Pony Rides

FINALLY TODAY WAS THE DAY! After tons of drama Kaitlynn was finally able to ride a pony! A month ago, Travis bribed her with a pony ride if she would read a whole chapter book. (Yes I am a huge fan of bribery!) After much moaning and whining, Kaity finished her book. We looked all over and couldn't find anyplace that would allow our kids to ride their horses. Somehow Travis found pony rides at Fort Wilderness for kids 8 years of age and younger. After much anticipation Saturday arrived. Unfortunately that Saturday our air conditioner went out and I got sick- so no pony rides that day. Kaity was understanding when we promised her that the following Saturday we would take her no matter what. Last Saturday came and after the heat of the day we headed to Fort Wilderness. We arrived at 6:00 and they were closed. They closed at 5:00 even though we were told over the phone that afternoon that they closed at 7:00. Once again, the kids were devastated. Today we weren't taking any chances. We were there by 2:00 and Kaity was so excited I thought that she was going to pass out. Finally it was her turn. She danced over to the step stool where she was informed that she was an inch to tall to ride. WHAT!? They told us over the phone that as long as she was under 80 lbs and 9 years old she could ride. I was so upset I couldn't see straight. After politely asking to speak to the manager and getting the run around, I finally found someone that let me speak to the big man in charge. Long story short both kids got to ride the ponies- and it was free for all our trouble. What an afternoon! Kaity was in heaven. Next time we bribe her with something, we need to make sure it is feasible bribe. A hard learned lesson for us!

A new day...

Yes it happened. Wamu was siezed by the FDIC last night and sold to JPmorgan chase. So far today, all is going smoothly and Travis is remarkably calm about all of it. I on the other hand am still on pins and needles but feeling a little more positive. Chase doesn't have any branches in central Florida so we are hoping that they won't close down Travis' branch.

Thanks for all the calls and support today. My phone is out of battery which means that we are well loved by so many of you. Here's to a haapy future!

WARNING NEGATIVE BLOG POST AHEAD!

I haven't blogged in awhile and Travis was getting on my case about it last night. I tried to explain that I didn't have anything "good" to blog about but what I really meant was that I have only negative things to blog about. I remember my sister posting a few months ago that she was tired of reading blogs that are all about how wonderful every ones lives are going and that she felt like something was wrong with her because her entire life wasn't roses. I decided today to post in her honor because while my life is great and full of blessings, I also struggle with many trials.

With the economy in trouble, I worry constantly about the security of Travis' job. I try to think positively but daily the worries are invading my brain. I thought that it was funny on Saturday night when I went to tuck the kids into bed I found them sleeping in their fort they constructed out of cardboard boxes. I was glad that they woke up thinking that it was great fun to sleep in a box because I have had nightmares where we are living in cardboard boxes under the new freeway up the road. At least if worst comes to worst, I'll remind the children how they used to earn the privilege of sleeping in boxes. :)

This morning I had my routine check up with my endocrinologist and just assumed that everything would be great. To my great disappointment I learned that I have only lost 19 lbs in the past 8 months courtesy of a diet consisting mainly of veggies and chicken and an hour of exercise a day. Too make matters worse, my labs were exactly the same as they were before I made this drastic lifestyle change. After crying in the doctors office for 45min and then 35 more minutes in the parking lot, I drove myself to Subway and ate a sandwich on WHITE bread- oh yeah, and a cookie (oh it was heaven!). When you haven't eaten bread in 8 months it tastes better than chocolate! I am thinking about donating my brand new tennis shoes to the Goodwill and perhaps I will go buy a new wardrobe that consists of spandex. Everyone knows that spandex is a one size fit all type of fabric, so I figure I will always have something to wear as I sit on my couch watching TV and eating toast, and crackers, and pretzels - oh the possibilities are endless!

So this is my negative post. Hopefully I won't have many more of these in the future but I figure this at least makes a very real journal entry.

grownup living room

Okay Aubrey, this post is for you! I am finally getting around to posting pictures so you can see what I was talking about. I finally bought new curtains for my living room/ kitchen, finished my pumpkin patch and then decided that I need some new chairs to complete the look. After 10 years of marriage I finally have a completely put together living space! Maybe in 10 more years I will have a swimming pool and live in a neighborhood that my dad won't tell people is the ghetto! A girl can dream! I was having a great day until about 6:00 this evening. I was sitting at the computer blog stalking all of you, when I started smelling what I thought was burning rubber. I investigated and discovered that our air conditioner was blowing out hot air. Lovely. Isn't that when things always stop working- at night -during a weekend! It wouldn't be such a big deal if it wasn't still 85* outside with 90% humidity and oh yeah, 10:30 at night!! I am melting. What I wouldn't give for some fall temperatures right now!

pumpkin patch

I finally learned how to thread my sewing machine! It's been sitting in the original box for 8 years unused and gathering dust. I saw these cute pumpkins on a blog that Aubrey found while blog stalking :) and decided that I was going to make some. It took several hours of cussing my machine and searching the Internet for an instruction manual, but I managed to change the needle and thread the darn thing and then I was in business! I am quite proud of my accomplishment and I like my pumpkin patch! -If any of you don't like it, that is fine but please keep the negative comments to yourself!;) - Now I am going to sew some pillows to finish off my newly redecorated living room. Seriously, I need a job. This being home alone all day is getting expensive!

Labor Day Weekend

Finally I am getting around to posting about our labor day weekend. We rented a condo near the Disney entrance and spent all three days park hopping, swimming and napping. It was a great weekend. We usually spend the majority of our time at the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, but this weekend we broadened our horizons. We spent a huge chunk of time at Hollywood studios. Now that Brayden has grown tall enough for most of the good rides, this park is a whole new adventure for us. He loves to ride the tower of terror and star wars, while Kaitlynn is now a huge fan of upside down roller coasters. I am trying to find a pair of platform shoes for Brayden so he can hit that last ride. They also have a new ride called Toy story Mania. It is really fun and a REALLY long wait! We waited in line for the park to open two different days and raced everyone to the ride entrance to wait in line for another 20 minutes to get fast pass tickets. After about 45 minutes they were all out of fast passes for the whole day. Fun ride but so not worth the 110 minute wait time! If anyone wants to come visit, I would suggest coming in October- less crowded and not so hot!! All in all a good weekend.