family fun day

Josh's employer had their annual Family Fun day today and we had a blast. M loved conquering the inflatable obstacle course. It was a workout just to keep up with her! There was also a bounce house, a rock climbing wall, some pinatas for bashing and enough carnie food to compete with the State Fair. Thanks, Hill-Rom Cary!

nap tent

The weather has been so beautiful that M and I (well, mostly me) put up our tent in the backyard today. After we played in and around it this morning, she decided that she was going to take her nap there.

That plan lasted for about two minutes.

So I joined her in there and together we "rested" while staring at the clouds and imagining what animals could be taking shape in them.

couldn't put it down

as interpreted by M

Stonehenge

our first family vacation

For our first family vacation, we went on an adventure with Gma & Gpa L and Peyton: we sailed the high seas of the eastern Carribbean with Mickey and friends on the Disney Magic and then spent a day at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. It was a wonderful time together and we even managed to fit in some relaxing in between all the activities. Thanks for inviting us along Gma & Gpa!

Just a sampling of the characters we saw:

(We're standing with Goofy in front of a model of our ship)


(M thought this Buzz needed new batteries --
in reality, it was just a statue)


(Her new best friends, Tigger and Pooh)


(Meeting Fish Girl -- aka Ariel, the Little Mermaid --
was a thrill for M)

Fun times onboard and ashore:

(Feeling the wind in our hair as the ship leaves Port Canaveral)


(M posing with the elephant made by our room steward out of a few hand towels)


(first time in the "ocean" at St. Maarten -- M loved it!)




(Checking out the sea life around St. Thomas via a semi-submarine)


(Feeding time at Coral World Ocean Park in St. Thomas)


(First roller coaster ride -- Josh & Madeline are in the 2nd to last car, Gpa & Peyton are in the last car)