The Disney Cruise

The Vacation of a lifetime. Disney World and then the Disney Cruise for 6 days and nights. It was a blast to be with MacKinlay's whole family. Greysen loved being with his cousins and of course his granny.
The first night at dinner (Christmas Eve) Greysen decided that he was going to eat green beans and we were so ecstatic. He loved our reaction so much that he kept taking more and more bites. He probably ate seven green beans. A Christmas miracle. People around us were asking what was going on with all the applauding and cheering. The things parents do to try and get their kids to eat vegetables.
The captain of the Disney Magic. Greysen is three and into making scary faces much to his parents dismay.
Greysen with his pal Pluto. There were lots of fun activities, three pools, a water slide and a kids club. My favorite was the adult pool. I only went once but it was so peaceful.
MacKinlay with the dolphins in Cozumel. Greysen went with Mac but I went swimming before I got to see Greysen kissing and dancing with the dolphin. He absolutely loved it. Anytime someone asks how his Christmas was he says, "I went on a big boat and went swimming with dolphins." Yes this three year old is so lucky.
Me holding onto the dorsal fins of two dolphins. That was the coolest experience of the trip and most memorable. Once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so happy I was able to have the chance.
Piper 7 mos. with Daddy and Greysen (3) in Cozumel port where we swam with the dolphins.
On the trolley ride in Key West Florida. MacKinlay and I were supposed to go snorkeling but decided to go on the trolley ride with the kids because it was a pretty gross day and Piper was pretty attached to me. It was a fun day learning about this little Key that is closer to Cuba than the US and is connected to the US by a series of bridges.
Piper on the "Pirates" night. We all got pirate handkerchiefs and the waiters were dressed up as Pirates. Later that night they had fireworks off the boat and a desert bar. The entertainment on the Disney Cruise was pretty awesome but we missed a lot of it because of our young kids. I should've made my kids take late naps and had them stay up later so they could go and see all the Broadway style shows with the Disney characters.
Piper loves the beach. This was at Castaway Cay. A Key out in the Bahamas that Disney has leased for 99 years.
Chip and Dale playing with Greysen. Greysen didn't want to take pictures with many of the characters so I was excited that he would take the pictures here.
Greysen playing in the sand and water. It was really neat that Disney had a couple of floating water slides out in the middle of the ocean that you swam out to. The water and sand was AMAZING. Pretty cool to be on a private island.
Piper being super happy on the beach.
Greysen and Victoria dumping sand on Mac who was being buried in a hole.
Daddy and Greysen on the glass bottom boat. Piper and I skipped the boat ride because we were both tired and figured that she would be happier if she could get a good nap.
Elizabeth and Greysen on the glass bottom boat.

Disney World Orlando Dec 2011

Our one and only family picture taken at Disney World out of the 4 days we were there. Pretty sad.
The first day we went to Magic Kingdom and our best friends from Georgia, the Shumways were able to come and meet us which was a blast. 2nd day was Hollywood Studios and our favorite thing there was the 'honey I shrunk the kids' set. Jones, Lacey and Greysen played there for over an hour. 3rd day was Animal Kingdom and our favorite thing there was the animal safari and the lion king show. The 4th day we went back to Magic Kingdom with all the Timms and I was so happy that Greysen was 40" and rode splash mountain with me. After going on Pirates two times he figured the big "waterslide" didn't look so scary. He said it was fun but he didn't like all the big dips.
Here we are riding on Dumbo the first ride of the day. The temperature was perfect. Sunny and high 70's. I can't imagine ever going in the summer time.
Greysen got to meet mickey mouse at Hollywood Studios and was thrilled.
Greysen and Jones playing at the Honey I shrunk the kids playground.
An upside down tree in the animal kingdom.
A lion hanging out on Pride rock. It was so cool to be that close without any fences or cages obstructing your view.
Look at this cute girl. Such a happy baby. Poor thing won't remember a thing but at least we took a few pictures of her and can say, "Piper you already went to Disney World when you were 7 mos old don't you remember?" She did great and thanks to the baby switch pass were able to go on some big rides too.Greysen, Elizabeth, Leigha and Piper with 'Citizen of Mainstreet' at Magic Kingdom. So I don't like to wait in long lines for characters and this gal comes up and Greysen wanted her autograph so she signed it 'Citizen of Mainstreet' and then Greysen agreed to have his picture taken. I bought him an autograph book an pen on day one that Mac said was a waste of money. Then I felt silly for buying it until it kept that kid entertained for countless hours. He drew on every page and carried it around with him the entire 12 day trip. He didn't get too many autographs but he sure had fun.
Our kids after an exhausting 4 days at Disney World and wait we still have another 6 day Disney Cruise...

