Summer

I can't believe it has been over a month since our Florida vacation. It was so much fun to visit the magic of Disney and explore the Orlando area. I will say that I was also very happy to get home.

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We have given Summer a warm welcome around here this past month. From a camping trip to water fun to strawberry patches. Warm sunshine and cool evening breezes. Yes, I am glad to be home...













I found that at first I wanted to "pack it all in" as the saying goes. Trying to fill our days with all the fun things that we didn't get to do during the week while I was working. I came to realize that just being with them is the only thing they need or want. A backyard to run in, a swing set to soar on and water play in any form we can get it. I am so glad I figured that out.

I hope that you are enjoying your summer and that no matter what is you are doing or where you are, it is a fun and full time.

Happy Weekend!

Expect the Unexpected

We spent our second Disney day at Epcot. It was really big and a lot of walking. It was very interesting and really, really neat. Lots of indoor, cool rides. We planned to have dinner with the princesses while at Epcot. Planned being the key word. This is where the whole expect the unexpected comes in to play. The Bean was terrified of every character. Princess or Mickey. She was NOT having it! Sarah was not about the princesses at all. All she cared about was the originals. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, ect. As you can clearly see!! So, no princess dinner for us. I decided learned that while we as parents think we know our kids so well, they will turn that around and blow your mind. This is what happened to us. And that is OK. The fact that we have had eight uninterrupted days as just the four of us has been the best experience. We have had a most wonderful time. The memories are priceless and we have enjoyed every minute of every day even if it wasn't what we expected at times. Last night Andy asked the Bear what her favorite part of vacation has been and her reply was in fact the expected. "Spending time with my family" And that, my friends makes the entire trip worth every single minute. Have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day to all those that have a little or love a little!I know that I feel like the luckiest Mommy in the world.

We Play

This resort is beautiful. The staff is so friendly. The views are amazing. Everything is just perfect. The pool is by far our favorite. We have spent many hours out there the past five days. This is the first summer since having both girls that Andy and I could actually "sit back". It has been so wonderful. Sarah is swimming like a fish with no floats. Olivia puts her puddle jumper on and off she goes. Pool time has actually been one of the most relaxing things we do here. I have felt so relaxed here, period. I wish that I could apply this carefree, laid back personality at home. I have mellowed quite a bit since leaving work, but it is still a constant. Vacation means so much. Time with my husband and my girls is priceless and the memories deep inside.Thank you Grandma and Grandpa McDonald! Tomorrow is a big day as we head to Epcot. We are shooting for the whole day. Breaking in between for a nap. Dinner at 5:25 with the princesses and I can only imagine the smiles I will see then! Good Night!

A low key kinda day

Today we did nothing. We spent our morning enjoying coffee, blueberry muffins and the sweet sound of chirping birds. It was wonderful. We spent the first half of our day at the pool. Enjoying the quiet time before the crowds got there. I guess we were still catching up from yesterday, because we all napped for at least two hours today. Just what vacation is all about, right?We enjoyed our condo and watched as the storm clouds rolled in this evening. We played airplane and we watched movies. The best part of the evening was our visit from Grandpa John whom is here on business. We are so thankful he took time out of his day to come and visit! Tomorrow is another lazy planned day. Pool and play. We are just enjoying each other and every minute of our fmaily time together! And of course all the magic!

Oh My Magical Day....

Bright and early we rose. Out the door by 8:15am. Arriving just in time for the beginning of another day at Magic Kingdom. It is beautiful. It is MAGICAL. From the music to the rides to the parades to the friendly cast members. A day that amazingly lasted seven hours for us. I still can't believe we made it seven hours. It was so very easy to loose track of time. Something around every corner to look at.

Characters were all over the place. Rabbit was the only one we could get even remotely close to. The Bear loved it and the Bean, well the Pinocchio puppet was as close as she was getting to a character.

My favorite part of the day was the 3pm parade. It was the icing on the cake to a very special day. When Snow White blew my Bean a kiss, I thought my heart would burst. The look on her face was priceless and she has told everyone at the resort about it. Total strangers. My little girl is on cloud nine. We have dinner Thursday evening with the princesses and I feel certain it is going to be their favorite part of the trip. There have been so many favorites actually. The pool is amazing. The people are so nice and the food, oh my.


I am so thankful for this amazing experience. I never thought I would be spending a vacation at Disney with my own children. It is just what I imagined and so much more. Thank you to my wonderful husband for being such a trooper. I do believe I saw a pretty large smile on his face a few times too! And thank you to my Bean and Bear for your view of magic and for finding fun in anything and everything. Thank you for being mine! Happy Week!

We have arrived

GPS says ten and a half hours. That is how long it should take to arrive at our destination. I cringed when I saw that. In a car with two small children and one road rage prone husband. Yes, I cringed. It was wonderful. Everyone did great. With moments of melt down and hunger and thirsty, we smiled the whole way and just made the most of it. Today, the prize arrived and we unloaded at a beautiful resort to start our vacation! They don't give you time to get bored. Every corner has an activity and our first one was right up our alley. Music, popcorn and hula hoop hop scotch(try to say that fast).
The colors here are so vibrant. The sky is so blue. Our moods are full of fun. No schedules. Just pool times and crab legs. Day one has been amazing. We are all tired. The drive maybe. Over stimulation. Probably. But, the best is yet to come. The mickey head shaped pool just got me going. Have a great weekend and I will be sure to keep you posted on our week!

38 and Thankful

Birthday's are special. If you are young or old. Living another year is a blessing.

I remember when 38 seemed oh so old. Ha. Yeah, not so much anymore. I love numbers. I love to compare time and where I am in comparison to friends, family, ect. For example. When my mother was 38, I had graduated high school. When she was 40, she became a grandmother for the first time. A good friend of mine is one year older than me. Yep, 39. She, too became a grandmother last year. I just finished potty training one of my children last year. Differences that make us all the same really. So, we celebrate whether young or old. With children or grandchildren. my sweet mother in law and I pretty much share a birthday

Yesterday was a perfect day for me. I spent it with my girls. We had so much fun. Just the three of us. The evening brought a dinner date with Andy at our most favorite restaurant with my favorite glass of wine and our undivided attention to one another. I love that man so much. I am so glad to be 38. So glad to be in this place in my life. With comfort, love and all the security I could hope for.
a little something for myself for my special day

Tonight the Palooza continues as Nana, the girls and myself celebrate Chuck E Cheese style. I.cannot.wait! Thank you friends and family for all of the phone calls and messages. I cherish everyone of them.

I say bring on another year. I want to do new things in the year to come. Make new relationships and deepen the ones I have. More freckles(age spots really) and wrinkles. Perfection at it's best. I am so very thankful to be here and for each and every one of my imperfections. Happy Hump Day!