A regular Sea World visit with a bonus prize!

It was a normal day at Sea World, a place we often visit. We looked at some animals, watched the shamu show (we've got it memorized!) and then headed out over to the Pet's Rule show. While standing line I noticed a child holding a item that we could not live without. Since James wasn't going to the show with us (he was in charge of the sleeping baby) I began telling him about his mission... how he had to find the item the little girl was holding for our kids. Once he laid his eyes on said item it didn't even take him one second to agree. His reaction was hilarious to me. We both knew the severity of the situation.

So, while we stood in line behind the little girl with the item, with the kids staring it down and even trying to touch it.. James was off to secure it for us. I took the kids into the show, and James, that wonderful James, took care of business!

Here are the kids before the item was discovered.

And here it is.......giant stuffed Rudolphs with shiny red noses!! James had to win them at a carnival type basketball game - making 3 point shots. Once I knew the game was basketball I knew my hubby had it in the bag. I did not expect that he would win two, and was wondering how we were going to make them share. But look! He got two! Isn't he amazing! I was just as excited as they were.... matter of fact maybe more because I knew it was coming... they had no idea!

Capri. She wrapped Rudolph in her blankie, and hugged him tight. I don't doubt that in this moment she whisked off in her head to the Rudolph movie and is imagining herself there. How cute is that?

Capri and Rudolph taking a nap on the floor at the Manatees. Consequently, the manatees are being released back into the wild... so no more manatees at sea world. Don't know what we'll do, we spend a LOT of time there when we visit.

Still on the floor at the manatees.

JD feeding his Rudolph pretend food.

As I write this both Capri and JD are sleeping with their Rudolphs. And, at one point earlier this afternoon Capri put Rudolph's head in my purse straps and pretended he was pulling Santa's sleigh. That girl's got some imagination!

Stay tuned for another post soon, lots to share!

If you get a sec, look over on my mother in laws site - for some super cute Tella pictures! www.debsdailydribble.blogpsot.com - or click on "the way we are" on the side of my blog.

Things families share....

Families share lots of good things.

Here are some of the things our family shares.

Our family shares Nacho Cheese dip.

Our family shares seats on the couch.

Our family shares unsolicited kisses, or bites, or whatever you want to call this.

Our family shares smiles while opening presents.

Our family shares the present opening responsibility with Daddy.

Our family shares matching jammies.

Our family shares silly faces.

Our family shares craft-making for Christmas.

Our family shares homemade presents (don't look grandma, both of you!).

Wanna know what else our family shares? The FLU!

That's right, we're dropping like flies. Sharing the flu all around our house and our families houses. No pictures of that, for everyone's benefit. So here's hoping and praying that it's over by Christmas!

Don't you hate it when this happens?

Tella fell asleep in her carseat with her baby's foot in her face! I was laughing so hard when I saw her! Isn't it hilarious????

And, a sweet sister moment from Capri's christmas party at school. Clearly I'm very behind with posts... we've been so busy it's hard to find a spare moment. Hopefully after this weekend!

Mary, and JD's hand

This is Mary. She's holding Baby Jesus. 

Don't you just love her imagination? 

That's my dishtowel on her head, Tella's baby for baby Jesus, and the box of wipes in His manger. I did ask if I should take the wipes out, she said no. Shortly after this picture we went outside where the playground then became the stable and the only other neighborhood girl became a part of the game too. How cute is that??

(side note: The only other girl in the neighborhood told me she's not getting any presents for Christmas because they don't have any money. How sad is that? I told her that moving into a new house costs lots of money (they're our newest neighbors) and that she's so lucky because it's such a nice house! She agreed. I don't know if she's telling the truth or not, her Christmas list consists of two VERY expensive items. Maybe she thinks that because she's not getting those two items she's not getting anything? I don't know, she's only 8.  I found it interesting however that instead of playing outside with the rest of the kids, she sat next to me and wanted to keep talking to me. So sweet. I think maybe I'll have the neighborhood kids over to make Christmas cookies. And maybe we'll talk some more about Baby Jesus!)

This is Tella all cozy in my bed. She was cold so I laid her here and -voila! Sleepy baby!

Here is the removal of the bandage off of my ever-nude son's hand..

and his tiny boo-boo.. 4 stitches that we have managed not to mess up even though he's literally wild bouncing off walls...

Party -prep here I come.... Lord Jesus please hold back the rain till Sunday!!!

The surgery

Here are the pictures I managed to take the day of the surgery. I was the ONLY one in the hospital with a camera, and sometimes hospitals are weird about picture-taking so I only got a few. 

This is Capri (big sis) hiding her breakfast from her brother. He wasn't allowed to eat or drink at all after 8 am.... which is hard for a big three year old boy.

The entire hospital loved that he was in costume. Everyone talked to him and called him spiderman, which he wasn't too sure about. This is his pre-op blood pressure test:

In the waiting room with his new dinosaur, which he LOVED. Good thing too, 'cause we had to wait a LONG time.

Watching Kung Fu Panda with Daddy in the waiting room.

I tried to get a shot of the two of us waiting...little too close-up on JD..

*****I messed up my posts, so make sure you look at the post below this one to see the rest of the pictures*****

My little patient

Here he is in his final protest regarding the removal of his Spiderman costume. 

Still not happy about the gown..

Here he is in recovery eating his popsicle. This is the last picture I have at the hospital because shortly after this he LOST IT. He freaked out. I think he was in pain, confused, and that he reacts to anesthesia just like his mommy! Once we got him calmed down we were able to leave.... but he absolutely refused to get dressed so we walked out of the hospital with him in his undies. Not even one person batted their eyes at us, guess they're just used to that kind of stuff at Children's.  

At home, with new Dino and the bandage he hated. 

Here's the good news: his thumb is 100% operational!!! And after two days he didn't even need tylenol. He still has stitches, but only 4 of them and the incision looks great. 

I'm so glad to have this behind us.... just can't wait for those stitches to dissolve so we can move on!