Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hey there, Hi there, Ho there...

We're back from the land of big black ears. We had a great time in Disney last weekend with friends and family. So much to talk about - and nearly 100 pictures. (Don't worry I'm not posting them all!) Here's the synopsis - Thursday in the Magic Kingdom, princess lunch and all the rides. Everyone loved Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear the best. After dressing in her Belle gown for lunch, Hayley made a quick change for the afternoon and spent the rest of the day wearing her hat to the side and telling everyone she was a "gangstah". (Yep - not a gangster -- a gangstah...catch my drift?) The day concluded with Hayley doing one of her hula hooping numbers (singing the nifty 50 united states while twirling 2 hoops) for an large crowd awaiting the parade. Friday was spent at Hollywood Studios (no, she wasn't discovered...) followed by swimming with buddies Ben and Jeremy and dinner at Chef Mickey's. Saturday was spent at Animal Kingdom. Mom and Hayley did our family proud wearing our "just left the KOA" trash bags look for the water ride. At night we hit Epcot for the Japanese Steakhouse and a visit to the US and Norway. The geography buff in the family was in heaven! Saturday was back to Epcot. Hayley enjoyed the ride Soarin' the best -- especially the smell of the redwood forest. Just glad it wasn't followed by an encounter with the gulf stream waters....


At the airport -- getting ready!!!

Gettin' an early start at the Magic Kingdom. Love those Extra Magic Hours!

Gettin' LOTS of autographs!
Under the Magic Carpets ride...

Belle and Cinderella -- with cousin Claire at lunch.

After the post-lunch de-princessing...


Performing for the crowd.


Yep - they're ready for Christmas already there.

Dad and Hayley before Chef Mickeys. Hayley insisted on the Belle gown AGAIN!

Hayley and Pochahontas. A quick autograph followed by a geography discussion...

Jeremy, Cole and Ben loved the All Star Sports hotel!!!

Monday, November 02, 2009

Happy Boo Day...

Well -- we're all on the sugar high now!!! We had a fun Halloween. Unfortunately we had so few trick or treaters this year, that we came home with more candy than we gave out. So rest assured, this sugar high is going to drag on for a while!

Hayley had waffled on whether to be Belle or Snow White this year. In the end, she went out on a limb and decided to be a Fairy Princess Hula Girl. Say what? Uh huh! Cole - was a Twix bar. Hmmm... Momma's boy!

Hope you had a good Halloween too!








Now that's a MOUND of candy!!!
Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 12, 2009

A picture-less fall. :(

So sorry everyone - I have been AWFUL about the camera and have avoided long, run-on posts with no pictures. BUT - I now have one picture (not taken by me...) so we'll jump in with a post.

This fall has been great so far - but very busy. So much going on around here. Cole is in 3rd grade and, of course, would rather be doing anything but be in school. If they just taught math while chasing a ball on a field, we might have a fighting chance? He's playing both flag football and fall baseball this year. He enjoys both, but baseball is always his "passion". ;) He's now in the kid-pitch league. He's also made the spring travel baseball team - so we're all very excited! (Ask me again in April how excited I am, though, when we're spending hours every weekend driving to games!) The recruiters feel he's got a pretty good arm, so he'll likely be pitching in the travel league too. His favorite is playing catcher -- but he does enjoy pitching as well.

Hayley is enjoying school as always. She is in a Kindergarten/1st grade class at the montessori school and loves her teacher Miss Ali. It's been great to be in the combined class because Hayley has been able to track with a bridge group that moves at an accelerated pace through the Kindergarten curriculum. She's also started piano lessons and has a reperatory class this weekend where she'll play a piece called "Halloween" for all of her teacher's students. (Don't get too impressed, the piece only uses 2 keys...) And, she'll be starting back with ice skating in a couple weeks as well.

Well I've written enough to put everyone to sleep for sure... So, without further ado - here's the one picture from this fall. (I've convinced myself that it's okay that I don't take pictures because I can't get caught up on photo albums - but yes, even I think this is lame!)




Hayley at a birthday party at a local farm. She still ADORES horses - especially white ones!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Five (going on fifteen)...

Well - alot has happen in just a few weeks! Summer camp is over. Hayley had a super week off that included her fifth birthday. And now, she's nearly finished her first week of kindergarten. (It's the kindergarten/1st grade offered at the Montessori School -- she may well be doing kindergarten again at the public school next year...) She loves her new teacher and is enjoying having a class with 17 girls and only 3 boys!

Cole also started back to school -- for 3rd grade. He's not thrilled to be back -- but he has a very nice teacher and (although HE won't admit it) I think he likes to be back with his buddies daily and in the school routine...

Enjoy the pictures!


Cole dressed her up like a baseball player...


Having pre-birthday cupcakes at school.


Cole got her a Hannah Montana card that sings. That really IS the best of both worlds, don't you think???



Playing with Bendaroos!


Sporting her newest gown...


Dressed for the day - lunch and dinner out. Hayley's kind of day!


Posing with the pooch.


At the Japanese Steakhouse (of course!).


A post-birthday trip to the zoo.


It STINKS in the elephant house!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Vacation's all I ever wanted!

Last week we made the annual pilgrimmage north for vacation. It was a great week and the best weather we've had in a couple years. During our week we rode paddle boats/kayaks, swam, hiked, biked, and went to a water park. We also had fun seeing Gram and Grandad both directions on the trip and seeing Aunt Suzanne, Uncle Peter and Claire on the way there. Here are a few pics!


Heading out for a swim at the pond.


Cole decided to try to bury Hayley.



This is as far as he got...



Pretty flowers!



The princess on her way to dinner.



On our hike at the Cascade Path. Hayley decided to goof off in every one of my 6 picture attempts...



Dreaming of hitting those ski trails in the winter!



Off for another dinner at the end of our trip.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

A pool or a pond? A pond or a pool?

Still having fun but the summer is going by quickly! Enjoyed a great visit with Uncle Rory, Aunt Rebekah, Kirk and Campbell 2 weeks ago. Missed out on seeing Uncle Peter, Aunt Suzanne and Claire - but hoping for a "redo" this weekend. Cole is finishing up baseball camp this week -- always a highlight of the summer! Hayley is still in school, but has managed to find the time to become a hula hooping maniac. It's hilarious -- and she finds it so funny that NONE of the rest of us can master this skill. Get used to it Hayley...



At the water slide at the pool...I think they are so skinny that they can't shoot out of the end of the slide. Not enough weight...

Sorry for the sideways picture - forgot to flip it.

Good grief - another one sideways...On her way up the stairs. This slide is probably 30 feet high - Mom was a little nervous...

Hayley somehow managed to always flip around in the slide and come out feet first?



Posted by Picasa

Monday, July 20, 2009

Well - I remembered the camera this week! Voila - we have pictures. More of the same this week. Cole finished football and Hayley swam. We caught up with Stuart, Marcy, Lily and Jack on Saturday evening. This week is more camp and the last swim meet. Plus - a much anticipated cousin visit on the horizon! Enjoy your week. :)


THERE'S A


LOT OF


TIME TO


SIT AROUND AT


SWIM MEETS!!!


Getting ready for freestyle...


A few of the 6 & under girls --
Sam, Carolyn, Hayley, Ever and Adrienne.
Quite a crew! (Plus you can see how tiny Hayley is!!!)


On the way to Lily's house...


They charge extra for screens and storm windows.


More antics.


A fun (albeit wet) evening!