Bronx Bella Sparkles Combs

We'd gone back and forth with the idea of getting a dog for awhile now.  We hadn't had a dog in the house in over four years.  It's been nice with all the moving and traveling we've done the past year not to have to worry about what to do with a dog.  But, the girls were starting to become afraid of them.  Not sure why really, and Evie was bad.  She would cry and scream anytime a dog would look at her.  

So, the Sunday after we got home from Disney we were out running errands and stopped at Petco to look at the dogs just for fun.  A local organization Peewee's brings rescues there every weekend.  I knew if we were getting a dog it would be a rescue.  We happened upon this little cutie.  They got her out of the cage for us and she was totally chill.  That weekend they were waiving the normal $100 adoption fee, so all of her shots and soon to be spaying would be taken care of.  How could we not take her?  

Let me tell you, this dog has been a blessing.  The girls warmed up to her very quick and haven't had anymore crazy "life in peril" screaming moments like they used to.  Other than getting used to her crate at night, she has been wonderful.  Since I stay home during the day her potty training has gone smooth and some minimal stealing of the girls toys has ensued.  

One of the reasons I love strays (besides the obvious saving a dog from ultimate death) is they are so grateful.  They love you unconditionally.  All this gal does is wants to be near me.  She follows me from room to room and just lays...where ever I am.  

We are so happy she found us and we found her. 

Disney World Part 3: Downtown Disney and Magic Kingdom

Day three we woke up and headed to Downtown Disney.  We had to fight off the rain most of the day, but it most definitely could have been worse.

 T-Rex restaurant is a super cute Rainforest Cafe type place that has movable dinosaurs and whatnot.  The girls are very much spoiled by their Grandma and this was their big gift for the trip from her.  "Build-A-Dino", like Build-A-Bear but with cute little dinosaurs.

The Lego Store was a big hit.  The grown ups were as impressed with the giant lego statues as the kids were with all the stuff you could buy.  We did, shockingly, make it out without purchasing anything.

I thought Gianna and Evie were going to have an "I want that and that and that for my birthday" panic attack in the World of Disney store.  I'm certain they were on sensory overload after that store.

For lunch we ate at Earl of Sanwich.  Excellent prices for a Disney affiliate and so tasty.  We also made a stop after at the candy store for Yogi and the girls, and then the Ghiradelli for coffees for mom and I.

After Downtown Disney we headed back to Magic Kingdom to spend the afternoon and evening there.  It started pouring down on the drive over, but my cleaver "clothes pinned ponchos" on the strollers helped keep the girls dry.

 We met Pluto coming into the park.
We then headed over to Adventureland and Gigi and I hopped on Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride.  Because of the rain the crowds had cleared out and the waits for rides even without FASTPASSES weren't bad.
We rode the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Carribean as a family, and enjoyed both.  Though the girls were a little scared of how dark Pirates was.

After meeting Peter Pan we ventured toward Tomorrowland.  On our way we got a good spot to see the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.

We got a FASTPASS to Buzz Lightyears Spaceranger Spin, and while we waited we drove the racetrack.  Yogi rode with Gigi and I got the wonderful pleasure of riding with Evie.  She feels she needs to everything in life for herself, which is a wonderful trait, and I'm proud to be raising such an independent woman.  But, it can get frustrating at times, one of which is her trying to see to drive a race car.  She would just whip the steering wheel back and forth, and occasionally bang her had on the side of the car from the sheer volume in which she would whip said steering wheel.

Yogi and I rode Space Mountain, which as everyone knows is one of the original rides at Disney.  It felt like it.  That bad boy whiped you around and up and down.  It felt like Evie was operating it.

We stopped by and had hamburgers and french fries and apple slices at a quick service counter for dinner and then headed to claim a spot on Main Street for the Electrical Parade.

We sat towards the front of the park.  The parade starts there so as soon as it's over you can sneak out.  We didn't stay for the fireworks...we were pooped.

Disney World Part 2: Hollywood Studios

We woke up early again and headed to Hollywood Studios.  While waiting in line to enter the park the girls got to meet Donald and Daisy.  Our first  stop once in the park was Toy Story Mania.  We got right in and also got a FASTPASS and rode it later.  It ended up being our favorite ride there.

Evie was not too excited about see "the shows" (Hollywood Studios has a lot of 20-40 minute shows).  We did convince her to see the Disney Jr. show, and she ended up really liking it.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates make appearances....right up her alley.  Us grownups liked it too, except you had to sit on the floor for 30 minutes.  The Grandma had trouble getting up.

We made lunch reservations at 50's Prime Time Cafe.  It's an adorable 1950's house theme with old TV's playing old shows.  The food was delicious, though expect to pay for it.  We had meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and roast.  My mom and Yogi each had a peanut butter and jelly shake.  I think I drank most of mom's though, it was soooooo good.

