Disney 2013

For anyone who follows me on Facebook many of the below photos will be repeats. I have so many photos and only uploaded some, otherwise it would take forever to do all of them. 

We had such a great time in Disney!! It went so fast!! Everyone has been asking what my favorite part was. Honestly, it was seeing the fun everyone had. Seeing my girls in awe all week of the things they saw and experienced and getting to have my Mom and Brad's parents with us to experience it too. I love that my girls got to make these memories with their grandparents. So important to me for them to have the opportunity to do things like this. I love that my Mom and Brad's parents feel it's important to do too! They truly love my girls and it's the big things, like going on a Disney vacation, and the little things like calling Ainsley on her birthday and stopping by just to drop off a little something to see how excited she is to be 6, that show me how important my girls are to them and how committed they are to continuing to build a strong relationship with them.

We got to our Disney hotel Sunday afternoon. We stayed at Art of Animation. We had a Lion King Family Suite and a Little Mermaid room. The girls were so excited when we got there. It was a really neat hotel, fairly new as it just opened last summer. Lots of drawings and sketches to go with the animation theme. They also had a large pool, and a few smaller ones. It had an on site food court too and an arcade. Pretty much anything you needed. They had daily activities for kids too.

The girls in the lobby of the hotel.

Chandelier in the hotel lobby full of Disney artist sketches. 

More artwork in the lobby.

I think the girls were just as excited to be able to swim.

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Getting Peter Pan's autograph and asking him to fly for them.

Fairy Rosalinda

Tinker Bell, one of Ainsley's favorite. Tink talks really fast:)

Some of our Toy Story friends.

We caught some parades.

We went to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where the girls got to be made into Princesses.

Princess Kaylee

Pop Princess Ainsley

Day 2 was Animal Kingdom. Mee-Maw and her girls.

 Ainsley's hair even stayed in overnight. That "jellyfish jelly" Ariel brings them really works well:)

Safari time. We saw a lot of neat animals.

This was a baby elephant. He was so cute!

We went back to Magic Kingdom that night for the Electric Parade and fireworks.

Day 3-Hollywood Studios. The girls thought all the Duffy the Bear stuff we found was pretty cool.

We hung out with some Muppets.

Got shrunk on Honey I Shrunk the Kids set.

The hotel staff liked to decorate the room with the girls stuffed animals each day.

Day 4-Epcot.

They had the dolphin pose for a photo. Lots of cool marine life in Under the Sea.

They had the garden festival going on and had lots of cool exhibits.

All in all it was such a great trip. I would love to go back and do it all again! Couldn't of asked for a better time!!

Happy 6th Birthday, Ainsley!!

Dear Ainsley,

        Today you are 6!!! I know to you it seems like it has taken forever to get to be 6, but for your Mama it sure seems to have gone by so quick! I remember the day you were born so vividly that it seems like it couldn't be 6 years ago. I think, though, that I will feel that way at every birthday you have. What a year you have had. Your Kindergarten year is almost over! You can read, do math, ride a two-wheel bike and tie your shoes (although you'd prefer to not have any on:)).

You are a spunky one and always make me laugh, even when I'm not in the laughing mood. You are inquisitive and you love to play outside. You enjoy swimming, dancing and playing baseball. You still enjoy playing with your dolls and you love to play board games and cards. Somehow you always find a way to win.

I couldn't be more proud to be your Mama. You are a true blessing to me and our family! I love you and am so thankful to call you my daughter.

I hope you had a great first day of being 6!!

Happy birthday, Ainsley Isabella! I love you!!

Mama

Holiday Fun....BRING IT ON!

Less than a month ago St. Patrick's Day was upon us. I don't know about yours but my Facebook feed was full of Leprechaun traps and fun St. Patrick's Day crafts, treats, notes, etc. Along with all of the fun posts and pictures was also a link to a blog. I can't remember the exact name, something to the effect of a Mommy Blog. While I don't remember the name I do remember the context. While the blog itself is like mine, and many others, about families, their lives, children, activities, etc this particular post struck a nerve with me. Shocking I know:).

This post discussed bringing Holidays, including made-up ones i.e St. Patrick's Day, down a notch. The blogger was calling on her readers to not participate in such crazy things as Leprechaun traps, or goody bags on Valentine's Day or non-plastic Easter baskets. By keeping these days to a minimum it would aide in her children not feeling the disappointment of their families lack of participation.

I for one love Leprechaun traps, Lucky Charms for breakfast and shamrock sugar cookies to honor St. Patrick's Day. I love to offer my girls fun spring things in their non-plastic Easter baskets, whether it be spring outfits, or PJ's or a movie, sidewalk chalk, and other fun  new things. I enjoy doing something special for Valentine's Day and honestly whatever other fun day comes along.

Do I think that we need to be cautious at times of over-indulging? Perhaps. Do I think by doing fun activities my girls will have higher expectations in life? No. I do think, though, that they will have fun and look forward to the dorky things their Mom likes to do during these days, and maybe even some day do these things with their own children.

After I read the post regarding all of this "holiday non-sense" I read the one that was posted before that. It was a post about not judging others. A post of acceptance and understanding. A post from the heart of someone who has both biological and adopted children. I support this. We shouldn't judge others because they aren't just like us and we should be open to new ideas. I found it ironic. Ironic that she is pleading for people to change their ways of holiday extravaganza to low key observations because it conforms more to their families ideals.

There are plenty of things my girls talk about that friends have said their families have done, or toys i.e. trampolines, they have played with/on at other's houses that they don't have at their own, i.e. trampoline. That, though, is life. Not everyone's family make up is the same, not everyone celebrates, or recognizes, days/holidays in the same way. That's ok. That is what makes the world go round.

