The Magic of the Kingdom

So yesterday was our day at Disney's Magic Kingdom, the home of Cinderella's castle. It's funny, you know there is not really a Cinderella but you lose all sense of reality when you see the castle. You enter the Magic Kingdom and turn the corner and WHAM! there it is. All of a sudden you are here, in front of the most beautiful castle, one you grew up watching in movies and seeing in books. And it's real and brings you back to some of the most wonderful memories of fantasy and imagination. I've seen many people tear up at the sight of it for the first time, I've seen some tear up watching their children see it for the first time.




Even though it was a holiday week, the crowd was unusually small. Don't get me wrong, there were tons of people there but noticeably less than in previous years. I'm sure the outrageous gas prices have a little bit to do with that.

We headed out to the park early that morning, around 9:30-10:00 am. The whole ride over there I could see that Beth was super excited. Blake, who has been before, was just as excited. I can't wait until Brooklyn can understand the excitement of being in such a magical place. I can't wait until she'll keep Mickey Mouse ears on her head. :)

The teacups ride was one of those things that you always see and hear about and when we got in them it was like stepping into a cup of fantasy. As we sat in the cups waiting for the ride to start (or as the ride operator said, we were the lumps of sugar in the tea, lol), there was a feeling of excitement that just spread through the whole ride. Then we headed to Toon Town, rode some rides, and tried to meet the characters (who were on break).







We stayed at the park for about 5 hours, riding the rides and seeing the park, catching a bit of the show in front of the castle, and enjoying the day. When Brooklyn got a bit tired, we headed back to the hotel for lunch, swimming, and a nap. We stayed at the All-Star Movies hotel and it was really nice for the economy pricing. The pool was huge and they had a neat little kiddie area for the smaller ones. Brooklyn enjoyed the sprinklers over there and would go back and forth between her brothers in the big pool and her peeps over in the kiddie area.



We headed out to Downtown Disney for dinner and ate at the Rainforest Cafe. We've wanted to eat there in the past but the wait was always so long. We got lucky and were seated within about 45 minutes. The atmosphere is pretty neat, especially for the kids. Lots of "animals" that come to life every 15 minutes and there's a rainshower/thunderstorm every half hour. It really gave the feeling of being in the jungle, which is just the atmosphere I want when I'm eating a chicken quesedilla.





After we ate, we went back to the park to catch the fireworks show and Magical Lights parade. The fireworks show was AWESOME! There is a music montage that plays throughout the park and the fireworks go off according to the story. It's not something that can be explained, just experienced. After the fireworks we headed over to Space Mountain so Beth could ride. At this point, Brooklyn was out cold so I waited with her while Beth got in line and the boys went to the Buzz Lightyear ride. Then we went over to the Dumbo ride, Beth and Blake rode together, and then they all got on the carousel. As they were on the carousel, I looked over and saw the bushes in front of the Dumbo ride and fell in love. When Blake got off, he ran over and I snapped a pic. We ended up missing the parade but we'll catch it again next time. :)

And we're off....

It's Memorial Day and we are heading out to Disney later today. Just me, the boys, Brooklyn, and Beth. We are all looking forward to the next couple of days, especially Beth who has never been to Disneyworld before.

I have to admit I'm a bit saddened that Tommy and Ashley aren't joining us. I didn't expect Tommy to come; when I originally made the reservations he'd indicated that he wouldn't go. But I thought Ashley would enjoy the trip. I guess she's gotten to the age where beaches and friends trump hanging with the family at Disney. It makes me sad sometimes to see how fast she's growing up.

I'm sensing a Mom/Ashley trip in the near future...

Last day of school, last day of school, oh boy oh boy oh boy!!

Yep, you read that right! My kiddos are all out for the summer. Can you feel the pain through this post? Can you sympathize with me on my sadness? Why is it that the thought of summer vacation brings visions of me in a padded room, drooling on myself, asking for Calgon to take me away? I can't be alone in this. Right?

