still no camera...

my sad camera is still being fixed. so for now, go check out thevintagepearl.blogspot.com. it's her birthday and she's doing a giveaway!!

more birthday and some rhody...

gosh, i LOVE that face...

my sweet girlfriends.

waiting for food...

other friends...

blowing out the cake...

friends...

some rhody friends... a girls' night out...

and the beach bounce moms... some of us anyway. sadly, it closed today for the season. we LOVED going there on mondays to let our kids expend an overwhelming amount of energy!

i am so blessed... and am learning and living that God is in the details. the big details and the tiny little details. He knows it all. He is not a God of coincidence, but intentionality. so reassuring.

randomly, i was looking at houses this week in HI. i happened to see one listed that looked familiar. i visited it 7 years ago when i went to see my dear friend in hawaii. sadly, it was rented by the time i called today about it.

i got a lot done today. i did $250 worth of grocery shopping... hopefully the last big one before we leave... at least the last big stock-up. i got dinner made for tonight and tomorrow night. checks cashed for the "business". phone calls made that needed to be made. a playdate. dishes done. laundry done. house organized a bit more. stuff thrown out (careful... i am in "cleaning mode wife" mode... david is scared!). trying to feel like i have a handle on my life!!

last night, i got 10 new bags cut out, and they are waiting to be sewn. hopefully, they will be done soon and i can launch my new website! i have some fun new things waiting... including a logo being worked on by a friend (and professional!)

tonight, that was my plan... but i got started on a bachelorette party instead.

last night, nora told me she wanted to put herself in bed. i watched her organize her dress, hanging on the back of her door, unders and shoes underneath that dress, and then she closed the door. i watched as she tried to open the door without moving her "stuff". it was so cute. she decided she did need a story from me, first. but, she was so particular about how her stuff was, and having it laid out for the morning! it was precious.

a par-tay!

my attempt at a bob and larry cake... i forgot to leave out some white frosting for the eyes and mouth. i think i would have been happier then. at least jamey was happy! (and, this is where my creativity runs out... i can sew, i can't decorate cakes!)

the birthday boy! when the party first started, all the friends were upstairs (okay, they are mostly nora's age, except g.), and jamey was downstairs playing by himself...

he did, however, love being the center of attention for "happy birthday". he clapped and cheered when everyone was done!

auntie sarah and nora... it was so much fun to have the hailes down here for the night. the adults went out last night (second time i have left jamey on his birthday), and had a wonderful evening out! MIL was SUCH a wonderful help getting ready! so thankful. i didn't have too much food (a presley family trait), and everyone seemed to have fun. a dear friend took some pictures for me, since our camera is still in the shop. and of course, the hailes took some, too!

it was fun to have our sadie dog here for the night, too! she has lyme disease and couldn't walk earlier this week. thankfully, she seems to be fine and will make a full recovery! that's the birthday review!

my jamey baby

from jamey's ultrasound (lest there be any confusion!)

in labor, on the way to the hospital... thanks chels for getting the pic! and what a nice labor it was... i was just reliving it with a friend. i loved being able to do it without the epidural. it was wonderful!

my newborn baby boy!

check out those feet... i forgot what they first looked like!

she loved him from the start!

sweet, sleeping baby boy!

i love that "cheese"! and i love that he loves to pose for them!

my sweet jamey baby. i can't really call you that anymore. my sweet jamey boy. you are SUCH a boy. so grown up. so BIG! i can't believe how fast two years has gone. i can't believe the things you say and do! you are such a joy to me. such a charmer to those around (when you aren't throwing temper tantrums...). people who know your whole story will look at you and say, "what a miracle baby". i forget all that we have been through. i forget that they told us at 20 weeks that you would have shortened femurs and have to have surgery at puberty to correct it. and they were wrong. that there were so many uncertainties for varying lengths of time when i was pregnant, and about the details of you. i forget that you had club feet. even though i still put you in your bar every night. i forget what your casts were like. how long the process seemed then, and how fast it went by! i had to retell the orthotics guy the other day, and he was amazed at my memory of it, but it was so long ago! look at how you run and play. constantly moving.

