Spring Break -- Magic.

What can I tell you about our amazing and wonderful spring break last week? Well, if you haven't guessed by our first recognizable picture, then I better just tell you:

We went to Disney World. In Florida. And it was AWESOME!! So. Much. Fun!

We drove down, a full 19 hours, two days there and two days back. That's right. 

I won't submit you to the "real time" adventure of our road trip, but instead will show you our kiddos, each indulging in their preferred technological devices...

They were pretty happy to do their own thing most of the time, and scream or bicker the rest of the time. Pretty usual road trip behavior, I gather.

I have to include these wonderful shots of our first hotel in Orlando... Embassy Suites. Look at our lovely view. Brian and I each took turns walking the lovely path around that little pond, complete with piped in music in the lampposts.

The kids loved the pool... here they are heading out.

 And here's our atrium courtyard outside our suite room door...

And now, Let the Memories Begin...
(That's what the sign way back behind us says. Brian wanted a first shot, at the gate. This is what he got.)

 Then, there were the lines. Lots of lines. Lots of sun. Lots of sunscreen. Lots of waiting. Lots of water...

 It should be noted that Natalie did not like the lines.

 And she heartily resisted our restraining orders. There are two pictures of her in this perplexed and frustrated state. But we could have taken 50. My arms are still sore (a week later) from our "restraining"/holding...

 Finally, the rides. Oh, so worth the wait. Every time. But not worth 20 billion pics of us experiencing each and every ride (though you might think that's what we've got here... I've pared it down considerably, believe me.)

 Aside: Did you know, that most mornings as we pulled into the parking lot, the attendants greeted us with, "Have a Magical day!" Hard not to be happy, when it's just such a magical place.

DAY TWO: Animal Kingdom
Before we left, Brian was showing Spencer videos of the different things we could do at Disney. When Spence saw the vids of the animal kingdom, he nervously asked, "But the animals don't eat people, do they??"
Being a sensitive father, Brian answered him with, "Not usually. They just throw one or two people out to be eaten every now and then."
Long, thoughtful pause, then Spencer said, "I don't want to go see the animals."

It took us days to convince poor Spencer that Daddy was just joking and the animals do NOT eat people, and the Animal Kingdom would be a safe, fun place to visit. ha! He was finally talked into it when we told him he could meet up with his buddies, Zach and Parker, while we were there... We spent our Animal Kingdom day walking around with our good friends from here, Adam and Lindsay, and their three kids. Not many pics, but a good time.

Here's Spencer and Parker, on the safari ride...

 And Samantha and Leah, who were bff's the entire day and skipped around holding hands, singing and dancing together all day long. Happy little clams...

 We saw giraffes.

 And fish... Love this pic. :)

 And gorillas. 600 lbs! Huge and fascinating.

And we saw Goofy. A group shot..

DAY THREE: Epcot
We loved Epcot. Here's the big dome, with the super dark Space ride inside. Natalie didn't like it, but we thought it was fun. Rode it twice...

 It was their spring flower festival, and everything was in bloom, and so gorgeously, immaculately groomed...

 Brian made us take this pic in front of a shrub butterfly, with the butterfly house behind us. I balked, because 20-thousand people were trying to walk by on the sidewalk between him and us, and I hate that. But now I like the pic, so, thanks Babe, and sorry I balked. Cool butterfly...

More rides... We loved Nemo, and the whole aquarium after the ride. It was air conditioned, and such a nice break from the 90-degree humidity. (Not to complain, but it was hot!)

A cute shot of Natalie on the move, one of the few times we let her loose from the stroller. She was rampaging around a little playground, which may have been the trip highlight for her??

 Here's US with the big dome in the background. Proves we were actually there, ha! ...

Day FOUR: Magic Kingdom, again.
Back for more rides. We got there as the gates opened, to ride some of the good rides early. The cars...

 Spencer was SUPER excited for his turn on the cars!

 He got to steer, and was ALL OVER THE PLACE! Brian took a little video. If I can get it to load, I'll add it, because it was pretty funny.

 The People Mover was another of Natalie's favorites, though I think she liked Small World best. She likes looking at her surroundings.

Hey look, it's the Castle!... snapped that one as we whizzed by on the People Mover, as it wound around the outside of Space Mountain.

Spencer also loved the Winnie the Pooh ride. Actually, more than the ride, he loved the little playground next to the line waiting for the ride. After we rode, we let them play for nearly an hour. Here's Spence, in Pooh's tree house...

 Samantha, reading all the adventures for herself. I love watching her read. She can't pass a sign without stopping to read every last word!

 Parade! I got lots of backs-of-heads, so there aren't many good pics of the parade. But here's Ariel, waving right at Samantha...

