Family Trip to Disneyland

It had been a long, long time before we have gone on a family trip due to lots of medical issues these past 2 years. We started planning a trip to Disneyland 6 months ago and I just kept hoping and praying that all would work out for all of us to make it. AND the best news is, WE ALL MADE IT!

We had an awesome 3 days at Disneyland filled with lots of fun and adventure. It was great to spend some quality time together and so fun for the kids to be able to experience Disneyland with their cousins. 

Here are some of my favorite memories from our trip:

Roman was so excited for the plane flight. We haven't flown with him for over a year. He immediately got in his seat (with his elephant) and put on his seat belt and just wanted to look out the window the entire time. My favorite quote from him, "Look Mom the clouds are in the ocean." Love his innocence. 

We got to the hotel and all the kids wanted to do was go to the pool. Thank you Grammy and Papa for swimming with them. 

These 4 rascals are just too much. They all wanted to take a bath together. Pretty hilarious and so sweet!

Roman's Mickey Mouse Ears. Balloon Artists are the BEST entertainment at restaurants.

My mom rented a scooter at the last minute and it was such a blessing. It gave her freedom and the energy to keep going. The kids loved it too! 

Goofy and the boys

Minnie and the girls. Paisley was starstruck. 

We've never been to Disneyland during Halloween, so I loved seeing all the decor. They do an amazing job making everything so festive.

The castle is always so magical. 

My loves! 

Always a favorite with my kids

Love this pic of Paisley and her Grammy

Scott is so adventureous. Love this pic with him and Uncle Jay's hands up. 

Most random moment...meeting Aladin. He is in this random room and not a very popular attraction. We tried to keep in the giggles

Got in a few adult rides with Jay. Thank you to Grammy and Papa 

for bringing the kids back to the hotel for naptime. 

Kira LOVED the teacups. The faster the better.

It's A Small World with Blake

Cars Land is AWESOME! 

Dinner at Flo's V-8 Cafe was great

Luigi's Tires 

Bumper Bugs

Pop and Tyler are always a good team

These 2 are the best pals. So nice for the girls to have each other among all the other boys

One of my favorite rides, The Little Mermaid

Ice cream break in Toon Town

Mickey walked by and stopped to give Roman a kiss on his nose. He was in heaven

My kids favorite, Pluto

Tom Sawyer's Island is the coolest! The kids loved the treehouse

Winnie the Pooh

Small World 

Ready to go flying

Roman's favorite ride, The Haunted Mansion (surprising)

Least favorite ride, The Jungle Cruise. It was the only ride he got scared on. Something happened at the end where the driver yelled as something jumped out of the water and he was freaked out. So happy that he enjoyed everything else. 

Another favorite with our kids, Buzz's Astroblasters

We got front row seats to the parade. We loved it! SO magical

Until next time Disneyland. 

We just love it here and can't wait to head back. 

Going thru all these photos makes me want to book another trip soon.

THANK YOU Nana and Pop for the vacation.
It was so special and something we will remember forever. 

Paisley Celebrates Turning Two with Pooh

 "Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

I actually asked Paisley this year, what kind of Birthday cake do you want. Her response was Winnie. I  asked her Minnie? And she said, No Winnie. I couldn't have been more excited. Secretly, I had a Winnie the Pooh collection as a kid and it will always hold a special place in my heart. PLUS...it is such a fun theme to work with.

Just a few pics of the decor and than more importantly lots of fun party pics.

 Party favors were sidewalk chalk with a bear lollipop and the little ones got Disney Board Books.

 Colors of gold and red were perfectly in season for Fall.

 Our little snack table with Honeycombs, gummy bears and other natural treats.

OK...and now on to the FUN.
I found Patches McFlenderhousen (he confirmed it was a stage name) to bring his train to give some neighborhood rides. I wasn't so sure if Paisley would be that into it, but thought the older kids would love it. Turns out Paisley rode it all 5 times and never got off. The train was adorable and drove around the streets for about 10 minutes per trip. It played music, blew bubbles and was adorable.

