TAGGED!

So I was tagged by my friend, Jenny the other day....Jenny aren't your proud that I am doing this one w/in a week of being tagged, not like a month like last time!lol! I have known Jenny for a long time now...we had mutual friends for most of our growing up years, Nick and I were leaving Bible Baptist School, as Jenny and here sister Bethany were coming, and I would go back and do field trips w/ my "old class" which Bethany was in....then later, we had mutual friends and would see each other at some homeschool events...we even ended up at the beach one year at the same time and same place!....THEN, we met up again at MOPS a few years ago, which was really cool...all grown up and married w/ kids...SO COOL!...Jenny has been a fun person to get to run into again and again as we have grown up! PLUS, as a added bonus, she "love, love, loves" Eli's name....so she can do no wrong in my eyes! LOL! :)

ok so back to the tag. Here goes.....

What I was doing 10 years ago?
Hmmm...well, I was 16...in June, I was the maid of honor in Brandy's wedding, she married
Shannon and Leigh's brother Shaun....I was going into my Junior yr of high school, and dated Brandy's brother over the summer, not a smart move!lol!...that was life back then :) WOW, that was sorta weird to think about and remember!lol....oh, I like Jenny would of been at the top of my class....I was homeschooled!

What are my favorite snacks?
Well....I'm not sure, you see I'm pregnant and I sorta go w/ whatever hits me at the moment!...I can't say I have "favorites" at least not w/ snacky food. My all time favorite food right now, that I could eat daily is Sammy's homemade chocolate cheesecake!...OH YUMMY!

5 things on my "to do" list today!?
well, you see, I burnt that list today...lol....
umm...1.laundry (done)
2. garden (done) we have 11 watermelons and 9 cantaloupes!lol.
3. pool! (fun and done) yep, it's important enough to put on the list!
4. phone calls (done...mostly, at least left messages)
5. Time Warner Cable guy (2-4) thank God he showed up and fix the phone again!...he promise it will work now!lol
and many many more things....it's never ending, I mark one thing off and add 2 more!lol.


Things I would do if I were a billionaire?
lol...what a fun question for a Dave Ramsey financial counselor!...I would first tithe, I so believe that God deserves the first fruits...although He doesn't necessarily need my money...He is God, it's my honor to give it! Then I would finish up my "baby steps" and the rest....I would life the ultimate dream...to be able to give, give and give some more...as a billionaire, there is no end to the giving!...if you invest that money right, you wouldn't be able to find enough people to give too!...how cool would that be...to be able to help in such BIG ways...like finding a cure for cancer...as a billionaire you can do that kind of giving!...:)...of course there would be a shopping trip or two in there!lol!

5 jobs I've had...
1. turkey farmer...ok so my dad was the farmer, but as his child, I qualify!..ask Nick, he'll agree
2. Sales clerk at New Creation Christian store...the perfect "1st job"
3. Mary Kay consultant...don't ask, I never will admit it again...SO not the "job" for me!lol.
4. Assistant Wedding Photographer....loved this one....well at least taking the pictures, not working for another photographer
5. Nanny...fun!

5 places I have lived.
1. Charlotte...now it's known as Mint Hill...but when I lived there is was Charlotte
2. Stanfield NC...only 30 minutes from Charlotte or Monroe, or Concord or Albemarle!lol.
3. Tigerville SC...lol aka North Greenville College (University now)
4. Indian Trail, NC
5. that's it....I'm a pretty local girl!

5 random things people wouldn't know about me...
this one is always hard...everything about me seems to be random!lol...and I'm an open book, everyone knows my randomness!lol!...I'll try
1. I have always considered my mom one of my best friends...of course if you know my mom wouldn't you! :)
2. I hate competing...still won't do it.
3. my closest friends have never been close to my age, but always older...sorta weird..guess I am just an old fart want-a-be!lol....now let me clarify!..they aren't THAT much older than me...but normally at least 4 or more years!
4. I wouldn't take a picture for almost 1 year after my daddy died, he was the one who bought me my first "real" camera for my 17th birthday...he put so much time and effort into picking the "right" camera...I couldn't make myself use it...also I was in a studio lighting class when I looked up and saw my brother's face at the door...I SO freaked out...I just knew something bad had happened...that was the night they admitted dad to the hospital for the last time. He was SUCH a huge supporter of my photography :)
5. I have always had the lifelong dream of being "just a mommy" and I always wanted a girl 1st. I am so blessed to have both...I don't deserve them!
whew...I did it!

