Grantham 4 Months/Walt Disney World

My first word of advice on taking a four month old and a four year old to Disney world: DO IT! There are so many misconceptions about flying with an infant. One of those misconceptions is that they will cry and fuss and be a nightmare to travel with...this could not be farther from the truth, in my opinion. We traveled with Garrity by plane when she was just four months old, and had a perfect experience. The same may be said now about Grantham...perfect flight. Both kiddos nursed and slept from takeoff to landing.

Our trip! We spent the first night with Tom, he has a great condo on the Plaza, and it made for a less early, early morning. Everyone had a blast except Daddy. I had to run to get formula (for said flight...just in case the nursing failed...) it was pretty late when I went out, and for some strange reason Daddy insisted on keeping Grantham. Turns out that 9'ish was the witching hour and the dreams Daddy had of snuggling with his son on the couch watching sports or whatever, apparently wasn't part of Grantham's plan. After several text from Daddy insisting that I return IMMEDIATELY, I returned to a docile and sleepy Grantham, and a  fussy and grumpy Daddy.

The next morning was early and everyone was excited and still grumpy. STILL GRUMPY. Once we arrived at the airport, we were face with the dilemma of all riding the bus from the parking lot, or Daddy dropping us off and Daddy parking the car on his own while we waited in line with two suit cases, golf clubs, a double buggy, and oh ya, two kiddos. Guess which one we picked?!

By the time we made it to the ticket counter, after winding through Southwest Air crowd control maze among the hundreds of souls also too waiting to fly to their vacations scooting our two suit cases, golf bag, and double buggy one inch at a time actually several people felt sorry for me and helped scoot our luggage caravan ..Daddy finally made it back.

This flight was a breeze! Grantham slept and nursed the entire time! Garrity had some trouble with her little ears and kept shouting in the cutest loudest voice imaginable! It really was adorable! She kept saying, "SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH MY EARS, GUYS, I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING, GUYS!" Explain ears popping to a four year old! Other than that, Garrity busied herself with the iPad and DVD player. We rented a van vs taking a bus...much cheaper. However we had to upgrade from a town car to a van due to the double buggy and the golf clubs. The van was great and for a $10 fee, they stopped at a grocery store and we got some snacks etc. for the week! 

We arrived earlier than check-in. We opted for a town car to Downtown Disney. By the time we go to Downtown Disney, both babies were asleep! Daddy and I were at a loss! We ended up sharing a huge chocolate shake from Godiva! We walked around the area and spent a ton of time in The Largest Disney Store in the World...and finally had to start waking up kiddos!

The entire trip was as smooth as anyone could have EVER imagined! I was even able to take both kids to Magic Kingdom one day and we had a blast! Grantham was a champ and even waited in line for TWO HOURS to meet Anna and Elsa!

We enjoyed the parks and the wonderful Hilton resort. I wouldn't have changed a thing! Such a wonderful memory and a trip I will NEVER forget!

Easter Eve 2015

Saturday was spent enjoying the wonderful weather, and dying eggs! Garrity requested to spend the morning at Gowah's versus running errands with Grantham and me...can't say I blame her. But after errands were taken care of, the Easter egg dying was a blast! Garrity loves anything and everything creative. We decided to forgo the water and just used the food coloring. We also couldn't wait for the eggs to cool, and the result was mermaid-tale looking eggs! It was nice out. So, we spent time on the patio in front of the house. Garrity, Bo, and I took turns hiding and seeking the eggs! It was super fun and relaxing!

Garrity and Gowah were playing hide and seek when Grantham and I arrived. Of course Garrity was wearing a costume! She wanted to pose in the flowers for a picture with her brother...this was the best I could get!

Hiding Easter eggs with a four-year-old is almost so easy...it becomes difficult!?

Wearing the basket...fashion accessory or tired arms?

Hooray!

Grantham caught on fast! He did not however, enjoy the feel of the grass, and if  when he fell, he would keep his hands up in the air! So funny!

Maggie was slightly confused...she wanted in on the action regardless of the oddity of the situation.

Found it!

Garrity insisted on using this ultra-chic Styrofoam egg carton...recycling at its finest!

A stick makes a wonderful toy!

The glorious eggs!

