Florida Family Vacation - Day One

The children and I left the house on Friday morning, 30 October 2009, and arrived at the airport in plenty of time to park, ride the shuttle, and get through security before our 9:35 am flight to Cleveland. Jim, having flown from Raleigh, met us at the gate in Cleveland, and we spent a comfortable half an hour in the "family room" at the Continental President's Club, catching up and watching TV before catching our flight to Orlando.

Some homework had to be accomplished during our flight, and Aidan and Esme both worked frantically to get a lot done. Esme finished everything but her vacation journal, and Aidan worked on science and math. When we landed in Orlando, it was raining just a little bit, but it was nice and warm. As we had landed early, we decided to add Epcot to our travel plans - we had originally planned not to go there, but there was plenty of time and we saw a billboard for the Test Track ride there. (That was pretty tempting.)

As we drove under the big arch announcing Disney World, the rain stopped, and we parked at Downtown Disney. We walked around the attractions area for a little bit, and then took a water taxi to the shopping and restaurant area. Of course we went to the Lego store first. Here each of the children chose a Lego set, and so did I (we had them shipped home, thank goodness, our luggage would never have stood the strain). Aidan chose a Power Miners set, Esme a Belleville house set, and I picked out a downtown Christmas set that I intend to assemble as a family and display as part of our Christmas decorations. Interestingly enough, the lady who cashed us out was named Wendy, and she was from Michigan.

We browsed a bit around the area and then decided to head for Epcot. We drove over to Epcot and bought our four-day park tickets. It was hot, and we were still dressed for Michigan weather, but it didn't dampen our fun at all!

Here are the children and I near the great big fountain at the front of the park.



Despite the fact that it was only midafternoon, we were all hungry, as our "brick" of a mini turkey sandwich on the plane wasn't really much of a lunch. So we decided that our first order of business would be dinner - and we chose the Coral Reef restaurant randomly off of the park map. It turned out to be a wonderful choice. The Coral Reef restaurant's main feature is the enormous windows looking into one of the largest aquariums in the United States. It was a real treat to watch sharks, sea turtles, lots and lots of fish, and even a class of diving students swimming around while we had dinner. The food and service were also excellent.

Back outside, we stopped for a few pictures near the restaurant entrance (Aidan was excited just looking at the monorail track). The palms and flowering trees are just beautiful all over the park system but we were particularly pleasantly astonished here as we had just arrived from the north country, where it is cold and grey.

The sun was setting, shining on the Florida foliage, and reflecting off the big Epcot dome. Every time we passed it, it was a different color.

We rode on The Seas with Nemo and Friends - a really tame ride in a clamshell. Cool scenery!

Bruce the shark had just left this area when I took the picture.

We then entered the aquarium we'd seen from the restaurant side, which had so much more to offer. We saw a dolphin swim by so close and so fast he looked like a streak. It seemed like there were entire schools of fish just everywhere! The manatees were off in their own little room, munching on lettuce. These are rescued manatees; one of them had some really bad scars from a tangle with a motorboat.

After the aquarium, we headed to the Test Track ride, snagged our FastPasses, and went back to the big geodesic dome to ride the Spaceship Earth ride. To our great pleasure (well, Jim's and mine, anyway!) the journey through our planet's ages of technology was narrated by Dame Judi Dench. Our pictures were taken as we entered the ride, and pasted into the "ship's computer" at the end of the ride, showing us going about our daily business in the world of the future. Very cool.

When we went outside again, it was dark...and what a lovely dark! Back over to the Test Track, where we got to hop right to the front of the line, into the holding pen (they probably don't call it that, but they have them all over Disney World!), and eventually into the briefing room for our "vehicle test". To our great surprise and pleasure, in the briefing room was a map of Milford GM Proving Grounds, where my brother Scott works and where my dad worked for many years! The ride is sponsored by GM. :)

We boarded our six-passenger vehicle, and took our car through its paces on two different kinds of bumpy roads, tested the braking with and without ABS, crash-tested (well, the wall opened up at the last second, so not really!), and then did a speed handling test on a big curvy track that goes outside the building. Very, very cool. We were impressed. Here are the kids waiting in the holding pen - Esme looks a little worried that she's about to be a crash test dummy.

See, isn't it pretty?!?

We started around the World Showcase well after dark, and stopped at a stand for drinks. We walked through Mexico, rode the Maelstrom viking boat ride in Norway, wandered through China, Germany, Italy, the American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, and the United Kingdom. We arrived in Canada just as the "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" show started. Fireworks, lasers, pictures, colors, flames...wow. It turned out to be the only nighttime show we saw at Disney and it was really great. We took the long hike back to our car, drove to our hotel (offsite Doubletree) and checked in, and got everybody to bed and sleep.

