Disney Trip - Day 2

We left our hotel around 9:30 the next morning and we only had a little over an hour left to drive. We got to the resort and our room was ready!! So we actually got in another day because it was ready so early. We stayed at Orange Lake Resort (Kris has a time share so that is how we found the place). Our room was a 2 bedroom condo and it was spectacular!! Even the window sills were granite. It just opened in January, so it was top notch. I was very pleased. So we unpack and through on bathing suits. The kids had a blast. For some reason we didn't take a picture of the girls opening their presents, but we brought some birthday gifts with us. They opened an Ariel pool doll, so they were in their own world playing with those. After the pool, we went to Downtown Disney to walk around and go out to eat (that story will be posted under the picture). That night, Chloe gave Carly a gift that she bought her. It was Tinker Bell pj's with a wand and slippers (of course she bought herself a matching set). Chloe was so excited to give her that present, she couldn't contain herself. Carly LOVED it! I then gave them one last gift from Matt and myself. It was an Ariel dress! Oh boy have they been sweating this dress. They were excited that they would be able to wear it at the castle. We then hurried up, bathed them all, and put them to bed so they would be rested for their big adventure to the castle!

Here is Harper swimming like a turtle - not a fish!! He refused to be called a fish!
At Downtown Disney we wanted to take them out to eat at the famous Rainforest Cafe! We were excited to go out to eat here. They all really like the animals and decorations. So we walked in and were waiting to be seated. The kids were checking out the fish in the tank at the entrance, when all of the sudden, it began to storm. Now, these kids have never even mentioned thunder before. I have never even told them about thunder, because I don't want them to be scared of it. Well, at the Rainforest Cafe every 30 minutes it storms, the elephants move and blow their trunks, the gorillas make noises, etc. It was loud, but my kids screams were even LOUDER!!! Oh boy!!! Their hands went on their ears and they were crying and screaming. I took the girls to the bathroom while Matt sat down with Harper and Finley. (At this point the loudness was all over) I got the girls calmed down and explained to them that the elephants were loud but it was over. They calmed down and stopped crying but they would not take their hands off of their ears. We went back to the table and sat them down and try to talk them through it. Wasn't happening. I wasn't going to torture the kids the entire time we were there, so we decided to leave. I really wanted to eat there, but they just couldn't handle it!! So where did we end up eating at Downtown Disney - Yup, that is right, McDonald's!!! Oh I wasn't excited by any means, but it was fast, cheap, and tear free. The things you sacrifice for your kids - Geez!!

The kids wanted to take their pictures with all these statues (we have all of them, but I just couldn't post them all). Well we came across Lucky (Carly's favorite animal is a poodle and a dalmatian). Well Carly wanted her picture taken alone with the dog. Harper and Chloe jumped right in. So out comes the Cheese and all her glory! This picture is so Carly!! She is either grinning from ear to ear or working out all her issues internally. Here she is working it out to herself. I am sure anyone who has been around Carly long enough has seen this side of her! You just have to know how to work her. I got her guard down and I did take a picture of her and Chloe smiling, but I had to post this one. It just show off the Cheese!!

One of the MANY statues.

Lego land - Of course Carly is on the Dalmatian -Harper is on the dog that looks like his Brutus stuffed animal - and Chloe is on the basset hound (when she was a baby we called her hound dog). These were built solely of Lego's - pretty neat.

Disney Trip - Day 1

We departed for our Disney adventure on Wednesday, April 28th around 9:00 am. We made great time and stopped only 2 times (not too bad with 4 kids). We had a picnic lunch at some SC state park so the kids could get out and run around. It was rather chilly though. We got to Ormond Beach (just north of Daytona) around 5:00 and we went out to eat at Cracker Barrel. We then took the kids to the beach! This was Finley's first time at the beach. Too bad we couldn't have done the whole messy 9 yards with buckets and swim suits, but they enjoyed running around just as much. We then went back to our hotel for the night. I have decided that hotel life just really doesn't suit us well. All 6 of us crammed up in a little space is kind of tight. We had 2 beds (ours and the girls), Harper had a cot, and Finley had a crib. We were doing hurtles over bodies, but it was fun!! When we put them to bed, Matt and I just sat in bed and did emails!

We made it!
Chloe built herself a castle

Daddy and Finley

Mommy and Finley - Finley was funny. She liked to stick her tongue out in the breeze. She kept doing it (but of course I didn't upload one of those pictures). We also put her feet in the sand and she liked it. Not like when Carly and Chloe first went to the beach. We couldn't get their toes in the sand and they just screamed!! Finley looks like she won't mind at all!

Manicure

So the big day finally came. The day of the manicures! I had two very hyper girls with me. They couldn't contain their excitement. I did have to tell them that we wouldn't paint each nail a different color! They have been wanting a rainbow manicure - I guess they just couldn't decide on a color, but we settled on pink for us all. My little girls are growing up and it is really fun to do some big girl things with them.

