We just returned from a much needed family vacation. The entire time I was on my book tour, traveling and away from my kids, we were looking forward to our family trip to Disney World, our favorite place on earth to go!

In fact, that was what was on my mind the entire time I was in New York for the Today Show. With all of the air travel issues due to the weather, I was SO WORRIED I wouldn’t be able to get back home in time for our trip and so grateful that I did!

Our time was filled with singing, dancing, laughter, thrills…and that was just the car trip down to Orlando!

In an upcoming post (as soon as I get our good family photos from Disney in) I’m going to tell you how to do Disney on a budget. I am not one to toot my own horn but over the years I’ve gotten really good at Disney money saving tips and this trip ended up being less than half the normal price for us, with all of our food included free as well. So keep posted and I’ll fill you in some time over the next few weeks.

Today, I thought I’d just share some of our family snapshots with you.

I love taking photos of my family walking together. It’s neat to see all of their varying heights and how much the kids have grown.

Me and Bradybug in Epcot.

You won’t see a lot of attraction photos in here. My favorites are just seeing the faces of the kids as we go through the day.

Katy Rose and her carrot smile.

🙂

Me and Carrot smile.

My family has Southern Plate t shirts that you’ll see throughout this post every now and then. I don’t sell them at this time because I just don’t have the time to process and mail orders (and if I ever do sell them I want to charge as little as possible, which means I can’t afford to pay someone to help me with them right now). I’m still having to travel a pretty good bit (but I avoid it whenever possible) and keeping up with Southern Plate while keeping my family as my top priority is about all I can do these days. Maybe I’ll have staff one of these years and we’ll be able to do cool things like Southern Plate Family t-shirts!

Ricky and the kids outside of Mexico in Epcot.

They have a counter service restaurant that is my personal favorite!

The kids inside Mexico

This is us getting ready for the Magic Kingdom to open. Brady and Katy are making a new friend.

Brady found some Mickey shaped confetti. This is my favorite photo of the entire trip!

Brady and Katy posing with Zurg outside of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Us in our 3-D glasses

Dumbo is Katy’s favorite ride!

I rode it with her once and liked to have died! lol That was when I learned I can’t do spinny rides.

Ricky and Katy watching a parade

Ricky and Brady went off to ride Space Mountain while Katy and I went to meet the princesses.

Main Street USA

Look at those happy faces!

Katy and Daddy

Brady and Mama 🙂

The kids posing with Prince Charming.

Katy got all giggly over getting to meet him!

The kids with Cinderella

At one point Cinderella and Prince Charming waltzed in the center of the restaurant and Katy wanted to waltz, too, so she and I got up and danced together 🙂

The Osborne Spectacle of Lights in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We dearly love this for the obvious reasons, but also because we are big on Christmas lights ourselves and would dearly love to pull this off in our own front yard!

more Osborne.

We were there on the very last day they had the lights up!

Karo and Mama

One of the big guys here is Goofy. I’ll let you decide which one 🙂

Oh Mickey you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind!

Hey Mickey!

Hey Mickey!

~giggles~ You’ll be singing that all day now, won’t ya?

At one point during our trip Katy leaned over and whispered to me “Mama, I just can’t stop smiling!”

Me and Minnie

You are NEVER too old to get Minnie’s autograph!

Or to wear mouse ears 🙂

Yup! I’m the mom who packs bananas and granola bars in my bag to save money in the park.

Disney doesn’t mind and you’ll be in good company with tons of other moms who do the same thing!

There are lots of arts and crafts in the park. This is the kids making a mask in Africa (Animal Kingdom)

My cheetah and ape.

Ricky and Brady on the tram

Me and Karo

See those waving people? Thats m’family!

and to think, it all began with a mouse…

We had a WONDERFUL TIME this past week and I really needed this time away with my family.

It’s good to be home and back with you now, though!

Alrightly. Vacation over, time to get cooking!

“A man should never neglect his family for business. “

~Walt Disney