 And we got to meet Mickey and Minnie. Spencer was terrified. (See how he's looking so very tenative and is standing aloof? poor kiddo.) And Natalie was asleep, outside in the stroller. Lucky for her, the Easter Bunny got her a little Minnie soft toy, which is her new love!

 Our last night there, just as we were headed to the fireworks and parade, some workers outside a restaurant stopped us and gave us a HUGE ice cream sundae, with brownies, cakes and cookies inside. Just to be nice! (I think they were closing up shop, and needed to get rid of their last goodies.) It was delicious, and a perfect treat to end our day!

 Waiting for the parade and fireworks, playing Samantha's new favorite, rock-paper-scissors...

 And finally, the show.

 It did NOT disappoint. Except Spencer, who fell asleep about 3 minutes before the fireworks started, and woke up after it was all over. He was very sad to learn he missed it, but even sadder that we woke him up, I think!

This is a boat load of pictures, I know.
But we still have one more half day to go. Ready??

DAY FIVE: Epcot, again.
We loved Epcot. At least, Brian and I did. (And, actually, Samantha's favorite ride was at Epcot -- the mission to mars ride; too intense for pics!)

So, even though we had that 19-hour drive ahead of us for Friday and Saturday, we thought we'd spend just a few more hours visiting the different "Countries" of Epcot again. So fun!

Samantha FINALLY got to meet a princess. (I have a bone to pick with those princesses right now, though I won't get into it here, for how long this post is already.)

And Natalie got one more go on a good playground...

And Spencer got to meet Winnie the Pooh and wasn't even scared! (Progress. Baby steps... maybe next time he'll let Mickey hug him too?)

And Brian and I got to browse around "Morocco" and eat shwarma, couscous, hummus and tabouleh at their scrumptious, expensive cafe. yum!

Guess Samantha did some "browsing" around Morocco, too?

I started taking pictures of the shrub princesses, because it seemed that was the best we were going to get, as far as princesses go. And actually, they were very impressive! Belle and the Beast...

Aurora and Prince Phillip...

Cinderella and Charming...

Spence was more impressed with Lighting...

And Mater...

And Woodie and Buzz... So cool!

 (I'll spare you the many other sculptures... Peter Pan and Hook, the Fairy garden, with Tink and some 10+ other fairies, etc.)

The countries were super fun, to me. And to Brian. We loved the UK. I even bought a REAL English Cadbury Fruit and Nut bar. Ate it before it even had a chance to melt. mmm...

And the last pic I took was of China, which was our last stop.

We finally pulled ourselves away at 4 p.m. and started our 9-hour drive to our hotel. Goodbye Disney. Goodbye, magical, fun, memorable, expensive family vacation! Loved it. (Except the ending, where Spence rode the long drive home with fever of 103 and he and Nat both got hand-foot-mouth disease for the next week. But let's not think about that, amid all this happiness. We'll save that bit for another post, right??)

And now, with all those pics you probably feel like you've been there, eh? Or, maybe now you WANT to go?? Well, let us know and we'll come along!! 

A short update

Every time I look at my blog, I know it's super boring right now. Not much to tell, but I better write at least a little something, right? So, here's the update, by family member...

Natalie:
Is into everything... and I DO mean EVERYTHING!
This morning while I was in the shower, she shredded a roll of toilet paper in the hall. She also finished off my little alarm clock, once and for all. (She's been carrying it around, changing the time and alarm settings every morning for weeks. Today, finally, it looks like she pried the whole face off! Time for a new alarm clock, eh?!) She climbs onto everything, pulls over chairs to get up to the counter or desk, empties drawers, pulls keys off our computer keyboard, and rummages through closets on an hourly basis. Fun.

Here she is, sneaking into the upstairs desk, getting ready to pull out all the electronic cords and do-dads...

Spencer:
Still hasn't given up on his blanket, but we're working on it. He's been learning about "goals" in his preschool, so we're going to set a goal... soon. He loves learning about the body, and has a little magnetic "body parts" book that he loves. He's fascinated with muscles, organs, skin, and bones. And he does not like dinosaurs, and is comforted to know they're all dead. He's still afraid of owls and hears noises in the night. He's started crawling into bed with Samantha when he gets too scared... better than coming into our room, right?? He's my big helper in the kitchen, and loves to make dinner with me. He especially loves the new chopper thing Brian bought for me... Spence is Chopper #1! He also loves doing puzzles and taking baths.