Chloe getting her toes done. She got to go first.

Carly drying. She just smiled the whole time.

The lady even added a little flower on both of their thumbs and big toes. They thought it was so special.

The finished product! I am so proud of my girls!! Way to go quiting that thumb sucking habit!

Homeschool???

Well, the school situation is quickly approaching and I/we are so on the fence with what to do. Well, mainly me since Matt won't be doing all the work. We have a couple of options. #1 - Stallings Elementary - where we are districted now. #2 - Union Academy - a charter school that we are currently in the lottery for (this won't be an option if they don't get in). or #3 - homeschool. Why would I want to homeschool? There are MANY reasons why, so I will list them: I can teach them with religion in the curriculum!, more time with them, no wasted time traveling to and fro, I am a certified teacher, they will get all the attention they need without teacher getting pulled for other kids, I can teach at their speed, don't have to deal with them coming home from school with lovely things they have learned from others, we can get involved in homeschool groups (there are lots around here), there are more, but I have been up since 3 am and my brain is starting to get hazy! Why would I not?: miss out on school friends, miss out on the fun first day of school stuff, miss out on looking up to that special teacher (but that is a positive, because I will be there teacher and they will always remember me), etc. They were really excited to go visit Stallings. And they liked it alot and prayed for Miss CoCo (one of the teachers - they liked saying her name) But even after all that excitement, I asked them where they wanted to go to school and they both said at home with me. Why? "Because you love us!" Now do I want to do this when they are in high school?? No!! My purpose is not to just protect them, but to prepare them. I don't feel that at 5 yrs. old they are fully prepared for everything! They are just now "getting life" so to say and I don't want them weak in their faith, who they are, and what they are all about. I want 2 girls that are solid for the Lord and can combat life making good choices. Aren't they just going to keep being shy? Well, if you haven't been around them in the past year, you would know that they are making great strides in their shyness! Yes, they are shy, but they are also breaking down their walls and coming out of their shells. Now, they get silly when they start warming up, but I like the laughter vs. the crying!! So anyways, just want to update everyone on the school front. It is now 6 am and I have a garage sale to get ready for!!!

The first sleep over

Well, the day has finally come where my girls have had their first sleep over! They had a sleep over in July when I was in Amber's wedding, but we were out of town. They went to my parent's house last night to spend the night so this is the first time I have slept in my house with them gone! It felt kind of weird to go in their room last night to just kiss Finley. Their beds were made and poor little Fi Fi was all alone! Harper was not too pleased when it was time to brush his teeth. He realized the girls toothbrushes were gone and he wanted Grandma to bring them back! So sad! When I called my Mom to ask her for leave out some pans for me, I was going to say good night to them since they were still up - they would have nothing to do with me! So needless to say, they don't care to be gone from home!! They were happy with their overnighter! I am sure they will not be too pleased to see me tomorrow!

Gooood turns to food

Just random: Harper finally said the word food!! He is so funny. When he says his s's and f's they are really distorted. When he prays, he thanks God for his beautiful gooood, but the other day he finally said food! It was so cute.

Harper had gotten blisters on both feet from his crocs. I put liquid bandaid stuff on them. His sisters rush over to blow them dry so they don't burn. Now is that love or what?! And look at the boy - enjoying his pampering 100%!

Easter

He is Alive!! I love Easter! It is just a great day of happiness. There is not a lot of hoopla in this house for it (I guess mainly because the kids don't get candy), but we do an Easter egg hunt (filled with marshmallows) and get a basket with some fun prizes. I just love the way you feel on Easter. You just get filled with happiness!! I mean that is one day where you are reminded the entire day of what Jesus did for you on that cross!! I am SOOOOO blessed to know the Lord and have Him as my Father! Thank you Lord for your sacrifice of your Son Jesus, so that I may live in eternity worshiping the Almighty One!! And thank you Lord for this amazing family you have blessed me with:

We are blessed!

After church, we did our egg hunt, naps, and then my parent's house for dinner. Gotta love that over the top stuffed feeling!! The kids did an egg hunt with Reilly and Reagan at my parent's house too. They were all cute counting out their 6 eggs each!
My boy - need I say more?!

He is very sweet, rough, but sweet!

Finley watched the festivities of egg hunting in her saucer. She was entertained.

Kid shot - Chloe looks like she is struggling with Finley!

We also went to Matt's parent's house on Tuesday evening. The kids did an egg hunt too. They also got a few prizes - including Grandpa Eddie's famous BEADS!!! He loves getting the girls necklaces - you know those bead ones - and they absolutely love them. So this time, they each got a bag of 25 - I so look forward to untangling them all!!! LOL - well, we know they enjoy them so much so I guess it is worth it.

All in all - a wonderful Easter!