I love how pictures can really freeze memories but I struggle with being truly present or being the one behind the camera all the time.

I really should have just been soaking in the simple fun of hanging out in the yard and playing in the sprinkler but on the other hand I got some awesome pictures! :)))

We bought Timmy an old school sprinkler but he didn’t quite understand that he was suppose to run through it so Daddy had to show him….

To me these pictures scream Best Dad Award. Timmy was hysterical laughing. He now totally loves this sprinkler just as we did when we were kids. Best $4 we have spent.

Grace on the other hand, not a fan. The girl screamed bloody murder when the water hit her. I even turned it down really low and she was not that interested.

So for my little diva I put out a plastic shower curtain and wet it down and me and her played there and watched Timmy and Daddy get all wet.

“Mommy, Mommy! Where’s my hat?”

Apparently you need a cowboy hat to ride a horse.

“Gracie you want to pet my cow?”

“Come on cow, EAT!”

A boy and his {cow}.

Seems like lately yelling is my only volume. It’s such a bad habit but this boy does one shockingly naughty thing after another. Some days it feels like nothing I say is getting through to him and then he gives me this little gem of sanity…

I’m standing in the kitchen watching him play outside. He comes in starts walking towards me and THEN, he stops in his tracks turns around and shuts the door without being told.

Sounds silly but not if you’ve been telling him to shut the door for what feels like his whole life.

Now to the next lesson – making sand into a ball does not make it a rock. I’ve been handed these “rocks” twice already and now there’s sand everywhere.

See mommy it’s a ROCK!

A lot of this weeks focus was on behavior. Terrible two’s have hit an all time high. Timmy is hitting and talking back. I’m not gonna lie, I have no clue what to do about it. Right now I’m doing time out but he does it so much that I find myself too exhausted to follow thru every time.

On a positive note, new manners he’s picked up are “I’m sorry” and “God bless you” when someone sneezes. It’s adorable.

This week there was a lot of reading going on. We started with going to the library and picking up some theme related books. I want to start doing this with every new week. Each day we read a couple of verses about Holy Week from the Read and Learn Bible. This is my favorite so far of all the children’s Bibles.

We really talked a lot about Jesus’ cross and it was really sweet to hear him point out his cross projects around the house.

First was a egg carton cross. You need an18 count egg carton so that it’s big enough for the cross and then some paint. I thought this was a great project and Timmy really enjoyed it.

We also made a cross with Timmy’s hand going down in purple paint and Gracie’s handprints going across. I did this on canvas so it might become permanent decoration in this house.

I made a bunny mask out of a paper plate, construction paper and pipe cleaners. Then we hopped around the house like bunnies. Now he wants to hop everywhere. And when he went to see the Easter bunny, first thing he said was “Bunny hop hop” so I think he got this lesson.

I love handprint/footprint anything of my babies so we made footprint carrots for an Easter decoration. I’m in love with it and the kids got a kick out of me painting their feet. Wipes have become a staple with paint supplies, makes clean up very quick and easy.

Timmy also did some circle painting with plastic Easter eggs.

His masterpiece:

I brought out the safety scissors and was excited to see some progress. There were definitely cuts in this paper. I don’t think he’s ready to cut lines but he has made big improvements since a couple of weeks ago.

He also worked on lacing beads which eventually {like everything else} turned into lassoing beads. He is all about being a cowboy. You even hear him saying “Yeehaw!”

He took coloring to new level and decided he was going to use his feet instead of his hands.

It’s 4:30 am Easter morning, I better go check to see if that Easter bunny made it to our house yet!

All day I hear…

“Mommy come on play choo choo train!”

“Mommy come on build a castle!”

“Come on Mommy!!!!!”

How do I say no to that? But how do I say yes to it every time and ever get anything else done in this house. I really feel so guilty to pass on playtime so here we are 8 am playing trains.

I’m a little overwhelmed to find out Timmy has asthma but relieved that we finally know why he is always sick.

