How to pack for 8 days at Disney World.

1. Put everything you own into some bags.
2. Go buy a bunch of stuff you currently do not own and shove it into some other bags.
3. Hand each of your kids a backpack and tell them to fill it with everything they want for the plane ride there and back.
4. Don't even think about looking in said backpacks or you'll just end up screaming, dumping it all out, and packing the stuff you want them to bring. ("Why no, son, you can not take all the leftover Halloween candy and 52 action figures. However, you can bring these nice books I bought for you and a shiny, red apple")
5. And for yourself: Earplugs, earbuds, earmuffs, a giant wad of that ticky tack stuff, whatever you can scrounge up to drown out the children on the plane would be good.

Despite the anxiety attack that I had trying to get us packed for this trip, I can't wait.

See you on the other side. I am sure to weigh 5 pounds more and be completely unbearable for at least a month. Sorry I'm not sorry.

It's beginning to look a lot like Disney....

Friday we head back to the happiest place on earth. I wish I didn't actually believe that last sentence and had just used it for ironic emphasis, but I totally believe it. Disney World is the happiest place on earth - go ahead, judge me. 

Because I'm already in trip mode and have basically already mentally checked out of, well, life, I can't really think of anything witty and amazing to blog about. However, I have read some great things lately and wanted to share.

Don't be fooled by the super cheesy title and artwork for this book - it's a very good bible study about the friendships of women. I have really enjoyed this and I plan to give this away to lots of people for Christmas. If Jen Hatmaker will write something then I will read it, it's just that simple.

I did this study with a group of students at OC. I honestly had no idea what to expect, because, you know, sex. However, I thought this was an excellent study and was so blessed to lead this. I would recommend this to young adult/teenage students.

I just finished this book. I have always prayed that my kids would never make a split decision that would ruin their lives. This book pretty much plays out what happens to parents when their kid does just that. Geesh, this was stressful, but I couldn't put it down.

And another terrifying child murder mystery. This one is way more sad than scary about a mother who is determined to prove that her daughter did not commit suicide. A real page-turner.

Mia has insisted that the entire family wear matching t-shirts on this trip to Disney. As much as I love Disney World, I have never been able to stomach wearing Disney clothing. But when a sweet little nine-year-old designs a family t-shirt, you wear it with pride and just a little embarrassment. 

Just a little. 

Okay, a lot.

Well, it has been a week.

Times are rough around the Lashley house these days. Times. Are. Rough.

The kids and I woke up sick Tuesday. Because Andy and five kids in Mia's class had strep recently, I got meds called in for the three of us and went on my merry little way.

This is Bode hanging his head over a pot of boiling water so he could breathe. 

This is the picture of desperation.

And then Mia just got sicker. And I started to entertain the idea that my killer mom instincts may have been wrong this time. So on Friday I drug this little thing to the doctor to find out that it's actually the flu. Ooops, my bad.

And before you ask, OF COURSE WE GOT THE FLU SHOT!

Just the word "flu" sends me spiraling into this crazy panic mode. I start racing up and down the aisles of Walgreens, heart pounding (mostly out of my desperation to get in a full breath), shopping cart speeding, arms just sweeping things into my cart with reckless abandon. 

I'm a mother who got it wrong, whose instincts failed, who feels kinda stupid. It's a bad combination. As punishment I got to pay $200 for three Tamiflu prescriptions. It was too late for tamiflu to do Mia any good, perhaps that's my silver lining - the sickest one saved me $75.

It's like war-times over here - we're waving the white flag, ready to negotiate a deal, making promises we aren't sure we can keep, sacrificing our dignity just to survive.

In ten days we are leaving for Disney World. One way or another.

I suppose I can't expect you to understand how awesome this show was...

Maybe posting 756 pictures will drive home my point: This was such a fun show and a wonderful experience for me Mia. 

Every person in this production was so gracious to all 40 of the little rug-rats that were running around all over the place.

 Every time Alyssa got near Mia her heart skipped a beat (or was that mine?). After the first show Mia said, "I think Alyssa is the most famous person I know."

The children's' director, Saint Vanessa: How this lady didn't loose her cool about nine million times I'll never know.

 I told Mia that if she learns to sing like Alyssa I will personally dye her hair any color she wants.

Mia is so blessed to have these girls in her life. They have come to see her in every show she has been in since she was four years old.

 Cast Party Cake:

 Mia's voice teacher, Miss Kristin, had four students cast in this show. She was so sweet to come and support them.

 Mia's teacher at Oakdale, Mrs. Branson:

 It's kind of nice when your students are cast members in the same play as your daughter. You can basically threaten them to take care of your child and show her complete favoritism at all times. 

 Joseph:

Reagan asked me to let her know when the next show is so she can play violin in the pit. She also stopped a complete stranger in the lobby to point out to them that they had just used an idiom. Shy she is not.

I am sure none of the directors, cast, or crew read this blog, but just in case: Thank you, thank you, thank you for blessing Mia with this show.

In true Mia fashion, she cried yesterday because she missed the cast and wanted the show to run "for at least, like, 3 more months or something."

Sweet girl.

It's beginning to look a lot like showtime.

Mia's latest adventure is the OC Homecoming musical, Joseph and The Longest Name for a Show Ever.

This is such a fun musical - think operetta meets rock concert. Also it only runs for one weekend, and it's a mile from our house, so, basically, it's the greatest show to ever exist.

Her sweet Uncle Jeff already sent her flowers.

 After four musicals, you come to expect this kind of treatment. 

When she saw these she said, "Make room on the dining table because, you know, it's show week. 

The little diva.

The other day at school they were supposed to dress in 80's clothes in honor of red ribbon week. I can't really figure that one out.  Maybe it's because we have the 80's to thank for the whole crack-cocaine thing? Whatever the reason, I was thrilled for an excuse to force Mia to wear one of my home-made dresses from 1986.

She has no idea what I have in store for her when it's 90's day....