Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Change....

Hello strangers!

I know it's been WAY too long, however I am a busy girl!

Since we last chatted, I have been to Disney World, had one kid make first communion and I am currently in the midst of making plans for graduation.  Life is crazy!!

Disney World:
Well, believe it or not we survived the trip to Disney and the kids actually got along fairly well.  I am happy to report that Abby did not do much singing in the car, which made all of us very happy. ( I should tell you that I told the kids that every time someone asked "are we there yet" they owed my $1....I know, I'm a genius!).  The only time things got "tense" was when we were driving through Atlanta.  Who the hell would want to live there and deal with that traffic?!  Anyway....my husband likes to speed up, then slam on the brakes while we are in bumper to bumper traffic going 20 miles an hour.  I very politely (well...screaming and using profanity) kept asking him to stop it until I was banished to the back seat (like putting behind you will shut me up!  I was also able to kick his seat at this point....bonus!).

Florida was awesome!  We went to Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center before heading to Orlando.  We did Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom at Disney.  Also did Universal Studios and Sea World. Here are a few Disney observations/experiences:
At Cocoa Beach


* Magic Kingdom is small, crowded and really for the under 9 crowd.  It's also kind of outdated.  Example:  I am sure that 25 years ago It's A Small World was a really cool ride.  Today, not so much.  Kids are used to graphics, 3D, in your face stuff.  Small World is NOT that kind of ride.  Tommy was sitting in the boat, arms crossed, rolling his eyes the entire time.  He finally said, "What is this ride?" (meaning what the hell is this and why are we here?).  They are doing some updating at Magic Kingdom, but many of the rides just don't have that WOW factor.  I will tell you that the light parade, fireworks and castle show at the end of the day are fantastic!!! But plan to get a spot to watch about 2 hours before the show.
Magic Kingdom

* My next statement will be controversial.....so please don't judge me.  If you require a motorized scooter to get around, Disney is NOT the place for you!  People on those things do not pay attention and bully their way through the crowds.  We saw someone run over a stroller and someone's foot.  It was insane!

* Abby is just as talented in Florida!  Abby auditioned for the American Idol Experience at Hollywood Studios.  She was too young to make it into the actual show, but man did the judge love her! She walked in, had a conversation with the judge about what kind of music she likes (for the record, she said she hates Justin Bieber, but likes Adele, Bruce Springsteen and Barbara Streisand).  Then she busted into an acapella version of "Don't Rain on My Parade".  The judge was almost crying and told she has "it" and made her promise to come back when she's 14 and can be on the show.  It was super cool!

Our American Idol

* The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was AWESOME!  However, the lines were the longest of anywhere we went. (2 hours to get into Hogwarts, or the warthog according to my dad, to get on the ride).  What I can tell you is my little kids were barely tall enough for the ride (and when I say barely, I mean they were maybe a centimeter over the measuring bar).  The ride was the best ride I have ever been on, but I felt like a horrible mother, as it was scary and basically tipped you upside down in these car things.  I was so scared that Abby was going to fall out!!!! (yep...mother of year yet again!).  But the kids got wands (I really wanted a wand but Brian was making fun of me) and we got our picture taken with the Hogwart's Express.  It was the best!
Hogwarts Express


I'm really glad we were able to take the kids on this trip.  As I mentioned before, we are getting close to Danny's graduation and it's really starting to hit me that he's leaving us. I am so excited for him to take the next step, but at the same time, my heart is screaming NO!  I won't miss dragging his ass out of bed every morning (he is NOT a morning person...no idea where he gets that, I am overly pleasant in the mornings....please note the sarcasm in that statement).  I won't miss doing his laundry.  And I won't miss fighting with him about keeping his room clean (god help his poor roommate).  But there are so many things I will miss. I'll miss his sense of humor (he's hilarious, just like his mama!).  I will miss our late night heart to heart conversations.  I will miss his friends stopping by and playing with the kids (especially Drew who likes to come have light saber fights with my husband!).  I will even miss him fighting with the munchkins.  Although I know he isn't leaving forever, I also know things will never be the same.  I don't do well with change, so this will be very hard for me.  I cried when I ordered the graduation announcements, cried when they came in the mail, cried when he brought home the cap and gown and cried when he was awarded his scholarship.  I am a pretty emotional person anyway, but this is just killing me (quite confident Brian thinks I've lost it completely)!
Our handsome graduate

On a completely different topic; Should we get Tommy a Russian Dwarf Hamster?  The kid has been begging for one all year (they have one in their classroom...thanks a lot Mrs. McClain!).  Tommy did a report on lions.  I'm reading it and he has lots of information that he plagerized from a book.  The end paragraph said...
"Lions are cool, but I would not want one as a pet because it would try to eat me.  
I'll take a Russian Dwarf Hamster instead."
He's also saved up his money and a stack of coupons from Petco.  The plan being, that once Danny turns 18, (in like 4 weeks) he can go adopt the hamster for him and Tommy will pay him extra to do it (gotta admit, the little shit is kind of a genius).  I have told Danny and my mom (because she is a sucker...all Tommy has to do is look like he's going to cry and she's done) that if either of them show up with a hamster, we are done! (I don't think my mom is afraid of me....but Danny might be).  Brian says we can get a hamster if we get rid of the dog (which would be such a sacrifice for Brian who loves that dog so much...NOT).  Well, I am not getting rid of Murph. And I'm not too keen on the whole hamster thing, but Bubba doesn't ask for much and I know how much he wants this, so I just don't know what to do!  HELP!

I hope to write more soon, but my May is pretty full.  Just know that my kids are still smart asses, Brian still hates the dog and I am still a fabulous domestic goddess!

Hope your life is as crazy and fun as mine!

Peace Out!
Annie