Christmas!

With two five-year-olds and a three-year-old, Christmas is very magical and fun.  The kids love Santa, don't expect a lot, and are happy with what they do get.  They are slightly excited about presents they choose for others, but it's still pretty much about them.  Hopefully, they will maintain their happy attitudes about Christmas and increase their capacity for empathy and the giving spirit in the coming years.  Regardless, this year was pretty darn fun.  We made Christmas calendars/behavior charts for the first time.  Anna somehow managed to make it the whole month without a single frowny face.   And, we continued some other traditions like baking for Santa, listening to lots of Christmas music, and looking for our Elf on the Shelf.  The only thing missing was Thomas.

Christmas Eve was exciting.  Despite all our counting down, they seemed surprised to learn we were actually just one night away from Christmas morning!  I let them open up their Christmas pajamas (another tradition), we kept an eye on the NORAD tracker, and watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  It was a fun night.  It was easy to get them into bed, since they knew Santa wouldn't visit if they were still awake.

Unfortunately, bed time for them meant work time for me.  I had bought them a Power Wheels Dune Buggy.  Assembly required.  That is much more Thomas' forte than mine (I need to do a blog on all the things I have had to put together myself in the past 2 months).  Most reviews said assembly would take about an hour.  It took me around 3.  By the time I had everything ready for the morning, it was close to 1, which is way past my bed time.

The kids got up at their regular time (around 7:30), which was nice.  Thomas was going to try and Skype with us, but the Liberty Center didn't open until 9.  The kids opened their stockings and then got the rare treat of daytime t.v. (in this case, Dora the Explorer Christmas Special) while we waited.  They also had cinnamon rolls, which is Jennifer's tradition.  Finally, it was 9 and the computer rang.  

Thomas got to see them open about 1 present each before the connection was lost.  Too many people on the computers.  That was disappointing.  The kids opened another present and then decided to take a break to play.  The whole morning was filled with presents and play breaks.  It was relaxing and fun.  Jack had "lots of work" to do after opening up some new legos.  

Around 2, the girls decided they wanted to try out their scooters.  About the same time, we noticed a note from Santa under the tree.  In short, it said that there was another present that was too big to fit under the tree. They went on a hunt and found the Dune Buggy in the garage.  

Let me just say that Jack is a terrible driver.  Anna could only stand to be a passenger for about 3 minutes before she was screaming, "let me out of this thing."  However, she was only slightly better.  Kara was surprisingly good, probably because she actually listened to directions instead of insisting she, "knows how to drive."  Fortunately, there is a safety screw that keeps it at 2.5 mph.  It will be awhile before they have the option of the speedy 5 mph.  

Then, it was back inside to call relatives to thank them.  It was a fun day.  Jack kept calling it "Christmas Eve," so I was worried about his expectations this morning.  Fortunately, he was happy to get up and play with all his toys.  

Some of the aftermath. 

Kara's favorite present was her dreamlight.  She means "all of them."  Anna said she liked her polly pocket stuff.  Jack also said all of them, when I asked him for a favorite he said he needed a few minutes to think about it.  He finally chose a giant robot toy as his favorite.  Kara is also excited about a Toys-R-Us gift card their grandmother sent for whatever Santa may have missed.  

The Santa Dilemma (to lie or not to lie)

I remember the moment when the myth of Santa unraveled.  I was 7 or 8 and had just lost a tooth.  I was pretty creeped out by the idea of the tooth fairy.  I just didn't understand why anyone would want my old teeth.  Frankly, I didn't want the crazy lady coming into my bedroom while I slept.  I may have even had a nightmare.  My mother was left with no choice but to tell me the truth--the Tooth Fairy was not real.  From there, it all unraveled; if the Tooth Fairy wasn't real, then obviously Santa and the Easter Bunny were also make-believe.  As a side-note, I later learned that most people picture the Tooth Fairy as a small, fairy-like flying being.  Makes sense, right?  For some reason, I pictured her as a full grown, somewhat odd woman. It was no loss to discover that she was not real.  I can't say I was really surprised, I had suspected for quite some time that all of the mythical beings were in fact, just mythical beings.  The only one that I felt any loss over was good ole Saint Nick.

I kept the secret from my friends, and even listened while one friend insisted she had seen him and his reindeer on her roof on Christmas Eve.  Now, I am the mother and am confronted with my own misgivings on the matter.

When Thomas and I were in school we met a girl who presented the idea that when children are told Santa Claus is not real, they also believe that Jesus is not real.  After all, we get presents from Santa to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  And, their parents kept one truth from them, so the logic flows that parents may be harboring other secrets (betrayals). I had never heard that theory before but it's pretty prolific on the Internet.  The idea of my children feeling angry or betrayed when they found out there was no Santa Claus was a thought that has stuck with me.

