bursting? Because we haven’t told the Princess yet that we’re going! As in I took her to school today, and she thinks its a normal Wednesday with soccer practice tonight. But it is in no way a normal Wednesday.

WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

How we have kept this a secret I have no idea. It has been SO hard! However, I think it’s going to be worth it. This is our one and only chance to surprise her with a trip to Disney. We go every fall so going in the spring is totally out of the realm of her imagination. We can’t wait to tell her and watch her reaction.

The biggest question was how to tell her. We decided to make a video to show her when she gets in the van. I’m picking her up from school a little early. She thinks she has a dentist appointment. (FYI – She HATES the dentist so was dragging to start the day.)  When she sees Daddy in the car and the car packed, she’ll know something’s up. We plan to show her the video below right away to explain the surprise. I can’t wait!!

The plan is to record her reaction. We’ll share it with you as soon as you we can.

It’s been ONE Month

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One month ago my best friend went to dance with Jesus. In some ways it’s gone fast and in others slow. I’ve counted the days, each and every one. Each morning they are marked in my brain. Two days ago, she was gone. A week ago we said good-bye to her earthly body. Three weeks ago I gave the eulogy at my best friend’s celebration service.

Giving the eulogy at your best friend’s celebration service is NOT something you should do before you’re forty. (Yes, I have a few more months before I’m forty people!) What’s worse, she was only thirty-five. For thirty-five years she lived on this earth. For thirty-five years she shone God’s light to all who encountered her. Many were blessed to know her. I was honored to call her my BFF.

Do I miss her? OH YES I miss her. But, I don’t miss the her that died a month ago. I miss the her that cancer took away from us months before that. I miss my BFF. I miss the lady who made me laugh and then cried with me when I was sad. I miss the woman whose babies I fed and who cackled when her son peed all over me. I miss my friend who made the best banana puddin’ around. I SO MISS her.

While I miss her, I rejoice that she is no longer here…suffering and in pain. She is finally healed. For that, I dance and I sing…. even while I cry…

For those that have requested, you can read my eulogy on her Caring Bridge Page on the March 4th Journal entry.

If you have a moment, pray for those of us who are grieving for Katie today, especially her husband and two children.

Live Love Serve 03 11 11

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Live

Only A Page: A Deeper Story – WOW! Powerful post that made me stop and think. Read and be moved.

14 Layer Chocolate Cake: The Teacher Cooks – Um, YUMMMM!

Love

A Mother’s Freedom: Tree, Root, and Twig – A GREAT post on Motherhood.

Raising Hospitable Kids: The Reluctant Entertainer – This is something we’re working on with the Princess. It’s such a hard thing to teach.

Serve

Tip Envelopes: The DVC Mom – With the trip to Disney coming, we need to remember to serve those who serve us.

Linked to Saturday Stumbles.

Praying for Japan

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I was going to post today about going to Disney World.

That seems a bit trivial after the images I’ve seen today.

Instead, I ask you to take a minute. Stop. Lift your voice. Pray for those in Japan, the surrounding islands, and all in the path of a possible tsunami.

Pray for strength. Pray for wisdom. Pray for miracles to happen. Pray for lives to be saved.

Just pray.

We’re Going to Disney World!

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The House of Hills LOVES some Disney World. We go EVERY year. Seriously, every year. We honeymooned there. We took the Princess when she was just three months old, and she’s been every fall since. We’ve even been on a Disney cruise. We LOVE Disney.

That is why I am SO excited to be able to go to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration next week. I will be hanging out with some AMAZING bloggers and hearing some GREAT speakers. I can’t wait. Of course, I also get to spend time with my family. That’s going to be the best part of the entire week. Time with my family at the happiest place on earth. Hopefully we’ll make some more memories like these…

The COOLEST part of this trip is that the Princess doesn’t know we’re going. She has NO IDEA. We are totally going to surprise her! Isn’t that AWESOME?! We typically go at the same time each year, so this is probably the ONLY time we’ll ever be able to surprise her with a trip to see the Mouse. So shhhhh… don’t tell!

