Surprise it's Disney!

Last week I was asked last minute to come to KSC this past weekend to give a press briefing on the science going to ISS on the SpaceX launch. Since it was during spring break and we had nothing planned and extra frequent flyer miles, we thought it be a once in a lifetime opportunity to surprise Anna with a quick trip to Orlando. One day at Disney and one at legoland, both on the flight days, with one day of hotel pool play with dad the day mom worked at KSC. We got great deals on Lego tickets and other deals to keep the costs down, and we used her recent birthday money to help out too (thanks all!).

We packed her suit case the night before the 7:25am flight and woke her at 5am to tell her where we were headed :) She's so low drama usually we didn't expect the crazy type reaction of excitement and part of me actually wondered for a bit if she would care at all! And I thought she actually wouldn't believe us! But the word I can best describe for her reaction was, "delighted". It's a cheesy word choice but she was so pleased and smily and chatty and just pleasant! That kid was dressed and ready for the door faster than I had ever seen :)

So thankful that she's a great traveler! So thankful that Paul could also take the time to come on this crazy idea.




The fact that it was such a quick trip tested my disney packing skills : necessities for long amusement park days but only for 2 nights was simple and based on a mental checklist of experience from previous actually planned trips. Plus my own suitcase including TV clothes! All 3 packed light and easy. Out the door so quick you'd swear you'd forgotten something.

The night before the flight we were up late returning from the Wizard of OZ musical at the Hobby center that had been planned before this trip! Anna had asked Paul if she could send the night at M's but no no no! And he almost forgot and almost told her yes!

We got to disney just after noon and the park was open till 1am so we had plenty of time to have a full day! First request was It's a Small World.





She loved it as much as when we were last there in Sep 2012.

A caveat: she didn't want to do any roller coasters while there which was a drag. We were thinking she was scared but she said no! But we couldn't find a reason otherwise. Usually that's the first thing she wants to do, and over and over and over. So it was odd her old faves weren't so anymore. Another sign of growing up bringing change. But we were busy enough for the day :)















Disney added several new things to the park including an interactive treasure hunt in the pirates area, complete with map and talisman that takes you to various kiosks in the area that you can activate with awesome effects, narrated by Captain Jack Sparrow. Even with our sore and tired feet she totally dug this fun adventure. Map reading, secret codes, treasure. A dream for her! There wasn't REAL treasure in the end (drag!) she purchased a little bag-full in the picture above.

I don't know how we got so lucky but our forecast was temps in the upper 60's to max 78 on our last day.

While at disney I get an email that the SpaceX launch slipped and the briefing was canceled! WHAT? I managed to salvage a work visit by meeting with some of the scientists there all afternoon, so still an awesome and productive trip. This is how it goes with the business of launch. In the meantime, Paul and Anna played at the hotel!








That evening we had dinner at Trex Cafe because we had a $25 Landry's Select card credit (woo-hoo) and while it was a chaotic 70 min wait for others, the card got us in within 5 minutes!!!! Unreal! Benefits of membership!











Lastly, Legoland before the 8:55pm flight home. Her old fave roller coaster ride the Dragon still held (thankfully) but the other old fave coaster did NOT. First drop: SHE CRIED! Our child CRIED out of fear on a coaster ride. Dismay!!!!!! Oh DISMAY!!! She made up for it by riding the kinder yet still thrilling dragon over and over and over. The thing we have learned: things change as people grow and change. It's a reminder for us to realize and accept that and roll with it.













The entire quick trip was such that reminder since we had so many previous benchmark trips to compare to. That was the theme!

Legoland was celebrating the recent movie release (Paul and Anna had seen it but not me), so they were letting kids build Legos to have placed in the Lego NYC display to represent the movie scene. So cool!














More previous faves:













And one we've been wanting to do for years but didn't want to fork out the cash:



Anna says, "mommy she doesn't have grey for your hair!" Booger.


We closed down the park with repeats of Dragon as usual till they shut us out :) and we hauled butt all the way to our flight just as they were boarding. It was all a blur!

I'm writing this as they sleep in, it's raining in Houston, and we are still covered in Legoland grime. It's a recovery day and back to school tomorrow!

We are so lucky we were able to do this. Who gets to do surprise quick trips to Disney? My job, Paul's job, the frequent flyer points accumulated from using the Southwest card for the Grocery Station purchases, the Landry's card, Anna's birthday money,and even Living Social for a steal at Legoland, previous Orlando experience combined with the gusto to hit the full-day park schedules on flight days really WORKED! It's rare, and we understand and appreciate it. We are grateful 💜

Happy 7th birthday baby!

One week late on the birthday update!

