Orlando- Days 1, 2, 3

Monday morning we headed to the Jackson airport for our flight to Orlando. It was Mary Ella's first time to fly, so we tried to let her run off some energy before we boarded the plane.

Cute smile, crazy hair

Right before take-off

Sticker fun on the plane

She did really well but got fussy as we were landing. I think her ears may have been hurting.

We were bombarded with Disney at the Orlando airport. ME got so excited when she saw this Snow White statue! She was kicking and bouncing up and down in her stroller.

Lovin' her some Mickey!

Before we made it to our hotel room, ME had been on all types of public transportation: airplane, airport tram, bus to the rental car, and a lovely rented carseat. I kept thinking, "She's going to get sick, she's going to be sick before this trip is over." But more about that later...

We grabbed lunch on the go and checked into our hotel. We rested up before dinner, and had a nice night on the patio at Bahama Breeze. ME loved the man playing the steel drums. We had WONDERFUL weather while we were there and ate outside almost every meal.

Tuesday Brad's meeting started, so we were on our own. I managed to get us across town and back in the rental car. We found a fabulous outlet mall and had a yummy lunch outside at an Italian restaurant. ME racked up for spring at Baby Gap! That night we had dinner at Cuba Libre. Brad and Lynn, Brad's boss, shared a Cuban feast. Very interesting!

ME entertaining Lynn at dinner

Wednesday morning we hit the pool! It was heated and felt wonderful! ME still remembered her swimming moves from last summer. She is a little fish! She went under with no problems and jumped in to me from the side of the pool. This summer is going to be a blast!

She loved riding the elevator...probably as much as any ride at Disney!

Sun bathing with Mommy- love that she is a pool baby!

I couldn't get enough of her in her new yellow bathing suit!

Palm tree and a cute booty

Ready to go!

We were ready for a break just as Daddy had his lunch break. So we ate outside on the patio!

Wednesday after Brad got out of his meetings, we drove to Downtown Disney to walk around, shop, and eat.

Psyching her up to meet the real princesses...she looks excited doesn't she?

She can now spot a carousel from a mile away.

Daisy!

Donald!

Dinner at the Rainforest Cafe

The night was nice and pretty uneventful until we got on the wrong ferry boat. We just wanted to go across the water to get closer to where we parked, but the boat kept going. And going. And going. In the swamp. I think it was headed to the farthest possible point of the resort. Luckily, it finally stopped, and we got on a boat headed back to Downtown Disney. It is crazy how big that place is! We got to see a variety of places to stay. Regular hotels, treehouse villas, plantation places, they have a little bit of everything. We finally made it back. It's a good thing it was a nice night for a boat ride! And Mary Ella was cooperative.

Moving Days

Thursday was moving day! Shelley was so nice to keep Mary Ella while the movers unloaded. To see what ME and Emma were up to that moring click here.

By the time little miss showed up, they were almost done! And by the afternoon Joe, Rita, and Randy were here and ready to help unpack! ME really enjoyed having everyone around. She showed out all weekend!

By the end of day one we had most of the kitchen unpacked and furniture arranged.

End of Day 2- still feeling good. We had the kitchen done, surround sound working, and hot tub installed.

End of Day 3- feeling tired. BUT lots of progress made. ALL furniture arranged, ALL boxes unpacked, ME's room done, dining room finished, garage arranged, TVs installed and working, internet and phone set-up, ME's chandelier hung, furniture dusted, floors swept.

We took a break to have a yummy supper at Hamil's. And I can't speak of all the progress without thanking the folks that made it happen. Randy worked nonstop on all things electrical and handy jobs. Joe unpacked more boxes than anyone and single-handedly arranged the garage. Rita did a little of it all- unpacked, put up, cleaned. We were all on our feet way more than usual! And we are pooped! We said goodbye this morning to Gigi, Papa, and Ranjo. Thank y'all so much, and I promise the next time you come down I won't make you do a thing but play with Mary Ella!

First Sunday in our new home!

We still have a long way to go and stuff piled in the unfinished rooms. But it's so helpful to have everything out and staring at me...I think it will get done faster that way. Today I finished our room, bathroom, closet, and did laundry. I'd say it's been a very productive few days!

#4

We are homeowners! For the 4th time! Four houses with four apartments in between equals three moves across statelines in less than eight years of marriage. Whew! It went something like this: Arkansas-Mississippi-Arkansas-Mississippi. Makes me tired just thinking about it! Moving is alot of work, but getting everything settled and in its place is my favorite part! We love our new home, and it has some history. The neighborhood is just across the street from our old neighborhood. It is a newer subdivision, and when houses started being built I drove through often to check it out. Brad and I made a hobby out of looking at open houses when we lived in Madison before. It's not that we were unhappy in our home, we just liked looking and getting ideas and dreaming bigger for the future. So, I first visited this house in 2007 right after it was built. I fell in love with it! And with the builder. He has such good taste, kind of like me, ha! Anyway, he kept building in the neighborhood, so I would drive through and try to get in to see his houses, but sometimes they would sell before they were finished. He is very popular! I knew one day I wanted to either buy one of his homes or have him build for us. So, I always remembered this house as my first introduction to Ken Crusoe. And when we found out we were moving, I was thrilled to find it on the market! I tried not to get my hopes up, because so much could have gone wrong. But I secretly imagined us moving in here all along to psyche myself up about the move. Now I feel so blessed to call it our home!!! God has truly taken care of us each time we have taken a leap of faith. He has blessed us with wonderful church homes, Christian friends, amazing jobs, one very fine little munchkin, and beautiful homes. Can't wait to make it home-y!

Mary Ella checking out her new room!

And her very own bathroom!

And her new closet!

Silly girl

She is loving running through the empty house like a wild woman! Tonight we got some help from friends with moving our stuff out of the apartment. Tomorrow ME and I will probably spend the day at the house unpacking that stuff and trying to figure out furniture arrangement before the movers come on Thursday. So excited!

I am sad to say I cannot end this post on a happy note. My heart is breaking for some very dear friends of ours that lost their baby at almost 14 weeks pregnant. I don't know if I should mention names, but please say a prayer right NOW. God knows who you are talking about.

Zoo Date

Today we met Shelley, Jack, Emma, Rebecca, Cullen, and some new friends at the Jackson Zoo for a playdate. It is seriously like spring has sprung here. I hate to say it because it might get cold again, but the weather has been gorgeous. All the animals were out to play!

Up close and personal with the tiger

Look!

Bff's, Mary Ella and Emma

The bears got so close too!

Loved the sea otters!

Sweet Emma

She thinks she is as big as Jack!

Cullen is so sweet to ME!

Turtles!

Jack, Shelley, and Emma

She loves the carousel!

Rebecca and Cullen

This monkey was sitting pretty.

And this peacock was just roaming the zoo. Fun day!