Easter 2009

Stop and smell the flowers

We got dressed early Easter morning to have plenty of time to take pictures of the kids in their Easter clothes. They are crazy about flowers and so sweet about bringing some to me. I did not rush or pose them in this shoot and was glad I got some great candid shots especially this one of Sean....

What can I say? The girl likes PINK!!!!!!!!

In the words of a Facebook friend... Lily went monochromatic at the church Easter egg hunt this year. She has been a little stuck on pink ever since the Pinkalicious party. But this, well.... this was a little over the top. I think I may be getting a little worried about her now. She absolutely refused to pick up any eggs that were not pink. Oh well, she's just Lily I guess :-)

Co-Pilots..... Riding up front on the monorail

Getting to ride on the front of the monorail can be a bit tricky. We actually were not even trying this year. We came to the ramp empty one afternoon accept for one family standing in the front spot where you would board with the pilot. We actually rode once a few years back on Sean's birthday. He did not mention it this trip so we were not going to go out of our way to try for it. Believe me, it is really hard to get up there.... Anyway, we just got in line to get in on another seat and the lady approached us and asked us if we wanted to ride up front. She said we would have to wait for the monorail to cycle around once and then again if we wanted to do it but it was going to Epcot and that was the best ride since it circles all around the park. Of course we said yes!

The kids were so excited... again! They got flight wings and a co-pilot licence and here is some of what got to see from the front.

Our little Photographer

Last year we let Sean take a few pictures with our camera and he showed a real interest so this year we decided to let him have our old digital camera. He was completely on his own which meant we were a little slower in the parks. It was so cute though watching him. It also meant that he did not always want his pictures with the characters. He wanted to take pictures of them and some of Lily with them.

Here is some of his work: completely unedited or cropped

We captured him first doing his "thing"...

He wanted one of us in front of the castle

He posed us this way. I know..... we look way to serious!

Our Resort -

Jungle Cruise - from a moving boat

A nice lady taking photopass pictures at Chef Mickey's (he asked)

Time Out!

I don't really remember what was going on here! I saw this picture in the mix when we got home and I just thought it was funny. Buddy could not remember either. He was probably having one of his daily fits about wanting to go down to the resort arcade to play video games. This time came much to early but I think he actually would have preferred to swim and play video games all day then go to the parks :-)

(seriously, I thought boys are like 12 when they start this)

sigh.... he did have a blast though!

A Room With a View

This year we stayed at the Contemporary Resort. It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we wanted it to be special. Our first day there was also St. Patrick's Day. All the times I joke about "Murphy's Law" we sure did have the luck of the Irish on this day. You will see us below in a photo we took with the resort supervisor Ms. Judy (or as Lily affectionately called her, fairy Godmother). When we booked there were only two rooms left in all of Disney and let me tell you, they were not the best of rooms. Cheap? No way but when you are desperate you take what you can get.

Anyway, the lady in reservations assured us that even though we were out of luck getting a castle view room she would at least put us up high so we would not have to hear the monorail noise (that is the resort that the monorail passes strait through) and since it was our anniversary she would try really hard. We were very disappointed though when we got there and our room was not only on the lowest floor (5th, and monorail is on 4th) but also facing 24/7 construction. Buddy went down to see how he could sweet talk someone. He got lucky when he ran into:

"Fairy Godmother"!

We were only hoping for a room a little higher up. But, imagine our very pleasant surprise when we were given a room on the 10th floor with this fabulous view.....

The Castle at Magic Kingdom - Buddy took these from our balcony

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa -where we usually love to stay!

The Polynesian Resort

Monorail view - kids loved this..

We really enjoyed our room. The castle was so beautiful at night. I could hardly go to sleep from staring at it. It stayed lit up all night. I woke up a few times in the very early hours and would go look out at it just to see if it was still lit up. We were out late most nights but stayed in our room one night to see the fire works over the castle and it was wonderful. Lily sat on my lap on our balcony and told us it was the best night of her life. We could also see a nightly boat parade that came by in the Seven Seas Lagoon and that was pretty neat. We loved our room -Thank you again Fairy Godmother -AKA: Ms. Judy

I loved this.......

Power Rangers

We actually stood in the Power Ranger lines this year. I don't know how but we caught them pretty short. Everyone must have been over at the new Toy Story Mania ride. (more on that later) The kids were pumped. Sadly though we did not get blue ranger and the yellow one was a photopass and will be on our disk.

They were doing these hilarious and totally unprovoked poses in front of the car just before all the rangers got on and drove off. They had a blast here.....

Lily rides the "Tea Cups"

Lily was the only one who wanted to ride the "tea cup" ride. Sean though it was a baby ride and went on the Indy speedway with his daddy. I was stuck riding it with her and it was tough because things that spin tend to make me a little nauseous. I though I would take you back on the ride with her though because I did not realize I had gotten all these expressions as we rode. She loved it...

