Disney World

Family pic
Originally uploaded by mgenovese

I think we're recovered now. Here are some pics from the trip!

Matt
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The Muddy Buddy

About a week ago I was looking on Kid Surplus and found the Muddy Buddy. It looked like just the thing Noah needed for spring. I want to be outdoors a lot this spring, but I've been having a hard time finding something that would keep Noah dry. Our back yard is going to be muddy for awhile. Back in Denmark the kids switched from snowsuits to rubber coveralls for spring, but I couldn't find anything similar here. I generally don't like buying things on the internet, but I decided to give it a try.

The Muddy Buddy arrived yesterday in the mail. It is very lightweight, but it does look waterproof. I guess that is good, since we can layer for spring, and use it all summer on rainy days. I'm not sure how "reinforced" the knees really are. (Granted, more so than the rest of the suit, but I'm nor sure how they'll hold up.) But I am pleased. We'll see how it works out.

It is done?

Well I'm not sure if it is done or just beginning. We got our luggage back around noon on Tuesday. Now we begin trying to get American Airlines to reimburse us for the money I spent Monday and Tuesday morning to replace everything they lost.

Matt got a call around eleven Tuesday morning saying they had our suitcase and would deliver it within the next two hours. Sure enough just when I was ready to put emily down for her nap it arrived. Everything in tact. I never thought I would be so happy to see shirts. You don't realize how attached you are to things until they're gone. Just one or two of my favorite shirts make a difference. Oh and to have a decent blow dryer again. While we were in Orlando I used the crappy hotel one and it was just awful, oh and my hair brush. I bought one at Target in Orlando and it just wasn't the same. It's amazing how having a good hair brush can make you feel. :)

Caleb started his third week of Karate this week and I must say he LOVES it. On tuesday we were there a little early to watch the more advanced kids do their Tonga (don't know if it's spelled right or not) practice. It's a piece of wood that looks like a gun. They practice using it as a defense mechanism. Well his instructor looked at him sitting alone on the floor and told him to get out there with the other boys. He hesitated, but his instructor told him to go out and then he was given a Tonga. He was thrilled! The Tonga he used was for adults, so it was too big for him, but he did his best. There was one time I got a little nervous, he came very close to wacking another kid in the head. Ugh, that would have been bad! But, he did his best and was flying high the rest of the class.

They go for belt graduation next Thursday. At his first lesson his instructor said caleb wouldn't be able to do belt graduation until the next time around. But on Tuesday he told Caleb he was impressed with his hard work during each class and he would let Caleb go up a belt color after all. I'm so happy he has found something that he really enjoys. He lights up when he is out on the floor. He is so determined and attentive to what the instructor is saying. I'm really proud of him.

Well I'll stop going on. I hope all are well. Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

jenn

Spring soon

I'm so glad you had a good time at Disney, Genoveses. I can't even imagine being warm anymore, just like in summer I can't imaging being cold. I was outside for a while this morning kicking the ice on the driveway, trying to make it go away! Poor Janie wants so desperately to wear a pretty dress for Easter. I promised her she could but she'll have to wear a turtleneck underneath and wear boots to church! Did you know Thursday is the first day of Spring?? What do you think, would some form of fire melt the snow off the lawn? Any ideas?

Back in time.

Well Emily and I just got back from a shopping spree courtesy of American Airlines and I thought I"d sit down at the computer and veg. I took a look at some of the Blog postings from last march and March 2006. I found some adorable pictures of the twins in March 06 and the unfortunate happening of my kidney stone in March 2007, Oh I believe March 06 Kris told us a baby was in their future as well. I definitely like March 08 and our trip to Disney over being in the hospital last year.

I must say I can't believe everything I fit into our suitcase going to Fla. Most of Emily's clothes, quite a few of Caleb's, most of my favorite shirts have all disappeared into the great unknown. Even caleb's school books are gone. He had four or five of his reading books in there, because we were told to do some reading while we were gone. Ugh. I told his teacher to give me a price and I'll get the money from American Airlines for her. Well I better go onto Crocs.com and order Caleb and emily's new shoes. Crocs are caleb's most favorite shoes ever. If he could wear them to school he would.

Well hey, take a look at some old posts and you'll have fun.

Have a good week everyone!

jenn

Where dreams come true...