you currently love all this "chars", "buzz" or "bob and larry". you love to crash things. and hold "chards" in your hands. whether it's birthday cards or playing cards. you know what movie you want to watch. and ask for it by (mostly) name. you love to play in the dirt. and run around outside, regardless of the weather. you love your puppy and pac, but will give it up fairly willingly when asked after you wake up. you tell me i am pretty, unprompted! (that might be my favorite!) you bump into me (or anything) on purpose and then say, "oh, sorry". it's so cute!!! your sister can make you laugh your head off. it is the most precious thing in the world to watch. and you can do the same right back to her.

you were 26.5 pounds and 33 inches at the visit last week... i can't believe how much you've grown. you started out at 8 pounds 4 ounces. you think all dogs are named "sadie". you love "apple juuuuuiiiiiiiice", even if it's just water. in your peter pan and pirates camelback bottle. you LOVE your shake and waffles every morning, and will listen for the toaster to ding to tell me, "waffles ready".

you are so big! i forget that you are two. that you are "old enough" to do so much. that you want to be so independent. and have a very made up mind of your own. thanks for being my precious baby boy. thanks for loving to rock and "hold you". for your sweet snuggles and kisses. i am so thankful for you. i am so thankful that you are a wonderful part of our family. my james patrick haile. sweet baby james. jamey-pants!

snow...

my big baby boy, pushing the cart at the grocery store. until i bribed him to get into a cart, because this was going to be less than fun. but he really had a good time for the 5 minutes i let him do this!!!

he got cars for his birthday! and he loves lining them all up. and asking me what each was is named. and sleeping with them.

this is nora's story from school. that she narrated to the teacher. it sounds like there was more that just couldn't fit on the page. it's also like twice as long as any of the other kids' stories!

at the prosthetics/orthotics office the other day. the bench that feet go on to try on shoes... james thought it was his personal slide. and loved it. he was so entertained!

this morning, i had on a (fake) fur vest. i got james up and we were coming downstairs. he said, "pretty mommy". my heart melted.

my sweet husband swept off the inch and a half of snow from my car and moved it into the garage for me! i love him!!

also... i am in the process of setting up an online shop and getting a "logo" done! it is sweet... you are going to love it!

and, uconn won tonight. i was banished to the kitchen, because when i left the kitchen, they started doing poorly. (thankfully, i didn't have to go back to the grocery store, because that's where i was when they first started doing well... i was not, however, allowed to put back on my jersey after the grocery store run... )

yesterday, i made snacks for Bible study today, jamey's cake, and treats for school next week. it was so nice to have that all done! and done in one afternoon! tonight, i made the icing... tomorrow is his big day! my baby is going to be two!!!

my sweet baby!

chatting with dd... such a BIG boy!

a little something in anticipation for the birthday this week!

rearranging...

this not having a camera thing is disarming. i keep forgetting to post (or send pics from the phone) because i don't have any pictures to share! i am hoping to hear back this week about the camera, and what is going on with it.

a friend took nora after school today, and it was just me and jamey. and no schedule! it was nice! (however, on the way to school, we stopped by several police stations work on getting our car registered. i couldn't remember who did the checks needed on what day and at what time! my kids were like, "another police station?"...) dropped nora off, realized we couldn't get the required check done, and took jamey up to the prosthetics place in mass. to get his bar adjusted. the feet are not at equal angles out (for his club feet, they are supposed to face about 70* out, and one shoe was about 5* off), and i think he's grown, so the width of the bar needed adjusted.

the guy there was sweet and a chatter... and talked over my child having a temper tantrum and trying to rip out my earrings and hair. and even said, "it was such a pleasure". i wanted to say, "were you in the same room i was?". anyway... then, we stopped at this grocery store on the island i have been meaning to check out. i am in love! it was so nice!