Now he’s on a nebulizer every 6 hours for a week and then they are going to re-evaluate. He is terrified of the machine. He cried then I cried, it was a mess. I think he thinks we are trying to poison him. This mornings treatment went easier because I let him hold a gummy bear until it was over and then let him eat it.

They also changed his allergy medicine. I feel so bad loading him up with all this medicine. The good thing is the nebulizer works instantly and last night was probably his first cough free night in months.

UPDATE: tonight’s treatment went so well. He held the mouth piece himself and almost finished the whole thing. Brought daddy to tears. I can’t imagine {and I don’t want to} what it must be like to have a child that is seriously sick. Seeing Timmy using this machine gives me an eerie feeling. It reminds me to thank God for these healthy babies and to say a prayer the parents who are praying for their babies to get well.

Sometimes just doing the simple, ordinary things can make life feel so peaceful. {at least for me it does}

I found these two sleepy heads all snuggled up this morning.

When we went to water the garden we were very surprised to see a big yellow flower.

And I’m sad to report that we buzzed Timmy’s hair. No more sweet curls but I think it’s better for this hot weather.

And he got his first lollipop!

Then we went to the park and I just can’t stand how big he is. I couldn’t believe that next to me on the swings was my own son.

He is crazy about slides. This child is fearless and I can’t wait until I can take him on big kid rides to show him what it’s all about.

Then it was home for lunch and naptime. Even mommy napped!!

After we went to the library to check out some Easter books and a homeschooling guide. Timmy stole a train book from another kid and I felt bad but there was no way Timmy was giving up that book.

Yesterday we got a surprise visitor..MEMAW!! Timmy was so excited. Seeing them play together at the park was the best. Timmy left her high and dry though on the big kid slide lol.

Gracie tested out the swings again.

So pretty much we’ve been doing just everyday things and sometimes those are the sweetest times.

Turned 29 today. And I’m pretty sure I’ve never been this happy. I don’t feel at all uneasy about almost being 30.

Yesterday my sister had a mommy play date for my birthday and made my favorite food {Which could have been anything with Brie on it}. It was very gourmet with fresh crushed blackberries and honey on a croissant with grilled chicken, spinach and Brie. She made egg shaped, chocolate dipped rice crispies and the girls brought cupcakes and bunny bait. Jessica spoiled the kids with their own Easter baskets.

Later my whole family came over and my mom made my favorite broccoli and macaroni. It was so good. None of us can make it like her. They really spoiled me this year. They all chipped in and got me a spa day with massage, facial and mani/pedi. I couldn’t believe it. The card was so sweet too. My brothers note was a heart melter. My sisters roommate gave us BABYSITTING bucks! Can’t put a price on that. She’s so super nice.

We celebrated with this fancy cake!

I’d had enough good food I didn’t want to spoil my diet with a cake too. Today marks 50 pounds lost since Grace was born. I owe it all to my husband really. He has been so supportive and it’s helping us both get back to our prebaby selves. {just do we can do it all over again}

His gift to me was my blonde hair back. I have not been to a salon in 2+ years. I am so happy with it.

I hate when people take selfies but today I’m all about it with this new hair. I only send them to Lauryn and Sabrina. Thank heaven for those girls, they keep me laughing like pee your pants laughing.

The real highlight of my day tho was my boy saying happy birthday mommy and then Grace stood up in her playpen for the first time!

Home Depot has the cutest free program for kids. Every first Saturday of the month they give the kids an apron, a hammer and a little wood project to build.

This month was a bird feeder. The kids all look so cute with their orange Home Depot aprons on and the dads had a little bit of a blank stare looking at the directions. 😊

Timmy was ready to get right down to business.

He was all about the hammer, that is until they brought out the glue.

Daddy was proud of his masterpiece! Now he’s talking about building sandboxes and forts…

We are big Disney fans. Even before the kids were born we celebrated anniversaries and holidays at Disney. It was always a good time but now with kids we are seeing Disney in a whole new way.

We started the tradition of going to Disney for Timmy’s birthday to try to separate Christmas from his birthday because they are so close. This was the first time that he actually understood where we were, pointing out all the characters and waving with HUGE smiles.

