Disney vacation memories

Disney vacation vids completed! Six chapters for your utter enjoyment. Feast on!

What will he know in a year?

ONE YEAR AGO:

Things Connor Learned When He Was Three:

to buckle his own seat belt

to bowl

to pedal a tricycle

to poke his own straw into his juice box and open his snack

to jump on one foot

vowels, syllables, long and short sounds

addition and subtraction

to pick out his own clothes

to button and snap

to make his bed

to brush his teeth

to read “big kid books” like Tiger Can't Sleep without help

to build a castle in a sandbox

to count to thirty, unassisted. To one hundred with help on the tens

that a skinned knee is not a mortal wound

to bravely try new foods, like olives

that live theatre can be even better than a movie

that planting a seed is an exercise in patience

that the dentist isn't scary

that every patch of grass is not a potty

that sometimes people we love die

That Mommy and Daddy love him, even when they're furious

that earthworms poop, just like everyone else

that he shouldn't write the word “poop” on his schoolwork

that toothpaste makes excellent fingerpaint, but it's controversial

that cartoons are make-believe

that not everything we eat is healthy

that God sees us, even though we can't see Him

that it's a good idea to wait until your sister is napping to build a block tower

that sometimes, pointing out how someone is different can hurt their feelings

that sleeping is virtually impossible when you're expecting a visit from Santa Claus

that girls love getting flowers

that grown-ups cry when they're happy and when they're sad

that peanut butter and jelly is the balm that soothes all evil

that occasionally, the best part of a football game is getting ice cream with Daddy afterwards

that nobody really knows where Heaven is

that green beans turn to liquid when they're held in your mouth for thirty minutes

that caterpillars don't bite

that box turtles don't bite either, but they pee

that God loves him more than Mommy and Daddy do. And that's a LOT

TODAY:

Things Connor Learned When He Was Four

Counting by two's and tens

Major systems in the human body (nervous, digestive, circulatory, etc)

Blood cells—type/function (the coolest stuff ever!)

How to draw a model of a DNA double-helix. And label it!

Names of planets and other spacy facts

To count to one hundred, unassisted

To add simple numbers in his head

That Darth Vader is the most awesome villain in existence.

That Mickey Mouse is a lot bigger in person

That super-fast rides at theme parks, especially ones that drop you, are best left to the seasoned thrill-seekers.

That having your own bike is the next best thing to owning a driver's license.

That a joke stops being funny when you tell it nine times in a row.

That watching a person have their blood drawn is really cool, but when it's you under that needle...well...it's possible to lose consciousness for a second or two.

That even things we can't appreciate—like mosquitoes and germs—are wonders of God. And He doesn't make mistakes.

That video games are amazing, but not as much fun as an actual light saber battle.

That Dad really is just about the coolest guy alive.

That sleeping in a makeshift hammock is far superior to sleeping in an actual bed, even if said hammock is suspended just three inches from the lower mattress of aforementioned bed.

That boys need to stick together.

That girls need protecting. Especially Moms and sisters.

That girls enjoy being told how pretty they look.

That girls will take any carefully constructed carpet battle scene and turn it into a tea party in seconds flat. And not comprehend your fury.

That most things you see in movies are fake.

That a love for chocolate does not diminish with age.

That sometimes the hardest thing is the thing you have to do.

That even grownups have to be obedient to someone.

That baby teeth don't begin to fall out until you're five or six. Shoot.

That Jesus loves Connor enough to die for him.

That no matter how big we grow, cuddles are important.

That head-wounds bleed more than they probably should, and that Mom should probably wait to examine the wound after it's been stitched up.

That underwear needs changing daily. Even if you can't tell it's dirty.

That taking time to aim before you use the toilet saves Mom a lot of yelling.

That “table manners” are really just a bunch of random rules adults made up to zap every bit of the fun out of a meal.

That dogs aren't always cooperative, but it's nice to have a friend who's willing to sleep under your bed when it's dark.

That popsicles taste better when they come from the ice cream truck.

