Just us - there’s a little of the before, but mostly it’s the after...: May 2013

All done with Disney World and heading to vacation spot number two. Addie asked all last night to "Go home". My baby is exhausted! She just took a two hour nap in the car. That is a first! Julien said he was both happy and sad to be leaving Orlando. It gives me a lot to ponder for our next vacation.

Better Day!

Addie was less anxious today and we had very few tears. Each new ride required lots of reassurance, but Addie did great! Julien had a fantastic day as well and didn't mind that most of our time was spent on various choo-choo's. It was rather hot today and it must be the heat that is driving people mad. Despite the heat and crazies, we enjoyed each new and old adventure. We shut down Magic Kingdom tonight and we are all exhausted, but ready to tackle the day ahead of us tomorrow.

Day at the "Zoo"

Day two was better than day one. Monkus loved seeing the animals today, but she was still anxious. She was the happiest when she was in her stroller with her baby (and new hat), and just people watching. We lunched with Donald Duck, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy. We somehow managed a family photo with Donald and then Addie had no problem holding up her hand, telling the other characters, "No" and "Bye". We made the mistake of going to the conservation center, where we saw the animal hospital. Addie was so concerned with the hospital that we couldn't get her to pay attention to anything else. Once we managed to convince her to leave the viewing window, all she wanted to do was, "Go home". Julien is just going with it all. Tomorrow will be better. We have a very busy day ahead of us!

Day One

Challenging.
That sums it up.

Addie had a really, really rough start.
Sensory overload.

She was awake by 5:30 and pretty much cried off and on for the next six hours.

The day did get better.

This morning she is so ready to ride the bus and go to the "zoo".
I fully expect today to be awesome - Addie loves the zoo!

Asylum

8.5 hours in and Addie has asked at least one time every five minutes, "Where we going?".
Good news is, she isn't crying.

Finally

Vacation has arrived!

I am incredibly blessed to have friends and family who love to house sit and stay with our kitties.

It makes such a difference not to have to board our pets while we are away

and

despite my family's lack of love for our feline children,

a few days and night will provide a fantastic bonding opportunity.

They will learn to love one another.

We are so thrilled to have a few days away!!!!

Of course I will be posting the smallest mind-numbing details.

That's what I do.

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day

and

remember those who lost their lives fighting for the freedom we currently hold so dear.

Kitchen Helpers

One little helper and one huge hindrance.

We couldn't get one thing done because Rudy was trying every route possible to get to the kitchen sink.

The cat has some very serious addiction issues with water.

May 18, 2013

That's a Wrap!

Kindergarten 2012/2013

and

8th Grade

That's a wrap!

Monkus has an ear infection, and the timing is awful.

Julien and Addie both were rather compliant with picture taking.

I think they were too exhausted to really care.

What a difference a school year can make!

My Little Monkey!

Working so hard - with lots of support from her friends!

Fun Day at School

Addie's fun day at school...really was a lot of fun.

Addie jumped with her sweet friends

and went down the slide with her teacher.

She waited patiently in line for her turn.

However, the highlight of the day was when Addie showed off her amazing new climbing abilities!

With limited assistance from Addie's teacher's, she made it all the way up to the very top of the slide, time and again

and the climb was quite aways up!

I went specifically to watch Addie climb the slide and to witness how absolutely amazing she is and how hard work definitely pays off.

I am so proud of my little Monkey!

After the slide, Addie sweetly walked with her friends over to play games.

She may not have mastered the art of hula hooping, but

she sure did have a great time trying!

Addie - and her shy little self - required a bit of coaching in order to take her snow cone from one of the dad's.

After overcoming her shyness, it became all about the ice, despite the horrid Alabama heat and bugs.

~~~

May 22, 2013

Aloha!

Aloha Monkey all ready for her fun day at school.

The little show off even took a moment to do the hula before heading out the door.

~~~~

May 17, 2013

Can We Say Drama!?!?!?!?

We had just finished dinner tonight and was in the midst of cleaning the kitchen, when Julien and Addie made their way into the living room.

Julien turned on the television and moments later, I heard Julien tell me that I should probably avoid the living room for a few minutes because he was watching Bear Grylls and there was some halfway inaudible talk of Bear eating an eyeball.

No need to tell me twice...

I kept right on tidying up and out of my peripheral vision, I saw Monkus coming straight toward me.

I could tell from the look on her face that she was choking and I went into full on troubleshooting/first aid mode.

I was a split second from beating the poor child on her back when I realized that her color was still fully intact and the situation, while similar to other choking incidents, was not quite the same.

I took a moment to reassess the situation and noticed that while Addie's color was beautifully perfect, she was still making motions with her mouth that led me to believe she was choking.

I asked her what she had in her mouth and that was when she pointed into the living room.

I told her to "show me" and as we walked that way - her still "choking", she pointed right at the television as Bear was eating yet another immensely grotesque half alive reptile.

Oh my goodness, it was hilarious!

Addie has never been "grossed out" by anything - ever - but this apparently got her!

Chris, Julien and I definitely love having this experience with our little dramatic primate - she definitely had our hearts racing!!

Arctic Park Conditions

It is May and at the beginning of the month, we experienced intermittent moments of Arctic air.

That, of course, did not stop us from exploring the outdoors and getting in some much needed play therapy.

Addie was freezing, but kept going full force.

From the slides

to the swings, she was all about taking care of her baby.

She took a few moments to explore the inner depths of the rocky mountain

and with help from Chris and me, she managed several rounds on this little gem.

She even worked up the nerve to go back to the scene of the accident that occurred just a few weeks prior.

I will leave out the details to minimize highlighting my Mother of the Year award that I should display along with Julien's Brother of the Year award

and

just say that this poor little Monkus ended up with a nasty bruise on her hip

and

once again,

realized that she can not fly.

After testing out the safety of the pogo stick, Addie decided to give it another try.

She is such a brave girl!

~~~

May 5, 2013

Putting It Into Words

I have known since before Christmas, and really since August, but some things are are not for public consumption until I decide the time is right.

Or, until somebody forces me to make the time right.

We had just finished dinner at the falls and were on our way out when we stopped to talk with someone.

During the course of the conversation, I was asked what grade Addie would be in next year.

That is when it hit me.

I would actually have to take part in a conversation that I had successfully avoided for a good six months.

The answer to the question was, "Kindergarten".

Yes.

Addie will be in Kindergarten again next year.

I knew it was coming even before she started this school year.

I had zero hesitations and readily agreed that it was truly the very best decision for Addie.

It wasn't until I had to say it out loud to someone outside of my inner circle, that I had a few days ~~almost a week now~~ of panic over my decision.

Addie staying in Kindergarten another year is the very best decision for her.

Now, I am finding myself having to work through the emotions of it all.