Five Loves on Friday // BEST Week Ever!

Happy Friday, friends, and that it truly is!  Happy, happy, happy!  I think this may be the most excited I've been to type up a Five Loves post in quite some time!  I have so much goodness to share with you today!  It helps that I'm typing it from our new computer chair too!  Ahh, sweet comfort!  

Ready, set, spin, let's do this!

*It's all so good that I'm not playing favorites with order here today.  These loves are listed chronologically, friends. ;)

One  //  Let's start this post with a happy dance, because...

We completed our eighth year of homeschooling!  I couldn't be more proud of my girls or more excited for the summer fun to come!

Two  //  Dinner at my Sweet In-laws'

Monday evening Jason's parents invited us out for a fantastic feast!  My father-in-law grilled us up scrumptious steaks that we were talking about them for days afterward.  They were perfectly complimented by several sides (bread, potatoes, veggies, and more) whipped up by my sweet and hospitable MIL! 

We live a ways apart and don't see each other all that often, so it was truly a treat to catch up over all that deliciousness!  Since this week marked the start of our summer vacation, the girls were able to stay overnight and enjoy some extra time with grandma and grandpa.  The next day they visited their great grandma, took a beautiful stroll around a lake near her home, and went out shopping.  I'm thankful we all had an opportunity to enjoy quality time together this week!

Three  //  Celebrating my Sister

Tuesday was my sister's birthday!  Those of you who follow along on instagram may have caught this 80s shot of the two of us I posted in celebration of this fun occasion!

We were thrilled that of all the ways she could spend her Special Day, she chose to have her family and my own meet at our parents' place for a birthday bash! 

We had such a great time together as a family!  We laughed til our eyes filled with happy tears, which is always a sign of a day well spent!  She received some wonderful gifts, the two I included above were handmade with much thought and even more love!  Our dad is such a great craftsman and he created the coolest triple tiered stand for her!  I look forward to seeing the ways she decorates it up, surely adorably!  My Little One created a watering "can" and even hand painted a design on it in her aunt's favorite color!  I hope these gifts, and the gathering of those who love her so very much, made her feel as special as she is to us all!

Four  //  Happy Mail

You guys, we had such a GOOD mail week here!  I often save the best for last, but right now I can't wait to jump right into the BEST care package I've received this year!  It came from the great state of California, the home of my blogging bestie, Chrissy!  She never ceases to amaze me with her continual thoughtfulness, generosity, and awesomeness in general!  Check out what she filled this fun "just because" care package with! ...

Disney goodies galore!

Aren't these buttons SO cute?!  They made me even more excited for our next Disney vacay!  She ordered them from My Park Flair.

From BlueFairyBodyShop on Etsy

She wasn't kidding!  This lip balm is the bomb! ;) 

Chrissy recently scored a tour of Walt Disney Animation Studios!  While there she picked us up this cool pin of Stage 1, where they filmed the original Mouseketeers!

Isn't this little Belle she sent Princess the sweetest?!

Chrissy makes the cutest mouse ear headbands, as seen in my Trip Report Tuesday post this week!  (You can find her Etsy shop here:  AdventuresInDIYShop)  Shortly after Little One got her own sewing machine Chrissy mentioned the possibility of teaching her how to make her own ears.  We LOVED the sound of that, but weren't sure how that'd work with her half the country away from us.  What an amazing surprise it was to open this care package and find an "Ear Making Kit" prepared especially for Little One!  As you can see from her reactions, she was over the moon about this gift!  Chrissy included all of the supplies needed, each prepped and ready to go.  Once we'd received the package she emailed us with step-by-step instructions.  You know you'll be seeing those ears in future trip reports, friends!

Next up, the new Tervis tumblers I ordered!  

After my Draper James cheery cherry tumblers turned out to be so great, I couldn't resist ordering more for the entire family!  Right now they're offering stackable specials -  10% off when you sign up for emails, free shipping when you buy 2 or more (no code needed), and buy 3 get 1 free (promo code: 4MOM, good through 5/15/17 for anyone interested) so, I couldn't resist adding a couple more to the cart for myself as well!  These were my picks...

I should add that this is not an ad, friends!  I just can't help but share things we love with y'all!  I still can't get over how well they keep our drinks cold!  Jason left his out in the car for hours while we visited his parents and his drink still had ice in it on the drive home!  Also, the fact that they're dishwasher safe makes my life so much simpler! ;)   

Next, my palm tree adoring, list loving heart skipped a beat when I opened this prettiness...

Lilly Pulitzer Island Time Notebook 

This mini notebook in the same pattern as my blogging planner was calling my name!  I anticipate filling its pages with oodles of lovely lists this summer!

Lastly, I got a perfectly themed, pink piece for our upcoming lake trip (& all the annual ones to follow). 

Anchor Bracelet // Charming Charlie

It was on sale, plus purchased during free shipping.  How could I resist?  

Five  //  We secured our next DISNEY VACATION reservations!

This week we put our 2017 Disney Vacation Club points to very good use booking some beautiful accommodations for our upcoming Disney Christmastime vacation!  I'm excited to share those deets with you today!

We will be resort hopping between these three beauties this trip...

We'll begin with a couple evenings at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort!

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We tried and failed to get reservations here earlier.  Jason put us on a wait list, but we really didn't expect anything to come of that.  However, this week availability opened up and the reservation was ours!  Thank you to whoever cancelled their trip allowing us the studio that we can hardly wait to enjoy! ;)

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Followed by a few nights at our Disney Vacation Club  Home Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge!







 Photo credit:  Tom Bricker of www.DisneyTouristBlog.com

We'll finish our trip with a week at the newest addition to Disney Vacation Club accommodations,  Copper Creek Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge!  

These DVC Villas are so new in fact, they aren't even open yet!  They'll start "welcoming home" guests this summer.  I caught a preview of the resort and couldn't stop swooning over the 1 Bedroom Villas.  I was so pleasantly surprised that we were able to score several nights there!

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For any one interested in seeing more about this new addition to Disney's DVC offerings, I'll include an overview intro vid and just below it, a Copper Creek rooms preview...

*If you are reading this blog post via an email subscription you can view this video here.

*If you are reading this blog post via an email subscription you can view this video here.

While we've enjoyed dinner here in the past, we have never stayed at Wilderness Lodge. We couldn't be more excited that our first stay here will be during the Christmas season as Disney Tourist Blog has named it the "undisputed MVP of Christmas at Walt Disney World"!  

 Photo credit:  Tom Bricker of www.DisneyTouristBlog.com

The DVC rooms are located right inside the main building so we'll enjoy this gorgeous tree and festive atmosphere throughout our stay!

It's a good thing I've been anticipating summer fun in the sun so much or all this planning would have me sipping hot cocoa, singing carols, and daydreaming that it's time to pack! ;)

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today!  It's been a treat to share the joys of this week with you!  Wishing you a weekend of wonderfulness straight ahead!

Earlier this week at Chatting Over Chocolate ...

Direct Link:  Trip Report Tuesday: Cali Day 10 // Our First Day at DISNEYLAND!

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Direct Link:  Throwback Thursday // May the 4th be with you!

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