Like most parents, I don't like lying to my children.  They have never asked point blank if Santa is real, but they are asking about Twinkles, our Elf on the Shelf.  Specifically, they indicated that we must have bought him at the store because he has a tag.  Good catch, kids.  I have given them a few answers when the question came up.  First, I suggested that if the question might result in an answer they don't like, it may be better to just not ask (i.e. maybe I'll say he is, and that's great, but if I say he's not, that may take away some of the fun, so do you really want to ask the question?).  This satisfied the girls who concluded I was going to say he was real and they didn't need to ask.  Jack was not so easily satisfied.  So, I asked them other reasons he might have a tag.  Perhaps the tag is a tracking device?  Maybe I bought him at the store because someone has to pay his salary while he's away from the North Pole (that was my contribution and it lead to a lot of discussion about why an Elf might need some cash and therefore diverted him from the initial question).  But, I couldn't bring myself to tell them that Twinkles was indeed a real Elf sent from the North Pole to watch them.  I am not sure if Thomas would have any such qualms.  But, unfortunately, he's not here to spread the magical Christmas cheer.

I believe that all three of (strongly) suspect the Elf on the Shelf is pretend and not really reporting their behavior on a nightly basis.  However, they aren't positive--if they are misbehaving and I ask Twinkles if he's planning to report it, they certainly take notice.  If they learn that Twinkles isn't real, will that unravel Santa Claus?

I know there is a difference between make-believe fantasy and outright lying.  We certainly do a lot of imaginative play in our house.  But, I have to be honest here--I am just not sure how to handle this one.  It is fun to believe in Santa and to pretend and I don't want to take that from them prematurely.  However, I also don't want them to think that if I kept this from them, what other secrets do I harbor.  I suspect I will just tell them that once they stop believing in Santa, they won't get any more presents from him.  That should keep them going for a decade or so.

ETA:  While a storm kept me awake last night, I did some research and found that just about everyone agrees that the vast majority of children do not feel betrayed by parents, nor does it make them question Jesus or anything else, except maybe the Tooth Fairy.  Rather, it is very helpful in encouraging all the types of imaginative play that is good and important for children.  So, I am good.  This post is pretty much moot.  Is that Reindeer I hear on the roof???

A Day in the Life of the Wilsons

I know of several people that blog every day, or close to it.  My life is no where near that exciting and my thoughts lack the profoundness that such an endeavor would require.  However, I thought it would be fun to give it a try.  Also, I did not plan this out, so I didn't do anything exciting or out of the ordinary just to have something to write about.  You've been warned.

So, Monday, the 10th of December.  The kids woke up at their usual time (around 7:30).  Kara has a habit of going into Anna's room, turning on Anna's light, and playing with Anna's toys, while Anna is still sleeping.  You can imagine how well this goes over.  As is typical, around 7:40, after their brief altercation, Anna and Kara came into my room to ask if it's time to get up.  I try to make them hold out until 8, which is what we did this morning.

Jack sometimes sleeps until after 8, but this morning I was happy to see that everyone was up and dressed.  Kara was wearing black puppy leggings with a dirty shirt (it had dried yogurt all over it, I'm not sure how it avoided the dirty clothes basket) and a Christmas sweater.  Anna wore a blue summer dress, purple leggings, and a pink sweatshirt.  Jack can't really make those kind of combinations with his wardrobe choices, but he does sometimes put on shorts in the middle of winter, so today I was happy to see him in weather-appropriate clothing.

Since it's December, we began the search for Twinkles, our resident Elf on a Shelf.  Today, he had fallen asleep on a chair, with one hand on the remote control and the other in a bowl of popcorn.  I wonder if he ever actually makes those nightly reports to the North Pole?  Last night he spent time making pictures of himself in the copier.  He's not much of a go-getter.

After a typical breakfast (bagels, nutrigrains, toast, yogurt, fruit, vitamin drinks, etc), I had an appointment to take Jack somewhere.  We also went by the base so I could pick up the case files for Wednesday's docket (my next work day).  While in the car, he got irritated because his voice didn't sound right (he has a cold).  After explaining there was no medicine I could buy that would help, he declared he was done talking...forever.  That lasted about 22 seconds.  After a quick trip to Walmart to purchase some patches for some of Jack's (relatively new) jeans, we were back at home.

Jennifer had given the kids some puzzles, which were waiting for them under the Christmas tree this morning.  Jack did his by himself when we got home.  We took a picture to send to Daddy.

Lunch was hotdogs & pringles (all 3), salad (Anna), and carrots with ranch dressing (Kara) washed down with milk.  Despite the wet conditions, they all went outside for a bit, where Anna and Kara fought over who could ride the skateboard attachment on the swing set.

