Leaving...on a jet plane!...

I am writing this mostly for journaling purposes, but if you care to read... :)

Can't believe it is finally here. We are all super excited to take a vacation like this. We have never done anything like this with the kids, nor did we ever think we would. I always said I would NEVER take my kids to Disney.

Why? One, because they don't have TV or tons of friends who have gone, so the desire wasn't there. They get excited when we take them to Lake Placid or Albany for the night and the hotel has a pool... and Two? STINKIN' EXPENSIVE! We always said that if we were going to spend the money it would be on a missions trip. Aparently, the LORD thought we needed this because it wasn't in our planning.

Growing up some of my BEST family memories were our vacations. My dad always made sure we got away. Guess where we went one year? FL. Oh, and Disney. I remember it like it was yesterday. So. Much. Fun.

We have been blessed! Over and over with regards to this trip. This really ISN'T something we ever thought we would do, but the LORD (and I am not sure why. I guess because He is so much bigger than I even can imagine and have trouble thinking He would care to bless us in this way. What a dumb thought.) ... but He decided to bless us in this way and worked it all out.

As I sat with a friend who had just taken a trip there she explained the "ins and outs" to me I could feel myself getting more and more excited. The kids sat around the computer the other day watching videos of the parks (Disney and Sea World) and I have to say, I haven't seen even Dallas that excited in a long time. I was getting teary-eyed thinking about it and watching their excitement. I know, I'm a dork.

I am nervous, I have to admit. I am a Speculator girl. This is my comfort zone. Going to PA is a stretch. I make myself do it. I am not scared of flying, just nervous at the thought of doing something none of us ever do. Fortunately, the kids are just plain excited so I just am going to sit back and enjoy watching them have fun!

I also HATE the heat. With a passion. It makes me draggy. I prayed for weather in the 60's and sunny. Guess what? THAT IS THE FORECAST!!!! Matter of fact, all three days in the parks are low 60's and sunny. HEHA!

We are also blessed to not only stay with our good friends in FL but to have our friend Daryl who we miss like crazy come and spend the week with us. She is going to the parks with us and just hanging out.

So...we will have lots of pictures when we return. Lots to tell. If anyone DOES read this (I only have like 10 people who can even get onto this blog!) pray for my eye please. It is really bothering me and PRAY for patience. I have a girly that canNOT control herself when excited. I know it is coming though, so I have already been praying. :)

Well...

Lots going on here. Counting down the days until we leave for FL! I don't even care how hot/cold it is there. We are going away! Haven't done a vacation like this with the kids, EVER. Such a blessing.

Meanwhile...
We are spending as much time as possible with very close friends of ours who are leaving as soon as we return from FL. They live at our house (almost!) and are such a part of our family that it will be super hard to see them off. We know that they are doing what they feel God wants them to do, but we are still gonna miss them!

Dallas and Michael finished their b-ball season. Now I have my hubby and two older boys home by 3:30 each day. We just invested in really nice hockey skates for all so now the last few days have been spent playing hockey with their dad and friends at the town rink. Although the skates were expensive, we are learning that some things are worth investing in JUST so we can do something with our kids that they love (it helps that we actually love it too). So much more to say about this, but...another time.

Dallas finished the season with 130 points!



Michael did great in b-ball too for his first year. He had several baskets! He continues to "wow" us with his beautiful photos. Here are a few samples:


Ethan continues to want to do whatEVER his brothers are doing. He has been skating too. He and Sabrina are taking ski lessons through the town and doing great. They can both ski independently and Ethan was skiing down the big trails even last year. It will be so fun to all ski together. Sabrina is almost there.

I just started Ethan in 1st grade Math. It looks like that is what he was already doing so we are doing some jumping to figure out where he should be. He is so easy to teach. He is reading everything he can...including things that are just laying on the table....papers, bills, etc. So funny.

Here is a sample of him playing something on the piano. He is so cute.