M-I-C -K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!

This past weekend we took our first family (with Ruthie) trip to Disney World!! We had a wonderful blessing of a FREE trip. My mom was at a conference in the Coronado Springs resort (a Disney resort) so she invited us to share her room. And, my brother's wife's family works at Disney and they got us into the park for free. Our entire trip (minus the gas) cost us about $5!! Talk about a blessing!!

We were supposed to leave on Thursday night when Tony got home from work. However, Ruthie's 2nd and 3rd trip to the pediatrician for an ear infection(s) that wouldn't go away got in our way. Poor Ruthie. She was SO pathetic. She DIDN'T feel well at ALL. She just sat around, and cried. Of course, she didn't sleep at night or eat much at all! We actually took her on Monday the first time and by Thursday when she was still running a fever and crying her head off at night, I took her back. That was Thursday. I thought he'd just change antibiotics and we'd be off. (Yes, I just admitted that I was taking my sick girl to Disney...but it was FREE) That's actually what he did, but he said come back tomorrow morning I want to check it out again. Which we did, and he then changed her medicine again because he could finally see that she had a STAFF infection in her middle ear and an outer ear infection. CRAZY. So, again we changed the medicine and went on our merry way. PRAISE THE LORD!! The third times the charm... she started feeling better after one day of the new meds!

ANYWAY

We were intending to take Ruthie to the Magic Kingdom where kids reign supreme, but once we got there we found out that because of an unscheduled "Regis and Kelly" taping that the Magic Kingdom was closed to cast members and their guests!

So, we quickly decided on another park and ended up at Hollywood Studios. We had a SUPER day. God blessed us with seeing Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck right as we entered the Park!! She did so well with those cute characters... She kissed Minnie's nose and Daisy's bill.

The best stunt show I've ever seen is their stunt show with cars. It's like the driving they do on the movie "drifting" I spent the entire show going... "oh"... "oh-no".... "woah" Because I thought they were going to hit each other. They were driving SO fast and close together. Ruthie, by the way, slept through the entire LOUD thing!! :)

At the end of the day, when it had gotten dark, we were able to see the "Osborne Family Festival of Lights". It's like 5 million lights or some crazy number. They had originally belonged to ONE family, and after some disputes with his neighbors he donated them to Disney to display at Christmas time. They played REAL Christmas music and it was just beautiful. When Ruthie saw the lights she used both hands to point and said, "Oh, WOW" over and over. It was totally cute. To top it all off, they at certain times during the light festival they had SNOW machines at the tops of the buildings.... and it SNOWED in FL!! (Except without the cold, and the bad driving, and the snow days!)

Anyway, after a week and a half of no sleep (due to Ruthie's ear infections....yes plural) over Thanksgiving, we were really excited to share this special weekend!! :) Enjoy the pictures below.

Friday afternoon at the resort's gift shop. We had fun looking at all the cool things. She liked these ears the best! Please don't mind the ketchup ALL over her face. She's just recently gotten into "dipping" and ketchup is one of her favorites. To put it mildly, she isn't the neatest dipper!


Saturday Morning- Ready to see Mickey!! We're on the boat to get to Magic Kingdom...


Tony and I on the same boat... it's almost empty because we're actually going BACK to the parking lot to get a different disney bus to take us to the Hollywood Studio's Park.


The only part of the Magic Kingdom we'd see that day... (boo hoo) The castle from afar!


Us with Minnie and Daisy... if you enlarge it you can see the PRECIOUS look on Ruthie's face. She's going in to kiss Minnie's nose!!


By this time in the day, she was needing another dose of medicine and Mr. Incredible scared her just a bit. She didn't want me to stand by him!


Uncle Matt and Aunt Rachel on the San Francisco street!


Daddy, Uncle Matt, and Ruthie waiting for the car stunt show


The amazing stunt show in action (remember, Ruthie is sleeping!)


Our fam with our special glasses!


With both pointer fingers point and say, "OH WOW!"


Ruthie reaching for the snow... which you can't see in the picture! Also note, that by this time of the day/night, one of her pig tails was completely OUT!!

Humpty Dumpty...

This year for my birthday present the hubs did some remolding for me!! It was all very exciting. We planned it for months. We spend many a date night at the Home Depot and Lowes planning and figuring. We even drew up the plans on a napkin from a date night dinner. What is the project you ask?

I wanted to rearrange the kitchen so the space plan was more usable and flowed better, and I wanted to take down the wall between the kitchen and the family room. The idea came when I was thinking, "I wish I could see what Ruthie was doing while I'm in here cooking." And then I thought, "What in the world am I going to do when I have two little munchins running around?" From that the plan was born.

Don't ask me what the title of this post has to do with kitchen reno- but it does have to do with a wall. Although it was Humpty Dumpty who sat on the wall, and then took the fall. Whereas with this project the wall itself took a fall... Anyway, I digress!

