Wordless Wednesday: Our Dancing Sorcerer Mickey (from Fantasmic)

Hidden Mickey Fun

So, there's no hiding that we are a Disney family!  All it took was Neil and I going for our honeymoon, and we fell in love with the place.  We couldn't wait to have kiddos and share with them the "magic" of Disney World - the "happiest place on earth".  And truly, next to Mass/Adoration and time spent at home as a family, our third favorite place would have to be Disney.  Truly!  And, for any non-Disney lovers out there, I have to say - that you can't really know unless you've been there.  So, no judging please....  ;)

Of course, we love the rides, shows, and food, but another small but HUGE thing we love is strolling through the park and being a spy and finding the Hidden Mickeys sprinkled here and there.  So, when we are not getting our Disney fix through an actual vacation, we listen to Disney Parks music, watch Disney movies, watch ride/show videos on YouTube, look at and watch our own pictures and videos and stay up to date with friends/family making trips there and even a couple Facebook groups devoted to sharing Disney things multiple times a day.  This is SO much fun because we can experience the joy in a small way be seeing pictures and hearing about others who are at Disney that very day.  And on one of these such boards on Facebook the other day. this sweet lady shared what her husband had gifted her with for their anniversary.  He spent 60 hours and created this Beauty and the Beast doodle for her, and included 14 Hidden Mickey's in it.  (note:  a hidden mickey is the shape of Mickey's head and ears -think Where's Waldo - Mickey style!).

I couldn't keep this find all to myself, so I immediately shared it with the kiddos.  What fun they had searching for them and the hunt-and-find was a success!  All 14 were found!!!

The talented man that created this has his own Facebook page as well, where you can see his drawings and doodles - aka: beautiful pieces of art!  Feel free to visit it and see the talent he has been blessed with.  You will be WOW-ed!  I tried to convince Mario and Fone to take a stab at creating something like this, because they are both amazing at drawing.  We'll see - maybe the next Hidden Mickey creation I share will be one of theirs?!!

For more on Hidden Mickeys, be sure to check out....
**Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World®'s Best Kept Secrets
**All Ears on Hidden Mickeys
**Some examples of Hidden Mickeys at Disney World (abc News article)
**Huffington Post article on Hidden Mickeys

Meeting the Mouse

I have so much that I want to share about our trip - I *always* do, but the time part I always seem to lose track of.  So, just in case time slips away, I wanted to share this pic of meeting Mickey and a cute video.  This was the first time we met the talking Mickey.  The kids were a little freaked out at first.  To be honest, I was too.  Most characters we met don't talk.  They hug you, shake your hand, give you high five's, but talk and sound exactly like they do on the cartoons?  Nada!  But, this Mickey DOES talk and I knew he did beforehand, so I had the camera out and ready and I am so glad I did....

Love that mouse!!!  

Cinderella birthday party

Melody turned 9 last month and with the new movie coming out, she *had* to choose Cinderella for her themed party.  We had a great time finding and coming up with ideas for her birthday party.

FOOD

**Cinderella Carriage Cake**

**Fairy Godmother Wands**

**Cinderella's Garden Vegetables**

**Cinderella and Stepmother Sweet & Sout Meatballs**

**Jaq and Gus Sandwiches**

(some of my sweet nieces arrived a little early, so I put them to work in making these mice sandwiches.  They were such a good help and did a great job!)

We also served Princess Pasta (a tri color pasta salad) and Prince Charming Punch (fruit punch juice boxes!).

GAMES/ACTIVITIES

1.  Chores - How can you have a Cinderella party and not include chores?  I kinda surprised the girls on this one...

 "I heard there is a ball tonight!  Are you girls ready for the ball?  If so....  then we need to get this place in better order.  And we must divide up the work!  Chop Chop!!"  

So the girls divided into groups of 2 or 3 and sang their "Happy Working Song" as they worked away.

2.  Scavenger Hunt - I found the cutest princess Scavenger Hunt online and sprinkled in a little more of a Cinderella theme.  This was so much fun!!

**First clue**

With the jewels all shiny and bright,
I will be all ready for the big night.
We will make one of these for our head.
Prince Phillip and the Fairies love these, they said.
Guess the Princess:  Aurora
What did we do?  the girls received their princess crowns

**Second clue**

Now that the crowns are complete,
We are ready for something real neat.
Off with Aladdin we run,
To find the Magic Carpet of fun.
Stories await us when we’ve arrived
And make-up will be applied.
Name the Princess:  Jasmine
Whad did we do?  the girls put on some (light) make-up onto their eyelids 

**Third Clue**

With Prince Eric we go to the sea of balls,

To find a picture of the Princess who calls.
She’s a mermaid with a voice,
Who had to make a choice,
Between living in the sea or on land.
Name the Princess – Ariel
What did we do?  the girls got to search through a sea of balls to find the ball with Ariel's sticker

**Fourth Clue**

We have found Ariel in the sea.
So we wonder what the next clue will be.
With so much fun to be had,
You are sure to be glad,
To solve a ‘puzzle’ with the Beast’s love and her friends.
 Name the Princess – Bell
What did we do?   the girls got to solve Cinderella themed look-and-find puzzles

**Fifth Clue**

By now you probably can’t wait,
To hear the next clue at any rate.
With a pumpkin and mice in a trance.
This Princess is late for the dance.
Name the Princess - Cinderella
What did we do?   the girls received their wand and danced to Bippidi Boppidi Boo on Just Dance Disney (although only the birthday princes held the actual remote)

**Sixth Clue**

What fun to dance all around.
Next we are going to take some time with a crayon.
This Princess with her long hair loves to paint,
And hits Flynn Ryder so hard that he faints.
Name the Princess - Rapunzel
What did we do?  color their very best chalk drawings outside

**Seventh Clue**

This Princess must kiss Naveen.
The only problem is that he is green.
Lay a smacker on lips,
And there won’t be any tricks.
A Prince you will have at last.
Name the Princess - Tiana
What are we doing?  the girls played "Pin the Kiss on the Frog"  (our Mario made the frog - didn't he turn out adorable??!!)

**Eighth Clue**

Tired and ready for a treat.
There is cake and ice cream that is ready to eat.
Let’s have some right now
And find the slipper somehow
When our bellies are no longer grumbling.
What did we do?  the girls found the glass slipper hidden out in the bread maker and then we served the cake

++Thank you, God, for fun ways to celebrate the birthdays of the beautiful blessings you have sent our way!!++

Our favorite versions of "Let It Go"

With two girls ages 8 and 10, it is clearly no doubt that we are Frozen fans!  And, you may even remember, Ariel had a Frozen themed birthday party for her birthday this past year.  The girls really wanted to be Anna and Elsa for Halloween, but with our special delivery, the momma hasn't been thinking too much about Halloween costumes and preparing to celebrate that holiday.  It's been all about baby instead and all the local stores are sold out of Anna and Elsa costumes as well as Etsy.  I had shared our favorite versions of "What does the fox say" a while back and have been meaning to share our favorite versions of "Let It Go" and I am finally getting around to it.  Enjoy!!

The original "Let It Go" with scenes from the movie...

Can you say TALENT??  This man and all the character voices he can make are just amazing!!  My boys, especially love this version and sing the song with many of these voices regularly!!  

This was one of the first "Let It Go" video's we watched and the kids all still talk about the sweet little girls and how they mixed up many of the words.  Sometimes, I even catch them singing their silly mess ups, just to be funny.  

This guy also had a "What does the fox say" parody.  So funny!!  

I really should memorize some of these lines and use them regularly with the kids.  "I said no, I said no, ....", "I said share your best toys when you play", "That pout never bothered me anyway", "will you slow down before you end up in a cast?".  

Now I can bet what song you'll be singing the rest of the day!!  ;) 

Frozen birthday party

"Some people are 
worth melting for!!"

