Okay, Sesame Place Completely Changed My Mood!

Kelsey ran right to Zoe and hugged her!
Still not a fan of carousel horses, but she likes the sleds
Floating in bliss down the river with Daddy
Kelsey and Dorothy! (Elmo's pet goldfish) on the stage of Elmo's World
Kelsey and Daddy in the toddler pool.

As a ride amusement park, Sesame Place was okay...however the water park is amazing! The shows are really great too! Kelsey especially loved Ernie's Water Works and the kiddie tidal wave pool, and the sandy beach...you actually feel like you've been to the ocean, except the water is fairly warm. It was a great day...not too hot and Kelsey had a great time. She was very well behaved and really enjoyed her time at the park. She ate fairly well (she shared my sandwich) and skipped her nap, yet wasn't really cranky. You can tell that she really appreciated going to see Elmo! Kurt and I had a great time too, we stayed until 7pm, which really surprised us. We had a really good time hanging out on the water park section. So much so that we planned to go to the beach today, and I was okay skipping it because I felt like we had been to the beach already...sat on a sand chair, dug my toes in the sand and the kiddie wave pool was the best because you waded out slowly and the water never got really deep. Unfortunately we didn't get shots of Kelsey dancing with glee in the Waterworks (pipes and fountains of all types shooting water into great jumping pools) because we took a lot of video at Elmo's world and ran out of memory. She really really loved it all...and so did we :)

The park is really well laid out...anyone going to Sesame Place, make sure you take water shoes and wear your suit under your clothes...life goes much easier! Plus kids not potty trained must have swim diapers on, easier to do this at home than have to buy one expensive diapy!

*not funny story...my cell phone rang the second we got out of the car...and I just said...this has to wait until Monday, I cannot talk to anyone at Sesame Place!

A Rant in Bullet Form...

• This is my only week of vacation until December and I've been working every single day. I'm not happy about it, but feel my hands are tied.
• I have so many things I want to rant about work...but won't in this space. I do have to say I am pretty disappointed to be nearing 48 and still having to face work paranoia. When does this stop?
• I have my 6 month review the day I go back to work. yuck.
• We took Kelsey to her first pediatric dental appointment and she freaked out getting xrays. She also has 3 cavities that they can see (so far!). The solution to the cavity problem isn't pretty at her age. I really feel that I've let her down. She hates getting her teeth brushed and some days I'm not as strong an enforcer. Well, that's now over and she's getting really watered down juice and we are fighting the teeth brushing 2x daily.
• Potty training...she's peed twice in her panties in her booster seat...pee all over the kitchen floor, literally 2 minutes after she's insisted she can't pee on the potty...she's simply just not ready.
• The weather hasn't been much fun this week. Every day its threatened to rain and we've postponed our plans...and it hasn't rained (except for yesterday) tomorrow come hell or high water we are going to Sesame Place.
• Sorry this isn't an inspirational post. We've had some fun this week, but I am just not in the mood.

Happy Birthday Kelsey!

Wow! I can't believe our beautiful girl is 3! She's not a baby or a toddler anymore --she's a full blown little girl. Kelsey had a great day, but the best is yet to come....her Princess Mermaid Party this weekend!

Notice Kelsey's birthday shirt...I am proud to say that her wishlist is completely checked off.
Presents...yes, a few!
Cake...cupcakes at daycare this morning (Mommy stayed up late to bake last night!)
Ice Cream...Carvel Ice Cream Cake! mmmmm
Balloons!...One Strawberry shortcake mylar heart balloon

She really loved her cake, and the Chinese food we had for dinner. But what she loved most of all was the people who love her most called to sing/wish her happy birthday on her special day. Thank you family! (and the bloggy family who posted many lovely things!)

p.s. here's a bonus shot of Kelsey's toes and my toes from last Sat's trip to the nail spa! She looooves her pink toes with the flowers! Can you believe how tan she gets?

3 word special July 4th edition

Hi All!

Here is my girl in all her focused glory looking intently at the parade on July 4th! (and notice my handsome hubby smiling adoringly at her!) She had a very special weekend... I have to say, I adore our town parade and have not missed one year in the 7 years we've lived here for the parade (we bought our house in 2000, but didn't live in it for the July 4th weekend) The parade focuses on the best our town offers and I have to say I tear up at times during the event (hey, I am sappy and fully admit it!) I especially LOVE the marching bands and the drum corps. I also love our local Lions although they do love to soak us with their water blasters! (Kurt is a Lion...but he's inactive right now) I like our town for its small town appeal...it feels very Mayberry-esque at times :)

After the parade (and the dunkin' donuts coffee!) we went to TRU and got our Princess a special birthday present...a Princess Tricycle! We also got a few other little goodies for the soon to be 3 year old (Wednesday!) we had a relaxing rest of the day.

On Saturday, Kelsey and I went out ourselves and did a few errands. We got some things for her big party next weekend and the best part is that we got matching pedi's (okay, she got a mani too along with some cool flowers on her big toes and thumbs!) She looooved getting her big girl special treatment at my local place and I was so happy that she was a good girl and enjoyed herself! Then we went to the pet store and got an aquarium for the kitchen. On Sat evening, we went to Janet and Mike's house for a holiday BBQ. Kelsey played in the pool with Daddy and had a wonderful time with her cousins.

On Sunday, Mommy got to indulge herself in some gardening (some badly needed weeding!) and then we did some food shopping and went to another holiday BBQ at our friends' house. Well, Kelsey almost ditched us for her 12 year old friends! (She and Lily call themselves big sister and little sister) and everything Lily did Kelsey wanted to do! :) Luckily Lily is very willing to be worshipped by little Miss Kelsey, and adores her! We had a great time and then the big kids and their families went to the fireworks and we came home.

Tomorrow is stitches removal time for me (my little back surgery) and my poision ivy is almost gone (although I might have encountered more today- we'll see) and this week is exciting for a few reasons...

1) My org's staff retreat (all the teams gathering in NJ from all over the country) and we have team meetings/presentations from Tues-Thurs.

2) Kelsey's birthday is Wed! She's gonna be the BIG 3! I can't believe tiny girl is going to be 3...she's growing up WAY TOO FAST!

3) Her family/friend party is next Sunday...so much to do...not enough time, but we'll get there!

Hope you all had a great holiday!

6 word challenge

A very sweet Panda Sister of mine challenged me to a 6 word sum up of my life. Here are the rules:



You need to describe your life in 6 words....link back to me and tag 5 other people (Leave them a comment to let them know you've tagged them)...It's that easy! This was a fun one!



Here is mine:

I feel very blessed right now.



Happy marriage of over 11 years- check

Wonderful and fun daughter - check

Family and friends I love - check

No skin cancer - check

Good job - check

Hubby has good job - check

Money in the bank - check

Wonderful daughter about to turn 3 - check!

Planning the Princess Mermaid Party of her dreams - double check!

Comfy and cozy home - check

gardens blooming - check

Great friends and family to celebrate the 3 day weekend - check

Freecycle fun - check



There is always a "but" BUT right now I just want to stop and smell the roses, the lilies and the lavender and enjoy my life.



Thanks Colleen! I am tagging YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU and YOU and anyone else who wants to play, consider yourself tagged!



I do have some great photos but need to download them from our camera, so that will have to wait another day.



Enjoy the holiday!