Florida Bound!!

Well, so much for posting every day :). We had to go get a cord so that we could hook up to the internet in our condo. We had a great flight yesterday. Total flying time was 2 hours and 2 minutes!! That's how to get to Orlando :)! The kids did great. There were 40 kids on the flight so I wasn't quite as nervous about them getting too loud. When we got into the airport in Orlando, Lydia looked around in awe and said, "It's like a castle." (We flew into the little airport here and it didn't look festive AT ALL) I think she was just really excited about getting to Disney World. For the last few days she would cry when we pulled into the driveway and say, "I not need go to my house. I need go to Disney World." When we got into the rental she was concerned about driving a car that wasn't ours. For the first 10 minutes she kept saying, "But it's not my car." We were late getting settled and to bed so we relaxed this morning and took our time getting to the park. I'll post those pics tomorrow!

Here they are before checking in at the airport. Lydia had security down! She plopped down (in the middle of everyone) and took her shoes off. Zane was showing her the airplanes.Getting ready for take off. She never even looked up from her book when we took off. When we landed she just looked up at me and smiled :).We had to get the kid snack pack. Who doesn't love a cookie that you can color with edible ink?!Enjoying a movie.We made it! One of Harrison's friends (and his mom is the librarian at Vandergriff so that was a double bonus) was on our flight. This was taken when we got to the condo. It was late and we were tired. She climbed up in the chair and said, "I hungry. Make me some dinner." I honestly have NO IDEA where that came from. She is usually really sweet and always concerned about everyone being happy (she'll ask you if you look like you might not be!) but she is a little sassy, too. Mommy doesn't go for that! (I did turn my head and laugh. We were all exhausted!) Ahhh. Cheerios and milk in her Minnie pajamas and panties. What a great way to start a Magic Kingdom day :)!!

Jumping, Soccer, and A Little Karaoke!

Tomorrow we are flying to Orlando!!! Lydia has a runny nose and cough so I'm praying that she will be better by tomorrow night. The boys are great on planes but Lyddie has never been on one. Please say a little prayer for us :).I am hoping to post some pics while we are there. Here are few catch up pics over the last couple of weeks.

I took her out to jump on the trampoline. She LOVED it. She kept saying, "I jump really high, Momma. I jump really really high!!" Over and over and over again. It was hilarious. I should've gotten my video camera (not that I would know how to post that on here!). We were watching Harrison's soccer game. Zane makes a great horsey!We measured him a couple of days ago and he's 5' 6 1/2" and is wearing Jared's size 11 soccer shoes. It was exciting to watch him pass all of his aunts and grandmas but NOW he's almost as tall as me. Not funny anymore :). It's the weirdest feeling to look your son in the eye. When I went into his bathroom the other day he had some of his old lego people laying on the sink next to his deoderant and body spray. I almost cried. It's like that transition from boy to man was staring me in the face. I'm not quite ready for it :).We had a little family karaoke night. Jared bought some discs with kid songs. Lyddie and Harrison loved it.

Pepperoi Pizza Dip

You really have to try this. It is so fast and easy to make and there is NEVER any left over! I don't have any pics of it right now. I make it all the time! Thanks Carrie for the recipe!!

Pepperoni Pizza Dip
(This amount makes enough to fit into a pie plate. I really recommend doubling it and putting it in a 9x13. You'll be happy you did :).)

1 8oz.pkg cream cheese; softened
1/2 c. sour cream
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 crused red pepper (I used cayenne pepper)
1/2 c. pizza sauce (I didn't measure it)
3oz pkg. pepperoni; chopped (I buy the mini pepperoni and you don't have to chop them.)
1/4 c. green onion; chopped (I don't use these. If you do let me know!)
1/2 c. mozzarella; shredded
scoop fritos

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, and spices. Spread into a pie plate. Spread pizza sauce on top and add pepperoni and green onion. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Top with cheese and bake for another 5-10 minutes (until the cheese is melted). Serve with fritos.