We're spending our week in Disney World, and I'm writing this from the couch of the condo we're renting about 15 minutes from the Magic Kingdom.

We flew out Saturday just after noon, and landed in Dallas - the hop between Austin and Orlando. In Dallas, our outbound plane was delayed due to "mechanical trouble". Delayed about 10 minutes, then 20, and then about 1 hour. Afterwards, the all clear was given, and we boarded. Then more mechanical fails were found, and we sat on the plane for another couple hours until we had to unboard (or "deboard"?) and find another plane. Another plane was found, and we boarded and flew to Orlando. Once we arrived, it took another hour to see our luggage finally come out of the turnstiles! And on top of that, the one suitcase with Caleb's, Emily's, and Jenn's clothes is missing. As of today, it's still not here. We have a meager "allowance" from American Airlines which I had to twist out of them over the phone so we can buy clothes and toiletries for everyone. And on top of that, I'm learning that American Airlines has a policy that they do not reimburse for electronics (such has hair dryers, various chargers, etc. -- all of which was in that suitcase.) Well, it turns out I also have a $%#@! policy that the airline to which I paid almost $1600 doesn't lose my freaking luggage and everything in it.

But that said, the kids are having a great time at Disney. First off, as a total newbie, I had no idea that Disney was so big. And it is first class.

Jenn and I had agreed that we would take Caleb and Emily on a "slow, easy" first roller coaster so as to ease them into the experience of thrill rides. This was a very good suggestion from Kris. So on day #1 (Sunday), we made our way into the Magic Kingdom, and subsequently threw our plans to the wind, and boarded THUNDER MOUNTAIN. Both Caleb and Emily are beyond minimum height (even though Emily is 3). Well, I sat with Em, and Jenn with Caleb. As the coaster started off, it went through a dark tunnel to the first huge incline. Emily started screaming and crying, and Jenn & I looked at each other thinking maybe we made a mistake. Caleb was a little scared too. However, by the time we reached the tipping point, any tears turned to magnificent screams of happiness as we dropped down to make that first 3G turn. Next to me Emily is laughing and yelling "YEEEHAAAAWWWWW!" as we go up and down and all around the track. Caleb and Jenn in the car in front of me had their hands up in the air the whole way. It was fantatic. We finished the ride, and both Emily & Caleb hop out yelling "I WANNA DO THAT AGAIN!" And so we did, about 2 more times that day. And yesterday as well. And tomorrow we will. Caleb loves Space Mountain (Emily is a little too short), and all of us did Splash Mountain yesterday. Tomorrow we're hitting more roller coasters. They don't care so much for the shows -- a little too tame for them now. But there is a 20-minute 3D movie that is amazing. By the end of the days, we and our feet are crazy tired, and the kids are in bed by 7:30pm.

So that's the latest from Orlando. If you happen to find a suitcase with a red plastic tag labeled "Genovese", please grab it.

Night,

Matt

congratulations!

Hello Friends! First, Matt and Heather, we are so happy for you! So many changes! Thanks for sharing them with us, even though it takes precious energy just to tell us what's going on. Caleb, that's so exciting that you're learning a new sport! Jane is in to ballet, informally. She dances through the house and is getting quite good at it. She makes me say "Jane, when you're ready" before she begins a performance. I should go.. I'm supposed to be doing budget with Nate but I had to say hi!

Wash on, wash off

First day of Karate
Originally uploaded by mgenovese

Today was the first day of Karate class for Caleb. He has asked to attend "Samurai class" for quite some time. I had been a bit apprehensive because I don't want the Eastern religion aspects that can influence the art. Jenn called around and found a Karate school nearby us, and the owner / instructor is also a Christian; in fact, his kids went to Caleb's school. So we enrolled him, and today was day 1. He goes twice a week. The instructor is great with the kids, but simultaneously he teaches respect and confidence. I'm very happy with it.

Of course, after a day of Karate, I HAD to rent The Karate Kid, which we watched tonight over a dinner of homemade pizza. I get the feeling that in the coming week I will have to defend myself against the indefensible "crane" move.

Next Saturday (spring break week in Texas) we're heading out to Disney. Of course the kids have never been there, and neither have I. Jenn went several times as a kid, so she will be our guide! We just told Caleb and Emily today -- they're ecstatic. We'll post pictures; I'm bringing my laptop + camera.

Have a good night,

Matt