New Years Eve

Last day of the year... I talked Rochel into a trip to Hobby Lobby.  We brought Carly along for Kid Control.  She's pretty good with those 2!  Keeps them in line.  We had a lot of fun shopping and got some great deals... including the $3 Disco Ball.  Because McGregor's just need a Disco Ball.  

After Hoppy Loppy, Carly and I went to Chick Fil-A for lunch.  I guess I should have mentioned that the boys requested we leave the house for the day since they'd be watching a Walking Dead Marathon. Hence our Girls Shopping Trip.  We did a little shopping at Joann's and Ross, too.  We liked this trade off.  I spent the afternoon making this bag for Debbie:

Pretty easy, although, I did have to sacrifice my "Go, Fight, Win" tshirt to make it.  We are celebrating our birthday's next week, so I needed a present for her.  The Hobby Lobby Material Girl was kind enough to lay her hands on the fabric quickly... and it's perfect for this project!  I was pretty happy it turned out so cute (and easy) because we have LOTS of tshirts that can now be made into something else.  I'm all about recycling fabric...

The evening was spent watching our favorite shows with the kids (girls: Once Upon a Time, boys: Lost or Walking Dead) then we rang in the New Year shouting at the TV for the Ball to Drop.  I am not certain that it did.  But, for once in about a decade, I was still awake to see it.  

It's My Birthday!

...and I don't mind getting older a bit!  I had a really great day... We've gotten pretty good at relaxing this past week, so that continued.  I sang on Worship Team at church (the band was so sweet to sing to me during rehearsal... not often that song gets such a rendition!) then we went to Applebee's for lunch.  You can't go wrong with Oriental Chicken Salad! Yum.  Then we ran a couple of errands before heading home.  Had a great nap!  Then we had a FaceTime chat with my whole family, visiting Tracy and Dean in Texas.  That was very fun.  Rochel and fam came over for a quick visit... then we got Dairy Queen:)  Perfect Day.  Oh, and a couple of videos from my nieces and nephews:

Ryan gave me tickets to see Evita in March, so the celebration will continue then!

Complete Spectacle

One of our favorite Traditions of the Season is visiting the Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios.  They are always the same, but you know how we love our Traditions!  We went over late Saturday night and enjoyed our evening.  The park itself didn't seem very crowded, but the lines for the rides were pretty long.  So mostly we just visited some shops and The Lights.

Disney sure knows how to decorate for Christmas!

A little pin trading at the Aerosmith Rockin' Roller Coaster shop.

It was pretty relaxing back where the lights are.  I think every time we go, I'm reminded of previous years and experiences seeing these lights, perhaps that's why we have so many traditions.  They remind us of the past.  We are blessed.  Two years ago, the Warren's went with us, right after Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer, and shortly after her first chemo treatment.  Last year, my parents went with us... the first time we took the kids and how excited they were to find out they got Disney passes for Christmas.  Just fun memories.

It's so pretty and relaxing watching the lights dance to the music.

Here's hoping our kids want Disney Passes for the rest of their lives because we LOVE this tradition!

The Day After

Day After Christmas.  Carly had big plans... for using up her Bath and Body Works gift cards!  She was pretty excited about the semi-annual sale... she carefully planned out her spending, coupons considered.  She made out pretty well.  Who am I kidding?  We both did.

After our brief shopping trip, we returned home for a Continuation of Quiet Christmas.  I think we are so busy all the time, it's been really great to just have some quiet down time.  Not that we didn't have any fun... Carly gave Ryan ballet lessons while they were supposed to be doing the dishes.  Pretty funny.

And a quick photo of her ridiculous stash.  At least I hide all mine in a drawer:)

Nothing for Christmas

This is how we spent Christmas Day: Doing Nothing.  It was fantastic!  Elfy loved it!  Warm People laying around on the couches under fuzzy blankets.  She was especially tired and cold having spent the night outside.  We didn't have anywhere we needed to be, so we decided we'd have a nice quiet day at home.  It was awesome!

I made a big-for-us breakfast of casserole-in-the-crock-pot and monkey bread.  The children devoured it.  Then we watched TV and the kids played video games.  We read books... it was great!  In the evening, we ordered Chinese Food like my friend Arlene (she's Jewish) told me she does every year.  We watched the Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (pretty excellent Netflix find).  It was nice to spend a day not going anywhere and not feeling pressured to get stuff done.  We enjoyed our kids and each other and maybe even the cats.  Maybe.

Christmas Eve 2013

I love Christmas Eve.  When I was little, it was my most favorite day.  I remember wanting to take a nap in the afternoon so the evening would hurry up and get here.  We usually went to church for a candlelight service, then had yummy snacks at home and opened our stockings.  We sometimes got to open our "big Christmas present".  Just really fun memories.

Our church, Tampa Covenant, had their service at 7pm... We went early so I could rehearse with the worship team.  I really love singing on the worship team.  Although, I was missing Rochel this night!  Always more fun with her.  The service was really nice, just alot of scripture reading and songs, all in the dark, candle light.  Pretty.  Quiet.  Moving.  I love the art work members of our church have made for the worship space... I love our version of stained glass:

And this painting, recently created by Linda Reynolds.  Just beautiful.  I love that everything is purposeful.

