Magic, A Moat and Meeting a Mouse...

This post has taken me a LONG time to finish - not only because of unforeseen complications (like a sick baby on his 3rd antibiotic for the same uti - 3rd time's the charm right?) or just the day to day happenings of mommy-hood (if there's a box of tissues or baby wipes in the house...Jet will find it...and empty it) but mainly because there were SO MANY PICTURES of the special time we spent at...

That's right!

We went there!

With 4 backpacks, 3 cameras, 2 babies and 1 goal:

To have the best time ever!

First things first...Mouse Ears...

Haha. Aunt Nenna's silly.

Then who do we spot but the Main Mouse himself!?

Little did we know that when we saw a fun photo opportunity...

Jet and Jane saw this...

And did this...

And that was only the beginning...

Of the horror...

The absolute terror...

...that is Disney Characters.

I guess we should have known!

I mean - talk about stranger anxiety - these are GIANT people coming out of know where when you least expect it.

And HUGE animals who can't stop starring at you and are right in your face before you know it!

I suppose it is pretty frightening when you think about it.

So we were very happy to discover something Jet did like...

The Ladies of Disney!

Oh No! Bert got in the picture!

You can see Jet visibly cringe.

Cracked me up. lol.

But Jet was in love with the ladies. Their pretty faces and sweet high pitched voices. And none were so sweet or high pitched as the lovely Snow White

It was love folks.

Speaking of Snow White...Jane's a big fan herself.

Snow White's Wishing Well!

She can even sing like her

(insert classic princess "ah-eh-ah-eh-ah" noise here)

The castle was beautiful.

The perfect spot for some pictures.

There! Phew.

15 minutes, a bit of perspiration and 2 grouchy babies later we were on our way to some rides.

Jet's look of fear is becoming common place now. Even at Daddy's favorite ride! (turn up the music to enjoy it with us. :) )

But they loved it.

See?

Boy...Disneyland is exhausting.

They needed a "small smackeral" to perk them up.

Mmmmmm...

And the mommies found a little something else to keep us going...

Then it was off to ride more rides.

(Seriously. We laugh that by mid-day we had only ridden 1 ride and the kids had passed out! lol. Such babies!)

First the Teacups!!!

(Okay...totally kidding. We couldn't stomach that. So we just pretended)

And we pretended some more...

But we did ride one of our FAVORITES!

Of course Jet hugged my neck the whole time...but it was air conditioned and we got to sit down...so it was perfect.

Plus Jet had the perfect t-shirt!

And the gift shop was just as cool.

Arrghh!

Being a pirate makes you hungry...

So Jet tried his first corndog!

(And played with his fries)

Thank goodness Jet had no idea this "car" (who is actually Lightening McQueen) was a character. phew.

With the magic of a Disney Fireworks Show to end the day...

The joy of family to keep us laughing...

And some precious memories to sweeten our dreams...

We set out to have the best time ever...

And we ABSOLUTELY did.

Sunshine is the color of...

Sweet littles all dressed up for church...

happy and playful - perfect together...

Making everything around them...

Sunnier...

Lovelier...

Handsomer...

Sillier....

Happier...

Sweeter...

Full of emotion....

Okay...maybe that's a little too much emotion

Too much emotion is our cue that the picture session is over.... :)

And speaking of emotion - thank you all so much for your prayers and kind responses to our last post. I really appreciate (and need...boy, do I need) your love and support. Jet did fantastic today (YAY!) and is playing on the floor as I type. Praise God. We are all well (hence the return to our california adventures) and thankful for our many blessings.

So until next time then!

A Glimpse...

Now don't worry - our California trip posts are not over yet. :) There are still many fun, fabulous adventures to share -

but today I was in a different frame of mind and wanted to share something as well as ask for prayers. There have been some recent developments with a few families in the SB community this summer that have been on my heart... a lot. Whenever friends are going through difficult changes it can touch your life - but even more so when their life is SO closely tied to yours. Whenever someone goes in for a CT scan, or has a bladder ultrasound, or receives the news that a shunt is needed, or that they have to start cathing....that is so, so real to me. I feel what they feel. I worry with them. I grow strong when they find renewed strength. It's such a bond. It's amazing...and sometimes hard. Because it makes you aware of all the things you could face...might face...will face...it's all unknown...and it's all real.