THEN! i got a two hour nap! nora got home and was telling me about school. the way she described a situation that happened, it felt like there was more to the story and i wasn't getting the whole truth. she kept saying she did nothing, but still wasn't allowed to do something because of what happened. i tried several lines of questioning. finally, she told me, "that's all there is to tell. i am done talking about this. trust me". and hugged me. it was so sweet! and i trusted her (but verified by calling the teacher, who had no idea the situation i even referenced and said nothing was wrong! my child was exuding guilt for no reason!)

also, about said child... i write this with trepidation. but, most nights (say, 6/7) we have dry unders! it's so nice!! and i am so proud!

jamey can sing the whole last verse to "it is well with my soul". it is so precious! he retains so much info that he can repeat verbatim! love it. speaking of that, a friend was over yesterday... i had a 5, 4, 3 and 2 year old in my house!, and she read a book to the kids. nora grabbed the same book and "read" it from memory... thinking she did it the same way as hannah! it was funny!

about having the kids yesterday! their mom had to go out of town for a funeral, and i had the two kids, who were absolute joys! (and good birth control!) but, it made me think... here's a mom that i sew with and know from Bible study. she's wonderful. we have only really been hanging out since january. she's also a military wife. and needed something. and i could do something.

i thought about so many times some of my best friends don't live near me any more (not that i don't love the new friends i make!), but these are the ones i have been friends with for years. decades for some. and keep in touch with over the phone. and sometimes visits. and would love to drop everything and do something when their child has surgery, they go into labor, their husband leaves for deployment, they have a bad day, etc... but, i am not there, and someone else is filling that void. but i am here. God has put me here in these friends' lives. and they are also not near some of their best friends. but we, as military wives especially, can be best friends by proxy. we can fill those needs and help each other out, because our bestest friends can't.

again, my rambling. this is what happens when i don't post very often... hope you enjoyed it and hope that last bit makes sense!!

james has his true two year appointment next week (and nora a school physical!), but as of today, he is 33 inches and 26.5 pounds...

another sick day...

nora woke up last night throwing up. i mean, it was in her eyes (how i am not sure... seriously!). she was up four more times. the first time, she told me, "remember when i was sick at mom-mom's. you forgot to give me the pan this time". (i had given her a pan to throw up in. well, if i had known...) so, i put her trash can next to her bed. with a bag in it. one of the four times, she made it in there... and i found her laying on her princess rug next to the mat. so sad!!

so, today, when i told her i didn't feel good, she went and got her trash can (she had already taken the bag out and thrown it away... such a big girl!), and put a paper towel in it because that was all she could find. she told me, "i'll be the mommy and you be the nora and i'll take care of you". oh, my heart broke. and i took a nap. until daddy got home. and then i slept for two more hours... and now, i am feeling a little better!

prior to my REALLY not feeling well, we had a tea party on the porch. she was "miss clavel" and i was "madeline". so much fun.

she was so intent. she LOVES tea parties. prior to "miss clavel/madeline", i was "libby". i am really excited that we get to spend two months with libby and her mommy and brother this summer.

i came downstairs around 6pm, because i was sick of our (brand new) bedroom. but, couldn't move off the couch. i really had wanted to put the kids in bed again, so my sweet husband (who surprised us with lunch today) could watch march madness. but, he was wonderful and put them in bed. (it also coincided with a break between games) then, he came downstairs and asked if i needed anything. when i told him a diet coke would settle my stomach, and only the fountain kind, because i believe that's the only kind worth drinking, he went. and missed some of the games for it.

for five years, i thought i ranked just below march madness in his life! it's so good to know where i really stand! that he really loves me more than mm!!! (and no, it was not a test... ) so, tonight, i puked and laid on the couch watching a movie on the mac, and he watched mm. a wonderful night. here's hoping i feel as good tomorrow as nora did by the afternoon!!! (running and playing "chase you" with daddy and jamey. jamey got to be the first "madeline" this afternoon... i rescued him!)

