We're Going to Disneyland

Or so I hope.
My mothers have been given the eminar to go to a eminar in southern eminar for work. What does that mean? Work will pay for the hotel and gas to drive there. My kids (or my oldest who still remembers visiting when he was little) frequently asks when we'll get to go. My response is usually when hell freezes over or something to that effect. For a family of 6 the cost is around two-grand not including gas or food. That's just to get in see the park and find somewhere to sleep. Um, I don't have that kind of money lying around.

Now, I would love to take all my kids to Disneyland every year because I do believe the magic is pretty incredible but it's not practical. I'm grateful the boys have been a couple times each before I was in their life and I myself have been once, but that trip was miserable so I don't count it much. Let me clarify, Disneyland was great, but one of my classmates stole all my cash before we got to the park so I spent the day hungry, begging for food, and annoyed at the situation. I did enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean and the magic that is the Peter Pan ride (that I tried to capture on film and realized it ruins some of the magic) but overall my memories are not great. Back to present time, my daughter is getting more and more interested in Princesses and we've been talking for at least a year about how we wish we could take her at this 'perfect' age. Why haven't we gone then? Time away from work, time away from school, scheduling conflicts with a two home family, money, and car issues. Enough hurdles for you?

Wow, I went off on a tangent.

Anyway, so my mothers are heading down to Southern California for this seminar and are planning to spend a day or two in the parks and enjoy a belated honeymoon of sorts. Fast forward to today, just about a week before they leave, and I find myself with an invite for Bug, Moose, and myself to take the remaining 3 seats in their car and the extra bed in their hotel. Um, free board and gas with the opportunity to let my daughter meet princesses? Um, count me in!

Oh yea, and they have discount prices for the actual park entrance! This may actually be totally possible. Now, just to figure out how to get the kids home from school everyday; what to eat while away with keeping on a budget; and how to pack for 3 people while only taking of the space of 2. Easy.

My husband is amazing. He agreed to pick up the kids on our days and their mother is going to take care of the rest of the time. I've done some research on how to cook meals in a hotel room and I'm bringing my Nuwave stove-top for anything that can't be made in a coffeepot. Luckily, I am well versed at budget meals on the go.

Huzzah! We're officially going to Disneyland!

Things Kids Say: August 2013

Don't hurt yourself.

"I didn't. I just need to squish it a little."
~Bug

To Mama:
"It's time to be quiet. I'm serious."

~Bug

"Where are we going." 

Home

"Good. I need more sleep."

~Bug

"How do you play paper cut scissors?"

~Bug

"What is that?"

A wind sock

"Does it tickle you?"

~Bug

After putting jewelry on me:

"What is on it?"

Dimonds

Looks closely at the stones

"Nope. They're circles!!!"

~Bug

grabbing mamaw's breasts
"These are your buttons. They don't have stuff in them. Mommy drank it all."
~Bug

"Will you buy this for me?"
Do you have money for it?
"I don't have enough money." 
~Bug

While waiting in line for a ride.
"Did you hear what they said? There's no eating or drinking or stuff."
~Bug

I need my Pool Suit!
~Bug

Sitting behind her little brother:
"I'll catch him if he goes backwards because I'm squishy."
~Bug

"I don't like the game where you eat your boogers." 
~Gator to Bug

"Can I give him his dirty bear? The one he gets on his face?"
~Bug talking about a fuzzy bear that 'sheds' when played with

20 Questions at Age 4

1.   What is your favorite color? Red

2.   What is your favorite toy? Dolly's

3.   What is your favorite tv show or movie? Merida (Brave) Favorite TV show is Busytown Mysteries

4.   What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sandwich. Peanut butter and Auntie 'Lissa's  Jelly

5.  What is your favorite outfit? Dresses

6.   What is your favorite game? Playing kick the ball

7.   What is your favorite creative activity? Ballet

8.   What is your favorite animal? Jaguars and Ponies

9.   What is your favorite song?  Someday ('Mean' by Taylor Swift)

10.   Who is your best friend? Olivia

11.   What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play Ball

12.   What is your favorite drink? Milk

13.   What is your favorite holiday? Father's Day 

14.   What do you like to take to bed with you at night? All my animals and my blankets and my night lights. I like to take my nightlights into my bed so I can see where I'm rolling

15.   What do you want to be when you grow up? A Mama since I'm a girl

16.   What is your favorite thing about your brothers? Moose: that he smiles at me and gives me happy squawks. Gator: He scares me sometimes and plays the piano. Bear: He gives me hugs and kisses

17.   What do you love about yourself? My heart

18.   What is your favorite book? Rapunzel

19.   What’s your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Tickling!!

20.   What’s your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Tickling!

Things Kids Say: June 2013

Our "Swish (swedish) fish taste like my gummy bears!"
~Bug

Are you Chinese? 

"No I'm a bug."
~Bug

To her brothers:

"Let me be. I'm busy."

~Bug

*Gator to Bug*
Wanna play catch? (he then grabs the ball from her)
"That not catch, that's playing steal."
~Bug

I think I want to cut my mohawk off tonight. It's hard to wash. 
~Gator

"Mommy, Daddy, I'm in PAIN!!!!"
~Bug (after being told it was bed time)

Can you grab Moose's blanket for me please? That's his towel not his blanket.

"Well today it can be his blanket. A towel will work as like a blanket too"

~Bug

"I don't eat poop. Ewwww."