Then, it was off to preschool for Jack and Anna.  I had given them some money for the Santa's Secret Workshop, but apparently that ended on Friday (they came home on Friday to tell me about it and say that Monday was the last day).  They were disappointed, I was irritated by the lack of communication about the event.  I also wasted a lot of valuable time trying to teach Jack that he wasn't, "wasting his money," by buying presents for Anna and Kara (which by the way was my money, it's not like I made him take it out of his piggy bank).  That was a losing battle.

Kara is an easy child to have home alone.  I traded some e-mails with Thomas while she looked at books.  We had a snack, she colored.  It was a very low-key afternoon, where in retrospect Kara didn't get much attention.

At 3:30, we left to get Jack and Anna, listening to Christmas songs on the way.  We got home, I gave Jack and Anna a snack.  Then, they went into the basement to play.  Jack was bothering the girls by playing "Halloween", which meant jumping out and yelling at them.  After multiple attempts to get him to stop, I gave him the choice of timeout or going to his room.  He stomped up to his room, mumbling all the way and then slammed the door (a big pet peeve of mine).  So, I stomped behind him, also mumbling along the way and gave him another talk on slamming doors.

I made dinner, no one ate it.  I can't blame them, it was pretty bad (cheesy Velveeta skillet meal--just add chicken).  We won't be trying that again.  Now, they are watching their nightly hour of tv, while I type away.  Around 7:30, we will brush teeth, maybe read a book and then hopefully Thomas will call to say goodnight.

And that, my friends, is a Day in the Life of the Wilsons.

Photo Book

Every year we do a Shutterfly Photo book.  We buy one for us and each child to have as a keepsake.  Since we don't scrapbook, this is our compromise for the family.  I say "every year," but so far we have done 2010 and now 2011.  I think Thomas is about halfway done with 2009 (a project that is on hold for now).  I want to go back to 2007 when Jack and Anna were born, but we'll see.  They take me several hours to create, but I do love the end result!  [And, if you are wondering why I am posting this now, Shutterfly has a promotion where if you embed a project on your blog you get a $10/off coupon.]

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly allows you to customize your photo book just the way you want.

Black Friday and Hearth and Home

I debated whether or not to go shopping on Black Friday this year.  There were a few small things that appealed to me, but I wasn't in the market for anything major.  Most years, I just go when I wake up.  Usually, I am a bit excited and wake up early and get there just as the first wave of people are leaving.  Since I have never been in the market for the most popular items (electronics) this method serves me well.  My mother and I always enjoyed going out together, probably because our tradition was to go to McDonalds after hitting up Walmart.  Anyway, this year, I didn't go until after we all had breakfast and were ready for the day.  It was about 9.  I went to JC Penney in search of an $8 personal blender--I was not surprised that none were available.  I did get the kids some nice $4 shirts though.  Then, on to Target.  I bought the Ninja, some scooters for the girls, some games, and a few other things.  I left everything in the car and went home to get the kids to go to Hearth and Home at St Mary's City, a tradition we began last year.

When I got home, I realized the Ninja did not contain the personal sized blender I was hoping for, so I returned it.  I was the only person actually making a return on Black Friday.  The girls saw the scooters in the back of the van.  I told them they were to donate to kids without toys.  They all said that wasn't necessary because Santa brings everyone toys.  It is hard to teach Christmas compassion when they throw the Santa Logic at you.  I saw some different scooters on Amazon for a comparable price, so I may get those for the girls and have them drop the ones I already bought in a Toys for Tots box.  We usually get Toys for Tots gifts, so this should work out.

After the return, it was on to Hearth and Home.  I don't know why this event is not more popular.  We love it there.  They have people in character dress discussing what life was like when Maryland was first settled.  There are games for the kids to play and other activities, including people cooking the way they would have in the 1600s.  Jack's favorite exhibit is The Dove, a recreated 1634 trade ship.  There are several buildings rebuilt where their predecessors once stood.  I like seeing the printing press (also a very impressive recreation) and the Smith's Ordinary, a hotel where 12 people would have slept in a single room, many sharing mattresses--a Hampton Inn it is not.  There is a church, a Woodland Indian  area and lots of other things to see.  It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed being outside and walking from place to place.  Unfortunately, it appears that all my pictures are focused on the children, as opposed to the beautiful recreations and atmosphere.

Making spice bags.

on the Maryland Dove

Kara and Anna on the Doves beds.  

Playing a ring toss game.

Making Rosemary sprigs "candy"

Inside the Ordinary

In the Woodland Indians area.

Anna calls this picture "the one where Kara is an angel."

Another game, in the (way) distance is the church.

Last game--bowling.  They played this one for quite a while, patiently taking turns.

