Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival 2008

On Saturday we decided to go to Epcot. It's a slower paced park and the weather was beautiful. So, please enjoy my pics!!!!
The obligatory stop at the first fountain (Ryan loves all things water)

Channeling August Rush, Ryan decided to compose the water fountain show...hilarious



On to Minnie's Butterfly Garden

Our hostess

Pluto

Pretty butterfly

Ryan in the garden. Lots of butterflies that were to fast to capture via my camera


On to the big kid's playground they set up just for this show! Ryan chose to do something a little advanced and Allen was all over him.


Over to the other side, where Neverland had a playground (again temporary for the show)
Our hosts

Ringing the bell in the playhouse

Enjoying the rubber mulch (added this to the must buy list for Ryan's playground)

Hanging in the slide

Meeting Smee on the playground (he and Captain Hook actually played on the playground with the kids)

Then Smee grabbed Mommy for a little dance


Climbing the rocks at another small playgrond over by one of the countries, thinking Germany


And on to the water area. This time we were smart. We brought Ryan's trunks, crocs and a towel so he could play. And he did for over an hour and a half.


Thanks for looking!

Back to Monday...Last week Tib asked us (which would include you if you stalk, I mean read her blog)to play in My Favorite Monday. Last week's theme was jewelry, this week is one of my most loved topics: Favorite Vacation Destination.
I would have to pick Santorini!

Allen and I have seen some amazing places here in the states and overseas. There is so much more that we want to explore. The year of our 5th anniversary, we traveled over to Greece, which included Crete, (Allen's mom is from there) Santorini and Athens on the mainland. In tow with us, we had many members of his family and 2 of mine. It was hardly romantic but lots of fun!!! One night we "escaped" by ourselves to Santorini via a super fast ferry. We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast right on the caldera. Witnessed their gorgeous sunset. Ate by candlelight in Oia (pronounced ee-ah). Took a crazy cab drive on tiny pitch black roads going very, VERY fast. Shopped in little shops on maze-like pathways where no cars could be (only donkeys). It was beautiful. I would love to go back for a couple more days with Allen. The romance level is super high. And the views? Breathtaking.
(P.S> This is where they think Atlantis was)

Wow, already that time again! OK, here it goes...

Amazon: I love shopping. Everyone around me knows I love shopping but finding a place that is one-stop shopping mecca with great prices is my dream. Not only can I shop in the comfort of my pj's but I also get to find reasons to spend just a little more to get that free shipping. lol

Orlando: Why am I thankful for living in this city? Yes, it's hot and it's crowded. BUT when I get to sit here and think, "Gosh, which park do we want to do this weekend...Disney, Seaworld?" That is truly awesome. It is super awesome when your child is still free!

My July 05 Moms web board:(giving a shout out to my visitors from that board)We went through our pregnancies together and now bicker, I mean banter, amongst ourselves still. I love you all (for the most part). haha

Tuesday and Wednesday night T.V.: I am thankful for you but you are also evil. You keep my up watching my DVR'd versions of American Idol and Big Brother and High School Reunion and now Hell's Kitchen (starting next Tuesday). But I have never been so happy to see 2 nights packed like this.

My 5 CD's

Tiburon did this on her blog via Mindi's (is Mindi still stalking me???). This is the top 5 CDs you'd want to be stuck on a deserted island with. There are no iPods here, only circa 1990 Sony Discmans. Heck, maybe it will be the one that doesn't skip if I bump it. I digress, anyway, it cannot be a soundtrack or a Greatest Hits album. Here are my 5, in no order at all:

Def Leppard's "Hysteria"
(I grew up on this and still love it)

Prince's "Purple Rain"
(again ,love this CD. I know, I am crazy)

Jars of Clay (self-titled album)
Reminds me of some hard times in my life where alot of change happened

Faith Hill's "Breathe"
just good music and I can sing it really loud (and most likely really bad, haha)

Michael W. Smith's "I'll Lead You Home"
memories are in this one, first year at UCF.


So, what are yours?

Pins!