Samantha:
Is LOVING school, and also loves to have a break from school, she's decided. Getting up "early" for school is hard, but worth it! She also likes rewards, and recently started her own chore chart, for her and Spencer. Her chores (which she thought up all by herself) include opening the blinds in the living room each morning, setting the table at dinner time, making her bed, and cleaning the living room. She gets a star for each chore. Then, she can earn extra stars when she does something I ask her to do. (But no, running upstairs to check on Natalie does not always qualify for a star, much to Samantha's dismay!)

Here she is, with her Choose The Right Hero (think Flat Stanley and add church), after she made a wonderful right choice to clean up the living room...

Brian:
Hasn't been too busy at work lately. Maybe I shouldn't post that on my blog, in case some sneaky S&S spy is looking on here?? It's been slow these past few weeks, which is especially nice for me and the kids! We love having Daddy come home for dinner and bedtime. We could definitely get used to this!!

Here he is on the train with Natalie, on our way to the Children's Museum in Manhattan, a few weeks ago. (If I get more regular with my blogging, there are some fun pics of that outing I'd like to share. hopefully?)...

And me:

I'm... not sure what I've been doing? Not blogging. Not doing laundry. Not feeling very motivated in my more domestic roles lately. Guess I'm just enjoying the nice weather we've been having. 70s, people! Read a book outside for a couple of days, while the kids played and destroyed our house. It's been lovely. In fact, yesterday, when it was only 64, I was downright whiny, as I've been so spoiled to start expecting 70+ temps -- in MARCH!?! 

That's it for now, folks. I gotta get busy, packing us up to head to the beach for a picnic lunch today. (Again, I'm a little whiny because it's ONLY 64 right now... even though it'd supposed to get up to 75 by this afternoon.)

Ciao!

ps. a little funny story about "ciao." ... We all know that's Italian for "goodbye" -- right? Well, when I was a missionary, one day a set of elders called us, wanting to know the "secret code" a girlfriend had signed in all caps at the bottom of her letter. "It's gotta be something really cool," the elder said, "but I can't figure it out." Then he spelled out, "C. I. A. O." ... Check In After... No? Can I Ask Over... No? What could it be??! I sat on the phone with him, listening, wondering what in the world he was talking about. After 30 seconds or so, I wrote it on a piece of paper and immediately knew... Ciao. (sounds like chow, Mom.) I let the elder go on for another round or two... Church Is Another Opening... No? Cars In Around...
It's Ciao, Elder. Ciao! Ha ha!

Teething

My friend, Lindsay, just sent me this darling picture of Natalie. So, I thought it was a perfect time to share it and say a little word about teething. Oh boy! the JOY of teething! Dontcha kinda wish they could all come in at once, or at least kind of close to each other?!

Nope. Not Natalie's teeth.

We kept thinking she was teething when she'd get whiny and have a runny nose -- from about 8 months on. And... nothing.
For a looooong time.
Then, she eventually popped out that first one on the bottom at almost 14 months. And then one more on the bottom. Now we've been waiting, waiting again... FINALLY, two more on the top last month. Guess which two?

Her one-year-old molars. Right on schedule. So this kid has two tiny bottom cutters, and two molars on top.  Can you picture it? Is it as strange to you as it is to me??

Last week she finally cut a third molar, this time on the bottom. So now she actually has a pair that match up. Molars. So weird.

Now she's cutting her eye teeth -- the pointy ones on the sides, ya know? ... and nothing on top, front and center. Nice.

Apparently I teethed late as well, in a really strange pattern. Guess it runs in the genes. I'm just curious, has anyone else ever heard of anything so random, or is it just me and my baby?? :)

The Report

I've been not blogging lately. But then, I've come to look at other people's blogs a few different times, and it seems a lot of other people are also not blogging. Maybe it's the season?

Anyway, I realized I last wrote right before our fabulous two-week vifit home. And now that trip is more than two weeks come and gone! I haven't even given the report on the trip. So, for the record, it was WONDERFUL. We had such a nice time catching up with family, reconnecting with friends, and watching our kids get to play with so many cousins and friends.

The best part?

Brian didn't work. Not one bit. Should I repeat that??

He didn't work. And it was wonderful. And since we came back, things have been much lighter for him at work, which continues to make us all feel pretty "up" around here. There's no telling what's around the next corner, but we're loving the family meals, the prayers and wrestling together at bedtime, and the quiet "grown-up" time after the kids are asleep. All is well.

So, I thought I'd just put up a few random pictures from our trip. I didn't take many, but I'm sure you can imagine (or remember?) all the family get-togethers, the late nights snacking on unhealthy bits, the luxury of sleeping in our own king-size bed, for two glorious weeks. (Well, actually, I think we only slept in the bed five times, but I'm probably the only one counting, right?) Here's what we captured on digital film...