5 cds I would take w/ me to a desert island
Can I cheat on this one?...I don't listen to cd's anymore...I'm an ipod girl...I dont' ever buy a whole cd anymore, just the song I really like....so I have a huge compilations of stuff...I would have to have my "playlist" of worship songs...couldn't live w/o them!...sorry, I know that's cheating.

5 people I'm tagging!

Crystal
Susan...that's two for you now!
Chelsea
Brandy
Shannon

Finally....about the baby!

A while back I posted a list of blogs I needed to do...one about the baby was in the mist of that list. I made myself not blog about the baby until I had done all the other blogs...why, b/c that is the one blog I wanted to do and I knew if I did that one first I might never get to the other blogs! So I have now finished that list and am excited to sit down to blog about the baby.

I am going to be 26 weeks tomorrow...that is SO hard for me to believe! Time truly is flying right now! I am soaring into the final weeks...and I feel like there is SO much to do. Everything is going great, I don't have much to complain about, which is good!lol...I am not sleeping very well, but I am use to that now, some days it catches up w/ me and makes me grumpy, but feel more sorry for my kids and Alex than me!hehe. I am having a weird problem at night...my arms go completely asleep while I am sleeping! I know that isn't uncommon completely, but the dr has never heard of both arms doing it at the same time...lol, what can I say, I have always been known for abnormal!lol. I start out sleeping on my side w/ a pillow b/t my legs (hoping it will keep me on my side) but at some point I will turn onto my back and that is when my arms go to sleep!...so the dr's thought was...don't turn on your back!lol...of course that is easier said than done! All in all, I just want to be able to sleep on my stomach again!lol....but we all know I have a while! The 2 things I love the most about giving birth, other than seeing and holding the baby...2 personal things I guess...#1) SLEEP ON MY STOMACH...which I will do the first night in the hospital if possible. In fact, w/ Ian, I got up in the middle of the night, chanced out of my hospital gown...I hate those things...but my PJ pants on and went fast asleep on my stomach!...Let mom take care of Ian almost all night!hehe...planning to do the same this time if possible! #2) That first shower after having a baby...never was it nicer to shower in my life...and I have been very smelly/dirty (remember I grew up on a farm!)...but nothing compares to me as that first shower after giving birth....and being able to bend in half!lol....LOVE IT! Funny those are the things I look forward to!...and this time, I am not going to hurry that shower!...everyone else will have to wait on ME!lol!

OK so enough about those thought of delivery, they make me impatient! lol! :)

So I can't believe that I have already hit the time when I have to go every 2 weeks to the drn! I go back in 2 weeks to have the sugar test!...I hate that one...the drink, why can't it taste like Mt. Dew...not orange?....yuck, my theory is to drink it as fast as possible! YUCK...just at the thought! BUT on the brighter side, I am having a 4D sepia tone ultrasound! I am SO excited about that! My office offers this (for a price of course!) just for us mommy's who can't wait!...lol ...mommy's like me! So, I am really excited, we get pics and a CD to take w/ us. Don't worry, you'll get to see them! then we can vote on who the baby looks like!lol! So all that in 2 weeks....on July 8th.

And lastly, and what I commented on before...did anyone catch the baby's name? Only Brandy responded, but she didn't say what she thought it was...only that it was cute...so I am ready to tell!...remember my rule from before, my baby, my name, no ugly comments!lol! :)

The baby's name will be (by the way, I am glad to stop calling him "the baby" on here!)

ELI BRICE HELMS

ok so the Helms part is a duh!lol Eli, just like w/ Emma and Ian, is a name we like, we started w/ Elijah...then Alex wanted Elisha...which I wasn't for...then we decided on Eli, because that's what we were going to call him anyway...poor child, his whole life people are going to ask him if it's "actually" Elijah!lol....horrible parents we are! Neither Alex or I know what that's like at all! (note the sarcasm there!) So Eli it is...Brice is a family name, from my daddy's side...it was my great-grandfathers first name, and honestly the last family name for a boy that we would even consider...lol...shh don't tell the family I said that!...but Homer and Earl weren't options for us!lol!...oh I'm going to get myself in trouble...but hey I'm being honest!...hehe!

