End of Soccer Season

This weekend is the District Tournament.  I am glad this season is drawing to an end.  However, I have not made it yet.  This weekend could be a test of my ability to hold it together.  I do miss having at least one free evening a week to do whatever it is I choose.  I love to read. I love to bake.  What are those you say.  Those are my true hobbies.   I am just posing as a sports enthusiast right now.  No....don't get me wrong I love to watch my children play sports.  But the past few weeks have been a little more than hectic.  Parker started baseball before soccer season was over.  We have had three weeks now of baseball games and Soccer started the last weekend in March.  I don't mind having one or the other but both is a drag.  We have also been attending AWANAS every Wednesday night.  Every night has something.  Either game or practice and Saturday's are reserved for the soccer games.  We have had two great soccer seasons, both teams have played really well. Pray that I have enough energy to make it!!   Baseball however will continue through the third week in June.  I will eventually have time to read again right?  HELP

The Magic Kingdom

 

 

I know that we went to Disney in February and tomorrow is the last day of April, I am a little behind in getting this out there.  Those of you who do read my blog, all three or four of you, I apologize.  I guess I should say sorry.  I am so slow.

 

 

Going to Disney was something that I had anticipated from the time that Madi was a tiny baby.  I always dreamed of the day she would see Cinderella's castle.  I can remember thinking about how many times she would smile in awe.  I had looked forward to this trip for years.  I actually thought that the day may never come.(if it were up to Chris it really might never happened, he is not a big fan of Disney)  The time arrived finally and I am sad to say I was a little disappointed.  We did have a wonderful time.  I just think I had it worked up so in my mind that no matter how much fun we had it would never compare to what I imagined.   The kids loved it and I loved it and Chris had a good time but there were downfalls.   Too many people.  I don't like crowds a lot and there were a lot of people.  I know what did you expect, Cathy?  Hello it is bigger than the whole town of Cordell.   I knew that there would be lots of people but not lots and lots.  You know what I mean don't you?   Anyway......We had a wonderful trip as a whole.  We spent a lot of quality time together as a family.  We saw the fabulous five, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.  We even dined with them!!!  Thanks Chris.  Life was good until all the people cut in line!!!  Yep it happened and I didn't deal too well .  Now I will share a few of the pictures with you.  Disney is just one of those things on my list.  I will check this one off my list and move on to something else.  I am so thankful that God allowed us to go and to travel to and from safely.  May we be so fortunate and blessed to spend more time together as a family.  I love my husband and my kids.  And I love to spend time with them!  (even if it is nowhere else but home)

 

 

Day Two: Epcot

 

Another day, bright and early.  We spent another long day seeing the sites.  Our day actually started extremely early.  We were up before the sun on Friday.   We had a breakfast with Mickey at Chef Mickey's at 7:20 am.   To be there on time, we had to catch the bus at 6:30 am.  And these times are the Eastern time zone.  So getting up to be ready for us came really early, 4:45 am CST.  The kids were not receptive to this part of the day.  Once we got going, things seemed to go smooth. 

Chef Mickey was fun.  Not sure it was really worth what it costs.  The breakfast was really delicious with a huge variety.  The best part was seeing the Fabulous Five:  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
 

 

 

Chris was so excited, we could hardly tare him away from Minnie Mouse.
 

After the Under the Seas ride, there were several aquariums filled with beautiful sea creatures.  This starfish was really unique.  We have so many pictures, I have had a hard time picking just a few.  Hope I don't bore all of you too much. 

 

The seahorse tank was by far Madison's favorite.  She could have spent the whole day here.   This area was definitely one of our favorites.

 

Hollywood Studios

The first day in Orlando, we decided to tackle the Hollywood Studios. The kids were really pumped to get up and go the first day.  We were there bright and early.   The Little Mermaid was our first ride.  I should say our first line.  LOL  It was just one of many.  Soon, we were on to many more that day.  We closed the park down that night with Fantasmic and Toy Story.  We walked and ran many a mile and that was just Day One. 

 

Indiana Jones Stunt Show

Honey I Shrunk the Kids

This is one of my favorite films from when I was growing up.  It is funny though, this is one film my kids haven't seen.  They were loving the huge sized playground. 

One last picture before we left the park at closing had to be Mickey's sorcerer hat.  Awesome!

On our way!

Last Wednesday, we left the airport at 4:00 PM for Orlando, FL.  We are finally taking the kids to Disney World.  Madison has always wanted to go and see Cinderella's castle.

 

We went with a large group from our area.  This picture is a picture of all the kids that went with us.  There was a total of 30 people.  We finally arrived at the Orlando airport at about 8:00 PM Wednesday night.  Boy were we ready to get to our room.  We were so tired and ready to catch some zzzz's. 

