Disney

Last weekend I surprised Noah early Saturday morning and just the two of us drove up to Disneyworld for the day.  When I first told him why he was up early and where we were going, he said, "Why?  Why can't Davis come with us?"  Not the reaction most kids would give, ha, but then he got a big smile and was really excited to go!  He did keep asking all day while we were there though why Davis didn't get to come.  He loves his little bro!  But I wanted this to be just a special day for Noah and mommy.  It was both of our first time to Disneyworld and I think it's something he'll always remember. 

It was so hot, but we still had a good time!

 The first ride we did was space mountain... boy was that a mistake.  I forgot how scary that one would be, and you don't get to sit next to someone!  So poor Noah was sitting in a single seat in front of me, and screamed the entire time.  He was terrified to get on pretty much any ride after that for the rest of the day.  

Small world is more his type!  That, and the shows and parades.  haha!!

When we went on Pirates of the Carribbean, as it was getting closer for our turn to get onto the boat, Noah panicked and started crying and said, "I don't want to get on!  I need to find an emergency exit!!"  I was dying.  So hilarious and dramatic.  Once we got going though, he realized it wasn't like space mountain at all and he survived.

He loved just watching the characters and giving them high fives during a parade.

 

 Noah really kept wanting to go back to the castle to get a picture in front of it.

 "Mom, take a picture of me with these hats on!"  He thought these hats were pretty silly.

 

 And we shared a massive turkey leg.  I could only handle a couple bites.  That thing was so fatty!  It was pretty funny watching Noah try to eat it though.

 I told Noah before we left, if he would do splash mountain with me, I would let him pick a toy before we went home.  He was okay until we started approaching the hill before the big drop, and he clenched to me with all his might, screaming and crying like his life was about to end, "I hate Disneyworld! I want to go home!"  I was laughing so hard.  I took this pic right at the bottom of the drop.  He is definitely not a thrill seeker!  lol!!

We stayed until almost 8, then headed home.  Noah crashed pretty quickly in the car.  What a fun, memorable day with my big guy...one that I hope he will always remember!  I told Grant now I want to get passes for my birthday and go back with the fam!  :)  The drive really wasn't bad at all, even to go up for just a day.  Only thing is, I think Claire would be pretty much impossible at her age waiting in any line, but I still think it would be fun.

Love my big Noah!

September

Some random iphone pictures from September:

 Playing outside and a visit to daddy's work.  This is in their showroom... it's like one big club! ;)

 
Noah reading some bedtime stories to Davis.  Davis thinks he's pretty funny.... and he is.

 

After a trip to Costco, Claire bonked her head on the frame of the sliding door.  Poor thing!

 
 I call these two Double Trouble.  They are both destroyers and into everything.  And Davis put his arm around Claire for this picture all by himself.  He is so sweet and hilarious.

 
Playing at the library and outside.  ...For about 5 minutes before we were too hot and had to come back inside.  We are ready for winter over here so we can get out of the house again!!
 
 Davis as Mr. White from "Breaking Bad." :)

 
 
 I bought a barely used artificial Christmas tree from someone on Craigslist last week, and this was the  neighborhood in Ft. Lauderdale I went to to pick it up.
And the beautiful Ft. Lauderdale beach from my car on the way home.


I can't complain too much I guess... we do live in a beautiful place!

Miami

These pictures consist of two different trips down to Miami.  I love going to Miami and Miami Beach (also known as South Beach).  It's only about 45 minutes from our place, but I love going there because it is such a happenin' place with so much going on.  I love people watching there, the sand seems whiter and the ocean bluer, so I feel like I'm on a tropical vacation or something when we go.  And there is so much culture there!...People from all around the world.

Last month I scored tickets from the library to a Miami Dolphins game, so we had dinner and pinkberry then hit up the game.  We didn't last long at the game though because it was SO hot and humid!  I'm not sure why they don't have an indoor stadium.  Those football players have to be pretty miserable in all their gear!  We were sweating like crazy just sitting there.  Noah was so sad, he was loving it and did not want to leave.

 

 

 

And we went again last weekend to try Umami Burger.  Yum!  We hit the park along the beach, then the boys swam.  It was packed at the beach!

 Look at that warm, blue water!

Beach

I know, more beach pictures, right?!  A couple days before Noah started kindergarten, I braved the beach with the kiddos alone.  It is a lot of work getting all that gear and the kids out there!  And dealing with the sand and packing up when done... man, it's exhausting!  They had a great time though, and Davis thought he was doing so well "surfing" that day.  It was low tide, and the surf board kept getting stuck in the sand, so he was doing so well staying up.  ;)

 

 

It may be pretty dang hot and humid out, but man, the ocean could not feel any more perfect right now.  It is like bath water!  The beaches here are beautiful.