So there, it's out in the open now...we have known the name forever now, I didn't want to tell to soon, although I don't know why. Emma tells everyone his name is Eli and even Ian if you ask him where baby Eli is, he will tell you...."In Mommy's ummy!"...gotta work on that "t" buddy boy! :) I love the way he says "tummy".... SO it's not really been a big surprise...not like some of my friends do...lol....Brandy!

Well, Alex just started putting up the crib...yes I know we still have a while, but I can't wait...call it a need to be prepared this time, you just never know what might happen tomorrow! LOL...TRUST ME, I KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT! I didn't get Ian's crib up until one week before he was born...and after my due date b/c of Alex's accident! This time I have a HUGE need to be ready....EARLY!
love y'all....and I LOVE the comments....thank you Judy for your comment, I already told mom...she wants you to come and stay w/ her and Gary for a few nights while Dave is away! I'm sure she will be calling you! :)

AT LAST I FOUND IT!

So last Wednesday, Sammy, Nick and I were going to take the kids to the pool...and of course I had to do my daily call about Alex's present. I just knew we would get to the pool and I would call and they would have it!lol....and I was right! I was suppose to call everyday between 10 and 11....so we got to the pool at 10, got to our seats under the umbrellas and I called....
store guy: yes, we have 3, we got this morning
ME: really!!!
store guy: YES
ME: how long will they last?...I just got to the pool.
store guy: maybe an hour???...
ME: really?
store guy: well, it depends on how busy we are....
ME: ok, I guess I'll come now...
store guy: well, I would hurry!


I wanted to scream!...the whole time I am thinking, alex better like this gift, or my might just cry...so I leave Sammy, with all three babies (Nick wasn't there yet) and drive back to Indian Trail...normally I would be 5 minutes from this store, but b/c we were at the pool, I was 15 minutes away!....Into the store I go, mind you, in a swimsuit, fat and prego, no makeup and I didn't even comb my hair....horrible, my mother would have past out that I was going to the pool that way, much less on a shopping trip!lol! I walked in, and told the guy...I told you I was coming from the pool...please tell me you still have one! THEY ONLY HAD ONE LEFT! In the 15 minutes it took me to get there, they sold 2 of them! Then while I was paying for mine, some else called looking to see if the shipment had come and they had to tell her they were out again!....WHO KNEW!

So, what was it? a Wii! I never knew it would be so hard to get one! I knew back at christmas they were really really hot items, but good grief, it's 7 months later! So I finally got my Wii at game stop in Indian Trail, I called everyday for a week(they knew they were getting them in ...one day this week...type of thing) and I barely made it in time to get one!lol....

Back to my story, I got back to the pool, to find everyone out of the pool...some kids had exploded poop in the pool! LOVELY!...so we sat and waited for the pool to reopen, but instead they closed it for the rest of today...apparently this kids did a doosey!lol...so we sat in the back of the truck to eat lunch, went to Walmart, Nick and the kids watched a dvd in the van, Sammy and I went and got the rest of the Wii "stuff" the extra remotes and other things to get Alex started up, and we brought a plastic pool for Sammy's house and went there to let the kids play in the pool, not so much fun for us, but the kids still had fun! Once we got home, I put together a scavenger hunt for Alex's presents, which the kids LOVED...and we waited for Alex to come home.....HE WAS SHOCKED! at first I couldn't even tell if he wanted it or not...he had talked about wanting one a while back, but I would NEVER budge, I was totally against it! So I was able to pull off the big surprise, I knew he would never think I would get him one, so it was really fun! We plugged it all in and played w/ the kids for a while...I could hardly get anyone to eat dinner all they wanted to do was go play!...so funny, Ian never passes up food, but he did that night. After the kids went to bed, Alex and I played for a couple of hours...it was SO much fun, I haven't laughed that much in a long time...and so far, I am the boxing champ!lol...it's driving him crazy that I beat him at it! In fact the next night, he made me play again so he could try and beat me...which he now has...but only once! I have beat Sammy and Nick too!....love it! the prego mommy can punch!lol!

