a new beginning

This feels unfamiliar... These buttons have changed, the formatting is all different, but in a good way, a new fresh kind of way. A fresh start for 2013. Our lives have changed drastically, all for the good. We have a new permanant family member family!!! Everett and I were married on December 22, 2012. (Isn't that a fun anniversary 12.22.12, except for the fact that I didn't think about my anniversary always being on Christmas. It will be fun when we're old and the kids are all home to visit and we can celebrate with them all together...ahhh) I will post more about the wedding very soon.

Theres no way I can go back and try to fill in the blanks, so I am going to start fresh from here.

I hope you enjoy!!

when Santa came

This year we celebrated a little differently, started a new “Walker Family tradition”. Santa came early to our house & we LOVED it!!!! The hustle bustle of Christmas morning was much less chaotic, Jenna was able to play with her toys for days before having to go to her dads family's houses in Ohio for a week. It was much more relaxed!!!

First Came the Cookies….

 

Then Came Santa….

 

Joshua and Jenna were so very excited this year, we tucked into bed with a “Night Before Christmas” story, Santa pj’s, Reindeer food scattered on the walk and cookies and milk out for Santa… and off to sleep we went…

HE DIDN’T FORGET US!!! SEE, WE WERE GOOD THIS YEAR!!!

Santa brought Jenna a sparkly new kitchen, dishes, pots and pans, a scooter like her big brothers and a cute little grocery bag from Thirty-One ;) Santa knows good style when he sees it!!

He brought Joshua a new motor Razor scooter, a helmet to protect that “not so little” noggin ;), a new Nintendo DSI (blue, of course! – he’s no dummy!!), his new favorite “Kermit the Frog” shirt, lots and lots of games and an awesome Lego Log Cabin!!!!

The DSI. This apparently is a BIG deal. I don’t think I have seen Joshua’s handsome face without the glow off of his new DSI for more than 2 weeks now. He has beaten Super Scribblenauts, twice I’m almost certain.

Bring it on Bubby….

After a Lovely Family Dinner and Naps we open more presents!!!

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas from the Walker/Botkins Family!!!

*2010*

Gritt’s Farm

Tammy and I took the kids to Gritt’s Farm this past Sunday. The trip was perfect! We stopped and had a nice lunch at Bob Evans and headed to “The Farm”.

We’re on our way….

Family Pictures BEFORE we go on the “pumpkin quest”.

It’s aMAZEing

 

      

The kids had so much fun picking their very own pumpkins!

   

They love each other so much!!! <3

 

Mommy’s little CUTIE PIE!!!!!!!!

 

Loaded down with our beautiful pumpkins & gourds!

 

Mama & Mommy decided we had to have some of these lovely mums for $4.99!!!! Cant beat their prices!

It was an awesome trip for everyone. The kids passed out on the way home in the car! Shh…don’t tell anyone…but, Mommy did too!! :)

HAPPY FALL YA’LL!!!!

Disney World 2010!!!

 

Disney 2010

     We flew down to FL on Sunday, August 31st and spent 6 days touring the parks and playing at the resort. Disney was all that I could have imagined and more. Joshua enjoyed Harry Potter, Sea World and Magic Kingdom the most and Jenna had fun riding any roller coaster that they would allow her to ride! She is my lil dare devil.

Long day on the plane and playing in the pool on the first day! (She has no clue what she’s in for)

Monday we headed to Universal Studios. I think we all could have done without this park, but it was a nice way to ease into our “Disney marathon” as we now like to refer to it as.

After the Park, the kids came home and played in the Jacuzzi!!! I guess they needed a little relaxation. :)

  

Tuesday we spent a fun filled day at Sea World. We saw Shamu in the show “Believe”and the amazing dolphin show “Blue Horizons”. More than anything else, the kids had the most fun of all playing with & petting the sting rays.

 

Wednesday was Magic Kingdom!!!

My favorite place of all. Jenna’s face LIT up when she saw Minnie Mouse for the first time at Chef Mickey’s! & Joshua’s when he finally got to hang with Pluto.

Tip: Chef Mickey’s is a MUST DO! This was by far our favorite restaurant. Buffets are a must! Kids are picky, we all know this, and a buffet allows for trial and error! :)

 

Buzz Lightyear!!

Minnie Mouse’s Gazebo

Another awesome restaurant to visit and see ALL of the Winnie the Pooh characters is The Crystal Palace. The food was awesome and so was the atmosphere.

Winnie the Pooh & Friends

Thursday we headed to Universal, Islands of Adventure! It was crammed packed full awesomness!!!

(Their first glimpse of Harry Potter!)

  

Harry Potter was, of course, Mom and Joshua’s favorite place in all of Disney & Universal. They went gaga over everything in there. And, I must say, it was VERY nicely done. If I were to imagine being on the set of a HP movie, that is exactly what it would look like. They were very impressed as well.

We had a delicious lunch at the Three Broomsticks (actual HP restaurant , incase you're not a HP fan) Joshua had Pumpkin Juice and a chocolate frog for desert :)

Butter Beer for the Babies

So, I’m well aware that this picture is rather embarrassing. However, it was  too funny not to post. Take note in Joshua’s lil scared face... so cute! On the flip side, it was one of the best roller coasters in all of the parks!!

 

 

 

Seuss Landing was AWESOME!!! I could seriously live there!!! I WANNA BE A WHO! (hmm… :/ pondering this option for Halloween... stay tuned for that) Back to Seuss Landing/Whoville… 

Horton, is that you???

Do you hear a who??

Friday was a day of rest!!!!!!!! We slept in, played in the pool, and that evening Joshua and I went to see the Cirque Du Soleil - La Nouba

My lil Rock Star!

 

Tip: Pool Time is a MUST! I highly recommend more of THIS!

  What an awesome show this was!!! Neither Joshua nor I had ever seen anything like it!! I can’t wait to see some of the other shows!! (Vegas, here I come!!!)

Saturday was bittersweet. It was the last the last day of walking, but also the last day of our vacation. We visited Hollywood Studios! It was also a park we could have done without….but once again, it was a blessing in disguise. We weren't running around all day on our last day trying to cram everything in. We leisurely visited the places we wanted to visit and headed back to the resort for one last swim and a night of packing.

Off to Hollywood…  

Artist Meet & Greet 

 

Little Einsteins

    

Long but very fun week! We headed back to the Hotel at around 9pm, took a night swim and packed up to head home. Early flight to catch…had to be at the airport (45 min away) at 6:30am!!! Shew. Wouldn’t have traded it for the world!! Had a wonderful time that we’ll never ever forget. Already planning our trip back ;)

*Disney 2010*