When Ryan was born, we instantly started going to the Disney parks. It's what we people from Orlando do. Why not, it's in our "backyard". Allen and I decided we wanted to collect something for Ryan that were memories from the park. No stuff animals...too pricey and too big. No snow globes because he is a boy and those are breakable. So, Allen came up with the brilliant idea to collect pins. Totally different idea and completely perfect for the memories (and the family budget)! Thus, the pin collecting began. We get them from everywhere we visit, if possible, not just Disney. And they all mean something, from his first haircut to the first time he rode a ride to a holiday we celebrated. It's fun to look at them and see where we have been! He is a well-traveled little boy for all of 2. I cannot wait for him to start picking them out himself!
Well today I finished the last hole on frame #2. Where to go from here, I do not know. They are proudly displayed in his play area. Who know maybe I will start one for his room. So what do you all collect for your kids? Or what will you collect if you haven't started yet?

Easter 2008

Here are my pics from Easter!
Ryan saw the Easter Bunny on Thursday


And then on Easter, Ryan woke up to his Easter basket. In it was the obligatory chocolate bunny, Pepa the Pig DVD and Gymbo the clown. A little history here for you readers, Ran has the 2 Gymboree Music and Play DVD's. The one with cars and trucks also features Gymbo the Gymboree clown. The group looks for Gymbo by saying, "Where's Gymbo?" "Is he under your foot?" Noooooooooo. "Is on your head?" Noooooooo "Where's Gymbo?". SO Ryan constantly repeats these phrases. He even says "Where's Gymbo?" in his sleep. Hence, we now KNOW where Gymbo is!



After church, we went to a big Easter celebration with our church family! So the kids did their Easter Egg Hunt there. Ryan was not into searching for anymore eggs. He did it at home, at school and at church. Me thinks he was over the Easter Egg huntin'. So he ran around like a mad man UNTIL the ducks came trotting into the yard. Poor ducks were chased like crazy by Ryan.


And after we left, I took Ryan back to the pool at Tammy and Mike's hotel. Ryan has had limited exposure to the pool, mostly because Mommy feels like someone might harpoon her and drag her back out of the water. But I gave in and took him in. He LOVED it. Who knew my kid could doggie paddle right off the bat! He did great! Unfortunately, I left my camera at home. Maybe next time.

All in all, it was wonderful Easter. My family was here, which always makes it special. And having a child really highlights the holidays wonderfully. Makes me feel like a kid again! Hope yours was wonderful as well

My Favorite Monday

Due to me being at Seaworld all day yesterday, I missed this litle gem started by Tiburon (see link as a friend).

She asked what our favorite piece of jewelry is, minus your wedding ring/engagement ring.
The above ring is my favorite piece of jewlery. It's my dad's wedding ring. My dad passed away on August 14, 1992. This is what I asked for of his. And I cherish it.

Happy Easter! It's not about the eggs and the bunnies (although I love them, too). It is about Christ rising from the tomb. I hope everyone enjoys time with their church and their family today.

Horton Hears A Who

This is what I will deem as Ryan's first movie. Yes, he "saw" Talledega Nights and 2 other campy movies when he was a baby but nothing since he has become this walking and talking character! As a family, we have tried to do a Family Night once a week, usually Thursday. Sometimes life gets in the way but not this week. We went to the mall and saw good ol' Peter Cottontail (pics coming). Had a little dinner thanks to Chik Fil A. And then o to the movie. Ryan was a little apprehensive when we walked into the big theatre. He actually stood out to the side on the ramp in watching the previews, which was A.O.K. with me. That's a big screen and it didn't help that the preview for Ice Age was on and Ryan cried just a week earlier at the dinosaurs on the Epcot ride. So Allen got the seats and I waited until he was ready. And finally he was right before the movie started. Perfect timing. We got him seated. Bribed him to stay seated until he got "invested" in the movie with my little friends, M&M's. And finally, he got it. It was a movie. He cheered. He yelled. He clapped. He did great! He even stayed to watch the credits. Nothing exciting there but he thought so. And I had my camera there to capture the Easter Bunny pics, so here are some! (and yes, the theatre was virtually empty so I didn't feel like such a heal).