Cruise day 2

Day 2 {Sunday} was a day at sea.  Aizy really loved the jacuzzi in the private area that MaryAnn and Amanda had access to. They let us in and boy are we glad! The kiddie pool was pretty chilly and in the shade. The jacuzzi wasn't as warm as you'd think but it was about perfect for a sunny, windy day.

Aizy and Paul loved the all day buffet and ice cream cones. On our way home, we asked her what she wanted to eat in the airport and she said "ice cream." Haha

There was dance time with Dora and although I didnt get a picture of Dora, Aizy was thoroughly enjoying seeing Dora and singing the songs from the show.  She didn't dance as much as she did at the Sail Away party but she was very excited when they sang "We did it!"

Pretty sunset from our balcony...

Late night walk around the ship with late night ice cream {and she has her Dora backpack on.}

Cruise day 1

After we rushed out of the hotel, we got on the shuttle to the port. We were there very early so there was some waiting. Maryann and Amanda's family had nice suites so they got to wait in a private area and got to get on board early. Luckily we snuck in with them haha who knows how long we would have had to entertain Aizy!

Once we were on the ship, we had to walk around and explore because our room wasn't ready.

Aizy really wanted to swim but we didn't have our luggage yet.. We hit up the buffet. 

Once we could get to our room, we gave Aizy a nap. It was kind of a hard to do because we are all in one room. Luckily, we had a balcony  so Paul and I sat out there once she was asleep. So beautiful! 

When we had our luggage we got Aizy in her suit and went to the kiddie pool. 

Then we went to the sail away party because Dora and Diego were there! Aizy ran right up to Dora haha but had to be moved so they could do their dance. Aizy and Chloe danced for soo long! 

Aizys dancing is bouncing. And she bounced so much, her calves were sore the next morning!!! She said "my leg hurts! Don't touch it". When I asked where she pointed to her calves haha poor girl. 

Cruise- traveling with Aizy

We went on a cruise last week with Paul's parents and Chris & Amandas family. We left here Friday morning and drove down to Salt Lake. Our flight was a late afternoon one and we didn't get to Florida until 11:30 their time. We didn't get to the hotel until almost 1!! Poor Aizy didn't nap and then was in bed sooo late. But she really did great. We used most of the things I brought for her to play with on the plane, DVD player too, but there were no meltdowns. 

{it did get to the point where she was running away a lot, so she did get the leash in the Dallas airport. Which, by the way, has a play area for kids in each wing!!}

Poor baby fell asleep while the tv was on and slept through almost every sound possible in a hotel room! She woke up the next morning to Maryann knocking on the door saying we needed to get on the shuttle right away! 

Week without Daddy

Plant Therapy donates to African Heartwood Project, which is Chris's brother, Andy's, charity in Liberia. So Paul, Chris and Andy went. He has been gone for 6 nights and he gets home tomorrow. Woo hoo!

They got to see the villages where the wells are being built that are paid for by Plant Therapy. They also went to see the spot for the new orphanage. Andy got 10 acres of ocean front property for the new orphanage. It's beautiful! They got to swim in the South Atlantic Ocean twice. 

I haven't gotten any pictures from Paul but we have been texting and he has called twice a day. Aizy didn't understand why she can't see Paul (no FaceTime in Africa) haha poor girl. Chris sent Amanda pictures that she shared with me. 

Paul said it's a very shocking way of life  there. No running water and the only power is from generators. The average monthly income is $100. Some of the kids were scared of the white men :) 

Since Paul was gone, I planned lots of play dates to keep us busy! We stayed at Amanda's house twice because Amanda and I both do not like being alone at night! We went swimming twice, played with Christian twice, went to Sam and Vaughn's, and played with Abi and Mollie. All so I wasn't going out of my mind!!

Even though it's January, it was in the high forties the first few days Paul was gone, so we did some jumping! Aizy loves jumping. 

Paul has been in like 99' weather and this ^ is what he is coming home to! It's been very foggy and lots of frost. And bone chilling cold the past couple of days. 

Because I am a naughty mom, Aizy and I had some naughty treats a couple of times. Donuts and ice cream, of course! 

These two are cute and like each other so much, most of the time haha. 

It's a new year!!

We did the Stanger Christmas morning on New Year's Day, due to the sicknesses that had been going around. We were so very lucky to have not gotten it!!

 After a late breakfast and present opening, we went to the Anderson's to hang out and for lunch. 

Maryann was getting rid of her little play kitchen, and everyone else has one so we were lucky enough to get it! Aizy loves it. It's super cute. 

There hasn't been a whole lot going on. Aizy did throw up one night at 1 am. I was afraid she was sick but nothing else ever happened. *whew!* 

We have had my old dollhouse for a long time but while we were in Boise this weekend, I went through old Barbie stuff and came home with furniture and dolls. She isn't too in to them but she will eventually. Right now she just puts them all to sleep, on the couch, cuz she can't reach the bed haha. 

Christmas 2013

This year was Christmas at my family's house. I went up Monday before and Paul came Christmas Eve. Brittney and Steele flew in Monday night. 

We had the traditional snacky dinner on Christmas Eve. Paul wasn't full 😁 and then Christmas brunch at my aunt and uncle's house after all the presents were opened. It was nice to just hang out and relax. 

{Christmas Day picture. I remembered a little late.}

It's a good thing Christmas was my side because Paul's side all got sick! They got the swine flu 👎 it was the Christmas of the sick people. They postponed Christmas until New Year's Eve and day. 

We went there New Year's Eve and had a good dinner. The girls played phase 10 while the guys watched a football game. We also opened out socks from the Andersons and the book MaryAnn makes every year. 

Winter

Paul's new job plus the snow and cold weather, have allowed Paul to be inside and spend a little more time with him. While I went to cookie day this year, he took Aizy and ran some errands. They came home with this: 

Paul said he always wanted a huge animal so he got one for her. She loves it :) she named it Hallie, after her babysitter. (Hallie bear-y haha) 

We went to the Rock Creek store to see the lights that used to be in the South Hills. Aizy was excited to feed the camel. She wasn't apprehensive at all! 

I bought a gingerbread man kit at Walmart and we decorated them as a family this week. Aizy did a pretty good job of spreading that frosting all over. And on her hair. 

We took Aizy to a movie yesterday (frozen). We had heard it was really cute and since it was done kind of like a musical, we thought all the singing would keep her entertained.  It was a super cute show and I loved the music. It was almost 2 hours and she had to go potty twice and be taken out twice. And then there was a trip to the front of the theater on her own. Luckily we were in the back so we weren't too distracting. We will try a movie again... In a year.  Then we went to Dairy Queen. 

She kind of is grimacing in this picture but she was really happy and is saying cheese.