A Thanksgiving Stroll Down Memory Lane

This Thanksgiving, I spent a lot of time thinking of past Thanksgivings.  Particularly those I've had since meeting Thomas.  I imagine this nostalgia stems from spending my first Thanksgiving apart from him since we met in 2001.  Of the 12 Thanksgivings we've had, some have definitely been more memorable than others.  Join me on my stroll down memory lane.

1.  2001.  I went to Massachusetts to visit my sister.  I drove from Lexington to DC, where I took the fast train to Providence (a fun adventure in and of itself).  I had only known Thomas for a few months, but I missed him terribly.  The day before I left, we watched a meteor shower on the hood of my car.  We were pretty solid friends by then.  He was stuck at school by himself and I felt bad for him.   I left my sister's house ahead of schedule on Thanksgiving day.  We ate t.v. dinners by the light of the t.v.

2.  2002.  My sister, brother-in-law and nephew stopped by Lexington, VA on their way to Florida.  It was great to see them, but they left something behind--a terrible stomach virus.  I was excited to cook our first Thanksgiving dinner.  I ended up eating it by myself...for about 5 days.  For some reason, I got really angry at Thomas for being sick.  I was so sick of eating turkey, he was just so sick.  For a couple of years the smell of turkey made him nauseous (and me unreasonably mad).

3.  2003.  We were in Winter Haven with my family.  All my siblings were there with their families.  I have very little memory of that actual day.  Why?  Because we were married the day after and that is where my focus was.

4.  2004.  Thomas and I were enrolled at the Naval Justice School going through the Navy's basic lawyer class.  We went to New Hampshire and spent Thanksgiving with my Aunt and Uncle and their family.  We had a great time spending time with relatives we don't often see.

5.  2005.  Spent with my family in Florida.  I don't have any specific memories of this one.  I am sure it was good, as my mother was an excellent cook.  I always enjoyed helping her, especially on Thanksgiving morning, when the two of us, along with my sister if she was home, would get up early to get started.  In our house, the women enjoyed the cooking, the eating and then watching the men clean up.

6.  2006.  We hosted my family in Jacksonville.  It was my first Thanksgiving cooking for a lot of people and I was nervous!  Thomas did the potatoes, which started the tradition of him always being in charge of that item.  The meal turned out perfect!

7.  2007.  This was an interesting one.  Jack and Anna had been born on October 3, prematurely.  My mother came up to Virginia over her Thanksgiving break to help us.  We hadn't planned on doing a Thanksgiving dinner (sleep deprivation!) but at the last minute we threw one together.  We essentially ate in shifts.  Two would eat, one would tend the babies.  It turned into a pretty memorable Thanksgiving.  As a side-note, the very first time we took the kids out in public (other than doctor's visits) was on black Friday that year.  It marked about 8 weeks since they were born.  We waited until 11AM and hit the mall, which was completely empty.  The deals, and the people, had all left the building.

8.  2008.  I was pregnant with Kara.  Unfortunately, I can't remember much.  We were still in Norfolk.  Maybe Thomas will read this and help me out?

9.  2009.  Spent in TN.  Just Thomas and me and the kids.  It was a nice quiet Thanksgiving.  At least I assume it was, again, no specific memories.  Although, I am sure the potatoes were superb.

10. 2010.  Our first Thanksgiving in MD.  Another quiet holiday with just the 5 of us.

11.  2011.  We hosted our second big Thanksgiving.  Well, big for me anyway--13 people. I made a list of what time to use which of the houses 3 ovens and had a blast planning the dinner.  Thomas did potatoes in the crockpot for the first time and they were fantastic.  Our good friends from Florida came up to spend Thanksgiving with us and helped us establish a new tradition, or what I hope will be one, of going to St Mary's City's Hearth and Home on Black Friday.  It was a very special day.

12. 2012.  Just me, Jennifer, and the kids.  I made a pared-down meal.  Since Thomas wasn't here, there were no potatoes.  I turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, just like we always do and it hit me that it was our first Thanksgiving apart.  It was a sad moment.  [As a side-note, my high school band marched in the parade in 1993, which was another very memorable Thanksgiving, but that's a story for another day.] We were invited by some of our kind friends to spend Thanksgiving with them, but it was our first Thanksgiving in our new house and I wanted to make the dinner, even if it was just a small one.  The kids and I joined some good friends (the Darrows) and all their guests for dessert and games.  We had a great time, the only thing missing was Thomas.

That concludes my 12 years of Thanksgivings.  We have a few traditions:  like Thomas making the potatoes and turning on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Thomas and I count down our favorite Thanksgiving Friends' episodes and watch them in order from least to most favorite.  We did the ranking years ago; Thomas made his list, ranking each season and I did the same, then we averaged the two lists to get our order.  That index card has made it through lots of moves.  I can't remember exactly when we made it, but I know it predates the babies. 