After our service, we met up with Rodney and Don at The Taco Bus for dinner.  Last year, we discovered that it was open until 10pm and is a block away from the church (Sacred Heart) where we were going to be attending Midnight Mass.  Last year was our first time giving this service a try.  And we loved it.  All of us.  I just love that we can go to a different denomination church and appreciate how they worship differently than us.  Same God.  Same Savior.  This year, we went to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, directly behind Sacred Heart.  Rodney's been attending here and has joined the choir and he was singing, so our choice was made.  

It was a really wonderful service.  Everything about it.  (Except perhaps the live Christmas Trees and incense... my allergies did not approve).  The choir is INSANELY talented.  There are only about 24 of them, and each piece they sang (mostly a cappella) were so difficult! And they sang ALOT of songs throughout the service.  We love how the priest and choir and alter people march in behind the cross.  Just really beautiful symbolism of the cross going before them.  We loved the scripture reading, the liturgy, communion, and celebration.  The priest gave a really excellent homily about reasons why people would come to that service.  Then he said, "I came to be confounded!" and I thought that's exactly why I'm here, too.  Just to be amazed and in wonder of God.  Stopping to be sit quietly and be confounded.  I loved that.  The season has been chaotic, no matter how desperately we try to slow it down... and finally, among soft lights in a foreign church, it settled on me.  I want to always be surprised and amazed and overwhelmed by everything God has done for me.

Another Christmas Eve that is added to my list of my very favorite days of the year!!

NINETEEN... an Adventure. At Disney.

I love our Anniversary.  Not that we ever do anything especially romantic, but I just love adding another YEAR.  It's definitely one number I love to see grow.  Given the day we chose to get married, we rarely celebrate on our own, and this year was no exception.  We have long since decided it's best to celebrate with our kids.  They certainly benefit from their parents staying married, and told us as much this year.  We are blessed.  Just blessed.  I just love this man and am still amazed I get to share my life with him.  He's great fun and an excellent friend.  He encourages me to be a better person.  He leads our family so well.   I could go on... but he's heard it all.  And always responds with an eye roll.  And a wink.

SO, Disney!  It's our favorite place.  We dragged Rodney with us (again) as our Third Kid.  Seriously, he spent the day getting the other 2 all whipped up, so I'm adding him to our Kid List.  

Ryan's favorite Disney Movie (if he must have one) is Beauty and the Beast.  Last year, Disney opened a new restaurant in the New Fantasyland and it was the perfect day to give it a try.  You can only get reservations at dinner time, which of course is booked up 6 months in advance.  So we stood in line for lunch, a very quick line, I must say!  WELL WORTH IT.  

You get to eat in Beast's castle.  There are 3 rooms you chose from, and we ate in the ballroom.  You order your food on a touch screen computer yourself, they "attach" your order to a rose that you carry to your table.

It was really, really beautiful inside...

Then your food gets delivered to your table via this fun cart... apparently you can order "The Grey Stuff" for dessert, even though it's not on the actual menu, yet.  You know, from the song.  We didn't but had heard about it...

fun!

And a picture of the food... it was actually pretty good.  And Standard Disney Pricing... not more than we would have paid at a normal counter service place, so I was impressed with that.  Ryan and I swapped 1/2 our meals with each other, hence the variety.  

Crazy children.  They were just happy they got soda, since you get free refills.

The other rooms are the West Wing where the rose is...

... and the Rose Gallery complete with "music box" of Belle and the Beast (life sized, of course).

Very fun experience.  And seriously, if you are eating in the park, this is the place to go.

We rode a few rides in the Magic Kingdom before continuing our Disney Adventure... we had parked at Epcot and taken the monorail over... grabbed an anniversary button and everyone kept telling us Happy Anniversary. Which was really nice, except for the couple of times I was walking beside Rodney and talking to him and Cast Members kept saying it.  Awkward.

'

In line for the People Mover.  Yes, a LINE!  This guy randomly started talking to Ryan.  Which we thought was pretty funny considering Ryan hardly talks to anyone.  But he was super kind and sweet to him, and while we all thought it was funny, in the end, it was just Ryan showing kindness to someone. He told me before and repeated it again, if a stranger comes up to you and just starts talking to you, probably they just need someone to talk to and he puts himself out there for them.  You never know what someone's going through and really?  It's a few minutes of your time.

Of course, he kept talking while we were on the "ride".

We actually watched the parade.  I was so very proud of us, until I realized it wasn't the real parade, just a mini thing from a castle show... my family will be so disappointed to know that this doesn't count, and I will be making them watch another parade.

Of course, got fun candy apples.

Then we moved on to the Polynesian Resort.  Just exploring.

Gingerbread houses, Disney Style.  

The lobby... it's pretty in there and we sat in the lobby just relaxing for a while.  Could have used a cup of coffee, but THERE WAS NONE.    Then we moved on to the Grand Floridian.  We've hung out in their lobby before....

Then on to Epcot.  We just wandered around, enjoying the relaxing day.  Finding things we hadn't noticed before...