So sometimes it's hard to stay focused on the "live life day by day" motto with these possible glimpses into our future.

Tomorrow Jet is going in for a procedure. I don't really feel like going into it (it's nothing major) but it falls into that "bladder" category (one of the 3 B's of SB). The details aren't really important right now. Some of you know about it and know what a mind game making this decision has been for me. It's just one of those "extra" things we deal with sometimes and wish we didn't. But I have faith that it is all going to be okay - and we are blessed that this is only a little thing and not a major deal.

So I'm asking for prayers. Prayers for our peace of mind and an easy recovery for Jet. :)

And in the mean time I wanted to share something I wrote. I feel it's sometimes therapeutic to write out feelings (I think my fellow blogger mommies and daddies would agree) so I did...and it kind of turned into a poem...so I went with it. :)

"Most every day I feel so thankful for the life we live,

The many blessings we enjoy - the chance we have to give,

The sweetest little miracle with mischief in his eyes,

The lessons he has taught us have come as a surprise.

And yet this source of endless love - our sunshine in the rain!

This precious gift of joy - can also bring me the most pain.

It's a whirlwind of emotions when I look at his sweet face,

The beauty of his life - a perfect portrait of God's grace.

But paired with that - the struggles of the future we've been shown,

The worries and the fear that come with so much still unknown.

It's easy to stay positive when hard times pass him by...

But I know that there will be a day when he asks"Mommy, why?"

"Why?" to certain things that let him know he's not the same,

The medicines he hates or why he cannot join the game.

And then sometimes I think "if I could only know for sure..."

Or "maybe that won't happen..." Or "maybe they'll find a cure..."

But Maybe is a dangerous game that goes two ways when played...

And inevitably you find yourself in the "maybe-worst-case" game.

And that game makes things dark enough for doubt creep inside,

And even in an empty room you'll feel the need to hide,

The sunshine is long gone and it has now begun to rain,

And a growing sense of helplessness brings out forgotten pain,

There's nothing left in your control

or if there is it's slipping,

There fear of losing everything

you've been so tightly gripping,

Like waves crashing over you

you fight the urge to fall

You gasp for air that isn't there -

You feel no strength at all.

Lost, confused, angry, desperate

Reaching for a hand,

Something to hold on to as you fight to try and stand.

Then suddenly you feel you're being lifted from the deep,

You're standing at the top of what at one point seemed too steep.

What seemed to last forever, in a moment now has passed,

What came on unexpectedly, is over just as fast.

A peace grows into hope as you embrace the help you've found,

Then hope gives way to joy as Love and light shine all around.

Instead of drowning in the waves, you're standing on the shore,

The doubts that once had pulled you down aren't with you anymore.

What happened to the overwhelming loneliness and fear?

Were they never real? Could they just simply disappear?

No - they're just as real...and just as strong as they were then,

They can return at any moment should I choose to let them in.

Never - I may say - I'll never let in fear and doubt.

But everyone has days where they're just too hard to keep out.

So if you find yourself in waters just too deep to swim,

Nights too dark to find your path,

Fights too tough to win,

Instead of holding on so tight and sinking 'neath the weight,

Give up control you think you have

and trade your fear for faith."

~ For Jet ~

A milkshake a day keeps the sunburn away...

Okay so maybe that's not exactly scientific...but wouldn't that be great?!

(This is the look Chris would be giving me and Jenna for laughing hysterically at this clever comment.)

And in sunny Ca we had to be careful with these babies.

(uncle nate...don't forget to listen to the song this time... :) )

So after a yummy seafood lunch at Dukes...

Anyone for fish?

Man...eating lunch is exhausting...

We decided to go down to the pier at Huntington Beach...

Windy!!

...to Ruby's for a sweet treat.

Mmmmm...

Then we were ready for the beach!

Milkshakes in our tummies...

Sunscreen on our faces...

And hats on our heads...

We were prepared for fun!

And boy did we have fun.

Maybe a little too much fun....

Mommy thinks Jet needs a nap....

but Jane has another idea...

Oooo...I guess Jane thought Jet needed to cool off. lol. Let's take a closer look at that in action!

Awww...Watch out for Karma, Jane!

Of course these sweet little snack buddies never hold a grudge. :)

What cuties!

(Of course I'm biased...but come on, they're precious!)

Another sweet, sunshiney day!