"Just Random Stuff"

As I was tucking Harrison in tonight, he was telling me about running laps around the track at school today for P.E.. He was saying that he was jogging (because they had to run SO far) with one of his friends. I asked if they talked while they ran and he said that they did. I asked what they talked about and he said, "You know, just random stuff." I've never heard him use the word random :). So here are a couple of random things from the last couple of days that I want to remember :).

Yesterday, Lyddie walked into my room and saw my SUPER SOFT blanket folded up. She picked it up and said, "This your green blanket Mommy? It's soft. It's like my pillow. I have it please." It was on of those moments (I've had several lately) when I stop and look at her with my mouth open and think, "I can NOT believe my baby has turned into a little girl." She talks so much all the time and uses very complete sentences. It's just going too fast ;).

She loves to sing. She sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (which Jared and I have BOTH decided is our new favorite song :)) and barely misses a word. She also sings Jesus Loves Me and my favorite part is, "He is STRRROONGG" complete with flexing her muscles. Tonight she was playing this little drum while singing and she would reach down and hit the bell that is attached. She'll be a performer!

Zane is playing open league basketball and is really doing great. He started off more timid than in the regular season (new coach and new players...) but has become so much more comfortable. They played the hardest team (by a VERY long shot) in the league tonight and WON. Ok, so it was 4 (them) on 5 (us) and we had three subs but we still won! In overtime (yes we went to overtime- we have a great little team, they are just THAT good) with the whole gym watching and cheering, Zane hit both of his free throws without even looking nervous. I LOVE that about him. If I had half of his "calm" I'd be thrilled. The Lord knew what I needed in a first child :).

Harrison has been especially sweet over the last few days. He's my sensitive kid. If Jared and I have to take separate vehicles to a game he always rides home with the person that would be alone because he doesn't want them to be lonely. He's just sweet and thoughtful (usually :)). He has given me so many spontaneous hugs and "I love you mom"'s over the last few days that my heart could just bust. He's a unique little man!! I hope and pray that he keeps his sweet nature.

No pics. Just "random stuff". Have a great weekend :)!

First Haircut!!

We have been ON THE GO lately! Both boys are playing basketball and now soccer has started. It's always wild when the seasons overlap (and wild doesn't even capture it right now). If anyone has any easy and tasty crockpot recipes I would LOVE to have them!! We're having fun tho (if we could just stay healthy)! The infamous stomach bug has been making its way through our house so that's added to the excitement ;). On Monday, Vandergriff had a special skate time for the kids. It was GREAT! Harrison couldn't stay on his feet but he never got mad! I was so proud of him for that. He would laugh and get up and try again. I pray that he can keep that mentality for the rest of his life :). I didn't get pics of him skating. I forgot my camera in the car and I had him and Lydia by myself at first. By the time I got my camera he had moved to the video games. I was surprised by how much fun Lyddie had! Jared got her some little skates and she LOVED it. He tried to take her to the carpet at one point and she said, "No Daddy. I got out there." and pointed to the rink. LOVE IT!

This girl was not scared!On Tuesday, Lyddie got her FIRST haircut. She did really well. I've been told that getting it trimmed up will make it grow faster. I hope so ;)!

Before:

If you wet it, she has pretty little curls. We were obviously in a hurry that morning and had been in the car seat :).This is still a before shot. It's a little hard to tell ;).This is the only "after" that I had on my camera. I didn't realize it until I downloaded them.That afternoon, she got hit with that nasty bug. She got sick twice but hasn't acted like she felt bad. Harrison was the same way. STRANGE! These are from this morning. I guess when you're sick you get to run around naked and let your mom feed you soup in your Tinkerbell chair while you watch cartoons :).Last Friday, we had Memaw's (Jared's mom) birthday party here. This is her and all of the grandkids (minus Courtney and Lydia).This is Jared's mom and dad, sibs, and grandma.

BIG Girl!

