Disney 2009

We decided to treat ourselves to a family vacation at Disney World. None of us have ever been before so we had no idea what to expect. It was amazing, we absolutley loved it! Even though we didn't choose the best time of the year to go it was still so much fun. We decided next time we are going to put more thought and planning into going, this time was sort of last minute decision. Mid August probably isn't the smartest time to go as it was VERY hot and crowded. Ashe and Zander loved it and had so much fun. Zander said his favorite part was the character breakfast we did where he got to meet Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. Ashe liked the rides the best. Arya did not like the characters at all. She liked the statues of the characters though. She was a trooper spending most of the days in her stroller, she did so good.

Our last day we went back to Epcot to catch some things we missed the first day we went. We got up early to be one of the first in line and it paid off. We were chosen that day to be the family to help open the park. We were the first ones in and did a count down to open the gates. We even got to sign Mickey's autograph book. All of that was very special especially since it was our last day there.

I don't know why there is two of the same pictures posted on here, I couldn't get it off and it took way too long to download all the pictures on here so I'm not messing with it because I don't want to screw it up. LOL

First steps!!!

Today Arya took her first two steps by herself! Her and Daddy were playing around and he kept standing her up in front of him and she would laugh and lean towards him and finally she took one step by herself. He kept doing it and she eventually took two steps all by herself while she laughed because she thought this was a great game. It was so cute. She has been walking really well holding one hand and really cruises along holding both our hands so we knew this day was coming soon. I took a bunch of short little video's while they were playing so I will check them later and see if I caught the moment and if it is short enough I will try to download it on here.

Below is the video of her first steps but I can't get it to rotate, so sorry about having to watch it sideways.

In other news, a few weeks ago Zander lost his first tooth! We told him to put it under his pillow and the tooth fairy would bring him money but that night he told Buddy he didn't want to put it under his pillow that he wanted to sleep by himself in his room. So the next morning we talked to him about it and explained that the tooth fairy is just pretend and that it is us. He said to us, can you just give me my money while I'm awake then. LOL

On the go

You've probably read in an earlier blog this week that Arya started walking with her toy. Yesterday evening I was able to catch her doing it again but this time she decided to be brave and stand up and hold on with one hand. She didn't want to let go of her block that she was playing with. Then once she was standing she kept letting go and banging the handle of the walking toy while standing on her own. Amazingly I was able to catch it on the camera. So here are the couple shots I got.

She was being so funny yesterday with a particular toy she was playing with. She has this alligator toy that opens and closes and holds blocks inside. She was very entertained last night putting her rattle in the alligator, closing the lid, then opening it back up and taking out the rattle. She did this over and over and was so pleased with herself. It was hilarious!

Have a good day all!!

Jacksonville Zoo

Here's some pictures of our trip to the Jacksonville Zoo that we made last month. We all had a lot of fun. The boys feeding the giraffe was really neat to see. We all got to touch and feed the stingray's. We've touched them before but never had the opportunity to feed them. It was really unique. Arya was such a good girl too, it was pretty hot out and she just sat in her stroller the whole time watching everything and looking at all the animals.

More Big news yesterday.....Arya started walking with her walking toy!! Also getting brave standing by herself more and more. Pictures to come later of this......

Yesterday we played frisbee golf. We're not very good at it but it's still fun. Well I should point out that myself, my sister, and the boys are not very good but Bud can actually throw the frisbee. LOL

Where to begin...

I did not realize it has been over a month since I have posted new information on here. Since the boys have started their summer break it seems that the days just fly by. Right after school let out we had our Vacation Bible school at church which I was the director for. Thankfully it all ran smooth and was a big success. At the end of June we made a trip to Florida for a doctor appointment for Ashe. He needed to be seen by a pediatric optomologist. No worries though, all is good. Then the most exciting so far is that my sister has come to visit. She just arrived this past Tuesday and is staying for two weeks. The boys had no idea she was coming, we kept it a surprise for a long time. She got in very late Tuesday night so they were all asleep in bed. We set her up on an air mattress in the living room and then in the morning she went woke them up and boy were they shocked! It was very funny! They are loving having her here, Zander said he doesn't want her to leave.

