Fun at Splash Lagoon!

Here are some shots of the actual Water park part of our trip. We had a really good time. Caden sure proved us surprised, when he was going down adult water slides all by himself! He went down a bunch alone and then rode in the inner tube ones with one of us as well. He loved the enclosed slides, even the one he went down with daddy that is totally in the dark! I couldn't believe it! Courtney still wouldn't try any slides this time, which was disappointing... maybe some day she'll want to try them. She had fun in the activity pool, hot tub and the lazy river. I spent alot of my time with Colin in the Kiddy section, which was super fun too! there had 3 kid size water slides, one super fast one rapids one and 2 normal ones, Colin went down all 3 alone, he impressed us as well! Daddy really enjoying being able to go down the slides too, and was glad to have Caden partner up with him. It was a nice balmy 84 degrees insides and the water was the same temp. So you were never cold when you came out of the water. You were HOT when you got changed into your normal clothes to leave! We spent a couple "family" times as well in the Family hot tub ~ all 5 of us together. Colin enjoyed just lounging there and Caden kept asking Courtney to pull him around to "swim". I loved when Colin and I would relax along the lazy river.... I put him on my lap and he would lean his head back on my shoulder and just relax, those are the best times! All in all , we really did have fun. Yes, there were meltdowns, Caden didn't want to sleep in the hotel, was up most the night and most of us got little to no sleep, but it was worth it. Our hotel was really nice and had an amazing free breakfast as well in the morning. I am looking forward to more fun times as the kids continue to get older. The frogs overlooking the Family Hot tub1/2 of the family hot tub, too big to get the entire thing. The best thing was sitting there watching it snow like crazy outside!!
Looking from the top floor down on to the lazy river
Trying to get a good shot of the Tiki Tree house and water slides.
First arriving at the park after getting changed, had a hard time getting this shot, or any shot of the 3 of them together, because they were having too much fun, trying to take it all in!
Another attempt.
Getting ready to leave on night #1
Colin wandering
Standing on chairs
Getting read to swim!!

Mommy and caden

Playing with the water coming from the ground


Courtney playing in the baby pool
Colin getting ready to go down the water slide.

Colin fighting daddy-he just wants get on that slide!
Caden getting ready to go down.


The baby pool area.
The Activity pool
naked Col, how cute he looked with a towel wrapped around him.
Caden spinning the "frog in the box"

Family Time

Some family shots from our trip to Erie this weekend. I'll put the actual water park ones in a separate post. We were able to spend some nice quality time together outside of the water park as well!
Colins favorite thing to do while were there... play on the phone.

Caden playing on the luggage rack truck.
Courtney & Colin playing on it to.
Mommy & Col at dinner.


Daddy and Courtney at dinner
mommy and Caden
Courtney & Caden
All 3 kids waiting for the elevator in the hotel, this was taken just before all 3 of them got IN the elevator and the Courtney let the doors close before Mike & I were in! You could hear Colin screaming on the other side!!

This is Mike cracking up as the kids are screaming behind the elevator door!
Colin Helping Daddy load the fridge in the hotel with water!

Cabin Fever

I have been having some cabin fever as of late and need to get the heck of out of the house. I am pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that almost 2 weeks ago we had this big thaw, and the temp got up to 60 degrees, and the next day there was a snow storm, and I had to miss work because we lost power and had to hand bail the sump pump all morning. Nothing like one extreme to the next within 24 hours. So we've decided to take the kids and run this weekend. We are headed to Splash Lagoon, which is an indoor water park in Erie, PA, about 1.5 hours from us. We are looking to being away for the night and just relaxing with the kids. This will be the first trip with all 5 of us that Colin can actually have fun at. Last summer we went on Vacation to Hershey with our Friends Heather & Travis, and had a great time, but Colin was only 11 months old, and it was just a couple week before his surgery, so he was in the midst of some pretty severe ear infections. he was miserable and didn't sleep at all (neither did mommy & daddy). So I've spent the morning packing, while waiting for Mike to get home from work. As I am done packing now, I can't believe how much STUFF you need for a family of 5 to go away for ONE night (2 days). All I can think about is if this is how we need for one night, what in the world are we going to do come October(this is assuming Mike gets the time off) and have to pack for a WEEK-5 people- limited luggage since we'll be flying then moved to a ship which as limited space to begin with?? I am going to have to get seriously creative in the next couple of months!

This is organizing everything we needed before getting it stored in the suitcase. Mind you, I only packed 1 set of PJ's for each, and one set of clothing for tomorrow for each, expect the boys, they each have 3, because 1- Colin gets car sick and you never know & 2- Caden is getting potty trained, we have LOTS of accidents. Other then that, we just needed all of our bathing suits, 5 towels, everyday toiletries & the Pack and play. My oh my, doesn't sound like much right??

Look at what it adds up to be?? A whole lot for just a night!

Remember those on Flight 3407

Just thought we should stop and remember the terrible tragedy That happened last week on February 12th When Flight 3407 was coming into Buffalo international Airport and fell out of the sky landing on a house in Clarance center N.Y. Killing all 49 on board and killing one in the house.

The house was a total loss And their is a online petition to get the Tv show extreme makeover home edition to come out and build the family a new home. All you have to do is click Here ; http://www.petitiononline.com/Hope4You/petition.html and sign your name on it Their are already alot of signatures and with your help we can get even more.

This is a wake up call that life is very unpredictable and can change in the blink of an Eye. Live life to its fullest and enjoy everyday you have on this earth.

Pray for all those lives lost during the
tragedy of Flight 3407.

I HAVE ME BACK!!

