40 and Still Looking *SO* Good

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DARLING HUSBAND!

It’s true – men just get better with age.

So. Not. Fair.

But I do LOVE my man.

Filed under: Just Because , Family, Love, marriage

Still Alive

I must confess it has been a continuous-coffee-drinking kind of week. And it’s only Tuesday… ACK!

I should have some Disney World posts for you soon.

But I will say this….

If you ever get a chance to eat at Planet Hollywood (our first meal on vacation), you MUST order the lasagna! It is their specialty, and in my opinion, a plate of Heaven on earth. It is fried instead of baked, or possibly both, and is unbelievably delish.

I was foolish enough to order the spaghetti, but my darling hubby was kind enough to share with me. Probably because he was tired of me drooling over his plate. Marital bliss.

Filed under: My Unorganized Thoughts

We Went. We Conquered. We’re Exhausted.

Here’s a small shred of proof…

… and I can tell you this photo was not tampered with in any way. I should be so lucky to have such skills!

Anyway… lots more pics coming your way along with reviews, tips, and advice for your next Disney World vacation! I am officially a self-appointed Disney Mom! And I’ll give you the good, the bad, the ugly, and the magical.

But for now I’ll just have to tide you over with some Halloween pics! We had spent the day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park, but not in costume until the evening due to the heat. We rushed back to our hotel around 6:00 to change the kids into their costumes and then hustled back to Hollywood Studios for the Fantasmic show, which we had preferred seating for. The show was awesome, as all Disney shows are, but we got a tad warm sitting in our front row seats when the lake set on fire (this was intentional of course)! I had serious concerns about my mascara melting off my singed eyelashes. Fortunately, no eyelashes were harmed and mascara remained intact, although my face appeared severely sunburnt for the remainder of the evening. Oh, well. Can’t win’em all.

This is my James in his Harry Potter costume.

And here’s my Avery as a winter fairy. I converted a flower girl dress she wore a few years ago by sewing wings onto the back and crafted her a MOST FABULOUS wand. She was the prettiest girl at the ball!

Aren’t they adorable?

Filed under: Fabulous Family From Frolics-A-Lot, Self-Appointed Disney Mom , Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Family, Motherhood

When I get back…

from visiting Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World, I will be resuming a regular blogging schedule.

I have missed it.

Filed under: My Unorganized Thoughts

For Chloe

Chloe, meet Avery.

Avery is a fellow horse lover. She likes to collect small horse figurines and is waiting on her mom to redecorate her room in horses. Someday.

Avery also loves to read books. She’ll read just about anything you put into her hands, including the newspaper. She is currently reading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell.

Avery’s favorite movie is still the Little Mermaid. She also loves Anne of Green Gables.

Avery’s favorite color is ANY shade of pink.

She would eat soup for every meal, every single day, for the rest of her life if her mom let her.

Avery just started taking piano lessons and already loves it. She also takes ballet lessons.

Her favorite place in the world is Disney World. She loves meeting all the characters, getting their autographs, and taking pictures with them.

Avery hates scary movies, cleaning her room, and lasagna.

Avery has a very active imagination which gets her into trouble with nightmares.

Avery want’s to be a mom and teacher when she grows up.

Avery has a very tender spirit. She loves her friends & family and is always giving to them. And she loves her Jesus.

Avery is going to pray for you, Chloe. She is excited about becoming friends.

Filed under: Just Because , Family

Happy Birthday, Avery!!

I remember sitting in the doctor’s office when I was 5 months pregnant with you, listening to the doctor tell me there was a possibility that you would be deformed, mentally retarded, or die within the womb. I remember leaving that office crying and feeling so ill from this news that I almost passed out in the parking lot. I remember shutting down for the rest of that day…. More than anything, I wanted you to be healthy.

I was just a baby Christian at the time. I was still testing out the waters of faith and had little experience with putting my trust in God. But as I put my head on my pillow that night, I knew I need to do just that… trust God. So, I prayed – unlike anything I’d ever prayed before – I prayed from my heart, completely broken, and scared to death. I thanked God for you, for His love for you and me, and trusted Him to take care of you. I told Him I knew He knows me better than I know myself and knows what is best for me – even if that means giving me a child with physical or mental disabilities. For the first time, I trusted Him completely with something that was totally out of my control. I fell asleep praying…

I spent the next several months being monitored. I had to go in ever week to be measured, have your movement checked, and have an ultrasound.

And all the while, I was at peace. God did that for me.

A week before you were due to be born, the doctors began to get concerned about your growth. They thought you were too small and wanted to take you before it was too late. So, I went in to the hospital to be induced.

All the while, I was at peace.

A few short hours later, I held you in my arms for the very first time. You were perfect and SO beautiful!

The nurses gave you a 5 minute apgar of 10! Very few babies score a perfect 10. The nurses told me they almost never give out 10’s! But you were THAT healthy!!

God did that for me.

I believe it was His way of rewarding me for trusting Him. He was showing me that He was truly in control.

Now, every time I look at you, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to those that love and trust Him.

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY,  AVERY!!!!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Filed under: Created For God, Fabulous Family From Frolics-A-Lot, For All You Moms Out There , Christian Womanhood, christianity, faith, Family, God, Motherhood, Peace

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!!

11 years ago today,  a son was born…

and so was a mom.

11 years ago, I held you in my arms for the very 1st time… and fell in love.

I will forever be thankful that God chose me to be your mother.

You have brought SO MUCH joy into my life and taught me the meaning of selfless love.

You are my knight in shining armor…

and my twinkling star on a stormy night.

You dream big…

laugh hard…

and love unconditionally.

I cannot imagine a life without you, my James.

Happy Birthday!!

I LOVE YOU TO THE HEAVENS AND BACK!

Filed under: Fabulous Family From Frolics-A-Lot , Family, Motherhood, relationships

What Am I Doing!?!

After my pathetic attempts to help myself (and anyone who cared to join me) juggle the chaos, I discovered that I am most definitely NOT qualified to be blogging about such subjects!

Alas, I am moving on! This is NOT the direction I want to take my blog in. If you need help organizing the chaos in your life I recommend you go see the FlyLady!

CHEERS!

Filed under: Juggling the Chaos , domestic goddess, Random Thoughts