Makenzie's "3"

It was really important to Tricia and me to be able to share a special birthday with Makenzie this year. Whatever our budget would allow us to do, we wanted to be sure Kaylie was a big part of it too. With limited funds we decided to make plans for a very special day. Thank God for Josh, one of Kaylie's Godfathers. Josh works at Disney. When we went to visit him he said he'd help us get in and have a great time. That he truly did!

We started the day early, getting ready and over to Disney World. Josh met us all there and we began what I knew would be a day full of memories for the girls. Of course, Cinderella's Castle was the first thing that caught their eyes. "Zamma, it's so big! Does she really live there?" If you look at the upper castle you can see her bedroom! We watched the characters perform while Makenzie directed the music. We toured the castle and enjoyed the beautiful mosaic walls inside. Kaylie loved Cinderella's glass slipper scene.

Josh was able to spend a good portion of the day with us, so the girls could enjoy him too. He showed them Mickey and Minnie's house. Everyone tested out Minnie's sofa. We all loved meeting Mickey and Minnie and getting our pictures taken with them both. You should see Minnie's kitchen!

Both girls got to ride the roller coaster with William. I think it was Makenzie's first Disney roller coaster ride! Kaylie loved it so much she went on twice. We had a great lunch, but Josh had to cut it short so he could go to work. We made plans to see him later. He has "connections" and got us perfect seats in the VIP section to see the Daytime Parade. It was so awesome to watch the girls faces as the characters came by and waved to them or high fived them. Cinderella wished Makenzie a special Happy Birthday as she was wearing a Disney birthday pin from Josh. She was totally awestruck! (He really spoiled us all.)

No child can go to Disneyworld without riding on Dumbo. The girls loved it! We also went into It's a Small World, where we all sang and watched as the girls tried to take it all in. Their eyes were huge! We girls agreed that was the best part. They all went to see Snow White, but Makenzie says the witch "is mean and nasty!"

At 5:00 pm daily, there is a flag retreat on Main Street. We all watched Josh during the retreat. The girls said that was for Papa... It was so amazing. I was so proud of them as they stayed still with their hands on their hearts. Good Girls!

Next came some more rides, and then the night time Spectromagic Parade. Once again we got to spend time with Josh. He took the kids out in the street to play a game until the parade started. Kaylie wanted to stay by him the whole time. We ate our Mickey ice cream, and then watched a beautiful night parade. All the floats and costumes were lighted, making the girls faces easy too see. (That and their huge eyes!)

I've included a short montage of our day. I hope you enjoy it and decide to visit Disney to create your own memories soon. It truly is a "magical"place, and definitely the best place to celebrate your 3rd birthday. Just ask Makenzie! Remember, make those good memories!

After you watch the video, click over to Kristy's blog. She's got some wonderful photos too!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=7001e0dc5ae01bc242d422

Kristy's blog: http://thelavellafamily.blogspot.com/

First Visit

The first overnight visitors to our house were, of course, the girls. They had a lot to explore and just wanted to know that Zamma and Auntie were doing OK. We played in all the boxes and totes, hiding and just having fun.

Tricia and Makenzie slept in the bedroom, while Kaylie and I took the sofa. We had such a good time just "hanging out together". The traditional popcorn was popped, and we watched our favorite TV shows. I loved watching their faces when we unpacked something and they would say "Zamma, this is like opening Christmas presents!" We had to play the "Guess what this is " game to see who could guess what we were about to unwrap next.

As usual there were traditions that had to be upheld. Most of all, we had to resume the Oreo Cookie Party. Five cookies each and a great glass of milk, makes for a tradition not to be forgotten. We all know that grandmothers are "required" to have cookies!

After a crazy night of fun and laughs the girls now know Zamma and Auntie are OK and ready for them to visit again soon!

Bleeding

Through the past 8 months there was a song that really helped me stay focused, Bleeding. You hear it a lot more now, but when I hear it I am singing it in my head to our Lord. You see, despite whatever may have been happening around me, HE got me through it all. Here is a link to listen to it and perhaps you will feel the same when you hear it from now on. Its a video, but the sound, not the pictures are what I focused on. Did He want to sing the same song? Could you sing it and understand what I was feeling? Let me know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQwaf_KCjHk

Think back and remember some other songs from your past. Do you still remember what you were going through when the song came out? Music is amazing!!!

FINALLY!!!

Last Friday saw the end to an eight month nightmare. When the electricity was connected and we were officially "in" our place, I felt like the numbness of all those months was finally over.

The last month had been the worst, and the best, thanks to some really good friends. The start of the month found us unexpectedly looking for a new home. We had each other, and that was about it. Living life in a car wasn't fun, but it did make us stronger. We made connections with the right people and were able to get the ball rolling on our place. All I can clearly remember about that time was how Dan must have felt watching all of it unfold... hmmm! We had some really great friends who were there for us and made the waiting better. We were with friends Terry and Skye during Tropical Storm Fay, and were able to help them through a bout of mopping a flooding livingroom and diningroom. After that we moved on to our friend and prior neighbor Jan and her son Scott. The six dogs were a real treat and we ended up seeing who could get the most dogs to come by them. Snoopy is mine! Friends... thank God for them.

So we are now in our place. We've been unpacking and setting things up non-stop. Kaylie and Makenzie spent the night Saturday, and loved playing in the boxes and trying to find us as we unpacked. "Zamma, you have too much stuff" says Makenzie! Got to get the storage area organised before Hurricane Hanna gets here. Hurricanes are a bother, but the flooding here has been record breaking. At one point we had 18 inches of rain in a 24 hour period. Not good... Fortunately the new place had a 1 foot step up into the house. We should be OK, but pray for more wind and less rain. As it stands right now they say it will pass @80 miles off shore from us. That will give us hurricane force winds, but hopefully less rain. Besides, after that we have Hurricanes Ike and Josephine to prep for... Watch behind Josephine, that's the one I'm worried about, but it's not named yet. In the 18 years we've lived in Florida, Central Florida has gotten more storms in the last 4 years than ever before.

I'm hoping to keep blogging on a more regular basis now. I know this was a place to check out for updates and good memories in the past. I'm planning on getting back to that again. Watch for more regular entries. I'm hoping, barring any floods or power failures, to be back for good now. Think of us during your weather updates. Laugh if you want, but the next time you wring out a washcloth or dishcloth, you will think of us down here in "wet" Florida.

WE'RE BACK!!!!