SO that is the story of the Father's Day, birthday present...that was late, but worth the wait! Now he is own his own to find the games he wants!...I am done calling stores everyday!

Update on Nick's job...everything is going well w/ Pineville Police, he has interviewed, the references have been sent out, one of the three are back, Sammy has had her phone interview, all the credit reports have been approved, the recommendation from the officer doing all the "digging" is excellent...so now it goes to a board that will decide once the other references are back....SO...at this point, everything is on track for him to start the first of July...keep praying and I'll let you know when he signs papers and it official!

about 6 months ago.....

we went to ride horses at Sam's parents house, and Ian of course LOVED it, he was up there, no problem! Rode w/ my brother, then by himself...being lead of course. Well, Emma on the other hand, was VERY shy around the horses and wouldn't even touch them at this time. We encouraged her to try, but she wouldn't budge....nope not her, not then.

Ian has been back to ride since, but never Emma, she hasn't wanted too...she would say, I'm just not "ready"


WELL....for a while, maybe about a month or so, she has been asking to ride, and honestly, I hadn't thought much of it, I really didn't think she actually would!...but the other night Sam asked if we wanted to go out to the barn after we finished our first afternoon of canning....yes it has begun, slowly, but it has started!....and so the kids and I went w/ Sam, Savannah and Nick out to see MawMaw Michelle and PawPaw Dennis. Ian and Savannah argued the whole way there who "zipper" belonged to...it seems my son has claimed his own horse! So once we arrive and they saddle up the horses...and Emma climbed right up there w/ Sammy! She was SO SO proud of herself...she had already asked on the way there if she could ride "by herself"....so not only did she ride w/ Sammy, she then rode all by herself! With the biggest smile on her face, no fear whatsoever...EVERYONE was shocked at how well she did. After she rode, she fed the horses treats, petted them and wouldn't stay way...she now has decided she wants some cowgirl boots and a hat!lol....I love how much confidence she has gained in the last year, she is like a different child in that way....I am SO glad that I let her wait until she was ready and didn't push her the 1st time when she wasn't ready.

Ian has earned his belt buckle...umm, yeah I didn't know what that meant until someone explained it to me. YEP, he took his first tumble off the horse! HE'S FINE, nothing major, and he got right back up there....when he fell, Sammy graped him up and said "Ian are you ok?"...his reply was...."agh" she said "Your a big boy, are you riding horses?" He said "I RIDE JOJO"...apparently he thought falling off meant he could have the horse of his pick!lol....and he got it!

Emma told me she doesn't want her "belt buckle" anytime soon!lol, I can't say I blame her!...smart girl!

Paint!...have you ever notice that there are WAY to many choices!

SO....Emma and the baby's room is now painted....boy, it was HARD for me to pick a color. I haven't put the finishing touches in there yet, nor is the crib up yet....so I won't post any pictures until I finish....but, I am excited that it is painted! We decided on blue a while back, w/ the thoughts that we would add different color circles around the room(Emma's request was purple...but I wasn't up for a purple room!) Emma's bed set is the "island surf" from pottery barn kids and the crib set is the same, but the "boy" version. So the colors for emma's set is bright pinks, orange, yellow, blue, red, green...mostly pink...bright pink. VERY CUTE, I love her bedset. The crib set, has the same patterns, but totally different colors....it's mainly bold blue, red and green....more bold, primary colors....totally different. SO my color problem was how to pick a blue that would match each! Well, I decided to go w/ a BRIGHT blue, almost a "swimming pool blue" It turned out great!....in fact I like the blue so much I have almost decided not to do the circles, but to instead do all my accent stuff in red for the baby and purple for Emma....we'll see. I need some shelves for both and a desk chair for her...all of which I will get unfinished and paint myself!....I have a mirror of Emma I am going to paint purple and then I think I'll be about done...I haven't thought much about art yet, I know I will do there names on the wall somewhere...most likely over their beds, but other than that, it's still a work in progress...but I am SO happy the painting is done.
Side note: yes I teared up when I painted over those beautiful stripes on her back wall....those darn stripes that gave me so much grief...that were so cool! But now they are gone....sniff, sniff!...oh well, life goes on!

side note #2: No Crystal, I haven't been able to get my hands on the present for Alex yet....one sales person actually wished me "good luck" on getting one!...lovely!lol!

