by Sarah | Dec 31, 2015 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Home, All About Indiana, All About Kennedy, All About Marriage, All About Me, All About Molly, All About Ripley, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
Tonight is a night of reflection. When we all look back on the year that’s past and examine it, and then look forward to the coming year and anticipate what’s coming.
A breath of hope.
Of change.
Of life.
To look back on my 2015 I can sum it all up with one simple word.
More so in the last 1/3 of the year, but definitely, all around, chaos.
There was much good to be had – Disney (again), getting my son back from the land of emo teenager, book releases, returning to the community theater stage (w/ my whole family, no less) good moments with friends and family.
There were also rough times – my dad’s downward spiral into some pretty bad Parkinson’s symptoms, working triple time at the day job, my publisher closing, and some pretty hurt feelings on my part (sorry, vagueposting that).
The last third of the year it felt like I couldn’t even take a breath we were so insanely busy. Between the play, Disney, work life and home life, I got hardly any writing done, hardly any breathing done.
Now it’s time to step back and take a breath. To look to the upcoming year with hope and excitement.
I see more chaos in the coming year for certain. I see myself setting more lofty goals for myself. I see big changes for my family’s dynamic as one bird flies from the nest. I see growth for my book sales, and moving closer to my dream of being able to stay at home again. I see excitement as more of my Buffalo family moves to Indiana.
So I welcome 2016 with a certain level of anticipation and calm acceptance.
I look forward to whatever it brings me.
by Sarah | Oct 8, 2015 | All About Denver, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Cystic Fibrosis, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Personal, Redefining Perfect, Special Needs
The past four months have been chaotic and filled with a secretive sort of excitement.
Denver has us keeping a rather large secret from the girls.
We are returning to Disney this fall!
I have been scrambling for dining reservations, suitcases, and other necessities that I have to sneak into the house and hide from the girls.
Because they do NOT know.
Part of Denver’s wish at Make A Wish was to keep this whole thing a big, fat, humongous secret from his two little sisters.
So we are whispers, sneaking, and super secret planning and count-downing. Texting ideas instead of saying them out loud.
Oh, we’ve nearly been caught several times…but any time the girls hear Disney or we discuss anything in front of them, it’s “in 2021”. (For the record, we are planning a trip in 2021 that will be larger in scale and involve good friends along for the ride)
2021 is a great cover story when we get caught.
But we are going back…and the teen and I are making a serious effort for real planning.
We have secured all the reservations we REALLY wanted (getting into the parks early! Yay!). We’ve scoured maps and discussed what was missed last year and will not be missed again. We’ve supplied ourselves with a bunch of pins for trading (and keeping!!). We’ve watched and re-watched all the Disney shows to be had (thank you, Destination America) until our DVR broke.
In 20 days from now, a limo will arrive bright and early while the girls are still in bed. We will have everything packed and ready to go and we’ll burst into the girls room yelling that they’re late for school and rush them outside to the waiting limo!!
The excitement is palpable.
The countdown is a way to get us through the rough days.
And there have been a lot of them these days.
Thank goodness for the mouse.
by Sarah | Sep 17, 2015 | All About Erik, All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
When we first got married, Erik was pretty big into the Simpson’s. Me? Not so much. At one point I bought him a season or two on DVD, but over time the Simpsons sort of faded off into the background. Erik will still enjoy an episode now and then, but it isn’t all-consuming.
When we spotted Bart & Homer at Universal it was tough to get anyone in the house to get a picture, but then Erik decided to go for it and his adoring little daddy’s girl went along for the ride (seriously, look at how she’s just staring at him…awwww).
However…
Apparently all you had to say was “Duff Beer” and “Moe’s” to get the hubby fully on board. When he saw the Duff Beer stand he went nuts…and then when the front of Moe’s pub was free, we had to get a picture. Erik HAD to go to Moe’s, and he HAD to get a beer.
Because that’s what you do if you’ve ever been a Simpson’s fan and end up in Springfield.
It’s just what you do.
You have to.
by Sarah | Sep 3, 2015 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All of Us, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
Kennedy had never been to a theme park before.
Ever.
No roller coasters. No thrill rides of any sort.
Day one at Universal – she rode ALL the roller coasters.
We started with Escape from Gringotts and from there…IT WAS ON.
Every possible thrill ride she could go on, she did. She got MAD when she wasn’t tall enough. She wanted to ride them ALL!
Flight of the Hippogriff? Check. Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall? CHECK! If it spun, flipped, soared, fell, or raced, Kennedy was on it.
The thrills continued at Disney World. First day, first ride – Space Mountain. Kennedy and I rode it twice. The Rockin’ Roller Coaster was another huge hit.
By the time we left Disney we’d bought Kennedy a shirt that declared her a “Thrillseeker” because holy cow was she ever! This child LOVES being scared.
When it came to the Dragon Challenge at Universal – she was not tall enough. She was SO MAD. She actually forbade Erik & I from riding it (we did anyway, because DUH)…and has since insisted on regular measurements to see if she’s tall enough yet for the ride. Even though she’s going to be 14 the next time she’s aware she’ll be going again, she wants to know the minute she’s tall enough for that ride (for the record, she broke the height requirement in August).
So watch out…our little thrillseeker is ready to take over the world and every single theme park ride you can throw her way…because she’s ready to take them all on.
by Sarah | Aug 27, 2015 | All About Family, All About Molly, All of Us, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
For a few years now, Molly has insisted from her back-seated position that she can drive. There is no doubt, no quiver, no way to dispute her surety that she can drive. She’s ready to beat Denver to the punch (although he’s just finally signed up for Driver’s Ed, so she won’t).
So imagine her consummate joy when partway through Tomorrowland she discovered there were CARS she could DRIVE!!!
Oh my heavens, we absolutely HAD to go and do it.
And go we did.
Molly wasn’t too far off. She can drive. Yes, there were rails to follow which surely helped her out some, but overall she was a pro.
She was so happy, so thrilled, to be driving.
When we got out on that road she would have been happy had it never ended.
And so would have I.
The joy on her face was incomparable.
Indescribable.
And no one dares tell her she can’t drive anymore (well, except for that legal issues of age).
by Sarah | Aug 13, 2015 | All About Denver, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
As if it wasn’t clear yet by my bevy of posts – we had an amazing time at Disney and Universal in Florida. I have only scratched the surface of the stories to tell, and best we’re going back in a couple of months to make some new stories.
However, for all the wonder and fun we had, there were a few hiccups in the road.
Our first few days, the three final days of October, were gorgeous. Beautiful weather. Low 70’s, sunny, low humidity. Just flat out amazing.
Then November 1st dawned.
A high of 47 degrees and strong winds. I mean, strong.
So we put on our jeans and returned to Universal for our last day with one thing in mind…well, for Erik and I.
The one ride we’d missed on our first day. The Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster. Erik had been intimidated by it, but after a few days of roller coasters, he was ready to try the intimidating coaster.
Yeah.
Remember that detail about the weather?
Strong winds?
The ride was closed. Because of the high winds, and the intense height of the coaster, it wasn’t safe to run that day.
Of course we still had plenty of fun that day, but we were sorely disappointed that we’d missed this ride.
And yes, we’ve already said that the first ride we go on this year is the Rip Ride Rockit. We aren’t chancing another turn in the weather.