... like Father Christmas, in England.  He was giving a little talk about Christmas traditions.  

... in Germany, this woman talked about German traditions and explained how we got the first Christmas tree, and the Nutcracker.  Really interesting, and the kind of stuff we've come to really love about Disney: all the little touches most people run right past.  There's certainly plenty to see!!

Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband!!!

Christmas Town

As an Advent Surprise, we took the kids to Busch Gardens to Christmas Town, which is the parks big Christmas event.  We haven't been to BG since we went with Roy and Mavis back in 2010 (well, I think the kids and Ryan went on a Roller Coaster Run a couple of times after that, but it's been a while...) It was open from 6pm-11pm and we dragged Rodney along with us.

Our big reason for going was to hear Jacob Warren sing with the group CAST.  They had a really great performance and we had fun hanging out with the Warren's while they were singing.

Jacob had a solo part with this cute little girl.

Sweet Leah sang "O Holy Night" and was just amazing!  I love this girl, she is super kind and was one of the junior counselors at CKC this past summer.  She's a great role model for Carly and of course, she and Carly adore each other.  Really beautiful voice.

And Zoe Pearson sang a solo, "All is Well" and for real, I started crying!  We've known this kid since she was born and have certainly worked with her on many Christmas shows for church, and I just felt really, really proud of her up there on that big stage!  She did a great job, too!  

After the performance, we tooled around the park on our own... of course these 3 can't go anywhere without become a Statue.  I guess I would be really disappointed if that ever changed.

They rode the roller coasters that were open, multiple times... I enjoyed the lights, the park was really beautiful all lit up!!  It was a VERY HOT night (gotta love FLORIDA!), so it was a little weird to be wandering around "snow" and Christmas decorations in the heat.

The Ice Show was really pretty impressive.  We had a lot of fun... remembering our "Old Days" at BG and how we used to go after work Before Kids and just ride a couple of Roller Coasters then go home. We are pretty spoiled living where we live!!!

GCYC Wire Grass Concert

Carly just loves being in the Gulf Coast Youth Choirs Girl Choir.  They are the Children's Choir in Residence at the University of South Florida.  She gets to sing really amazing music and learns so much.  We are pretty thankful for the opportunity she has to perform with them. 

This week they sang at the Wire Grass Shoppes Christmas Lights show... the photo is from part of the "pre concert" before all the members got there... the trees were pretty and the kids all sounded great.  It's a fun, out doors concert.  Nice and warm!!  They have fake snow during the show, which is fun, I guess, for people who've never seen real snow before.  Soap suds snow is just an allergy attack waiting to happen for me!  They had 2 concerts and then The Girl and I did a little shopping.

Daytona 2013

Swim meet in Daytona Beach.  Summer Open.  Our swim team always goes to this meet, but we've never been able to go before... it's a fun one because everyone stays at a beach side resort for the weekend and the kids get to play swim after the meet.  You'd think that kids who swim 2 hours a day everyday would be happy to not swim for a bit.  But no.  Everyone one of them were in the pools or the ocean all day long Saturday.  And by All Day, I mean, they started warm ups at 7am, and were in water until 8pm.  

I also brought my good camera to this meet to try to get some pictures of the kids swimming, you know, with something other than my iPhone.  Carly had to swim with the Seniors since we didn't stay for the afternoon portion of the meet (when the younger kids normally swim).  She actually clocked some better times and shaved off a few seconds on her races, so she did really well.

Back stroke...

Butterfly... Much nicer than the first time she ever got in the pool to swim with the swim team (at age 5!!)... and I was watching her through the windows of the fitness center (of course, using the eliptical machine... probably the last day I ever did that!) and saw this little kid looking like she was drowning in 12 feet or water.  No, not drowning.  Just trying to swim the Butterfly stroke.  Oh.  That's my kid.  I love how little girls think you are supposed to swim it like you are an actual butterfly and they just flutter around in the water.  Probably singing her head off.  

This was a 100 Fly, so she's coming back for the last leg...

Yup!  Thumbs up!

And Ben... Pleasedon'ttakemypicture.

He will demonstrate all the strokes for you... while racing.  He's good like that.

Fly:

Back:

Breast:

Free:

The resort we stayed at... Really nice, with 2 outdoor pools, one indoor, and the ocean.  Daytona is a funny beach because you can drive right on it.  We did not do this... you know our car would get caught in a freak tide.  That's how we roll.

Body surfing... that girl is on the team.  And goes to school with Ben.  And told me that she always tries to get him to talk to her, and he can only say HI and look down.  HA!  But she said she was going to break him down.  Good luck, sweetie.  But it was fun to watch her try.  And to watch Ben's look of horror.  I'm going to miss Ben being in Middle School.

Yup.  A book in the waves.  Surely we didn't think Ryan would leave it behind?

Apparently, she always looks like she's drowning.

The dark sky that drove us indoors.  To the indoor pool.  Now we know why you would need that in Florida.

Fun weekend.  Carly got some faster times... Ben held steady, but got 2nd and 3rd overall in many of his races.  It was fun spending time with the rest of the team and just getting away from life for a while. And who doesn't love those waves?!?!?