And don’t worry. I plan to take TONS of pictures and tell you all about it when I get back.

Do you have anything you would like me to investigate while I’m down with the Mouse? I’ve got some ideas for posts, but would love to know what you want to know about!

Disclosure: I paid a small fee for the conference which includes hotel accommodations and park tickets. All opinions are my own.

Linked to Things I Love Thursday.

Works For Me Wednesday: The Gift Card Box

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Life is often hectic here at the House of Hills. I always think it’s going to slow down and then nope, it doesn’t. I have therefore resorted to gift cards for kids’ birthday parties.

Yep, I said it. I’m THAT mom that brings just a card for the birthday princess  (or prince) to open. You are secretly clicking your tongue at me aren’t you? I know you are.

I’ve actually gotten SO LAZY about birthday party presents that I now keep a box/basket with generic “Happy Birthday” cards and assorted $10 gift cards in it. I do! It’s true! As we are preparing to go to the party, we pull out the box, choose a birthday card, and choose a gift card to go in it. No last minute trip to the store. No gift wrap to buy. No ribbons and tissue.

See, now you’re jealous. Now you’re thinking it might be a good idea.

Yep, the Gift Card Box works for me. In fact, I’m making one for my Katie’s widower. Then, he doesn’t have to think worry about kids’ birthday party presents either!  He thinks I’m brilliant by the way.

Do you do the Gift Card Box? Or, do you have the gift closet? How do you manage all the kids’ birthday parties you are asked to attend.

Linked to Works for Me Wednesday. You’ll want to pop over there. Kristen has a giveaway today!

Top Ten Tuesday: A Smaller House

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We’re buying a house…. in like a few weeks. Seriously, it’s insanity. We were approved for our loan today, all the paperwork is getting put in order, and we are going to be the proud owners of a brand new cottage.

That’s right… we’re buying a cottage. Not a big new house… a cottage. We are literally only purchasing the square footage that we use every day. There will be no extra space. There will be no wasted space. There will be just the space that we NEED.

Are we crazy? Maybe. But we don’t think so. We think we are being wise. Here’s why we are moving into a smaller house cottage.

1. We won’t have extra space to fill up with things we don’t need.
2. EVERY purchase will need to be thought through as to how it fits into our simplified life.
3. We will only be cleaning space that we actually use. No extra cleaning! Whoop!
4. Our utilities will be reduced. Even more so since our new home is an Earthcraft home.
5. We LOVE the neighborhood we’re moving to and are willing to live in a smaller space to be there.
6. The neighborhood is actually one of those that has shops, restaurants and offices in the front section and houses in the back. My office is in the front of the neighborhood. In fact, I can walk to work when it is nice. WALK TO WORK! That will save on some gas.
7. We want to teach our Princess better money habits than we ourselves have. We can do that by taking control and living more simply.
8. We will be closer to church and our church family. That is huge.
9. We will be closer to my Katie’s family, and will be able to play an active role in her children’s lives.
10. We firmly believe that God led us to this place. He lined up the cards/dominoes so perfectly that we are in awe. We can’t wait to see why He wants us there.

Linked to Top Ten Tuesday.

Things I Love Thursday: Girl Cousins

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I’ve talked about the girl cousins before… last year as a matter of fact, but I just can’t help sharing a few more pictures.

This relationship continues to amaze me. I don’t have a girl cousin. (Well, not one that I’m close with at all.) I don’t have a sister. I have a step-sister and a half-sister, but we never lived together or even in the same city. So this relationship between the Princess and E fascinates me. It fills my heart so much it wants to burst at times. I LOVE to watch it unfold. I KNOW it is a relationship that will last a lifetime. It is a relationship that will get them through many trials together. It is something I truly LOVE!

Linked to Things I Love Thursday.