So Watcha Been Doin' Down in F.L.A.? (part 2-May)

I was looking back at old posts and saw this one that was written back in February. Little did I know as we spent that month in Orlando while my husband worked, that we would be packing up and moving here less than three months later.
I have not been the best blogger since we got here, so this is my attempt to fill in some of the blanks since we arrived. I figured I'd start with May. The unpacking and getting settled are givens, but apart from that we...

Went to Sea World (yes, we love it there) for the opening of Manta, which is now officially my favorite roller coaster ever.

Ice sculpture at the event I couldn't resist taking a picture of....


Before we rode, we popped on into a nearby aquarium for a photo op...


We headed to the coast....

To find a good spot for our summer vacation...

We met up with old friends...


And I was glad Goofy and I talked that morning about what shirts we were going to wear...


Daddy helped each girl catch a lizard....


We said goodbye as we let each one go. This one ran home; but not before biting Savannah...
Mommy explored her favorite places she didn't have in Las Vegas....

Samantha turned four - and almost lost the "who can go the longest without talking" game....


Daddy's a Star Wars fan, so we couldn't miss this...


We met some of our new neighbors...



And as they left.....

We realized they couldn't read...

We drove in a lot of this....

But had fun in spite of the view....

We didn't mind because there was plenty of this....


And that concludes May.

16 of 52: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Each year we try to take the girls to a Halloween-Alternative event such as a Harvest or Fall Festival. We don't know if that is going to work out this year or not, so we were happy to have the chance to attend Mickey's Not-So-Scary event at Magic Kingdom. It was raining when we left the house so the kids didn't wear their costumes, but they got a lot of candy, visited with the characters who were out that night, rode some rides....We had a great time all around!

Many of the characters that night were wearing costumes, there was a special fireworks show, parade and a dance party with some very special guests!

And now I just have to try to stay away from this while the girls are at school!...

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

15 of 52: Magic Kingdom Express

We are not having "fall" weather yet - but we are experiencing some of the other perks of the season. Short lines at theme parks! Yaaa!
We are trying to take advantage of this time and go to one of the parks each week. If we plan it right, we can get there after school and still stick to a semi-reasonable bedtime. The kids think it's a great way to end a school day (obviously)...so do we, we just have to keep telling them that this lifestyle is not the 'norm'...
Great thing is, the last two times we were at Magic Kingdom, we were able to ride 7 rides in 2 hours...can't beat that!
I'm loving that all the parks are decorated for fall....that means Christmas decorations are just around the corner!

In our family, being tall enough to ride "Splash Mountain" is a Rite of Passage. Samantha finally made it!

It was so bright, I almost didn't get the shot...but if you look closely you can see them...they have their hands up...even Sammie!

A little wet after that...but worth it!

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

11 of 52 - Disney I Love You

Check out this great challenge on Carin's blog. It's addicting - and there's the added benefit of having more pictures with your family!

A couple of weeks ago we went on a Disney Cruise. I know there are a variety of opinions on Disney practices these days....but for our family, we have some of our best memories (both before kids and now) with Disney playing a big part! We had a great time....it was short, but jam-packed with fun (more pictures to follow). And yes, I did manage to get in on quite a few pictures!

So, we had fun....
But was it relaxing?
Absolutely!
Here's the proof...
I couldn't even get out of my seat to cut my daughter's waffles before our server started doing it!
Disney, take me away again!

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to another round of "Not Me! Monday" hosted by MckMama. I love participating in this weekly bit of craziness. More than that, I love reading about all the other things fellow Mommy bloggers "don't do"! Some of them are downright hilarious!

It has not been one month today that we packed up our family with 3 weeks' notice, and moved to Florida for a year. I do not spend waste time each day thinking about the areas of our house I left a mess because I just ran out of time to do it.

As a person who has always thrived on change and adventure I do not unexpectedly find myself having a much harder time adjusting to this move than I ever imagined.

I do not terribly miss my friends and family....especially since when I was in the same city with them we rarely found time to see each other as it was. Being busy and all.

Having spent a lot of time in Florida; I knew what I was in for on all counts...and I really do love it!
Yet, I do not find myself completely.freaked.out by all of the Florida 'wildlife' just outside our door. (Don't get me wrong; I am that woman who actually does like reptiles...it's the other creepy crawlies that get to me....or the fact that there are SO MANY of them!)

My husband is not absolutely loving frequent "bug hunts" with our girls. My sweet little princesses do not go crazy wanting to catch every bug they see now.


I did not have to draw the line on this one...

It does not take everything within me to hide my repulsion and sometimes sheer panic, as I try to act like it's fun to bring these home to leave on the doorstep after dinner...

Or think it's okay that they actually want to pet them...

You can tell by the photo I couldn't even hold the camera still!

I do not beg my husband to let them go (down the street, of course) so that I don't have to do it later doing a silly dance to keep them from jumping on me, embarrassing myself in front of our new neighbors.

I do not cringe at the thought of what else may be lurking in here!
I don't think it is all worth it...the missing loved ones...missing my house...unexpected adjustments...loneliness....and the 'wildlife', when I see moments like these because it really is great here....for all of us!

Happy Monday!