~Olaf

Yesterday, we had a blast celebrating Ariel's 8th birthday with friends and cousins, "Frozen style"!!  Here is our take on a "Frozen style" party!!

**Food**

Snowman Buttons

 Snowman Pizza

Snowman-shaped cheese pizzas:  one had a white sauce (Ranch dressing) and the other normal pizza sauce (a BIG thanks to my dear friend who hung around for a bit after dropping off her daughter and helped me create these!!)

 Snowman noses

Snow Dip (and apples)

This is my favorite fruit dip yet!!  Easy peasy... use one box of white chocolate instant pudding, but mix it up with buttermilk instead of normal milk.  Then fold in one 8 oz tub of cool whip.  Viola!!!  Nummy!! 

 Ice Cubes

Three layer jello jigglers (blue, purple, blue):  These layered jello jigglers have become a staple at birthday parties and also a regular that we take to parties.  Easy recipe as well - each layer contains 2 cups boiling water mixed with 2 small boxes of jello (same color/flavor) and 2 Knox jello packets.  Let this layer harden in the fridge, then do a second layer, and then repeat again! 

 Snowman Popcorn

A decorated snowman face on a clear cup filled with popcorn

 Melted Snowman drink

And, last but not least - the CAKE!!!!

A sweet momma made this homemade from scratch, gorgeous cake for Ariel.  It is Elsa's snow castle: a hexagon shaped layered cake, complete with glittering snow (frosting with sprinkles), ice (rock candy) and sugared-snowflakes!!  What talent she has!!!  Isn't it lovely?!

**Games/Activities**

Fone was our little activities coordinator for this party and has been for many of our parties lately.  He has taken this role over so beautifully, does it all on his own, and really does a tremendous job!!  I am so proud of him!  For Ariel's party, he created a treasure map that included the 4 games and snowflake-shaped clues were given after each game was completed.  Each clue was a code letter that they had to break - and the 4 letters, from solving the code spelled the word "EVIL".  It said to rearrange the words, then that new word would have part of a room in the house where the treasure would be found....  "EVIL"  ------> "LIVE" -----> would lead them to the LIVE-ing room.  There they would find the treasure (goodie bags, of course!).  Here are the games he planned....

Marshmallow Attack

This one was fairly simple.  Fone had colored and made the Marshmallow Monster from the movie and the girls threw snowballs at it and attacked.  After each girl had their turn, they received a snowflake clue.

Do you want to build a snowman??

This one was probably the favorite of all of them.  It also took a while, and made us lose some time on the last game.  But, man oh man, it was a riot!!  The girls were divided up into 4 teams.  Each team got a snowman building kit (2 rolls of TP, tape, hat and scarf, construction paper and scissors) and we put them each in different rooms of the house, so as to not "cheat" and "steal" other's ideas. They did a great job and had such a blast with this one.  I think from now on, our birthday party gift of choice will be toilet paper and tape!!  Hee hee!! 

Pin the Nose on Olaf

Mario, our artist, drew a huge Olaf character and Fone made the carrot noses.  Then, just like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, we spun the girls around and they had to give Olaf his nose.  A classic game, but always fun!!

Maze

We found and printed these mazes for each girl to do, but we ran out of time for them to actually complete them (because of the awesome timewe had with the snowman building game).   No worries - as they ate cake, Fone worked them through this, gave them their last clue to find the treasure.  

**Goodie Bags/Party Favors**

Each girl received, as their treasure, a lovely decorated brown paper bag - decorated by the birthday girl herself!  In it were some fruit roll ups, chapstick, Snowman Soup (see picture below), Snowman Parts (see picture below) and some other goodies. 

(large marshmallows, candy corn, stick pretzels, and chocolate chips)

(mini marshmallows, hot chocolate packets, candy cane)

I think, I great time was had by all!!  
Happy 8th birthday to our sweet girl!!

++Thank you, God, for Ariel, for 8 years of life with her, and birthday fun with friends!!++