I went through my Shutterfly photos, which go back to 2006 and I don't have a single Thanksgiving picture!  So, another pictureless post for me.  I'll make it up in the next one

When I grow up, I'm going to be a...

Today after preschool I took the kids to the library.  We can easily spend 1-2 hours there.  They play with the toys, bring me books to read, and use the computers.  It is a favorite place for all of us.  Since we spend a fair amount of time there, we have become acquainted with several of the librarians, particularly the children's librarians.  The kids are always excited to see Ms. Catherine, who seems to remember everything they tell her and always greets them happily.  Today, they were telling her about Halloween and Florida and lots of other random things.  Anna mentioned she was going to be a doctor when she grows up (she has been using the baby first aid kit to give her dolls, and me, check-ups which has sparked her interest in "medicine.").  Of course, Ms. Catherine then asked Jack.  He responded, "a policeman".  On to Kara.  Her response?  "I'm going to be someone who gets cupcakes and a flower."  We both agreed that everyone should have a job where they get cupcakes and a flower.

If you are wondering what her response stems from, when we were in Florida we went to a high school football game where the daughter of my one good friends is in the band.   Anna was fascinated by the cheerleaders and decided that when she is bigger, she wants to be a cheerleader.  Jack was interested in everything and nothing at the same time (I think he mostly liked climbing the bleachers and eating ice cream).  After the half-time show someone left cupcakes and a flower in each of the dancers' seats.  Kara decided then and there that when she grows up, she wants to do something that will earn her cupcakes and flowers.  Everyone has to have a goal, right?

Picture Summary

Our last night in our old house.  We camped on air mattresses.

Kara  go sick on our drive to Florida.  We stopped in South Carolina for the night and I tried to get a sad, sick picture.  But, when she saw the camera, she had to smile. 

Jack and Anna turned 5 at the most Magical place on earth! They wore their "happy birthday" buttons and enjoyed all the attention they got.

Birthday cake with their Florida cousins.

This Animal Kingdom worker tried to teach them about conservation. Jack told her about the cat that "the man in the van came to take away because we didn't take good care of him."  A completely false story that lead to a very embarrassing moment!!!

A happier encounter at Animal Kingdom.  

Kim and I took pictures of some of the food at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival so we could text (her) or e-mail (me) to our absent husbands. Maybe not the nicest wifely thing to do.

Kara and Grandpa Lou

Jack at one of the parks.  This was probably the plainest. It only had about 3 structures and a train. No piped in music, butterfly garden, water features, sand pits, etc, like some of the others we went too.

Our last night in Florida and we spent it in a tent. The kids enjoyed the pool, pony rides, moonlight movie, roasting marshmallows,  making shadow puppets and telling scary stories.  Basically, they enjoyed everything.

Anna's new room.  She has 3 pink walls and 1 purple.  Kara has 3 purple and 1 pink.  Jack has a blue room with an orange stripe (he calls it his "Finding Nemo" room).

For Halloween, Anna was a purple flower, Kara a glitter fairy, and Jack Jango Fett.

Our newly mounted tv.

What I faced in my room.  I think I have cleared out a couple of those boxes. But, there are so many more to go. It feels endless!

Where to Begin???

So much has happened in the past 6 weeks, I don't even know where to start!  I am sure I could write at least 10 posts to cover that time-frame, but who has time for that???  So, here are the highlights:

*Best friend since childhood, Jennifer, came up from Florida to assist with all the following:
*Closed on old house sans Thomas
*Drove to Florida, where we spent 3.5 weeks
*Kara threw up in car, from that point forward Anna cried/whined anytime Kara coughed
*Celebrated Jack and Anna's fifth birthday by going to Hollywood Studios, spending a night at Art of Animation and then going to Magic Kingdom with my good friends Marta and Elizabeth
*Had a second celebration with my sister, who shares a birthday with the twins (my dad and brother were in attendance).
*Met up with some friends from Maryland and went to Hollywood Studios again (coolest Marylanders "playdate" ever?)
*Took the kids, by myself, to Animal Kingdom and had a blast
*Went to Epcot's Food and Wine (well, food and more food) Festival with my sister--ate way too much and had a fantastic day
*Spent lots of quality time with my father
*Got to peruse my sister's weekly menu and invite myself and the 3 kids over for dinner often
*Got to enjoy seeing my kids play with their cousins
*Took the kids to lots of awesome parks and a children's museum.  Seriously, my hometown has the best parks I have ever seen.  Where were they when I was growing up?
*Went to my high school's homecoming and watched Elizabeth's marching band performance
*Went camping at Disney's Fort Wilderness
*Drove back to Maryland
*Closed on the new house, sans Thomas.  Hand got tired of all that signing as Agent in Fact
*Stayed in an apartment at Solomon's Island while the house's interior was painted
*Was kicked out because of Hurricane Sandy
*Fretted endlessly about Sandy and the basement sump pump
*Bought a generator that my friends' husbands Josh Darrow and Tony Aina were kind enough to help me set up and teach me to use
*Weathered the storm seamlessly, no generator necessary
*Had our stuff delivered and started unpacking
*Fought with utility companies (still no phone or tv--but, at least there is internet!)
*Went to trunk or treat at church
*Went to Fall Festival parties at preschool
*Went trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood.  Super excited by how nice everyone is and by the number of young kids
*Missed Thomas throughout all of the above

