hello and goodbye, snowman

 

We got some real snowstorms rolling in last week, which is still exciting to us because we haven't had much this winter.  This snow was different, in that it was perfect snowman rolling snow.  Since sledding was off the table - there wasn't enough snow for good sledding - Britton and I went out to make a snowman!

She remembered this story I told her a while ago about using food coloring in a spray bottle to color our snowmen when Jessica and I were kids.  If I remember correctly, we made a snow dinosaur and sprayed him green!  So I grabbed the spray bottle and Britton picked out turquoise food coloring.  She then named him "Mr. Blue."

 

Sadly, as all snowmen do, Mr. Blue melted in our beautiful sun-filled warm weather this week.  All that remained in the yard was the small pom pom balls (his eyes and smile) and his scarf.  But I'm sure there will be more snow and more snowmen!

A quick story.....When I got home, and had wandered into the yard to check out the scarf and pom pom balls, I noticed Britton in a chair next to the fence.   Our neighbor caddy-corner to us has grandkids about Britton's age who come to visit every now and then.  It wasn't a problem for them to come over and play because they went through the neighbor's yard behind us.  Lo and behold, those neighbors put in a fence (to keep their crazy German Shepherd in the yard) and there's no way for the grandkids to get to our yard anymore.  So Britton and one of the girls dragged chairs to the fence line, and sat and chatted for a while.  It just struck me how adorable that is, and it's the kind of memory I'd easily forget but wish I hadn't.  So I had to share it.

everybody was kung fu fighting!

Britton started karate last week!  Britton loves "fighting" with the hubs, where she throws punches and kicks and gets to be tough and strong.  Her moves resembled the karate the hubs did as a kid, and we asked Britton if she wanted to try out a class.  Better she harness that fire into real karate moves than continue to beat up the hubs every night!  

 

Britton was nervous to go to her first class, but she quickly got down to business when she found out she'd be one-on-one with the owner's daughter.  Britton caught on quickly!

 

At the end of class, Britton got a special surprise - the chance to use her "hammer fist" and split a board!  She was game, and split the board on her first try!  She was so proud of herself, and the board is currently taped to her wall, so she remembers that moment.

 

I'm glad Britton went in with an open mind and really gave it her all.  And she found a new activity that she really enjoys doing.  Win!

hi ho! hi ho! it's off to disney we go!

 

Once arriving in Orlando, we cover ourselves in all things Disney!  Barrett's first plane trip was so uneventful that we forgot he hadn't ever been on a plane before.  We arrive early in Orlando, and Memaw and PawPaw (who drove to Florida) picked us up.  Then off to Disney!  We stuck to the hotel and pool the first day, which was fine with these kids - Britton is half fish, but Barrett needed a little time to get used to the water.  Of course, Barrett eventually loved the pool and we had trouble convincing him to come out, when we all got pruny and cold.   

On our first night, the hubs and I took Britton to Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs).  Barrett crashed out early with Memaw and PawPaw at the hotel.  We bought Christmas ornaments and a new Pandora charm for me.  Britton picked up some toys, and a smoothie.

 

We were ready to go the next morning!  With fast passes burning a hole in the hubs' iPhone, we went on "It's a Small World," the Dumbo ride, and the carousel.  We even took Britton on the Haunted Mansion ride, a first for her!  

It's a small world....and a long, but air-conditioned, line

 Memaw and PawPaw took Barrett back to the hotel room for the afternoon (it's hard to handle Disney all day when you're 2, or even 37) and the hubs and I got Britton a balloon after we strolled through the Main Street USA shops.

 

 Wednesday morning was foggy!  We lucked out in that all five days we were there in never rained, not even once.  Barrett loves trains, so we decided to ride the train around the park to Adventureland.

