Here are some Disney pictures in no particular order.

My mom and Sinatra. This is Sinatra's very favorite thing at Disney. It even trumps the monorail--that's sayin' a lot if you know anything about Sinatra.



Our accommodations.



This totem pole in "Canada" has a familiar face, Eh?



And Jon and I squeezed in a trip to China by way of Florida.



And of course, the castle.



Here is Sugar and Jon. Notice how bundled up she is. That was our existence for 2 1/2 of the 4 days in the park.



Here she is at our Polynesian dinner.



And here is Jon sporting his duds for the same dinner. He and my dad were singled out for a special honor--holding the limbo bar. First, of course, they had to lead a parade of kids around the restaurant while wearing this beautiful skirt and shaking a maraca.


Us in front of the "golf ball" (Spaceship Earth).



At the back of the train in Magic Kingdom.



That's it for now. I know that I will eventually post more. Just had to get some done tonight.

Okay, I lied. Here are two more--just for Jon's mom. We spent the week of Christmas at their home with Jon's parents and his brother's family.

Disney on Ice--Okay, Just Frost

Disney World is COLD (for Florida). Yesterday we toured around the Disney property inside buses and in enclosed boats. We finally settled at the Fort Wilderness Lodge where we ate and escaped the chilly 47 degrees outside. Today, we're buying coats and hats along with every other person in Orlando. Thankfully, I packed winter coats for all the kids but Gem. She and Jon are the cold ones.

My parents just arrived and are checking in to their resort. We will catch up with them within the next hour and spend the rest of the day at MGM. Yea!!! Nana and Grandpa are here!

I hope to get my laptop out sometime soon, but until then I can't download pictures.

Pray for warmer weather. We're still enjoying it regardless.

Of Wanderings and Wal-Mart

Merry Christmas!!!! Merry Christmas!!! Merry Christmas!!!

After I talked with you last, we converted this mobile bad boy into a sleeping machine and put the kids to bed. The three boys go in the compartment over our heads; Gem goes on the fold down sofa and Sugar goes in her pack-n-play on top of the converted dinette. That leaves the short queen for Jon and me--right? No. I ended up with Sinatra on the pull-out sofa and Jon ended up with Gem in the bed. Gem, honey, that's the last night of luxury for you.

Jon drove with all of us asleep. He pulled into a Wal-Mart parking lot at about 11:30. The rattling and wind-whistling stopped. You could hear a pin drop. Peaceful sleep--well, except for Sinatra's feet in my face.

Now we're up and moving again. We'll reach Jon's parents' in about 45 min. Then we can get showers and eat biscuits and gravy and just lay on the couch, because that's all you can do after you eat Jon's dad's biscuits and gravy--Christmas tradition. I'm sure we'll do presents and all that other stuff too. I'm just partial to the biscuits and gravy part.

Much love and blessings and peace to your homes today. And may you never sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot with a three year old's feet in your face.

Georgia on My Mind

We're in Georgia--I think. Actually, we may have hit Florida by now. We stopped at a gas station to take a dump. This was our first dump for the motorhome and boy was that fun. The connection came loose and **** splattered in an EPA nightmarish situation. Thankfully, my hubby thinks fast and a repeat of the Exxon Valdeez was averted by flipping off the valve. We hosed down the stench and laughed for a while. Thankfully, the propane fill-up wasn't a similar experience.

Then my hubby decided that he would follow in his father's footsteps and get out the bucket of soapy water and wash down the front of the motorhome--and both sides--and the back...and the golf cart on the trailer we're pulling. Yep, we're sparkling clean.

...O'r the Highways We Go

We're spending our Christmas Eve in our home as it hurtles down the road at 70mph. That's right--we're in the motorhome. We spent the last three days packing it up and now we're on I-77 S, heading toward Florida.



A friend let us borrow his air card (thanks, Shon) so we'll be able to keep you updated throughout the trip.

To all you aggressive drivers out there, please, oh, please, don't cut off motorhomes when approaching stoplights; they don't stop on a dime.

The kids are happily playing their DS game systems.



The boys are buckled in at the dinette, but Gem has taken up residence on our bed in the back. She is reading books as she bounces down the road. I gave her the complete works of Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author).

Sweet Sugar

I've been at home alone with the baby all day. So...of course, I had to snap a few shots. Eat you hearts out, Grandmas and Aunts.


Sly little cuteness.



Notice the two teeth on the bottom.



Had a little fun in Photoshop with the last three. A bit too much contrast in this first one, but I love how it really highlights her eyes.



All "Sugars" come complete with halos.



And this shot makes me want to kiss her and snuggle her to me.

Snow

There were angels in our back yard.



Lots of angels.



There was also some of this. Even though this shot is fuzzy, I love the look on the boy's face. He dished it out.



And he got it back.



Little man was contented pulling the sled.



And catching snow.





And I contented myself with taking artsy-fartsy pictures. Because, hey, who doesn't love a tangle of snowy branches...



A pitchfork covered in snow...



And what's left of the grasses covered in snow?

Three Days and Counting

Well, Sinatra has finally arrived: number four is potty trained! Can you see me doing a happy dance!?!!! Congratulate me!!! What a perfect Christmas present. Merry Christmas to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Believe me, it deserves that many exclamation points. Three days, no accidents. Hark, me thinks I hear angels singing. What relief (pun completely intended).

Clean Sweep

Today I am cleaning. I'm not teaching a stitch of school; we're done with that for the year. Often, I can't keep up with my house. It moves too much. It wiggles and skips and rolls down hills. When it does this all the things inside my house, especially toys, fly all over the place. I even find things like Legos in underwear drawers.

So, today I grounded my house--just nailed it down to its foundation, and I'm cleaning from top to bottom. I'm making nice neat piles of Legos, cars, game pieces, Go Fish cards, stray socks, and board books. They are all finding their homes today.

Tomorrow I will untether my house and maybe it will feel like it's all dressed up in Sunday's best and behave itself while I get some other things done.

I don't think that any child let loose for Christmas break could be any happier than I am that break has arrived. Maybe I'll wiggle, skip and roll down hills--nah, 'cause I would have to get the grass stains out.

Timmy Goes!

Yes, we have a potty song. We've sung it so many times that everyone joins in when he has a little triumph. He expects a celebration with presents and candles and cake. This time we only had ice cream. This is one small detriment from having "uped" the anti so many times over the last 7 months. But the party is no big deal to me. Believe me, I feel like celebrating much more than anyone else in the house when he does his business where he should. It was a lovely night for a party! Congratulations, Sinatra (and me).