Round 3

Here we are! The happiest family on earth, at the happiest place on Earth!

Again we all had an amazing time! I have had a hard time trying to readjust to "normal" life! I will cry if you mention the words Walt, or Disney, or even World for that matter! So tread lightly!

But alas there are memories, and here are some that we would like to share!

Characters were EVERYWHERE this year!

Here are the children with Wendy and Peter Pan, right after we took a fantastic Fireworks Cruise! We got to enjoy the Wishes fireworks at Magic Kingdom on Mr.Smee's boat with Wendy. Captain Hooks boat had Peter Pan, and when the fireworks were all done, we got to meet Peter! We also played games with Wendy on our boat, and received a sword, pirate necklace, a message in a bottle, and a hook!

We had a great night! It all ended perfectly with not being able to get back to our hotel! SO the hunt was on for a bus....we eventually made it, maybe an hour of so later...but a memory nonetheless, especially with the super helpful employee at the Contemporary Resort!

The children getting to meet Captain Hook and Mr. Smee!

Pluto!

Mickey and Minnie Mouse! The children LOVED their mouse ears that they received as part of a gift basket from Uncle Chuck and Auntie Barb! The ears have their names embroidered on the back!

This was earlier in the day when we happened upon Wendy. The children got to have fun telling jokes with her, since there were not many other kids around! The kids told Wendy that they thought Captain Hook smelled like a cookie, and Wendy thought it was more like a Codfish...They all had a good time!

Okay, I need to go wipe my eyes, and continue with my W.D.W. Depression.
Send help!

Reality

I received many compliments on the photos that I had shot out at the tree farm. But the reality is, that you get to see the best ones...until now!

Here is about the 253 picture of these two adorable sisters...

You can see the frustration on Isabelle's face.

Let's throw some brothers into the mixture:

Nope: everyone is saying "No" or something like that.

Keep they eyes open...we're almost done here kids!

OKAY, I think we are getting close, just a couple more!

Uh, Gabi, we are not quite done yet!

So there you have it, the reality is that EVENTUALLY the odds will fall in our favor to get a good picture, just depends if we can get it before Gabi changes her mind.

O Christmas Tree...

The time had come once again to make our trip out to the tree farm...and it was COLD!
So we were pretty quick with the selection...and the kids had no problems enjoying themselves!

Decorating the tree was promptly started 3 days later,
and finished by the 5th day!

This ornament is one that I made in preschool.

Love the hand painted ornaments that FILL our tree!
We have several that were created by my grandmother, and Will's mother.

Take a look at last years trip to the farm!
http://coopd-up.blogspot.com/2007/12/o-christmas-tree.html

Water, water EVERYWHERE

WATER ... it is really taking a toll on our little community and all the surrounding areas. As of last night, the only way Will could get to work is if he drove 5 miles north, 40 miles west, then back down about 10 miles. Not quite economical with the gas prices at $4 a gallon.

It truly is just devastating to see the great amount of effort all the locals are putting into try to salvage belonging and homes.

We personally are NOT affected at all but ache for those that are. The pictures that you see in the newspaper and on TV are truly gut-wrenching, especially if you are aware of how the area is when there is no standing water.

*The following photos were taken from my helicopter.*


This is a picture looking toward Mayflower, a dorm in Iowa City.

Here is the top of the great carousel at City Park. The smaller top is of the airplanes!
Notice the tops of the swing sets in the lower left?

This is of the Coralville Reservoir/Dam. Usually the left is NOT anywhere near that high. In the bottom of the picture, that is the spillway. It was pretty big news when the water started to flow over the spillway two nights ago. In 1993, the spillway water unearthed the neat find of fossils that our kids have enjoyed exploring. See the group of trees in the center? That is for camping, completely surrounded by water.

This is Park Road and Dubuque Street. If you know the area, you would know that the water is well beyond its usual banks.

The water is not to crest until next Friday, that is quite a ways to go yet.
Cedar Rapids downtown area is completely underwater.
Very, very sad! After such a crazy year for winter ... I think we all thought that we would have a little lighter of a summer.

THANK YOU!!!!

Friday~March 28th~ was my birthday!
My husband surprised me with a "Get Away"!
He took Friday off of work, the kids went to the grandparents',
and we had 2 nights in Downtown Iowa City, and a very nice hotel!

We had an amazing time! It was so quiet! Well, aside from the college students heading back to their apartments after the bars let out!

We also went to see the Cowboy Junkies:
http://www.cowboyjunkies.com/
The opening act Mary Gauthier:
http://www.marygauthier.com/site.php?content=home
was really amazing! She had a beautiful voice, and some great QUIRKY-FUN lyrics!!!

