Our Budding Artist

Ben at 29 months

Conversations with Rosemary

Recently, Rosemary’s started asking some really good (and sometimes pretty big) questions. In addition to “Is Santa real?” we’ve gotten quite a few theological questions, “How old is God?” “When was God born?” and “Does God have long or short hair?” as well as some regarding what heaven will be like. For instance, yesterday she asked me if there would be statues in heaven after she saw one of St Sebastian and all his arrows.

Today’s question, however, brought tears to my eyes. Today she asked if there would be phones in heaven. I told her I didn’t think so because we wouldn’t really need them. This made her very sad and when I asked why she responded with, “How am I going to talk to you then when I miss you and you’re in heaven?” Wow.

Later today, she had me cracking up though. We did our Publix run and the kids did great. The high schooler who helped us out to the car said that kids like this made him want to have kids when he’s older. I was praising Rosemary and Ben about their behavior and told them what he’d said. Rosemary smiled then said, “Well, he’s gonna have to get married first.” Glad that lesson’s sinking in. :-)

Pre-K Christmas Program

Rosemary’s Christmas program was this past week. Programs are always pretty interesting with Rosemary, we’re never quite sure what to expect.

This year, all the kids were asked to dress as angels, shepherds, or animals. Teachers sent home letters asking for the costumes a week before they were needed, which seemed like a tight turnaround time considering all the stuff that’s going on at Christmas (let alone being 8 months pregnant). But thankfully, one of my mom’s coworkers mentioned using an old tablecloth to make an angel costume so that’s what we went with. We didn’t have wings or a fancy halo, but it worked.

Getting ready for the dress rehearsal.

Lining up for the program.

Ben sat and watched his sister and clapped after every song.

Signing to Silent Night

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

Afterwards we celebrated with birthday cake for Jesus’ birthday

Rosemary and her teachers, Mrs. Davies and Mrs. Gamewell

Ballet Christmas Party

We enjoyed watching Rosemary dance on Tuesday night at her Christmas party. There were cookies and the girls did a short routine to the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.

It was a free dress night, but Rosemary insisted on wearing her usual ballet clothes.

Rosemary and her buddy, Hannah

Jonathan and Ben were there for the party too

Rosemary with her teacher, Miss Sharon

Cinderella Girls Day

Earlier today, Rosemary and I went to see the ballet Cinderella. We were both very excited. I saw the Nutcracker for the first time with my aunt when I was about Rosemary’s age, so it was fun to take her to her first real ballet.

We got a quick picture with Ben before heading out. Ben was enjoying some chocolate birthday cake from Wyatt’s birthday party that we’d been to earlier that morning.

Rosemary and I arrived at the Phillip’s Center over an hour before the show started because we needed to pick up our tickets and I had been warned that if we didn’t get there early, we might not even get in. She waited very patiently in line before we were able to go in and find our seats. Almost as soon as we got there we saw a few people that we knew. In the end, we ran into over 10 people we knew! We can’t go anywhere in Gainesville without seeing friends!

The ballet was fun and I think Rosemary really enjoyed it. I was so proud of her. Although there was some squirming, she did great for sitting and watching the ballet for over 2 hours. She sat on my lap for most of it and the baby was kicking so much, Rosemary could feel it. We decided she must have been dancing to the music.

After the show, we went to meet all the princesses.

While waiting in line to go into the performance, Rosemary was given this poster. She asked all the princesses to sign it for her…she just walked by any princes that were there.

Meeting Cinderella and her prince

The wicked stepmother

One of the wicked stepsisters

The ice princess

The fairy godmother

A very happy little girl!

Baby Shower

Our small group hosted a baby shower for one of our member’s daughter who is having a little girl at the end of January. Ben and I picked up the paper goods while Rosemary was at preschool one day. The party store had Ben-sized carts so he pushed that little thing all over the store.

Such a helper! But if it was up to Ben, there would have been way more stuff in that cart.

I made her a pocket sling and a little hat. (while I was at it, I made matching ones for our baby girl too).

The party was at our house, but everyone pitched in and brought food so it was easy prep. I just had to do a fruit bowl, cheese, and the cake. Cakes aren’t my thing so I went simple with chocolate and pink polka dots.

I didn’t take any photos during the party. I’m horrible about doing that. But afterwards, Ben helped Jonathan pick up the paper lanterns from outside. He came inside wearing them. He cracks me up!

Thanksgiving 2010

We spent Thanksgiving weekend this year with my family in Longwood. It was everything that one can hope for from Thanksgiving, good food, good company, lots of rest, and some shopping too.

We never leave Gainesville on Wednesday night, we always wait until Thursday morning to avoid the mass exodus from town so we got to Longwood around 11 am. Mom had all the food ready to go and in the oven.

The table is all ready

Jonathan carved the turkey…

while Ben intently watched.

Mom got the casseroles ready and we all loaded up the table and ate at about 2 pm.

Everything was so good!

The next day, Mom and I hit a few stores. We didn’t go crazy and get up to be there at 4 am (or earlier!) so we managed to avoid most crowds and really got most everything we went out after.

The kids stayed home with Jonathan and Dad for the most part. Jonathan and my dad spent a good amount of time playing Wii and as a result, the kids got to play some too.

Ben was pretty funny to watch.

And what trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s is complete without a dip in the spa

Two super happy kids!

Family Christmas Tree 2010

We decorated our Christmas tree this year the night before Thanksgiving. After some mishaps of just trying to pick a place to put it, getting the star on, Ben breaking a new ornament, and figuring out how to make the tree fit best in the rotating stand, we finally started to get the ornaments on the tree.

