DeSoto Caverns

First 3rd grade field trip of the school year....HOLLA.

Hubs and I BOTH got to go. I called it a 'day date' since Oliver had to ride the bus and we got to be in a car ALONE for a really long time, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. 

That's right.

Adult music.

Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've listened to the radio? 'Teen Beach Movie' soundtrack is ALL that's been playing in my swagger wagon for MONTHS now. It was good to have a break.

Sorry. I digress. Back to our trip.

We drove to the booming city of Childersburg to visit DeSoto Caverns, and while this wasn't my first visit, I don't really remember my first visit. It was like I was there for the first time again, with my 8 year old. And my hubs. And 165 3rd graders. On a 'day date'. It was awesome.

We explored the cave, watched a video on the history of the cave, sat in total and complete darkness in the cave, and saw a super cool light show set to music and projected onto, that's right, the inside of the cave.

Then we came up outta that cave.

The kids got to 'pan for gold', or pretty rocks that were stuck there just for them, go through a maze, and throw lots of money away in a gift shop that carried everything from giant 3-feet-long tubes of colored sugar to the most realistic looking fake guns I've ever seen. No kidding...really wish I'd snapped a pic of one of those sugar tubes. They were like pixie sticks for giants.

Anywho, it was a fun day despite the drizzle and the big hair caused by the drizzle. O had a good time, and it was great that we were there to see him have a good time. And also to prevent the purchase of any giant-sized pixie sticks.

 

eight years

My sweet boy turned 8 years old yesterday.

To Oliver, on turning eight:

You love love love to read. You never go anywhere without a book, and your backpack is weighed down every morning with books to take to school.

I hope you never lose this love of books and reading. It makes my heart happy.

Legos are still a close second to books. Your happy place is in the floor of your room with a new lego set and instructions spread in front of you. You never have a set for long before ripping it from the box and putting it together, and you love to share with us what you're making.

You are anxious to get home from school everyday so that you can play with your friends who live across the street. We've never had neighbors with kids your age before, so the fact that there are now three living right in front of us is pretty awesome. I love the fact that these new friends have given you a new desire to play and run and explore outside.  You always have so much fun together and it's been a blessing.

You are a wonderful big brother, and you help us tremendously with your little sisters. This does not change the fact, however, that they still drive you insane. That's what 2 and 3 year-olds do. And really, who could blame you.

I wouldn't want folks breaking my legos either.

You excel at school and don't mind doing your homework- especially when it means that you get to play outside as soon as you're finished. You currently have spelling and vocabulary tests every Friday, and we study these words each night of the week and I quiz you Friday mornings on the way to school. You get extremely frustrated when you miss one. Extremely. You don't like to fail, in any capacity. You are your momma's child.

You love hot sauce.

Again, you are your momma's child.

You picked the Angry Birds theme for your party this year and loved every second of helping me plan it. I will never forget the look on your face when you saw the pig lanterns, and the clouds, and the TNT boxes, and your own angry birds artwork on display. You love party prep just as much as I do.

And my son, I love you more than words can say. I am blessed beyond measure to be your mom, and my prayer is that you will continue to grow and do mighty things while keeping Christ first in your life.

2.24.13

Disney days 3, 4, and 5

So I got a little behind on my posting. (Not to be confused with I HAVE a little behind.) After staying at Epcot until 10 pm watching the fireworks Friday night, then hopping on the bus and making it back to the hotel around 10:20, then getting kiddos and myself ready for bed, well...you see where this is going. It was way late. Way. 

Friday was the day Oliver's choir performed in Downtown Disney, which was consequently the reason we were there in the first place. Disney has a fabulous rehearsal facility for groups such as his, and really- are we surprised? It's Disney. After a run-through of their performance, we all headed to the backstage area downtown and then, it was showtime.

Proud. Mamma. Moment.

And wouldn't you know there's a Lego store right across from the stage, which happens to be right there at the top of the list of O's favorite things.

After a quick trip back to the hotel, we were Epcot bound.

We ate a delicious meal in China,

Thank you Fairy!

watched a street performer in Morroco,

sampled pastries in France,

and used the loo in London.

We even found Aurora in an English courtyard.

There may have been squeals of excitement from those two little ones.

After watching what can only be described as a spectacular lights/fireworks show, we called it a night and were up early the next morning to head to Hollywood Studios.

We found Mickey,

saw the Little Mermaid musical,

rode Star Tours,

watched a Jedi training session,

and saw the Muppets in 3D.

Indiana Jones stunt spectacular!

Fairy helped O trade his very first pin!

Beauty and the Beast show-

FroZone and Mr. Incredible

Wreck it Ralph and Venellope

My sincerest thanks to Disney for the fab photo props placed in the line as we waited to meet Buzz and Woody.

The next morning, we made it back to Hollywood Studios to sign Oliver up for Jedi Training, and on a whim I auditioned for the American Idol experience. Sang for 3 different folks and got a ticket to sing in the 1:00 show in front of roughly 400 people. Won that show and got to go back to sing in the finale at 7:30 for an audience of 700 AND the concert was broadcast live on the big screens in the park for folks strolling by. Craziness.

Had my hair and makeup done twice. Did you hear that?

Hair and makeup.

That was a prize in itself right thar, sho nuff.

I was by far the oldest contestant to make it to the finale that day- the other contestants were 14, 16, 16, and 24! They were all great and I enjoyed getting to talk to each of them as we waited for the show to start. I didn't win the whole shebang, but had a blast and am so thankful seester was able to watch the kiddos since they couldn't come backstage with me. And did I mention I got my hair and makeup done? Twice?

After the 1:00 Idol show, we watched a concert,

Saw Mickey Mouse clubhouse Live,

(hair and makeup)

saw a Pixar parade,

and then it was Jedi Training time!

You know that feeling you get as a parent watching your child do something that brings them immense happiness, and your throat catches because you know at that moment they are thrilled doing whatever it is they're doing?

That. Times a million.

Jedi Training at Hollywood Studios was created for my Oliver.

Well...and others like him.

Here's a quick video clip of Oliver and Vader-

After defeated Vader, we took a few more photos in the park,

 

rode our favorite rides again,

built a droid,

and I finally got to ride Toy Story with my girls.

By the end of the 6th day away from home, we were all ready to head back and see Daddy.

The girls got to spend all day with the hubs yesterday-

he let them dress themselves and took them grocery shopping.

It was a magical day in frozen foods.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this trip, and so thankful my aunt and seester were there with us. Couldn't have done it without their help. This was a trip my kiddos will never ever forget, and I have a feeling we'll be doing lots of Mickey-ear wearing in the future.

They DO totally make you have a magical day.

Sho nuff.