Matt

pictures by daddy

Kayla

Photos by daddy.

Julie

Updated pictures by daddy.

Graduation

Matt and Kayla 'graduated' on Wednesday. We loved their teachers and school this year, they so enjoyed going to school! I can't believe my babies are heading to kindergarten in the fall...


Before the big day :)

Right after the graduation (not the best pic of either, but the best of them together overall).

Very seriously listening to their teacher's presentation!

*** They kept calling the graduation caps "highschool musical hats"-- so cute :) ***

Kayla's 2 seconds of Fame

Kayla was recently in a commercial, and it is now live on their website (will also 'air' on tv)... so I thought I'd share her 2 seconds of fame... as it is the cutest 2 seconds of commercial that was ever filmed ;)

Enjoy...

http://www.covenanthealthcare.com/body.cfm?id=556923&oTopId=9

Garbage-d

Today is our garbage day. As the garbage man came I went over to talk to them for a minute, and to thank them with a tip because we had put quite a bit out. Anyway, the whole time I could hear Julie fussing, but she was just standing on the porch, so I knew she was fine.

When they left our conversation went something like this.

Julie-- "what dat guy doing to da garbaged?"
Mom-- "he took it away in his truck, because it's garbage"
J- :crying: "dat's daddy's garbaged. Dat guy took my daddy's garbaged"
M- "that's okay Julie, we wanted him to take it"
J- "not your garbaged, daddy's garbaged!" (how dare I speak for her father's trash).

After this went on for awhile, I decided this was something only daddy could clear up. We called him, and a very distressed Julie explained that the garbage-d man had taken 'daddy's' garbage-d. She spoke with conviction while pointing, making serious faces and even crossed her arms.

Apparently, even daddy's explanation and approval wasn't adequate... the rest of the morning, anytime we would hear the trucks in our sub she yelled-- "bring back my daddy's GARBAGE-D!!!.

Disney Day 4

(you thought I forgot, didn't you...)

Enter Grandma Sue and Aunt Jillian-- stage left.

Grandma Sue and Aunt Jillian arrived at about 2am on Sunday night. They took off moments before Capi arrived back home in Detroit. Turns out that Sunday night/early Monday morning was quite eventful with Capi being involved (not the cause) in a hit and run minutes after returning home, and Grandma Sue and Aunt Jillian brought in the largest downpour we'd see. Too bad I ran around our huge resort trying to find them in a white T-shirt. I must have been thinking it was Spring Break... Anyway... if you want more details on those occurances, you'll just have to ask me about it IRL.

Back to Monday. The kids first day with Grandma Sue and Aunt Jillian. We decided to sleep in, due to their late arrival the night before. Someone forgot to let the kids know about the sleeping-in plans so we were up eating and playing around well before our 11 o'clock call time. We jumped a bus and headed to Animal Kingdom for 1/2 day. After some scheduling issues (this was my worst planned day), we ended up eating lunch at the Pizzafari first. Our attractions while there included Kilimanjaro Safaris, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, Flights of Wonder (where Matt's head met concrete), and Finding Nemo- The Musical (which may be my favorite Disney Attraction).

We headed out of AK at about 5:30pm, and caught the bus to the Animal Kingdom lodge to catch another bus to Downtown Disney. I love the Disney buses and transportation, but it is a bit of a hassle trying to switch buses with 2 strollers and 3 kids. I think while we were waiting Julie reminded aunt Jillian while she should wait to have kids. She touched a garbage can and immidiately put her hands in her mouth. Jillian was grossed out, but I shrugged it off... I'm sure she's done worse. Toilet water, anyone?

She also did this for awhile, because she wasn't allowed to do whatever it is she wanted to do.

We had reservations at Planet Hollywood that evening. What a glorious thing to walk past all the waiting people to head to eat almost immediately after arriving. Only issue here was we were all the way up on the top floor so after climbing a trillion stairs we were finally able to eat. The food was good, and Kayla ate (or rather didn't eat) her first of many spaghetti dishes. For some reason she always insists on ordering "mas-spaghetti", and rarely eats it. I was smart and planned on Julie "sharing" her meal this time... so no real loss.

