Disneyworld again

We got back recently from Disneyworld in Florida. We went with another family (Jeff, Maria and Jeffery) that we hang with in Tucson and had a great time. While there, we attended Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. A special event held after the Magic Kingdom closes where you can dress up and trick-or-treat throughout the park while riding rides. We decided to all dress up like crash test dummies and it was a huge hit. We had people stopping us to take our picture or to ask if they could be in a picture with us. I felt like we were being chased by Disney paparazzi! Noah, of course, was not pleased because he so hates to have his picture taken, but he was a reall trooper and played along as best he could.














Here is something that got us all laughing really hard - maybe it's not that funny now. It was our last day of touring the parks, so maybe we were all just a little sleep deprived. It was at the animal Kingdom at a bird show and it is a bird that eats lizards. It kills them by taking them in its beak and beating them against a rock over and over and over and over again. This seems very un-Disneylike. In this video, it is using a rubber toy.

By the end of the trip, we came to two important realizations. First, we are done with Disneyland and World for awhile now. As much as I love it, having gone to one or the other 5 times since Noah was three, it has become less exciting and special. Noah's not exactly thrilled about Disney either. This was apparent when we were searching for a restroom for him and while doing so I asked him if he would like to see the Little Mermaid show? He replied " I would rather sit in the bathroom for the rest of the day than do that," in a very dry and serious voice. Maybe when the baby is five or so we can plan another trip (without Noah possibly). Second, we can no longer go an a vacation without the Kalitan family. Jeff has a way of getting things done that seemed impossible. For example, dining arrangements that typically need to be made months in advance, to name just one feat he accomplished. And Maria is the school health aid. So, when Noah banged his head quite hard on a statue outside of our hotel room, it was great to have her expertise available to make it better.

Again, my picture taking was really lacking in quantity and quality so there is not much to show here, I'm hoping that when the baby is born, something will trigger in me the ability to make better picture making decisions.

Noah and his Deedle Di

I went to wake Noah up for school today and this is what I found. Diamond was in heaven - she loves to cuddle and sleep with people and she is not allowed in mine and Dave's bed. Noah does not usually want her with him because he says she keeps him awake (he would sleep thru an earthquake). Maybe with the threat of a new baby, he's decided that he better have whatever family members he can get on his side. I hope this continues because it makes me smile and I think it's good for both of them. Noah said he slept all night, by the way.

Still just pretendig

I still feel like I am just pretending to be pregnant. We aren't really going to have a tiny newborn in our house again. I have not felt any movement yet, so I just feel like I am getting fat and pretending it's a baby. I remember so little about when I was pregnant with Noah so I have been doing a lot of reading. Some friends put together a surprise luncheon for me which was wonderful. But, again, it felt sort of surreal. Like it was not for me but someone else and I was there to celebrate with them.

Back row: Lisa, Denise, Blanca, Traden, Barb
Front row: Josie, Monica, Erica, Kimber




I just can't believe that I will be in a delivery room again. It's so strange to have diapers, a stroller and baby clothes lying around the house. I guess the sonogram picture should be proof that it's for real, but again, it could be someone elses. I hope it begins to feel real soon or I'm in for a huge shock in about 5 months!

Big News

We are going to have a baby! Noah took this picture of me - I am about 4 months along. It is due February 28th, 2009. I am getting more and more excited as the time goes, but am feeling this pregnancy much more than Noah's. I'm sure my age has alot to do with that. I feel too old to be doing this again.
Reality has not totally sunk in yet. I kind of feel like we are just pretending to try it out. We had been debating whether to have more children or not for a very long time and I am very glad that the decision has been finally made for us and we can get the question off our brains.
Noah says he wants to remain an only child, but at the same time, is always quite concerned that I am doing the right things for the baby.
It has been such a long time that we are learning it all over again. Many of the rules have changed in 8 years also. I would appreciate any tips anyone might know.

The cutest!

My wonderful, crazy mother did it again. Every year she takes the three cousins in to get a professional picture made. I think this years turned out the cutest! Here is just one. Thank you mom - I love them.

more Maui

This is the veiw from the backyard of the house - it's no wonder we spent a lot of time there.
Dave and Noah wading into the river in an area of rainforest.
Looking out over the black sand beach at a state park near Hana.

We spent one day on the big island, Hawaii, touring the volcanoes. The volcanic gas coming up from behind grandma, grandpa and Noah is from the vent hole created from an explosion of lava this past March.

Noah body surfing at the beach in Ka'anapoli

This is where the actual lava is flowing out of Mount Maouna Loa and landing in the sea. The hot lava hitting the cool water creates a geyser of rock, gas, steam and ash.

We did several other wonderful things in Hawaii, but have no record of them. As you know, I claim to be a scrapbooker but am not good at taking pictures - go figure. Well, my camera battery ran out of power about mid-way through our vacation and I had not had the forsight to pack it's charger. What a great scrapbook this vacation is going to make!

Anyway, we went snorkeling with fish and giant sea turtles, ate lots of wonderful tropical fruit - even picked our own pineapple on the plantation, went to a amazing aquarium, of course did some shopping, rode a speed boat that went 60 mph and lots of other activities. I did not want to leave paradise but was a little tired of eating fish and had to get home for the start of school. Although I do not have pictures, I will never forget the absolutely incredible place that Hawaii is.

12 days of paradise

We were all recently treated to a wonderful vacation on Maui, Hawaii for almost two weeks. My parents, Dave's parents, Dave, Noah and I all stayed in a gorgeous house in Lanai. Here are pictures of some the activities we enjoyed while there.

On our way












Pop made us pina coladas almost daily.



















We swam, played badmitton, hung out in the hot tub, louged in the hammock, soaked in the sun, and made smores in the fire pit all overlooking the ocean in the back yard of the house.

Dave, Noah and Grandma went parasailing. They rose 800 feet into the air!