The bride and groom

From Disney’s Yacht Club and our honeymoon

Rosemary’s Minnie Mouse ears

I’m not sure what Ben was hanging up first…but I’m pretty sure it was one that he couldn’t break.

One of our new ornaments from our trip to New Orleans earlier this year.

Another new one from The Dillard House and our camping trip for Jonathan’s 30th birthday.

We also got an ornament from Flagler College when we went to St. Augustine for our anniversary, but alas, that was the one that was broken on our stone top coffee table before it even made its way to the tree.

Our 2010 tree

Preschool Thanksgiving Program

Rosemary’s Thanksgiving program was last Monday. The kids sang a few songs and then served us a special pumpkin pie treat that each of them made. Rosemary actually sang the songs…and added a bit of her own improvised choreography. I think that might be why her teachers put her on the end!

Disney Trip 2010

We headed down to Orlando for a Disney trip earlier this month. We arrived on Thursday in time for dinner so we stopped in a Giordano’s.

Patiently waiting for our pizza

We got up early the next day and headed to the Magic Kingdom. Jonathan and I both participated in the ‘give a day, get a day’ program so when we picked up our tickets, we also got special pins. Our give-a-days were in reality pretty short. Jonathan volunteered at GCM and they ended up running out of things for him to do after about 2 hours. I volunteered with the high school dance marathon and due to some kind of UF rule, only ended up holding a sign with an arrow on it for 2 hours before they said I was done. The cost of a Disney ticket is $82 dollars right now. So we each basically earned $41 an hour. I’ve never had a job that paid that well!

It was beautiful weather the day we were there. Mid-November is a great time to go.

We always head to the left once we get in the park so our first stop was Aladdin’s Magic Carpets and walked right on.

Jonathan and Ben

Me and Rosemary

She loved this ride!

Next we went to the Jungle Cruise. Basically walked right on there too.

Ben cheesin’ for the camera

Rosemary didn’t really want to ride this one, but then she remembered that the baby elephants were ‘cute’ so she was okay.

We walked onto Pirates of the Caribbean next. Last time we were on it, we were stuck on the ride for an hour. This time, all went smoothly.

Next we headed to the castle to watch one of the shows.

Jonathan held Rosemary so she could see better

Ben sat in the stroller and started eating his snack of two peanut butter crackers.

After the show we headed to Fantasy Land where Jonathan got us FastPasses for Peter Pan and we headed over to it’s a small world. They changed the queue which threw me off for a second. You now go in the way you used to go out. After 30 years of going to Disney, it seemed so strange. I don’t think it bothered Jonathan.

Next, we enjoyed a spin on Cinderella’s Carousel.

Jonathan and Ben rode together while Ben continued to eat his snack.

Rosemary picked horses so we could all ride side-by-side.

Rosemary and Ben actually like wearing their Disney hats. They’re quite possibly the best souvenir we’ve ever purchased since we bought each of them when the kids were infants.

Snow White was one of our longer waits, but still was only 20 minutes and the kids were great. Notice Ben is STILL eating his snack.

Out longest wait of the day…Dumbo. So long to wait for such a short ride. But randomly, we ran into a friend of Jonathan’s who lives in Gainesville as well while in line.

Getting ready to fly

Construction for the addition to Fantasy Land.

Our Dumbo pilot

Rosemary tried on a few hats while we waited for the boys. Then we headed over to Peter Pan.

When I asked the kids about what rides that we had to make sure to go on, Ben would always reply “choo-choo.” So after lunch we headed to the train station on Main Street and rode the entire circuit.

After the train ride, Rosemary and I found seats for the parade and Ben and Jonathan got us FastPasses for Buzz Lightyear. We all ate some ice cream while we waited.

Snow White and her prince

After the parade we rode Buzz Lightyear then made our way to the Astro Orbiter. I’m pretty sure this was the first time I’d ever ridden this ride. I thought it would just be like Dumbo, but up higher.

Rosemary was ready to ride. I’m pretty sure I must have looked hilarious trying to get into the rocket without falling over. Man, that ride went a lot faster than I expected!

Next we slowed it down a bit with a ride on the PeopleMover

Jonathan took the kids on the cars. It was one of the few rides that the kids wanted to ride that I couldn’t ride while pregnant. (And even though they didn’t ride it, we measured Rosemary and she is now tall enough to ride Thunder Mountain…isn’t that crazy!)

Showing off their driver’s licenses.

Toon Town Fair was our next stop. We went through Minnie’s House on our way to meet the princesses. Ben and Jonathan headed to the playground while Rosemary and I waited to see Cinderella, Belle, and Aurora.

Next, we headed to see Mickey and Minnie.

Jonathan got a workout as we waited

By this time, it was getting dark so we decided to let the kids choose one more ride before heading back to the condo. They picked the carousel.

We were beat when we got back to the condo. We ate dinner and the kids went to bed. It wasn’t long before I crashed too.

The next morning was nice and relaxing and in the afternoon, my mom, Rosemary, and I had a girls shopping day at one of the outlets. It was the first time Rosemary came with us for a shopping day and it was so much fun! She tried on about 20 pairs of shoes so she was content. The boys stayed at the condo and Ben got to play on the playground…and take a 3 hour nap! Poor guy, we wore him out the day before at the park.

Before heading out on Sunday, we tried to get a couple pics of the kids with my mom and dad.

On our way out of town, we had brunch at Golden Corral. It was insane!

We had such a nice trip away and lots of fun with family. But I gotta say, Disney with two kids and at 7 months pregnant is a whole different experience!