I don’t have a lot of pictures because how many times can you take pictures of the same castle. What a relief it was to enjoy everything first hand rather than trying to capture the perfect picture.

The weather was perfect, the crowds were low, lines short AND not one meltdown from Grace or Timmy. Another plus we only spent $33 – $18 for parking and $15 for a ride picture.

Here’s our secrets:

If you’re going with a baby don’t worry bc they can ride almost every ride at Magic Kingdom. So you don’t have to miss out on the fun with your older children. Don’t forget your baby carrier {I highly recommend the Ergo}. This makes long lines a breeze. There is a Baby Care Center by the Crystal Palace Restaurant. This place has private nursing rooms, changing tables galore and any baby supplies you forgot. I have no shame so I nurse anywhere and I find it way easier to change diapers right in the stroller.

If you want to do anything like eating with the characters or a princess makeover or even first haircuts at the Main Street Barber Shop, plan way in advance. These appointments can be made 180 days in advance and when we tried 6 weeks in advance EVERY character breakfast, lunch and dinner was sold out.

Always buy the 4 day ticket for Florida residents. It’s $179. A one day ticket is $105. So this is like getting 2 days free. We split it up into 2-3 trip because we are so close. You have 6 months to use them.

Check the weather, duh.

If the park opens at 9, plan to be there at 8am. Sounds crazy but it will take you an hour to get from your car to Magic Kingdom gates. Also in hot months it’s better to go in the morning and leave by 2 or 3. Once florida gets hot it stays hot and doesn’t cool down until dark.

If you run into ANY issues go to will call. Explain your situation and ask if there’s anyway they can accommodate you. They want you to be happy so you’re almost guaranteed some fast passes. These kind of fast passes are best because they have no time restraint and can be used on any ride. We got 2 for the whole family for everyday because they charged us twice for our tickets.

The new Fast Pass Plus is awesome! Go to the fast pass kiosk first thing. Everyone gets 3 fast passes for the rides of your choice and you get to pick from all the times available. So no more running around ride to ride trying to get a fast pass it’s all in one place. They do sell out so get there early if you want your favorite ride.

Pack your own food and drinks! Yup Disney let’s you bring your own supplies. We packed a small fabric cooler with nuts, fruit bars, cheese sticks, beef jerky, raisins, a whole thing of peanut butter with spoons, frozen water bottles and pb&j for Timmy. Keep ahead of your toddlers hunger. I think that’s what helped us avoid any crying. And even though its kinda mean, avoid the temptation to buy them that cotton candy or mickey mouse ice cream. I don’t know if its all toddlers but my son on sugar is a mad show and then him coming off of sugar is even worse.

This might sound a little neurotic but bring antibacterial soap. My kids caught a terrible cold from Disney our last trip so now that’s a must have item because 2 year olds have to touch EVERYthing.

Best advice I ever got was watch your kids faces instead of the ride or show.

Best kept secret is this crowd calendar!
http://www.undercovertourist.com/planning/when-to-visit.html

It tells you everything!

What’s great about Magic Kingdom is you can go multiple times and still discover something new. I don’t know how I never knew about the jungle cruise ride. Timmy was a little scared holding on to Tim for dear life when he saw the snakes.

Gracie enjoyed the wind in her face on the Dumbo ride. The dumbo ride is the best because they have an indoor playground for the kids while you wait to go on the ride with a beeper system and everything to let you know it’s your turn.

I was surprised that Timmy liked the Pirates of Carribean ride because it’s a little scary but there he was saying “Mommy look a pirate!”

Grace woke up from her nap in the middle of It’s a Small World ride and was pleasantly surprised by all the colors. Her face kinda said “am I still dreaming?”

Timmy saw all the clubhouse characters and princesses in a show at the castle. Up close he saw Pluto, Minnie, Woody and Jesse. It was so sweet hearing him say, “Bye-bye Woody” as our train pulled away.

Of course we had to ride the train. This child is obsessed. Everytime he heard it he was saying, “Mommy choochoo train?”

It was a perfect day. And we still have one more day of tickets so in a couple of weeks we get to do it all over again.