The Magic Kingdom

Eva found the best view.

See video below to see this shot in action.

Princess Eva in front of her castle.

Remember when she was my little princess???

El discovered Space Mountain and loved it!

Eva was so excited to see Tiana, her favorite Disney Priness!

And she pooped out by two o'clock! This was day three and she decided she had seen it all! Todd and PaPa were willing (more than willing, almost insistent) to take Eva back to the hotel. The rest of us made it until the pouring rain finally forced us out.

Day Two at Universal Studios

This photo should show how hot is was. Eva is being soaked and doesn't even care!

The girls contemplate getting closer. This fountain talked to you and had the capability to sqirt water in many different ways and distances.

See video below to see what happens when the fountain was asked,

"You wouldn't squirt a Gramdma would you?"

This is the Dr. Suess train. Universal Islands of Adventure has an entire area dedicated to Dr. Suess. Eva LOVED the carousel. She wanted to ride again and again.

This is DeDe's birthday dinner. I was invited... really. (I am taking the picture)

Harry Potter is so cute! ~eva

El in the entrance to Hogsmeade!

Here are a few of our Wizarding World of Harry Potter adventures.

Eva enjoys some Pumpkin Juice.

Here is El with a beer mustache!

Butterbeer that is.

This is an area only a few of us were able to visit. We had to sneak away from the muggles.

El and I had a blast sneaking up the back stairs when we were all alone!

This shot is of the Gryffindor common room.

Orlando Arrival

We all arrived in Orlando safe and sound. Well, all of us except my luggage! Every single thing I had packed for Eva and myself was MIA. So we happily joined the rest of the family for happy hours (no that is not a typo).

Eva and Deidra pose in Bar American.

Next we have dinner with Shrek...

and Scooby Doo!

Luckily my luggage arrived around 3am so I was able to wear clean clothes. I think everyone was happy about that!

Happy Birthday Dad!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PA!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for all the lessons over the years and for continuing those on with the girls. I still remember when you taught me to drive the big International Harvester tractor and I almost left you on the road. Remember, it is "Slowly let off the clutch" and not "Let off the clutch....slowly" :)

Happy Birthday Kathryn!

Wishing my beautiful sister a very HAPPY 29th Birthday!

Wow! Looks like this will be your last one:)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We are off to Orlando to spend some time in a magical place.

As you can see, El (AKA Hermione Granger)is already able to create a moon with her wand.

I am sure I will have many new posts upon our return to Austin.

We will spend two days at the Harry Potter park and one at the Magical Kingdom.

This trip to to celebrate the --th birthday of Gramma DeDe. (I did not get permission to print the age, therefore I went with --)

A Wonderful Day at the Pool.

After a very warm gardening session, I asked Eva if she would like to go for a swim. She said, "YES!!!". The pool was perfect today. It is sunny and 86 degrees with a slight breeze. The water was refreshing (instead of balmy) after a low in the 70's last night. Sadly, we could only stay for about an hour. We have to pick El up and take her to her 11 year old check-up. This includes a shot:(

I have added a video from a few weeks ago of Eva at the pool. She loves to jump in and swim to me. She was real nervous about swimming very far. I kept telling her that she is doing it and just needs to believe in herself. She finally did it and said, "Mom! Now I believe myself!"

Why does this keep happening???

Yesterday!

TODAY!!!

See what I mean?

Love, love, love these girls!

Eva loved pre-school. She had a wonderful time. Here she is playing in the science center. She loved the hermit crabs and the kitchen as well.

~Overheard conversation this morning~

Todd: I am going to school with you today Eva.

Eva: Nooooooooooooo

Todd: Yep, I can't wait to go to preschool!

Eva: No Dad, you are not old enough.

You can only drop a kid off.

You have to be four.

What the heck is going on here?

This was yesterday...

and this is today!

Can someone please tell what is going on here????

Happy Anniversary

This lovely couple has been together 50 years and four days! Had to add the four days since it has taken me that long to get this blog posted. To the best parents a girl could wish for, Happy Anniversary!

Another requested photo shoot

Eva decided to dress up and do another photo shoot.

This time she chose to be a princess bride.

I think her inner model is coming out!

What should we do today?

We're bored. What can we do?

Let's go to Sea World!

One fine day we woke up and decided to go to Sea World. Gramma Pat and Pa bought us season passes so we can go as often as we like!

As we arrived, Eva noticed that the cloud was the shape of a dolphin!

After roasting in the 102 degree weather we took a little dip in the pool.

El and Eva enjoy the shows.

We have another biker in the family.

Eva decided to give her bike another try. She has ridden before, but never really took off. This time she got it and loved it!

It was all joy and happiness until the inevitable... going to quickly for the turn. Yep, she fell over. She was not hurt, but was not real fond of falling.

When El took her first fall, I happened to be right there with camera in hand. So after taking a few shots of her tangled with the bike on the ground, I helped her up. Luckily for Eva, I had already put the camera away. So I ran to help her immediately. Sorry El.

School Days, School days...

Eva starts pre-school on Tuesday. She went to try it out and loved it!

We had to go straight to the store and get her backpack and lunch box!

As you can see she is pretty proud of them.

Look out world... here comes Princess Eva!

Wine on the Wall

We built a wall, and a tradition was born.

We built a wall between our front yard and our neighbors garage. Not because we do not care for them, just so they can drive home and not feel as though they are driving into our living room. Soon after the wall was built we asked Gary and Leslie over for wine on the wall.

Eva thought this was the best event ever! She thought we should have wine on the wall every night! I think Daddy likes that idea too:) This picture is of Gary, Leslie, their grandchild Auralia, DeDe, and Todd.

They girls are settled in for some Juice! (without fermentation)

Buster and Lelly take advantage of the blanket I brought out for the girls.

Eva the mermaid.

p.s. El was present but runs from the camera