Spring Break 2010

This year for Spring Break we had a STAY-cation.  So exciting, I know.  It was actually a lot of fun to have Bart all to ourselves.
On Monday evening for Family Home Evening, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as a family.  We also went out to eat at Cheesecake Factory and shared our favorite meal.  Whitney even got to meet the Easter Bunny at Polaris Mall.  Who knew it was free?  I don't have any pictures of the Easter Bunny- but Whitney was very fascinated with it's long ears and big feet.

We went swimming in the indoor pool.  It was definitely a high light.  Whitney HATED it at first, but then didn't want to get out.  She even went under water quite a few times.

Here are some pics from our little overnight trip:


When we first checked into our room, Whitney found this little closet and she played in it over and over and over.  She only smashed her fingers and toes a few times. She LOVED exploring her new surroundings.

She's taking the lead down the hallway and loved to run by all the doors.

Inside the elevator.  She didn't want me to pick her up.

At The Cheesecake Factory.  She ate her food and then played in this area.  Luckily, there weren't too many other people eating there so she had the run of the place.

Not wanting to be in Mommy's arms, again.

When we got back to the hotel, Whitney was READY to put on her suit.  I LOVE this swimsuit.  Whitney got it from her Auntie Juliana.  Her cousin, Brooklyn, has the same one.  Can't wait to see the two of them in twinner suits this summer. 

And yes, she was saying "Cheese!"  and posing for the pictures.  She loved being in this bathing suit. 

Daddy fixing the straps.  It's still a little big.

Ready to swim!

So, at first I was thinking, "Oh boy!"  Here's Whitney NOT loving the water.  She hated that tube thing. 

After we got her out, she started to like it.  Although it took her a while to warm up- she was very upset when we took her out.  

Belaxing...

That night was... interesting.   We actually drove back to our house so we could get milk and cereal for breakfast the following morning.  (We didn't know we'd have a fridge in the room.)  Whitney fell asleep as we drove in the car.  So we took her up to the hotel room and put her in the pack-n-play.  She slept for 1 hour and then was freaked out when she woke up.  We pulled her into bed with us, and she laid in bed- SILENT for 2 hours.  All she did was pick at her upper lip.  Finally, around midnight, she fell asleep in our bed.  Then at 4 am, after the worst 4 hours of sleep of my life, Bart put her back in the pack-n-play and she slept until 8 am.  Needless to say, we ALL took naps the next day.  

After we went swimming in the morning, we showered and got ready to leave:

I love my face in this picture.  Please don't tell me I make this face a lot.

Whitney and me

Whitney & Bart

The happy & tired family:

Goodbye Crowne Plaza... it was fun!  (And yes, our whole Spring Break had this awesome overcast weather.  Thank you, Ohio!)

Little Red Wagon

Her eyes were green with ENVY when Lexie rolled in... on that little red wagon.  No longer did she care for the chocolate muffin ("mussin" as she calls them) or "Coco" (that's yogurt in Whitney language) that she was eating.  She didn't even care about the extremely stinky gorilla exhibit.  She just wanted "in".  No time to wipe the muffin & yogurt off her face.  Whitney thinks Lexie is hilarious.  Full belly-rolling chuckles whenever Lexie is around.  Good thing they get to hang out every Friday night.  

Here's a couple of pics.  

This next one is funny.  I like that sassy look on Whitney's face. 

 It's like, "Mom- stop taking pictures, you're embarrassing me."  

Think Spring

The last couple of days were beautiful.  Sunny, bright and so pretty outside.  We can see little green sprouts in our front yard.  Spring is on it's way.  This is such a fun time of year.  Here's Whitney discovering some Easter eggs.  

Sunday Morning

Our church starts at 9 am on Sunday.  Bart has meetings that require him to be there at 8:15 am.  Because I have no idea how to take out the forward facing car seat- and I have yet to learn, we opt to ride with Bart to church and hang out for about 45 minutes before it starts.  

This was yesterday.  I did her hair after we got to church.  Wet it down, brush out the snarls (she HATES this) and then put in a little something to control the mane.  And then Whitney feels like she owns the entire building.  Walks through the gym, in and out of the classrooms looking for all the people yet to arrive.  She likes to say, "Kids?"  and holds up her little hands.  Oh, sweetie- they're coming! 

 I found my camera in my diaper bag and took a few shots.

Side view:

Looking through some pamphlets- ready to share the Gospel!

And this was when she discovered that I was taking pictures.  She's in the middle of saying "CHEESE!"  She calls the camera "CHEESE!"  Then I have to hide the camera before she gets her grubbies on it.  

Luckily there was only water in that sippy.  It's all over her yellow sweater.

Cookies

Whitney loves chocolate chip cookies.  Who can blame her?  They're my favorite too.  Just before bed, all in her jammies, we decided to whip up a "pre-made" batch of Betty Crocker cookies.  I had my doubts that they would taste very good, but they were actually quite delish!   And it only took about 20 minutes from start to finish.  Whitney was very patient the whole time we were mixing, putting the dough on the cookie sheets and watching them bake in the oven.  She lost her cool when she saw and smelled the finish product and they were too hot to eat.  Finally, when she couldn't stand it any longer, she got her very own chocolate chip cookie.  She loved every minute of devouring that tasty treat.  

 

Mixing with Mommy

What a big helper!

It was all worth it!

Franklin Park Conservatory

Did you know that the first Wednesday of each month from 5-8 pm, there is free admission to the Franklin Park Conservatory?  I didn't until yesterday when we went.  There are pretty gardens, lots of trees and even some HUGE goldfish that Whitney loved.  I love freebees.

We tried to keep Whitney in her stroller most of the time, but then we let her out.  She was going wild.  It was like a dream come true and she booked it as fast as she could down all the winding paths, up and down the stairs.

But by the end she was tired and hungry-- still, didn't want to leave, though.  It was a good time had by all!  Glad we went and hope to do it again!

Icicles

Since we got back from Christmas break, it had been snowing, cold, blustery, or as they say on the news a "Wintry Mix"  No, that's not a misspelling, that's really what they call it.  It bugs me.  Anyway, we've been cold.  Ohio winters are long and freezing and gray and not very pretty.  This week the sun has finally come out today- and I am oh-so-thankful.

Around Valentine's Day we took these pictures of the icicles on the window to our back bedroom.  Just so you get a rough idea of how big icicles get here, I've posted some pictures of one that Bart ripped off the gutter.  I do think icicles are pretty and some houses had them all the way from the roof to the ground.  We weren't quite that lucky.