a perfect ending

I have one more thing to add unrelated to Sea World as I am not sure how many of you check my brother's blog but for me it was a perfect ending to an amazing day. As we walked all over Sea World, my brother worked his hardest at walking on the Lokomat (a special walking machine at a special rehab clinic). I don't have a lot of details but I do have a photo to share that my dad sent to Dennis' phone showing Greg walking without his straps!!! As I posted on my brother's blog, I nearly died (and apparently said a bad word as I was gently reminded by my son!) when my dad called and told me what was happening. Just to be sure we are on the same page, the Lokomat is still supporting him, however, he is doing more of the work here. And I believe my dad said that they reattached the straps suspending him but moved the leg pieces away so he could work on more squats! My dad also said they pushed him real hard today and Greg was beat. I am not sure I will ever be able to express the joy I feel when I hear this kind of news, but truly we are each overjoyed by his amazing progress and determination to be challenged and pushed hard. Even Jaiden said with such excitement when I hung up the phone "is he walking on his own?" I feel like I can say with no doubt "not yet, but very soon... very soon!"

go, Greg, go!

whales, lions and dolphins... oh my!

Today, we visited Sea World... yet another spectacular day with the kids. They trooped through the entire park for almost 7 hours! Of course, we did sit down for lunch with Shamu, or Shampoo as Daddy kept saying only to be followed with Alyssa's sweet voice saying "no, Shamu, daddy!"

When I looked through the photos today, I realized I significantly failed to get more photos of the kids experiencing Sea World... okay, guiltily charges with be enamored by the power of my big, beautiful white lens. Heck, I could sit at the top of those stadium bleachers and take photos like I was sitting in the first row! Yes, definitely guilty but with a lot of enthusiasm so I give you only two photos with the kids (the first watching the whales before lunch and the second talking to one of the trainers at the end of lunch) and many beautiful sea life photos (maybe not exactly from the top of the bleachers but definitely not far off!) with a lovely grande finale of all the dolphins waving goodbye ... for now!

viva las vegas!

I forgot to add the photo with the sign... I will have more photos up when we get home but can you believe these Lego designs?

seashells, me shells

We made it safely to Carlsbad, California a little late last night but woke bright and early for a walk on the beach to collect seashells.

Then it was off to Lego land... both kids were thrilled to go but we still ran into hesitancy from both kids about riding some of the rides, which surprised me since they are both 2 years older than when we went to Disneyland. The park was amazing though. I loved looking at all the Lego structures, animals, people, and various settings. There were city replicas of Washington DC, New York (even outfitted with a moving underground subway!) and Las Vegas... I couldn't resist the sign!

And a perfect ending to the day with another stroll on the beach looking for seashells... which I seriously have to wonder if that is the kid's favorite thing to do?

happy birthday tutu!

Wishing you a very happy, happy birthday Tutu!

It is hard to believe that with two visits this past year, I do not have one photo of you with the kids! Since I haven't been here on one of those visits and working through the other visit, I am hoping that Bum bum might have a few to send from your June visit and then really hoping Tutu will remember her camera when she visits in April so Dennis can nab a few of her with the kids! In the meantime, this is what the kids were doing when we called to sing happy birthday!

sprinkles

Contrary to this photo, this little one on the night of her birthday came crying into my room after I had put her to bed. She was crying that she "misses being 5!" But when her number 6 cookies showed up Friday, she was all smiles and teeth to eat a few.

She also continues to be more adventurous than we care for, including this weekend climbing on something (we think our air condition unit) and falling off only to crack open her head. It was quite the scene and craziness while I tried to find the cut in her then red hair and our resident fireman/neighbor came over while the actual fire department and ambulance made their way. Then while she was being examined she gave Daddy quite the lecture about how he should put up a fence on the side yard so she couldn't go there... despite the fact that she is a serious climber and would probably climb the fence he installed. So she begins her 6th year with a bang, blood tinted fringe and a hefty scar above her forehead but a seriously cute smile and twinkle in her eyes!

birthday no. 6

not nearly 6:20 am as I definitely did not have it together to photograph anything but my little baby at 6 enjoying her "special coffee" at around 7:30 am this morning

ironically, I was scheduled to be in her classroom today and I got to watch her stand in front of the class being sung to (check out that hand on the hip! and still yet another crazy combo outfit but lots of pink!)

I love this photo and how she impulsively grabbed Jaiden to thank him!

this doll carrier is what got her confidence up to finally let me stop putting my hand on her back while she rode her bike ... it's a bit hard to see but the deal was if she rode all by herself, I would get her a doll carrier for her bike for her birthday... she and Alyssa (her doll's name) rode for 40 minutes while we waited for Daddy and Jaiden to return from cub scouts

and this is the end of a very busy day... she begged to at least open it up and find her new Lego girls but we insisted she needed to go to bed and we'd work on it tomorrow! 

if I could get a good photo in her room right now, you would see her sacked out under her canopy tent with her new glowing fairy nightlight watching over her while she and Alyssa snuggled in matching pajamas... ahhh, sweet dreams my little 6 year old!

all in all, I think she had a fabulous 6th birthday!

a note for mommy

"Mommy, come quick... I have a note for you... come look quick!"

sigh... I love these notes, and as we approach her 6th birthday, I am already missing our afternoons together knowing next year at this time, she will be in school all day long ... and I will have to write my own notes or maybe she will leave some behind for me to enjoy during the afternoon when she is gone...