It has definitely been an eventful month.  I am sure I missed something significant in the above narrative. Thankfully, Jennifer is here and we had the help of friends to weather the storm (literally and figuratively).  My home teachers (Josh and Matt) even mounted a t.v. on the wall for us!  As always, I am so thankful for family and friends.  I loved spending time in Florida, but it is exciting to get settled into our new house.

I am lacking the ambition required to download and sort through pictures.  Next time, maybe I will do a photo summary of the above.  Maybe.

Sad Day and Lots of Changes

On Sunday we took Thomas to the airport.  It was the day I had been dreading for months.  And, it was probably even worse then I had imagined.  Last year when he went to Hawaii, it was hard to say goodbye, but this felt different.  I was physically ill all day and still get a little queasy when I think about his being gone for 9 months.  Three months didn't seem so bad, it was just a season.  280 days seems like a lot.  He is going to miss Anna and Jack's birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, our Anniversary, Christmas, New Year's and Kara's Birthday.  It's almost overwhelming to think about.  I know lots of people do this.   And, I know lots of people do it repeatedly, but this is a first for us, at least for this amount of time.

The kids are doing well with his being gone so far.  Since Thomas is in the states for training this week, we have been in constant communication and he has even Skyped with them in the evenings to read bedtime stories.  He leaves the country on Saturday and we are anxious to see what things will be like after that.  We have a lot ahead of us: we are selling this house and close on September 28th, then we are homeless until October 23rd, when we close on the new house.

On a completely unrelated note, the kids all started preschool.  I am a terrible mother, who didn't think to take any pictures (but, I will on the first day of Kindergarten--I promise!), but so far so good.  The twins go 4 days a week and Kara is there for 2.  Jack was 5/5 on getting sent to the "thinking chair," but today managed to break his streak and actually behave.  I think they are all getting something out of it, Anna has been interested in reading for a while and knows all the letters and what sounds they make.  She likes to play a "game" where we give her a word and she tells us what letter it starts with.  Jack  has shown no interest.  Today, he was getting a bib out of the drawer (something they only do on a spaghetti night), and said bib, b, b, b, bib.  Bib starts with a "b" Mommy.   I am glad that they are enjoying it and learning.

Last Vacation Post

After our 12-hour day Wednesday, we planned to take it easy on Thursday.  We started the day with donuts, and then let the kids go swimming.  Jennifer volunteered to watch the kids for the afternoon/evening if Thomas and I wanted to do something.  We decided that we would all go out to lunch and then Thomas and I would go to Hollywood Studios.   After a couple of hours of swimming, we got in the car to go to Downtown Disney for lunch.

We had lunch at a Dinosaur restaurant.  The atmosphere was pretty impressive, the food was not.  It was also really expensive.  Thomas and I split something (and drank water), Jennifer just ordered an appetizer and the kids had kids' meals.  The bill was still over $70.  So, we would not recommend that place.  Maybe go in and walk around and then go somewhere else.

After that, it was nap time.  We dropped Jennifer and the kids off and headed to the park.  We decided to first go to Animal Kingdom and ride Everest and Dinosaur again.  It was much less crowded and we easily did the two rides.  Then, we went to Hollywood studios.  Since we were planning on going back with the kids Friday, we didn't feel like we needed to do too much.  We caught a parade, but only because we were boxed in and had no choice.  Then, we went to Star Wars.  That was Thomas' most anticipated ride.  He liked it, but said the "story" made no sense.  The ride jumped from movie to movie, which obviously took place at different times, with no rhyme or reason.  This didn't bother me, but I am not a fan(atic) like he is.  We rode the Toy Story ride, which was neat and then Tower or Terror (twice, well, kind of 3 times--the first time we were on it, someone in the front did something that got our ride stopped and them kicked off.  Everyone else then got taken on a real elevator and back to the ride loading area to try again.  I have no idea what he did, but my guess is something obscene for the camera).  We also did Rockin Roller Coaster, which was fun.  Since that covered the things we couldn't do with the kids, we decided to leave the park for dinner, then opted to just go back to Downtown Disney to get some treats at Ghiaradelli.  Delicious!

