A Jyllianism

I know I'm behind on blogging, but I guess I could add a few quotes from my children.

Jyllian dislikes her vegetables as most young children do, but we make her eat a few bites. This week we were eating dinner as a family and I told Jyllian she had to eat three bites of her broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. I think it's called the California blend. It's actually very funny to watch her eat her vegetables, because she gags on them. She has even learned at a very young age to feed the dog her food even though we have told her it will make the dog sick. She's such a stinker with her food and she's very picky. Well, she told us that the vegetables weren't making her bigger and bigger. She said, "only my feet are getting bigger." We all looked at each other and started laughing.

Dominique continues to say that there is nothing to do in Florida. I'm confused by this statement, but he's been mad at us since we moved here.

Dreyton was listening in on my conversation and he wanted me to give him more information. I told him it wasn't his business. He said, "curiosity killed the cat and I'm dying." (funny boy)

Everyday Jasmine walks in the front door from school and tells me how bad she hates riding the bus. Does any child ever enjoy riding the bus?

What have we been doing with our Saturdays?

What have we been doing with our Saturdays? Well, since the second weekend in September we have been attending soccer and football games. It has been tricky jumping from game to game. There have been a few weeks where the games were scheduled at the same time. When this has happened, I end up taking Jasmine to her game, and Donovan takes Dreyton to his. We have also met some very nice people that have helped our children with rides. Jasmine started her second soccer season. She really enjoys playing soccer, but she doesn't enjoy the shin guards and bulky socks. She's always had issues with clothing, but at least she puts them on.

Jasmine plays a few positions. The coach is pretty good at giving each of the kids different opportunities. Here she is playing full back.

At end of each game the parents and coaches form a tunnel, and both teams run through the tunnels. Jasmine's team is still undefeated.
Dreyton started his second season of football. He is enjoying football much better this season. Last year he was continually learning the game. He has a much better understanding of the game this year. Although Dreyton's team has only won one game, he's still having a good time. I think Donovan is enjoying Dreyton watching the Gator games with him too.

Here is Dreyton in his practice uniform. He practices three times a week.

We always enjoy the concessions at the football games. I especially enjoy the boiled peanuts. I didn't even know what a boiled peanut was until I moved to Florida. Jyllian is enjoying a frozen slushie.

We take lots of activities to the football games for the girls, because they can become very bored. The Cleveland's lived in our neighborhood, until last week. The girls really enjoy running around the fields and under the stadium stairs.

Jasmine climbing the stadium stairs.

Dominique enjoying a sucker at the football game.

Where has my money been going lately?

Dreyton has been reminding me that I have not posted pictures of him in braces on our blog. Well, the orthodonist is getting A LOT of money from us each month, so I guess we better show what we are getting in debt over. We are still hoping that Dreyton becomes an orthodontist so that he can buy us that lake front property with the lakehouse and boat someday. Dreyton had braces put on one week before school started. Each time we visit, the orthodontist changes the colors of his rubberbands. Right now he is showing off his Halloween colors (Can you see the orange and black?). I didn't have the option to change the color of my rubberbands, but at least my teeth straightened up (well, most of the way).

Epcot - Labor Day Weekend

My parents, my sister (Annette), and her family came to Orlando for a family vacation over Labor Day weekend. We joined them for a couple of days of fun. Our first day was at Epcot in Disney World, and we spent our second day at Islands of Adventure in Universal Studios. I didn't take any pictures the second day because I left my camera in the car (all too common a theme for our family). The hike back to the car from the Universal parking lot just wasn't worth the walk. It is a horrilbe walk to get into that park.

Here we are on our last day at Disney for a long while. Our passes have offically expired. :( We had a fun couple of years going to Disney. We do need to see other parts of Florida while we are here (however long that will be??). I love Disney and have since I was a kid. I wish the season passes weren't so much money. Donovan actually got to come with us on this adventure. He's usually working so I can play.


Here we are waiting for the rest of the group to ride Soarin. That's a really great ride. I'm holding my little nephew Cade. My sister (Annette) has the blonde hair, blue eyed children and I have the brown hair, brown eyed children.

Jyllian and Brielle had so much fun together. They are one month apart, but Brielle is much taller. I guess Jyllian got my shorty genes.

Jasmine and Ashlyn were patiently waiting for their lunch. Who knows what Jyllian is doing? It sure doesn't look like she has any idea either!