 

We had lunch reservations at Crystal Palace, a favorite restaurant of ours.  And Britton loves that Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore come around and meet you at your table!  All of the characters noticed Britton's Winnie the Pooh dress, which tickled her to no end.  Barrett wasn't afraid of the characters (like Britton was and the hubs is), though he didn't really know what to do with them because they don't speak.  So he laid his head on their hands and rubbed his cheeks on their soft costumes!

"I want a Tigger hand pillow"

The next day we started out with a visit to Tinkerbell, though Barrett would have none of it!  Then we walked around some more, though some usual favorites, like "Jungle Cruise," had ridiculous wait times.  Britton and Barrett did get to do "Pirates of the Caribbean" for the first time, because for once there was only a 10 minute wait! 

 

 After meeting Tinkerbell, Britton was in the Tinkerbell spirit and talked Memaw and PawPaw into treating her to a Tinkerbell costume (and tiara!).  Much like her mother, Britton is a gal of instantaneous gratification, and wanted to change into her costume immediately!

Britton had worked on her mapping skills the first night we were there, and she and PawPaw discovered a playground at our hotel!  We promised that she could show us where it was, and get a little playing in too, and after lunch Britton showed us.

 

The only requirement we had in order to turn this from a family vacation into an "educational  trip," (and thus, an excused absence) we had to take Britton to EPCOT.  Done and done!   Britton, the hubs, and I rode the Monorail from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT (actually rode it around twice so we could show Britton the hotels). We started with the "Living with the Land" ride, which I ridiculed but actually turned out to be pretty cool, and the aquarium. 

 

Then there was a little "World Showcase" action.  A first for me, we took the boat from the entrance over to Morocco.  We walked through Japan and Italy, then realized that we had reservations for dinner at 5:00 and needed to get a move on!  So we made our way back to the hotel.

 

We went to the Wilderness Lodge's Whispering Canyon restaurant for dinner.  We knew barbeque would hit the spot!  Britton loved the ribs the best, and everyone loved their milkshakes. I ate my weight in cornbread!

 

One night we took Britton back to the Magic Kingdom, to see the projection show and the fireworks.  The hubs had fast-passed the fireworks show, which allowed us to sit on a grassy area near the castle.  It was an amazing show, and Britton loved the special time, just her and us.  

My favorite quote from the show, "Remember - it all started with a mouse."  What a fun vacation, the first time all of us were there together. 

barrett: 33 months old

 

I didn't realize until I made Barrett's sign that he's only 3 months away from his third birthday.  I can't, I just can't.  Barrett's language has exploded lately, and I know I've said that before, but it just amazes me.  Every day he's stringing together longer sentences and pointing out objects I didn't know he could identify, and making new animal noises.  He's expressive and funny and cracks me up.

Barrett absolutely loved his first visit to Disney World.  He loves Mickey Mouse and his crew, and I think that might just make a great theme for his birthday party!  We went to the park today, taking advantage of a random 50 degree day in February, and he rushed to keep up with Britton.  He loves playing with her, and she's grown to be so much more patient with him.  They have gotten to the point where they truly enjoy playing together.

Likes:  Mickey Mouse, bouncy balls, running after the cat, reading books at night

Dislikes:  being made to go when he doesn't want to go

78 months old

 

Yes, it's Friday, and the 2nd was Tuesday, but on Tuesday we were at Disney World.  So, Britton's monthly picture says February 2nd, but we all know I took it after school today.  Britton is officially 6 and a half years old, and we all know how important that "half" is!   I can see Britton getting older every day, and I'm not ready.

 

Britton is kicking butt at school, learning to spell words and add and subtract numbers that I didn't think first graders needed to know.  Her reading has improved, and I'm having her read books to me at night now too.  She pretends to be the teacher, and I get to be the student!

 

Barrett has bombed Britton's life, not just her photo!  But she does so well, being patient and caring, and letting Barrett have his way so much more than Britton gets hers.  And he loves playing with Britton.

 

Likes:  Disney World, Nella the cat, reading, art, writing in her notebooks

Dislikes:  getting up for school after a week of vacation