Animal Kingdom - part I

We made two trips to Animal Kingdom.  The first was with Katie and Steve on the evening after we went to Hollywood Studios.  It was a great time to go!  The crowds were low, and the sun was going down.  I didn't get as many pictures as I thought I did.  I guess we were having too much fun!

One of the very first things we did was ride the Dinosaur Ride.  Katie and I took Eli the first time.  He said he liked it, but he had his hands over his ears the whole ride, and I'm pretty sure his eyes were closed  a lot too.  We learned to make good use of the parent/child Ride Swap tickets on this trip, and Eli was able to ride a second time with Wesley.

Next, we headed to "Mountain Everest" (as Eli says).  Again, he said he had fun, but he sure did have a look of terror plastered to his face!

While Katie and Steve were riding Everest, we decided to cool off with some cool treats.  This face pretty much sums up Landon's perspective of this trip.  Nothing was what he thought it'd be.  Not much went his way.

Landon did get to ride a dinosaur ride similar to Dumbo.  We all rode it, and then hit up the dance party right across from it.  The boys and I showed off our hip-shaking with hula hoops.  Katie and Steve stood back and watched and got called out as Mom and Dad!  : )

We attempted to see the Jungle Book show on our way out, but it was standing room only, and we were all too tired, so we called it a day.

Hollywood Studios

Long time, no blog!  I've got lots of blogging to catch up on.  Life has gotten the best of me these past few weeks (urr, months?).  Before I rewind and catch you up on what's kept us so busy, I wanted to start sharing on our Disney vacation!  We are back, and grateful for the amazing time we had.  We're also so thankful we're all safe.  The tragedy in Orlando happened the early morning hours of the day we were leaving, and it hit close to home that we were so close to all of that.

On a much lighter note, let me share with you our Disney trip.  On our first day in the parks, we spent the morning/early afternoon in Hollywood Studios.

The Toy Story ride is always one of our favorites.  Landon wasn't a fan though.  He spent most of the ride with his head buried in my arm and clinging for dear life.  Eli (and the adults) loved it!

Katie and Steve spent the first part of the week with us, and we're so glad they did!  

After the ride, we hopped on over to meet Buzz and Woody.

One of my favorites from the day!

Eli and Landon were supposed to be sharing the autograph book, but Eli was really the one who got into collecting signatures.  I don't think Landon even noticed we had it.

At one point we split up some.  Katie, Steve, and I rode Rock n Roller coaster, while Wesley and the boys caught a show.  Then I took Landon to the Disney Jr. area, while everyone else did the Star Tours attractions.

Landon called Daddy to tell him we were waiting to meet Pluto.

My brave boy!  Pluto was the only character all week that Landon would willingly take a picture with!

Two silly guys!

Next, we all met back together to take Landon to the Disney Jr. show.  He loved it, and Eli (and Katie and Steve) was a good sport for tagging along.

 After that was over, Wesley, Katie, and Steve headed back to Rock N Roller coaster and I took the boys to meet a few more characters.

Eli and Jake (Landon would have no part.)

Landon wanted to take Eli to meet Pluto.

Eli and Doc McStuffins.  The only Disney Jr. character he didn't want to meet was Princess Sophia.  She actually walked by and blew us a kiss and Eli rolled his eyes and with disgust, said, "ugh!"

One of the more impressive things was Darth Vader and Storm Troopers marching through the park.

The boys were terrified of them.  Two of them actually came up to Eli and told him, "Stop.  You do not belong!" and he FLIPPED OUT!  He ran back to Wesley, screaming, with tears streaming down his face.

The boys chose light sabers as their souvenir.  Obviously they weren't too traumatized by the dark side.  Eli had been eyeing the light sabers since we got to the park, and Landon, not being one to be left out, had to have one too.

After leaving Hollywood Studios, we headed back to the room for quiet time and an early dinner before making our way to Animal Kingdom.  I'm so excited (and proud) that Eli can read and write.  I've been wanting him to journal about all of the trips we take for so long, so we started that this trip!

Stay tuned for more on our magical Disney vacation!

Landon's Big Boy Bed

Just before his second birthday, we converted Landon's crib to a toddler bed.

He hates being in baby jail.

It just breaks his heart when you put him down and walk away!

The boys helped Daddy convert the bed.

All smiles now!

Excited about his bed!

The first ten nights are so, you were scared to sleep in your "new" bed, but now you've gotten used to it.  Sometimes you even walk out of your room in the mornings!  What happened to my baby?!