Jasmine really enjoyed having Ashlyn ride all of the rides with her. She usually has to ride with her mom or dad (yuck).

Dreyton is enjoying Disney's technology. Sometimes it's hard to get my kids to leave the buildings at Epcot with computers and games. There is just so much to do and enjoy there.

Dominique is sending e-mails to his friends. He took a picture of himself and then altered it.

Me, my sister Annette, her baby Cade, and my mom.

A group shot with all the kids from left to right: Dreyton, Tyler, Brielle, Dominique, Jyllian, Jasmine, Ashlyn. Oh and don't forget excited Grandma in the background. I guess Grandpa forgot to look.

I wanted a picture taken with my kids and the grandparents. I didn't realize my dad was closing his eyes, but it's the only one I took.

We did get a little wet. Yes, we had another Florida rain storm (they happen almost every day in late summer with a heavy downpour but only last 15-30 min), and I forgot to bring raincoats. I'm usually really good about the raincoats. Donovan and Mike (my brother-in-law) are trying to keep the strollers dry.

At the end of the day, we headed towards the World Showcase at Epcot. It is usually not a very kid friendly part of Disney, but they started a Kim Possible Scavenger hunt. The kids got cell phones that provided them with clues. We were all running around the World Showcase trying to find the clues. It is actually a great idea, and the kids all wanted to go back again.

While we are all waiting for the firework show to begin, the kids played in the water fountain.

The girls were able to make some masks in France. Annette and I also found a wonderful pastry shop in France. We bought a dessert and ate it by ourselves (I sure hope Donovan doesn't read this post!). It was the best pastry. Yummy!!

Jyllian showing off her mask.

Wrapping up August

Jasmine loves dressing up her sister Jyllian. On this day, she was a rock star. don't laugh...someday she may make us a whole lotta bling!
Jyllian started "Joy School" and loves it. She asks me everyday if it's pre-school today. She's growing up so fast. We had to buy the sparkly tennis shoes at the store. She didn't want anything else, just sparklies...the same shoes her brothers got for going back to school.

Donovan turned 37. Isn't he getting old (ha, ha)? I guess that would make me even older. He just wanted chocolate cake, so he got chocolate cake.

Day Four - Universal Studios with the Pittard's

Our last day with the Pittard's, we went to Universal Studios. We had a great time, but it was terribly hot (Can you believe we had a hot day in August in Florida?!). I wasn't very good about taking pictures with my camera on this day. But at the very beginning of our day we saw Dora. Jyllian loves Dora, so I was very excited to get a picture with Dora. I think Jyllian always pictured Dora with a much smaller head...one that couldn't swallow her whole.

We did get caught in the middle of a down pour. It actually felt good to get wet. The only bad thing about getting wet is going inside a building for your next ride and freezing from the air conditioning. I know...what a crazy thing to complain about. I can hear my pioneer ancestors turning over in their graves listening to me complain about that one!

Jasmine is sporting her rain coat. It was also very windy, but we forgot to bring along our wind coats.

Day Three - Hollywood Studios With the Pittard's

Some may wonder, "What does one do with a younger child that can't ride due to her height?" Jyllian doesn't sit in the stroller and wait twenty to thirty minutes while the rest of her family enjoys the rides. She is always looking for something to climb on at every moment. Most of the time we can pass the time, but it does get tricky as evidenced by her scampering on the fountain wall below. This place was a great find. While Jyllian and I were waiting for the others, we found an arcade room. She had the best time playing video games (at least she thought she was playing..which is much more economical than the money spent to amuse the other 3 kiddos on the arcade games).

Inside one of the buildings, I snapped a picture of Dreyton. I asked him in my best Joker voice, "Why so serious?!" but he just acted like I wasn't funny at all.

I stumbled upon a bunch of Disney characters. I usually don't do the whole meet and greet the characters bit as the lines are usually too long and I don't like wasting my time waiting. I guess it was villian day. This is the Queen of Hearts. Jasmine was just excited to take a picture with a character.

This is a picture with the Snow Princess. She really frightened Jyllian. She wasn't nice at all...maybe she was a little "too in character" or maybe her Princess panties were in a wad!

Here we have the Sheriff from Robin Hood.

I tried to get one last picture of the day with our group, but Jyllian was not wanting her picture taken. My kids have a lot of fun when the Pittard's come to town.