Anyway, we were exhausted after dinner-- headed back to the hotel and were quickly in bed.

for Anna

Bed Hog

Someone snuck into their big sister's bed last night...

Day 3-- Magic Kingdom, here we come...

We set the alarm clocks early in hopes of getting to the Magic Kingdom early enough to enjoy the "Good Morning Show". This happens prior to opening, and is really cute, and a fun way to start the day. We did make it, when our bus rolled into MK at about 8:30 am. We had a few goals for today, hit a few of the kids favorites (or hopeful favorites) and do enough before Capi needed to leave for his plane at about 4:30pm.





Again, we loosely followed a "trip plan" and ended up with little to no waits again. After walking on to most Fantasy Land rides, we passed through later in the day and were shocked at how many people were now there. With the help of planning fast passes, and locations most of the day was less than 10 minute waits, with exception of one 30 minute wait for the Haunted Mansion-- a ride that Matt HAD to do with Capi (well, we all went).



Quick Story: During the Monster's Inc Laugh Floor they picked Julie as "boo". She was put up on the big screen a few times, and it was super cute!

Capi headed to the boats after the Dream Along with Mickey Show and we went on to ride another few rides, and headed back to the hotel at about 6:30. We ate cereal in our room for dinner, bathed the kids and headed to bed early again. In our previous trip we had gone from open till close most nights and were WAY too exhausted at the end of the week... we actual feel like by making it there by opening time almost every day we saved time enough to get to bed early-- still accomplishing as much as we had in long days last year.

We were bummed Capi had left, but excited that Grandma Sue and Aunt Jillian would be arriving in the early morning hours.

Attractions for today were: Walt Disney Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, Philhar Magic, Dream Along with Mickey Show, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Cinderella's Golden Carousel, Dumbo, Many Adventures of Pooh, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Monster's Inc Laugh Floor, Disney Dream's Come True Parade.

Day 2: Destination- Hollywood Studios

8:15 and ready to go...

We woke up early to make the most of the day. I was determined to do as much as possible (you're all shocked right)- especially since my dad only had 2 days to hit the parks so call time that day was 8:15 (to the bus). We pretty much made that target (even got my dad checked in and breakfast consumed in time). We had great weather (85 and sunny!).


We hit Hollywood Studios at opening and immediately headed over to Toy Story Mania and grabbed fast passes. My dad and Peter hit the Rock 'n Rollercoaster while the kids and I played around. We pretty much did every major and many non-major attractions at the studios with little to no wait (even though it was president's weekend)... Although I was mocked in the planning phases it REALLY paid off as we walked on to many rides that later had 60+ minute waits.

Matt and Kayla both rode the Tower of Terror. Kayla was not thrilled by the ride, and Matt also declared he would never ride again because he only liked the "up parts", but as it turns out he did indeed claim it as one of his favorite rides and rode again later in the week. Kayla's favorite was the Little Mermaid, and Julie LOVED Playhouse Disney LIVE!

Funny Story-- When we were getting ready for Playhouse Disney they announced the instructions in Spanish (and it was a man)... Matt looked at me and said "mom, I think that was Hanny Manny because he was talkin' Spanished"-- for those not 'up' on the latest in kids programming, Hanny Manny is a cartoon guy who does indeed speak Spanish sometimes on his show.

The attractions we hit in no particular order were : American Idol, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, Star Tours (except me and peanut), Muppet Vision 3D, Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground, Lights, Motors, Action!, Toy Story Mania, Voyage of the the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney LIVE!, High School Musical III concert, Rock 'n roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror (N, P, M and K) lunch at Pizza Planet, and we met two of the Power Rangers.

We did all this by 6:15 PM, and headed to the Pepper Market for dinner and headed to bed early. It was an awesome day. The kids had a blast (and were in generally great moods), and it was such an awesome thing to be able to spend a whole day with Capi. We're so thankful that he made the trip down, even if only for 2 days!!!

I interrupt this series...

to tell you that I just registered my 'babies' for Kindergarten.


Sometimes I blink, and I see this...

instead of this...