Thanksgiving

This was our first big holiday away from our family and I have to say that it couldn't have been better!

First of all, I ran my first 5K! For those of you who know me really well know that I despise running with all that I am. Yet, my friend Rachel was able to convince me that I needed to run the Turkey Trot with her. She actually ran the competitive one, just before my race. I ran with her sister, Kjersti, in the "Fun Run" and it nice to talk with someone while we ran and she helped me keep my pace. Although my time wasn't anything like a real runner, I was pretty proud of myself. I did the race in 35 minutes. I ran my first mile in eight minutes (my fastest time ever) and I ran the first 2.5 miles with out stopping or walking! I have never run more than 1.5 miles at a time and I have always had to walk part of it. I felt really good after the race. I can't say that I like running, but I don't despise it anymore. Ryan and Cannon stayed home this time since I had to be there at 6:30 am and they were both still sleeping when I left.


Kjersti, Rachel, and me



We were invited to spend the rest of the day with the Patricks, a family from church. They have six kids ranging from 4-16 years old. They also invited their friends from Orlando, who have seven kids ranging from 5-17 years old! All together, including Cannon, there were 14 kids! It sounds like a lot, but actually all the kids were so well behaved and had fun playing with each other. They were all so nice to include Cannon and look after him. They have a playground next to their home, so all the kids played there until it was time to eat.

Cannon didn't eat much at all, too much excitement being in a new place I guess. All the kids got a kick out of my rainbow jello. After we ate, we headed for the beach! That's the beauty of living in Florida! They live just one mile from the beach, so you really can just pick up and go. I didn't have a swim suit for Cannon, but he was content just to walk around and play in the sand. I think the water would have been to cold for him anyway. The beach was perfect! Warm and sunny, but not hot. I felt so relaxed. Afterward, we headed back to the Patricks to enjoy some pie. We didn't head home until 8pm.

It was such a relaxing day and we really felt loved and welcomed by the Patricks. We had such a fun day that there was no time to miss our family.



All the kids from oldest to youngest:


Tallest to shortest:

One of Those Days!

Since Ryan left on early Monday morning, things seem to have fallen apart around here! We have been doing pretty well when he is gone, I've started to become used to it by now. But Cannon has just been driving me crazy this week! I usually don't start feeling like this until Friday and then I think only one more day until Ryan comes home.

I'm kinda at the point where I just laugh now because I know things are so not in my control. Cannon has been into everything this week. I was just commenting to someone the other day how nicely Cannon has been playing by himself. But this is the week he has chosen to get into mischief. While I am cleaning up after some mishap, he's doing something else!

Today he drenched his hair, clothes,and carpet in lavender vanilla febreze.  Then I lost my only house key in the grass outside. Oh yeah, and Cannon doesn't have any green flip-flops anymore because he somehow lost them at the church this evening.

Tomorrow we're going to get out the house and burn some of this energy!


This was after he lotioned his face and hair with his dinner.

Hug a Puppy, Walk a Dog

We were invited to attend a birthday party for Kate, a friend of Cannon's. The party was last Saturday in Palmetto, FL. It took us about an hour to get there, but it was fun to get off our "island." The party was at Southeastern Guide dogs and all the dogs and puppies there are in training to be guide dogs. First, we went into a room with our group and they let the puppies loose on us! Oh you could not resist them! After that we got to walk the bigger dogs. Then we had cup cakes and a little party outside. It was a creative idea for a two-year-old party and we had the best time!



I think Ryan was having just as much fun as the kids!



How can you resist these faces?









This one, with the evil face, fell asleep in my lap. He let me cuddle him until my heart's content. I was in baby heaven!



We took Star for a walk. She was quite strong so I let Ryan handle her.





Here's the birthday girl.



Cannon figured out how to make this thing blow.



Ryan had informed me that we were really close to the outlet mall. He fully knew what he was doing when he told me that. Since we were already far from home, we decided to make a day out of it. While on our way to the outlets, Cannon ate his lunch that I had packed for him. Our intent was to do some Christmas shopping, which we did. It ended up that the two things we actually purchases were both for Ryan. He got a new suitcase and a backpack. The backpack he picked out was the exact one I was going to get for him for Christmas anyway. I would have talked him out of it (I like to surprise people), but the price was $30 less at the outlets. I still feel good knowing that I had already picked out the very backpack he would have chosen. I let him use his suitcase now, since he had to go to Houston this week. But I am making him save his backpack until Christmas.

Disney World, again!

Yesterday Cannon and I went Disney World, more specifically, Magic Kingdom. This was a planned trip, but it was pretty effortless. Now that the weather is pretty much perfect, I want to take advantage of my season pass before Cannon turns three.

I decided to leave around nap time so that Cannon could sleep in the car and be rested for our fun. And since we can come back whenever we want, there's no pressure to see and do everything. Our plan was to do some rides and see all of his favorite characters, but not overdo it.

We started the drive at about 11:30, a little earlier than I had planned, but Cannon was geared up and ready to go! He didn't actually fall asleep in the car until about 20 minutes before we got there. But he did great the whole day!

The weather was perfect! 80 degrees, with clouds. When we were on a ride it started to sprinkle a little, but nothing bad. It stayed cloudy and in the 70's for the rest of the day. Not hot, not cold, just right! I couldn't have asked for better weather.

We rode all the trains and train type rides,which I think were his favorite rides. He also really liked the big carousel. Most of the wait times for the rides were 20 minutes or less. Some were only just a few minutes, which was really nice!

Every time you get off a ride, it leads you right to the store that sells the characters that match that ride. For the most part, I was able to get out quickly so that Cannon wouldn't see all the toys. That is until he saw Buzz. He found a stuffed Buzz doll and I could see the joy in his eyes. I looked at the price tag and it was significantly less than the plastic Buzz (only $15). I decided to break my own promise to myself (not to buy any toys for Cannon until Christmas) and give in just this one time. I almost never buy things for Cannon upon his request and he is used to not getting things when we go to the store, but I have to admit that this felt so good. He LOVES this doll and it was so fun to see him so excited about a toy.

He was so excited to show Buzz his Buzz. You can't tell it from any of the pictures, but he was delighted to meet the characters (he is not into smiling for the camera).





Goofy was actually the first one we saw. We were about to get on the Pirates ride, when we saw Pirate Goofy.



Cannon's favorite characters are Goofy, Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and Mickey Mouse. We saw them all except Mickey Mouse (go figure!) I had just about given up hope to seeing Woody when all of a sudden I spied him! We were on the train and it stopped at the Frontierland station. Just before the train was about to go again, I saw Woody and Jessie in a remote spot behind Splash Mountain. We quickly jumped off the train and ran towards them. It was a good thing we did because one of the "cast members" got in line right after us to end the line. We made it just in time! The wait was long, but worth it! I felt bad because we left his Woody in the stroller where it was parked at the Main Street station.







The whole park was decorated in their Christmas theme. In fact, it was the first night of their Christmas event, which requires a separately purchased ticket. The park closed at 7pm, which was fine by us. We were able to do everything we wanted to do and still be home by 9pm.



I have to say that Cinderella's castle was breathtaking in person! I actually went back so that I could get a picture.



This morning Cannon played with his Buzz and Woody dolls. He's been so excited to have them both!