I've been scared to post this for fear of jinxing it but...Lyddie is wearing PANTIES!!! She is doing so great with it. I am very proud of her! It just seems so weird when I'm doing laundry and I come across these sweet little panties. I know very soon it will just be laundry but right now I get so excited when I see them in there :). Goofy, I know! One story that I don't want to forget...Jared heard her up the other morning and went to get her out of bed. He said that she was standing there in tears trying not to pee in her diaper (I won't be brave enough to do panties at night for AWHILE-not matter how well she is doing!). I heard him talking to her so I walked up. He had about five pairs of panties laid out and he was asking her which pair she wanted to wear. So sweet! She is such a sweetie right now! I told Jared that she's my little cheerleader :). I was ironing a shirt the other day and when I finished she said, "Yay Mommy! Mommy all done?" Sometimes she'll ask, "Mommy happy?" I tell her that I am very happy and she asks, "I hug you?" Her new thing right now (which I am not so fond of) is "Stop it Mommy." I tell her not to be hateful and she'll say, "Stop it please Mommy." We have to learn that you can't always add please and make it nice :). She's growing up too fast. Maybe it's because she is (probably-never say never) our last baby. Here's an attempt to record what she's doing right now. I'm drawing a blank since I didn't plan to list things but at least it'll help me to remember SOME of it (I haven't even opened her baby book in a year!):

-Wearing panties!!

-Talking in complete sentences. She has quite a vocabulary!

-Knows her shapes and colors.

-Knows her letters and letter sounds.

-Can count to around 14 (11-14 aren't always really clear).

-Has to pray before going to bed and loves to sing Jesus Loves Me! The other day we were talking about something (I think it was snow) and she said "Jesus made it."

-LOVES raw veggies (like her brothers). We went to eat lunch with Harrison and he was sharing his broccoli and cauliflower with her. The dad sitting across from us asked HOW I got them to do that. It was funny! I have to give her carrots and ranch last or she won't eat anything else. She likes the bad stuff, too. She'll shut herself in the pantry and get the chips out!

This is random but this is what I saw when I was walking upstairs to wake Zane up this morning.Isn't it pretty?! I love mornings after I've been up for about 10 minutes :).

January 2010

January has been fun but BUSY. I think (and hope) that's the way it's going to be for a long time so I may have to do these random catch up posts :). Both of the boys are playing basketball so that keeps us running. I realize that there are NO pictures of Zane in this post! I feel terrible but I just didn't have any :(. He was at a friend's house on these rare occassions when I had my camera.

After dinner one night, Harrison had an Art Party. He set it up in his room and we came in and did projects. We had SO much fun!! Jared reading up on how to make the best sock puppet :). Our pool froze over during that really cold period. It was frozen enough for a cat to walk on and three crazy adults to stand on (Jared, Matt, and Lynn!!!!). They were "careful" and stood right at the edge :). Mary Poppins??This was Harrison's FIRST EVER basketball game. He was very serious about it. Jared was giving him some pointers before he went in. This will probably be the ONLY year that he will let Lydia come and give him a hug while he's sitting on the bench with his friends. She saw him and started crying and saying, "My Bubba. I hug him!!" She cried hard. They just love each other. I know I say this all the time but both of the boys are so great with her. Her and Harrison butt heads a little but not bad. She walked in with a new dress on yesterday and he jumped out of his chair and hugged her and said, "Lydia, you look SO beautiful!" Several of Harrison's friends are on his team. He loves that!My nephew, Carter, turned 2 this month and they had his party at Gymboree in Bentonville. Lydia LOVED it. If we lived closer we would definitely be going to some classes. I didn't get any great ones of the birthday boy. That's my mom and dad. They are SO great. They have NINE grandkids and manage to make it to everything (AND love doing it). They looked like they were having so much fun doing the parachute. I thought it was a cute pic :). My dad is the biggest kid at heart. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I love that they bought a new house and immediately turned the extra rooms into play rooms for the kids. They have a playroom with a ping pong and pool table AND a separate WII room :). That's one of the only pictures that I had of Carter!