another few...

my sweet girl, looking so grown up!

my new table! doesn't it look great? did i post this pic already??

the kids at swim... nora and her friends. how did she get so big???

found one...

my night... i am a march madness widow for awhile... david was teaching his kids all about the joys of mm tonight. and i put on my jersey (which could work either way... if they lose, i am kicked out of ever wearing it, or maybe being around even if uconn plays again, or if they win, i might have to wear it and watch every night!!)!

can i just talk...

can i just talk for a minute? i guess it's my blog, and no one is forcing you to listen, so... here i go. my camera is getting looked at. we have to decide if it's worth fixing, or if i just get a new one (it's not my decision... MY decision would be to get a new one with the video camera!! it's the insurance company's.)... and i haven't taken any pics on the phone. i will work on that. it's been an interesting week. or few weeks. as a friend said this morning, "i have a heavy heart". there is so much going on. babies and kids in the hospital, adult friends with awful health scares, young marrieds with brain tumors. an earthquake and tsunami. i dropped tomato basil soup on the floor this morning (that last one was for a bit of levity). friends deploying. anyway. there's a lot. and we have been talking a lot this week about how God is in control. of everything. it doesn't make the bad stuff go away. but He has a plan and purpose. and it will work out for HIS glory. maybe not always the way i would choose, but always perfect.

in the midst, i have seen God working. one friend's blog encourages another. and another. and today, we had a sewing date planned. when i walked in, my friend had just found out about a death in her family. God knew that we would be showing up today. that we could be there to support her. to pray. to help figure out details (and take kids if need be). i couldn't have planned it like that. left to humans, we might have decided to stay away. or her decide she just didn't want anyone there. but, we were and it was good. God is good.

it's so easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of life, to "do" things, and not look outside immediate wants and needs. to not seek out someone hurting. to not seek God first. that's not how i want to live my life, and not how i want to teach my kids how to live it.

in Bible study this morning, a question was posed about the last time that you have seen a MAN cry. i immediately thought of when i saw david CRY. not a tear here and there. but CRY. (and i skipped over the cavs losing in the playoffs. that's not worth tears to me!!!) we had been dating for a few months, and i was having knee problems (no relation... always had knee problems...). i decided i had free health care, and i should probably get it checked out. it had been sprained years before, but never right. so, i got it checked out. and they put me on limited duty. i figured it didn't mean much, since it wasn't like i couldn't not work.

limited duty meant i had to work on another floor (which also meant uniforms and not scrubs), with people i didn't know as well. i was mad. i didn't want to work there. i wanted to be where i was comfortable (i feel like there's a whole other lesson there). but i did. that friday night, david got a phone call. his brother had fallen while hiking and fractured his skull. (here's the article) because i was on the other floor, which was routinely slower, david came and we sat together. that never would have happened had i been working on labor and delivery. also that weekend, there was a girl on the floor who was pregnant and wanted to give her baby up for adoption. that baby is now the son of a DEAR friend. i get tears in my eyes every time i think about that. i fought working there SO HARD. and you know what... my knees haven't hurt since. not even training for and running the half marathon.

last thing. i didn't mean to bury this, but here's another article... if the whole spending/budget, as previously mentioned, doesn't get approved, david will get to work without pay come april 1st. civilian gov't employees would be furloughed, if non-essential, but the "essential" personnel may or may not get paid when funds become available. why is no one talking about this??? but, again, God is in control. it's not lost on Him. and, as with the orders and everything else in my life, i will wait on Him.

this was way longer and went it way more directions than i meant it to. but, it's my heart. and i am feeling better, just typing it. i seriously thought about just deleting it.

phew...