Please enjoy the Mad Tea Party with Lily

She's ready

getting started.......

lets go faster......

I'm getting a little dizzy.......

soooo much fun......

I'm done.........

Why I love Disney at Spring time - Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2009

WHAT... Mommy has not made a single Disney post yet?

Listen y'all! I know you have been waiting to see and hear all about Disney world and I promise it is all coming very soon. In fact it will be tonight I think. At least some of it. We got home Sunday night and woke up Monday morning for the weekly rat race of work and school and with two nights of church so far this week and an emergency visit to the doctor with Lily due to an injury we have not had much time.

I just uploaded all the pics from our two cameras and we let Sean use our old digital so you will get to see some of his work (which is pretty good by the way). We also have the Disney PhotoPass pictures on disk coming in the mail soon. But I can't show those until they get here.

We had a good time considering the rather large spring break crowds. I will say that we had some very interesting and adventurous moments this trip. some funny and some not so funny moments.

The kids got much more out of this trip then ever before. They were a great age this time. Sean loves all the big rides and is tall enough for all of them. He is my little partner because Buddy surely will have no part of any of it. My little daredevil did the Tower of Terror two times and the biggest, newest and most intense roller coaster there: Expedition Everest. We did it at night which made it a little more intense and I have to admit I was a lot afraid on that thing. He was laughing..... little stinker!

Happy Anniversary My Love

Seven years ago today I married you, the most wonderful man on earth. Our love has endured some tests. It grew stronger. We faced some sorrow and loss together. It brought us closer. We patiently waited for the family we longed for and leaned on the faith of one another after each heartbreaking loss. We trusted in God and he gave us our desires. Two precious miracles, our children Sean and Lily. Thank you for loving me. You are a Godly man, loving husband and devoted father. Happy Anniversary. May the next seven years be even better..... I love you!

Look who's ready for Spring Break 2009

My Little Miss Sunshine....
We were busy all day packing and getting some last minute things done and ready to get away for our big spring break trip. We picked this cute little swim suit up last night at Sam's for Lily and of course she had to model it for us today. She actually thought she was modeling for Mrs. Julia of(Frogbelliesandblossoms), our fabulous children's clothing designer friend. She usually models for her and we had just finished doing a huge shoot for her a few days ago so I guess she was in that mode.
I thought this suit was precious though and could not resist taking a break today to snap her picture in it.

Yes, I still blog................

I'm back after hiding out for a bit. I've started an actual post several times. I've started a post in my head a million times.

We have had a crazy past few weeks. There are so many things I want to post about and I know I will never catch up. Cute things that I wanted to share but have forgotten now.

There are some things I would like to share but can't. I will just let you know that we are all fine. I have had a few med changes and have been trying to adjust. Buddy had a small procedure and is fine and Sean is recovering from his broken foot. He will finally get his cast off Friday.

We are taking a SPRING BREAK vacation to an undisclosed location. And although some of our closest friends do know I will let you in on the secret too. It's our seventh anniversary and we decided to go somewhere with the kids. We have hired a sitter where we are we will be for one of the evenings and have some pretty nice plans for just the two of us which we are both looking forward to.....

Here is a clue: A dream is a wish your heart makes! Figured it out yet?


And now this sweet story:


I had a lot on my mind yesterday. Way to much to stop and be bothered with my four year old. Her soft little voice nagged at me that she was worried about something. How could she be worried I though sarcastically. I selfishly though about all the important things I had on my mind and the things I had to get done.

And then I looked at her. I REALLY looked at her! She looked so worried. I was modeling her in some clothing for Julia. I set the camera down and we had a talk. It was the sweetest (and a little funny) conversation I have ever had with my daughter. I hope I can remember it all.

"Mommy, did God make the wind?" she asked me. I reminded her about the song she sings about the winds and the waves. "mommy, did he make the sunshine"? I told her yes! I was quite surprised when she told me she wished he had not. "Why"? I asked. She tells me it is shining in her eyes and that she can't see. I explained that God made the sun so that everything including her could grow. That was when she explained to me she was so worried. She was worried because she was not growing at all. "Sean's is growing mommy"! "He has been 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and now he is almost 6! I am sooooo tiny and just still 4". She was in tears and it was so real to her. There was just no amount of explaining I could do to her about birth order or the fact that she had a birthday and was 3 a few months ago that could make it all better. And then came her big plan.

"Mommy, I know! I could be God"!!! "No Lily"! I told her she could not be God.... "Yes I can, you can just make me a girl Jesus costume and I can be him" :-) She smiled and went along her sweet little way!

Soooo. I have one child who has such faith it God that he prays for the healing of any and everyone who walks through our front door and now our daughter wants wants to BE God. Lets just hope this is a theatrical thing. Maybe they are doing auditions in Sunday school for the Easter drama or something. :-)