Cerveza and a Worm, PLEASE!!!

I am blogging instead of crying right now. I was just in the kitchen enjoying a little Alan Jackson (something adult) and cooking dinner. It's Taco Tuesday (thanks, JL!). I had the Mexican rice browning and hamburger meat almost done. Enter all the men in my house into the kitchen. That's a recipe for disaster right there. The meat was brown, so I drained it and put it back in the skillet. Unfortunately, I had laid the Rice-A-Roni box right next to the meat. So, I grabbed the rice seasoning package and three cups of water and dumped them into the meat. There must've been 100 "mommy's!!" going on in the background. Upon realizing my disaster, I took the meat skillet and a strainer and poured the seasoning and water into the rice. Well, actually more like the whole stove-top. While I was spinning around the kitchen, somehow I managed to clip Bubbie's mouth with my big toenail (which is pretty short). This led to a crying session with all three boys wanting my attention...and more "MOMMY's!!" I'm going back in the kitchen. Hopefully, I won't destroy the re fried beans or send the tortilla's up in flames. I'm not a big drinker, but there may be some cerveza and a worm in my future tonight! And no, Eric. I don't want to see your worm. :)

**The tacos actually tasted really good! Probably the best I've ever made. The beer was even better! I'll just have to have my Alan-fix another night.

Four Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Here are our kids, not being themselves! It is reassuring that the day of having a "relaxing" morning might not be too far off. WOW! :)

To Infinity & Beyond!

I really can't figure this out. How can kids that eat nothing but goldfish and ketchup poop so much? I'm seriously getting concerned about this! Do they wake up in the middle of the night and raid the fridge? I'm sure Bubbie has his little stock-pile somewhere! I found Big E's the other day. He didn't like what we were having for dinner, so he just opened the little drawer on the kitchen table and pulled out some leftovers from another meal and started chowing down. Frijole was cruising the house today while licking a glue stick. I didn't think I'd have to worry about the "glue" issues at least for a few more years. So why do they poop so much??? We've changed at least fifteen stinky diapers today. That's five each!!! We'd better invest in Charmin now!!! And better plumbing!

Sloppy Kisses and Underwear

It's always amazing how the Lord knows exactly when you're at your breaking point and he sends a little something special your way. Wednesday was a tough day at the Robertson house. Bubbie was needy and whiny. Ditto on Frijole Man. Big E, well, he's just wanted to be attached to Momma all day! Meanwhile, Miss. Pods is in control of everything...which isn't always the best thing. And Dad's been sick to top it off. So, it was a rough day for Mom.

Nothing a good Girl's Night Out couldn't make better. It was nice to get away and go watch a chick-flick with the girls. We saw The Women which was about a group of friends who help one of the women through an affair in her marriage. It is the first movie out of Hollywood that encourage reconciliation. Can't believe it! We had a little discussion about it afterwards. Should she stay or should she go? My answer was to stay, but make him suffer and beg for awhile.

I'm sure it had something to do with the book I'm going to finish tonight. You have got to read, The Shack. I have never read anything like this! I can't put the thing down! It does an awesome job of putting things into perspective, as much as we humans can understand it, of God's amazing love for us. I'm going to read it again as soon as I finish!

I'm getting off the topic again....imagine that. Homeschooling went exceptionally well today. I told Pods that if she did a good job we would start working on our Disney scrapbooks afterwards. She had the most positive attitude!! We may be scrappin' for the next twelve years! Frijole Man was just an angel today. So cute and cuddly! He gave me so many sloppy kisses and I loved every one of them! Bubbie had his moments, but he did go potty at school -MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT! And he asked to wear underwear and told me he would not pee on Buzz Lightyear this time!! I'm really trying hard to not get to excited, but going down to only two kids in diapers would be such a blessing!!! Big E was cuddly, but kind of cranky from being at school. One out of three is not bad. All those sweet little things just make all the insanity and almost all of the poopie artwork worth it! Oh, and I did get a "Mommy, I love you," from my Bubbie. :)

Interesting Facts

I found this on another blog and thought it might be fun to think about. Everything that I've done is in green. Copy and paste it to share your answers. I can't wait to find out all about you! ;)

