Playground Smiles

I love the joy a playground brings to my kids!  So often I don't feel like I have a camera to capture the ordinary times we have each day.  They are always my favorite pictures.

Mason loves his favorite spot in the tunnel.

 Langley adores her special friend 'H' from her class at school/church!  We are going to miss her when we have to move.  Love the fun-times they have when they are together.

Disney Daze

We are so lucky to be so close to the 'greatest place on earth'!  Langley and Mason were so happy to spend  a couple days with Daddy there before he left for deployment.  This was our big hoo-raa before he took off on the ship.  We had a great time!  The weather was perfect and the crowds were minimal.  And the kids were beyond excited.  We stayed in the Magic Kingdom and didn't do anything fancy...just stuck with the basic rides and parades.  :)

 This was Mason's first trip to Disney walking!  He thought he owned the place.  :)

 Langley's favorite is getting to visit with the Princesses!  

 sweet little smile!

 Our moment of fame with Mickey and Minnie!

 It's a Small World!  Love this ride!  

 This is the first time we have gotten to meet Tinkerbell!  Langley loved this.

 Greg's shoulders were getting lots of attention.

 We always stay at the Shades of Green a military resort in the Magic Kingdom.  It is such a great deal and so convenient.  Langley loves the hotel almost as much as Disney World.  

Langley had been talking about the Snow White's Scary Adventure ride a lot since our last visit.  Last time she was too scared to ride.  This time she almost didn't get on again, but we convinced her, because we knew she would regret it!  She was proud!  Although she had to have her blankie during the ride and afterward!  It was very dark and spooky!

The very most exciting thing for Langley this trip was meeting Rapunzel!  She had her own special tower where the kids got to color while they waited.  This was our longest wait and it was only 30 minutes.  Not bad! 

 Langley and I had a movie night once we got home with Tangled.  She definitely has a new love for Rapunzel!

 Another big hit were the race cars!  Definitely recommend these!  We didn't do these at our last visit.  They ride the cars and get their very own driver's license when they are done.  Greg loved it and can't wait to take Mason!

 Mason's moment of fame was getting to meet Donald Duck up close and personal during the Dancin' In the Street Party!  I love dancing in the streets at Disney.  Brings tears to my eyes seeing how excited the kids get.  Langley really got her boogy on this year!

 Daddy is a sucker for candy!!

Such a fun trip!  Langley talks so much about her days at Disney.  Truly unforgettable!  Mason doesn't realize how lucky he is to already be there! :)

Driving Miss Daisy--Jacksonville!

My Aunt Deanna and Grandma "Gi-Gi" drove from Cleveland for a visit with us in Jacksonville!  This doesn't happen every day, so we were very excited to have them!  Langley and Mason had so much fun spending time with them.  We had some birthday cake for Aunt Deanna.  Langley made her a card.

Mason warming up to his Gi-Gi!

Easter Bunny madness!

You can tell who was most excited about Aunt Deanna's birthday cake.

From Gi-Gi...

To Grandma Susan...Mason was in heaven!

We had beautiful weather for the beach!  All our visitors are usually amazed with our 'military housing' accommodations!  We are getting very spoiled here.

Love this one!

What a wonderful, special time!  Thank you so much to Aunt Deanna and Gi-Gi for coming our way!  

Pot O Gold!!

We are always looking to celebrate!  St. Patty's Day seemed to last all week for us!  We were busy wearing green and keeping busy with Greg out to sea on a work-up for his deployment.  

 We had our annual St. Patty's Day 'parade' with our mommy group.  The kids made noise makers and marched the playground!  Just coming back from Disney World I had to prep her that this parade wasn't going to be quite like the ones we saw!  She and her friends were gonna be it!  :)

 Lucky Mason with Langley's St. Patty's Day hat from school.

 I had to make a green pot-o-gold cake--It was meant to be, since I had 2 green cake layers that I had colored wrong from Mason's birthday cake(yellow cake mix+blue food coloring=green!). One mess up made good!  Even had an entire bag of lucky charm marshmallows in our pantry(long story!).   :)

 Part II of St. Patty's Day was visiting the Hands on Children's Museum.  The kids love it here!  And I have a feeling we will be spending some more days here in the hot dog days of summer.  Greg would love Mason's love for the basketball court!  He was begging to go back.

 But we had to make time for some grocery shopping.

 At the post office mailing cards to Daddy!

And it wouldn't be St. Patty's Day without wishing Uncle Todd Happy Birthday!

Mason's Whale of a Time

Christmas arrived and I couldn't believe that Mason was turning ONE! Seemed like he was just swaddled up in my arms! After the holiday craziness settled past, we decided to have a party to celebrate with some friends. It was so much fun, relaxed, and a great time!

Mason loves the water and sand, so we decided to celebrate with whales. 

I loved having something creative to do for a change...gave me a break or a reason not to do the dishes and laundry! :)

 Mason had so much fun with the balloons!  They are one of his most favorite things!

He loved playing in the sand table with his sweet girlfriend.

 He was walking at his party and enjoying his new independance!

 Langley and her friends thought this should be a kitty cat party! 

 The kids colored whales to take home.

Langley was so busy with her cat ears, pig, necklaces, slide...doing so much at once!  That's my girl!  Made my laugh!

Mason was so intrigued by everything going on around him that day!  So exciting!

  We were so happy to have Grandma Susan in town!

 Mason wasn't so sure about everyone gathering around him for cake time!  He was just taking it all in!

 Dig in buddy!!  He preferred licking the icing with his fingers.  :)

 Starting to get into it a little more...

 The cookie was his favorite!

 Such a fun day for our family!

After naptime we got cozy and opened presents. 

Mason was so excited about his new BOY toys!

And of course the paper and bags!

Happy Birthday big boy Mason!  You are so excited to be ONE now!