Summer Vacay 2012

We just returned from an amazing vacation on the Disney Magic Cruise Ship.
Ryan could have spent the entire trip on this waterslide!
He is still wearing his medal from his school's field day - he tells me he is going to wear it until it falls off. I'm tempted to help fray the ribbon in his sleep...=)

Emerson loved the baby waterplay area at the pool...her first pool experience was a great one!

Taran teaches us that Chip's nose looks like a chocolate chip.
The kids think they've died and gone to heaven -- 24 hour room service, Kid's Club, Disney characters, the beach...

We had a larger room this cruise (thanks to the addition of Emerson!).
 My favorite part of this = private balcony.
The kids enjoyed themselves too...Ry sat for hours out here with his notebook drawing the ocean and ships.

Em enjoyed a poolside nap.

And when she wakes up Daddy gives her lots of love, ice chips, and soft serve ice cream = greatest day ever!

Daddy and Juls enjoying the pool.

"Best (and only so far, HA!) vacation ever!"

Stunning sunset ocean views from the boat.

The kids have fun dressing up for Pirate Night at dinner.
Ry asked what kind of stuff I had in my makeup bag to give him a moustache.
Taadaa!

Em's first time at the beach -- just like her brother, she immediately takes a handful of sand and tastes it. Eehh.

We all loved traveling with the McKey family...Julia especially loved having her buddy Jake around for fun adventures!

After the clouds moved through, it was a perfect day on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.
Julia stayed close to the shore, while Ry and Jeff went out further snorkel exploring to find a sunken ship and treasure.

Sand + Sun + Friends = FUN!

Taran and I chillaxin...our cruise ship is in the back right corner of the pic.

Ahoy matey!

Disney Princesses With My Princesses

Snow White

Princess and the Frog's Tiana

Cinderella

Juls and Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) 

I am praying the "sleeping" part of Sleeping Beauty rubs off on Emerson!

Julia's Preschool Graduation

Julia was excited to get her "diploma" from Mrs. Cathy and Mrs. Stacey.

Tyler and Julia pose for a graduation picture.  Our flight from Florida arrived just in time for us to make it to Julia's graduation--she insisted on wearing her Minnie Princess ears as opposed to her grad hat.  Our little diva! 

Her class performed a cute rendition of "Lean on Me" complete with  motions. Super cute!

Ryan's ER Visit Numero 4

We are finding it to be very true in our household the difference between ER visits in girls and boys.
Boy = 4
Girls = 0

His latest trip to the ER resulted in 3 stitches to his thumb...and orders to NOT let this area get submersed in water.
Fat chance.  We're headed out on a Disney Cruise in 3 days.
Word to the wise: Don't let your 7 year old boy get ahold of an Oberweis glass milk bottle.  Because apparently to 7 year old boys, these bottles seem like they would be great bug catchers.  He STILL thinks it was a good idea. Arph!

Mother's Day Tea With Julia

Today I was invited to a Mother's Day tea at Julia's school.  She was so excited to get to play "hostess" in her classroom. Super sweet! 

Interview With Ryan and Juls

	Ryan (age 7)	Julia (age 5)
When are you (or have you been) most afraid?	When I see a spider.	At nighttime of ghostes.
What was the happiest day of your life?	Every time Aunt Amy buys candy for us.	The days when I get to play with friends, like Ella getting to jump on her trampoline.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?	Our backyard into um, like we have this real train that goes in the ground into the zoo and other railroads.	Uh, I don’t know. Now I know. I want to change the day to be longer, to get to play with friends longer. Like Lexi when she has stuff to do. Like after ballet I would make the day longer so we could play and it not be bedtime.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?	I would be a baby and carried around by dad. And I would like to be 29 already. Because I will be an adult. And I will have friends over and ride bikes at night while kids are asleep. Eat candy all the time, and that’s all.	Getting to have a puppy.
What is the one thing you could not live without?	Baby Emerson. TV. Candy.Donuts. Aunt Amy and Uncle Jeff. Everyone. All my friends. Cinnamon rolls. Cereal.	Without my mommy. And without daddy too.
What is your favorite movie?	Lego movies.	My favorite movie is Barbie.
What cartoon character would you most like to be?	Lego Ninjango.	Analise from Barbie Princess and the Pauper.
What is the worst thing about being 7 (or 5)years old?	You don’t get to ride bikes when it is nighttime when Julia is asleep. And I don’t get to have parties or anything. Because I am a little bit older to par-tay!	Is that I don’t get to climb a tree like my brother. And I want to climb it, but I can’t.
Describe your perfect day.	Like when we go swimming and we get all sugared up. When we have a birthday party. When I get like 100 Legos. When I can watch TV all day.	Play with friends all day long.
What job would you like to have when you grow up?	Watch the kids, because I am going to get married. Like, the mom could go to work.	I just want to stay home at your house. I don’t want to be a mommy and I don’t want to marry anybody. I just want to stay here with you.
Who are your best friends and why?	Nicolas because he likes to ride bikes and he likes to play costumes with me. Andrew because he has like this Xbox thingie and when he came over he played skylanders with me. Bubba and Doodah because they have electric scooter they let me ride and it is so fun. Cooper but we never play much with him. Ali and Eman because Ali lets me swim in his pool and Eman because one time we came to her house and we were playing chase the girls. Tyler because we like to play soccer with each other and we are best friends.	Lexi and Ella and Jackson and Jacob and Tyler and Bubba and Doodah. Why? I don’t know. I just like them.

Easter 2012

HAPPY EASTER!

Coloring Eggs & Hunt

Because my parents are getting older, losing their minds, such great grandparents, they invite the kids over the week before Easter to practice our egg hunting skills and decorate eggs.

It's an event my kids look forward to every year!
This picture is proof if I actually get a pic with the kids really smiling, I will never see their eyes. Arph!

Lucas and Ry get ready for the big hunt.

Aunt Beth supervises artistic Julia from decorating the counter and her shirt in addition to her egg.

Ryan is super proud of this rainbow egg he creates.

Happy almost Easter!

Sister Love

A sister is a best friend for life! 

Soccer Time!

Today marked the start of spring soccer games.  Mother Nature conveniently cooperated, and we all enjoyed an awesome day outside cheering on our little athletes.

Ry guy jumped right in on the action.

Juls had to have a little pep talk from Daddy to get moving.  During the warmup, she bumped heads with another player and then was convinced that this was just too rough of a sport for her.

Daddy did a good job motivating!  She was on the move!

Of course, snacks at the end of the game will probably always be a favorite tradition.  Juls and her teammate Jackson pose for me.

Ryan is sooo excited to have his friend from school, Tyler, on his team this year.

Tyler, Julia, Jake and Ryan playing around post game begging us to bring them for some ice cream.  How can you say no to these faces??! =)