Toy Story: Disney on ICE!

Tyler has been kind of obsessed with Buzz for a long time.  His special blanket that he HAS to have for sleep/comfort is a fleece Toy Story throw, and we’ve called it “BB” for “Buzz Blanket” for as long as I can remember.  Caroline has “yaya” and Tyler has “BB” - We go NOWHERE for long periods of time without them.

So when that little envelope of coupons came in the mail a few weeks ago, I quickly browsed through them figuring that they’d all hit the trash pile momentarily.  Then… I saw it…
DISNEY ON ICE!  TOY STORY!!  BUZZ AND WOODY!!!  APRIL 12-15th AT COLONIAL LIFE ARENA!  BUY TICKETS NOW!!!!!!!!!!! 

Why yes, I think I will. 


We purchased our tickets and talked about seeing Buzz and Woody all week, and both Caroline and Tyler were giddy with excitement.  The night before they even went to bed a little earlier than normal… Tomorrow was the BIG DAY!   Even Nathan and I were excited.  This was their first real experience with a “show,” and in major planning mode for Disney World next year, their enjoyment of this event would be telling.

The morning of, everyone rushed to get ready and out the door.  The show started at 10:30, so after a quick breakfast of cinnamon rolls, turkey bacon and pineapple we were on our way.  Caroline held the flyer for the entire ride downtown, and Tyler repeated over and over that we were about to see “Buzz and Wooooooooooody!!”  Finally, we made our way into the arena with elderly people, special-needs adults, wild toddlers, harried parents, and tons of kids decked out head-to-toe in Toy Story paraphernalia.  I almost felt like I was back in time, wading through the masses at a NKOTB concert… if only there were those big buttons. I digress.

Once we arrived and found our seats, we eagerly anticipated the lights dimming.   Both Tyler and Caroline refused to go the bathroom, nor would they take their eyes off the ice, just waiting for something to happen.  When it finally did, OH MY WORD.  Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto took the stage to introduce the main event, and the sheer delight in the kids’ faces was indescribable.  Nathan and I couldn’t take our eyes off of them, both of us trying to take mental pictures of the moment.  Tyler soon migrated to Nathan’s lap and fell into a trance as the Toy Story production began; Caroline, on the other hand, decided she could see best standing in her seat.  Lucky for us, we were in the back row of our section and had tons of room…  close to exits, snacks and restrooms with a great view…  Best $24 ever spent.

(She was really into having her picture with me, can you tell?)

As Nathan put it, “Tyler hasn’t blinked in two hours.” 




Given how well this went over, we’re now super motivated to take a trip to Disney World soon.  Icing on the Disney cake was the show’s finale… MICKEY!  MINNIE!  GOOFY!  DONALD!  PLUTO!!!!!!!!!  Caroline almost had a heart attack.



Sadly, the show coming to an end rendered one really upset little girl.  She pitched such a hissy fit that I should’ve been embarrassed, but I shamefully couldn’t stop laughing.  She thrashed around saying “MINNNNNNNIIEEEEE!  I WANNA SEEEEEEEEEEEEE MINNNNNIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE AGAAAINNNNN!!” and literally everyone in our section gave me one of those “been there done that” looks as they went past us.  We waited it out and told her that we’d see Minnie again soon, but she continued to lose her mind all the way home.  It’s so hard being two, bless her heart.  :)



With that said, we’re currently on lookout for any Disney show within a 100 mile radius.  If you live in the NC/SC/GA and know of some, do share! 

The only problem with no more diapers…

It’s now an appropriate measure to drop drawers anywhere outdoors, as well as the girl pretending she can “point and shoot” just like the boy.

I am in trouble.

Getting my Vitamin-D on.

HA!  Not so much.  I tried to lounge on the back deck while the kids enjoyed some “sprinkles,” but you see how that worked out.

Here’s to even-sunning and kiddos keeping their suits on… ‘cause we’re off to the beach!!  WOOHOO!!

See y’all next week!

Field Trip to the Fire Station

The week of potty-training Tyler, I called it “the week of fun.”  I tried to do something new and exciting for them every day to entice him to continue on his big boy mission, and it worked.  We went to the zoo, Edventure, the train museum, the park, Chick fil A for a few lunches, and to the West Columbia Fire Station.  Both of my kids love to point out fire trucks as we’re riding in the car (along with ambulances, airplanes, 18-wheelers, RVs, and school buses… we obviously don’t do dvd players in there :).  One lucky day when we were eating on the patio at Cook Out with Grammie and Paw Sims, a group of firemen and a group of policemen were dining near us.  They could tell that Tyler and Caroline were really into them, and as they left, each “played” their vehicle for them as they pulled out of the parking lot.  Sirens and lights and men in uniform… oh my! 

Ever since, they love both fire trucks and police cars so intensely that I felt it was only right to join our play group for a trip to the fire station.

(All I carried was my iPhone, so forgive the pic quality.  My kids move way too fast for anything less than a DSLR!)

This nice fella showed us all around the station, through the bunks, kitchen, offices, and finally opened up all the trucks.  Tyler was in heaven.

The poor rookie below put was forced into all that gear for our entertainment, bless his heart. 

When the tour was over, the firemen handed out “junior” hats and coloring books. 

Those thin plastic hats lasted about five minutes once we left, naturally.  :) 

Thanks West Cola Firemen for letting us hang out with you! 

Not Thomas, but close enough!

The day before Easter, Granna and I took Caroline and Tyler to the SC Train Museum just north of Columbia.  Nathan really wanted to go, too, but poor guy didn’t get off work until that morning and could not afford to lose any sleep before his next shift.  Since the Easter “Egg’spress” only ran two days, our options were limited!  We’d been talking about riding the train for weeks, so paired with Granna’s visit, my little ones could barely contain their excitement when the day finally arrived.