Fun with the Grandparents 

So blessed with special friends

Paisley's 1st friend of her own, Harper. 

The Chapman Family

Lots of fun friends

 Hi Patches! This guy is AWESOME!!! 

The train seats 18, so it gave all the kids an opportunity to ride a few times. 

 Adorable Honey Family

 Happy Girl jumping on the trampoline. 

Sidenote: Her pearls were an accessory picked out from her Daddy. 

 Nana and Blake enjoying some fun at the party. 

My college girls and Carson

Pop designed another cake to perfection. For some reason Winnie the Pooh cake pans are no longer sold, so my parents found this on Amazon. THANK YOU to my Dad who went above and beyond to help me setting up for this party. He was my assistant and I couldn't have done it without him.

Ready to make a wish and blow our her candles.  

 These 2 are always having fun together.

 Roman just wanted to hang out with Tyler all day long. After our family vacation, I think he went thru Tyler withdrawals. My kids are so lucky to have such special cousins. 

Paisley and Kira are so blessed to have each other. These girls stick together and have girly fun among all the boys. Paisley looks up to "Kiki" and I love seeing the 2 of them play together.  

Happy Birthday Paisley! You are such a cuddly little bear and it was such a special day 

celebrating the special little girl that you have become. 

2 Years Old

Little P turned 2 (or 3 as she tells people) on Oct. 5th. We had a simple day of celebrating since it was on a Friday, which is our free day. She woke up happy, which she does 95% of the time. I made pancakes (her fav) and let her and Roman open 1 present each. The rest we kept until Jason got home from work that night. We went to the park with some special friends and headed out to a simple dinner when Jason got home.

 I always like to decorate our kitchen table with all the presents, so when the kids wake up and walk into our living room this is the 1st thing they see. Then I begin to torture them by only allowing them to open 1 present until their Dad gets home from work. I'm sure this will change as they get older and don't comply as easy with my rule. Ha ha.

A perfect afternoon to be spent at the park.

Paisley,
I can't believe that you are 2 years old. Where did the time go when my little baby girl turned into a toddler? You are an absolute angel. You bring peace and happiness to each and every day. You are a happy, happy little love. You wake up with a smile on your face and are ready to start your day.

You like doing anything your brother is doing and he truly is your best friend. He sometimes likes to annoy you and your response is usually a bonk on the head. It really is the only time I have needed to give you a timeout and you were happy to be one. You can be shy to new people, but are also very social with friends that you are familiar with. You like going to church, playing with friends and being at My Gym. I think you wish you were in Preschool, but I enjoy our alone time on those days Roman is at school.

You have an infectious laugh and your chuckle is loud and full. You are a Daddy's Girl at heart and get so excited when he gets home from work. You like to wrestle with him and keep up with anything him and Roman are doing. You always say, "Me Turn". You are pretty coordinated and can kick the soccer ball really good. I have a feeling you are going to be our little athlete of the fam.

You love playing with Play doh, cars, trains, scooting around on your plasma car, pretend shopping with your shopping cart, cuddling with your stuffed animals and running around being silly. You are still not into watching movies, but will watch an episode of your favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Your favorite characters are Minnie Mouse and Winnie the Pooh. Currently you are obsessed with spotting buses driving around town. I know we need to plan a bus ride soon. You love going to My Gym and are such a good listener. You love to participate and always eager to volunteer to go 1st. My biggest challenge with you is you don't like to be left alone in any room in the house. Over 6 months ago, you got freaked out when you were playing in our living room and saw the gardner in our sunroom. Since then I find it nearly impossible to go into any room without you as my little shadow (and we have a tiny house.) I'm working on this one, but we have a ways to go.

You are talking so much more and even though your little voice can be so quiet, I can typically figure out what you are trying to say. You still tell people your name is "Baby" since Roman called you that for the first 18 months of your life. Everyone finds it pretty cute at My Gym that you introduce yourself as "Baby" during circle time.