After lunch Mom and I rode the Star Wars ride, the girls were too little for it, so Yogi took them to get their faces painted.  Evie got a heart and Kermit the Frog, and Gigi got "music mania" (it had purple music bars with notes and glitter).  Star Wars was great, I wish it were a little longer, but thanks to a FASTPASS we hopped right on and had a blast.

Next up was the Muppet 3D.  We all thought it was super cute.  Evie, however, has trouble keeping on the 3D glasses so her attention wanders off and she's ready to leave in the first five minutes.  But that Gigi loves her some Miss Piggy.

This family loves New York.  It's our favorite place to visit and we'd totally live there in a heartbeat if someone would pay us the proper money to do so.  So, it was with pleasure for us to happen upon the New York street.  My mom took this picture.  I think we are going to get her SLR camera taking lessons for Christmas because all of the pics she took look like this.  We love you, Mom.

We headed back to the hotel and one of the nice things about a full kitchen is not paying to go out to eat every night.  I brought our Crock-pot with us and before we left that morning we put on some meatballs.  We had meatball sandwiches and ceasar salads.  The girls went swimming and were asleep in "their room" with minimal arguments.

Disney World Part 1: Magic Kingdom

We just returned from a week long trip to Disney World.   My mom flew into CC on a Thursday and we told the girls that night we were leaving in the morning.  Our original intentions were to wake them up and surprise them but, Gianna did this on Thursday night.

She decided to hang off the back of one of those Power Wheels type toys.  I yell at them constantly to keep their shoes on outside....and now she knows why.  Gianna does not do hurt well.  She thinks the world is going to end or whatever body part is hurt is going to just rot off from the infection that is surely going to come from this.  She was hysterical.  So, we decided to tell them about Disney World to make her night a little more manageable for her, and us. 

We were out of the house a little after 6:30 Friday morning and on our way to Mobile, Alabama.  One of the good things about living in Texas (where it takes an entire day just to get across the state) and all the moves we've recently made is that the girls are becoming much better traveling in the car.  Oh, and they rarely pee.  Total bonus for car rides, probably not so good on their bladders. 

We made it Mobile about 6:00 that night and were up and out by 8:00 the next morning for Orlando.  We stayed at Polynesian Isles Villas, which ended up being wonderful.  It was more like an apartment, two bedrooms, two baths, and full kitchen.  Real nice, Clark. 

Sunday was our first day at Magic Kingdom. 

This is us waiting on the Ferry Boat to head over to Magic Kingdom.  Evie was mad people were standing in her way.  These facial expressions pretty much sums up these two girls.

First stop....DUMBO.  I did extensive planning on what to do when and first and whatnot....more of that to come later. 

Gianna was "a little" scared to ride Dumbo, and Yogi gets motion sickness with things that go around and around.  So, it was just Evie and I.  You can't really tell in the photo, but Gianna has on slippers.
We had to stop on the was to the Magic Kingdom that morning at Walmart to find some sort of shoe that could fit over her massive swollen and wounded foot.  This is all I could come up with.  She rode in the stroller until it was time to get on a ride and she'd hobble over. 

The White Rabbit was our first character greeting.  Evie was not too thrilled, and Gianna didn't even get close.  It did get better as the days went on.

As you can see, no Yogi again.  If it goes around he ain't gettin' on it.  I could see the fear in his eyes just riding across the Ferry. 

By far, our favorite ride (including Yogi) was The Little Mermaid in the new addition to Fantasyland.  You ride in cute little clam shells and songs from the movie are played.  So cute!

Gaston from Beauty and The Beast.  Gigi was cool because "he's a real person". Evie really wanted to see Belle, but the line for her was at 70 minutes wait.  Hey Disney! Get that chick a FASTPASS!

We ate that day at Casey's Corner and then had ice cream.  Then we got rained on a little.  We mostly stuck to Fantasyland that day. 

Next stop...Hollywood Studios.

getting my act together.

I'm gonna take a stab at this blogging thing again.  I really do have good intentions of keeping a blog up-to-date for my family and to document my children's lives for them as they get older.  Then, life happens and I just "give up".  Here's to trying again and getting it together. 

Ballerina

We went to the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Ballet tonight with my mom. Gianna was very excited at the thought, and she even got her picture taken with one of the ballerinas and she then autographed it. I think she would have enjoyed it even more if it hadn't started so late. She was ready to go by intermission.

I'm proud she even tried though. She said on the way home she wanted to dance like the princess girls. Back to dance we go...in Midland.

Curse you Moon Dough.

I'm not a fan of Moon Dough. It crumbles into a billion little pieces all over the floor, so the girls MUST sit at the kitchen table so I can sweep up the mess when they're finished. I usually give in and just let them go nutso with it, and it ends up all over the place. I think Santa is going to "forget" the Moon Dough this year.