it's been a funny week. monday we had bounce house and play date. tuesday we had school, a try to get our car registered, a trip to whole foods and then picked up nora from school. i had the chance, twice that day, to talk to some cali friends. it was so much fun to catch up. (well, one i woke up when i accidentally dialed her at 6am her time... SORRY!) today was treehouse/gym, swim lessons (and nora loved turning to me every so often and giving me a thumbs up. she did great!), and a playdate. daddy is working late and we had Bible study. it's been a fun day.

nora and i took a GREAT nap while jamey napped today. it was so much fun. i can't remember the last time we all napped. jamey is getting so big. he is going to be TWO next week. he's starting to say "c" correctly. i am kinda sad that he's growing up. (but happy to see how "big" he is!)

i am watching a tv show as i relax (beds are all cleaned, room wonderfully cleaned, diapers washed and drying, dishes done...) and they are in henry's (a groc in cali). it's making me SAD! i was just talking about that store to someone.

that's all i got for now... oh... jamey keeps asking for "uncle joey", every time he sees a taller man. (he does that with anyone, man or woman, in uniform for daddy...) nora was disobeying today, and he told me, "spank a hiney". nice. david just walked in... time to go!

a REALLY long post...

dancing...

more dancing...

tea- "chups". they loved it!

fun times...

he took many a good nap in his stroller... nora, too! sometimes 3 hours! many thanks to mom who walked them all over to keep them asleep!

i think the favorite ride was buzz. both kids LOVED it! jamey loved shooting the gun. there was a part where it gets dark, and you are in "space". he got this awesome look of terror on his face, tried to cover his eyes, but seemed to be afraid of missing anything. fun to watch!

he was NOT a fan of seeing aladdin and jasmine...

we loved seeing the princesses... jamey just wanted to "introduce" his sister to the princesses!

this is her, "i'll say cheese and smile, but i am not taking my eyes off the princesses" look.

us... and the castle!

a tea party at missy roads. i grew up having tea parties at missy roads (my mom's dear friend), so it was fun to introduce my kids to her...

arriving at the airport!

playing at missy roads' house!

a picnic!

briefly thought about checking them...

but they were so good!

loving some grandparent time!

it POURED rain. we had a "rain adventure". the kids loved it. i think i loved it most of all!

sweet boy...

sweet girl...

some pics of the week... and my recap. it's LONG. i mean, really long. enjoy! (or don't... i am not offended!)

i was so anxious about our flight... flying by myself with an almost two year old "lap baby". not sure how that was going to work. thankfully, we were flying southwest, and it was not a full flight (how does that happen the week of spring break to orlando???), and we got a whole row! it was wonderful. quite possibly the best flight i have ever been on with two kids. i got to read about 60 pages in a book, flip through the in fight magazine, and close my eyes for a few minutes. the kids were great. so entertained, and nora was so grown up and helpful. james was in his carseat by the window and he was so entertained by what was outside the window. what a cute boy. it keeps striking me this week how GROWN UP he is!

the most anxiety inducing for me is the getting on and off the plane. i have a carry on bag, two kids and a carseat. thankfully, a nice couple offered to help. i had seen them at several points throughout the morning, and honestly, they didn't look super friendly or amused by children. they were our age or younger. but, they were right behind me and when they saw me folding up the stroller at the end of the runway, and probably did the math of my arms to amount of stuff to carry ratio, they offered to help. i said thanks, and he replied that they would be in the same boat some day.

getting off the plane (here's to NO LAYOVERS!), nora had to go potty. i had jamey strapped to me in the carrier, nora walking, my big llbean bag on one seat and the carseat on the other seat in the stroller. some woman walking next to us told me, "i am a nurse. can i watch your stuff while you take her in to the bathroom?". it was so sweet. as we were waiting (the bathroom was closed), nora noticed that she had the same flip flop necklace i had. we chatted for a few minutes, and then went potty. we came out, and she offered to walk with us the rest of the way. since she seemed to be waiting for a flight, and we were going to baggage, i told her it was okay. plus, my parents were meeting us in baggage. she said, "God bless". i could have cried.

