Spring Break/Day Three Magic Kingdom

This year, Disney offered one free day to the park of your choice for each individual that volunteered his/her time to a non-profit organization. Of course I was immediately checking into a way to go for one free day of Disney. I signed our family up to work on at Heaven's Special Children (see http://www.heavensspecialchildren.org/). This organization offers various forms of therapy not typically covered by regular insurance to children with special needs. One service they offer is hippo therapy. Hippo Therapy is where horses are used in providing therapy. Our participation included helping to clean up some of the grounds where the horses were kept. After we completed our work, we were able to print off vouchers and present them at the Disney park. However, I discovered that the tickets were upgradeable, which meant we had an eighty dollar voucher that could be used towards different types of passes. Disneyworld was offering Florida residents four days of Disney for $99. I asked if we could upgrade to a four day pass. We were able to get a four day pass for $19 per person. I have never seen such a great offer from Disney, and I could not pass up this kind of sweet deal! A four day pass is usually $225 per person (for a Florida resident). You can see the savings and understand why we didn't purchase passes this year. Our annual passes expired last August, and we just couldn't afford another year of Disney. Plus we want to go and see other parts of Florida for our vacations.

On April 8, we were able to got to Magic Kingdom. It is our favorite park, and we wanted to ride the newly remodeled space mountain. Dominique rode space mountain for the first time. Finally, he decided to ride! This has been a long time in coming. After riding, Dominique said he would go again.
We rode the Buzz Lightyear ride. On our way out of the ride the kids decided to pose with Zurg.

I asked Dominique not to spin Jyllian and Jasmine too fast on the tea cups, but he didn't listen. The girls were wishing they rode with me instead.

Throughout the park there are spray fountains that people can walk through to cool off. The kids decided to get a little wet to cool down too.

Below is Donovan snacking on some twizzlers and listening to his ipod. He probably doesn't want to listen to the kids whine throughout the day.

Here the boys are on the jungle cruise.

This is our favorite place to stop and get an ice cream snack. It serves pineapple ice cream floats, and they are DE-LISH. I think we stop here every time we go to Magic Kingdom.

The famous Cinderella castle.

I'm sure you are all familiar with the rides at Disney. The exit of the rides go through a store, and the kids all think they need to buy everything they see. Here is Jyllian picking up princesses in a box.

Spring Break Orlando/ Day One and Two

April 7, 2010

On the first day of spring break, we packed up the car and headed to Orlando. We drove straight to the temple and decided to take turns watching the kids. Donovan went into the temple first, so I walked around the temple grounds and fed the kids snacks. The first half hour was fine, but then the kids started to get bored. They were not very happy about hangin' in the minivan (I mean, what cooler place exists to hang out in than a mini-van?!). When Donovan came out of the temple and I went in, he took the kids for ice cream and to check-in to the condo we had reserved for three nights. I don't think they complained a bit about getting some ice cream. Donovan tends to get the "easier shifts" tending the kids.

I took a few pictures of the kids outside the Orlando temple grounds.

It was a beautiful day, and just a little warm, but I am not complaining about the gorgeous spring weather we had during the month of April.

The kids were asking me, "How much longer?" You know that's the question all kids ask. I just kept telling them that classic parental reply: "Just a little longer."

After finishing up at the temple, the kids went swimming in the pool at the condo. Then we went to Cici's pizza for dinner. I know it's not the best food, but it was a request by the kids. Can you say all you can eat pizza??

Day two: I promised Donovan that we would have one "down day" on our Spring Break. His idea of a vacation and mine are completely opposite. He thinks a vacation should be relaxing and not running all over to cram in as much "fun" as possible. However, I do enjoy his idea of a vacation too. On day 2, the kids were able to swim and watch some TV (something very unusual for them and their daily routine...not!). We had a great dinner at Sizzler. That was my pick as I had not had Chicken Malibu for several years. I think our kids are now Sizzler fans too!

Easter Festivites 2010

I posted about this same event last year. But the girls and myself went back to the annual Easter egg hunt held at the grounds of the local mortuary. The girls were able to ride on this train, eat hot dogs and cookies, pet a few animals, play in a bounce house, and gather eggs full of candy.
Jyllian had fun chasing the bunny around the pen.

Jasmine and her friend Mackenzie met up at the event.

Jyllian didn't want to leave the petting zoo. She didn't get frightened by the goats like she did last year.

Jasmine and Elesse (our neighbor) were trying to decide if they wanted to pet the animals.

Jyllian had so much fun on this slide. She kept running back to get in line to do it again.

It's fun to see Jyllian really start to enjoy coloring Easter eggs. She insisted on coloring them all by herself. Hence, her hands dyed all colors.

Jasmine had a good time coloring her eggs and helping her sister.

The girls wanted to color more eggs, but I told them we didn't have that many people to eat the eggs. Even though we are an egg eating family, one can only eat so many eggs.

