Lads to Leaders

This was Austin's first year to participate in Lads to Leaders in Orlando. Kiera, David, and Tyler used it as an excuse to come see us!!! We had so much fun. We got adjoining rooms at the hotel, so we were able to be together all the time. The kids had fun hanging out together. I just wish the Keens lived closer so the kids could be together more! We'll just have to plan a lot of trips to make sure they are close!

On Friday, Austin competed in Bible Reading. He was so adorable! Everyone kept commenting on how confident he was up there. Since he is a first grader, he wasn't judged in any of the categories (that doesn't start until 3rd grade). I was very proud of him! After his competition, we came back to the room and changed to go eat at Don Paublos, ice cream and then go to the Friday awards ceremony. We didn't make it all the way until the end...the kids were tired so we headed on up to the room.

Saturday, Austin was able to lead his song. He sang "Jesus Loves Me" (number 1014 in the song book...just ask him...he wouldn't say the title...he only wanted to say the number). He stood up there proud with one hand in his pocket and the other leading the song. He was precious. Very few of the kids actually attempting "leading" the song (instead they just sang it), so he was one of the stars!

We spent the rest of the afternoon going around to the other events to support Savannah and Hannah. We went to dinner at Bahama Breeze for dinner. It was delicious and a lot of fun! David's birthday was on Sunday so we celebrated it that night. I love my family!!

Saturday night was another Awards ceremony. Austin got to go up on stage with the K-2 participants. He was very excited, but disappointed that he didn't get a trophy. David decided to sneak him out early and take him to the pool. They had a good time while we supported the rest of our group at the cermony. We headed back to the room after the ceremony to hang out and talk and get all the kisses we could from Tyler!

We left early on Sunday morning to head home. It was a good ride home. The kids slept all but 2 hours of the way home. I have to say that this weekend has been WONDERFUL!!!!

Orlando Trip: Day Two

We decided to sleep in a little on Thursday because we were wiped out from Sea World. We were up and headed to Magic Kingdom around 10:00. We pulled up to the parking ticket booth and were informed that the park was full to capacity. WHAT?? It really threw us all off...we pulled off the road to decide where to go. After a little debate, we decided to go to Hollywood Studios in Disney. We were a little disappointed because we were looking forward to the rides at Magic Kingdom, but what do you do?

When we first got there, we rode in the Star Wars simulator while Nana and D took Madi and Tyler to see the Playhouse Disney section. Austin was giddy coming off the ride. He was so excited! Then we had lunch (which we got for 1/2 price because the other park was full...that was a nice perk!).

One of our biggest concerns was that we had told Madi that we were going to see Ariel (her absolute favorite Disney princess). We were thrilled to find out that they had "The Little Mermaid" show. It was super cute...even Tyler liked it!

While the girls plus Tyler were visiting Ariel...David, Austin, and D went to see the "Indian Jones Stunt Spectacular" show. I think the "big boys" were more into it than Austin was.

The Beauty and the Beast show was the most awesome because it was successful at putting Tyler and Madi to sleep for a little cat nap (which was much needed!). During the show, Nana took Austin to play in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!".

Then for the big ride at Hollywood Studios the "TOWER OF TERROR"!!!! Nana, me, Kiera, and Austin all rode the ride. We were so nervous. David told Austin to not scream like a girl (because David himself didn't want to ride!), Thanks to the Fast Pass and Kiera...we didn't have to wait in line that long. It was a fun ride. We were either screaming or laughing through the whole thing. Austin got off the ride and said, "I'm going to tell David that I screamed like a BOY!"

We decided around 8:00 that we were hungry and ready to head back. We decided to go to Red Lobster where we waited to be seated for an hour and a half and didn't get out food until 10:00...we were starving! It was a great day!! We all headed back to the hotel and promptly went to bed!

Orlando Trip: Day One

sea world

What a fun week we had!!! We got up early on Wednesday and headed to Orlando. The kids did great; the only glitch was that the fuse kept blowing which controlled the DVD players so a little extra child entertainment was needed. Nana was gracious enough to read books to the kids (because I can't read in the car). Their favorite was a scary book which she concluded by telling them about her haunted house experience (where she knocked Brittany down to get out of the house!). They thought it was hilarious! But we finally made it around 11:00. We drove straight to Sea World. The weather was gorgeous and the park was crowded. It was fun watching the dolphins and touching the stingrays.

We didn't get to ride many rides because the lines were so long, but Nana rode on one roller coaster with Austin and that seemed to be enough to suffice him.

We did get to make a few shows. We saw Alure' Call of the Ocean. It was a really cool show where there was lots of tumbling and acrobatics...so much to watch at once.

Before the show started, it got dark and Madi kept asking, "Scary?"

I told her that it wasn't a scary show...but she wasn't convinced.

Again she asked, "Scary? I fall and get a boo-boo."

"Madi, why would you get a boo-boo if it was scary?"

Madi replied, pointing at Nana, "She push me down!" (from the story earlier in the car).

It was hilarious! She also decided that D should now be called Glenn and basically called him that the whole day (luckily, she's moved on from that!)

Austin loved the Shamu Believe show. He and D sat in the splash zone while the rest of us went higher to stay dry. We left the park around 8:30 to head to the hotel where we met up with Kiera, David, and Tyler. What a fun day full of fun memories!!

SpRiNg BrEaK!!!!