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper (about 2 minutes ago, actually)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game -Do the Ranger's count?
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty- It was being refinished when I saw it
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill-bad idea to return to work with a nice tan...
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping-don't ask
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run - Isn't the Wii fun?
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking - Always!
33. Adopted an accent for fun-Thelma and Louise days
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing-well, it was a rocky area anyways!
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach-late, don't know if it was midnight
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India-through my friend, Anita
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files-movies, closet, etc. Psychotic, I know
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day- those were the days!!
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-if baby making counts
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone - verbal not physical
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy - PLAYDOUGH, YAY!!
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth-was too young, but got to watch
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money- $25 at a country dance hall in college. That fed me for a week!
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph-don't ask about this one either.
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon-after seeing it, I have no desire to hike it!!
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions-not fun
88. Gone back to school-to teach
89. Changed your name-when I got married
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands- I prefer to use my open mouth...Yuck!
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-leave that one for Michael
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language-do my kids count??
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream-and wondering what was I thinking??
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair- I'll never tell...
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep-it's the best
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet-interesting idea...
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people...never...
109. Worn a mood ring-those were so fun!
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap-soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.-I know you can't believe it..;)
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band-does middle school band count?
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in a historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one **just in mini-golf! :)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Ran a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something...in my head, all the time
138. Flown in first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking - what??
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story - The Honeymooner's Love Story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David- in pictures
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted- we had a ghost living with us for 2 years.
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away- only to return
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss-my dear friends tell me that I am one all the time!
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous- Matt Hoffman and Ron Howard
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books..loved Nancy Drew!
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life...my children's everyday :)
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator...might have to try this one
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle..no, but a great movie
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Bubba & His Bubba Gum

This is how the conversation went on the way home from Mom's Day Out today....

(You have to understand that Bubbie NEVER gets his tank full. The kid eats nonstop!)

Bubbie: "Can I have some bubba gum?"

Mom: "No, you only get bubble gum when you go poopie in the potty."

Bubbie: "But Mom!!!"

Mom: "Sorry Bubbie. Only big boys that got poopie in the potty get bubble gum."

Bubbie: " But I did go potty. I went pee-pee and den I went poopie. And it was a big poopie. The biggest poopie EBER! It was a green poopie. Yeah, a big green poopie. Now can I have my bubba gum?"

Amazing what you can dream up when you want something really badly....

Think Positive Thoughts!!

You know it's going to be a long day when:

1. You wake up to "Mom! Get me some chocolate milk!"

2. You find two boys in their cribs, no diapers, and playing in their lovely creations...AGAIN!!!

3. While bathing the poop-covered child, he decides to pour water over your "ready to go" hair & face.

4. Every child is screaming and fighting, not wanting to go to Mom's Day Out. It's a sad thing when mom just tosses them in their classroom and walks away. ;)

5. The child you are trying to homeschool refuses to do her phonics work. And suddenly has a teenage attitude.

I'm Thankful because:

1. I got to wake up this morning.

2. My washer and dryer are working and I can wash the nasty sheets.

3. Hair dries.

4. I only have 2 kids home today.

5. We got through school. Maybe we'll get this kid "educated."

How's that for having a positive attitude?? I'm REALLY trying hard today!!!

And what the heck are those things in the picture? I just had to share! We visited an apple orchard and they had these Japanese Silkie chickens that were bred with turkeys. They have no feathers on their necks and their feet are the size of a turkey's. They are the size of a chicken. So, what kind of eggs do they lay?? Oh yeah, I really did ask that question....

The Nature of Boys

Before I had kids, I just loved little boys. The boys in my second grade class were usually my favorites. I loved their curiosity and energy. Don't get me wrong, I loved the little girls, too. I think I just adored that "boyish" nature. They were never afraid to get their hands dirty. They would catch our classroom pet lizard when he escaped and buried him when he finally went to lizard heaven. If I dropped something, they would race to pick it up and hand it to me with a big smile on their face. The parents would come in for conferences questioning my sanity when I would tell them that their little man was great. They'd say he's definitely not that way at home. I always thought it must just be their parenting. Which leads me to today's blog....

I sometimes question how I ended up with all of these boys. I love each one dearly, but the nature of boys is beginning to become more apparent to me, and it's not as precious as it once was...back in the day when I could send them home at 3:00.

Take Bubbie, for example. For some reason, when he turned three, he all of a sudden became a rambunctious boy. He always had energy, but before, it was cute. Now, he finds the little noises that escape from his little bottom hilarious. He can't control his laughter. And by the way it's going, he won't be out of diapers until his 16th birthday. He thinks it's a great achievement to come and tell mom (in an "oh my goodness, it's amazing" type of voice), "Mommy! Guess what!! I made the biggest poopie EVER!" Words ever mother wants to hear first thing in the morning. Bubbie also likes to do silly things, crack himself up with a cheesy laugh, and then say, "Is that funny, mommy?" There's just one Bubbie!