So, we had a fun day in Blake's class. Jessica Harris and I got together to have an ice-cream buffet. They all made and ate the grossest looking ice-cream sundae concoctions ever. But they enjoyed it and had a good time. Blake hammed it up for the camera with his buddies.


A first grader, sixth grader, and Freshman no more!! Goodbye school year, hello summer vacation!

Because you only get one day a year...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my birthday. I might not always know what I want or might not be excited about the age I'm turning, but a birthday is a special thing. It's the one day out of the whole year that I can say, it's all about me. Well, it's all about me and Charlie.

Seriously, my birthday is important to me. It's a yearly reminder that I've made accomplishments. For instance, I made it another year in this crazy world. I am a year closer to getting my degree. I am two years into a great decade. I have gotten to a point where I feel good about myself. I love it!

Last year sucked. Most of the people I know and love forgot to call me. I got one or two cards and that was it. No cake, no acknowledgment, no well-wishes. *sigh*

This year was the opposite; I had calls coming in on my cell phone from around 6:30 am all the way to midnight!! I got serenaded by Abby and Emma and got a homemade card from Blake. We had to go to the field because all the kids had games but I even got a few well-wishes and hugs from some friends. Overall, it was a nice day.

Again, though, Tommy was MIA. Well, not really missing since I knew right where he was, but missing in that he wasn't with me. He played golf (just like any other day that is special to me) and then gave me the scraps of his time. We went to eat at Shoney's after the games since it was already after 9pm, something I wasn't fond of at all. Who wants their birthday dinner at Shoney's?!?! And that was it. No card, no present, no special time together, nothing. Um, I'm sorry, what did *you* get for your birthday? A flat-screen HDTV you say? Uh huh. Nice. I guess I got the control of the remote for a day.

I know it sounds really materialistic of me to complain about not getting any presents from Tommy. It's not about the "thing" but about the thought. Really, it is. I don't need or want anything really. But a nice set of lotion or a gift certificate to my favorite store is not alot to ask. And Tommy equates love with stuff; what am I supposed to deduce when he doesn't even think to get me any stuff (even knowing I am fine with getting his time)??

I rarely know what to tell people I want for my birthday when they ask. I know what I want for my 33rd birthday. I want to feel wanted. I want to feel needed. I want the Tommy I fell in love with all those years ago.

Happy Mother's Day!

So, since Beth's birthday I've been trying to get, and stay, more organized. As a result, I am happy to say that I mailed out all of the Mother's Day cards on Tuesday and ordered flowers for Nana (which she got yesterday, along with her card). Mom got her present the other day and we'll give Linda her birdhouse the next time we see her. Woohoo! No regrets or bad feelings that I didn't get something done...

Today was an ok kind of day. It would have been nice if all the kids had been with me at church (Ashley wasn't there). It would have been nice if Tommy had made it a point to be home with all of us. It would have been nice if my kids didn't feel bad that they hadn't gotten me anything because their dad didn't take them to get anything. So, what could have been a nice homage to all the work I've put into my life as a mother turned into another holiday of me wiping tears and saying, "It's ok; I am just happy to spend it with you guys.".

We ended up eating at Longhorn's but not because it's where I wanted to go, but because it was the only place still open. Tommy didn't get home from playing golf until late and I really didn't want to eat at Shoney's or Waffle House in town. Better than nothing, right?

What I don't understand is how a parent can be so oblivious to holidays like this? Did I not sacrifice my body to carry these four beautiful kids and birth them into this world? Doesn't that kind of thing count for something? Anything? And how do you look into the eyes of your kids and not see that it hurts them to know they don't even have a card for their mom on Mother's Day? Seriously, open your eyes. In Hallmark's attempt to make a buck or two, they have resorted to reminding you about holidays like this WEEKS IN ADVANCE!!!! They just don't advertise at the country club.

Slow Down...