As for Arya she is changing so much daily. Yesterday her first tooth broke through the gums. Today she stood for a long time by herself several times throughout the day. She has mastered a toy where she puts balls in the top of a giraffe's head and they roll out the bottom, she has been able to put the balls in for awhile now but today for the first time she just sat and kept putting them in over and over again. She also started "clicking" with her tongue today for the first time. It was very funny watching her discover a new sound to make and seeing herself so pleased with herself. She also liked watching us click back at her. LOL
I just realized I have a lot of updating to do in her baby book.

I am going to try to post some new pictures soon but right now it will not work well as I am typing this late and our internet is too slow to upload any pictures right now.

Tomorrow is a pool and beach day!

Ashe's baseball season comes to an end

Thanks to our wonderful friends we have these pictures. Bud and I were coaches this year for Ashe's baseball team so throughout the season we didn't get to take pictures or videos. Lucky for us we have super great friends who were nice enough to come to Ashe's last game and take pictures and some video's for us. Ashe had a great season, after 7 years of playing, his baseball skills have really come along nicely. He was one of the best when it came to fielding and batting. Each year he has drastic improvement and I would have to say this year has been the most drastic of all. We all had a blast this year. We can't wait for next year!!

Private Field Trip

We have wonderful friends. One of our family friends is a pilot here at GTMO and offered to take the kids to see his plane. They had a blast getting to see all the controls and sit in the pilots chair. He even took us in the air traffic control tower where the kids got to see a plane land from the tower. Afterwards both boys decided they wanted to learn how to fly. The little girl in the one picture with Zander is Sara, it's her dad that gave us the tour.

Big Day!!

So today Arya stood up on her own!! She's been trying for about a week or so now and today she finally figured it out. After the first time she did it all day like a pro. We're in trouble now...LOL

Sleepy Girl

You are probably thinking that Arya is just chewing on the seat but nope you are wrong. She is actually sleeping, yes, sleeping. She was so tired that day but just wanted nothing to do with laying down for her nap so I put her in her bouncer so I could get laundry folded. She was having a grand ole time bouncing away and then I realized that it got pretty quiet. Bud came and got me and said to come look and there she was sound asleep. When we took the picture the sound of the camera woke her up and she immediatley started bouncing again. It was very funny. She has actually done this twice recently, falling asleep in the bouncer.

Yum...

Our silly little girl likes to taste things throughout the house. Her favorite is the table in the living room. Some days she acts like I put seasoning on it, these pictures are from one of those days.

More recent pictures...

The boys had a concert last night at the school. It was their spring concert. Zander sang "You are my sunshine" with his class. He is holding the sun that they made and held up during their singing. Ashe's class sang with the rest of the school a variety of Patriot songs. The picture of Arya is just her being silly in her little princess outfit.

Recent Pictures

These pictures were all taken within this past week. The one of Zander in the catchers equipement is him keeping himself entertained in the dugout at Ashe's game. The one of Arya with the toy in her mouth sitting in the stroller is her keeping herself entertained at Zander's baseball game.

Yesterday evening was Zander's very first baseball game. He was so excited about it all day long. During the game he hit every time he was up. Surprisingly, he was a switch hitter last night. The first time he went up he hit left handed then the next two times he hit right handed. He did great in the field, he knew to stay in his postition whereas most of the other kids just wanted to run to wherever the ball was hit and fight for the ball. Finally the coach assigned who was going to get the ball when it was hit so Zander was able to field a couple balls.

Afterwards we went out to eat at the Windjammer for a celebration dinner. Zander said as we were going in to eat..."people are going to see me in my uniform and say, he's so cute". LOL

That's all everyone kept saying at the field was how cute they all were. Which they were adorable out there in their little uniforms.

Ashe had his first game Monday, sorry don't have any pictures for you. Bud and I are coaches, so it was a bit difficult to take pictures. But Ashe got a triple in the game and our team won by one run.

Da Da Da

This morning Arya was very interested in Daddy while he was in the kitchen, so I kept telling her to say da da da. Surprisingly she did! She started out just making the motions with her mouth and eventually she got some sound out and before we knew it she made the da sound. I gave her to Buddy and grabbed the camera, of course she immediately stopped. It took us a few tries but we finally caught her on camera!

A side note.....our big girl turned 7 months old on Sunday!

So proud of our young man

Yesterday Ashe took part in his first Color Guard Ceremony. The Sea Cadets Color Guard presented the colors at the college graduation ceremony. They did a fabulous job, we were so proud of them!