I stinky

While watching TV, Alivia got it into her head that she could float away in a bubble. For the last month, she has refused to take baths. We can only clean her in the shower with the lower shower head on. She has been scared, so Santa thought it best to bring her new bath toys.

That did it! She came running through the kitchen yelling: "I stinky. I toot. I need bath." all the way to the bathroom. It was quite cute.

She's taking regular baths now. All I needed to do was be smarter than a two year old.

:)

Sweet Sibling Moments

As Myles and I were still trying to get some morning sleep, we heard the following conversation:

"Here Liv, I'll put a clip in your hair. Now where is your clip bag? I'll make a ponytail. It might hurt at first."

As he was doing her hair, we heard:

"Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches." to which Liv replied:

"Look a booger!"

Not to be deterred, Addison continued doing her hair.

"I'll put a bow in your hair, just like Minnie Mouse"

"Purple one, too," replied young Liv.

Addison continued with:

"Oh Livia, Oh, Livia, how lovely is thou hai-air. (hair)" Let's show Mom."

It's up!

The tree is up, and we have sung 'most every night. There are presents, and the kids can't wait. Hurry up, Christmas!

He did it!!

We are on our 5th day of snow here in Seattle. What a great thing for all the kids. Addison's had two snow days, so he has had plenty of time to learn to ski in our backyard. I thought that these needed to be shared, even though they aren't the best quality.

Here's Addison coming up the hill.



Here's Addison comin down. He practiced and practiced until he could do it without falling.

Thanksgiving was lovely, and here are the wonderful people I am most thankful for:

Well, the tree is up, and we're decorated for another Christmas season. Ho Ho Ho!

Happy Birthday, Myles!

Happy Birthday

to my wonderful husband!

You have a gentle spirit,
and a fun sense of humor.

We are all blessed from your wonderful and caring nature.

Again, Happy Birthday!!

Mom, I voted!

Addison's teacher used last Tuesday for a math/current events lesson. She brainstormed the question: What does our president do? Then, she had the kids vote, and lastly, they did some math based on their class numbers for each candidate. It was an exciting day for Addison: he got to vote (privately), do math and come home with an "I voted" sticker. He was quite pleased to stay up and find out which candidate got to 270 first. (Luckily, it was a bit of a landslide, so he didn't stay up too late:)

So here is a list about what our president does:

He says, if someone is under arrest, if they're guilty or not.
He tells people good stuff.
He helps kids and schools.
He tells people to eat good stuff. (ie: brainfood)
He does work.
He takes turns talking with his vice president.

He says some stuff, then gives the microphone to the other guy.

A great day at the pumpkin patch!

We headed towards the Twin Peaks to the Mt. Si Nursery this year to get our pumpkins.

Addi found his first, of many, pumpkins.

Then, it was Alivia's turn.

Sucess!

A fun day in Twin Peaks!

Oh, to be a kid, again!

Addison Explains Santa so you don't have to!

We've been getting into the Halloween spirit and, somehow, Addison linked Santa to Halloween. While we were driving to Renton to get Halloween decorations, Addison decided that he had to figure this Santa thing out. I’ll paraphrase:


Mom, Santa has to buy money on Halloween.

Why?

So that he can buy toys for the ones that he can’t make.

Where does he go to buy the money?

He must go to the bank. On Halloween. He needs enough time to get on the Internet and buy the toys. And just go on the Internet. He uses his computer at the North Pole.

His elves help make presents. They also check the Internet to make sure all the toys are there at the Internet store.

He needs to call the person who has the toys at their house: the store grocers who get things that people need: and they will bring the toys to Santa at Christmas Eve. He just delivers presents on Christmas from his bag that just grows real big. And just at Christmas he needs to stay up all night. He always tells Rudolph he needs to stop going crazy and get to work. Rudolph likes to go crazy.

So how does Roudolph know how to fly?

Santa gets on a boat and sails across the water to where the reindeers live. He found them and named them and sprinkled magic dust on them.

How did he get the magic dust?

He and the elves made it.

How does he know which kids get presents?

Be good and not mean. I was good, and I letted you put my eyedrops in today. He can’t see the kids but he always thinks before Halloween and he just knows who is good. He doesn’t talk to God, he just knows.



So, kids, there it is. Y’all better be really good before Santa goes to the bank this Halloween!

Our family in Orlando

We went with my brother and dad to Orlando. I wanted to post some fun pictures my dad and I took of each other.

Day 1

The kids wake up at 5:30 and are too excited to sleep on the plane. While we were waiting for our rental van, Addi took the opportunity to get some Zsss.

Day 2

We went to Sea World on Wednesday as we didn't want to spoil the Magic Kingdom before the Halloween Party.

Alivia decided that she was a bird.

While she tweet tweet tweeted,

Myles had to feed her french fries!

