Family Vaca: Treasure Island

For a full week Charley was the center of attention!  So besides being in a different state, our week was very normal!  We had such a great time in Treasure Island.  Charley spent a couple of days playing in the sand with her Daddy and Granddaddy.  They dug big holes together, made sand castles that she tore down before they were finished and splashed around in the ocean.  For the most part our week was pretty low key (other than Disney.)  Craig and Uncle Justin took golf clubs and allowed Granddad to tag along for a round of golf....which I am sure was very interesting!  Amma and I took workout clothes that didn’t leave the suitcase, but Lynsey was super dedicated and got in a little six mile run one morning.  Amma and I were successful at reading a couple of great books and shopping.  It was so nice to not have an agenda every day, and we were seconds away from a Shake Shack that we visited like three times!

Charley also enjoyed the pool and made some new friends.  She held one little girl’s hand and jumped in off the side over and over and over.  By the last day she got a little too comfortable.  We had just walked down to the pool, and Amma and I passed the steps to put our stuff on the first available chair.  I dropped the bag I was carrying and when I bent down to pick it up, I noticed Charley wasn’t behind me....she was in the water, face up, floating just like she learned in swimming lessons.  I jumped in and picked her up and made a huge deal about how good she did and how proud I was of her!  She freaked out...and didn’t leave the steps.  (As soon as we got home I signed her up for winter maintenance swimming lessons.  I am beyond convinced that it is well worth the time and money!)

  

On another note, it would be so perfect to end the vacation blog with some of those adorable pictures that families take on the beach at sunset....we took the pictures....not so adorable....not sunset....flash was so bright....eyes were squinty....picture taker couldn’t see....a few are decent....Miss Priss is always cute....maybe next time!

  

Family Vaca: Our Day in Disney

After our one day trip to Disney last year, I really thought I had all of my ducks in a row this year.  Cute Mickey Mouse shirts for the whole family, check!  New memory card for the camera, check!  Backpack full of snacks, check!  Six to one adult to child ratio, check!  Juice refills for the entire day, check!  Despite my best efforts in preparation, I have decided there is no way to keep seven people happy, stay cool, be energetic, and not lose patience at what is supposed to be “the happiest place on earth!”  Even though we didn’t exactly have the “magical” experience I had been hoping for, Charley loved being at Disney!  She got to take pictures with and hug on Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, and Donald Duck.  The only character we missed was Pluto.  She also got to meet Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Ariel.  Thanks to Princess Sofia, her love for Disney princesses is constantly growing, so seeing them up close was extra special for Charley.

 
One thing is for sure, Charley was such a big girl when it came to riding all of the different rides at Magic Kingdom. We rode the new Little Mermaid ride, Dumbo, Aladdin’s Magic Carpet, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, Barnstormer roller coaster, carousel, and walked through the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse...after all, that is where I got the inspiration for the blog name.  As soon as we would get off a ride, Charley would say, “I wanna do it again!"

Around 2:30 when we made our way to get a good spot for the parade, Charley fell asleep.  I was so afraid she would wake up in a terrible mood, but I really didn’t want her to miss out on seeing all the characters.  Luckily the power nap was just what she needed, and she perked up just in time!  She had a very special connection when Snow White pointed to her and said, “I love your bow!”  (They matched!)  And she finally got to see the Beast, which made her really happy!

Our first attempt at taking the classic-in-front-of-the-castle picture didn’t turn out so great, but we snapped a few more at the end of the day that were much better...which was surprising considering we were hot, tired and sweaty!

We all survived the family trip to Disney...as far as the sign as we were leaving...not so sure how “soon” we will return!  For now, Charley is beyond thrilled with the princess snow globe, Minnie Mouse necklace and bracelet that her Granddad got for her!  Maybe those souvenirs will hold her over for a while!

Potty Training

I must give all the credit on this major milestone to Amma.  In June I went out of town for work, and she decided to tackle potty training.  For about six months Charley had used the potty occasionally, but it was only when she wanted to...which wasn’t very often.  Amma bought a pack of Pull-Up’s and decided to give it a try.  Charley did great!  She had one accident in three days...and I am pretty sure she was with Granddad when that happened.  When she got back home she did good for a few days, but quickly realized she could pee in the Pull-Up’s.  We switched to big girl panties all day except for nap time and bedtime, and we haven’t looked back.  In true Charley fashion, she likes to decide which panties she gets to wear for the day.  Usually we have to lay the options on the ground, and she lays down on her belly and says, “Hmmm...let me think....I don’t want these....or these....or these!”  Then finally once she has narrowed them down, she picks the lucky winner for the day!  We rotate between Minnie, Daisy, Cinderella or other princesses.

TOP 5 THINGS I DIDN’T EXPECT ABOUT POTTY TRAINING

1. I never thought I would drive around with a potty and toilet paper in the back of my car!  (Another idea contributed to Amma!)

2.  Girls can spray over the toilet and make messes just as easily as boys!

3. Why Charley feels the need to completely strip down to nothing on her bottom half when she goes to potty by herself...then runs around a while before allowing someone to put her panties back on!  

4. Charley commands us to “go....leave me alone” when she has to poop.  How in the world did she learn about privacy and modesty in the bathroom?!?

5. She often asks to “pee in the grass,”  which is fine for KY, but I thought her Daddy was gonna have a come apart when she asked one day when we were on our driveway.  

INTERVIEW WITH CHARLEY (JUST NOW)

Me: Charley, how do you like using the potty and wearing big girl panties?

Charley: (in song) Peeing in the potty issssss so much funnnn!!!!  It’s sooooo much funnnnnn!!!!  IT’S....SO....MUCH...FUNNNN!!!!!