Hope everyone is recovering from the festivities. Belated Happy Birthday Brooklynn. Looks like many crafty people in this family put their talents to good use!
I had to quote the above because it reminded me of my Dad. When Declan was turning 1, my Dad said to me that he didn't realise how much a little person would change his life and what a priviledge it is to be a grandparent. I can tell you feel the same.
Jill, John, and Brooklynn left a few minutes ago. The house is quiet, and the cat is beginning to come out of hiding. He stays in my room the whole time they are here, because he's afraid of Ben, their dog.
Being a grandparent is like being a parent again. That intense love just renews within you. Being the kid at heart that I am, I just love playing with Brooklynn like I did with Jill. Jill and John went to the mall today, and Brooklynn and I stayed here and watched her movie of choice for today, which was Toy Story. Then she tried on her dress and heels again and thought she was stylin'! She kept falling off of them, and I laughed at her and she laughed at me laughing at her. She ate a Cars 'ogurt' a little later, then helped me start getting her stuff, which was strewn all over the house, gathered up. Just an afternoon of doing nothing special really is special when you're with someone you love so much.
(I have to confess, I have never seen Monsters Inc) How I missed it I do not know because we have every Disney movie. Today I will watch it, in honor of Brooklynn.

To add to the previous post, my mom feels she is very blessed to get to live with her grandkids. She says she wouldn't have it any other way. (I'm sure she doesn't love the mess that comes with them.

)
I hope you like the movie. They are supposedly planning a new Monsters, Inc. ride in the
Pixar Place section of Hollywood Studios that is like one already out in California. I've read that in several places on the Dis. We'll see.
Jill is constantly trying to get me to move to Alabama, but I have my steady job here, and I would hate to have to start new down there. Luckily, it is a hair under a two hour drive, so it's not awful, and we see each other once or twice a month, depending on holidays and such.
When the Block Party starts, do people go running toward an area where the parade actually stopped? So it's like a mad rush and people cram into a little area to watch it?
I think it's so strange that the parade just stops and you only get to see one section. I think it would be neater if it stopped, and started, but then slowly moved forward so you got to see all the different parts. Otherwise it looks like a really fun parade! We love the Pixar movies, so I hope we can snag a good seat somehow.
You'd have to see it twice or three times to see about all of it. It stops twice - once where we were up toward the hat and then again nearer to the Sounds Dangerous area.
awwwwwwww......i'm so flattered that you thought of me! how nice! i wish i could've attended the big party. looks like it was a blast!
Jill decided to have a little fun with you and Erica. We would have loved for all our Dis friends to have come!
Yea! all caught up!
Hope Brooklyn had a great party.
She did. Are you recuperated yet? I am so sorry to hear about your kitty, and I feel bad for Declan who is hurting over his little buddy.
You girls are SO creative!
I love the sign!
And, Jill, you are an awesome cupcake designer!
Didn't they both do a good job? The whole party was a team effort. Everyone had multiple jobs and went at them well.
Awesome cupcakes!!!!!
great sign!!!!!
I agree.
Wow the cupcakes and sign are both gorgeous! Happy belated birthday Brooklynn
Kristi wanted to start over on one of the cutouts because she didn't cut it exactly even. She's nuts - that sign was great!
The party looks fun! Kristi did a nice job on the sign, I love her lettering. And those cupcakes look WONDERFUL!!!! I'm impressed with your decorating skills Jill! I'm envious! The one cake I tried to make ended up being a flat mess!!! I guess I wasn't meant to be a baker!
What kind of cake were you trying to make?
Matt's b-day is the 5th!!
I'm glad you guys had a great birthday! You did a wonderful job!! Can't wait to see all the pics
You're next trip is coming soon too!!
Are you taking Matt to Disney World for his birthday?
Hope you've now seen and enjoyed the pictures.
I don't need you helping Jill rub it in about her October trip, thank you very much!!!
I thought I'd tell you who some of the people in the pictures were, if you are interested.
John's mom and dad - although I'm not sure I saw them in any of these pictures. I'll have to look. I know they were in a couple.
John's older sister (scheduled to have her second son on Christmas Day) and her husband, along with their son
John's brother and his fiance
Trent, Kristi, and Kristi's mom
Jarvis, a friend of Trent's
Drew, me, Jill, John, and Brooklynn
Cousins on our side:
Dawn, her daughter, son-in-law and their two boys, Carson and Parker
Kelly, her daughter and son-in-law and their two boys, Kemper and Dean
I think that's it. Now you can go back and look in the pictures and figure out who goes with whom, if you're really enterprising!
Here are more that might show some of the people who didn't make it into the other pictures. Jill was getting a headache, as well as hurrying because they needed to head home, when she was posting. Hopefully, she is getting a nap in the car.
Here's Sloan, Dawn's son-in-law, walking baby Parker.
Parker was a huge surprise to Sloan and Brandy. He and Carson are seventeen months apart!
John's parents are in the background of this one.
Goodbye hugs from the boys.
You may have noticed that all the cousins are boys!
Did you see any of my Disney touches throughout the house? The picture above where Kristi and her mom are sitting has Disney sandpails. It's new from this trip, and I love it!