Frijole Man enjoys chasing his brother with a wooden spoon. He's determined to get him disciplined. He likes to smack Big E and tell him, "NO, NO!"

Big E prefers to hang from the kitchen light fixture. Yes, we're still working on this. He's definitely the dare-devil of the threesome. He cannot stand for a door to be ajar. He must slam it shut. He's got a good arm, so it's exciting for him to throw things. He likes to tell me he enjoyed the meal by sending a nice burp my way.

It's with great anticipation that I am looking forward to this time next year. By then, we should have a symphony of bodily noises and odors while climbing the walls. Worms, snails, and gecko's in the laundry. I'm sure they will have come up with pooping competitions, too. Can't let one out do the other! Aahh..the smell of testosterone!

M&M's Monday

Got to spice up the blog a bit....when there isn't much to report, that makes it boring for you, but oh so nice for me! We've had the usual floatations in the bathtub, poopie pebbles in the bed (diapers missing), and food fights, but I figure you probably get tired of reading about kids that poop so much. During the day, I'm always catching little "precious" moments and think to myself that I've got to add that to the blog and by the evening, I've forgotten all about it. Here's some that I remember from yesterday:

Bubbie has been quite testing lately. The Wii has become a good incentive for good behavior from the little squirt. Now when I tell him to straighten up and act nice, he'll say, "But I am being good, mommy! Look at my face!! (With an ear to ear grin gleaming up at me) See! My face is being nice!!" (It's those darn limbs that keep getting him in so much trouble!)

Pods is doing well with school. We've really enjoyed our "special" time together. She loves her co-op and is making new friends.

Frijole Man is becoming the more trying one of the twins. He loves to talk....must be from his daddy's genes.

Big E is actually starting to get a bit easier...can't believe I'm saying this! I borrowed a bubble gum machine and filled it with M&M's as a potty training incentive for Bubbie....we're all into incentives around here. Anyways, Big E has figured out how to manipulate it to get M&M's to fall out without putting money in the machine. He stood there and ate M&M's for half an hour yesterday. It was hilarious! He'll be the one breaking into the vending machines at school...just wait and see!

I'm on this great redecorating trip again. I officially removed all of the baby stuff (except diapers) from our bedroom and bathroom yesterday. No more crib, toys, baby gear, etc. It was a little bitter-sweet. but I'm loving having my room back! I also got all of this stuff from Uppercase Living and can't put it on my walls until I get them painted the right colors....it's driving me nuts! I rearranged the living room so it would be more Wii compatible. You've got to have room to move with this thing! Oh, yeah, I bought this Magnetic paint at Lowe's today. Have no idea what I'm going to do with it...well I did have one idea, but I might get locked away for doing it. I thought it might be neat to paint all over a wall and then have my kids swallow magnets, so when they need a little behavior adjustment, I could just stick them up on the wall. Probably should come up with a better plan...

Simply Irresistable

I am going to relax tonight! Wow! Can't believe I'm even typing that! The kids are in bed and my hubby has returned to work after a two week hiatus. Some of the house is picked up other parts are in pieces. Who cares? If I die tonight, someone else can clean it up and if not it will still be there waiting for me. :) My dear friend, Cristy, has sold me on these Scentsy candles. I normally don't buy little treats like that. My candle collection consisted of whatever coupon I had for Glade candles. Not anymore! I have become a candle connoisseur. These little pots use light bulbs to melt fragrance wax, so if your kids knock them over, your whole house won't go up in flames. I do have to worry about that over here. I know there was something like this with a potpourri pot in the eighties, but this is so much nicer! Looks beautiful and smells incredible. I have collected over twelve scents! Now, how does this connect to my relaxing night, you're asking?? Well, I have one in my bedroom (much to Eric's dismay, because I had to unplug his lamp for my candle). Tonight, I'm going to fill my room with the scent, "Simply Irresistible," and lay in bed and read my new book. I keep seeing this book everywhere, so it's really peeked my interest. It's called The Shack. I read the introduction earlier today and now I'm really curious. I'll keep you posted on the book. Don't call me because I won't answer...unless you're flying around in the hurricane and want to say goodbye.

The kids have become great little Wii players. It's a great behavior motivational tool....does it work on hubby's too? Hmmm....