Your easy going personality makes life easy on us. You are flexible with change and just go with the flow. You are such a beautiful girl and we are so proud to be your parents. We wish you a Happy and Fun year of being TWO. We know that it is going to be filled with love, joy and happiness.
Cheers Sweet Love!

Roman 3.5

Roman is right around 3 1/2 years old. WOW! Time sure does fly by and sometimes I look at him and just can't believe what a big boy he is. I am loving this age. Life seems pretty easy (for the most part), other than his occasional temper tantrums that are screaming fits at the top of his lungs. But for 95% of the time, he is so sweet, chatty, funny, silly, imaginative and loving.

Roman started the 3's program at Walnut Avenue Preschool. He lucked out and got 2 amazing teachers. Miss Paulina and Miss Helen (his teacher from last year). Both these women are so loving, sweet and perfect for his gentle personality. He actually looks forward to school now and is so comfortable there. I love the nurturing feeling of the school and how it just feels like home. Miss Helen told me that he is a totally different child from last year and is really talking a lot at school. I always wish I could be a little fly on the wall to see what he does at school. He enjoys artwork, playing outside, singing and most importantly...SNACK TIME. I have started to notice some things he is picking up from other kids at school like saying, "Shut Up" and "I'm going to shoot you." I know this is just the beginning. YIKES! They are so impressionable.

Roman is really getting into imaginative play. It really is his favorite thing to do. He loves his new doctor kit and Paisley is the perfect patient. He is very nurturing and always concerned with how everyone is doing. He definitely inherited my empathic soul.

I just love this picture since it captures his true spirit. He takes EVERYTHING in around him. He notices it all and remembers everything. He is the type of child that tells me things that I hardly remember from weeks before. Sometimes I think his mind goes a mile a minute and I wish it would slow down just a little. He is always wondering WHY and HOW. It can be very hard for him to relax and even take an hour to unwind. It looks like he is going to be a lefty, which we have been thinking for a long time. Just like his Pop.

Our little engineer. Roman has loved building things since he was 6 months old. These toys "Magna Tiles" are AWESOME! He could play with them for hours and I'm so impressed with what he builds.

These 2 love each other so much. He is such a good big brother and loves her like no other. (YES...they also have their moments, but for the most part there is so much love between the 2 of them). He likes to give her squeezes, chase her around the house and I know it will just keep getting better. Roman can be pretty shy and apprehensive to new situations and Paisley is always there as his comfort. I like that she gives him that. What an awesome gift.

Other new things include starting Promiseland Preschool at St. Matthews. Now that he is 3, he was able to start going to Sunday School at church. I was worried about the transition since he was leaving Paisley in nursery (and all the cool toys) and moving on to more of a classroom setting, but he walked right in and sat down with a smile. I was so proud! For him this was so HUGE. This is a boy where transition has always been tough and to see him so comfortable and confident made me so happy. Happy that he was happy. The best part is when I picked him up and asked him what did you learn, he then said, "Nothing can separate us from God's Love," by Roman Walter Maddox. (The verse was from Romans, how appropriate). I couldn't believe he memorized the verse in just an hour, but he has a photographic memory. Definitely not inherited from me.

He loves spending his special time with both sets of grandparents. Mondays are with Betty and Bob and Thursdays are with my parents. I love seeing their special relationships. What a blessing to have both sets of grandparents so close by.

Roman,
Thank you for bringing us so much joy! We love you so much and are so proud of you. You are such a good big brother and always looking out for Paisley (or Paze Paze as you like to call her). You are always full of so many questions and I wish I had the answer to them all, but sometimes you even stump me. We are so proud of you and we know that it takes a lot of courage for you to try new things. We hope you always know just how special you are. I love that you have good manners and are can be so nurturing and affectionate. I always hope you ask me and Paisley for one extra kiss and hug when I leave you at school, like you currently do now. We love to see you smile and can't wait for many more fun adventures ahead.