Football, Sweet Emails, and Back to SCHOOL!

Walker's little football team.

Walker's the only one not wearing his practice shirt. That is not totally surprising.

AND, this is Lainey's sweet, heartfelt email to her dance big sis, Maggie. We are going to miss Maggie so much next year! She's been an awesome role model for Lainey (as well as a fantastic babysitter). Walker likes her, too, which definitely says something about her character. Maggie is off to do awesome things next year at NYU. As excited as we are for her, we will definitely miss her sweet presence in our day-to-day lives!

The night before the first day of school, we went to Mama's Pizza (as is our tradition).

Walker...being uncooperative...

He makes very strange faces sometimes.

We love the candy machine at Mama's.

(I also love the candy machine at Mama's.)

first day cuteness

We are very thankful for Lainey's kind, nurturing heart. 

All smiles!

Walker got the sweetest teacher in all of first grade. Mrs. Snell. She's just wonderful and we are so thankful that he has her as a teacher. I have nothing but respect for our school counselor and Walker's Kindergarten teacher. They know him, inside and out, and they confidently placed him in the best possible class. 

Walker was super happy to have his friend Aadhav in his class!

Lainey and her sweet teacher, Ms. Bishop. Walker didn't want a picture with his teacher. :) 

Soooo....Walker apparently was "sad" the first day of school. :( I think it's because he was tired. You can see in the picture that he was sad that he had to get up out of bed and get clothes on to go to school. I mean, his arms are even crossed. But he's smiling...it seems as though he's sending us a mixed message. (The scribbled out portion of his paper says "I am so tired" in a speech bubble.) 

***

In conclusion, both kids had a solid first day. Lainey loved every minute of it. She loves her two teachers (Ms. Bishop and Mrs. Powers) and after school, she proceeded to tell me every single detail of her day. Walker was not very talkative about his first day...but I didn't expect him to be. It's hard. Going from the laid-back days of summer to full-day school is hard. He's having a hard time getting used to the length of the school day...but that's to be expected. He'll get there. :) I am very proud of both kids and their perseverance, and I'm so thankful for the amazing support and love we've received from our school and the staff. I really am thankful!

Catching up...

An unplanned moment: Lainey and her friend Faith, at dance, the night of the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics... #USA

This is actually from awhile ago. Upon meeting his new football team, Walker did this. :( He is still so slow and anxious to warm up to situations. So, many times, this is his reaction. :( Thankfully he warmed up a bit but knowing him, this may be a tough season.

Walker and his friend Nolan's breakfast out at the lease. Basically, the boys do "whatever they want" at the lease...and that includes having candy or breakfast.

Walker enjoyed fishing for about three minutes. He told me that he didn't like "being patient." I can understand that. 

Lainey, before auditions for the upcoming dance season

This is just a cute screen shot of Lainey hugging one of her best friends, Kaitlyn, at Kaitlyn's sister Camryn's birthday party. Such happiness. Lainey is a hugger. Even if it's just been a couple of hours since she's last seen you. :) I love her spirit. :)

And! Our poor fish Scales died. I think I killed it after I changed the water in its tank. I think I made it too hot. :( Anyway, this was a sad day. Lainey wasn't sad, and neither was Walker. Thankfully they aren't asking for a new fish yet. ;)

our undertaker, preparing to bury the fish

I remember the first day we were given Scales, Lainey asked me if she could hold him/her when he/she died. Well, she did just that when he/she died. 

Princess Scales (a.k.a. Prince Scales, Scales, Scalesy) was laid to rest beneath our shrubs on Sunday, August 14th. He/She lived for approximately 14-15 months. Lainey was the perfect undertaker. She talked to Scales throughout the entire burial process. :) (I did take a video.) So, until we make a headstone, a small stick marks where we buried our fish. Rest in Peace, Scales! I'm sorry that I inadvertently killed you. (Ben is accusing me of premeditated murder because I had just been talking about how it would be nice to have more counter space in my kitchen. But I promise it wasn't. I would not go through the trouble of changing his/her tank just to kill the poor fish!)

Our Disney Cruise, 2016

We recently returned from our fourth Disney Cruise! Needless to say, we had an amazing time, but we missed Kate. She stayed home to attend Cheer Camp for her middle school. We missed you, Kate!

***

Saturday, July 23rd:  Departure from Port Canavarel

A view of the port terminal, just before boarding the ship.

While on the cruise ship, we can all text one another using an app that Disney provides. It's awesome. Walker and Lainey loved texting everyone - especially because they don't get to do it at home. Walker's texts made us all laugh out loud. He would send numerous texts to his family members on a daily basis. He would write very funny, very honest things (like how formal night is "horrible" - a statement to which he later issued a retraction).  