Aidan's Science Project

As we will be on vacation shortly, Aidan needed to get his science project up and running quickly so that it would be ready when we get back. The science fair is the day after we return from Florida. He has done a great job getting his display board ready, and now the movie showing his experiments is ready, too.

Aidan thanks his mother for all of the work she did to help him out on this!

September...and some August, too

Belatedly, here are the pictures of our dear six-year-old Esme, blowing out the candles on her birthday cake. I don't know what she might have been contemplating, but she looks very serious. Perhaps six-year-oldhood is daunting.


...blowing out her candles, quite businesslike in demeanor...


...there's our Esme! Happy birthday, baby!


We spent a day at Millenium Park with the Fortunas, sort of a last hurrah before school started. There is a beach...

...and also a super nice splashpad.

It was a little cold that day - sunny and nice, but the water was very cold!

Aidan really liked the water guns. I was just happy they had some sort of sensor to prevent them being sprayed off the splashpad.

Spray tunnel!

Esme and Shea, warming up in the sunshine.

Aidan and Mason, enjoying yet another snack while they warm up.

The first day of school was a nice one, for both children. Here's Esme, about to embark on her first day of first grade.

Here's Aidan, our fourth grader, on his first day.

They were just a little excited. It's always good to get back to the routine and catch up with friends, etc.

'Bye, Miss Laura! See you this afternoon!

Oh, it's one of THOSE days...

Jim got up this morning at 4:00 am, got ready and left at 4:48 am for Raleigh. Usually I just go back to sleep after that. This morning, I was planning to get up early to walk the treadmill before I had to get the kids up for school. I figured I could sleep another hour, wake up around 6, and get that taken care of well before 7, when I wake the children, fix breakfast, and generally prod them around making sure they're ready for the bus on time.

Well, I didn't get right back to sleep, but must have drifted off again about 5:55, the last time I remember seeing before the alarm went off at 7 am. No big deal, skip the treadmill and do it tomorrow. The children whined and complained for a few minutes, but in general they were healthy and happy and off to school on time.

I had to hurry to get ready to get to school by 8:45, to volunteer in Esme's class. That was nice, I played sight-word Bingo with several sweet and cooperative groups of children. Then I had to hurry right off to get to my dentist appointment by 10 am. Made it. Surprisingly little pain involved this time, in having two fillings replaced. However, when it came time to test my bite after the fillings were in, I couldn't tell whether it was right or not, half my mouth being numb. The dentist did a poor job of hiding his disappointment in my apparent incompetence. Later, when the novocaine wore off, I found it was just fine. I have, however, experienced excruciating pain for months before because a different dentist didn't get it right...and I was just so afraid I was going to have to go through that again. Can you blame me for not wanting to just agree and hop right down?

Anyway, I came home again and plunged into research for several hours. It is going well - and I'm getting paid for it - but it isn't very interesting at this stage. And I was tired, so I felt like I was plodding along like a worn-out pack animal or something through the myriad census records. Yes, I am complaining. I am working, I am getting paid, and I am blessed. But sometimes we all just need a good wallow, right?

Had to stop at 2:30 so I could package up the old cell phones I sold on eBay and take them to the post office, before I picked up the kids at 3:15 for their dental appointments. As I pulled up to the post office, my phone rang. It was our previous dentist's office, saying they got my letter but they cannot transfer my records or x-rays unless I pay a "document duplication fee". I said "forget it." "Okaaaaayyyy," the ditz on the other end says. So I said "thanks for nothing" and hung up. Horrible, horrible, I know, and that's exactly how I feel about myself right now.

Esme's teacher remembered and she was there to meet me right on time. Aidan couldn't be located, so we were late...but not too late. Anyway, both children had their teeth cleaned and examined. Both of them need to brush and floss better (no surprise there, but it's still humiliating - "yes, your children's teeth are dirty and you are a horrible mother"). Esme's "space" has become an optional cosmetic procedure, which is good, because I can't imagine subjecting a six-year-old child to oral surgery - we'll see how she feels about it when she's older, if it's still there. One or two of Aidan's lower teeth bites down outside one or two of his upper teeth; they call that anterior crossbite. And now that he has eight adult teeth, they are getting rather crowded.

However, in my tired, insulted and budgety mood, I wasn't prepared to be told that he needs orthodontic attention, and I'm afraid that I was rather rude to the hygienist bearing this news. I said some things about Aidan being too young for braces - he still has teeth to lose and more to come in, his jaws will grow, etc. I said some things about him being extremely pain sensitive and what a huge fit he was going to throw (remember the chickenpox shot?) when he found out he had to go through dental work. I said some things about lining the pockets of the dentistry industry. I realize now that she was right, and I did recover myself somewhat after she explained (while Aidan was standing next to me) that what he will probably need is a spacer, not braces; that often this sort of orthodontics is very slow and not too painful, preparing the child's mouth for more and bigger teeth, and that the consult with the orthodontist is free.