We headed to North Carolina with Nana for our Spring Break vacation. We were dying to see Tyler (and Kiera and David!). When we got there Kiera had a "Book of Fun" she created full of activities for us to do each day so that we wouldn't be bored. It was so thoughtful and so much fun!!
ScHeDuLe of EvEnTs:
We arrived late Saturday afternoon. After 12 hours of driving we were ready to get out of the van. David was remodeling the kitchen so there were lots of projects going on. We decided to just hang out at the house and order pizza. On Sunday, David put Austin on a "job" of drawing lines on the floor. Austin took it very seriously and although the lines were crooked he said, "they may be crooked, but that is one good line." He loves helping David. Nana got lots of snuggle time after baths with Tyler and Madi.

MoNdAy
We got up on Monday and took the kids to Olan Mills for pictures. They turned out cute, but Madi wouldn't smile for the group photos. She was cooperative, but apparently the photographer wasn't that funny to her! The reward for taking pictures was a fishing trip to the pond. We picked up Elliot (our NC friend!!) to go with us. The weather was beautiful and we just layed out by the pond while Elliot and Austin fished (although more laughing and rock throwing was going on than fishing). We had dinner that night at the Trinh's and the kids played a little more. Millie is in the picture with Madi...they're buds!













TuEsDaY
Tuesday plans were changed because it started to rain. We spent most of the day with Kiera. We went to Krispy Kreme in the morning and watched them make donuts (and of course we had to eat a few!). We then went to the book store and then to McDonalds for lunch and ice cream. It was a relaxing day!









WeDnEsDaY
Wednesday was the day the kids had the most fun! Nana and I loaded up the kids and headed to the Greensboro Children's Museum. There was room after room for the kids to play and explore in. They had a doctor/dentist room where the kids could dress up and play. Austin had a lot of fun playing with Nana and Tyler. Madi's favorite rooms were the grocery store and the house that was just her size. She played and played and filled her shopping cart with apples. Tyler had fun watching all the action taking place. After the museum we left (in the pouring rain) and headed back home. That night we went to church and came back to the Keen house to hang.

ThUrSdAy
We ran errands and had lunch at a yummy Mexican restaurant. That night we Skyped D who was missing the grandkids.

We got up early Friday and headed back to Florida. We had so much fun! Thank you Kiera and David for putting up with us and letting us invade your life for a week! And I must say that I have the CUTEST nephew in the entire world and Aunt Mimi misses him terribly already!!!

I NOT A BOY!!!

On one of our excursions with Tyler, Mom was talking to Tyler telling him what a good boy he was. Madi caught the end of the conversation...

Nana to Tyler: "You're such a good boy!!"
(Madi enter assuming as usual that she is the center of every conversation)
Madi: "Nana!"
Nana still cooing to Tyler doesn't hear Madi's plea for attention.
Madi: "NANA!!"
Nana: "Yes, Madi"
Madi: "Nana, I not a boy...I a PRINCESS!!"

Now this might be typical for a little girl who is obsessed with Disney princesses, but Madi isn't. It was just out of the clear blue sky! And I will have to agree...in my eyes she IS a princess!

They Just Disappeared!

Ok...first of all, I don't think I can do this story justice. It was one of those "you just had to be there" stories, but I'll give it a shot. It is too cute to pass up.

Let me preface the story by telling you that lately, Austin tells everyone who asks that he is seven-with a straight face when in fact he is only six. So, we have been working on telling the whole truth and not making stuff up.
I was having my nightly talk with Austin about how his day was and asked him how he did on his spelling test. He said that he made a "N." He has NEVER made a "N" and I was a little confused because we studied the words and he spelled them all correctly for me, so I asked him to get his papers for me. As he was walking to get his bag, he decided that he might want to clarify his story and he told me that he wrote the answers, but they just disappeared. All of the adults looked at each other and were trying to explain to Austin that the words don't just disappear. He was very adamant that he wrote the words and now they are not there. Below you will see the "N" paper with the "disappearing words."


I was so lost...I made Austin go get a sheet of paper and I called out the words to him. And he spelled them all correctly. Ok...this was making NO sense! I just figured maybe he wasn't paying attention while she was calling out the words, but once again...he said that he was listening and wrote the words...they just disappeared!
In my bewilderment, I glanced at his paper one more time and noticed the name on the paper.


Aaron??? If I remember correctly, my son's name is Austin. I busted out laughing and showed Austin. He said, "I knew I wrote the words, but when I got my paper back...they disappeared."
He wasn't telling a story after all!! It was so funny!!

Boo-Boo Bandaids!

Madilyn is growing up so fast!! She is a doll. She now sleeps in a toddler bed (we are still working on her staying there all night), is almost fully potty trained (YEAH!!! I didn't ever think it would happen), talks up a storm in full complete sentences (and we thought Austin was a talker! Madi has him beat!), and most importantly she is obsessed with bandaids. She is the complete opposite of Austin when it comes to bandaids. Austin would do anything to avoid me putting a bandaid on him. Madi, on the other hand, creates imaginary boo-boos that she feels call for the need of a bandaid. At the slightest ouchie she runs to find me, "Mommy, fiss (kiss) it. I need a bandaid!"

So we now have this brilliant idea that bandaids are going to be Madi's new reward system. She potties...she gets a bandaid, she stays in her bed all night...she gets a bandaid. Hey, whatever works, right?? Although it may need some explanation to strangers that see a 2 year old covered in bandaids!