Colin is offically DONE nursing! It has been 84 hours and I am SO done with that part of my life now. 19 months and 3 days is our final count. Way beyond my wildest dreams! I am proud of me for sticking it out so long. Some may thinks it gross to have to continued on so long, but to me, it's an accomplishment that I very proud of! Colin and I have a specail bond, that will never be forgetten becuase of that. Last night was not pretty when I refused him to nurse, the tantrum lasted a good hour at least. But I held strong and we waited it out, and survived just fine. I am sure tonight is going to be much of the same, but I am prepared and will manage again. We just have to cuddle and give lots of extra love sitting on the couch for a couple days.

Happy Birthday Les!

Today would have been Grandpa Les Bug's Birthday. So although he is not here with us in person ~ He is forever in our hearts and we are still sending him extra Love and Birthday wishes from here to heaven......

Coloring

Colin trying his best to color, he did pretty good too!


Caden deep in thought drawing a head w/eyes and mouth. I am SO proud of it!

Ahhhhhhhh The love of a child

Caden came up to me today and gave me the biggest hug & Kiss and he meant it! To many (or most) this many not be a big deal. To me, to us, this is HUGE. Sure can will hug and kiss you, but it's never really been very intentional and never full of love and feeling. He just does what you ask of him. Today I was sitting on the touch, he crawled up on my lap and squeezed the heck out of me, arms around my neck, head on my shoulder and squeeze!! Then kissed my lips. Meema and Mike were in the room at the same time. I looked at both and said "He just came up and gave me a hug and kiss" I was so surprised! Then as I was leaving to go pick up Courtney from an event at school, I said Caden you be good while I am gone, he said K mom and ran up and did the hug/Kiss scene AGAIN! I am so over joyed and excited. What an amazing thing to have happen when you wait forever wondering if they will ever do it with actual intentional feeling. I KNOW this was that. It was full of love and emotion.

What a GREAT Birthday gift Caden just gave me. I hope when he is older, he can look back and read this to relive the moment from my eyes. Today may not have meant anything big to him, but to me, It was a milestone.

Happy Birthday Meema!!

Today is day one of Birthday weekend! Tonight we celebrating moms with a homemade Chicken Wing Pizza, chocolate Covered Pretzels and Chocolate Cheesecake. Most of us are not feeling well... Courtney, the boys and I all have this horrid viral cold thing happening and are exhaused and wiped out, but that's OK! We'll have a good time eating tonight! :)

Caden's sick

And I kept calling him a faker this morning... Sorry Caden. Caden learned the sign for sick a couple days ago. Last night during our meeting he was a little bit blah and I thought he might be getting sick, but didn't really think it was anything huge. This morning he woke up and seemed fine to me, but when I asked him if he was going to school he signed "Sick" and said "no home da". I then told him, your not sick, your such a faker! and laughed. Since he was fine and playing around well. He kept signing it then, and it was too cute, but he still seemed just fine.

SO much for that! I just got a call from school. He has a fever, isn't eating and almost threw up, but didn't (hopefully he's not saving that for the car ride home) Since Mike is off today, he is going to pick him up. Colin's been sick for 2 days with a yucky head cold and runny nose and just clingy and Courtney has been sick for about a week with a terrible cough that just won't go away as well. We have the first parent group meeting tonight also and I really don't want to miss it, especially since last weeks was canceled becuase of the big snow storm. So I got my mom to come over tonight and sit with Caden and we'll just bring Colin and Courtney as originally planned. I really want to bring Colin because I want him to get used to being around others without us. He is so Clingy and won't go to anyone else so I am hoping this once a week for 3 months really helps open him up alittle bit more.

Well hopefully all 3 kids will start feeling better soon. I've learned my lesson as well. When one signs sick try to take them a little bit seriously!

Boys, Courtney & Birthdays!

Apparently Colin wasn't quite ready to fully give up his nursing session with mom yet... I am setting a NEW goal for myself. February 10th he will be 19 months old. I am DONE February 11th. It's only 5pm that we are fighting now. He is sleeping through the night like a champ! He goes in every night at 8 and sleep until 7am everyday. I can live with it.

Caden's not sleeping again.. but that's par for him. We are had a meeting with his teacher and counselor tonight, so we are going to tackle that as a team soon. Tomorrow night begins the 12 week parent group program through this school. I am SUPER excited to start and meet other parents who "get" it. Who understand what it's like to live like this everyday. Yea!!! I am so excited about it!!

Courtney is doing well as well. She is now a "woman". I am not going to elaborate too much on that, for her sanity but you get it. I can't believe it! She seems to be taking it well. Better then I did at 11, but times change I guess. She is keeping busy with school activities. This Friday night is movie night at school, so the kids get to hang out with PJ's and friends from 7-9 and watch movies. She is pretty excited about it.

It's also birthday weekend!!

Happy Birthday to My Mom (Meema), Kym and Mike!! Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Mom is watching the kids for us on Saturday night so we can do the dinner and movie thing again. We got to go out last month too and had so much fun, we are doing it again. We are actually thinking about making it a monthly or bi-monthly occurrence. Honestly if it wasn't for our birthday's we wouldn't be going again this time.. but you know.... we need to treat each other! It's all we do for us, no gifts or anything else. Friday night we are having Mom over to celebrate her birthday with (at her request) Chicken wing pizza and Chocolate covered pretzels. Yummy!!

Support local Autism Awareness

http://bittybittypretty.com/shoponline/Autism.htm

April, which is fast approaching us is Autism Awareness Month. What better time then now to start thinking ahead and doing what we can do to raise money for more research. $5.00 of every bracelet purchased from this site will be donated directly to the WNY Autism Chapter.