Who is having the most fun?! Addi lost his second tooth during this trip, so he decided he had to smile big to show off his holes...

Uncle Rob got in at 10:ish, and boy was he tired, but not too tired for hugs.

Day 3

The big day is upon us. Before the Magic Kingdom, we decided to have a swim. The Marriott had a waterslide and beach toys!

Farmer tan!!

We all had a blast then, we dressed up the kids and headed into Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party at 4:30.

Addison had a few bumps along the way before he got down the turns.

AlAivia just loves the teacups! She was too busy spinning it to lean over for the picture.

Day 4

Off to the races at Daytona 500. We took the tour and, lo and behold, there were cars practicing that day. Addi just about fell over with excitement. Even Rob was drooling over the 200,00+ cars they had. Then, we hit the beach for some boogie boarding and sand castle building.

Day 5

After getting SOAKED (Rob was wringing out his underwear!) at the Kali Rapids, we spent the rest of the day teaching our favorite characters how to pick their noses. Alivia volunteered.

She was quite the willing teacher.

Days 6 & 7

We did nothing! We were too tired.

We spent our remaining days both at Sea World and Aquatica. Needless to say, it was a blast, and feeding the dolphins was a highlight of our trip. Someday we'll go back to Discovery Cove, but in the meantime, we've got some awesome memories.

Bye!

What we learned from the Magic Kingdom

I will say that we learned a lot about the Disney experience.

Do go in October. Everything was empty. Aside from a lot of tourists from England, we seemed to have the place to ourselves. And you don't want to be crammed in line with a lot of people. BO is strong down there, and who wants to smell like Terk. I actually bought prescription strength deodorant. Very good idea, pass it along.

Also, go to the parties that Disney has: you get in at 4:00 and stay until 12:00. Addison was tired but, with the time zone, the Haunted Mansion ride at midnight seemed like only 9:00pm (as long as you go right after you arrive in Florida; if you wait until his clock has adjusted he will be sleeping and miss the midnight haunted mansion ride and then y’all don’t get to go.)

To repeat myself: do go in October. Addison got to ride the Raceway ride 8 times. He didn't even have to exit the ride for three laps during one ride. Disney is DEAD in October. (Hee Hee)

The costumes were cute, but maybe don’t let little girls have a wand. Alivia kept running up to people and hitting them on the bum. “Spider, I fairy!” She even turned Captain Hook and Alice into spiders.

Do not keep the chocolate candy you get in your 12...12 bags of trick or treat candy from Disney. It's hot down there. It will all melt over and ruin the non chocolate candy from the 12 bags of candy you got at Disney. Or maybe keep it so that your trip doesn't have the mantra ..CANDY.. as your vacation background music. The earplugs kept said mantra out of Alivia's ears but the rest of us stepped to the tune of candy, candy, candy all the way through the Magic Kingdom. (The earplugs also work well when the Hallowishes "Boom Boom" show is on.)

Do sleep in otherwise your 2 1/2 year old's happy CANDY mantra will morph into a whiny, demanding one. She especially won't like it when you try to switch the candy for carrots. However, ice cream will do the trick.

Do remember to bring a camera on the 'big rides.' Smart Myles got some great pics! Yeah, even Robert was laughing at this one:

Oh, and last of all, even though your daughter wants to wait in line only for Alice and have her book signed by her four different times, just do it. You may think, as a mother, that your daughter would like to see the Princesses. Wrong! "No Pwincess. I want see Alice." The highlight ‘Disney Experience’ of the trip for us was when Alivia chased the White Rabbit around the store where he and other Alice characters were. She was giddy with laughter: she chasing Alice who was chasing the Rabbit. She would run, then hop, then yell, "Wait, Alice, see mine face. Chase White Wabbit!" The whole crowd was laughing at the scene. We have to thank Aunt Holly for letting us borrow Alice in Wonderland during last summer's drive to Utah.

The beautiful trees of the south. Oh yeah, but be careful about where you sit down to eat there. Poor Myles got pelleted by a squirrel poop while eating. At first he thought it was a seed…

Don't spend too much time at Sea World worrying about whether Shamu is a happy Orca or if this is the real Shamu or if he is just Shamu's distant cousin.

The people won't answer that question, and it will just ruin the show for your husband who is just trying to relax and enjoy the show. (However, I can't help but to think: How did they get Shamu here from Sea World San Diego. And it does seem odd that Mitch and Wendy saw Shamu down there while we were watching his show in Orlando....hmmmm, I smell a conspiracy.)

Don't take little boys on the fiddler crab ride at Sea World if you are embarrassed by this yelled out phrase, "Haa Haa it tickles my penis!"

Do spend the money to feed the dolphins. It was priceless!

Last of all, who can answer this: Does alligator taste more like chicken or clam?