I did make sure to back up, out loud, while we were still there, what she told the children about brushing - they both need to do a better job, for sure. And I had to tell the folks at the office that the other office won't transfer our records without me paying the fee, and I'm not willing to pay the fee. They weren't upset, one of the ladies even said she wouldn't pay it either. They said they don't mind creating our records from scratch. But I still feel awful about being snippy with them.

We had to have leftovers again for dinner, and I got the usual round of complaints, but I get those when I serve it fresh, so what's the difference? I had to keep chivvying them along just to get them to eat. And then we had to start homework. Aidan had a lot, and it's kind of unclear what is due when, so he kind of had to do a lot that he might not really have had to do all at once. I tried to make it fun for him but how many times do you really have to write words that you already know how to spell? And he also had to get started on his AWANA book, but didn't read the directions, so did about 3/4 of the first page incorrectly, so he'll have to almost start over when he sits down to do it tomorrow, and I can just guess with what attitude he'll approach that.

Esme didn't have homework specifically but she also had to start on AWANA verses, of which she remembers surprisingly little from last year, seeing as how they start out with review. She and I are also working on spelling the sight words for first grade...as good a reader as she is should honestly be able to spell better. It's like she makes no connection between the printed word on the page and the spoken word. So I feel like I'm going round in circles with that.

I tried to play on WebKinz with the kids after dinner but we were having problems with the site logging us out unexpectedly, so that went down the tubes. I had to do the dishes (no big deal) and gather up and take out the trash (got another idiot-reminder from the garbage company today, telling me to make sure it's out tonight for tomorrow morning). There was so little trash in the cans around the house that in my present mood it only seemed like a cruel reminder how long I'm completely alone in this house during the week. And I so hate it when companies set up that message robot that calls you and a machine tells you to remember this, remember that. Our doctor's office has that sort of system now, I hate it. The last time it called me it was "reminding" me of an appointment not only at a different time than the one I made, but with a different doctor. The only options were to accept or to cancel...after I waited two months to get an appointment in the first place. So I accepted, rearranged my whole schedule, and then had to spout my entire medical history for a doctor who's never seen me before, when it was my doctor who requested the appointment in the first place, not me.

To top it all off, Allen Edwin is building three new homes in our neighborhood, and dug the foundation holes today. Unfortunately, one of those lots is in the perceived territory of the yippy little dog across the street from us, which then proceeded to bark all day long. When the workers finally left for the day, it barked at me when I took the trash out. Mercifully it is quiet now, but when they come tomorrow to pour concrete, it will start all over again.

I read to the kids (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and their One-Year Bible) and they went to bed happy and hopefully well-brushed. Thank God for those two kids, I love them so much. And for their dad, who called me a bit ago, has his own problems but has God on his side.

One last complaint, I promise. There is nothing on TV. We don't even have our The Closer date for Monday nights any more! Dog the Bounty Hunter is doing new episodes, but that won't be until Wednesday and I try not to watch it until Jim comes home anyway. Robin Hood is back...on Saturday nights. And Monk is back...on Friday nights. And Psych then too. But it's weeknights I need the entertainment! Too tired to work, too early to read...

It must be said that I usually hold back a lot more on this blog. Still tryin' to be perfect, or failing that, at least looking like it. I made the mistake this evening of viewing the very recent picture of a friend from a long time ago, same age as me, looks like a magazine cover. Well, I sure as heck don't look like a magazine cover, not even on my best day. Today I'm completely inadequate.

Today it is something to say that my husband and I have a strong marriage and our children are happy and healthy and love Jesus. And that's enough.

August

Upon reflection, August seemed to go by both veeerrrryyyy slowly and extremely quickly, depending on how I think about it. It's past now and we're in getting-ready-for-school mode.

After Grandma's funeral we had a chance for a family photo. We missed Jim, but we did have everybody else for the first time since Emily was born, so we took the opportunity. Front row: Aidan, Mom, Dad, Esme. Back row: Wendy, Cathy holding Emily, Scott holding Megan, Melissa, Ryan.


Wednesday August 5, the kids and I met Mom and Dad in Charlotte, and then Mom traveled south with us to Fort Wayne. I spent several lovely hours at the library in Fort Wayne that afternoon, finding lots of genealogy information. We stayed with Juanita and Jerry, and the kids really had a ton of fun playing with Robin and making their own stained glass plates. Some of my favorite childhood memories come from crafting and cooking at Juanita's house...and now my kids are doing the same sort of thing!

