Disney!

We are an active vacation kind of family.  By this I mean we aren't very good at relaxing.  We like to capitalize on opportunities and on vacation we really kick it up a notch.  After many months of planning and preparing we headed to Orlando on November 11th.  Let me clarify a little--we headed to the airport (for our first plane trip!) at 5:15am on November 11th headed to Disney World!  Our kids acted like flying was something they had done a dozen times and were as cool as cucumbers about the entire experience.  Aidyn did not want to eat any breakfast prior to boarding the plane because she was so excited about the airline snack and was sure it would suffice.  I talked her into part of a muffin just in case it didn't.  Going through security was no hassle and our seating arrangements all worked out well.  Mom sat with the girls and Dad sat with baby boy.  Perfect first flight experience and the snack did not disappoint.

After a few short hours, we were on our way to Disney World!

The big planners that we are thought our travels would take longer than they did.  By lunchtime, we had already flown to Orlando, taken a 30 minute bus ride to our hotel, checked into and gone to our room, hopped another bus to Magic Kingdom and ate lunch in the park!  We had not made a big schedule for the day so we considered it free play.  We ate lunch at Liberty Tavern and then leisurely headed to the Hall of Presidents and enjoyed a nice history lesson.  Girls, this is how I convinced myself it was okay to miss 4 days of first grade--it was educational!

Of course we took plenty of time for fun rides.  Houston loved Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride.  He probably rode this half a dozen times during the trip.

Could this face be any sweeter?  We also rode the Buzz Lightyear ride, which was fun for the whole family.  Mom and Dad didn't realize you got to keep score so we were way into it.  Ask Dad if you get a chance who had the highest score.

When we first arrived at Magic Kingdom a plane was spelling "love" in the sky.  We were headed to dinner with Tigger and Pooh and saw the plane again.  I didn't get a full picture, but this time it wrote "U + God = smiley face".

We had a lovely dinner at the Crystal Palace with Tigger, Pooh, Eyore & Piglet.  Houston was not afraid of any character.  He loved them.

In fact, at times, he loved them too much.  He examined all of the costumes and I'm afraid was a little too hands on at times.

It was such a treat to see Cinderella's castle decorated for Christmas.  The picture hardly does it justice.  They describe it as "covered in ice".  It was beautiful.  That was a glimpse of our first day of vacation.  We were tired and needed to rest for our first full day of planned activities. 

Trick or Treat?

We had a blast dressing up and getting ready for trick or treating.  We went to a Fall Festival the day before and wore more suitable costumes for play activities....

Hollyn was a lovely fair maiden playing putt putt.

Aidyn chose a different gown, but was equally regal on the putting green.

No hesitation in Houston's decision to be Buzz Lightyear.

We all had our faces painted.  Houston went with a pumpkin.

The girls went with a butterfly and a bird.

We got to play with our cousin too!  Have you ever seen a cuter cupcake?

Have you ever seen a princess in a sack race?

The girls had a fun party at school.  Hollyn had sticky fingers with some of the treats they made.

She also made a "ghostly" craft.

Who is the pumpkin? (Aidyn)

Aidyn made a mess with her treat as well!

The big night!  This is the first Halloween that we've had a matching theme!  Lion tamers and one adorable little lion.  It was awesome.

These girls were ready to perform.

Houston thought he was something in his costume.  He knew he was cute because his mama and daddy couldn't get enough of him in his costume.  It really was precious.

Aidyn was ready to go.

I can hardly stand the cuteness.  

We only went to a handful of houses because although we looked cute, the girls were cold!  Houston jumped through his hoop for one neighbor.  I'm already trying to come up with a theme for next year so I can convince them to be a team again.  It was the best!

October 2011

Instead of posting 20 different blogs to catch us up on the month of October, I'm posting a megapost.  Get ready.... this was a busy month!

On this moonlit night in early October.....

our family "roughed" it in our backyard.  Everyone slept well after eating yummy s'mores!

Aidyn is writing an official letter to Santa, requesting two new front teeth!

We made our annual trip to Old Baker Farm.  This was tricky being that the mother of these precious ones had a new back strain.  Walking like a penguin, crawling, whatever it took these kiddos were not going to be disappointed!  Aidyn was very anxious for us to have pumpkins and they can't be bought at a store when you can go to a real pumpkin patch!

Everyone loved the tractors. 

The girls enjoyed the corn maze.

They really loved the hay maze.  They went through this several times.

The horse swings, of course!

Houston is not a huge fan of swings, but was liking this one.

Hollyn climbed to the top!

We took the tractor ride to the patch.

We picked the best pumpkins!

Houston, you met Captain America at the grand opening of our new Toys 'R Us store.  You don't even know him, but now you're a real fan.  This was a nice test of your character likability prior to a Disney trip.  You passed with flying colors.

How about two little girls turning 7?  We celebrated in BIG way!

Aidyn...

Hollyn....

Hollyn is beautiful natural or dolled up!

Aidyn enjoyed her beauty treatment at the party.

What a fun group of girls!

Houston ran out one Saturday morning with Daddy and came home looking the part of an official football player.  I'll have to say you were terribly cute  tough looking!

Houston had a hard time waiting for his birthday when the girls were partying for days.  When his big day came he could hardly contain the excitement.  He wanted a Toy Story theme and squealed when he saw his decorations.

Look at that smile!

You enjoyed being the center of attention and we were all happy to celebrate you!

Before the party was over, you turned into Buzz Lightyear!

On the day of the girls' birthday we took them to Joe's Crab Shack for the first time.  They loved it!  I wasn't sure if they would "entertain" the restaurant, but boy did they ever.  I have a video from my phone.  We'll see if it makes it to the blog.  Hollyn was a cowboy and rode a stick horse around the restaurant and Aidyn wore bunny ears and hopped around while the restaurant sang Happy Birthday.  So much fun.  On Houston's day he opted for Mexican and enjoyed having "Happy Birthday" and "Feliz Cumpleanos" sang to him!

I was kidding when I said I would post all of October in one post.  I still have Halloween to go!  Hopefully soon......

Back to school

So we've been back to school for almost two months and we're just getting around to documenting it....it's been keeping us busy.....

The girls have been excited about having Mrs. Hughes for a teacher all summer.  She is great!

Hollyn was excited to start first grade.....

as well as Aidyn!

No one was as excited to start back to school as Houston.  He had to wait a whole month after his sisters started school before his first day.  He was so sad the first two weeks after the girls went to school because he missed them so much.  We had such a great summer and sweet baby H had gotten used to playing with those sweet girls every day.  He is loving school.  He likes telling me "I've got a lot of friends at my school!"  In reality he only mentions 3 or 4 by name but that is ok.  That's a lot to a 2-year-old!

Every year we get a new monogrammed backpack.  I donate the old because they look brand new.  Seems like such a waste, but our entire school has to have matching backpacks!  Preschool isn't a radical place when it comes to spending!