Friday Favorites-Week-in Review Edition

I used to never blog on Fridays, now it seems to be the only time I feel like blogging (blame it on Parenthood). So, let's talk Favorites from this week.

First, something that's not my favorite, hearing Lu scream the whole way to school, which is what I endured Monday and Tuesday mornings, by Thursday the screaming had mostly subsided, but I was seriously having issues keeping my cool this week! So happy Friday is finally here!

But really who can stay mad at this face?!

Speaking of Lu, she was also having some behavior issues at school this week, but those got better by Thursday too, so we'll just attribute all that behavior to her not feeling well, which started last week and I think is finally going away. Happy kids! 

This was our interpretation of Circus day. It's always a circus with these two!

The sun's finally showing up! It's giving me a taste of Spring, which I would say is my favorite, but if I'm being honest, my favorite season is always the one coming next. Pretty sure our yard will be a favorite in the Spring and Summer though.

While I am craving warmer, sunnier, longer days, I am hoping Winter hangs around just a bit more, because we finally have an inspected and functional fireplace. We tried it last weekend, and weren't as successful as we would've hoped (blame the wet wood), but hopefully we'll get a good one going at some point this weekend, even if the lows are only going to be in the 40's. A good fire is my favorite for sure!

Of course, Chip and Jojo are our favorites too #jointheclub.

We christened the fireplace by roasting marshmallows. We did pretty well, I'd say. Unfortunately, S'mores are not Z's favorite. He said he'd rather just eat the chocolate. Who can blame him?

Friday Favorites

I've taken a little blog break. Things have been a little crazy, but I'm back now linking up with Momfessionals, A Little Bit of Everything, and Grace and Love for Friday Favorites.

I’m excited to be linking up to talk about some of my favorites. I use this blog mainly to document our days with our little ones, but it’s nice to talk about other things some time.

1. Parenthood

I know a lot of people have liked this show for a long time, but for some reason, I’m just now getting on the bandwagon. Some time around New Years, I started it on my family’s shared Netflix account, and man, now I am hooked! I find it ironic that I can relate so much because I am a parent, and yet that is the thing hindering me from watching it 24/7. Don’t get me wrong, I have still managed to make it through the better part of three seasons in just a few weeks, but that is because I squeeze it in wherever I can, including in between patients at work…

And at night after the kids go to bed. I haven’t quite hooked Nick yet, but he peeks over at the iPad every so often, and he knows what’s going on, so I’ll probably get him soon.

2. La Croix

Speaking of at night after the kids go to bed, I learned about this tasty guilt-free beverage maybe two years ago, and now along with this candle and a treat of some kind, they are pretty much essential to the after the kids go to bed nighttime routine.

They tend to accumulate on my nightstand. This picture was taken on a Wednesday.

3. Award Season!

I love award season, the glamor, the hype, so fun! The Golden Globes were last Sunday, pot pie was on the menu, and we had the best time watching with the babes. It was pretty much the perfect evening.

Even though Z was far more interested in his DS and Super Smash Brothers than watching.

4. Valentine’s Day!

I am so excited to decorate for my favorite holiday. I've gotten some good ideas from Pinterest. We’ll see if I can make them all happen. But, I like the way my little kitchen window is shaping up already!

Can't beat that view!

We had a glimpse of nicer weather (it's already raining again) and we've had fun exploring in our new (very natural) yard.

Okay, so I still ended up talking about the babes. Oh well, I tried. Happy weekend everybody! Thanks for stopping by!

New Years 2015

Is it New Year’s or New Years? Or is it just New Year? Oh well, it’s my blog, I’ll punctuate how I like.

New Year(s ‘s) for us was fun and low-key. Uncle Faris returned from New York and officially became our first overnight guest (then again and again to the point where Z asked, “Is Uncle Faris living with us?” hahaha, that would be no).

Nick got Z’s stomach bug Sunday night into Monday, which was no bueno, but once he got over that, we were able to relax and enjoy the rest of the week.

A stormtrooper and Anna go explorin’…

I got through with work pretty early on Tuesday, so I decided to take these two crazies to the grocery. Good Lord, what was I thinking?!

They love some grocery store snacking though, it’s almost like the car, they’ll take whatever they can get because they know the options are limited and they can’t go anywhere. In this case it was deli turkey and cheese samples. Don’t know what was in that Boar’s Head stuff, though because they were acting like straight up fools in that grocery store! Not the kind of impression we want to make on our new neighborhood Publix, but what can you do?