Wii are crazy!

Eric and I had been tossing around the idea of getting a Wii as our Christmas gift to each other. We thought it would give us something to do together and as a family during the upcoming cold months. He's already an Xbox addict. I quit playing a long time ago because I can only take so much blood and guts. Anyways, he went to Wallie World yesterday and amazingly, they had one left and on sale. He grabbed it and now we own it. Yesterday, we kept giving each other the look that said, "So, do you want to open it now?" Just as soon as the kids were in bed, we broke it out. We had a blast playing tennis, baseball, and boxing. I have to tell you that I ROCK at bowling...it's all in my wind up...such a production! We were sweating when we finally decided it was time to hit the sack. I slept like a rock. So, that is our new toy. We are officially broke now. Come on up and visit! Wii will have a fun time!! :)

Wild Week

It's been a wild week around here since we returned! We've been busy getting the kids to their respective schools and settled in to a new group of kids. Pods and I have officially started homeschooling. So far so good. Hopefully, the whole year will go smoothly. :) Our house is returning to a state of semi-chaos instead of total chaos. With Eric's help, we finally removed the eight loads of laundry that have been resting on our couch the past two days. It was beginning to take on a human-like shape.... Our carpet has reappeared, but I kind of wish it was still covered after seeing it. My mini had to get a new set of rotors and brakes. I bet Eric's been peeling out at those red lights again. I keep telling him to humble himself and realize it is a mini van, not some sports car. Don't bother impressing the ladies, 'cause when they see the four car seats in the back they'll be running away. I'm bent on getting Bubbie potty-trained this week. We're trying anything and everything. That's about all that's going on here. Oh, a funny tid-bit...Kathryn got in trouble for something and so she came and asked me how to spell, "I don't like you." She wrote her daddy a note and gave it to him. Glad to see this spelling thing is going to a good use!

Disney - Day 7

Today we decided to return to the Magic Kingdom. We were very pleasantly surprised at how empty it was. There were barely any lines at the rides and shows. We had a great time and visited every area of the park. Bubbie and Pods were fascinated with the Dumbo ride and Cinderella Carousel and we rode them several times. Eric and I enjoyed a few wild rides together. Space Mountain was definitely the most scary ride I have ever been on. Just when you think you're safe, your heart jumps up into your throat again. I was fun to get to be a teenager again....I even bought the NKOTB's new album to play in the mini...to get the full "teenager' effect. :) Pods got to meet all of the princesses except Snow White. The Fairy Godmother was even available. Too cute! Gabby was insistant upon staying for the parade, so we let her pick the spot that she deemed best and waited for it to begin. We were glad we stayed. Pods was extremely excited and couldn't wait to tell her mom and dad who was coming up next. Bubbie was too cute. He kept waving to the characters and when Minnie Mouse came along, he blew her kisses. It was precious. It was a late night, but a fun one!

Disney - Day 5

Back to the Wonderful World of Disney today! We headed out in the late morning, off to Animal Kingdom. Pods had a problem with "Kingdom" because it has the word "dumb" in it. I spent thirty minutes trying to explain this to her. So much for phonics. The weather was very hot and muggy. The first thing we did was ride the African Safari ride. It's a nice little trek through the native lands of Florida. The animals are right next to you, sort of like Fossil Rim, but with a much prettier landscape and with more of a variety of critters. We visited the Dinosaur Dig area at which the kids had a blast. There were bones to climb on, slide to ride, and for the Big E, water to splash in. We spent quite a bit of time there. Then, we ran to the Nemo show only to miss it by a few minutes. So, we went to see "A Bug's Life 3-D movie which was great, but the kids were terrified. Huge bugs jumping at you and spraying you with fog was not their idea of fun. The effects were great, though. Animal Kingdom was an interesting park, but don't know that it was our favorite. Maybe it was just the hot and humid day.

Disney - Day 4

To break up the trip a bit, we decided to take a day off from Disney World. We headed over to Ft. DeSoto Beach. It is absolutely beautiful! Pretty white sand and seashells everywhere! The kids had a blast finding seashells and sand dollars. Pods is our future surfer girl and all she wanted to do was jump the waves. Bubbie and Frijole Man were a bit more cautious and were content just to watch the waves roll in. Big E, well, you know. We haven't really found anything that he is afraid of, besides a wooden spoon. He loved having the waves come right up to him. Everyone was really fascinated with the little sea creatures that rode in on the waves and quickly dug their way back into the sand after the wave left. How's that for homeschool science? We had a really nice relaxing day. When we got home, I realized that I missed half of my back with the sunscreen. Let's just say, "toasty."

