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The butterfly house is one of our favorite parts of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival! Thanks to my husband for capturing this amazing shot!

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival opens today! It’s one of our family’s favorite events of the year and we usually visit several times throughout the festival. The butterfly enclosure is just one of the many amazing experiences to enjoy.

Of COURSE we wanted to make a cheerleading pyramid at the party. Why wouldn't we??

Continue to the Not-So-Wordless Wednesday

I’m sure I’m not the first to notice this unofficial Hidden Mickey (and really it doesn’t qualify because of the oval shape of the “Mickey” head), but I never really saw it until our last visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As you walk by, the sign and portholes make their own Hidden Mickey that disappears as you walk further on.

As you walk by, Min & Bill's Dockside Diner creates a Hidden Mickey.

Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner used to sell more substantial food items and I believe sundaes, but somewhere along the line they switched over to the current menu line up of pretzels and shakes. How many actually know who “Min and Bill” are? In keeping with the original “golden age of Hollywood” that Disney first portrayed in the Studios, Min and Bill are a direct nod to the 1931 movie of the same name. Min owns a dockside hotel and Bill, the captain of a fishing boat, lives there. Just a fun nod to movie buffs, which is why my Dad always loved that park the best – the old movies he grew up loving had a new home there. For more fun, check out the cargo boxes to the left of the Dockside Diner – especially to whom the boxes are addressed. Disney IS in the details after all…

I wasn’t planning on doing a Wordless Wednesday post today, but when this Thank You image appeared in my inbox just now, it brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful reminder that something as simple as sitting in a chair for a little while can actually help save lives. So often in our day to day grind, we don’t stop to remember the people, the families, the sons and daughters that are assisted by blood donations. Even on the day I noted, one of my new Disney Moms Panel friends Amy, thanked me because blood donations had helped her husband Hans during his battle with stomach cancer. It really hits home when you know someone affected, even indirectly. Please consider this option, either through the Disney Give a Day Get a Disney Day promotion, or on your own. You will be thanked.

Thank you again to Florida Blood Services for making it such a simple and worthwhile experience!

I know many of you are anxiously awaiting my update from the Walt Disney World Moms Panel training trip last week. I’m dying to write it too! However, I went back to Disney for my birthday weekend, and came home sick – and so did the baby. So I’ve been dealing with that as well as coming to the harsh realization that WDW housekeeping does not follow you home! I promise to get the updates started soon, thank you for bearing with me. You can always follow my random updates on twitter too! (And once again, this Wednesday is not wordless!)

In the meantime, I thought I’d give you some bonus pictures that encapsulate some of the amazing memories created during the trip. Thank you once again, Disney, for this amazing gift you’ve given all of us on the panel – most importantly, the other panelists!!

This picture includes ALL the moms that came down for the picture - from the 2008 and 2009 panel too!

picture above courtesy of DisneyMomCathy

One of my favorite parts was our visit to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. I'd never been in my 30 years of visits and I loved it! HOOP DEE DOO!

Some of the wonderful 'moms' I spent 5 days with. Of course there's only one other mom in the picture, but the dads this year are AMAZING! From left to right is Disney Dad Joel (@Zipadeedoodad on twitter), Disney Dad Chris, Disney Mom Amanda W (@oohamanda on twitter), me, and Disney Dad Jonas (@HeyJPK on twitter). Miss you guys!!

And as a bonus, some beautiful Cinderella Castle pictures, captured right as the sun was coming out and shimmering on that top golden spire. This was a treat to get, because it is the one time the flag pole, Christmas tree and decorations were down due to parade taping. Enjoy!

Beautiful isn't she?

As with all the pics, click for full-size view!

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days and thank you for reading!

Of course there is much more for which I am thankful…and will be listing those things off tomorrow, but for today, I’m thankful for FINALLY making the perfect cheesecake with NO cracks!!

(We’ll see what it looks like sliced tomorrow!! Wish me luck!)

The recipe is Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake and was the dessert I made when I cooked my first Thanksgiving, 12 years ago! (There were many cracks in it that year!)

And yes, I know this is yet another NON-Wordless Wednesday from me!

♥

*I am not a Disney employee. The postings here are my own and do not represent the positions or opinions of the Disney Company.