Crisis Averted...and Messy Fingers

Hannah Bear had a soccer game this morning in the rain.  Since the weather was less-than-stellar, Daddy and Jack decided to stay home where it was warm and dry.  Hannah and I bundled up and went to soccer.  I was glad that the girls got to play today since they were rained out last weekend.  Hannah did extremely well - she scored three goals and played tough the whole time.  I was a proud assistant coach!

After soccer, we ran a couple of errands together before heading home for lunch.  On the way home, Hannah announced, "Mama, can I tell you something?  I think it's a lie."

"What's a lie, Baby Girl?"

"I don't believe that Santa, with his belly like a bowl full of jelly, can really fit down the chimney.  The pipe is just too small."

I decided to wait this one out...while I bided my time, Hannah continued.

"I think he just comes right in the front door...belly like a bowl full of jelly...that rhymes!" she shouted through her girly giggles.

I took a deep breath, thanked my lucky stars that I'd kept my mouth shut, and agreed with my sweet girl of five.

*****

Later this evening, we decided to order Chinese food since neither Brad nor I wanted to make dinner.  Jack is not really a fan of Chinese food, and hasn't really found something on the menu that he loves, so we keep trying new things.  We decided to order him some barbecue spare ribs since he loves Grandma's ribs so much, and believe it or not, aside from the grumbling about getting the meat off of the bone, he really liked them.

It occurred to both me and Brad that it's the messiest we've ever seen Jack get during dinner.  I started to tell him about when he was a toddler, he hated to be messy so much that he would opt of art projects in the toddler room at school.  I said something about how impressed I was that he was eating and not worrying about his messy face.

"Oh, I'm very aware, and it's bothering me very badly."

We had a good laugh about that, and then I told the story of how Miss Tab had suggested that I get a bag of uncooked rice, put it into a big bowl, and then have Jack watch as I put his little cars and dinosaur toys inside the rice.  She was hoping that he'd get over his sensory issues while digging for his toys.  That, of course, is not at all what happened.  Eighteen month old Jack watched with big, blue eyes as I buried his tiny toys in rice, and then he ever-so-calmly walked away to play with something else.  He was not about to stick those tiny fingers in a bowl of rice when there were plenty of other toys to play with.  In hindsight, maybe I should have buried Skinny Bear?

Wrapping Up in Orlando

On Monday, Brad had to leave Orlando for work.  We knew that he'd have to return home before the end of the trip, and we got lucky that he only had to leave a day early.  The kids and I drove him to the airport early that morning, and we were super sad to wave goodbye.  I think he was really sad, too.  We'd had quite a week of bonding, and I'm pretty sure he was really nervous about me flying home with the kids by myself.  I'll come back to that...

I'd originally planned to take the kids to Animal Kingdom for the day, but the previous days in the sun had sort of done us in - I was still sunburned and both kids had developed a heat rash that was leaving them with increasingly itchy and scaly skin.  I did a quick Google search and discovered there was a science museum in town, so we headed there instead.

We had a really good time, but we were still a little sad because we knew that Daddy would've enjoyed it, too.

They had gators and turtles, too, but nothing compared to Gatorland :)  In fact, we returned to the tank for feeding time, but the kids wanted to leave early because it wasn't even comparable to the death-defying feeding they'd seen just a few days earlier.

A tortoise

Water-play

Harvesting oranges

Meeting Curious George

Building with magnets and shapes

Future pilot?

Digging for dinosaur bones - this was so awesome!

Jack in a geode.

That afternoon I took the kids to the pool they so loved.  We played for a while and walked around the resort before we went out to eat at Outback Steakhouse.  It was a really great evening.

Spray island at the pool

And here's a little something for you - I caught Hannah dancing on the side of the pool.  Completely free and uninhibited, not aware that anyone was paying attention, and thank goodness, I was able to catch some of it on video.  Enjoy!

{Video: Hannah Dances to Carrie Underwood}

Me and my little lovelies on our last night in Orlando

That night, as I began packing, I started to panic.  The stuff to bag ratio seemed off, and I was the only one that could solve the problem.  I was so thankful that everything fit - although I did have to cave and deflate those beautiful balloons I'd been suckered into buying :(  

The next morning, I packed up our family and step-by-step, checked out of the hotel, arrived at the airport on time (unheard of!), returned the rental car, rolled our baggage and our double-stroller to the ticket counter, went through security, fed the kids, and boarded a plane to fly home.  I was so proud of myself, and apparently, so was Hannah.  I think she could tell I was a little nervous.

"Mommy, you're doing such a good job finding the airport all by yourself!  Mommy, you're doing such a good job carrying our luggage!  You did it, Mommy!  Good job!"

{That pony?  It gets me every time...}

Thank goodness that Brad was able to take a couple of big bags with him and that Grandma and Grandpa were able to meet us at the airport when we landed.  And technology.  Thank goodness for technology.  I couldn't have done it without all of their help.  I'm also really glad that my kids both love to fly.  

It was a vacation I'll certainly never forget.  And even though the kids are still too young to probably remember it, they will have these pictures and stories to look back on and remember just how much fun we all had together.

For My Little Sister

On Thanksgiving, Dylan was given his first, impromptu, haircut.  And I'm not sure my sister was ready.

Uncle John?  Definitely ready.

The rest of us?  We were pretty ready, too.

But Rypie?

Not-so-much.

I can't remember if I cried during Jack's first haircut.  I remember that he cried.  And that they gave him a lollipop, and I took lots of pictures.  But I don't know if I cried - I think I was so proud of my little man, needing his first haircut.

My mom and I took him to Cartoon Cuts in the mall, and they gave me a little certificate with a lock of his hair that I will have for the rest of my life.

But I was ready.

And while Ryan thought she was ready, she was not.  BIG DIFFERENCE.

I took some pictures of this momentous occasion.  When the dust settles, and she's over Dylan's missing curls, she can look at the pictures and smile.  I hope.

Both grandparents had to hold Dylan still

Two toofers!

Hannah helped Dylan relax by holding his hand

I warned you

Proud Papa

Dylan looked so handsome.  Grammy did a good job.  And my little sister?  She pulled herself together:)

Now Hannah thinks she needs a haircut.  And that, my friends, is simply not happening.