there was so much in the airport. it was awesome. we meandered down to baggage (two flights down), and saw the fountain, the disney shop, the shampoo shop (sea world, which was okay, because nora told me it wasn't the "real" shampoo), and took a tram. (maybe the tram came first...) we got to baggage and got our stuff just as the fam's plane landed. the kids waited patiently, got them, got our cars and went to CHICK FIL A for lunch!! Heaven all around.

after lunch and a grocery trip, we went to my mom's dear friend's house for dinner. i grew up remembering so many fond times at missy road's house. it was so fun to see my daughter love it. they also just loved being able to run, outside, play in the grass, and get nice and dirty. they are such fun friends (and love to wrestle). it's cute to watch... nora got to have one of missy road's tea parties, and she LOVED it. she also got new tinkerbell jammies in honor of the trip.

then, home to bed.... a big day tomorrow...

we happened upon the princesses first, and there was not a long wait. it is such a joy to watch nora watch the princesses. she is just mesmerized. just in awe. we thought jamey would love it. when we put him down to say hi, he just said, "sissy. this is nora". like he had to introduce her! it was cute. he would hug her and show her off to the princess. i hope that defense and protection of his sister continues!

he was not a fan of waiting in the first few lines, but loved the rides when we got on them. then, we got to aladdin and jasmine. we put jamey down again, he took one look at aladdin, and started crying. SO NOT A FAN! (i also made the mistake of taking him on haunted mansion. he was not a fan of the dark...)

then, we hit up small world. both kids were mesmerized and loved it. soon, it was naptime for a boy. the adults when on space mountain and nora got to see minnie and mickey. we got to go on peoplemover and carousel of progress (two of my favorite rides, that they don't have at disneyland!!). finally, everyone was awake and we did buzz lightyear. three times. that was the hit of the day. we had gotten fast passes, and got on right away every time. the kids LOVED it. at one point, you are flying through space, space mountain-dark-like, and jamey got this terrified look on his face. he tried to cover his eyes, but wanted to see. it was SO FUNNY to watch. the next two times, he loved it.

then, we found chip and dale's dance party. nora was very hesitant at first to go up to the costumed furry characters. after a few minutes, she was up there dancing. she is my mother's granddaughter. she got chip's hand, and wouldn't let anyone else in to hold it. she danced for no less than a half hour. had a BLAST! jamey went in and danced for a few minutes. then, we had a great dinner where the kids INHALED their chicken nuggets. and refused any fries.

we wanted to stay for the parade, and meandered that way. the kids asked for the teacups, and dd and byssa offered to take them. i can do a lot for my kids, but teacups is where i draw the line. they LOVED it. both kids will tell you that was their favorite ride. it was fun to watch the two kids with my two kids!!!

then, it was time for the parade. we got to the route in perfect time to get good spots. five minutes later, it was five deep behind us. we waited and saw all the "goods" they sell. nora wanted some of the sparklies. fortuitously, i had bought a twirly-wand-light up thing for $5 at wal-mart and glow bracelets for $1 at target. nora had no idea that they were any different. (someone caved and bought jamey the buzz lightyear light up so he had one, too... not me!) we all had on our glow bracelets and loved it. i think i saw about 0.5 seconds of the parade, because i was watching nora. she was shouting to each character, like they were only there for her. when they didn't look, she was hurt. (all but one waved in her general direction.) i mean, her face. she LOVED seeing them. james was fairly entertained, too!

then came a light show and fireworks. (it was nine pm and the kids were being AMAZING!) a great firework show, and the kids had so much fun. both fell asleep just as it ended. nora didn't wake up again, despite being changed into jammies and a pull-up. jamey fell asleep on the way home, and slept through most of his changing. he screamed for 30 seconds, and stopped mid-scream. and we all slept till 8:45 am. and here we go again!

