Rainy start

Well we're in South Florida - 

Dvd's watched:

Happy Feet

Boz: Boz's and 1-2-3s

Hair Spray

Boz: Colors and Shapes

Mary Poppins

Stops:

Apple Bees in Tallahassee

Gas Station - who knows where?

Service Plaza on the Turn Pike

We did stop for the night about an hour north of our intended destination - the kids were tired of being in the car and we didn't want to inconvenience our friends with two toddlers who would be wired for ours.

Maddie and Wyatt traveled so well - they did great! Once we got checked in at the hotel we played outside and I tell you as long as there are rocks and sticks - Wyatt is happy!

Maddie played in the flower gardens - the magical fairy garden - she called it.

We got up this morning and ate breakfast and had a very short drive to our friends house.

Our drive tomorrow is about as short - and it seems the wet weather has set in in South Florida. It's been pouring for a few hours now with little hope that it will let up!

We're hoping for a sunny send-off tomorrow afternoon!

Taking a break

Well the time is drawing close - and the last minute details are piling up!

I will not be blogging while we're gone - I'll be writing but will not be getting internet access on the ship - it's too expensive!

Expect a delay once we return home - I'm sure I'll have a million pictures to post!

So give yourself a much needed break - especially those of you who check my blog multiple times a day - I won't be posting for the next 8 days. 

I might try to write a little tomorrow, but it just depends how crazy I feel!

Family Photo

We hardly ever get a picture of the 4 of us together - but last week I managed one!

I'm hoping that we'll have a few to bring home with us from our Cruise - which leaves in 5 days!!!

Birthday Beach Playdate

We went to a birthday party on the beach on Monday - the kids had a blast and the weather was perfect!

Happy third Birthday Marianne!

The birthday girl blew out her candles with the help of the wind:



Becca's cupcake face:




Sabrina enjoyed hers as well!


Wyatt loved his:


Zach and Nathan:




Lia said MMM icing!


On to the beach!














The beach was amazingly beautiful!


Hunting for shells:



Wyatt and mommy:



Chasing birds!

Christmas Wish Lists

Note: edited size info for shoes!

Can you believe I'm already thinking about Christmas? I decided that I'm going to start compiling our "wish" lists now - because so many people like to shop early.

Let me say first of all that we don't really "need" much. We've been going through the house and de-cluttering as it is, so our lists will probably be a little sparser. 

We don't really need any big toys. There are a few smaller things that will pop up on the lists I'm sure, but there is literally no room in our house for anymore big toys!

If you see something that is underlined - I've put in the links to take you to the item, etc. I wasn't price shopping usually - just linking to the quickest example of what I'm talking about :)

I'll update it as I think of other items or if I want to take things off. 

Wyatt:

clothes size 18month-24 month

shoes size 6 - 6.5 wide or extra wide

loves balls - any kind

Thomas the Train engine pieces - (wooden track type) (we have percy and toby, but that's about it!)

Boz books

 

Wyatt would love a subscription to WILD ANIMAL BABY - the source code you'll need to order is D89SCAAAK.

DVD's we'd like to add to our collection:

The Real Laurie Berkner Band -

(we don't have any of them and would welcome any - they released a new one called RocketShip Run in September)

Boz the Bear

We have several of the dvd's, but there are a few new ones we don't have and would like :)

Start Singing with Boz

A wowzie Bozowee Christmas

The Very First Noel Christmas DVD

Maddie would like the new  Barbie DVD

Madeleine:

size 4T clothes mostly now

shoes size 9.5 medium (has my child seriously grown a size in a month?)

Loves Belle and Cinderella and Barbies

Maddie would really like to have the new Barbie in the Diamond Castle Doll.

She also like Playdoh and other than tubs of it we haven't invested in any of the fun kits they make. 

I think she would enjoy a subscription to Your Big Backyard.

(You'll need a source code to order and the one we got was D89SCAAAK. She loves getting stuff in the mail and I think she's at the perfect age to appreciate her own "magazine."

Anne:

I don't really need much - there are a few books that I'd like to have my own copies of (or updated copies).

Medications and Mother's Milk (2008)

Spiritual Midwifery

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

How Weaning Happens

Mothering Your Nursing Toddler

Breastmilk Makes my Tummy Yummy (currently out of stock)

The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Childs Sleep (although honestly I need it NOW)

I'd really like to have a new pair of jeans from JJill:

Authentic fit boot cut, size 2 regular, weekend wash color

I kind of need a new microplane grater - I've had mine for 5 years now and use it several times a week - it's quite dull and frankly probably a little dangerous to use now! they make it in pink now!

I'd like a small Fiesta Ware tea-pot (2 cup size) any pretty color will do!

I'm still working on a list for Mike - he's so hard!

I can tell you that he'll always be happy with Florida State stuff! I think he'd like a set of FSU Tervis Tumblers for sure.

Going on a cruise!

We're often spur of the moment type people and started talking about going to Atlanta and visiting the aquarium. I started looking at prices for admission, hotels, etc and was just blown away at how much money we'd spend in just 2 days to go to Atlanta.

Then Mike's business partner mentioned that they got a really good deal on a cruise in december... So I came home and started searching and guess what?

We're leaving Monday from Miami - going on a 4-night cruise! With taxes and surcharges we ended up spending just $200 over what our expenses were estimated (not including gas and food) than what we would have spent for just 2 days and a whirlwind weekend.

I've never been to south Florida - or to the keys - one of our ports of call.

We're leaving on the Imagination - which has recently been updated with flat screen tv's and a way cool spray park!

I can't begin to tell you how excited we are!

Artistic Kids

We're trying hard to do some art projects during the week and this week we painted pumpkin cut-outs! 

Both Maddie and Wyatt did a great job with theirs - although I had to finish up Wyatt's for him. He's just not into painting yet.

Maddie got really crafty with the glitter and Wyatt got naked and decide to color on the floor. I can't remember why he ended up naked, but the pictures were cute and I love that little heiney of his!

He was very concerned about the paint on his fingers - "Hands!" is what he kept saying - telling me I needed to clean them off for him!


Maddie's Turn:





After finishing her pumpkin - Maddie decided to also paint the paper.


And Now For Something Completely Different (a little Monty Python humor...!)






He sure looked like he was - um - posing for me...!

A few more - we played with Playdoh after that and Maddie made me a bowl of worms!




not my best side: (i think Maddie took these)




Miss Pam came over that night:

she was making a giraffe!



Flowers Maddie picked for me that night:



One last tushie pic: