The Most Magical Place On Earth

Tyler has now graced the doors of Disney on both coasts! Not too shabby for a 1 year old, especially since it took nearly 40 years for me to do so! We headed out shortly after school ended to show Tyler the sights and sounds of our favorite place...Walt Disney World! Grandpa and Mimi drove to FL and got our condo all ready for our arrival. I flew with the kids on Saturday and they were both wonderful on the trip. The plane wasn't full, so we had an extra seat for Monkey Pants to move around a bit.




Once in Orlando, we checked out the fantastic digs that Mimi & Grandpa had found...it turned out to be an amazing condo complex just minutes from Disney. It had an awesome park with a lawn chess set (which Jack LOVED) and a spectacular zero-entry pool with a toddler fountain area. Both kids enjoyed the surroundings at the condo. And he slept so well there! The condo had a pack n play and Tyler slept in my room with me. He slept just as well as he does at home. What a great traveler!




Disney was perfect, as usual. We took Tyler to the Magic Kingdom, where the boys both got a new set of Mouse Ears. This was Tyler's first pair and they are adorable!!!


The boys enjoyed riding in a double stroller together...it was so cute!!


It was really hot!!! Summer has come early to Florida. Tyler was really good about it all, even in the heat and without stopping for a nap!



I LOVED watching Tyler interact with the characters at the Winnie the Pooh lunch buffet at the Crystal Palace. He wasn't afraid at all and tried to kiss Pooh on the nose!!




Tyler enjoyed several of the rides. Jack really enjoyed sharing his love of Disney with his brother. We spent time in EPCOT and Hollywood Studios as well. It was ALL FUN!!!



One day during our stay we went to Melbourne to see Jack's doctor. After our visit there, we headed out to the beach for a picnic and some fun in the sun. The boys were cute together playing in the sand. Jack ran up and down the beach in and out of the waves while Tyler took a more timid approach, keeping a (small) distance from the water. It was a wonderful day.





Our last day in Florida we went to the Contemporary Hotel to have lunch and watch the monorail go through the building, which is a cool sight to see!



Then we headed to the airport and back to Nashville to see our hardworking Daddy!!! It was a great vacation and a great beginning of what is sure to be a fun summer!


Bye Disney! We can't wait to come back again soon!!!

Sprinkled with Sweetness

If you didn't happen to drive by this afternoon, you missed seeing our boys playing in the sprinkler. It was a blast for both boys. Here's a little taste of our fun. If you happen to drive by on another day and see us out there, feel free to stop by or honk!





Tyler LOVES LOVES LOVES this car. I picked it up off of Craigslist and he is oh so glad that I did!!! It isn't easy getting him to park his car in the garage after a "drive".

A Family Tradition...

Tradition. An inherited pattern of thought or action. Licking the beater after Mom makes icing? Well, that's a tradition that spans both the Halbert and Quist families. Scott remembers getting to lick both beaters after his mom's yummy pound cake. He says that batter was just as good as icing! And at our house, thre were 3 of us fighting for the two beaters full of icing...me, my brother David, and DAD!! He LOVES icing as much as we do!

This week our boys got to experience this tradition for the first time together. After making some icing for a cupcake for Jack to take to a birthday party, I gave each of the boys a beater full of icing. They were happy, quiet and still. Jack was reluctant to give up the empty beater and Tyler actually cried! Grandpa was proud that they had experienced this right of passage together...

Do you like it, Tyler??

Finger lickin' good!

Delicious!! Can we have some more!?

Leavin' On a Jet Plane - WISH ME LUCK!!!!

It is nearly "go" time and I'm getting a wee bit nervous. The kids and I are headed to a fun filled vacation to Disney World tomorrow. And that is FANTASTIC. My parents will be vacationing with us, and that is also FANTASTIC. However, I have to take both kids on the plane alone tomorrow in order to experience said awesome vacation. Oh, and I need to bring them both home alone on the plane too. Not so FANTASTIC.

Jack is a veteran air traveler. Has been flying to FL and various other states (CA, MA, IL to name a few) since he was a tot. He's a pro.

It isn't my eldest that has me concerned. It is my energizer bunny of a toddler! Whew, this little guy keeps me on my toes! See where he likes to hang out???



Good thing he's so cute!

I'm not sure how we are going to convince him that lap sitting for 1.5 hours on a plane is a good idea. Yes, I know the benadryl trick, but I'm not going to try it. Not my style. He'll most likely eat his weight in dry snacks and pummel his brother and me by standing and catapulting from seat to seat. Sure, he's flown before, twice to be exact. And he did great. But as you can see below, those were different, more contained, times.

Here are a few pictures from our last jaunt to Disney. We had a great time in CA at Disneyland in November. Tyler was 10 months old and understood his "job" of sitting in the stroller.


We didn't have to carry him too often and he even napped in the stroller when he got tired!



I'm sure it will be an adventure that will leave us with some good "Tenacious Toddler Tyler" stories!

Regardless, we plan on having an awesome time at our favorite stomping grounds. Jack is ready to show Tyler the ropes of his most favorite vacation place of all time! I hope the park is ready for US!!!!

"See" ya when we get back!!!

There's No Place I'd Rather Be (Than Outside)

Toddler Tuesday

Spending a little time in Tyler's favorite place, the Outdoors...

Meeting Cousin Preston

The boys and I headed to Birmingham for a long overdue visit to Meemaw's house. Tyler tried to say "Meemaw" but it came out more like "EENAH". We'll take it, though!

Cousin Lindsey came over on Friday to visit and brought her sweet 10 week old baby, Preston, for us all to meet. Tyler kept wanting to pat Preston's head and would push Meemaw's hand away as she tried to shield Preston from all the overzealous lovin' that Tyler was giving!



Before Lindsey and Preston left, the boys took turns, literally, kissing Preston's head. I'm not sure that Preston enjoyed it whatsoever, but our two had a fantastic time showering their 2nd cousin with affection.



Sweet baby Preston...he's such a cutie!!! Congratulations, Lindsey and Brad!



We can't wait for the holidays this year! With Tyler, Logan and Preston in the mix, family events are bound to be a lot more interesting!