MacKinlay's 32nd Birthday

Greysen just was staring at the cake and asking, "just one lick, pleeease?" It was just torture for a 3 year old.
I sat Piper in the bumbo on the table by the cake and she pulled a candle right out. We were surprised. Piper also rolled over from her back to stomach today.
Greysen assisting daddy with the candles.
Mac turned 32 yesterday. He had to work and go to school so it was a pretty low key birthday. Greysen and I made him a white cake and white icing. The kids and I made salmon, mashed potatoes and asparagus and bought him some sweats and a face mask. Not too exciting but at least he has his family.

Halloween 2011

My little witch and monster. I think they are just so adorable. I did make most of Pipers costume which I am proud to say.


Look at that cutie.
Greysen trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.
First Piper and I took Greysen trick-or-treating until Piper was too cold. Then Daddy took Greysen. After lots of trick-or-treating Greysen said to MacKinlay, "Daddy my legs are really tired." Needless to say Greysen rode the rest of the way home on daddy's shoulders. Greysen loved answering the door for the trick-or-treaters. He would give them some candy and kept walking outside saying, "trick-or-treat" over and over again.
Halloween was very exciting for Greysen this year. He was so excited to be a monster. I finally decided to buy a monster costume because making one was a disaster. Luckily he wore it to Pre-school, Music school, Daddy's Halloween work party, the ward party, the Dinosaur museum and on Halloween night. I really feel like it was well worth it.

Family Pictures 2011

We took Family Pictures yesterday and it was such a challenge. Our happy little baby Piper was tired and crying and didn't want to smile. Then Greysen wasn't cooperating and I thought that we wouldn't get a single picture with everyone looking. Turns out my friend is genius and was able to get some where we were all looking at the camera. Poor Piper was just so sad. The picture below she had just fallen asleep in my arms so I just leaned her on my lap and hoped for the best. Luckily she opened her eyes and didn't cry.

Greysen's Cute Moments!

Greysen is really starting to get creative when he plays with his toys. The other day he had all his airplanes in his dump truck and he said he was taking them to the airport. He tells me daily that he is going to be a pilot. At first I kept asking him, "a pirate?" Finally I got that Pilot and Pirate sound an awful lot alike.
Today he was scolding his dump truck because he wasn't being nice to the little truck so his little truck went home (under a chair). The next thing I know his dump truck is saying sorry to the little truck and giving hugs. Then the dump truck took the little truck for a ride.
He does quiet time in his room everyday and I let him pick out some favorite toys to take to his room. He took the firetruck and dump truck and a few cars. Ten minutes later he is coming out of his room and wants some more cars. I get them for him and ask if he wants Mater and he says, "no he's still in a time out." He has become quite the disciplinarian.
He woke up Piper in the swing and he knew I wasn't happy with him and he said, "whats going to happen to me?"
His trucks and cars talk to each other and play together. He likes to say, "WHAT! You be kidding me!" to his toys or pretend conversations on the phone. Apparently I say, "Are you kidding me!" way too much and need to stop.
On Saturday we decorated for Halloween and he helped lots. Then he said, "I want peoples to come and see my decormerations." When daddy came home he took him around the house to show him all the decorations he put up. He picked out a small pumpkin on his field trip last week and carries it around and shows everyone.
He is really excited about Halloween and was asking all day "when we going to go see Halloween?" He wants to go trick or treating like they did on Little Einsteins and he was supposed to be spider-man. We had a costume that we could borrow and now he is adamant about being a monster so I am making a monster costume as of late. I have explained 3 more weeks and it seems to be helping.
I get really impatient with all his talking and snap at him so I put myself in a time out. He asks, Why you in a time out?" I say because I was not being happy and nice. 30 seconds later he says, "mommy you all done with time out?" "No Greysen not yet." 30 more seconds, "you all done mommy, you be happy now?"
This kid is quite the energetic bunny and it's hard to keep up with him. I sure love him even when he drives me bonkers.

Piper 5 months old

Piper is such a doll and we all just adore her. She has been loving to put her hands in her mouth.