He did it again....but even better!...LOL

Last Thursday night my brother Nick graduated from BTLE. (basic training in law enforcement) He has been in school for the last 18 weeks. I have to tell you, for me, going to his graduation was harder than I thought it would be...we did this before, 6 yrs ago. Nick entered Char-Meck police acadmy in October of 2001....we found out Daddy was sick in December, Nick graduated then, in April of 2002 and daddy died in May...Nick's graduation is the last thing Daddy attended before he went into the hospital for the last time. I have a picture from the first graduation hanging in my living room...b/c it's the only picture I have that has daddy and Alex in it. ANYWAY... for those of you who don't know, Nick left the police force not long after daddy died, I still call it grief, but he just couldn't handle it. Since that time, he has had many jobs, but none "fit" him like being a police officer. This past December he decided to go back through school(b/c if you leave the field for so long you have to be trained again) and start his career over as a police officer. SO....now for the best part. He received an award...at graduation....and before I tell you what award, let me tell you about some of the other awards(the ones I thought he might get...lol) there was an award for the top popap(a timed fitness thing)there was the "top gun" honestly I thought he would have that one....him and his guns! Let's just say, something NEVER change! there was one for team spirit and best grade in the class.(now I wasn't betting much on that last one!...hehe...but Nick didn't receive any of those awards. I was sitting there thinking, Lord, it really would have boost his confidence if he got an award, but there is NO way he will get this last one, NO WAY. I know you know best Lord, but He need to feel like he did well, especially in this. WELL....I know you are all sitting on the edge of your seat now!lol....Here I sit, watching my brother graduate...again!...thinking about how my mom must be feeling, missing daddy a little (you never go though these things w/o that feeling...but knowing how proud he is of him) thinking about the fact that doctors told my parents, when Nick was about 5, that Nick would never be a "functioning adult"(of course my question is....who is ?) w/ all his "learning problems and labels" and they announce "Nicholas Helms as winner of the highest score on the state exam for his class" It makes me smile and cry even now just thinking about it....(I am pregnant!) Even his own jaw hit the ground! God is SO cool, He also knew Nick needed that, God spoke back to me, and reminded me that HE alone knows what's best, and HE alone cares about each of us more than anyone else does. That He didn't need me to give HIM ideas on "what should happen....He's got that one covered" It was the coolest thing! So Nick has finished school...w/ a bang I might add. and is now on his way into a job....he has an interview tomorrow, I have no doubt that God will once again put him exactly where he wants him to be!

Nick, I am SO proud of you, I love you....and I KNOW daddy is SO proud of you too!

Alex's birthday and our 6th anniversary

I am starting on my list of blogs today, maybe I'll even get to more than one!lol. I decided to combine the blog about Alex's b-day and our ann.....mostly because they are back to back, and normally run together for us anyway!lol...Last weekend we celebrated on Friday night w/ my family at mom and Gary's, on Saturday night w/ Alex's dad and then on Sunday w/ Alex's mom!....lot's of yummy food and good times. On Monday(our anniversary) Sammy took our kids and Alex and I went out for dinner. We did forgo the gifts this year, I don't think we could of topped our vacation anyway....we decided that was enough big spending for one year! Then on Tuesday (Alex's birthday) we had a quiet dinner of hamburgers...yes his request....here at home and I made icecream sandwiches...it was my first attempt, they were good, but I know something I would try a little different next time. Emma was a little worried that there was no cake, but LOVED the icecream sandwiches, so I think she forgave me for no cake! So all in all, we had a nice birthday/anniversary weekend, busy, but fun. The funny thing is, I had this huge surprise for Alex...sorta this combo birthday/father's day present...well, as it turns out, I should of started MUCH earlier trying to actually buy it, for it can't be found!...so poor guy is still waiting on his present from me and the kids. But I have promised him it will be worth the wait. lol....so I can't even tell y'all about it yet....I refuse to give it away to him...and I have done very good so far. He thought it was a kayak....which he also wants.....only Susan will understand why that is funny!....but anyway, but I did cave and tell him it's NOT a kayak!lol. It's something that we will use a little more often....I hope!lol!