Thursday, Mom, the kids and I went to Science Central in Fort Wayne, which was really cool. I think the kids' favorite part was the centrifugal force platform - they kept going back to spin themselves around. We stopped for lunch at Panera, and then went to the nursing home to visit Grandma.

We spent a couple of hours at Wanda's house with her and Samantha, playing outside, eating pie and popsicles, and chatting. Then we headed to Dave's house, where the kids swam and played together. Back at Juanita & Jerry's, Mom and Juanita went back into Fort Wayne to see Grandma, who had been moved to the hospital, and the kids and Jerry went to bed.

Friday we got moving early and met Cathy, Megan and Emily at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. We had a really wonderful time. Here are Esme and Megan riding a turtle sculpture - right by the real turtles!


Aidan wouldn't take part in the traditional Little Poof picture, but we got all the girls in there - even Emily. :)


Aidan, Esme, Megan and I rode the Australian log ride, Megan rode on the carousel in the Indonesian rain forest, Cathy and the kids rode the train... Here are Esme and Megan - "hatching"!


We even had lunch at the zoo in the little cafe - and Emily played with Grandma, too.


Each of the "big" children got to have a pony ride. They all got on their respective ponies, and then while they were waiting for direction, Aidan's pony leaned over to try to bite Esme's pony, which nearly unseated them both! Everything turned out okay, though. Here's Esme:


...and here's Aidan...


...and Megan with Cathy...


...Aidan again...


...Megan was so happy to be riding a pony!


Here's Aidan in Great-Uncle Dave's pool, having a blast.


Esme, loving the pool!


The children are so blessed to have cousins they love to play with when our family gets together. Clockwise from upper left - Sylvia, Esme, Aidan, Annah, Megan. Caeden was there too, just ducking!


Our double-birthday party was a terrific time. We had 32 people, the most ever at our house at once! After dinner the kids all played in the kiddie pool and slip 'n slide - here we have Mason, Mariah, Shea and Esme.


Mason, Livi, Andrew, Mariah, Megan, Shea and Esme.


Megan was the life of the party as usual. :)


Brooklyn was a little taken aback by all the big kids, but she was happy to be outside!


Caden wasn't this subdued the whole time.


We had the pleasure of a visit to the zoo with the Fortunas a couple weeks ago. This is Shea, who was really brave to do the zipline!


Aidan on the zipline...


...and Mason on the zipline!


Our little girl turned six yesterday, 31 August 2009. We celebrated on Sunday the 30th, since her daddy was home to celebrate with us then! Nee-Nee and Papa came to spend the day with us, too. This is Esme's birthday cake - I used the Tinkerbell pan but this is Dulcie the baking talent fairy - thus the brown hair and eyes!


Of course, Esme wanted to open her gifts right after breakfast, before getting dressed.


Reading her birthday card from Aidan...


Nee-Nee gave Esme her very own sewing machine. Ever since this moment, she has spent every possible minute using up her thread and fabric (thanks to Aunt Melissa for Esme's very own fabric!) and telling everyone she meets that she has her very own sewing machine!


From Mommy, the third set of Pixie Hollow books.


From Daddy, three (count 'em!) sets of Belville legos, involving horses and puppies, Esme's favorites.


We had a lot of sadness and a lot of joy in August. I still get emotional at odd times, thinking about Grandma, but mostly I am grateful for the blessing she is on our lives and and for knowing that she is eternally joyful and at peace.

Esme had her six-year checkup this morning, which went well. No shot drama, and both kids received the Flumist vaccine - so hopefully no more shots, at least this year! Esme weighs 50.5 pounds, and measures 46.5 inches - in a year she grew 3 1/4 inches and gained 6 pounds, which the doctor says is great. This makes her about average for her age, despite the fact that she looks so much littler than her peer group (most of her classmates are almost a year older than she is).

Saturday last we received our teacher letters, and so the next school year is decided. Aidan will have Mrs. Abbott for fourth grade - when she returns from her maternity leave in six weeks. He will have Mrs. DeRidder, the same teacher that filled in for Mrs. Throop last year, for the time before Mrs. Abbott is ready to return. He is a little disappointed, because he would have preferred Mr. Krusniak, but he knows Mrs. Abbott and likes her, and is looking forward to a challenge in fourth grade.

Esme will have Mrs. Grosvenor for first grade, who has grown-up sons and thus will likely not be taking maternity leave this year. Hooray! She is really looking forward to the challenge that all-day school will present, and also looking forward to seeing all of her kindergarten friends again.