PTA

In January, several kindergarten classes participated in a program at PTA.  Here are some of the one's from Eli's class.

There were three or four adorable songs, about love and MLK.  Students also had speaking parts in small groups.  Eli didn't even tell us he'd be speaking!

To remember the man!

We have since laughed about this and it's become like a family joke.  : )

We're so proud of you, Eli Taff!

Happy Valentine's Day!

These two hunks were too cute not to share!  : )

And this little cutie went behind my back and bought me flowers from his school and even carried them on the bus without spilling or breaking!  I was so surprised!

Daddy was able to catch the tail-end of Landon's Valentine's party at his school.  This boy loves a cheese puff!

We then spent the long weekend in Destin, and Wesley and I went out to dinner at P.F. Changs (YUM) and then saw the Will Smith movie, Concussion.

100th Day of School

Back in January, we celebrated the 100th day of school!  100 days of kindergarten, 100 days smarter!  At Eli's school, it's a huge deal.  EVERYONE dresses up, and there are tons of activities involving the number 100.

Eli had to bring in 100 of something, and after a total Pinterest-fail, we went simple:  100 Hershey kisses.  We numbered the bottoms with stickers, stuck them in a Ziploc bag, and declared the project done!

January 24 we put our Squirmy bug to bed, and on January 25 we woke up Paw Paw to get ready for his 100th day of school!

It's hard to tell, but we put baby powder in his hair to gray it, and Eli borrowed his great-grandfather's cane.

There were lots of laughs that day seeing all his friends (and teacher and principal) dressed like little old ladies and old grandpas!

Eli - 5 1/2

Squirmy, I can't believe you're 5 1/2.  I miss my little boy.  If I could take you to Never, Never Land, I might be tempted to, but I'm so proud of all you've done and the big kid you are becoming.  It's happening so quickly!

Favorite toys/games:  You LOVE board games!  Monopoly Jr. and Sorry are some of your favorites right now.  It's not uncommon for us to play a board game every night.  You also are still really loving sports, especially basketball and soccer.  You tell us you're going to play for Auburn in college, and then go play for the Columbus Lions.  : )  You still like playing anything Ninja Turtles and super heroes too.

Books:  You have really taken off with reading!  I hope you'll always be a reader (like me!).  You're good at it and so motivated to.  You're favorite book right now is, "Go, Dog Go! by P.D. Eastman" (as you say).  You've been taking AR tests for a few weeks now, and have about ten points!

Challenges: You are a pretty easy going kid.  You're rarely a "challenge", but when you are overly tired things become dramatic complicated.

Our Days:  You wake up about 6:20 on school mornings, get dressed, and brush teeth.  You eat breakfast at church school, as you say (we're usually there by 7:05).  You then ride the bus to LPS (and sometimes you eat breakfast there again too).  In the afternoons you ride the bus to Mommy and Daddy's school.  You BEG every day to stay and play with your friends Jackson and Sam.  Daddy usually goes to get Landon and you stay a little later with Mommy.  We try to get out of there by 4, and head home so you can get your homework done.  Here lately we've been going to run at the lake, about two miles, and you run a mile of it with us before getting in the double stroller with Landy.  You're a greater eater (always hungry, in fact) and you help out around the house too.  Lately you've been more into showers than baths.  You especially like to use Daddy's shampoo and then I smell your hair and make a big deal over how much you smell like Daddy.  You like it.  You still love your shows, but you crash HARD every night.  We hardly get through singing and prayers (and sometimes don't) before you're asleep.  You played soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and are playing your fourth season of soccer this spring.  Like Daddy, you love being active!

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's Favorite:  I love seeing how much you are thriving in kindergarten.  You were so nervous about a new teacher and a big, new school, but you've done great!  Everyone there seems to know who you are.  I love seeing how hard you work at all you do, whether it be school or sports, you have such a strong work ethic, and I pray you never lose it.  I also like watching the big brother that you've become.  I was worried about the age difference between you and Landon, but the two of you have become big buddies!
Daddy's Favorite:  Watching you learn to read.  You've gone to only knowing 20 words to reading books in such a short time!

*Really, all the moments are our favorites.  We just love life with you, Eli Taff!

Upcoming Events: Kindergarten graduation (what?!?!), Disney this summer (Landon's first trip!), and lots of beach time planned for this summer.

You bought me flowers from a flower sale your school had around Valentine's Day.  You even brought them on the bus and were so proud when you presented them to me.  I was so surprised!  I hope you never quit wooing your Mommy, even as you grow up and it's not necessarily "cool" or "cute".