It's hard for me to believe that 6 years have past since our wedding, not in a bad way...like, it's been FOREVER, no more in a WOW, look at all that has changed in 6 years. It's weird, I didn't even pull out the wedding album this year, why...well, I guess because it still gives me bittersweet memories, that sometimes I just want to leave them alone and not bring out the mixed memories. I wouldn't never change my wedding, nothing about it was BAD....just SAD. It will always be hard for me to look at pictures and not wish my dad there....but it doesn't mean that the day wasn't special to me.
This anniversary seemed a little slow for me, last year we went whitewater rafting over our anniversary and had a wonderful trip away just the two of us...this year we just had a few hours to our selves...but it was still fun to be out and have a chance to talk!

where oh where have I been?

WELL....for one thing, every time I have sat at the computer, I have been working on a photo memory book that disney offers...you only have 30 days to complete it after the first day you activate it...AND every time I would work on it, the website would freeze up and I would loose ALL the pages I hadn't saved(and NO it can't be b/c we have a mac...mac's are perfect!lol....naw, I love my mac, wouldn't trade it, but I think some websites don't agree w/ my love of mac!)....IT MAKES ME SO MAD JUST THINKING ABOUT IT! SO what should/would have taken me 2 days max has taken me like 2 weeks! PRAISE GOD I FINISHED tonight! So now I can get back to the normal things I do on the internet, I have caught up on all my blog reading....but boy am I WAY behind on things I want to blog about....I don't even have the energy to start tonight, I need to get my poundcake out of the pan, and take myself to bed! Although I fear I won't sleep for a while, (thanks to the fact that I was sick this afternoon....wanting to throw-up....and fell asleep on the couch at like 4 and slept til 5...oops!) but I have a busy day tomorrow, so I NEED sleep, if only it was that easy!

Anyway....blogs to come

1. Our anniversary...another year behind us!...lol...that doesn't sound to nice
2. Alex had a birthday! and the surprise he is still waiting on...lol...
3. Nick graduation!....
4. Painting....the dreaded!
5. Did anyone notice I slipped on the baby's name in a blog?...and more about the baby!
(now if you already know the baby's name you can't play this game, it would be cheating! LOL)

see I told you I had lots to talk about, AND I will, it might not be tomorrow though, I have to make a pie...yes I am being "little miss susie homemaker" just this week I have make ice cream sandwiches (for alex's b-day) a poundcake and tomorrow a strawberry pie.(for Nick's graduation)...and I am not even liking sweets right now!lol....what a shame.

Ok so I have rambled enough....I'll be back soon....PROMISE!

Disney Pictures~

I promised to post pics!
They are actually backward!...lol...I am so computer sauvie!lol...I hope you enjoy, these are but a few of the 300+ pics I took!...yep you head me, 300! I am trying to decide what to do w/ all of them, I am making a scrapbook through the disney website, but I also want a few larger pics for the kids rooms, plus I want to do albums for the kids to have of there own!...anyway, enjoy a glimpse at our vacation!

All about Disney!

So I am FINALLY sitting down to blog about our trip. For some reason I got back from Florida w/ a HUGE desire to get things done. I have been planning and doing since I got back!...we are going to be painting in Emma and baby's room very soon and I need to decide some things about how to fit everything into that tiny room! I know alot of people have co-roomed their kids...but was the room only 10x10? If it was HELP ME out on how to fit everything. Anyway...another story for another day!

DISNEY...was awesome. We left here on Sunday morning at 5:30...I was so proud of us for being out the door when planned and not late! We had the most perfect drive down, no tears at all....none! and very little whining...a little from Emma at the very end. We stopped for lunch at the Florida welcome center(I had packed lunch)...it was the perfect thing to do...the kids literally took a bite and ran around and came back for another bite. Not something I would normally let them do, but under the circumstances...it was totally needed! We got to our hotel about 3:30....unloaded ate some dinner and went to the pool! Sunday was all in all a great day, although we were tired from the car ride.