Speaking of these two, I was really happy they both had good appetites.

How do you like this seating arrangement?

So, Wednesday we hung out with Uncle Faris, had some visitors, then had NYE dinner. After dinner, we decked out in our NYE gear, watched a little New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and did a little dancin’ (told you, I’m punctuating how I like).

Noticing a theme here? Character/dress up clothes and Z showing his chest…. Gotta love it!

After dinner we attempted a family portrait

Attempted being the operative word.

It really was a relaxing and perfect way to ring in the New Year! I’m so thankful to be spending 2015 with these 3! Excited to see what the year has in store for us!

Disney Day 5

Day 5 is actually a half day, because we were flying home Sunday afternoon. Since we’d packed almost everything Saturday night, we were able to head out to Magic Kingdom early, as in before it opened early. We got in one more castle picture, even though it was kindof a yucky day.

 

We had reservations that morning for Crystal Palace, the (delicious) meal with Winnie and Friends. I was excited for this lunch because Z holds a special place in his heart for Winnie the Pooh, and his reaction when he saw him did not disappoint! He ran to him, wrapped his arms around him and shouted, “I have the bear of you, Winnie!” with the sweetest sparkle in his eye (and tear in mine!). Made my heart happy.

It was a great way to start the day. Then, we went about trying to do the things we didn’t get to do the first day we were there. First on the agenda, meet some more princesses.

Check.

Then, we did Belle’s Tales, which was really fun. The kids loved it, and somebody was chosen for a very special role…

Then, we had fast passes for Mine train, and I was way nervous for Z, but he was excited, so the boys went first and Z LOVED it! I couldn’t believe it! Look at that smile on his face.

Not sure H was as excited, but I was pretty amazed he even rode it at the tender age of 3 1/2!

Then, they talked Julie and me into using the fast passes. To say some expletives were shouted would be an understatement (and yes those are children in front of us). But, I am really glad we did it!

After mine train, Nick and Z rode the Goofy ride. I think it’s kindof roller coaster-ish too. Z loved it! Then, we did the Jungle Cruise again and rode Aladdin’s Magic Carpets (similar to Dumbo ride).

Then, it was Dole Whip time, YUM!! The kids clearly loved them.

Our last official Disney event was seeing Tinkerbell. She was the absolute cutest, and I think the boys loved her just as much as Lu.

When she asked Lu what her name was, she just shrugged her shoulders, so Tinkerbell said “Ok, I’ll give you a name then.” Lu’s eyes lit up, and she said “How about Pixie Trixy?” Then Lu shook her head, and Tinkerbell said “Okay, how about ‘Fairy Clairy’?” And Lu’s eyes lit up again. Then, she said, “From now on, you’ll be “Fairy Clairy!” It was so cute, and I’ve had to repeat the story to Lu about 100 times since then!

Could you eat Henry up with that pose?! I love it!

We did our shopping on Main Street. Lu got a reversible Anna/Elsa doll. Z got a Buzz Lightyear laser gun (that shoots missiles, a quality he looks for in all of his toys) a la the Buzz Lightyear ride. We bought new stockings and a few other souvenirs to remember the trip by, then we were on our way back to the resort to catch the shuttle to the airport.

At this point all we were left with were magical memories and three worn out kids!

Lu slept from the time we got on the shuttle to the resort to right after we walked through airport security! Probably close to two hours of me holding her, waiting in line, riding in buses, walking through the airport. Sister was exhausted! So was I, after that, but I knew that if she was well rested, she’d do a lot better in the plane, and she did. I was really proud of both their traveling skills.

We had an uneventful (thankfully) flight home, and basically the time of our lives! Z still periodically talks about how he misses Disney and he wants to go back, and Lu is still making me tell her the Aladdin story, along with the Little Mermaid story and the stories of every other princess we saw there that we now have a renewed appreciation for! I am so glad we went. The looks in their eyes when we saw characters and rode rides will forever be implanted into my memory, and I am so thankful for that. If it weren’t for the Smiths, we probably wouldn’t have gotten the energy to go for another several years, and I really think the timing for our kids was pretty perfect.

If I had to summarize the trip in three words, they would be exhausting, memorable, and magical!

Can’t wait to go back! (The Smiths are probably already planning their next trip ;))