Hayes Face

There are plenty of days in my parenting journey where I'm frustrated beyond belief.  I'm exhausted from parenting and feeding and cleaning and being a spouse and working.  I get overwhelmed some days and I feel like I'm not giving anything or anyone the BEST me.  Occasionally I find myself wanting to quit one or two of those duties so that I can give my BEST me to at least ONE of those things.  

Then we have cupcakes with dinner and this kid eats them like a silly goose.  He never makes a mess of himself because he hates being sticky.  He makes all my worries melt with his sweetness and his genuine kindness towards others.  How did I get to be his momma?  I am so blessed just to know this sweet soul.  He simply loves.  

Elsa in the house

Libby turned 3 in August and got this lovely lady.  She's quite the songstress and Libby loves her 'parkly dress.  I love that Libby loves her so.  

2014 Goals: October Update

My 2014 To Do List

1. I am going to grow plants this summer.
   I didn't grow one thing.  Unless you count that bean that sprouted on the front porch by accident.  
   
2. Run races.  As in, plural.
   I've got one in November.  Fail.
    
3. Buy the dang minivan.
   I love Melly the Minivan.
   
4. Build my business.
   I love my Mary Kay.  I am having so much success with sales this month.  I am so excited to see my MK career take off!  I cannot WAIT to quit teaching and help women change their life!
   
5. Paint and decorate the kid's rooms.
   Rooms are done.  Been done.  Still have things to hang....
   
6. Plant flowers in the yard this spring and summer.  I love seeing my neighbors lovely yards and I'd like to have my own this year.
   I am working on a bulb collection now.  I also have pansies on the back porch to plant!
   
7. Develop a budget/plan to save for future Disney trips and eventually yearly passes.
   My first luxury goal with my MK money!
   
8. I would love to be able to use my blog as a venue to make some extra income for my family as well.  I am going to investigate that and look for income via my blog while on maternity leave.
   I haven't looked into this, but I have been diligently increasing my traffic to the blog and plan to continue that through Facebook and Pinterest.  Hopefully I can be blog famous one day (or at least make mom-ney, so I can stay home)...  Ditto this for months...
   
9. Purge.  Clean out the closets, rooms, drawers, cabinets, and garage and rid this house of unnecessary objects, clutter, junk, and excess.  We need to learn to live with less and be happy with that.
   Diligently working on this one room at a time.  It helps to know we are done having children.  I can free up lots of clothes, toys, etc.
   
10.  Wake up earlier during the week and make time for myself.  Enjoy coffee, or a book, or the quiet.  I could make breakfast for myself or the littles, or just put on my makeup like a normal person.
    I am not a morning person.  I fail at this daily.  I am better about getting up in time to get all my stuff done, but I still have work to do in this area!

Disney Faves

This is the last post I have for Disney World.  I am so glad we took this trip.  I'm not sure if I thought all the kinks out or imagined all the crappy scenarios.... but it was a lovely trip.  It rained every single day.  It prevented us from traveling back to MK twice, but it gave us some rest time and some time to enjoy the pool.  We hauled a 3 seater stroller off and on the bus about 19 times.  We ran through MK in the POURING down rain at least once.  I nursed a baby in the parks, on the bus, and at the pool.  I had more fun watching my husband sing along to 'Let It Go' in the Frozen sing along than I imagined I would.  I found that we all have a ridiculous love for this place that  makes us act like kids.  

My favorite ride always... even if the song is crazy annoying.

The look on the faces of my children while floating in a boat through this ride is priceless.

Not sure if she's scared or impressed...

Still not strong enough to get that sword out...

My favorite castle in the whole world.

Prime dining area at our hotel.

Tables for coloring sheets AND a tv.

Sweet baby sleep at the hotel.

Girlfriend can sleep anywhere at anytime.

Festival of the Lion King

While we were watching the show... my kids played and sang and ate.  Spencer nursed for the majority of the show and when she wasn't eating she was grinning from ear to ear while watching the birds fly over our heads.  Libby loved the the girly people and the sparkly costumes they wore.  Hayes was mesmerized by the giant Simba who sang along with the songs.  

Daddy and  I were just grateful for the break from the heat and the cool air.

Animal Kingdom. Part 1.

Oh, I'll just throw a hissy fit right here on the bus at Disney World.  Don't you mind me.  I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary.  I do this often at home and they ignore me there too.  Princess Elizabeth wasn't happy that we didn't do anything to assist her in her time of need...

Andddddddddddddd this kid has about 90 chins.  She smiled the whole time we were there and I love her.  She was awesome for the entire trip.  She napped and didn't even fuss when she was beyond exhaustion.  