Monday....we went to Epcot, I chose that park because I knew there wasn't a lot the kids could do there, but it was Memorial Day and I knew that Magic Kingdom would be really crowded. So we head to Epcot and the first ride we went to was the new Nemo ride. Ian cried everytime it was dark and Emma was overwhelmed....it was sorta funny. After you ride the ride, you can go into a interactive "talk" w/ Crush...well, we walked over to do that and would you know this guy walks up and he was a friend of Alex's from when he worked at the "y" he was a cast member for the crush talk...so Emma had the chance to talk to crush herself, but she wouldn't do it!...she was to shy. Oh well, it was still cool to get special seating and be able to see so well! Next we had a few bumps in the road...we lost our video camera...someone picked it up from right beside the stroller...so frustrating! we were on our first day at about 10 in the morning and the camera was gone...yes the camera I was so excited to get just a few months ago! Well...Ian crashed on us right after that and started screaming non stop! He was so cranky! Cried through every ride! We survived through lunch and right after lunch we were starting to walk through the worlds and we saw Jasmine and Aladdin taking pictures....praise God something exciting....Emma was so cute, a little overwhelmed, but determined to meet Jasmine....she wouldn't give Aladdin a hug though, just Jasmine!lol! SO CUTE. We had a special meet and greet we got to go to that afternoon....where we were in a room w/ Mickey and Pluto and the photography and we received a free 5x7 of our choice....Emma walked right in and up to mickey and Ian followed her...they had so much fun. Pluto chased Ian around a few minutes and let the kids get really comfortable before they started the pictures...so the picture at he top of my blog is from that "meet and greet" After the "M & G" we decided to stop by "lost and found" AGAIN...just to see...lol...and praise God, there was our camcorder...someone had turned it in. We were SO excited that we forgot to go and get our free picture from the M&G...and left to go back and take a nap...we came back later and played in the water sprouts then got an early seat for the light show that night....all in all this was our worst day at disney....we decided that everything that could go wrong did on the first day...but the wonderful thing is that everything that went wrong, righted itself in time....so that was the first day at disney

Tuesday...we went to MGM, we saw Lighting McQueen and Mater...and had one excited little boy! He was thrilled! We rode a new ride that was really fun, for kids and adults...it's was toy story mania...fun, fun, we went to Mickey mouse clubhouse and an Ariel show, we watched the new parade that was really good...we had an alround great day...loads of fun and lot's of memories. We left the park around 3:35, let Ian nap and they went to chick-fil-a (across from the hotel) for dinner and let the kids play for about an hour in the play area...which was empty...while we sat and talked...really really nice!


Wednesday....we took the day off from the parks and played in the pool...after nap we went to downtown disney to do our shopping. Again, lots of fun, Emma took all her money she had been earning and spent it...she loves to shop. She filled a box w/ my little pony "stuff" and Ian did the same w/ mr. potato head "stuff" they had fun doing that. After Emma brought her pony stuff she wanted to buy things for everyone else, for Savannah, for the baby...she was SO giving, she kept saying..."this is all I need, I want to get something for Eli....or Savannah..." so sweet, I was so proud of her.

Thursday...our first day at Magic Kingdom...and our first day of a 10 degree jump in tempature....lol...it was HOT, Emma was thrilled over the castle and the show they do in front of the castle, but when Hook and the queen from snow white came out she literally shook in my arms, poor thing, I sometimes forget that they don't understand fact from fiction and she saw them as real people, really scary people to her! We rode all the kid rides, from dumbo to the tea cup to the carousal to the race cars...we saw the Belle, and Aurora and Cinderella. Donald, Goofy and Pluto. We went back for a nap (praise God for naptime!) then back to the park for the late parade and fireworks. Again, a wonderful day...fun,fun,fun, the kids and US LOVED it.

We decided on Thursday that we would leave after the park on Friday and come home a night early, the kids were showing signs of being tired and drained and we were worried how the trip home would go and that driving at night w/ them might be better then leaving at 5am the next morning...so the next day was a LONG one!