This was one of the first days in three years that we could do something like this as a family! Now that our remodel is 100%, we can spend time making memories together!

Getting To Watch Daddy Play Basketball In His High School Gym...Priceless!

This weekend was Easter. We started off the weekend watching Bo in the NHS Alumni Basketball Game on Friday night. It was fun to watch Bo play and even more fun to watch the kiddos enjoy watching their daddy play! Grantham was pointing and making sounds at the ball and at Bo, and Garrity walked to the sideline at the end of the game to give her daddy some much needed water. Precious. (It was fun too on Monday to receive the compliments from various high schoolers, commenting on what a baller my husband is. :) )

Grantham and Daddy, pre-game.

Garrity and Daddy after the game. Such a sweet moment. 

So proud of her daddy.

Father Daughter Dance (2/7/15)

This is one of those moments that all mommies dream of. This is one of those moments that all little girls dream of. This is one of those moments that all daddies dread....the FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE.  Saturday marked a huge milestone is the life of little Miss Garrity. Nevada has hosted a father daughter dance for the past few years. This year, I didn't have a swim meet, and we finally thought that G was old enough to enjoy the festivities. We spent the afternoon getting ready. She was gifted her dress by Daddy, and she loved it! She started planning immediately what shoes she would pair with the darling little party dress. She settled on her ruby red slippers with a kitten heal ( I could have placed money on that bet and won). My parents' purchased a lovely little writ corsage to complete the ensemble, and Garrity knew right away just what to do with such an embellishment!

 They went with red, you know, Belle and the Beast...they are known around our house for their red rose.

 Garrity was pumped to make new friends and play games and eat food! She was excited to go on a dinner date with Daddy...just the two of them prior to the dance. She chose Golden Dragon, or Mamma Cho's. Bo said she ate no less than three bowls of mushrooms!

What a pair! 

We took lots of pictures! My Mom and Dad, Gary and Madelyn, and Blair all came to admire the beautiful princess! 

After the send off, Grantham and I accompanied my parents' to The Club for dinner. It was well past Grantham's bedtime, but he was  a trooper! It wasn't until my dinner came that he really started to show any sign of exhaustion! 

 Once the exhaustion set in however, he simply fell asleep! We hadn't even gotten our food when Bo called to inform me that the royal couple had returned from the ball. When I got home, this is what I found...the glitz and glam had faded to a lackluster toddler (it was well before midnight, G's Fairy Godmother must have called it quits early that night) and she was ready. for. bed. 

Garrity...four years, nine months

So...not sure how this is possible, but YOU ARE ALMOST FIVE. this past year I have been awful with trying to chronicle the first year of Grantham's life with as much furor as I covered yours...as a result; I am lacking in the Garrity Scott department! That being said, I feel that I will need to start chronicling the lives of our family versus trying to go back and forth with each of you...it was, after all, your request that I combine the two blogs and create ONE Garrity and Grantham blog for the two of you to share.  It is not without emotion that I type these words. In your almost five years of life, you have become one of the most intelligent children I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. You are so wise beyond your years... using words and phrases much beyond your years: "Please bring my iPad so that I may entertain myself on the ride home." or "I'll trim off the excess around the cookie cutter, Mommy." You and I are almost halfway through Dickens': A Christmas Carol. You chat nonchalantly about tutorials, and use the phrase: as well.

 You are very much into acting and theater and all that goes with that industry. While watching the making of Peter Pan, they began to chronicle the casting process. While totally engrossed with the television,  you said with as much heartfelt longing as I've ever heard you express, " Mommy, I'd love to be a part of those details." 

You love makeup, you love fashion, you love American Girl dolls and Disney characters. You love to play. You also love to be outside! You love to ride your scooter around and around the house at an alarming speed! You love to play with, and blow up, balloons! Your favorite foods are mac-and-cheese, cottage cheese, sticky rice, toast and grape jelly, and the marshmallows from the Lucky Charms box. 

You are the best big sister in the world. The only fault in your sistering, is that sometimes you love with too much gusto...with too much fervor and strength :) 

As your fourth year comes to an end, you and I have started to plan for your fifth birthday! You have a very specific vision and idea for your fifth birthday, which has become: bounce-house/Easter/Frozen...I suppose I should start planning now for such a specific and intense request...