Lainey with Mickey :)

Minnie was so excited about Lainey's jingle bell pen! Lainey brought it for that exact purpose. She knew that the characters would be so excited about her pen.

Stitch is always a huge hit.

I took this picture about 3 minutes after Ben started reading the second Harry Potter book to the kids. Walker was done.

Lainey was, too.

***

Sunday, July 24th - At Sea:

A view of Cuba. Probably the closest to Cuba that we'll ever be. ;)

Walker, just before seeing Finding Dory. Walker said it should have been called Finding Charlie and Jenny (Dory's parents) because Dory was looking for her parents the whole time.

***

Monday, July 25th: Cozumel

on the bus in Cozumel

Brooke and Lainey at the beach in Cozumel

Ridin' on the banana boat! I don't think it was quite as exhilarating as one might have initially thought. :) 

view of the beach from the banana boat

My favorite part of Cozumel was the water park! Our "Beach Break" excursion into Cozumel included private beach access with a connecting water park. It was fun! Walker LOVED the big slide - he went down it again and again. And Walker is usually very cautious when it comes to big slides.

When I showed Walker this picture of himself, he said, "Don't ever delete this picture." Ha!

Ella on the water slide.

Underwater pictures are so fun!

Hey, Fish.

on the bus ride back to the boat

Walker, totally passed out.

***

Tuesday, July 25th: Grand Cayman

Walker wasn't a fan of the salt water. He didn't like the salt water inside, around, or near his mouth. Which made beach days a bit tough for the kid. Before each "beach" day (there were four of them), he requested that we only stay for "one hour." (He originally requested that we only stay about 20 minutes, but we told him that we were going to stay a bit longer than that. And we did. And he survived.) :)

Lainey took this underwater picture of a piece of coral.

Daddy's eyeball

Lainey's picture of her dad

Walker's cute little feet.

the kids and me on the beach

I spy a lizard...

Lainey wanted me to take this picture of her looking at the sand. ;)

And, I will not post the whole story on the blog, but this will forever be known as the day that Ben left his family on the island of Grand Cayman. Which basically led to me toting around a heavy backpack full of beach necessities, a tote bag full of snorkel gear, and two exhausted, hot, and sobbing children who were convinced something happened to their "one and only Daddy." But that's all. No big deal. We were all reunited later. :) 

An ocean all to themselves...

Ben in the background, Lainey and Walker in the foreground

Walker developed a very special bond with Collin on this trip. They spent a lot of time together, and Collin was so patient with Walker. They played Terraria on the iPad and and went to movies and shows and enjoyed hanging out in one another's rooms. Collin even took time to swim with Walker in the pool and at the beach a few times. Thank you, Collin, for being such a kind-hearted cousin. Walker loves you!

***

Wednesday, July 26th: Jamaica 

Lainey and her friend Lauren, a dance friend whose family was on the same cruise! :)

the girls with Lauren's brother Ryan

in Jamaica

Walker got a stingray with his name etched on the bottom.

Lainey was so excited to get her hair braided!

***

Thursday, July 27th: At Sea

We made a stop at the Bippity Boppity Boutique. Lainey chose to be a mermaid version of Ariel. 

Ella was Jasmine!

Lainey was presented with a crown upon her entrance to the Royal Court...a fancy gathering with several princesses.

pretty sunset

Our "drawings" were featured during dinner at Animator's Palate (the name of the restaurant). Yiyia: far left; Ben: guy with long neck; Brooke: floating circle head; Abby: girl with giant smile.

Walker's guy is blue. How stinking cute. I about died. I love it so much.

There it is again. 

(For some reason, Lainey's wasn't featured! Thankfully she didn't seem too bothered by it!)

the credits :)

***

Friday, July 29th: Castaway Cay

Everyone loves Olaf on a beach.

  

Lauren and Lainey

Ha! She doesn't normally stand this way. :)

Collin carrying Walker

the boys with Cally

Minnie! :)

lots of fish

I was determined to find Mickey on this cruise! I missed him last year. But I found him this year.

Ha! This makes me laugh. The water was a bit murky.

This strange white fish loved the shallow water. It would literally swim around your feet, your chair, your body. It wasn't bothered in the least.

Lauren on the ropes course

Ella on the ropes course

After our last dinner on the cruise, Lainey and Ella performed in the talent show. Brooke had choreographed a dance for them!

last night with the characters

***

Saturday, July 30th: Headed home!

We had 7 hours to kill in the Orlando airport before our flight left for Dallas, so we had to find some creative ways to occupy ourselves. Thankfully, the kids held it together really well. We were proud of them.

showing some love for the astronaut

***

And that's a wrap! Can't wait till next year! :) Only 316 days to go.

AND - just for the sake of cuteness - this is Walker, on our first Disney Cruise, in March of 2013.

And here's Lainey. :) I'm pretty sure she was dancing.