One last hurrah

Last week we took a family trip to Orlando. Despite the record-setting rainfall, we had a blast!

DAY 1 was warm and sunny! We spent the entire day in the pool and even got a little sunburned. Just to the left of the pool island is a 106-foot water slide that both Justin and McKenzie braved - keep in mind, neither one of them knows how to swim. I had nightmares that night of McKenzie drowning. Justin came up all smiles, McKenzie was simultaneously gasping for air and coughing uncontrollably. Alex will say it wasn't that bad, but he was at the top. We spent a lot of time in the kiddy pool after that.

The view from our hotel room:

We had a long-distance view of Epcot Center, Space Mountain (the "volcano"), Magic Kingdom and awesome fireworks!

DAY 2 we ventured out to Downtown Disney. Two years ago when we took the family to Disney, we spent the first couple of days Downtown and Justin loved it so much that for the first little while at Magic Kingdom, he kept saying he wanted to go back to the "real Disney." This time around, he said Downtown was fun, but he knew the "real Disney" was going to be a lot better. There were a few highlights:

Legoland was a hit. Justin especially loved the scenes from London and Paris:

They both loved posing with some of their favorite characters:

There was a train - need I say more?

This little guy shot water at you as you innocently walked by. Of course, J & Mc wouldn't just walk by, they stood and stood and stood . . .

They said they wanted to get wet and shortly thereafter, it poured! We hit The Rainforest Cafe for lunch. McKenzie was a little leery of dining in the jungle (she wouldn't sit with her back to the elephants) and I have to admit the thunder pretty much matched the real thing booming outside!

And, of course, there were hats!

DAY 3 it rained and rained and rained. Lucky for us, there was an indoor pool!

DAY 4 it rained harder. Even the indoor pool was closed. The all-glass elevator that ran up the outside of the hotel made for a great distraction and incredible view of the lightning and showers! Later that night . . . lots of pondering on whether or not we should go to Disney the next day . . . one late-night trip to Walmart for umbrellas and ponchos . . . earnest prayers for a miracle in the weather . . .

DAY 5 PERFECT!! Where to begin? At the castle!

McKenzie's primary interest was the castle and princesses - how big will it be? will they be real? can they give hugs? And, face painting! Let me present . . . princess kitty! She also really liked the tea cups (aka tea "pots"), Cinderella's carousel, the flying elephants, Minie's house, and It's a Small World. She wasn't too keen on all the rides in the dark but, that's okay, I got my snuggle time . . .

Justin LOVED the race cars and Splash Mountain and "everything else" -- yes, he road Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Thunder Mountain terrified him! He came walking off with his puppy-dog eyes and when asked if he liked it, answered with a flat out "NO!" Ahh, but he was brave . . .

The rain didn't hit until the final parade but even then it caused only a delay -- and the fireworks were spectacular! Definitely a day to remember. Justin and McKenzie keep asking if we can go back again today. I'm glad they loved it! I can't wait to go back either!

Grandpa & Doritos

Two of McKenzie's favorite things.

2009 Graduate

Justin's preschool career began with Joy School.  He was only 2 1/2 but already so eager to "go to school."  There were three other kids in his class Benjamin, Riley and Caitlyn and they met twice a week. He still has fond memories and likes to compare his experiences with McKenzie's.

In London, he began his formal education at Caterpillar Nursery School. Justin's self-confidence and abilities thrived during those nine months.  I remember the first day sitting in his classroom praying that he wouldn't dissolve into a ball of tears and refuse to come back. The next day he kissed me goodbye at the door and was on his way . . . 

Today was his last day as a preschooler back in the States.

Miss Kimberly

Miss Lina

Yesterday was his end of the year program where each class sang a couple of songs (I took videos of these but Justin wasn't really "into" performing) and was then presented graduation certificates.  It wasn't as emotional for him as I thought it would be.  We enrolled him in the early learning program at a Methodist church close to my parents' house while we were still living in London.  As a result, none of the kids in his class are geographically zoned for the same elementary school as Justin.  He doesn't seem to mind . . . maybe it's the thrill of kindergarten registration . . . or the idea of riding a school bus . . .

Congratulations sweet boy!

Happy Birthday McKenzie

My baby is three!!  Three reasons I love McKenzie:

1.  She's a challenge.  She's independent, sassy and more than a tad bit stubborn.  She's a quick learner - walked at 9 months, talked at ????, fully potty-trained at 25 months - and she thinks for herself.

2.  She's always happy.  McKenzie always wakes with a smile on her face and big hug for whoever is in her path.  She loves to snuggle and is quick with a "Mama, I love you" at any given moment during the day. She even emerges from most tantrums with a smile (see #1  above). 

3.  She's my little girl.  I always wanted all boys. I was always a tomboy who ran with the boys and beat most of them most of the time - you name the challenge.  McKenzie's favorite color is pink.  She adores princesses and baby dolls.  She loves to have her nails painted and to dress up for church.  She loves to sing and dance.  She is beautiful.

McKenzie wanted a princess party for her birthday.  This too presented a challenge considering many of her friends her age are boys.  They didn't seem to mind all the pink!

We flew home from SLC on McKenzie's birthday.

Justin wrote/spelled this for her all by himself on the plane.

Happy birthday sweetheart!

The party goes on . . . How many parties does one three year old need?  Three, of course!

Salt Lake City Highlights

In April, we took a family trip out west to, as Justin put it, "get a new aunt" (Alex's brother, Hebe, got married). At dinner the night before Carley (the bride) walked by our table in her wedding dress and McKenzie leaned over to me and said, Mama, there's a princess! From then on Carley was dubbed "Princess Carley" and Hebe, her prince:

The happy couple!

Justin fell in love, again, and was heart-broken the next morning to learn that Princess Carley and Hebe were indeed getting married.

Justin and Princess Carley

photo by Matt Eastman

McKenzie and Princess Carley

photo by Matt Eastman

Hebe and Carley got married in the Draper Temple and, even though J and Mc didn't get to attend the ceremony, I think you'd agree they had a great time:

We also spent a lot of time on Temple Square.  I loved seeing all the flowers in bloom and touring the roof of the Conference Center.  Justin LOVED the organs in the Tabernacle and the Conference Center and McKenzie had to have her picture taken by the "pink" flowers -- I'm pretty sure they both enjoyed the various fountains: 

We took the time to visit one more temple (actually the first) in Alex's hometown:

The Bountiful Temple

McKenzie's third birthday was April 26 (the Saturday we flew home) but Aunt Rach and Aunt Sam threw a fun party for her the day before:

Justin and McKenzie are already planning their next trip to SLC but, in the meantime, they take turns being Princess Carley and Prince Hebe . . .