~Bug

"Do you know what it tastes like, Mom? Yummy!"
~Bug

Things Kids Say: April 2013

"That is baby scalp, isn't it!?!"
~Cliff

"Easter rabbit!"
~Bug

When staying behind the 'Easter Rabbit' because she thought he was scary
"There's a person in there!!! I can see their neck!"
~Bug

"I have a surprise for you"
what is it
"I can't tell you"
~Bug

The smoke alarms are for when my dad makes chicken
~Bug

I saw a(n) (*Bug*) path!
~Bug

(Driving by barns)
"We're in a barn city"
~Bug

"I need my nuts to stay up". (Bridge of sunglasses)
~Bug

Things Kids Say: March 2013

"When (my little brother) gets big I'm gonna marry him!"
~Bug

"Why are you looking at my brother."
Because he's awake and staring at me.
"I'm not staring at you. I promise."
~Bug

When her little brother is crying
"My baby is crying. Go get him"
~Bug

Reading a 'recipe' she wrote for what she wants for dinner:
"It says we need flour and chicken with rice and noodles and peas"
~Bug

While people are visiting our newborn
He's so cute. Can I take him home
"No. He's MY baby"
~Bug

After telling her what we named him in the hospital
(Bug) meet (Moose), you're baby brother.  
"No, his name is Baby Clifton"
~Bug

This went on for several days. She's sing songs to Baby Clifton and tell him how to spell her name. When we reminded her his name was (Moose) she'd tell us
"That's what YOU can call him, but I'm going to call him Baby Clifton".
She finally came around and decided she liked (Moose) but couldn't remember it for the first few days after that so she's ask us to remind her what his name was.

Things Kids Say: January 2013

*while I'm eating a tums*
"I have heartburn, too!"
~Bug

What's in there? *Pointing to my belly*
"A baby"
What's his name?
"I dunno. Baby Nothing"
~Bug

Why are you crying?
"Because Daddy said '3'!"
~Bug

Do you know what killed the dinosaurs?
"Elephants"
~Bear

You have such pretty blue eyes.
"My eyes are always blue!!"
~Bug

365 Day 365

This morning we all woke up together and made mini french toast for breakfast. 

365 Day 364

Finally pulled out all the baby clothes we saved and sorted them by size and what can be worn by a boy. We ended with 7 outdoor trash bags of too small girl clothes, 2 boxes and a laundry basket of big girl clothes for Bug, and 1 laundry basket 0-3 months and 1 box of mixed sizes for the new little boy. 

It was a long process, but I feel so fortunate that we have clothes for our coming baby and we can pass on some clothes to another little girl.

365 Day 362

Just a calm day at home. Bug decided today would be a great day to pull out Alphie and play games.

365 Day 361

Bug woke up and decided it was the perfect time to put her ornament on the tree. Even before we could put her picture in it or attach a hook. She knows where it goes and that's where she decided it needed to be now.

365 Day 359

This is the first year we actually talked to Bug about Santa Claus. Most kids seem afraid of him but she was so excited to sit with him and take a picture! This is part of our yearly church routine. Sadly, I didn't have the boys this year but that didn't stop us from having fun. Bug said she loved the music and the train ride the best.  

365 Day 358

Tonight was the one of our many Christmas parties with the family. Since the rain finally paused for us we chose to end the night looking at the houses on 'Christmas Street'. Bear ran up ahead with cousins (and Auntie Lissa) to see more houses than a pregnant lady and 3 year old could get to, but I got proof these two siblings had fun .

365 Day 353

Sunday Bug and I made banana bread for breakfast. I let her pour in all the ingredients and it was so funny that when I pulled out my camera she turned and smiled at me just as I took the picture. She totally just photo bombed her own photo. This isn't even the best photo from that morning but it was too funny to not want to remember for a long time to come. 

365 Day 351

Even though it's just days before Christmas we finally pulled our tree out of the attic. I love that it already has lights on it. Since I still don't trust our cats  around the tree (or our kids to a point) we repeated last years tradition of making a 'card tree' and leaving our ornaments in storage. Bug says it's finally Christmas in our house!

365 Day 350

While hanging out at home Bug discovered my personal Nerf Gun. She had a blast shooting the disk down the hall over and over again. Oddly enough her Daddy is doing the same thing today at the range.

365 Day 339

I finally found a dentist that is covered by my insurance that I don't despise. Only took 6 months!
They actually fixed my broken filling and afterwards I painted Bug's nails as a treat for being so good. She insisted I put red on my nails as well.

365 Day 335

Today we braved to storm to run some errands in town. 

A deal on a hot-list toy brought us into the mall (ugh). Bug really wanted to go see Santa Claus but settled for checking out the over-sized ornaments on the over-sized tree instead.

365 Day 332

She knows better than to play on the stairs. Seems it's a daily reminder that I tell her to get off the stairs.

Yesterday when she saw me she decided to jump off the stairs. Maybe I wouldn't see her and remind her if she got off quickly. Unfortunately for her she got off too quickly and face-planted into another step. She was not happy to see her blood but we were on our way out the door so she begrudgingly sucked it up as long as I let her hold the wash cloth to it (for hours!).
Today it looks worse, but she's forgotten about it so all is well again.

365 Day 319

After 2 and a half days of running errands and being excellent she deserved a treat. She chose a pumpkin muffin. She's so excited for me to cut it up for her!