Disney TAKE 2

Our second day at Disney was much more dry! We had an umbrella and we were prepared. It started a little wet but cleared up and was a BEAUTIFUL day!

On this day we met lots of princesses. We met Sleeping Beauty (aka Aurora), Snow White, Cinderella and Belle. Aidan went with Charlotte and got to meet Chicken Little, Donald, and Chip and Dale. (I have to get those pictures from Charlotte's camera). Aidan also met Genie from Aladin. We rode the magic carpet ride this day. I am so glad Charlotte was with us because it gave us a one to one adult to kid ratio. That made our lives so much easier. Addie slept during this part of the day because she missed the magic carpet ride. Ted stayed out on this one with her. We rode the Pirates of the Carribean ride this day. Aidan was not fond of this ride. He hid his head the entire time. We bought him a sword though afterwards and he loved that. Many people accidently got hit with the sword that day at Disney... oops. We finished up our day with riding the Winnie the Pooh ride (which the kids loved). It was a wonderful, magical day!

FIRST DAY AT DISNEY

What a great time we had at Disney World. We drove through the night on Christmas Eve and arrived at Disney at about 11am on Christmas morning. There were TONS of people there. We did not realize it was PEAK season. WHO KNEW??? I guess a lot of regular attenders.
We got there and there was a parade right when we walked in. It was SO NEAT! Then the heavens opened up and the RAINS CAME DOWN. It rained so hard. There was not a dry inch on our bodies and we had ponchos on. It was coming down big time. WHAT WAS GOING ON... the day we dreamed of and we were getting rained on and the kids were so tired, wet and cranky. SO... we left! YES, we left. We went and checked into our hotel got dried off, let the kids nap and then BACK TO DISNEY WE WENT and it was ALL REDEEMED... we had a BLAST. It was still a little wet but we prepared ourselves. We had a great time!
We rode the Dumbo ride, the Buzz Light Year ride, the Snow White ride, we met Ariel, we saw the fire works.
I think my favorite ride this day was the Buzz ride. Aidan thought it was SO cool. We actually got right back on it because we enjoyed it so much. We were there for 4 hours that night. It was so much fun.
The lights were incredible at night and they actually made it snow... ONLY IN DISNEY. It looked like a snow globe.

It was a great first day!

THE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS EVE

We started our evening Christmas Eve with friends at the Blockers house in Knoxville. The Blockers, Randalls and Mazoons were all there. It was a great time. They served spaghetti (we didn't eat though because of prior plans to eat with the Cruzes). Then we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. The kids got to decorate cup cakes for Jesus. It was so sweet. We were only there a short time but I sure did laugh a lot!

After leaving the Blockers, we headed over to the Cruzes for our Christmas celebration with them. We have spent the last 4 Christmas Eve's at Buddy and Charlotte's house here in Knoxville. Buddy and Charlotte go to our church. They have 4 grown children and 14 grandchildren. They have been so sweet to have us come and join their family gathering the last 4 years. It means a lot to us. Debbye Wright (who works at the church with Ted and is my mentor) is one of her children. Buddy Cruze (Charlotte's dad - the Charlotte that hangs out with our family a lot) is also one of their children). We have a great time because most of them go to church with us and we know them well. We've also vacationed with them (a few years back). Granny goes out and gets the kids some fun presents. This year Aidan got lots of dinosaurs. He also got a cool Cars hoodie with a vest. He slept in that shirt and wore it to Disney the first day. Avery got barbie dress up clothes and a dancing princess barbie. She also got some really nice jeans and a shirt. Addie got a tea set, a mini barbie and a mini barbie box. She got a Winnie the Pooh outfit (so cute!).
We had a great time. The Cruzes are very generous.
We had a WONDERFUL meal as well. It was SO GOOD! I look forward to Christmas at the Cruzes every year. It's a great time!

Christmas Eve Morning

These are pictures from Christmas Eve morning. Aidan has a wall hanging on his shirt. He's a funny one :-)
You can click on the pictures to see them better.
What a wonderful Christmas Eve! I think it might be my most favorite one yet! We started the morning getting dressed for church. Ted
taught the message at church this morning (www.fbcknoxville.com - if you'd like to hear it. Click on Resources and it should be there).

We headed to church then afterwards we went to lunch with Janie and Kendal. Ted came home and went straight to bed to get rested up for our drive to DISNEY WORLD. I packed, cleaned house and went and ran a few errands. It was a fun day.

Christmas with JANIE and KENDAL

Last night we had a sweet surprise! Janie and Kendall (both college students that go to our church... Janie is in my Bible study on Sunday nights and we have really gotten to know each other this year... she's a DOLL!) well... they came over to visit. They brought in these garbage bags full of presents for the Ancelets. It was so sweet and so much fun.
The kids got SO excited (heck, I did too!). They gave the kids some fun toys. Avery got a ballerina barbie and a strawberry shortcake make up bag (which we already painted nails). Aidan got a great punching bag (spider man), and a t-ball and bat. FUN STUFF. He of course was hitting the ball in the living room (NO!). Addie got some jewels and a dress up skirt (that use to be Janie's).
Ted will be sporting a polo shirt he got from them at church tomorrow when he delivers the Christmas message to our congregation. He'll look sharp I'm sure :-)

THANKS JANIE AND KENDAL! What a sweet gift... you guys are to our family.