We were so glad and relieved to finally reach our rooms.  There is only one problem.  No luggage.  We had the Magical Express Delivery from the airport and it was so magical that they didn't get it to us until about 1:00 am.   We can laugh now, but Madison was a little freaked.  Are you sure we can go to bed and it will come later?  She was too funny that night. 

Christmas at Great Wolf Lodge

This year for Christmas my parents took all of us to Grapevine, Tx. to Great Wolf Lodge. There were nine of us:  Papa, Nana, Cara, Brynn, Jarrett, Chris, Madison, Parker, and myself.  We had such a great time.  The kids loved the indoor water park.

Nana and Papa getting the kids ready for bed.  It had been a long day of riding in the car, and everyone was ready for some sleep.

Before we could go to bed that night Madi, Parker, and Jarrett had to write letters for Santa.

 

 

A four person water slide.  They all loved it!

2009 Blizzard

I wish I could start this by saying we watched the snow pile up from the warmth of our living room.   I also wish now that I would have had time to take lots of pictures of our experience on Christmas Eve , but I can't ! We had an experience that is truly unforgettable, just wish I had the pictures for when my memory fades!  (haha)  Anyway, we did have a most blessed Christmas Holiday with family and we are truly blessed to have made it to our destination that day unharmed.  (and before dark)  I say all of this now laughing and grinning but that day there wasn't much to smile about.  This is how the day unfolded.

On Christmas Eve morning we left home at about 7:30 am.  We headed out early thinking that we would be leaving early enough to miss the snow storm that was moving into Oklahoma. Little did we know that it was also moving in to Tx.   We were just sure that as we drove south we would be getting into better weather.  When we reached Mtn. View at about 8:25 am.,  I knew that the drive ahead was going to be a long one.  It normally only takes about 30 minutes to get to Mom and Dad's house.  When we left there, again we thought that we would get out of the heavy snow.  I am not sure what time it was when finally reached the Love's gas station on the north side of Lawton but it wasn't soon enough.  The kids were already going crazy and starting to fight.  I knew I couldn't stand it much longer in the white out conditions much longer without cleaning the windshield and taking a break.  We all cleaned our windows and headed out again.  The next time we stopped was at the McDonald's on the turnpike south of Lawton.  When we stopped here is was blowing ice pellets.  It wasn't snow anymore but the road conditions continued to dwindle all day long.  The kids were totally oblivious to the conditions.  The turnpike was down to two lanes from four, unless you were the idiots driving crazy in the 2 ft of snow covering the second lane.  And believe me when I say that they do exist out there.  We saw so many crazy people out there driving way too fast.  Sad thing is that most of them ended up in the ditch or in the wrong lane. 

As we got closer to Burkburnett, I was about to die.   I kept thinking this has to get better.  Nope,  it didn't.   Just as we entered into Tx. at the edge of Burkbunett, the road was blocked by police officials having us to detour off of the highway to avoid the overpasses that were covered in  4 ft. snow drifts.   After that we were able to get back on the highway and continue on to Wichita Falls.  At this point I am thinking to myself, this is the most snow we have seen all day.  How are we ever going to make it.   There were times I wondered if we would make it.  But as Chris would remind me like Dori on Finding Nemo "just keep swimming."  He was very encouraging that day from the walkie talkie in the car behind me!!  Thank the Lord for him and my mother!!  I don't think I could have made it without them.

At Wichita Falls, Chris asked me to please pull over at the Wal-Mart so we could use the restroom and scrape the windows.  It was snowing so hard and heavy that I couldn't even see the sign to exit.  I know that sounds unbelievable but it is the honest truth.  I never even saw the sign in order to exit.  I did eventually just pick one exit and got off.  It happened to be at a gas station!  We were able to take a break here and clean our windows again.  We headed on to Decatur, Tx. ( Dec-a-tur , that's for you  BP, LOL)  Highway 287 from Wichita Falls to Decatur, Tx. were the absolute worst of the whole trip.  It was absolutely miserable.  There were times when we were just idling.  The snow was so heavy around Bowie that I couldn't even see Chris behind me or my dad it front of me.  That was truly scary time.  I have never been in conditions like this.  So much snow falling and falling so heavy and fast.  I thought for sure now that I wasn't going to make it.  I wanted to crawl up in the seat and cry. But I didn't!!  Yeah for me.  I was a big girl.  Aren't you all so proud of me!!  I am.  :)

We finally made it to Grapevine, Tx. that evening about 5:30 pm. A total of 10 HOURS  for a trip that should take about 4 hours.   I was so happy to finally make it.  Thank you God for the safe trip!