Another year just like that. We asked her to stop at 5 but she just keeps going! She has gotten sweeter, smarter, funnier, and bigger in the last year. She's become more patient, reasonable, and self aware but she's still a kid. The thing is she's a joy to be around. We really like her :)

She wanted her birthday party to again be at home with a bouncy house, all girls. She decided for some reason to do T-shirt decorating and make-up. We ran out of time for makeup but the girls got to take home little makeup kits (ick, I apologized to the parents in advance!). We had about 7 girls and it was great! Parents just dropped off their kids (only 2 parents stayed) which was great bc there was more down time with less feeling like you had to entertain parents too! They're at the age where they can take care of themselves which is so cool! What I will it feel like to drop her of someplace with her friends and just leave her when she's old enough?

We loved you baby girl! It just keeps getting better and better.

Last day of 6

She's too cool. This is Anna, March 7, 2014.








Tomorrow will be our 7th birthday party at the house. All set for a girls-only gathering :) Love her.

A stinky milestone

Our child had had stinky shoe feet for the better part of almost a year now, but now the smelly arm pits have arrived early. We tried to deny it (she's not even 7 yet!) and blame it on foods maybe but no. No, we have arrived. She has stinky pits! Asking around to other parents of girls this age it's apparently common?! I thought this was 9-10 year old stuff? Well they do say it's happening earlier and earlier these days...I guess no one is an exception.

Natural deodorant has been ordered!

Sorry to post this milestone in the ether, Anna, but this is content that's saved for you for the future :) By the way, both of your canine teeth are also loose and your growing is out of control. Knock it off! Love you!

Here are some valentines day photos of us at the Melting Pot. Your first fondue! You loved the salad, cheese, and chocolate. Not much for the meat :) We are ALL STUFFED AS EXPECTED.





















Your valentine class party:















Your favorite valentine was a little paper ruler. You loved measuring everything around the house!








T minus 2 weeks until you are 7!

Videos!

Now that I just figured out how to add videos here (through YouTube) this will become much more fun! I can share stuff like this (she didn't know I was recording it). We watched her from the kitchen window and it was I adorable I teared up. A perfect example of my Future Self telling me how much I already know I'll miss this.

And last week's piano recital! Over The Rainbow with a little bobble in the beginning but nice recovery (that's the hard part). By the way she hates piano but too bad so sad, this is something we are insisting on. Her piano teacher is awesome and knows Anna hates it too and navigates around it! Anna asks how long she has to continue piano lessons and we say "until you're really good". You'd think that would motivate her to practice?!

I raked a path through the leaves a few weeks ago for a little obstacle course :)

And this was a few weeks ago at her winter school fair (hers is the hamster ball in the back). We had visitors that weekend who were there with us: Nana, grandpa Ray, Paw-Paw and Maw-Maw all came to town!!!!

Life is good, now I'm going to be video happy!!!

Catching up a bit

It's tougher and tougher for me to keep up with the blog these days because I do these entries from my phone and it's a lot to type on a tiny iPhone screen! I don't do these on the computer because that means having time to sit down and plan and thoughtfully process my entries. Plus my phone has all the cool pictures on it to include here, like these:
















Anna's single riding lesson we purchased from Groupon (January). Anna loved the lesson but hated the jeans :) She would love to take regular lessons but finances don't allow it this year ($165/month!). We'll keep it in mind, though!

And this blog doesn't let me insert movies directly. I'd have to post them to YouTube and then link. The extra steps are too much for me these days! Her life in iPhone photos and movies are all pretty much on Facebook.

Here's a test video to prove me wrong maybe? I can't tell as I write this!

Some high level thoughts of lately. Anna's definitely has her "only child" habits/tendencies but she is such a great kid! She's growing out of the meltdown phase when we say no which has been awesome (though she still has her moments!).

She's understanding practicality of everyday things like not needing to spend money on certain things or cleaning up after herself as she goes to help keep the house tidy, or brushing her teeth now while she's in the bathroom instead of remembering to so it later...little things like that (including, Daddy while you're in there can you get me a cup of water?). She is trying to be mindful of eating healthy and notices when we do too.

She's still a picky eater but has started to venture out a little (she finally tried, and loved, the soft tacos from our fave Mexican restaurant instead of her 3-year long streak of cheeseburger!).

We still have these guys who blend in with the household nicely and put up with Anna's constant attempts at forced cuddles:







Cats aren't much interested in selfies.

We also still have the hamster Buttercup who is happy enough being left alone in her cage everyday, but tolerates the madness when she's out and can run a mean hamster ball path through the house.

And after 4 fish in 3 years we are done! Those things were more upkeep than the cats!

Anna's going to be 7 in just 7 short weeks. She's got ideas for her party, all girls, at the house again, decorating T-shirts and putting on makeup or something. Pretty sweet.





She's growing out of her clothes so quickly it's insane. I've heard about this with kids! :)

We love this little girl so much! I am so grateful for the last 7 years.