Mrs. Nicholson is the BEST

Avery just LOVED her Kindergarten teacher and gives her hugs every time she sees her at school. She also sends Mrs. Nicholson letters in the mail to tell her how much she loves her and wanted them to be Pen Pals. Glory invited Avery to stay after school today and paint and hang out. It was one of the sweetest gestures ever - This woman has 2 kids of her own, 2 dogs, a full time job and a husband who travels a lot for work and she spent 3 hours with Avery. They ordered pizza, chatted and did all kinds of paintings. 

Avery had once told Glory how at MSW they painted while lying on their backs under a table like Michelangelo did for the Sistine Chapel. Avery and Glory gave it a try and also did some other types of paintings. It was just the coolest thing - I was nervous when Avery first started at SSES as I had never been to Public School and this just touched my heart and made me know that Avery is at the right place. She is one lucky and loved girl! 

Also, it was Pajama Day at school :) 

Fun Visit with Uncle Nate and Aunt Debbie

We hadn't seen Nate and Debbie since last summer - they were headlining a dueling piano club on a Mediterranean Cruise and we didn't get to see them over the holidays. They are back on land and spent 4 nights catching up with us. We ALL loved having them here!

On Monday I let Avery skip school and we went to Pinheads and played games and bowled, had dinner at Field Brewing Co (which we LOVED and will definitely go back). Tay did NOT like his burger, took too big of a bite and we had a little throw-up incident but otherwise a good meal. When Nate and Debbie were driving Tay home from school on Tuesday he said "Hey that's where threw up last night". LOL. 

When Avery told her friends she wouldn't be at school on Monday she said "My Aunt and Uncle are coming to visit and they are a little bit famous". I smiled when she told and she goes "Come ON Mom - BROADWAY!!"

Nate and Debbie also got to have lunch with Avery at her school which Avery was so excited about and loved showing them off to her friends. Nate and Debbie spent hours running around the basement playing super heroes, dodge ball and building forts. They just had a BLAST! 

On their last day, Debbie made amazing homemade tarts ALL from scratch and also got some exotic Asian fruits for us to try. We spent about an hour disassembling the Jack Fruit - It's now a new favorite of Avery's. It gave Nate a slight allergic reaction but otherwise all good. 

Bingo and LuLu took some time to warm up to each other but by the last day they finally found acceptance. 

It was just an awesome visit - I wish the lived closer!! We miss them tons already!

Debbie can work some amazing braids into Avery's hair

Fun at Pinheads

 Nate and Debbie had Avery howling with laughter before bed with their funny voices while reading stories

 Lunch at SSES

 Attempt at a group photo and Tay looking creepy....

 Fruit Tarts were AMAZING

 Working on the Jack Fruit

 The doggies!

Disney 2019

The kids and I went to Disney World with Grandpa, Grandma T, Aunt Maddie, Soon-to-be Uncle Eddie, and Eddie's parents and brother. We had to travel in -30 Windchill conditions with a 6 am flight. The kids were troopers and were awesome travelers!

We spent Thursday killing time at the airport waiting for everyone to arrive, lunch at Disney Springs (we didn't use the stroller and so Grandpa's shoulders came in handy), getting settled in our Condo and a little pool time with Grandpa. Tay kept thinking we were in Disney and asking where the rides were....And he would only do "Silly Faces" for all pictures.

Matching Mani's

Friday was Magic Kingdom Day - And it started off with Eddie's PROPOSAL!! Which was truly amazing and so special to be a part of it. The kids then went to the Pirate's League and turned into a Pirate and a Mermaid. It was an xmas gift from Grandma T and the kids had a blast and looked amazing!! Tay's favorite ride was the People Mover - He even rode with his hands up LOL. Avery loved Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. It was a LONG day and we were all spent by the end of it but was also magical and a blast!

Saturday was Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Tay really got into meeting the characters (he did a little shuffle every time he met them) and Avery LOVED Rocking Roller coaster but thought Tower of Terror was too scary. Epcot was also a HIT - We did Soarin twice and Tay really loved it and made sure we all "held on". We also had an amazing dinner in Italy (which Tay slept on Grandpa through most of it) and dessert in France. Such a great day!

Our final day in the park was spent at Animal Kingdom. Avery loved Mt. Everest and we conquered it twice - She liked finding the Yeti at the end. Tay really loved meeting Minnie and gave her a HUGE LONG hug at the end. Tay took a monster nap and slept through Lion King and most of dinner (again...). The kids also liked Dino Land and winning the stuffed animals at the carnival games. Avery got really into pin trading on this trip and spent a lot of time trading pins with Aunt Maddie. Maddie knew all the best places to eat and we had so many yummy treats and great meals!

Our last day we had lunch at Disney Springs, played Putt Putt Golf (Tay had a really great method that he was "teaching" us which consisted of putting the ball right next to the hole and tapping it in), and had a HUGE ice cream sundae at the Yacht and Beach Club. The kids were such hearty travelers and the flight home was smooth. We loved our vacation but were super excited to get home and see Daddy and Bingo!

A couple notes of cute things I don't want to forget:

• Tay was very into calling everyone "Potato" and "Coconut" on this trip "Hey Potatoooo!"
• Tay and Grandpa were really good pals on the trip. He loved attacking Grandpa and "fighting" with him and Grandpa was an awesome playmate!
• Avery was just the kindest and sweetest sister and daughter on this trip. We didn't have Hung with us and she did such a great job helping me out and keeping Tay's craziness in check.
• Avery bought two really nice gifts for G - It was so sweet how she wanted to find the perfect things for her (Mrs. Potts and Chip Ornament and a "Have Courage and Be Kind" frame which is their motto.
• Avery reminded me of myself with struggling to pick what souvenirs or treats she wanted. Just back and forth and can't make a decision!
• Tay being a pirate was one of the cutest things I have ever seen - He got SO many compliments and sweet looks from everyone we passed.
• Avery was SO gorgeous as a Mermaid - her hair and eyes were truly stunning!
• Tay got homesick a couple times, cried because he missed Daddy and wanted to play "Oceanhorn" with him (a video game they are playing together), and wanted to go to his "real home". When we were headed to the airport he started dancing and saying "Oh Yeah. Oh Baby. Oceanhorn. Daddy!".
• Tay was spooked by some of the rides - Haunted Mansion he clung to me with his eyes closed and he went on the Buzz Lightyear ride in Magic and told Grandpa it was "Super Scary".
• Both kids were so gracious and so into the vacation. They were a joy to travel with!!