Five "F's"

I was definitely exhausted after November ended, but there was no time to rest! December was already off to a busy start!

Formal: 

We had our DCP Winter Formal to get ready for. It is the biggest college program event. It was held at the Contemporary, one of the deluxe resorts here at Disney. I had never been to a formal (because I was antisocial at Emmanuel) so I didn't really know what to expect. Molly and I got ready together and headed to the Contemporary. The food was so delicious and they had lots of characters doing meet and greets. The theme was "blizzard bash," so it was decorated all wintery and it snowed on the dance floor. Molly and I spent most of our time making pictures with characters, because the dance floor was really crowded and...I don't dance. Haha. It was so much fun! It was like prom, but a thousand times better, and without the drama. ;) 

Molly and I with the fairies!

Jack!

Brooke! 

Willy!

Lauren!

Filming:

The first weekend in December is always the weekend for the filming of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Friday morning Willy and I got up bright and early to go to Magic Kingdom. On the first day, they film everything at the castle. This year was a little disappointing...I didn't really know any of the people that performed and it was extremely hot. We saw "The Wanted" and the Italian Jonas Brothers (don't know their real name) perform and then left to rest and cool down before work. Saturday they film the actual parade, so I knew that was my chance to get on tv. I got up early again and went and claimed my spot on Main Street. It wasn't the spot that I wanted but it was still pretty good. I had been to the parade filming my senior year, but I had forgotten how tedious it was. I stood on Main Street (extremely close to complete strangers) for at least two hours before I could even hear the parade music. But finally, the opening number made it's way towards us and I got to see Neal Patrick Harris, which was all that I really cared about. After they finished filming right there at us, I decided to go back to my apartment and rest before work; I was tired of people. Haha. 

Italian Jonas Brothers

So happy to see him hold his own umbrella...unlike Mario Lopez 

Friends:

Daniel, Tonya, Anzley, and Ava Smith came down the next week. We go to church together and I have worked for Tonya and taught Anzley and Ava at the dance studio. They are such a sweet family and I adore the girls. They all love Disney as much as I do, and we had so much fun in the parks! I enjoyed spending time with them! 

Finishing:

That week we also had our college program graduation. I'm not sure why they do it a month early...I guess since the holidays are so busy. They have two different days that you can come, and unfortunately with my work schedule I didn't have much of a choice as to the day or time and I ended up going alone...but that was okay. It wasn't a ceremony. You just walk up to a tent and someone hands you a certificate and Mickey graduation ears, and then you stand in line to have your picture made with Mickey and Minnie.

Flying:

The community players, in association with the high school, performed Beauty and the Beast and Nathan was a villager in it. Since I had missed seeing him march in the marching band, and since I had been away from home for four months, I decided to go home for a few days. Luckily, it worked out for me to ride back home with Daniel and Tonya. I was so grateful for that! I got to see Nathan in Beauty and the Beast, as well as see some friends and girls from the dance studio. I also got to play handbells at church that Sunday. Even though it was busy, it was good to be home. After Nathan's final performance on Sunday afternoon, we made our way to GSP for me to fly back to Orlando. I was so nervous...not so much about the flying part, but about being at the right place at the right time. I had flown once in a small plane, but never commercially. Luckily Greenville-Spartanburg is very small and things went smoothly. I landed right on time, and Colby (Jack's roommate and my distant cousin) picked me up at Orlando Sanford. I had a great first flying experience, and it's so much better than driving eight hours!

Lunch at 211 was a must! 

First plane ticket