10 years!

Back in June Grant and I celebrated our 10 YEAR anniversary!  What did we do to celebrate?  We went to dinner that ended up being not very good and walked around a cute little outdoor mall in West Palm Beach, then went home.  Exciting, huh?!  We were both so tired that night.  I think I always imagined a nice trip ALONE or something for celebrating 10 years, but that is just not possible when you live across the country from family or anyone you have or trust to watch your 3 little kids to get away for a few days!  Anyway, it was fine, and nice even just having dinner with just the two of us and not worrying about feeding other kids or worrying about how loud our very lively children are at a nice restaurant.

Fast forward to two months later... a couple weeks ago, Grant ended up scoring tickets to a Justin Timberlake after concert concert at a small theater in Miami Beach two days before the show.  I was so pumped!!  The concert wasn't supposed to start until around midnight (actually ended up going from 2:30-4a.m.), so I thought we should get a babysitter to stay with the kids for just one night and make a short and mini staycation out of it.  IT WAS A BLAST!!!  Even if Grant may have not been super thrilled to go to a JT concert, it was tons of fun just having the night together ALONE!  It had been like 5 years since we've had a night away from the kiddos!  We ended up getting in the front row since it was general admission and got in line early and we met some of the funniest people and fans in line.

I told Grant we could count this as our do-over anniversary weekend getaway.  :)

 

Grant doesn't look too thrilled in these pictures since we waited in line outside on like the hottest and most humid night so far this year for two hours.  These pictures were cracking me up all night because we were all SO excited in line and Grant's expressions were just killing me.  But once the show finally started, he had fun.  How could you not?!  ;)

 

We were so close, I could not even believe it.  The show was so great, and he is really such an amazing performer.

 

 

We ended up staying at a cute little hotel a block away from the theater and a block in the other direction from the beach..  It was awesome.  The morning after the concert we went to the beach, had a nice brunch, walked around south beach a bit, then headed home late afternoon.  It was such a fun weekend and I'm already ready for another weekend alone with my hubs.

 

 This handsome guy was such a good sport as I swooned and acted like a 14 yr old girl after her celebrity crush all weekend.

In 10 years, we've had 10 moves, lived in 4 different states, gone through 5 painful and terrible rounds of invitro, lots of tears, lots of joy, and have had 3 beautiful children.  I love this man of mine for supporting our family and always working so hard, loving unconditionally, and always having something funny to say.  xoxo! 

Kindergarten!

Noah started ALL DAY Kindergarten last week!  YAY!  :)  He has been so ready for school to start.  He gets so bored at home and constantly needs his mind stimulated, so this will be good for him.  He is such a smart cookie, he will do great in school.  The kid loves to learn!

Claire turned 1

Claire turned one last month!  Can hardly even believe it.  This girl is fun, full of spunk, loves to dance and gives kisses, and loves her big brothers!  26.6 pounds, at her 1 yr appointment... off the chart for weight and 90% for height.  Still loving on those squishy thighs!

 

 

 

Claire took her first few steps the night of her birthday, then was full on walking a few weeks later.  Our earliest walker so far.  Now that she's been walking for over a month though, I'm sad that her chub is slowly going away.  It's definitely still there, but not like it was even just a month ago.  She's had a rough time with her 4 molars breaking through the last month, but other than the rough patch with teething, she is the sweetest, silliest girl!  

Happy first to our baby girl...we love you so much!

Summer trip - Utah

After Montana, Grant had to fly back to Florida to get back to work, so I stayed another week and a half with the kiddos in Utah.  We had fun visiting temple square, seeing friends, and spending more time with more cousins.

 

 

 

 

We also made it up to Solitude and Silver Lake one evening.  It was so beautiful, and we even came across a moose (a little too close, for my liking, with the kids).

 

 

 

Lots more swimming, and Davis showing us he is still fearless.  The kid worked that diving board.

 

 

And a couple trips to Airborne trampoline park.  Even Claire got the biggest kick out of the place.  They loved it!

 

 

 

 

We had tons of fun and loved spending time with our families.  Unfortunately, Claire pretty much screamed the entire flight back to Florida.  That was NOT fun.  She started walking while we were in Utah, and she also was getting her 4 molars during the trip.  Yikes!