The magic of Disney!

Ok, so here we go! We took a bunch of fun pictures and videos, but I'm tired so I'll just choose some of the best to explain the day.

We got a late start to the day, but we finally made it to the monorail (or train as Jane calls it) around 11 ish

Jane and Kevin entering the Magic Kingdom. We never did get to ride the actual train in the background.

Jane very excited to see Cinderella's castle. She's been talking about it forever. Alice enthralled with all the people. She just loves being outside. The whole day she only took one 30 minute nap.

Jane's first rollercoaster ride, the Barnstormer at Toontown. Kevin said she was scared and had to convince her that it was fun at the end of the ride, but she didn't want to tell me about it!

Both girls loved the parade. Alice taking it all in.

Jane waved through most of it without being prompted too. It was so sweet.

Dumbo and Peter Pan were the longest lines we stood in all day, but it was packed. Jane enjoyed the ride once we got past having to put the seatbelt on.

Her favorite by far was the Swiss Family Robinson Tree house. We went through it 3 times and the only reason we stopped there was because it was getting late and I was tired of climbing stairs.

Earlier in the day we had been in toontown, but the line to meet the princesses was too long. Well when we went back around 9:30pm there was a 2 minute wait. Jane was exhausteed, a little scared at first to talk to Aurora and Belle, but in the end warmed right up to them. Alice pulled Aurora's hair.

Alice is going through separation anxiety, although you wouldn't have been able to tell with Belle. She went right too her and was perfectly content sitting on her lap. Too sweet.

As we walked away from the princesses, Jane said to me, "That wasn't really Aurora," and I said, "Oh no?" "No, that was just a lady dressed up like her." "Oh, ok." She's quick, but she was still excited to meet them.

We bought her a little Peter Pan figurine set, which she has been playing with since we got home and then we booked it out of the park to beat the crowds watching the fireworks. Luckily the fireworks ended just as we got to the monorail.

Before we even left the parking lot, Jane crashed, soon followed by Alice. It was a wonderful day. Jane and Alice both love to look at the pictures and relive it. The beauty of childhood. Thanks again Daddy for taking your girls to Disney on your birthday. We love you!

10 Months Old!

Alice had her 9 month check up today, but she is actually a little over 10 months old. Anyway, she weighed about 21 lbs and was in the 75% for weight. She was 20 in tall (I meant 30 in tall. She was 20 at birth. At least you all understood), and that put her off the charts for height. She is walking everywhere and does this little squinted smile thing now. I love it. She did it for the doctor today while the doctor was trying to look at her eyes. Too funny. She loves to climb and her favorite place is Jane's toddler bed. She's having difficulty falling asleep by herself, so we hear her cry herself to sleep every night and for every nap. It is very sad. Other than that, she's a happy little girl and a joy to our family.

On the swings at my sister Kim's neighborhood park

Winnie the Pooh's house at Disney

(I'll post more Disney pictures at another time, we had a blast though)

Happy Birthday Kevin!

We are headed to Disney, Magic Kingdom, tomorrow to celebrate Kevin's birthday. You get in free on your birthday. So we only have to pay for me. We are very excited. Jane loves to sing happy birthday to everyone. She'll sing happy birthday to me, to herself, to Alice, to her Spiderman figure, etc. I love it. So on his special day, here she is, in all her backwards and inside out shirt glory (she dressed herself), singing to the #1 man in her life.



I love you, Kevin! Thank you for being such a wonderful, thoughtful, and caring husband and father. You're doing a great job! We all love you and wish you the best birthday ever! If Alice could talk, she would wish you a happy birthday also.

Creativity Tag!

"The first five people to respond to this post will receive something made by me. HOMEMADE! The item will be my choice made just for you!

Restrictions and Limitations:
1. I have complete creative freedom
2. What I create will be just for you
3. It will be done within the next 6 months
4. You have no clue what it will be. It may be personalized note cards. I might bake something. I might not think of anything until 6 months from now...

The catch?You must re-post this on your own blog and offer the same giveaway to 5 people who comment. The first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they are in, will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me! Be sure to post a picture of what you get!

Here's to creativity!"

The Adoption Story!

My mom was adopted at birth and she has never known her biological parents or anything but a name on a birth certificate. Until three days ago. A man doing his geneology came across a baby that he knew nothing about from his mother and her first husband. So he did some research and found my uncle's phone number. So my uncle gave my mom a call and told her the news. She called the man and these are the pictures he sent. So here are my biological grandparents and it's amazing to see some similarities. My mom also found out she has an older sister, who is pictured with her mother in the little photo(which looks a lot like my mom did as a baby. You can also see where my girls get their baby pudge). And then she has 6 half brothers and sisters. Crazy. My mom said it is all sureal. All of the parents have passed away, but how neat to have siblings and to finally have some health history. I'm so glad that my mom was adopted though because I wouldn't trade my grandparents, aunts and uncles, or cousins for anyone. And now we can get to know some more.

Ohio!

Jane, Alice, and I took a little trip to my sister Beth's new hometown. They traded in the busy streets of New York for a lot of country. I loved it. I love wide open spaces and gentle rolling hills. This picture doesn't do it justice, it is the view on the way to Smuckers, Cody's new job.

Since Beth and Cody didn't own a car in NYC, they've only purchased one so far, so we got to pick up Cody from work each day. Wednesday we stopped by the cute little smuckers store. Jane slept through the whole visit.

The kids had a blast playing together. Beth has one little boy, Morgan (2), and a little girl on the way. (due April 25th)

Here's Morgan, Alice, and Jane enjoying bath night! Look at all those blondies.

We also had fun checking out some new playgrounds.

And the Akron Zoo. They accepted my Brevard Zoo membership, so I payed only $2 for parking. It was a very cute zoo. Morgan and Jane both loved the penguins.

We discovered Canadian geese really like apples, but so did Jane and Morgan, so the geese didn't get too much. Cody did his best to ration the food.

Jane and the duck pond at Beth and Cody's apartment complex.

Jane and Morgan in front of Beth and Cody's apartment, which was very cute. Nice big rooms.

We also checked out all the play places at McDonald's and Chik-fil-a. Plus Alice decided she is a walker now and practices every chance she can get.

Beth is very excited to be having a little girl and was trying out the bows she was given. Morgan and Alice were very willing models. Jane was too, but once the camera came out, the bow went away.

We had a wonderful time and were sad to leave, but very excited to come home to Daddy. However, our plans were foiled when we showed up to the airport Monday evening only to be told the flights were delayed and I would miss my connection in Atlanta. So we all got back in the van and drove back to Beth and Cody's. Tuesday morning the weather wasn't any better, but the planes were ready. Here are Beth and Jane in the snow outside the airport.

Thanks Beth, Cody, and Morgan for your hospitality. You have a very cute apartment and great location for everything. Good luck with the new baby on the way. We had such a good time. We LOVE you guys!