funny story about yesterday... we were standing in line. i was trying to distract nora, and pointed out a little four year old-ish girl in a snow white outfit. here's what happened:

me- nora, look! she's in a snow white costume

girl- turned to look at us, since i had called attention to her. then, ran SMACK into a trash can because she wasn't paying attention... i am still laughing. it's SO wrong. i felt SO BAD. i laughed till i cried yesterday.

today was animal kingdom. we saw this cool "lion king" show. and were quite disappointed to find out that the "everest" ride fastpasses were gone. so, we were thinking about leaving, and someone handed us all the fastpasses we needed for it! how cool is that?? the kids enjoyed it and jamey had another good nap! he's so big! it's fun to have him actually hold my hand to walk around... and nora is so grown up. she chats your ear off, makes up things, and is mature.

just before bed, i gave jamey a "woody" guy that i bought at target. i was going to try to keep it from nora, because she is going to get a present in the morning. she came up and saw it, and was so great about it. i was so impressed.... she asked if she could have a "jessie" doll for her birthday. no big deal about not getting anything tonight. she's also been really good about not having attitude when i don't buy her everything she wants...

tuesday was a pool day. it's a great pool here at the resort. there is a lazy river, that nora jumped right into. the current carried her away before we realized she was out of arms reach. thankfully, she could swim alright and we got her. there is also the receding entry and a cool slide. jamey really wanted to go down it, so we figured we would try. he ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. we went continuously for about an hour. nora went once or twice, until i dunked her accidentally. she wasn't a fan of that.

after naps, ben and susan johnson and the boys (friends from san diego who now live in fla) came to visit. it was so much fun to see them. we went back to the pool (except jamey who took a four hour nap) and then to house of blues for dinner. so much fun to see them. we got back late, again, and all fell into bed.

today was hollywood studios (formerly mgm), and then lunch with the princesses. at hollywood studios, we got to see a "little mermaid" show and a "beauty and the beast" show. it was so much fun. both kids loved seeing the live shows.

we got to epcot and got ready to have lunch with the princesses. then, i realized that my camera wasn't working. at first, i thought battery, which was frustrating because it was fully charged last night. but, no, it was just the lcd screen. i am about to go look at the pictures, so it will be interesting to see what we come up with. thankfully, i think it's insured. so, we did lunch with the princesses in norway. it was a lot of fun... to see nora's reaction, and excitement! jamey was watching "shows" on my phone (a lifesaver, since he HATES waiting in line and has watched a ton to distract him when all else fails!), and when the princesses talked to him, he just wanted to show them the show.

we went on the "maelstrom" ride, and enjoyed it, then to the "nemo" and "imagination" rides. we saw "captain eo", and considered leaving. it was thundering and lightening. but, we hadn't done spaceship earth yet, and thought we would hit it (all the rides at the end of the day were 5 minute waits). we came out to a complete and total downpour. the kids were not enjoying it, but i decided to embrace it. i told the kids it was an adventure, and nora started to like it.

we ran through it to the car and nora told me it was like going potty in her stroller.... an interesting analogy, but her seat was filled with water when she got thrown into it, so.... the whole way to the car (as the rain died down), nora kept telling jamey it was a fun, rainy adventure. it was so cute.

thursday it rained and we stayed in. played games and went to chick fil a for lunch. can't beat that! on friday, mom, dad and the kids got up and went to magic kingdom. they said no one was there and did all the rides by noon. they didn't have to wait for anything. dave, byss and i went to epcot and did soaring (which we hadn't done), and found the crowds, waiting for the monorail. i think the tour buses got there just before we did, because it was packed. we hit up space mountain again, and nora wanted to wait 50 minutes for peter pan. i kept trying to talk her out of it, but that's what she wanted. so, we waited. and waited. but, she was so good. and wanted to stay and enjoyed it... (they closed the ride right after we went on it. something about a tinkerbell about to fall on someone!)

everyone left, and david and i went on pirates and headed back. we spent the night packing and playing cards. the kids were great again on the trip home! here's to disney!