It was a short 30 minute drive to Winnsboro, and as soon as our car hit the gravel parking lot the kids screamed “LOOK AT THE TRAIN!!!”  They hit the ground running and could not wait to explore.

First things first, a stop in the gift shop to pick up train necklaces.  Thanks Granna!

They had a few train cars that were set up in museum-fashion… Tyler and Caroline just thought it was fun to climb in and out of them.

After exploring, it was time for our ride.  The conductor called “All aboard!” and Tyler was awestruck.

On the other hand, Caroline was a little unsure.  She was more excited about the M&M’s in Granna’s bag.

And we’re off! 

Not soon after leaving the station, guess who made a surprise visit?

Tyler gave him five, Caroline gave him the cold shoulder…

Once he passed through our cabin, though, they were begging for me to make him come back.  Granna and I told Caroline she needed to be sweet to him next time around, because he might forget to bring her Tinkerbell umbrella if not!

Then it was time…  The big white bunny made his way back through and we all held our breath to see what our little gal would do.

All in the name of Tinkerbell!  Second time was the charm, as far as Caroline was concerned.  :)

The five-mile, one-hour ride through the tiny town of Winnsboro was not so magical, but the wonder written on the faces of my little angels certainly was.  We stepped off the train and back into the gift shop one last time, picking up two post cards and another necklace for Caroline (since she lost hers along the way).  Holding their cards and necklaces all the way to Chick fil A, they wouldn’t stop talking about their adventures on “Thomas” with the Easter Bunny.  I think that’s what’s so fun about this age… everything is amazing.  Everything is magical.  Everything is fun.  It’s hard for it not to rub off.

The difference in girls and boys-

Girls dress themselves “like mommy,” complete with a gaudy diamond necklace, and refuse to stay home with the boys.

Boys don’t care what they’re wearing as long as they’re outside with dad.

I love having one of each.  :)

My Wish

I’ve heard of a blog called “Play at Home Mom,” and it got me thinking… I hope that’s what my kids feel like I am. 

One of my fears is that they’ll see me as the “always cooking and cleaning and no fun” mom, so I try to go out of my way every waking minute of their day to soak in the "little” while they’re this age. 

To make every day FUN. 

To make the time-outs and the discipline the last thing they remember, but something they never forget. 

We never know how much time we have left, and because of that, I don’t want to take any of my days at home with Tyler and Caroline for granted. 

Being silly is ok.

They are the most precious little people I know, and it’s my job to raise them to be the best big people they can be. 

I pray every day that I’m doing ok. 

Big Boy

On Palm Sunday, my little guy decided he was officially done with Mickey Diapers.  Until that day, anytime I suggested he pick up a pair of undies and use the potty he’d simply say, “No.  I wear Mickey diaper.”  I decided to let time do its thing and wait it out, and just like that, one week ago he decided to take his final step out of baby-land.

I’m not trying to gloat, I swear to you, but potty-training my kids was easy.  I think the reason for this is because I let them dictate when they were ready, and since they were in charge of that decision, they basically owned it.  It was either that or the M&M’s, but one can’t be sure.  :)

Just like with Caroline, we made a HUGE deal about his big boy status.  I ooh’ed and aah’ed over him all day, constantly told him how proud I was, let him put stickers all over his “big boy chart” every time he pottied, and as a final nail in the coffin, promised him a Thomas the Train at the end of his journey.  Tyler is OBSESSED with Thomas, so the deal was basically done at that point.

Unlike the first three days while training Caroline, we didn’t carry around the potty everywhere we went...  Instead, we found the nearest tree and let it ride.  I can’t express how much he finds peeing on trees to be all kinds of awesome.  When we’re in a public place and he needs to go, he just stands on the seat of the toilet and points down, but the funniest part about it is that Caroline doesn’t understand why she doesn’t get to go in the same fashion.  So far, I’ve caught her trying to pee on trees in the backyard as well as trying to watch herself pee when sitting on the toilet.  Ha!  In true twin fashion, though, I’ve had to resume praise for her big girl efforts on the potty every time she goes… she wasn’t all that happy about the attention being on Tyler all the time. 

After a full week of wearing big boy undies and having no accidents, we presented his prize yesterday… His beloved Thomas the Train!



He was so excited that he played with it all afternoon and insisted on it going to bed with him.  (While wearing his Thomas pajamas, of course).



Today, I ran out and picked up a few more Thomas things for him, (1) because I’m a sweet mom and (2) because I was sick of washing so much laundry.  He has one pair of Thomas pj’s and one shirt, and he insists on wearing one or the other practically ALL. THE. TIME. 

So, to round out his celebratory week, he can add this to the collection:



(With a Disney princess shirt and Hello Kitty pj’s for my big girl… who can’t be left out, of course :)

Congratulations to my big sweet boy!  We are so proud of you!!

We love “sprinkles”

Every day this month, when the sun is beginning to set but it’s still incredibly warm, Tyler and Caroline tell me matter-of-factly that it’s time to play in the “sprinkles.” 

They strip down to nothing and proceed to turn on the “sprinkles” themselves, only sometimes allowing me to jot upstairs and grab them a bathing suit before they’re soaked from head to toe. 

Before long, the bathing suits have to go.  The sweet innocence of two-year-olds is just precious.

“Tylahhhh! …  Mommy, Tylah taking his pants off!”

“How do I get this thing off?”

“I did it!”

As Nathan, Tyler and I cut grass yesterday in the breezy afternoon sun, I thought about how much fun it is to live in this crazy-hot town.  How many other people enjoy “sprinkles” everyday in the spring?  If only it’d stay just like this until August.