Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Disney Birthday Adventures

We headed to Disney on Saturday with Aiden for our traditional birthday celebration. Aiden got to chose the whole day and Felicity stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Jen. 

He was so excited to do the things that he really loves and get to chose where we eat. We started our day at Hollywood Studios and made it to the gate before we realized Aiden didn't have his magic band! A semi-quick stop at guest relations got us a hard ticket and our free birthday pin. Tip: This one is pretty well known but just in case if you stop by any ticket counter or guest service counter and are celebrating ANYTHING they have a pin for it. First visit, birthday, engagement, honeymoon, anniversary, family reunion, or just a celebrating pin. Sometimes they have them in the stores too at the check out counters you just have to ask. 

First on our stop was the Animation Station inside The Magic of Disney Animation to draw a picture with the help of a Disney artist. We drew Winnie the Pooh and it's cool what a birthday pin and dimples will get you if you ask! Tip: You get to keep the drawing that you do. It's a cute little memento. I wouldn't recommend this attraction unless you have older kids. Aiden enjoyed it but I ended up helping him through most of it. 




Then we were off to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. Aiden loves this area and I feel safe picking a spot near the entrance/exit and letting him run and play. A nice 1 hour plus wait for Toy Story Mania (get fastpasses if you can! We already had Magic Kingdom ones so we couldn't) and onto Aiden's favorite place to eat Pizza Plant. I on the other hand don't usually care for the Plant of Pizza since their red sauce tends to upset my belly digestive tract. But it's Aiden's day so I get brave and ask for my pizza sans sauce due to my "sauce intolerance." Not a problem he says and I am awarded a pager and a slip of paper. I had to wait an extra 15 minutes for mine but look at that cheesy-veggie goodness. Worth the wait and I didn't feel sick later in the day! 



From there we headed out to Magic Kingdom! If you follow me on Instagram (mommyrudolph) you saw what happened! Sleepy boys! 



Once the boys had a siesta in the car we head off to meet Tinkerbell. No kidding that is what Aiden wanted to do first - I won't lie he loves all the Tinkerbell movies! 



A little ice cream break and strict orders "don't even think about it!" as we walked by the Starbucks were given as we headed to Enchanted Tales with Belle. This is probably my kids favorite thing to do at Magic right now. Aiden practiced the beast part while we walked in and was chosen! 



Our next stop was Tom Sawyer Island which is a favorite of Jesse and Aiden. 



They love to explore the caves, cross the barrel bridge, shot the riffles and just run and play. It's one of the less busy places at Magic so we take our time there. 

Then we headed to dinner. A few months ago we had dinner with our sweet friends Josh & Jill while they were visiting from Iowa at Whisper Canyon inside the Fort Wilderness Lodge - this was during the time that Aiden didn't really eat but on that night he was so entertained he cleaned that plate! So he was so excited to go back. They have Lincoln Logs (cause we don't have those at home!) to play with while you wait for your table. We were given a not so great time in the "library" so I kindly requested my husband go and ask for us to be moved to the main dinning room where the action is. I mean we booked it for the excitement and we even told them it was Aiden's birthday. No problem Disney magic took over and we were given prime seats and Aiden was in hog heaven. This isn't your typical dinning experience. They are sarcastic and have a good time with you if you so chose. Aiden was loving it...also ALWAYS ask for ketchup! Tip: While the all you can eat selection is $30 a person it is worth it! We didn't order that this time but we did the previous time. You will not be disappointed.  



A boat ride back to Magic and one more trip to Enchanted Tales with Belle. Someone else got picked for a part! By that time we were done! Aiden was asleep before we pulled out of the parking lot! 



I am so glad that we are able to do these special things with the kids - it was a great day! 

Ps - We celebrated Mother's day I promise with all my favorite things: a trip to the spa with my bestie, Target, and Outback (@home) Jesse got my gift a few weeks ago - a new to us car! I am pretty much in love with it - 2015 Ford Explorer in Grey - swoon :) 

Saturday, May 9, 2015

May Goals






We will just pretend I accomplished loads in April! I did it was just mostly in my professional role and less in my personal one. But at last summer is here and onward we march.

Here is what I want to accomplish this month:

- Potty Train Felicity! She is moving to a new school in June and must be potty trained to start.

- Change her crib to big girl bed - we are firm believers in if she isn't crawling out - leave up the crib, we learned this the hard way with Aiden. Felicity will stay in her bed and be content until 8 - 8:30 and in parenting world that is just GLORIOUS!

-Build new dresser that we have had for over a month and sell the old one (need one??)
 
- Send a letter to each of my Grandmothers - I have been saving pictures for them and meaning to write these since December!

- Replace my iphone screen :(

- Get my passport for our CRUISE! 63 days but who's counting?

- Finish my MBA application essay

- hit up Disney a few more times before its so hot we can't breathe.

What are ya'll up to this month?

Friday, May 8, 2015

Friday Finds

Well this week just breezed on by. Tomorrow Jesse and I will take Aiden to Disney for his birthday. Sunday according to Aiden they all have to do "my work" and I get to lay in bed! :) There is a plan to get mani/pedis with my bestie so I am ready for that. 

This article touches on something I am very passionate about and struggled/struggle with as a girl from the True Love Waits generation.

Mother's Day is a great day to remember ALL women

These may have landed in my cart in a lighting deal of the day impulse buy. 

There are days with Aiden that I have to just walk away and come back and Ann provided a nice bit of encouragement when I was desperately seeking it.  

I am not a runner (unless I am being chased) but I have felt this desires to run (yea I don't get it either) so I am going to start out slow following this a 4 week plan and try to drag myself out of bed early so I can beat the FL heat! (the blog is currently down I will update when back up) 

I wish this was something more companies did. We drive a good distance to Felicity's school each day and it would be nice to just have one on campus or at Jesse's office. 

The kids and I are headed to Trader Joe's this afternoon for our monthly stock up. On our list: Kcups, waffles, orange chicken, cookie butter, chicken dumplings, and whatever else lands in that red cart. 

Have a fabulous weekend and celebrate the mothers (biological or chosen!) in your life! 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The boy is Six!

I say every year that I don't know where the time has gone and I still don't.

Six years ago this not so little guy (9 lbs - ya'll) came into our lives and made us a little family of 3. We had no idea what we were really getting ourselves into!


Look at all the squishy goodness - sorry no scratch and sniff.


Always our little ham! This year has been a year of adjustments and at times it's been tough but then there are the days where our sweet little boys just shines.


Aiden at 6:

When he grows up he wants to dig up dinosaurs. (archeologist) Also he wants to work and play a sport. 
His favorite color is green. 
His favorite thing he did this year was removing the training wheels off his bike and braving the kiddie coaster at Magic Kingdom. 
Puppy is still his favorite animal and his favorite thing to sleep with. 
His favorite cereal is cinnamon toast crunch. 
He loves yogurt in all forms and most fruits. 
His favorite veggie is broccoli. 
He still loves Disney Jr. shows but Star Wars Rebels and Amazing Spiderman are giving them a run for their money.
He loves to jam out to the whole 1989 album by TSwift and Walk the Moon's "Shut up and Dance with Me"
He is a typical boy who loves movies. He couldn't chose just one.
He loves riding his bike, swimming and going to Disney. 


We feel pretty blessed that God gave us this boy when he did. 
Stay tuned to see his Jake and the Neverland Pirates party.