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Posted by: I10lbs2hvy

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Original: 2/15/2009 7:42 PM
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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Ah, Florida...

 We are LOVING vacation. We've done all the Disney parks and a TON of swimming. We still have Bippity Boppity Boo makeovers for the girls, Arabian Nights, Kennedy Space Center, another day at the Magic Kingdom, a lot MORE swimming and then a day at the Georgia Aquarium on our way home. We have had a great time as a family. I love just being with the kids and not having any other responsibilities. It feels so weird to just go to the playground and do nothing but watch them play, or sit by the pool and just enjoy their hilarity. I read a couple books on the trip down, but haven't done any reading since we've been here. I take care of work emails or stuff at night. So in the day, it is just the family and I love it.

One thing that has really stood out at me is how blessed my kids are to have each other. They each have a built in best friend. I can't imagine the girls without each other or the boys without each other. They are just the best little pairs. Who doesn't want their best friend with them all the time. All four of my kids have that. God was really good to our family when he gave us our kids.

For the first week of vacation, they had cousins too, which they loved. The girls would take Mia home in a minute and the boys and Carson are just three peas in a pod. My kids were very sorry to see them go yesterday. But boy am I glad we still have a week. It is going to be SO hard to go back to winter. This feels normal...I like 80 degrees, tank tops and shorts, tan shoulders, etc. The idea of going home and bundling everyone up every time we leave the house STINKS! I am thankful for the break, but I think it will make the rest of winter that much more painful.

I also realized that I am dreaming if I think I will have time to do major picture posts when we get home, so I'm doing the smart thing and doing them now. Enjoy!!!
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Thanks to facebook, we've recently reconnected with some of our old family friends from WAY back in the day. When I was a little girl, Nicole and Merry Hancock were two of my friends. We were able to stop and meet their families in Tennessee on our way down. It was truly great.

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They were sweet enough to throw Brady a mini party for his birthday. He played shy, but he loved it.

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The trip down was LONG. Here are Nicole and Brady playing follow the leader in Subway to burn some energy.

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This is Brady doing his new pouty posture when he was being too loud and told to sit down. Cute, yet totally unacceptable.

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The sweet boy sleeping on big sis's shoulder.

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If we're at the house, they're in the pool!

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The girls got their faces painted at the Magic Kingdom. Beautiful...

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Jason was tall enough to ride a lot of rides...Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Dinosaur, etc...He absolutely loved them all and was proud as punch that he could go with Mommy and Daddy.

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Brady missed the cut-off by about an inch and a half and was pretty sad...

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The kids at Nemo

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Last time we were here, Renee was too short for the water slide. She has loved it this time.

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Let me just answer both your questions...First, yes. Nicole is becoming quite a lovely young lady and we know what's coming as she gets older...and second, yes. I am aware that I really need to get my haircut so I have bangs again. Can you say freakishly large forehead?

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I LOVE this shot!

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The boys got their faces done at Hollywood Studios...it took Jason a few hours to decide he liked it.

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No kid should be this cute!

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Even superheroes need their rest.

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I love my boys.

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After a long day, Renee needed a rest and a foot rub from Daddy while waiting for fireworks.

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I am so glad she's still a little girl in a lot of ways. You wouldn't believe how happy these ears made her.

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Brady loves the splash pad.

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There was no way I was buying him this ridiculous hat that he loved, so we compromised by just getting a picture of him in it.

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Jason has developed a deep love for "Fluto" so this was his toy choice.

Character greetings...
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My bugs.

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Brady's glasses were evidently too tight on his nose.

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The cousins had a ball.

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But they didn't have any fun at the dinosaur playground.

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Renee loved the parades.

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Brady was awed.

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But I think Jason was the most impressed. :)

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My valentine and I had a WONDERFUL evening on the Boardwalk.

And that's only the first half of vacation. Much more wonderful pictures to come...



 Posted 2/15/2009 7:42 PM - 96 Views - 12 eProps - 6 comments

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6 Comments

Visit the_clines's Xanga Site!
Thank you for sharing all this with us!  You guys look like you are having a BALL! 
Posted 2/15/2009 9:41 PM by the_clines - reply

Visit betr_b4_ur_married's Xanga Site!
Ahhh, finally, something to fill my Hiler withdraw. The first picture made me think about our girls and boys. Maybe someday they will be getting together with their families. I am glad you are having so much fun. Funny story...... This morning on the way to church, Camden asked me when we were going to move. I asked him why he was wondering that. He said because, Pete and Karen moved...... and the Hilers went on vacation. I guess he figured you had been gone long enough, you must have moved. He also asked me why it was cold here and warm in Florida. He is really thinking about you all. Can't wait to see what week 2 brings you!
Posted 2/15/2009 10:54 PM by betr_b4_ur_married - reply

Visit kimmer4life's Xanga Site!
The pictures are GREAT and I especially love the one of you and Nicole! You're both amazingly beautiful!
Posted 2/16/2009 11:52 AM by kimmer4life Xanga True Member - reply

Visit rauch99's Xanga Site!

Your vacation looks sooooooo fun!!  And, it sounds like you have lots more good stuff to come this week.  I'm so glad for you that you are getting a break and just enjoying family time.  I can't wait to do Disney (hopefully) someday as a family!! 

Posted 2/16/2009 10:25 PM by rauch99 - reply

Visit blueyes26's Xanga Site!
When I picked Mia up in the nursery on Sunday, her coat was on top of the diaper bag. I thought "why does she need that?" Then I remembered oh yea, Indiana. Stinks!
Posted 2/17/2009 2:47 PM by blueyes26 - reply

Visit HawaiianHeldts's Xanga Site!
What a great post! It sounds like a fabulous vacation! All those parks and outings aren't just fun for the kiddos! And they can all really enjoy the rides (even though Brady had a few he couldn't go on just yet) at least they are old enough to really remember it! And after the business of your life you really need this time to get away and just enjoy family without school and activities and work!

Thanks for the input about homeschooling! I had itchy mouse finger when I came across sonlight curriculum for preschool! It looked great but you are right about waiting to spend the money on it. I have found really great free resources as well as a few year long subscriptions to enchanted learning ($20/year) and kidssoup ($24/year) and both of those are PreK-Elem so it's nice to have a wide variety of options. I am heavily leaning in the Alpha & Omega (Horizons) direction for Kindergarten curriculum for next year for Jonah. There is a HS conference in a couple of weeks I want to go check out all the curriculum, including Abeka which I've heard is good for the early years. We'll see. I definitely think we are doing a great job with what I have already. I've layed off a little and tried to go with more fun and less "school" and just do a few things a day and really feel out when the kids are done for that time. I think I tried to push them a little too hard at first and it was starting to not be so fun. That is NOT what I want! We are doing a lot of games and activities and play/learning for now!

Anyway, enjoy your time with the family, I can't wait to see more photos!
Posted 2/17/2009 5:51 PM by HawaiianHeldts Xanga True Member - reply


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