After that we headed to the rental house.  I went to Super Target with Jennifer, we came back and Thomas and I put the kids to bed and had an early night.

On Friday, we gave the kids the choice of Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios.  After we told them that Hollywood Studios was more shows than rides, they unanimously agreed on Magic Kingdom.  The park was not at all crowded, and again, we were able to go on all the rides we wanted by early afternoon. We even rode some where the lines had been too long earlier in the week (Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Jungle Cruise and the Magic Carpets).  We all went on Splash Mountain again, but this time Kara hated it.  She liked it the first time, didn't like it much the second (but, I thought maybe that was because it was dark out) and hated it the third.  She whined/cried for most of the ride, saying she was worried about the "big hill."

When we finished all the rides we wanted to revisit, we gave the kids another choice:  Go home rest, then go to Hollywood Studios, or go home, rest, swim in the pool.  Again, the decision was unanimous--they all chose the pool option.  So, the 5 of us went swimming and had a grand time.  I did laundry, we packed and cleaned and decided to start our drive back at 0300 again.  It wasn't nearly as much fun packing to depart as it was to arrive, and the kids were much harder to wake up.  Jack actually climbed back into his bed and then tried to climb into ours.  But, we were out the door right on time and since we were departing from Kissimmee and not Winter Haven, the drive home only took us 13 hours.  Unfortunately, the drive was not quite as enjoyable going back as it was arriving; I was exhausted and not very good company.  The kids seemed to fight a bit more, and Thomas was left with the majority of the driving.  It still went fine and we still made it back with just 2 stops, which I find pretty impressive.

Overall, it was a great trip.  I definitely recommend renting a house to anyone with children.  It was nice to have our own space.  It was easy to do laundry, we could eat at home when we wanted to, and the private pool was fantastic.  It was only slightly more than the resort we were going to stay at and was well worth the money.  And, it was only 15 minutes from all the parks.  We did have to pay for parking, but that was a small price for all the added conveniences the house offered.

Now, it is back to the grind.  We are a week away from Thomas' departure, which is weighing heavily on my mind.  More on that later.

12 Hours Straight of Theme Parks (+ Photo Dump)

Wednesday, we got up early again and headed to Animal Kingdom.  My best friend since childhood, Jennifer, joined us and we also met up with my Dad and our friend Ms. B (Basille).  Thomas, Jennifer, Jack and I headed straight to Everest, which I thought was amazing!  It was a very cool roller coaster that caught me by surprise with special effects and backward motion.  The adults all loved it!  Jack--not so much.

From there, we did the River Rapids.  Anna sat out with my Dad, but everyone else really enjoyed it.  Then, it was the safari, Lion King show, and lunch.  My Dad and Basille left after lunch and the rest of us headed to DinoLand.  For the kids this was the best part, in addition to rides there was also a dinosaur-themed playground area.  It had slides, climbing areas, and best of all--a dinosaur dig.  The kids could pretend they were excavating fossils.  They loved it!   Thomas watched the kids while Jennifer and I went on a ride (Dinosaur).  Then, I watched Anna and Kara while Thomas took Jack on Dinosaur.  Another ride that proved to be too scary.  I had read the warnings and was reluctant to have him go, in fact, Anna at one point said she wanted to try and we wouldn't let her.  Jack is generally very brave, and we had talked to him about how it was very dark and loud and told him about the realistic dinosaurs.  He still wanted to try it.  Unfortunately, it really scared him.  I have a picture coming on cd at some point that will illustrate this point.  The rest of us thought it was impressive.

After that, we had had enough of Animal Kingdom, but it was barely 2pm.  So, we headed to Epcot.  We did Spaceship Earth, which everyone liked.  We also road Soaring, which is a new ride and a pretty big headliner.  We all liked it, but I don't know that it lived up to our expectations.  I would say the favorite was Turtle Talk with Crush.  We didn't go into the World Showcase, but enjoyed the few attractions we did do in the Land and the Sea pavilions.

It was now dinner time and we still weren't ready to call it a day, so we took the monorail over to Magic Kingdom.  This time Anna rode Splash Mountain!  It was so fun to have all of us on it together.  When we got off, she said she liked it, but when I asked if she wanted to ride again, she said "no, I don't want to get sick of it."  She is so funny!  We did most of our favorites and were there until closing.  I couldn't believe we did 12-straight hours of parks.  We contemplated going out for ice cream and told the kids if they stayed awake we would go.  Thomas and I weren't ready for our fun day to end.  Unfortunately, Kara didn't even make it to the parking lot.  She slept on the ferry, stayed asleep when we got on the monorail to take us from Magic Kingdom to Epcot.  She almost woke up when we transferred her from the stroller to the car, but mostly stayed asleep.  The funny part was she woke up when we got close to the house and commented, "that was close, I almost fell asleep."  The kids were definitely tired, they didn't even protest when we said ice cream would have to wait for another day.