So in an effort to make it to the post office before they closed, I hopped in the van and took off towards town. It's just a few miles, 8 to be exact, and I had plenty of time to make it if I hurried. Plus, I had to run and pick up Renee and Garrett for church tonight and then make it back home to get the kids. And even though I'd procrastinated a little bit on leaving for the post office, it wasn't a problem.

Until I crossed the hill on Hwy 107.

Why? Why did I forget that the GSP loves to hang out on the shoulder of the road just beyond the hill, waiting for poor, procrastinating, speeding folk like me? I mean, I was just trying to get my only sister's birthday card in the mail. I was just trying to pick up kids for Weds night church services. Sheesh.

As the officer's car whipped around and turned on the lights, I knew a few things for certain: that I was NOT going to get that card out in time, that I was NOT going to speed on this highway again, and that I WAS furious with myself for waiting until the last possible minute to head out.

Praying that it was an officer friend of ours, I was sorely disappointed when I called Tommy and found out that Dale was with him at the golf course and not driving the GSP car parked behind me with the lights flashing. As I waited for the officer to get to my window, I searched for the insurance card. Where the heck was it? Sure, he could run my tag but I didn't want to be there ANY longer than possible. As I searched through the glove box again, I heard a voice ask, "So where were you going in such a hurry?".

"Well, I was trying to get to the post office before they closed. I needed to mail my sister's birthday card." And then held up the card as if some sort of proof or validation was required.

"I clocked you at 70 mph; the speed limit is 55 mph." I know this; I was trying to get there quickly!!

He walked away, after getting my lame excuse of where my insurance card is and my license, and started scribbling away on his yellow pad of pain to my wallet. I was tempted to call Tommy back and have Dale call this guy to plead me out of this situation. But then I didn't want the ragging I'd get from him about speeding in a known area of speed traps so I sucked it up and decided to handle it myself. I'll just name-drop. :)

As Officer GSP made his way back to the window, he starts to ask me some questions that took me by surprise and totally made me forget about what I wanted to say.

"Your tag says Xxx county but your license is from Kennesaw. Which one is correct?" Thinking about how this could come back to hurt me, I tell the truth and admit my license is wrong.

"How long have you lived here?" Hmmm. This one's tricky. I don't want to incriminate myself but I also want this over and done with. I kept thinking, name-drop, name-drop; crap, what was our friend's name? I snap out of it and tell him the truth: it's been about a year.

"Did you know you only have 60 days to change your address on your license?" Uh, no! I knew I should have changed it but just never got around to it. Should I admit that? Eh, I'll just admit that I didn't know I had a time limit.

In the end, he ticketed me for not changing the address on my license and gave me a warning on the speeding. I was very excited about this until I found out the fine for my ticket was $142.00!!! I was furious! How can failure to update your address turn into $142? Uh, the penalties of procrastination never end.

So, since I'm really going to try and slow down in this crazy world, planning ahead in a better, more organized manner is what I need to focus on. I've had this card for Beth for a couple of weeks; why in the world did I wait until her birthday to send it? *sigh* Live and learn....and sometimes pay.

My old man is an OLD MAN today!

Wow. Tommy is 35 today. How did this get here?? We met when he was 18...18!! And now he's 35.

Linda and Christy came by and spent the night last night since they were on their way back from visiting MeMaw in Jacksonville. We had a good visit from them and they gave him some movies as his gift. Very sweet! Linda went to church with me and the kids. It was a good sermon and she saw Granddaddy and David, too. Long time since they all last saw each other.

We went back to the house to get Christy and went to an awesome diner for lunch afterwards. Of course, Tommy was playing golf so it was just me, the kids, and Linda and Christy. They loved it! It's always the little country diners that have the best Southern food ever!!!!

So we went and got Tommy a cake and some balloons. We bought his bday present the other night after we left Longhorn's so no gift for him. His 32" plasma flatscreen HDTV was plenty gift enough!! He's such a brat...

Happy Birthday honey; looking forward to celebrating your next 35+ birthdays with you!!