Finishing Up April Fun

Well my favorite month has come to an end, but we sent it out with pool fun, Disney fun, and a few days with my brother in town, so we cant complain!

Whitney's birthday started with this face.book update:

It is 8:39am on Whitney's first full day as a four-year-old. She just woke up and is ordering her breakfast (ham, pancakes, and banana) using her new walkie-talkies from Papa. Sleeping in and playing with awesome toys? I love four years old already.

Fortunately, the rain held off on the party day.  Unfortunately, the skies unleashed a TON of rain on Sunday, Whitney's actual birthday and the day we allllllll planned to go to Disney.

We carried on with the plan as best as we could, covering the stroller in ponchos and telling the kids they were camping out in a tent.  We met Aunt Ger, her best friend Auntie Carole, my mom, my dad, my brother, and Uncle Joey at Epcot and all headed over to the Magic Kingdom so Whitney could fulfill her one birthday request.  She only wanted to ride the Barnstormer.  

After she got to ride her favorite with her Daddy and her Uncle Jay, we all got back onto the monorail and headed through pourrrrrring rain to  Epcot for our dinner reservation at the Coral Reef.

The kids liked the aquarium and Nemo ride afterwards, and it wouldve been a lot of fun to walk around the countries or catch a few shows, but the weather was not cooperating.  So while the rest of the gang headed home after dinner, the four of us hung out so Whitney could go on Soarin' for the first time.

She LOVED it! I love that I got to ride it with her for the first time :) 

Then, we had some birthday money burning a hole in their pockets, so Whitney got the Pluto she has been begging for, and we finally got Grady a spinning Mickey so he doesnt have to keep playing with Whitney's princess light-up toys :) 

The next day, life returned to normal (bwahaha. normal?! what's that?!) as Whitney went back to school and Grady had gym class.  Lucky guy had Daddy join in the gym class fun for the first time, and his Mac, Uncle Jay, Uncle Joey, and Aunt Ger all made appearances in the gym before we all headed to lunch together.

He practiced his walking and now, just 12 days after he took those first five steps, he is running everywhere!

He's such a ham...he had everyone cracking up!

The next day, Whitney and Uncle Jay had a date to McDonald's and Toys R Us!  She came home with bags of toys, ready for a nap.  After both kids snoozed and Eric finished up with work, we all headed over to Mac and Gramps' house for a delicious steak dinner and one last night with Uncle Jay and Uncle Joey in town.  

Of course, the reddi-whip tradition carries on.....

Such a fun and happy note to end Uncle Jay's visit.  We look forward to him returning to the Sunshine State again soon!

The Wednesday after the party, Whitney had her awards night for Awana! She was very happy to complete her first Awana book but will miss spending Wednesday nights with Ms. Nilka and Ms. Amy!

And to send out the month of April, we had several great pool days!!

When they both laugh together, I melt.  

And when they are both laughing with their Daddy?? Forget it. Happy tears. :)

This little dude thinks he can do EVERYthing his big sister can do!

And is completely, totally, 100% ALLLLL boy!!!

We also headed out to Eric's dad's house for an afternoon of oysters and shrimp and fun in the sun with cousins and family!

Whitney has been taking swim lessons recently.  Yeah, that didnt go so well.  To put it mildly, Whitney is completely and utterly opposed to learning how to swim with her face and head under water.  Period. End of story.  Im lucky our neighbors didnt call the cops when our darling diva lost. her. MIND. at her last lesson in our pool.  

She will use a float all day long, but she melts down when we even try to suggest losing the float and practicing.

Yikes.

So...we have decided that we will focus on teaching Grady to swim and let him teach Whitney. He is able to go under water and hold his breath briefly, but so far that only has Whitney clapping for her brother...not trying to outdo him :)

Did I mention he is ALLLLL BOY!!!:???!?