The Happiest Place on Earth

One of the benefits of living in Jacksonville, Florida is that we are close to Orlando, Florida the home to Walt Disney World. Savannah is a huge Disney fan since our Christmas Disneyland trip last year with Grandma and Grandpa Jagoda. She loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse and frankly, life around our house would be much different without the influence of the Disney Princesses.

So, we decided to get Disney World season passes. We made our first 2 hour trip there this last weekend and had a blast. Savannah was so pumped. She was featured in the Monster's Inc Show and because she reached the 40" mark was able to go on rides such as the Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain.

Jack meanwhile, was not as enthusiastic. Disney World for him meant a lot of sitting in his stroller. The nice thing about going at Christmas is that they have decorated the park, so it is absolutely beautiful. The lights at night are something else. Here are some pictures from our trip:

Cinderella's castle and our own two Princesses

The castle decorated with Christmas Lights with Jack enjoying every moment

Speaking of Princesses- Savannah met a few!

I guess Minnie should count too (The pose was Minnie's idea)

And not to be outdone by his older sister the Princess, here is our little chubby Prince on the way into the Park

Update on Jack

Well we went in for Jack's appointment and got an update on our healthy baby:)

He is 17lbs. 6oz and 27 1/4 in long. Yep, he is a big baby! He's about the same size as Savannah was when she was 11 months and he's only 4 1/2:0 I have some serious muscles now though.

He is already getting dressed up by his big sister

Now you might be able to see why he is so big. After this happened we decided it was time to put him on cereal and of coarse he loves it.

Halloween Pics

Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks doing Halloween things. I didn't get any pictures of trick or treating, but at least I do have some in their costumes.

This is Dan and I going to his co-workers Halloween party. Doesn't he make a good Phantom!

Savannah & I are making cookies:)

Here we are at a pumpkin patch picking out pumpkins. Actually, we only got Savannah's pumpkin there, they were too much to get every one's there:)

Here's Jack balancing on the pumpkins there.

Here is Ariel and my best attempt at Flounder.

Here are all three, Ariel, Flounder and the handsome Prince Eric

Our van during the ward trunk or treat.

Here is Eric with a sleepy Flounder.

And yes, Flounder is still asleep:)

Some Birthday pics and more

Here are just a few pictures from my birthday and a few extra. I'm just trying to keep up with my camera:)

Here is Savannah helping me blow out my candle in my amazing "B" pancake.

We went miniature golfing for my birthday and Savannah did beat me on a few holes. How embarrassing:)

It did not come with out it's incidents. Savannah kept trying to chase her ball and the fence got in the way:)

Dan carried Jack the whole way in the carrier and still did better then anyone. Maybe it really helped him!

Here's Savannah helping me blow out my candles on this awesome cake that Dan made. It was wonderful. I also realized that even though it's your birthday your kids still open all of the presents and blow out your candles:) Go figure!

Here is Savannah riding a pony at Chik fila. They had free pony rides and pumpkins for the kids. It was a lot of fun.

I know this is a random picture, but these are pants that we bought for Jack, 6-9 months, and they look like bermuda shorts for Savannah. That is our skinny girl and "healthy" boy:)

Pictures and Visitors

Here is just a brief update on some of the things we have been doing lately.

This is Savannah and her friend at the zoo here in Jacksonville. It is a very cute zoo with a great children's area. Lots of things to do here in Jacksonville!

Here Jack fell asleep in his swing with "Pumpkin Bear". He loves to hold on to something while he is going to sleep.

My Dad and Grandparents were able to stop by our house on the way down to their house in southern Florida. Here is Jack with my dad and grandpa.

Here is Savannah and Great Grandma B.

Here is Savannah and Jack sharing some love in the morning.

Family Home in the Evening

We try to take advantage of time in the evenings and on weekends at home to enjoy one another's company. With exception of several months during my first year in graduate school, this is the most that I have been away from home on a consistent basis.

Savannah sure loves her brother! But he is getting big.




PEACE!!

Besides nursing, this is Jack's favorite position in the whole wide world. He loves to be perched on moms arm. He has one of his arms up around mom's neck and the other grasping her arm. And then he just swivels like a sprinkler head, back and forth checking out what's going on around him.

Look how broad chested this kid is; Just like dad (or maybe his clothes are too small)

Jack does not take kindly to "tummy time" although he does a good job keeping his head up. Savannah for some reason loves it when Jack is doing "tummy time" and constantly rolls him from his back to his stomach and in her best mommy voice says, "Jack you haven't done your tummy time yet today." Here you can see the chunkiness of our little Jack. Quite the opposite from Savannah.

OK, I'll admit it I am just like Savannah in the fact that I like to mess with Jack, but tell me those shorts don't look cute on his head. There is no give, like they are pure starch or something.
And yes that is Jack and I participating in a Tea Party (Hot Cocoa for your better parents out there). The attendees are from the left: Savannah, "Baby", "Hippo", "Doggy" and Jack and I. "Dolly" couldn't make it to this one.

Here is a little video of the little guy talking.

Sunny Days!

You would think that in Florida the sun is always shining. That hasn't been the case for a lot of the summer. We had a stretch of weeks where it rained at least once a day and then when Hurricane Faye came through it rained even harder, and the wind blew a little too. Funny thing is that Hannah and Ike, which both passed us by, brought great weather to the state of Florida- well, Jacksonville at least. And so we have been out taking in the sun.

Savannah, an amphibian of sorts, keeps us at the pool whenever possible. She is catching on to the whole swimming thing as you can see here, her swimming all by herself (We'll have to zoom in a little closer next time):

You can't tell by his face, but Jack sort of likes to swim too.

Especially when Savannah helps him stay afloat.

Brittany found out about a Reading Day for kids or some thing at the downtown library. They had all kinds of activities and food and SWAG- the best thing for me was that it was -Free.

They also had face-painting which Savannah really liked. She told the lady that she wanted to be a tiger. She had a blast scaring dad when she got home (dad wasn't able to be there).

And speaking of tigers, well actually a lion. The reason dad was not at the thing at the library is because on some Saturdays he volunteers at a Wildlife Preserve where they have several, very large cats- tigers, lions, cougars, jaguars, and a lynx. I pick up poop, shovel dirt, and clean water tubs. Pretty much my childhood dream. Here I am holding their newest arrival Sarabi. And yes, that is sweat.

Our new Ballerina!

Yeah, Savannah is now in a dance class. She has her first class tomorrow and she is soooooooo excited. On Saturday we registered her and got her ballet shoes, tap shoes and tights and a leotard. She put them on when we got home and danced around the house for at least an hour until we made her take them off to eat. Here are those pictures and a video of her dancing. We'll be sure to send more as she becomes quite the dancer:)

Fun with Uncle Blake

It was so much fun to have my brother here for a week with us. Savannah loved having him here and showing him all of her toys. Here are just a few pictures of our time with him.

Uncle Blake with Jack:)

Blake & Savannah having fun with the Xbox.

Blake & Savannah hitting the waves at the Beach.