That snowmen are not as easy to build as you'd think

Permission to board the Mother Ship?

Did I mention we leave for Disney World in just THREE DAYS?????

Technically, two and a half. Not that I'm counting.

I've been going absolutely OBSESSIVE making goodies for the kids, and some may call me a nutjob, but honestly, how often are they this age at Disney? It's likely the next time we scrape up the funds to re-create this experience, they'll be taller, more jaded, and a lot harder to wrestle into outfits of my choosing...so...I totally went bananas for this trip. Just ask my husband. Actually, don't. Please.

All of these items were designed and created by yours truly, with the exception of the adorable pillowcase dress (Mia's) and birthday tee (Connor's), both of which were Etsy purchases. Am I crazy? Prolly.

Without further ado, I present to you...my Disney crafting madness:

Anticipation

Four more weeks...

Beaux

After scoring a sweet little blue-and-white gingham dress on Ebay for Mia to wear Easter Sunday (already monogrammed with a capital "M!"), I set to work designing her a hairbow to match. I've been lusting after those gorgeous, fat, boutique-style bows lately (lots of loops and layers!), so I popped onto YouTube and gave myself a tutorial. How did we get along before the internet?

Here's my first attempt at a "boutique bow." After attaching the clippy, I thought it needed a little something to tie the whole thing together, so I rummaged in my jewelry box and found just the thing--my sapphire cross! It's secured with needle/thread as well as a dollop of hot glue, so I feel fairly confident the thing's not gonna fall off. I can always detach it if I want to wear the cross again...but I think it will look better in my little girl's hair!



Stay tuned...I've been getting super creative in anticipation of our MONSTER family vacay to a certain resort that starts with a "D," coming up in May...

Aw, Sissy

It was brought to my attention recently by a very precocious fellow blogger who shall remain nameless (she's got blue hair and a penchant for combat boots) that I haven't posted a single entry since the danged Christmas candy outfit. Ok, she's right. Convicted. What's up with me? Blogging is a little like attending church. You fall out of the habit, it's tough to get back into. Did I just get a little too honest? It's sadly true.

I'll ease myself back into the saddle with a delightful moment I experienced just moments ago, while tucking my oldest into bed. I've been pitifully ill these past few days, and being bedridden is starting to get to me. Let me preface with this: Connor is our "toaster baby;" he pops back up at least four or five times before he's fully settled in bed at night. We're used to it. So I was totally prepared to dismiss him another time when he appeared in my bedroom doorway, resembling a Precious Moments figurine in his oversized pajamas and giant, pleading eyes. "Mommy, can I read to you?" I couldn't stand it. So up Mommy got, in her grubby sleepwear she's been wearing all day, and trudged to Connor's bedside, where I plopped onto a beanbag chair and watched my little professor enchant me with not one, but TWO chapters of Frog and Toad Together. Hearing him chirp these sweet, simple stories just makes me warm inside. Chapter two was about Toad's dream that he was onstage performing many tricks, and after each one, Frog would shrink a little, until he disappeared, at which point Toad awoke, relieved and overjoyed to find his friend by his bedside. I asked Connor if he had a special friend like that, and he said "Mia." I was not expecting that! "If I had that dream, I'd be so glad to see her standing there when I woke up too." Wow. I think she'd say the same. They really are dear friends. I watched them play today, chasing each other up and down the hall...I watched as Connor carefully helped his sister into her Cinderella costume, and then shared his blocks with her. I hope they're always this kindred.

Now I guess I better do something about that "Happy New Year" wallpaper on my blogsite, huh.

Makin' stuff again.

A couple of things I've been working on this week.

Mia's super duper Christmas Candy outfit! Sucker was a lot more work than I expected. She loves it, though, which is all I care about. Any opportunity to bring out her Cindy-Lou Who-ness, I'm on it.










This necklace is for the kids' favorite babysitter, "Miss Sara." She leads worship on Sunday mornings at our church, and she sings like an angel. We are also making her a very sloppy card to go with it.