Jasmine's Skate Station Party

March 13, 2010

Jasmine wanted to have a party at the local roller skating rink. She invited a few friends from school and a few girls from our neighborhood. She wanted to have a sleep over too, so I told her she could only have five girls. I don't really like slumber parties (the last thing I get to enjoy during them is an actual slumber), but I know the kids enjoy them. In the picture below are Sydney, Jasmine, Mackenzie, and Grace.Of course, we made the boys come along to the party with all of the crazy girls, and they were very reluctant (I don't know why....I mean, my older brother always liked hangin' out with me and my 9 year old friends when he was a tween). I told them there would be so many people there and no one would know they came with a bunch of girly girls. Donovan strapped on his roller blades and really got into skating. Who knew he liked skating so much? I guess he was reliving his classic skating days (and his affinity for the Bee Gees).

Dominique and Dreyton were having a much better time then I think they would admit.

Morgan is our next door neighbor and Elesse lives across the street. Jasmine has a great time with these two girls. At the beginning of the night, these two girls could barely stay on their feet. But by the end of the evening, they were skating around the rink. In fact the next day, they each went to the store and purchased roller blades. Jasmine and these two have been ripping up the neighborhood. It is amazing what some friendly coercion and positive reinforcement can do to motivate kids to go and go and go to learn something new (even if they fall down hitting the cement floor with their hind ends several times!).

The girls sipped a few slurpees, which I'm sure just added to their sugar intake (and inability to stay still and let me slumber later that night).

Jasmine and the girls were up late watching crazy youtube videos with Donovan. Jasmine is very much like her daddy. It's scary!

The next morning, Morgan wanted to give Jasmine a facial. Morgan used yogurt (with fruit on the bottom) for the face and cucumbers for the eyes.

The girls painted their nails and just pampered themselves like the divas they think they are.

GOING PRIVATE

I have decided it is time to go private. If you would like an invite, please let me know.

February was here and now it's gone.

As we return to a life of blogging after a Kingrey inspired hiatus, here are a few items we did during the month of February.

Donovan went to a conference in San Diego, so I decided to go along with him. Many people say ask, "Why would you need to leave Florida to go on a vacation?" My response is, "Have you seen the bugs in Florida?!" Just kidding...Well, it wasn't really a vacation to enjoy the sites of another city. I wanted to go along to enjoy some peace and quiet (not too much of that in our lil' piece of the Sunshine state thanks to the Fearsome Four Lott Litter). I was able to read one and a half books and sleep in (Did I mention the sleeping?!). I couldn't believe how long I slept. Makes me tired just thinking of it!

We also decided to go to an "exotic and exciting" place while in San Diego. Yep, you guessed it: Luxurious Tijuana, Mexico!! Donovan was able to buy his huaraches (leather sandals with tire tread soles) that he tries to replace every few years when he is in San Diego. We were hoping to get some Mexican jumping beans for the kids, but they were out of season. April through June is the time to go to Tijuana if you are wanting those Latin saltatory lentils.

Dominique had a band ensemble competition while we were out-of-town, and his ensemble received a superior ranking. He has really excelled in band, and we are very proud of him as he literally toots his own horn. Dominique also had to decide which high school he would attend as he had a lot of "recruitment letters" mailed to him asking him to come to certain high school programs due to his academic success. He decided to go to a Criminal Law program at the local high school and is excited to begin this fall. I don't remember having to make these kind of choices when I was 13. When I was 13, all I was worried about decision wise was which boy I was going to be kissing the next day. My how times have changed...or at least they better have changed before our daughters turn 13!

Dreyton has been continuing with his basketball, but the season will come to an end this weekend. He has learned a lot about blocked shots and turnovers (although he has been on the bad end of many of those). Fortunately, he has learned a lot this season and has improved. Donovan is hoping his ability to block others out for rebounds will assist him with tackle football season coming up this late summer! Dreyton doesn't even seem to mind when we tease him about a certain girl (who shall remain unnamed) around Valentine's Day. I guess he will be turning 13 soon...hmmmmmmm...

Jasmine has lost three teeth in the last week and has been preparing for the FCAT. The FCAT is a test in Florida that all of the third graders must pass in order to continue on to fourth grade. She has had more homework than usual and has been working hard to study (translation: her mother has been bugging her more than usual to get her homework and studying done). Today she actually started taking the FCAT. One day down and two to go. Rock the FCAT, Jasmine!

Jyllian had a good time with Grandma Lott who watched our kids while we were in San Diego, but she was very happy to see mom return home. She just LOVES to twirl my hair as she sucks her thumb. I am thinking of cutting a bunch of it off and giving it to her for a birthday gift. She also has taken on the role of Recycle Girl. She will strut her stuff and come running when we call for Recycle Girl. Who is Recycle Girl, you ask. Well, Recycle Girl is a very important figure who saves all mankind (or at least our household) by taking recyclable items from our kitchen to our recycle container out on the driveway. We are thinking of getting her an official uniform and are open for any design ideas you might have, so keep us in mind. She really gets a kick out of being Recycle Girl as her dad breaks into his role as Soap Man (the official liquid soap dispenser filler upper of our home....and he only misses getting the soap in the containers 13.7% of the time....I have been counting).

May you have a March as "fun" and safe as our February!!

Love the Lotts

Seriously Mommy

Am I in trouble when my four-year-old daughter puts her hands on her hips and says, "Seriously mommy!" I'm wondering where she learned this word?