From Snaggle Tooth to All I Want For Christmas

Click on pictures to see them better

Avery lost both of her front two teeth. She lost one yesterday and one today. SO NOW SHE CAN TRULY SING THE SONG... all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

The top picture is one of her with one tooth left and then the bottom picture is when she lost the second one.

Christmas with the Cards

We had the Cards over last night to celebrate Christmas. We made personal pan pizzas. It was so fun!!! Cindy brought over some yummy cookies for dessert and we enjoyed our pizzas. They were really good.
We exchanged Christmas gifts. The kids were so excited to open their gifts. The girls got princess houses with little dolls and Aidan got a pop up play environment (that's what it's called).


FUN TIMES HAD BY ALL :-)

Christmas Party with MY GIRLS

Top Picture (Tracie, Kristin, Maggie, Janie and Charlotte)

Bottom Picture (Maggie, Kristin, Charlotte, Tracie and Janie)

I have been SO BLESSED to have these girls in my life. They are all freshman this year in college. We have been doing a Bible study together this semester and it has been a wonderful time.
We decided to have secret santas. We all drew names and gave our secret santa little gifts through out the season. We found out who had us at the party. It was so much fun. Charlotte had me. I got the coolest calendar from her. She took 12 pictures from my photo albums and had them made into a calendar. It is such a fun gift!
The girls all gave me a gift certificate to an outdoors store to get some sandals I've been wanting (Chacos). I ordered them and get them real soon - YEAH!

Staff Christmas Party

We had our church staff Christmas party the other night. It was a lot of fun!! We gathered at Debbye and Blair's
home. We had a wonderful meal that every one pitched in for and brought a dish (pot luck). It was a great time. Then we played pictionary. It was SO MUCH FUN... especially since the ladies won! haha. What a great night!

FOLLOWING IN MOMMA'S FOOTSTEPS

My sweet Avery is now at the age where she can do some "bigger" chores. I taught her how to vaccuum her and Addie's room the other day. I LOVE to vaccuum! I wanted to share the joy with Avery. She enjoyed it as well... runs in the family. She loves to use the dust buster around the house.
The other day she helped me put stamps on Christmas cards... She washed potatoes for me... and she cut foil for me to wrap the potatoes in.
I am so proud of this girl... she's precious!!!
To know her is to love her!

ADDIE'S FIRST SLEEP OVER

Addison went to sleep over at Charlotte's house. Aunt Charli is what we call her. Charlotte (for those of you who have not met her) is an 18 year old friend of the family. She goes to our church (that's how we met). I have done Bible study with Charlotte for 2 years now. Right now we are doing a study with 3 other of Charlotte's friends too. Kristin was also at the sleep over. Kristin is Charlotte's best friend and has become very near and dear to my heart as well. She is one of the girls in my Sunday night Bible study. She is a freshman at UT.
So when Addie went to spend the night with Charlotte and Krisitn, we (me, Ted, Avery and Aidan) went out to dinner. We all talked about how much we missed Addie. Avery has gone to spend the night at Charlotte's before. Aidan is next I guess... Addie and Charlotte have a real special relationship.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE...

We put our tree up (a few weeks ago)... I am a litte behind on my blogging. It was a sweet time. The kids are getting more of the age where they can help more. The ornaments were in one location (I had to spread them out). Charlotte came over and helped us. It was a FUN day!

VISIT FROM ALEX!!!

Alex Herrera came for a visit a few weeks ago. It was a great time!!! We had such a good time. There were a few leaves left on the trees when she got here. She missed the Fall colors by a few weeks. The first day she was here it SNOWED. It was so pretty... it looked like we were in a snow globe. Alex gave the kids gifts ... Aidan got this Cars t-shirt which he now want to wear everyday of his life! Avery got a Barbie and Barbie kitchen and Addie got her first Barbie (Avery was glad so that Addie would focus on her own Barbie).

We took Alex to some fun places. It was such a great 5 days. COME BACK AGAIN ALEX.... we loved having you!

Alex is one of the students we first met when we worked with the Youth at Irving Bible Church. We met Alex at the beginning of her Senior year. She was in Common Ground (the college ministry we did for 2 years at Irving Bible Church). We've known Alex for about 8 years... She's a blast!

THANKSGIVING 2006

We had a great Thanksgiving! We spent the day at the Mazon's home. We had a great meal with great fellowship. We had quite the spread. Each family pitched in and we had a wonderful meal The Mazons had this great pile of leaves in their back yard that provided a great amount of entertainment. The dads took the kids to the park while the women hung out around the house (with the napping kids). We had a great day. The Blockers were also there. Alex Herrera was visiting for the week and she joined us and also a friend from church named Chuck.
and some great desserts.