We're home

I planned to post more while we were on vacation, but it was too crazy and I was too tired at the end of the day. I took 780 photos while we were there. For real. So settle in and I will show you each one. Oh, you know I wouldn't do that to you. But here are a few of my faves.

Riley made this at home and brought it for me and David. I was touched by her gratefulness and told her it was so special to me and I would keep it forever. She said “Well, how ‘bout you put it on your blog?” So here ya go. If you can't read it, it says Thanks Mommy and Daddy for taking us to Disney World. I love you, Riley.

This dessert was called The Kitchen Sink. It was tons of ice cream, candy bars, cookies, every topping you can think of, and a whole can of whipped cream on top.



Cole and David after the Rapids ride.

Our delicate little princess. Isn't she sweet?

The kids turned our laundry basket into an in-room roller coaster.

This is during a rainstorm in front of the castle. Everyone was under shelters except for Cole. He ran in the rain and splashed in the puddles the whole time. At least he had the whole street to himself!

Watching fireworks.

Cole's reaction to finding out the one show he had been so excited about seeing was canceled for the week.

At Typhoon Lagoon getting ready to swim with nursing sharks and stingrays.

David was cast in the Indiana Jones stunt show.

Cole playing in the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground.




And finally, I've titled these last few selections All Done.






We had so much fun. But it's good to be home.

I think.

What? What's that?

Oh, you say you wish you could see a bunch of princess pictures? Well, I normally wouldn’t bore you, but since you’re begging…

We went to Cinderellas breakfast at the castle this morning. I may have taken a few shots of Riley. I’ll just show you a couple…

I took this one before we left the hotel.

Cinderella slippers, Riley-style.

Taking a picture of herself.

Honestly, what says elegant princess more than a big piece of bacon hanging out of her mouth during the magic wand ceremony.
Last one.

Oh ok, one more, but that’s it, understand?

It was a dream come true. And I think Riley enjoyed it, too. It reminded me of a scrapbook page I did when Riley got her first princess dress several years ago. I may have to find it and post it next week.

At the end of the princess breakfast when Riley asked if she got to keep the magic wand she had been given, her adoring father said something that touched my heart. “Yeah, you get to keep it. For what I paid for this meal, you should get to keep your chair.”

.

Ahh...magical.

I just have to show you this from tonight

It was just like I thought it would be.

I have a million other pictures I wanted to post tonight but the Cinderella post took longer than I thought and I really have to go to bed or tomorrow I will not be able to walk my new daily 46.3 miles with Cole pulling my arm out of its socket. I'll be back!

Cinderella, prepare your castle...

Here we come!

Mickey pedicures-check

House sitter-check

Kitty cuddler- check

1012 ziploc bags-check

We're outie. We'll be back in 11 days, but I think I'll post a couple of times while we are there. See ya then!

My heart is welling with joy

I'm packing for vacation. I'm not done yet, but I wanted to share this sight that is so beautiful that tears are beginning to sting my eyes.

If you know me well, you know what peace and contentment these individually packaged outfits complete with underwear and socks are bringing me. Look at them!

There will be no tornados of clothes tossed about the hotel as my kids try to decide what to wear for the day. There will be no lost underwear, no stolen socks, no t-shirts hanging from light fixtures.

Grab a bag for the day. End of story.

Oh peace.

My kids are not strange

No, this is not some kind of odd form of punishment.

Riley had a friend over for several hours the other day and after she left, Riley and Cole masking taped themselves together for an unusual amount of time.

I guess he was making sure he had her full attention again.

Or maybe she was claiming him back.

Either way, this my friends, is why we call them RiCo.

Some things I learned one year ago

I have a picture of Riley smiling on a cute inflatable whale in a pond. That picture sends chills up my spine every time I see it. At the time that I shot the photo, things in my world were happy and carefree. Moments later, they were a world from that.

September 9, 2007 will forever be etched in my heart. Our family had gone with David’s parents to a friend’s amazing ranch. Thank God we were with David’s parents. The plan was to swim, have a cookout, ride 4-wheelers and just have a great time.

That all came to a screeching halt when Garrett, with David on the back, lost control of a large 4-wheeler and plowed through a barbed wire fence. Right at neck level. The memory of the scene still effects me physically. Not because of the blood, which there was plenty of, but because of the fear and the uncertainty and the confusion. For a person who is not easily rocked, the “this can’t be happening” feeling was unfamiliar and horrifying. It was a scene that I won’t describe in detail here, but it was very serious, and I definitely didn’t know how my day was going to end.

It ended with a couple of hundred stitches that screamed a testimony of God’s mercy and grace. It ended with a new perspective. It ended with a lot of learning.

Here is about 1% of my list of things I learned that night.

I learned that when I call my sister and tell her not to panic, she doesn‘t follow my instructions. ;)

I learned that the sight of people I love waiting at the emergency room entrance as we arrived after the scariest trip of my life was like a having a warm blanket wrapped around me.

I learned that my parents can appear out of thin air. How did they get there so fast? Wait, I don’t want to know.

I learned that security is an illusion. Only God knows the real plan.

I learned that I am surrounded by love. I never had to worry about my other kids the whole time. I left them in the entrance of the ER in swimsuits. I don't even think all of them were there yet. Somehow they ended up in clothes, with art supplies, games and snacks because I am the luckiest girl in the world and God has blessed me with family and friends that I couldn’t in a million years deserve.

I learned that relationships are all that matter. Period.

And most of all, I learned that there is no time to waste because it can all turn on a dime.

On. A. Dime.

We are so not in control.

A few pics from Cole's fancy-pants birthday evening

Can someone please prescribe some antidepressants for these melancholy children? The silence...it's deafening.


If your six year old is at a public park in an infant swing with no shirt on...you might be a redneck.

Shawn? Shawn Johnson? Is that you?

I discovered this when Cole asked "Does anyone have a napkin?" A napkin? Really?

Garrett has never been able to use playground equipment correctly and he is now 13. I believe it's time for me to give up. I've fought the good fight.

Hey Bud! Where's Sissy?

I will love this picture forever and always.