Disney Christmas- Day 2- The Magic Kingdom

This vacation, we invited Dan's parents and brother to come to Florida with us.  We rented a house that had a pool for the kids so we stayed in Florida comfortably.  It was nice to have a house to go to when the kids got tired in the afternoons and needed a break and it was just nice to have our own rooms!

The first Disney day was spent at Magic Kingdom.  We didn't take too many pictures the first day... It think we were all too excited and trying to take it all in!

 Here is Maggie ready to head off to Magic Kingdom!

Owen is ready to go.

Ellie is ready with the Minnie back pack!

 Even Mason is ready to go.

  

 4 excited kids!

 

Riding the magic carpet ride with grandpa!

Dad and Mase

 Mason enjoying the day... boy are we happy that we took him while he is NOT mobile!

We broke down and got a double rental stroller a couple of the days, but really, you are better off going to the store and buying a brand new stroller for what the rental costs are!  

The MANY faces of Magdalyn Beth:

Disney Christmas- Day 1 at the Beach

This year, we went to Florida for our Christmas vacation.  We were feeling like we wanted to make a memory rather than buy presents just for the sake of buying something and buy toys for our kids that don't need them.  We felt fortunate that we were able to go to Florida and spend a great Christmas with family.

We drove through the night--- not bad at all and much better than having the kids awake the whole time... Dan listened to pod casts, I listened to an audio book.. it was actually quite nice.  We spent our first day meeting up with my family and going to the beach.  My family was going on a cruise from Tampa so our trip overlapped with theirs a couple of the days. 

 The kids LOVED the beach and wasted no time jumping right in and building animals and castles in the sand.

 Elise

 Me, Mason and my grandpa.

 We had to call the kids to shore a few times because they went out too far.  They had no qualms about the cold water!

 Mason enjoyed the beach from under the canopy.

 Uncle Pat.

 Me and my mom.

 Maggie building castles in the sand.

 Elise (and my hand shadow)

 The kids burying their legs.

Of course, our trip wouldn't have been complete without a trip the ER.  Owen woke up screaming one night-- I think that first night.  He had an ear infection... obviously from the beach.  I spent about an hour driving around to find an ER.  Florida doesn't seem to have those 24 hour clinics on every corner like they do here in Houston.  Ear infections are always annoying because you know what is wrong and there isn't anything over the counter to give him.  So $100 copay and $40 worth of prescriptions later.... we were drugged enough for our second day.

Owen Turned 5!

Owen turned 5 in November and I completely neglected to do a birthday post for him.  I have always meant to but am just now getting around to it...


Owen, my sweet 5 year old, I love you more than words can say.  In your 5 years of life so far, you have brought our family so much happiness. 

As of your 5th birthday:
-you are the best big brother ever!  You love your baby brother so much that I almost tear up every time the two of you are together.  You annoy your little sister, but you two also have amazing fun together
-you think your big sister is pretty amazing.  You are always eager for her to  get home and play with you
-you can read- really well
-you can add and subtract a lot of numbers
-you are a bit video game crazy-- and you think Dad is the video game king
-you take the best pictures which is amazing since it is hard to keep you still enough and paying attention long enough for us to take one at all
-you love uncles.  Uncles are the world to you.  You are a "guys' guy"
-you are a big boy, always have been.  You are easily at least a head bigger than all the kids your age.  You weigh almost 80 pounds and are bigger than your sister and wear a size 2 shoe.  Turning another year older is a bit of a relief for us in that the amazement on people's faces is a little less :)

-you are smart... SO smart, but you don't pay attention to anyone.  You are independent and can entertain yourself for the most part.
-you are still a momma's boy and I typically find you right up against me in my bed whenever I wake up at night. 
-you could eat hot dogs for every meal and be happy
-You are curious and are typically not the first one to try something out.  You usually like to watch and then do it yourself and then usually amp it up a bit more and make it more exciting and dangerous than something needed to be
-you run a bit awkwardly.  you keep your arms straight down and don't extend your legs... we are working on that though -- it's tough to get used to a body that grows as fast as yours :)
-You are my handsome boy and you love to hear that
-you are sweet and always want to love on someone when they aren't feeling well. 
-you are a great "trash man" and always take out the trash whenever you are asked
-you also help out with anything that requires someone "strong"
-you like it when you have hair gel in your hair
-you love your teachers at school and church
-you are sweet and sensitive underneath the big and tough which makes you wonderful in many ways

I love you big 5 year old boy and can't wait to see what the years ahead will bring us!

Colorado Reunion Vacation- Part IV- The Pine Cone Collection

 As I mentioned before, we went on a lot of nature walks.  A favorite past time for the kids was to pick up and save the pine cones.  They had quite an extensive collection by the end of the trip!

 This giant one was clearly the favorite!

They had a lot of pine cones!

We had a wonderful trip and are grateful to the Webers and the Adairs for inviting us along!!

Colorado Reunion Vacation- Part III

 Picture Taking:  I have to be honest, I hate doing family pictures.  It is so hard to get all the kids behaving and looking at the camera that it just becomes so stressful for me that it hardly seems worth it.  However, I know that in the end, you have a family portrait that will be looked upon for many years and it really is worth it.  So, this was family picture day... Everyone wore their newly dyed shirts.

First a little Masey Mase:

 He is about as goofy as they come.... hey there good lookin'!

 The Weber crew:

 While waiting for other families, Uncle Steve was throwing his kids in the air.  Then my kids wanted to be thrown!  I was surprised he could throw Ellie...

 ... but really surprised when he threw up Owen!!

 Sure he didn't get much higher than what is pictured but Steve did it!  I mean, Owen is like 70 pounds, I am just glad Steve didn't throw out his back.

 Lindsay and Steve.

There was this little meadow by where we were waiting and I actually got some cute shots of the kids:

 Owen handing cousin Austin a flower.

 Owen hanging out... proof that he WAS in a decent mood before the big group shot!!  Right before the big group shot, Maggie stole a little rainbow pine cone from Owen.  This set him off.  He started wailing... right at the time the big group shot started.  So, the whole time we were taking the picture, he was screaming.  Ugh.   What can I say?  The boy is four and his sister took something from him-- this is expected but because I was also making him take a picture right after it was even worse!  A few minutes after, we took a walk and laid out on the grass looking for animals in the clouds and all was well again:).

This is a strange picture of Ellie but also a little cool.

Colorado Reunion Vacation- Part II

 On one of the days, Daniel's cousin Megan showed the kids how to make and race cars.  This was RIGHT up Owen's alley.  All the kids had a blast but I think the boys really did!

 First the kids all had to make their cars.. with dad's help.

 Mason's Great Grandma holding him :).

 The race:

 Owen's car was on the right... he beat is competitor.  The Weber family actually cleaned house!  We must be some great car-making engineers!