Forget fall. Apparently Florida has. Temperatures are still reaching 90, the leaves are all green, and there is not a stalk of corn in sight. So, since fall apparently got lost on the way to central Florida, let's just skip it and move right on to Christmas.
I LOVE Christmas. I don't necessarily care for the loads of gifts and the materialism of it all, and I DO understand the deeper meaning of the season, but I have to say I LOVE the "feeling" of Christmas. I love the lights, the music, the dreams of snow, the family, the candles, the wonder of it all. Why else would I choose to get married one week before Christmas? I had an evening candlelit ceremony and had my favorite song, "Oh Holy Night," play as the wedding party walked down the aisle. I just love the magical feeling of the time of year. Christmas is definitely one thing I really missed when I was overseas. India basically did nothing for Christmas and Malaysia, while they try, you couldn't quite escape noticing that although things looked Christmasesque, they were usually just Chinese New Years decorations in disguise.
I know I won't get snow in Orlando. I know I won't feel like a nice hot cup of cocoa or feel like warming my toes by the fire. BUT... I am pretty sure I am going to soak up all the Christmasness that the area has to offer. Take Disney for example. I was cruising the website yesterday and was downright giddy at all the holiday events they have going on!
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom (complete with snow on main street!)
Holiday's Around the World at Epcot Center (with a candlelight processional and tree lighting every night!)
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at MGM Studios (with falling snow and millions of lights!)
Festival of the Seasons in Downtown Disney (where Santa plans to hang out!)
and
Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom
And the best thing is, all of this is going on from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas!! Can you tell I am going to get my money's worth out of these tickets? LOL! I am ready! If I can't have fall, I'll take LOTS and LOTS of Christmas!
Okay...Christmas longings are over (for the time being!)
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Speaking of Disney...here are a few pictures from the parade the other night. It is REALLY hard to get photos of the moving parade and the fireworks, especially with thousands of people milling about, but a few turned out okay.
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One of the effects of this pregnancy is that I have taken very few pictures (compared to what I usually do!) Normally my camera is out every day and I can basically chronicle every moment of our lives. I have found that I have gone weeks at a time without downloading new pictures and I have missed so much. I am not worried about it, I still have a lot more pictures than many people have, but I do miss the photos. So last night I convinced Alaina to come outside with me and let me take some photos. She was her normal cheesy self so I didn't get too many amazing ones, but I got a few that speak to me. Levi tagged along so I got some of his cute self too! Enjoy!
And here is a LO I did at 4:30 this morning when I couldn't sleep...
Credits: paper (combined and altered) by Michelle Coleman and Shabby Princess. I also used papers by Michelle Coleman from her Haunted Fall kit to make the little paper pumpkin. Distressed alpha font and hand stamped alpha brushes also by Michelle. Staples by Shabby Princess. Frame by Nancy Comelab. Font is Mom's Typewriter.
Journaling: okay...so, fall hasn’t really come to florida. people keep telling me it will, but at the end of october with the temperatures still reaching 9O, i am seriously having some doubts. there are no changing leaves, no cool crisp air, no hot apple cider, and no where to go pick pumpkins. in january i am sure i will be thankful for the warm temps, but right now, i just want fall! but you know what? i look at these pictures and I really have to ask myself...who needs pumpkins when I have you?
Hope everyone has a great Wednesday. I have a lot planned today so Jason is taking the kids out so I can get some work done.
Great photos! Where is the photo frame (with the staples) from? It looks so cool :D
Posted by: Ingunn | October 25, 2007 at 02:59 AM
That first photo of the two of them? Love it.
That pumpkin layout is adorable.
You are a daily read for me. Enjoy you and am inspired by you.
Continue to feel better and better with each day that passes. :)
Posted by: Debra | October 25, 2007 at 04:07 AM
OMG what gorgeous photos of Alaina and Levi!!!!! LOVE it Janet, thanks for sharing with us :)
Posted by: Michelle Filo | October 25, 2007 at 05:14 AM
What great pictures today, Janet! Your daughter looks so much like you! What precious kids you have! :)
Posted by: Julie | October 25, 2007 at 08:49 AM
Oh oh oh!!! I want to live in Orlando, too!!! LOL! Awesome photos of the Magic Kingdom AND the kids of course. They (the kiddos!) are gorgeous!
Posted by: Rona | October 25, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Those photos of Alaina and Beav are just awesome! They are both lil hams for the camera huh? I wish I could get mine to do that, he just throws out the peace sign and makes all these serious faces, LOL.
I think VA has forgotten fall too :( Last weekend would have been the prime time for photo taking here and wouldn't you know I had to work, ugh! The trees still have a few colorful leaves to them so we're going to give it a try this weekend so keep your fingers crossed for me :)
Posted by: Andrea C. | October 26, 2007 at 03:30 AM
Janet!!! Email me girl - we gots to get together :)
Posted by: Traci | October 28, 2007 at 02:38 AM