Well, a week before thanksgiving my birthday present became a reality. I really didn't believe that it would really happen... as it took A LOT of coordination. My brother came in from another city, two friends from Church took off of work (one an electrician and one a carpenter) and my father in law saved the date. My mom and I provide the nourishment for the hard working guys. I had cooked for a couple of weeks before getting ready for meals to serve (heated up in a crock pot or microwave- my only two working appliances all weekend!)

The really amazing thing was that I didn't just want all this work done, but I wanted it all done in one weekend. My only (ok, well not the ONLY) stipulation was that I could cook breakfast for Ruthie come Monday morning!! Tony kept reminding me of how long everything would take. And I, being the forman of the project would refer him to my time management plan for the execution of this project. If all went as planned... we'd have plenty of time.

Let me tell you those guys really put it into high gear. On Sunday night, we had a very near finished product. Want to see?

Before:




During:
These cabinets are getting taken apart and the refrigerator will come in the place of one of these cabinets...








After:
The cabinets that were above the stove and fridge before are now in my laundry room...so I didn't loose any storage. I actually gained USABLE storage where I needed it!


From the kitchen side (we added the one cabinet and another small new cabinet next to the stove and the pendent lights) scroll up to see the before pic of the stove and fridge. WHAT a difference!


From the family room side-


Ruthie helping daddy build the small new cabinet


This is were the 2 cabinets used to be- now it's the new spot for our fridge!


Me- the Foreman


Uncle Matt and Ruthie the night before the demo took place!

Week 21!!!

Our littlest addition is 21 weeks old!!! SHE is kicking and moving all around. SHE is getting much bigger (and so is mommy!). We've just had our 20 week ultrasound and our level 2 ultrasound (to make sure everything is ok w/ HER heart- due to my gestational diabetes). All that they saw was normal (Praise the Lord) but SHE was being difficult and did not cooperate. So, I have to go back next month for another one to finish. Hopefully, SHE will be in a better position so that they can get pictures of everything they need.

In case you haven't picked up on my hints.... we also found out we're having another little GIRL!! :) We are super happy! We'd have loved a boy, and hopefully God will bless us with one, but we're already in love with our littlest girl!!

Here's what Baby center has to say about 21 weeks:
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

Ruthie is 16 Months old!!

Wow, does time fly!! She is a BIG 16 months old. I can't believe how much she's changed into a little toddler and not a baby! She is talking up a storm and is cute as a button. At each stage I think, "How can I love her any more" and it seems like the next day, I think, "Man, I love her more and more each day" I'm so blessed to be a mommy and have such a wonderful and loving family. It's my dream come true!

Here are some things she accomplished while she's 15 months old:

* Climbing everywhere... even the back of the sofa into the window sill!
* LOVES playing under the dining room table... her own little fort (this has been her favorite playing area for a while, it just hasn't made it to the blog yet!)
* Wonder Pets on Noggin is her favorite tv show!
*She is now riding her princess bike and bouncing on her zebra
*She holds her purse just like a little lady! It's too cute!
* Many new words:
"puppy"= puppy
"oh-wow"= Oh, WOW! (said whenever she sees something she likes!! (Makes mommy smile)
"Ru-ree" = Ruthie
"I wa wa" = I love you
"Dah" = Down
"Cra-ga" = Cracker
"go" = go
"coo-ee" = Cookie
"baby" = baby
* points to pictures of people (mostly mommy and daddy) and says their name!
* She has her "cheesy" smile that she uses when mommy has the camera!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

Ruthie at the park


Cheesy smile on her bouncing zebra!


Out back playing with her water and sand table!! :)




Ruthie helping mommy w/ the laundry!!

Trick or Treat

This is a little late, but I wanted to share with you all the cutest little bumble bee EVER!!! :)

We started out our day, as is our tradition, going to Trinity's (the school I used to teach at and that my niece and nephew go to) Storybook Parade. All the little kids dress up in their best book characters and parade around for the older students and parents to see. We've enjoyed it so much!!

Gotta Love that smile!


Cousin Bailey and Ruthie in her classroom!


Then after lunch and a nap, we carved our pumpkin and got ready for Trick or Treating.

Luke and Bailey- Joker and Bat girl


Ruthie the Bumble Bee and our pumpkin!


The Fam- mommy's belly doesn't really show up in this picture... although it's getting bigger!


The cousins


Waiting to go!



We went to dinner here. They gave free kids meals to all who were dressed up! Mommy and Daddy thought that was a yummy idea!! We went with Grandma (my mom) and Tony's sister and her family!! After that we went to their church for "Trunk or Treat" - That is where church members open their trunk and have candy and the kids go up and down the parking lot to "trick or treat". It was a lot of fun!!

Grandma


(Crazy) Uncle Jack!


Our tired little trick-or-treater!!

Sea World!

On Thursday, Aunt Holly, Ruthie and I enjoyed some time at Sea World!! We got to watch "Mu" which is Ruthie's way of saying Shamu! We got a little bit of a late start, and Preggo girl got tuckered out quickly, but while we were there we had a blast!!

Aunt Holly and Ruthie on our way in... Check out the parking lot... it's pretty empty!! :)


Mommy and Ruthie!


Ruthie playing "peek-a-boo" with the map as we wait for Shamu!