We had Indian Food at Masala, I had some great Paella at Devotay, and great burritos at Chipotle.

We hit some local shops, read books, and TALKED! It was great!

SO....

THANK YOU!!!! To all involved, my great parents and in-laws whom all took in children willingly,
my cousin for helping set up the room,
and my WONDERFUL, AMAZING, THOUGHTFUL husband for the best gift ever!

(Good thing I never got that pony, like I always asked for...would it be inconsiderate to write:
Thanks for the 2nd best gift ever??)

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!

easter pictures...

The INFLUENZA B has left, and we are back into being human again!
That still does not explain WHY I still have my Christmas cards hanging in the window
(behind Will)...
*Note to self: Take down the Holiday cards....oh, and the Gingerbread Wreath on the basement door....that should be it!*

Look at the concentration!!!

They are so proud of their accomplishments!!

Easter morning brought out the best in our nutrition habits! Cadbury Eggs and Peeps for breakfast!

YUMMM!!!!
*Note to self: Trim Brandon's fingernails!*

On Saturday, we went to Grammy and Opa's with Uncle A, Aunt K and Mr. T....we got lots more candy and some really great FUN things ! We also had an Easter Egg Hunt in the lovely 30's...that we thought we were past!
On Sunday, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's with Uncle B, and soon to be Aunt J...and little Peanut! We ALL took nice long naps, slept like babies...it was so nice! OH! Wait, all the ADULTS - except Grandma-....oh, and my 4 children! That's right! I almost forgot!
Well that just means that I TRUST her enough, to LET her watch the children while I get some sleep. Isn't that thoughtful?? I am sure that she now feels special! :)

Christmas Times

With plenty of little smokies, ham, and sugar filled presents...our Christmas Days begin at Brian and Jenny's!

Gabi is quiet?
Yep...that is candy in her hand!

AAHH....perfect children!
SUPER Perfect children...with chocolate! FYI: each serving is 240 calories.... 50 servings!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grammy and Opa's

We had an Italian theme this year...Lasagna, Ravioli, breadsticks...and veggies/fruit!


Will waiting for the time to open his present!
Grammy created a great Trivia game! She had asked our parents ahead of time for some insight on our childhood, and then we had to see if the spouses knew the answers!
This took a lot of work on her part...but we sure had a good time!



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AT HOME

Santa brought OUR LITTLE HELPERS toques (chef hats) and aprons!

Brandon got a skateboardGabi got a Barbie Vet set!

Isabelle got a pottery wheel!

Will got:

A Vader Mask!!!

This was actually pretty funny....he kept it on all day! He actually wanted to sleep in it! We would ask him a question and he would press the programmed sentences:
"Will did you turn off your light in your room?"
VADER VOICE~"YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARK SIDE!"

"Will could you help your sister with her boots?"
V. VOICE~ "DON'T MAKE ME DESTROY YOU!"

Daddy is still hoping for the adult sized mask!

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We had such an amazing holiday! We got to be with our families, we were able to relax, enjoy, and eat! :)
We received amazing~ thoughtful~ use-able gifts! We truly feel blessed to have our families, and friends, and appreciate all the time and energy put into making our holidays so perfect!
We really tried to downsize this year, so not to lose sight of the holiday, and the gift of giving! Thank you to everyone who hosted, cooked, and or purchased something for our family!! We love you all dearly!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Stop

I love this idea of a blog. Not that anyone else will know about it, but I have always found writing a release for me! And currently I am looking for "releases"....
I don't know what has changed the last couple of weeks, but I am NOT myself! I am yearning for more...something. I am HAPPILY married, so that is not what I am "looking" for. But I do think that my kids are the center of my searching....the reality of it is setting in. I am a mother of 4, only 31...but what do I give to my children.
Myself...day in and out, attention, love, knowledge, silliness...
What will this all mean to them someday? Will they carry on where I left off? I remember my childhood VERY fondly, but I do things very different than my parents did. I miss having the carefree laugh of a 15 year old, I miss enjoying just a sunny day...not worrying about the little things....I remember being curious...NOW I seem to be so wrapped up in the miniature non- important things that shouldn't matter!
I LOVE my children, and forget that not all of them are not from me-genetically, but they are from and in my heart, and I never knew I could feel this way 5 times over! They are such individuals, yet they do so many of the same things, it simple does AWE me everyday!

Our oldest son has been having problems lately, and now we are debating what our next step should be! We had him evaluated last year after a failed attempt into public school, EVERYONE said that he had ADHD with Tourettes. Let me tell you first hand though that this child is like a ROLLER COASTER....I will touch more on this again!