Vacation Report

We have had the most wonderful July EVER!!!


Disneyland

We got word that we were going to have a family reunion at Disneyland a few months back and instantly my excitement was overwhelming. As kids we were privileged to have family reunions at Disney World in which many WONDERFUL memories were created. I have since recounted these awesome memories to my husband and children recalling Splash Mountain, Aerosmith, Tower of Terror, late nights running through Disney streets, wonderful meals accompanied by my cousins, and so so so much more. Once more we were able to have that great experience except for this time it wouldn’t just be me I would have 3 tag-alongsJ

This trip didn’t disappoint, other than it’s a little more difficult to run as hard with two little kiddos to take care of and get ready in the morning. We did however run as fast as our little legs would carry us. Brinley and Owen enjoyed the nostalgic Disney rides little Dumbo, Tea Cups, and Small World. But she ventured out of her little shell and really enjoyed the Grizzle Mountain Ride, so much so that she had to go to Grandma and Grandpas hotel room to show of just how soaking wet she got. Owen found affection for Goofy and screamed in joy when he caught a glimpse of him though the park. Justin loved The Tower of Terror & the Scremin ride as they were the most thrilling rides he found there. I was content to see the amazing Aladdin show and to eat soup in a bread bowl on the pier. We all shared in each other’s joys and had a very smooth trip.

It’s always nice to spend time with family at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” I recognize just how precious our family relationships are, that we are as close and share as many memorize as we do. I just love my cousins and also share in their joys & successes as we all have grown up with each other.

We were able to spend sometime in the BUEATIFUL Durango, CO with both sides of our family. Most of our time was devoted to swimming, eating, shopping, and sleeping but we did a few other things. Aunt Jennie and I also took a nature walk with the kids, my family took a drive to Ouray (very cute town), celebrated 4th of July with fireworks, we watched Toy Story 3 in 3-D, Brinley and her Grandparents took a train ride to Silverton, and we enjoyed a day down the Alpine Slides after a morning of fishing WHEW, that was a well packed in vacation, we had a lot of fun.

Justin, the kids, and I just LOVE Colorado and are grateful for the opportunity as we look forward to it each year.

KiKi

Well it is about time that I give credit where credit is due…

Thank you Owens Blankly, thank you for putting my little man to sleep EVERY night, thank you for diligently taking 2 naps a day with him, thank you for comforting him when hurt, or quieting him when upset, for traveling with us everywhere we go, & for taking a beating in the wash several times a week. You have made our job as parents MUCH easier.

From just a few weeks old I have been able to put Owen, wide-awake, in his crib with his “KIKI” and he could put himself to sleep. A couple of weeks back we converted Owens crib into a big boy bed, tear. I was terrified wondering what our active independent little guy could conjure up in the middle of the night, or worse wake us up;) I didn’t want to jinx us so I have waited to announce that it has been a very successful transition. We do our nightly routine and then he crawls up into bed, with his “KiKi” and we don’t see him again until we get him out in the morning. I do wonder what sort-a attachment problems we may have to face as he grows up. I really don’t want him dragging it college, on his mission, and then accompanying him and his wife to sleep each night, I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we get there. So far so good I am not complaining yet (only when we don’t have the kiki around)!

To Bed

Traveling in the car

At restaurants

With us to museums and movies

Hanging out watching TV

Cuddling Daddy

Really anytime!!!

My Dancing Ballerina

Brinley had her first dance recital yesterday afternoon, long anticipated dance recital. She has been dancing for over a year now from a friend and great instructor in a cute little dance studio that they added on to their house. However, their isn’t enough room for the parents to watch so I drop her off every Tuesday for a half an hour and wonder what and how she is doing. I couldn’t wait to see what she had learned and I was as nervous and excited as I will admit for a 4-year-old recital. She was fantastic my little rule following girl was right on task, and if she hadn’t been I would have been beaming just the same! Our families both came to support, which is always nice and made that day so special for our SWIRLING, TWIRLING, ballerina.

From a book we love to read to Brinley –

Once there was a dancing girl…
A stomping, bombing, prancing girl,
A two-step, three-step, dancing girl,
A “you and me step” dancing girl,
Who loved to skip and jump and twirl,
And though you’ll grow up in a whirl…

You’ll always be my CUDDLE girl!!!!

I'm Showing off

I started a crafting blog ( http://www.fabulousonateacherssalary.blogspot.com ) about a month ago with very little understanding of the BLOGGING world, and let me tell you its is its own little world.

I have been very happy learning and growing from so many people with talent clicking on to amazing blogs can be a rush. What new creation will I see today? It can really get addicting!

About a week after I started the blog I was trying to link one of my posts to Blue Cricket and I ended up actually applying to be FEATURED, whoops. I know that my talent is not what I have seen others and lived with my whole life, I would have never applied to be featured just because I don't feel I have anything really huge to share, but here I am being featured so check it out...

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2010/05/thrift-store-chair-revamp-by-fabulous.html

Briny Baby

With Owen Being so active and adventures Brinley gets a little less attention these days and she is quickly becoming the responsible one, always throwing away diapers, getting olds and ends, and picking up. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE this beautiful little girl and find her personality is so fun. She is a natural in font of a camera, EXAMPLE…

Check out this blog for Step by step on how to make those bows...
www.fabulousonateacherssalary.blogspot.com/

My LITTLE man gets into some BIG messes!!!

How does food coloring taste Bubbas???

Thank goodness he likes to clean floors, like his daddy, because he definitely will need to:)

The Case of the Missing Cheerios

Case #ABC

The date was April 24th, 2010 when a faint giggling sound was heard in the upstairs master bedroom. At that approximant time the two children of the house were to be having quite time so I, the detective, went to investigate and here is what I found...

A FULL family sized box of Cheerios had been dumped and spread over the entire bedroom. I question those at the scene and fingers were pointed in all directions. I had to crack this case. Who was the instigator, who got the box out, and who decided commit this heinous crime?

After much intense interrogation, I finally got a full confession from one of the culprits, Brinley got the box out from the upstairs food storage closet and Owen committed the crime. Because of her full confession I let her off easier and made her help clean the awful mess (which she promptly fell asleep doing.)

However the ringleader got a more severe punishment he was put behind bar for the next few hours (okay just so you know it was nap time, he did fall asleep he didn’t just have to serve out his sentence awake;)

I was able to salvage the remains of the bedroom (thanks to a good vacuume!!!)