Friday...we packed everything up and into the car and headed to the park...magic kingdom again (we decided to not go to Animal Kingdom...b/c there wasn't much our kids could do) we hadn't made it all the way through the park the day before. We arrived about 10...and as soon as we walked in we say Snow White...the one princess Emma still wanted to see...yet a hard princess to find we had been told. So we had Emma's picture made w/ snow white, stood in line to look at all the pictures that disney photopass photographers had taken for us...rode on Aladdin's carpet, saw Stitch, and buzzlightyear...Ian's new addiction...then at about 2 oclock it happened. Alex looked at me and asked "why is Emma crying?" I looked down at her in her stroller and sure enough, she was in tears. I got down in front of her and ask her what was wrong? "I want to go home, and I want my teddy!" was her reply, it wasn't even done w/ a whine, just matter of fact...SHE WAS DONE....it was so sweetly said I wanted to laugh at her...I looked up at Alex (who was also biting his tongue to not laugh) and said...I am glad we are already packed, let's go home! We didn't stay for the last parade, we just left. By the time we made our way out to the park(Ian fell asleep in his stroller...he to was done) and onto the monorail and back to the car and got gas and on the road it was 3:30ish...we stopped for dinner and then for gas...the kids did very well and we got home around 2 am on Saturday morning. The kids were up at 7 of course and Mom and Gary came and took them from the whole morning! Thank God for parents who live close and help out! I was able to rest, wash clothes and put everything away on Saturday!...SO that was our first visit to disney world w/ kids...it was awesome, we can't wait to go back. and we had all that fun for $1500.00...don't tell me you can't go to disney and have fun w/o spending way to much money!...I now know better! I was given a great book to read from a friend from Emma ballet and also spent alot of time researching how to make it fun and cheap...it worked...we had a blast, didn't feel cheated AND didn't break the bank! On the way home, I told Alex one of the best things for me about the trip is that we didn't have to come home and PAY for the trip, when we left disney it was all paid for!

Emma's recital

Last Saturday morning we had Emma's recital, I was SO worried, she had rehearsal on Thursday and Friday night, both went really well, she was tired though, and we had to be at the recital on Saturday morning at 9:30 dressed and ready to go. She was tired...I was worried....did I mention she was tired!lol. So off we go, out the door on time...yeah for us! and I take her back to the dressing room, got the finishing touch on her outfit...you don't put on those costumes before nessecary they are ichy, not to mention the ears are hard as heck to keep on! So I finished getting her dressed and had to leave her (which was new, on both nights before they had us keep them w/ us!) SO we had our first melt down....tears and more tears! There were some girls back there to watch them and one girl was SO sweet she came over and started talking to Emma for me and took her and held her while I left....I promised to bring teddy back to her if she would leave teddy in her ballet bag! So after delivering teddy and finding a seat I worried how she was.....SHE WAS FINE! Another mom stopped by to tell me the girls were all great, coloring and having the time of their life in the dressing room. So she did her dance, and did great, I was so proud of her, she had so much fun! At the end they brought all the girls out and gave out trophies...she was so excited about her trophy....all in all, ballet has been a wonderful experience for Emma, it has helped her crawl out of her shell and has given her alot of confidance and showed her that she can be good at something!

Here are a few picture....Emma and Alex right after he gave her flowers (which I ordered, paid for and had mom pick-up....yet he get's the credit!) Funny story, I requested that the flowers be shortened from the normal size down to about 12-15 inches b/c I was worried that she wouldn't be able to carry them if they were longer! If you could of only seen the odd look on the florist face!lol! I think it was the 1st time she had ever had that request....but her comment was...."that is so SMART!" Yeah for me, I'm smart!
The other picture is of mom and Emma....when Emma saw Grammy...she took off running and jumped into her arms...so precious!

The BIG haircut!

HI to all! I missed y'all! I struggled w/ where to even start on filling everyone in on everything and I decided to start at the beginning....I will try to post as many pictures as I can as I go along. I am sorry that I didn't get to post while on vacation like I had planned to do, but the "free internet access" well...it only working at the pool and in the lobby....not in our room.

So I totally meant to take a before and after picture of Emma w/ her new hair cut and not only did I forget the before, but I also forgot to do one right after!lol....it's the thought that counts, right?!lol. She had about 7 inches cut off....she LOVES it and I am very happy too. We can still do pigtails and a ponytail, but she is wanting to leave it down alot which looks great too. She can comb it on her own and is doing much better washing it on her own also....all around we are both thrilled w/ her new cut...Alex has even forgiven me for cutting it! Just kidding....he was fine before I did it, although I was a little worried that I had Rachel cut it a little shorter than he would like!