Our safari expedition was fabulous.  We did that first thing in the morning.

Did you know that there are different breeds of giraffes?  And that their patterns can vary?  Along with their size??  I had no idea.  Best part of this ride was that Hayes could point out every single animal by NAME and match them to the photo in the safari bus.

Ohh, hey Big Al.

The Festival of The Lion King.

Fabulous show.

Colorful with amazing performers and songs.

Be Our Guest Dining Disney World

Our first day at Magic Kingdom we were lucky enough to get reservations for the Be Our Guest lunch at Beast's Castle.  I selected our meals prior to our trip and they were ready for us shortly after we sat down.  Hayes refused to eat ANYTHING while we were there and finally fell asleep sitting in the booth.  I know he was tired because he hasn't fallen asleep while sitting up since he was a tiny tot.  Spencer was really pleased to get to eat some lunch while the rest of us waited for ours.  

That's my cupcake.  With 'The Grey Stuff' that they sing about in Beauty and the Beast.   And just for the record, it was delicious and my dishes didn't get any of it.  

After lunch we let the kids have ice cream.  Libby makes a giant mess while she eats hers.  Hayes barely touched his enough to eat it.  

Rainy Days

It rained every single day we were visiting The Mouse.  Literally... every single day.

Sooooooooooooo, we spent more time shopping and seeing shows this trip.  One day there was a horrific downpour and we literally ran in the monsoon.  Daryk really loves me.  We spent the rest of that day in really wet shoes.  Clearly, the rain didn't bother this baby.

Rain makes you entertain yourself in retail stores.... hence this hat.

But the BEST part of the storms was after they were done... people left and rides were easy to get on!  We were sweating like crazy because of the humidity, but we pushed through!  

Snack break while waiting for the bus at Animal Kingdom.

I love my littles.

Disney Junior!

Waiting for the BUZZ ride at Hollywood Studios with my main squeeze!

We rode this ride first thing in the morning and had a fast pass for later in the day as well.  No matter how hard I try, I still cannot beat Daryk's score.  Its my ultimate Disney goal.  I guess as long as I am losing, I'll make sure we get to go back often so I can try to beat him...

I got to 'wear' Spencer while we rode this ride and the Disney employees were very concerned about her safety.  Y'all--she's strapped in and not moving.  Swear.

Hayes was mesmerized by the Jedi training that day.  One more year and we will sign him up to participate.  I know his daddy will be pumped, jealous, and thrilled for that picture opportunity.  

And after that, Disney Junior live on stage.  

I'm pretty sure this is the heaven my children dream of.  But I'm just guessing....

Even Spencer liked the dancing and singing we got to watch.

Every child in that theater jumped up and down the entire time.  I love this show!

This was one of my favorite moments this trip.  Libby made a friend on the bus while she was watching Disney Jr on her personal ipod.  This little girl didn't speak a word of English and neither did her family.  It was fascinating to watch them sing and laugh at each other while they watched Mickey.  I loved watching my girl make a new friend.  Before the bus ride was over, they had plopped down on the nasty bus floor and they were literally rolling around and laughing.  It was fabulous and they needed sanitation immediately.  

Disney. Day 1.

Forgive me.  I'm behind.  I've been busy living.

We traveled to my favorite place at the beginning of September.  Actually, a month ago today we were packed up and heading to Orlando.  I love being able to spend this time with my kids and I love experiencing their joy when we get to see the things they LOVE so much.  And I'd be lying if I said I didn't LOVE it just as much as they did, because I do.  I freaking l Disney World and I don't mind giving lots of money to them every other year to enjoy a few days with my kids.  Already saving for February 2015....

This beauty enjoying some time with Dumbo in the early morning light.  It doesn't matter what we do or what we see, this remains one of their favorite rides.  

I love him and his weird faces.  He used to smile like a mostly normal child.  

Cruising the skies in a fashionable elephant.

Somewhere near Dumbo is this giant squirt station full of water.  Daryk took Hayes and Libby over there while I went with Spencer to grab the stroller after we rode Dumbo.  The scene that follows went like this...

Libby ran straight into the nearest water source.  

Hayes cautiously asks, 'Did you bring my bathing suit?'

Daryk:  No son.

Hayes:  I'm not getting wet unless I have my bathing suit.

Typical.  

Oh, and she slept in between when she ate.

We saw Anna and Elsa.

We rode Dumbo.

We rode Buzz.

We rode Ariel.

We had lunch in Beast's castle.

We rode The Barnstormer roller coaster.

We had a fabulous time.