Our first two days at Disney were definitely a success.  I don't think I had ever before gotten to a park at opening and stayed until closing.  We definitely got our money's worth out of the park hopper option!

They loved the people mover.

Kara said the carousel was her favorite ride.  The kids all got along so well on this trip!

Kara in Dinosaur Dig at Animal Kingdom

Jack after riding Space Mountain.  He loved it, but admitted to closing his eyes. I didn't bother trying to reason with him on that one.

It's a Small World--and I am still singing the song.

Buzz Lightyear ride.  Thomas' score exceeded the rest of ours put together. Times ten.

Pirates of the Carribean.

Jack and Jennifer at Epcot.  Jennifer was a great sport during our lunacy of a 12-hour day at the parks.

I didn't get many pictures of my dad and Ms. B.  We loved spending time with them at the parks.

Disney World!!!

Tuesday was Magic Kingdom day and the most anticipated day of our vacation--at least by me.  Our plan was to visit the Magic Kingdom until about 3pm, return to our house for a break and then head to our 6:10pm character dinner reservation at the Grand Floridian.

We arrived on schedule and were there for the opening of the gates ceremony at 9.  Then, we raced to Dumbo, via the teacups.  We rode lots and lots of rides.  Jack and Kara enjoyed Splash Mountain, but Anna wouldn't ride.  We also took Jack and Kara on Big Thunder, which Kara hated.  I felt bad for telling her it wasn't scary--I certainly remembered that one wrong (well, not that it was scary, but it was a lot more intense than I recalled, I wasn't thinking from a 3-year old's perspective and she was terrified)!  The morning flew by and I would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite ride.  I really love Splash Mountain and I enjoyed the upgrades on the Haunted Mansion, the special effects are just amazing.  Thomas really liked Pirates of the Carribean.  The kids were happiest with the simpler rides, like the Carousel and Dumbo. 

Jack opted to go on the race cars with Daddy.  He rode Dumbo the next day.

We had lunch at Pecos Bill's Cafe and were surprised by how good the food was.

Pecos Bill's.  Thomas loved this place, they had a toppings bar for the burgers. We were pleasantly surprised by the food all week.

Then, we did some more rides and shows. My favorite was probably Monsters Inc.  It was somewhat interactive and they did close-ups of some of the people in the audience to correspond with characters in the movie.  I was thrilled when Kara's picture flashed on the screen as "Boo".  She looked adorable and the audience gave a collective "aawwwnnn."  It was already a fun show, but that was the icing on the cake.We were behind schedule and didn't leave until 4, which gave us just enough time to give the kids baths and rest for about 30 minutes before leaving for our dinner.

For the dinner, we choose the Cinderella Dinner at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.  We gave the kids the option of dressing up, which of course they wanted to do.  Since I needed time to work on costumes, they had to make the decision months ago.  Anna wanted to be Cinderella and Kara chose her wicked stepsister, Drizella.  We told her she could be Cinderella too, but she wasn't interested.  I was certain that Kara would change her mind, but she never wavered.  I started her costume, but it proved  too complex for me.  Fortunately, my sister volunteered to finish it for Kara.  Lesson learned, I ordered Anna one off Etsy.  Jack initally was going to wear his Buzz Lightyear Costume, then decided he would like to be Prince Charming, which meant another Etsy purchase.

They were adorable!  We got them dressed and then they ran around calling each other by their character names and fretting that we were "going to be late to the ball."  We were a little put-off when we didn't get seated until 30 minutes after our reservation time, but the annoyance quickly left when we sat down.  The food was great, the characters were wonderful and we had a fantastic time.  When I made the reservation, I made a note that Jack was allergic to peanuts.  They had the information and sent the Chef to our table so he could tell us what Jack could eat.  He also said when it was time for dessert, he would bring something out for Jack.  Jack was really disappointed when the girls started eating their desserts.  Then, the Chef came to our table, set down a monstrous dessert in front of Jack and then drizzled chocolate syrup over the whole thing.  It made him feel very special.  It was nice for him to have the girls be jealous of something he got to eat for once!

My sister did a brilliant job with the costume--we got so many compliments! Thanks Kim!!

THE dessert.  Also, note the kiss marks on his cheek from Cinderella .

Originally, we were going to go back to the park after dinner, but it was around 7:30 and raining, so we  decided to call it a night.