Big Adventure - Day 3

The next morning, we were all wiped to say the least. Pops decided we should take it easy and head to the resort's water park. So, into to the mini we went. After everyone was attacked by a lady forcing a wist band on our arms, we headed for the H2O. Bubbie, our ever fearless leader decided to demonstrate how fun the pool could be, so he dove right on into the lazy river and began to float on down, completely submerged under the current. Thankfully, Dad was nearby and managed to drop his belonging and dive in after him. Well, at least that ended his "fearless" behavior early on in the day. I was walking with my arms full and a twin on each hand when Big E decides to take off and show us what he could do. Within two minutes of Caleb's dive, Big E pulled away and did the same thing. Fortunately, a kind woman was watching the whole thing and dove in and pulled him out. Less than five minutes in the water park and two near-death experiences...another exciting day ahead!

A pleasant afternoon awaited at the Magic Kingdom. Since the twins had taken a good nap, we decided to go ahead and give it a try. We had a blast! We visited Minnie and Mickey's homes. The big kids rode their first roller coaster, the Barnstormer, with mom and dad. They weren't very happy about it, but mom and dad had fun! The little guys got to run around at several "energy depletion zone" areas including Christopher Robin's Hundred Acre Woods. We rode a lot of kiddie rides which were pretty relaxing. It's a Small World, Dumbo, the Cinderella carousel, and Peter Pan were some of our favorites. The kids really enjoyed meeting the characters and getting their autographs. We got to meet Belle, Aurora, Mickey, Frozone, and a couple of others. We were having such a good time we just stayed and watched the incredibly beautiful fireworks show! It was amazing to say the least. So much fun!!

Our First Family Vacation

After four days on the road, the Rascals are still intact and everyone is accounted for...so far, anyways. Our vacation got off on a frustrating start. Airport security, need I say more. We arrived at the airport (bright and chipper) at 5:30 am on Saturday, kids, luggage, and three car seats in tow. That was the easy part. It started to get busy as we were heading through security and of course, so did Big E's lungs. He started his infamous spine-tingling screams right as we were opening our bags for inspection. Then, we all had to take off our shoes and of course I had just bought the boys new tennis shoes with laces. We were all detained because Eric was at the other end of the line with our tickets. It was one thing after another and I was one of those terrible moms that let my kid scream the whole time hoping it would drive the security guards so insane that they would send us on our way. We were very fortunate and made the first flight. The kids had an exciting first flight! I sat next to Bubbie and he was fine until he looked out and saw clouds. He sat with his head between his knees for the next 30 minutes.

When we arrived, we got our new mini and loaded up everyone and headed for our resort. We were very pleasantly surprised with our accommodations. It is a two story town home. The first floor has a "Gabby" suite with full bath, kitchen, half bath, and living area. The upstairs includes three bedrooms, two full baths, and a laundry area. Let me tell you how wonderful it is to have the laundry area next to the bathrooms. We could easily live in this place and love it!! And it's half the size of our house. We threw a mattress on the floor for the little guys and they are adjusting quite well. Wonderful!

The next day, being the brave souls that we are, we headed for Hollywood Studio's. This is where most of the Pixar (our favorites!) stuff is located. We met Buzz and Woody, Little Einstiens, JoJo and Goliath, and a few other characters. We saw a few shows featuring Ariel, the Muppets, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Someone was pretty much unhappy at all times of the day. Eric was really unhappy because he had just spent a ton of bucks on 6 full days of this! We ate lunch at the Pizza Planet and that seemed to console most of the kids for a little while. It's amazing that $8 mini pizza's can buy 15 minutes of peace and quiet. Afterwards, we met Mike and Sulley (Monster's Inc.) and ended up sitting down at the line for Mater and McQueen from Cars. It was a good rest point. Eric decided Big E needed a little cooling off, so he opened Big E's sippy cup and poured what he thought was water, but was actually lemonade all over Big E's head. Nice one...Anyways, we waited an hour and a half for the star cars to make their appearances. When they finally arrived, we were the first to greet them. The kids got near them and McQueen revved up his engine, sending Big E running into a crowd. After getting pictures with the other kids, we rounded up Big E and headed off into more crowds, crying, and heat. We wrapped up early that night and headed home wondering what on earth we had gotten ourselves into!!