Relaxing at our home in Caldwell. Natalie especially loved her new, cushy booster chair, compliments of cousin Cole. (Just wish we could bring it with us back to NY!)...

Taking full advantage of the corner soaker tub. (And before you get too grossed out, they're all wearing undies, so it's more of a swim party than a real bath.)...

Enjoyed visiting with my Grandma Eva, and Grandpa Doug. Grandma Eva turns 89 tomorrow!! 89! We love them both so much!!

Spencer found some good BaBa time, and came back more attached to his finger and blanket than ever. Sigh. I know it's time to be done, but... well. Soon?

Discovering Uncle Wade's iPad. Spencer is a passive observer in this particular pic, but he certainly took his turn. And is now a computer addict...

We helped my parents clean out some storage rooms in the basement (hauled off three full truck loads of stuff to DI and/or dump! yay!), and found some old-time family treasures, like this family flag, from the Phelps Kids Reunion, when I was about 10, I think? Each picture represents one of the family members (mine is the music), and the fire is for all of us, or for camping, or something?? Notice the sweet pun of "Hone Sweet Home"...

 Watched Natalie enjoy her first unassisted Oreo cookie adventure. She loved it, and we loved watching her!

 Natalie was like a little baby celebrity. All the girl cousins LOVED coddling her, taking care of her, playing with her. She's being pushed in the doll stroller by Allie and Sammie, while Ella watches...

 More coddling the girlie...

 A shared birthday party for Spencer and cousin Bryson (they're eight days apart)...

 Complete with red velvet cake (Spencer's request, if you can believe!), on the couch with Grandpa...

 Another joint party with cousin Seth, complete with the traditional pinata...

 And the fight for candy...

We got a pic of Seth blowing out the candles (he's seven!), but I think Uncle Mark is took the pic of me holding the cake for Spence. I'll have to get it from him. Don'tcha love how Seth is wearing part of the pinata? heeehe.

And, that's it, folks. A wonderful trip.I cried when we locked up our house and left it sitting there, with our comfy couches, our beautiful piano, our carpet, our fun painted walls and decorations, and our king-size bed. Sigh. But it was good to get back to our NY home, too. Spring is on its way and we're LOVING it here! More to tell about what we've been up to these past few weeks. Stay tuned... (and hopefully I'll be back soon!)

A Vifit Home

When I first moved to Boston, way back when I was still a single lady, my cousin Leslie and my old roommate Jeanna came to see me for a few days. We walked the Freedom Trail, went to some of the historic sites in the area, and stopped in at a cool museum about the Minute Man Trail. There were all these old copies of letters and documents that people wrote back in the 1700s... very cool.

I was standing in front of a copy of one of these old letters, reading aloud for us about some of the founding fathers' intimate lives. I read along... something about "so-and-so came for several days to vifit."

"Vifit??" I turned to Les and Jeanna. "Vifit?? What's a vifit?"

They looked at me in confusion, then looked to the letter I was reading. ViSit. Yes, it actually said visit. But it was that old-time handwriting script, where the S actually looked like an F. We laughed and laughed, saying all kinds of things where we could use the word "vifit" -- so glad you guys came to vifit me... hahahah! I hope my parents come to vifit... hahahah! Maybe we should have some other vifitors join us... hahahah!

Kay, so maybe it was just funny to me. But it still is. So, I thought I'd let you all know... we're coming home to Idaho and Utah VIFIT ! Today!! Yay!

I hope we can get everything packed up, including all the medications my children are taking. Can I just tell you, it has been a week?!?!? As in, not so good, actually. It started with a vifit to the doctor for Spencer on Monday -- double ear infection, poor boy.

Next day we had to go get an x-ray of his adenoids, because they seem to be enlarged.

Then it was Natalie's turn. After two days of nearly constant screaming, we took her to see the doctor yesterday... double ear infection. And I thought those weren't supposed to be contagious!?! bleh. While we were there for her appt, the doctor told us there was a cancellation with an ENT, if we wanted to take Spence across the valley to get his adenoids checked out for real.

So, off we went to our fourth doctor's vifit... great ENT (if anyone wants a referral in NY?), but the whole wait-forever-to-see-the-really-great-pediatric-ENT was kind of a nightmare... Three kids, tiny room, lots of doctor's instruments and things NOT to play with, a screaming one-year-old who still feels crummy about her ear infection. More bleh.

And now? Good morning Samantha. What's that you say?? Sore throat? Fever?? Oh dear... off we go again! We fly at 6 p.m. I guess the bright side is that we have now every excuse to drug our kids for the flight. ha!!

Anyway, we're excited to come, and hope to be able to catch up with lots of family and friends while we're in the area... Fun times ahead!