My girls may not choose to carry on my same traditions and if they don't I will except that. I'm sorry that this Mom feels her kids are disappointed and feeling left out. However, that won't stop me from continuing to create memories during St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Valentine's Day or quite frankly even Arbor Day if I choose. What I will do differently is teach my children that everyone does things differently and that is ok. That we can learn from others. That we treat each other with respect. That we be true to ourselves, our hearts and what we love. That is what I want everyone to do. Maybe I'll start a Holiday for that:)!

Easter

Easter 2013 has come and is almost gone. We enjoyed some Easter activities and our low key day today.

We colored eggs.

This morning the girls woke up and found their gifts from us. As usual our bunny hid clues in eggs that led the girls to their baskets.

The girls found their baskets in the downstairs hall closet. Which I took a photo with on my phone because my camera batteries had died and I needed to charge them:)

After the girls finished going through their Easter stuff they got ready and then went outside to enjoy the warm weather.

They did stop playing for a few minutes so I could take some photos outside.

All in all it was a great Easter! We enjoyed the weather and all of our Easter activities and goodies!

Junie B with Mee-Maw

One day my Mom called me at work to say that Junie B Jones was coming to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and wondered if the girls would like to go. I checked with the girls that night and they were all about it! They took in the show, had some dinner and even managed to get a mini-pillow pet when they stopped at the store. The girls had a great time! It's nice that they get to spend some quality time with their Mee-Maw making memories. I love that my Mom knows them so well and knows when something is going on that they would enjoy. I love that she takes the initiative to plan these days with them. We are all lucky to have her!

Conversations With My 13 Year-Old Self

I love Pink, the artist, I like the color too, but currently I'm talking about the artist. Anyway, the other day I was in the car listening to one of her songs. It talks about her having conversations with herself at 13. Interesting to think of what we would go back and tell our younger selves if we could.  Maybe not myself at 13, but maybe at 16; things that I now try to voice to my girls at times.

1. Don't be in a hurry to grow-up and have all those grown-up responsibilities. Enjoy being young and the responsibilities that you have as a kid. All the grown-up stuff will come, the good and the bad, the mortgage, jobs, family, life decisions, etc. You will experience all of it in due time, for now enjoy being a kid.

2. Don't worry so much about pleasing everyone else. Look inside your heart, what makes you happy? Who do you want to be? Do those things, be that person. When you are true to yourself everything else will fall into place, you don't always need to put everyone else first. Sometimes it's ok to put yourself first.

3. Try not to hold on to resentment and anger. We can't control what others do, but we can control how we process our feelings about things that have happened. It's important to process them and move on. Holding onto the anger won't change anything and chances are they have no idea of the consequences of their actions and the impact they had on you.

4. Just because people have things doesn't mean they have stability. Make responsible choices, and not choices based on keeping up with others. Think long-term but create a balance to let you enjoy life as you go too.

5. If you want to learn how to do something, or do something you love even better, learn how to do it. Don't make excuses or list all the reasons you can't. These are things that push you, let yourself be pushed, don't let the "uncomfortable" feeling or fear of failing hold you back. If you do that you will miss out!

6. Recognize those that stand by you. Those who have never left you. Those who have always CHOSEN you. Cherish them, appreciate them and try not to lash out at them. They aren't the ones whose choices have hurt you, they aren't the ones who deserve your anger.

7. Your instincts are usually correct. If the thought of a possible situation or activity makes you uncomfortable it's probably because it's a bad idea. Listen to your gut, you'll have less "I wish I wouldn't have done that." moments.

8. Try to keep it positive. Try to keep that optimism. Yes, the world will suck at times and yes there will be days when you feel like crawling into a cave. Don't! Take on the world and remember that "This too shall pass."

9. Guess what? Not everyone like you and you won't like everyone. Sometimes people won't like you for reasons that you don't know or don't make sense. Regardless, always be respectful of others, even if they aren't being that way to you.

10. Have confidence in yourself! It's amazing what you can do when you want to. You are smart and you can do whatever you put your mind to! Always believe in yourself, while you will have others who believe in you too, you must always know that you are capable of anything!

I suppose if we could go back and say these things to ourselves we may miss out on some lessons and learning some things that we need to through our own experiences. I still try to shine these perspectives into my girls. They might not all sink in, as some of the above are ones that I still struggle with, but for those that do will hopefully aide them in a better outlook at times and make life a little easier.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

We have finally gotten some good snow. You know the kind. The kind that stays around long enough to play in throughout the week, the kind that is fluffy, the kind that you can use to make good snowballs and snowmen with. My Mom, bless her heart, bought a sled from Cabella's (I think:)) and we have been waiting and waiting and waiting to use it. 

Now don't get me wrong, I love me some warm weather, the sit on the porch with no shoes on, drink a frosty beverage and watch my girls play in the yard kind of weather. However, when you live in Illinois and you must experience winter each year you should at least get some good snow to play in. 

Sunday we headed over to Mee-maw and Paw-paws to play in the snow and finally use that sled. Mom blew it up and hooked it up to the four wheeler and away we went:).

In the shed. Ainsley plugging her ears because the air compressor was too loud for her liking.

The girls 

Just laying around.

Helping Mee-Maw

Ready to go!!

Paw-Paw hooking up the sled to the four-wheeler.

Lets go!!

Hold on!

Due to a slit we had to change sleds:)

Building a snowman.

All done.

It was a fun winter day! Now bring on spring:)!