Disney...part 1 of ????

I have tons of pics...so the next several days will be full of posts...

We had an amazing trip tp Disneyland, the kids LOVED it, and of course now their lives revolve around everything copyrighted by the Disney corperation (aka EXPENSIVE!!!!)

WooooHooo for 2!!!!!

Reese turned 2 on Friday. If you want to get techical we celebrated at a gas station and dined on Arbys. We were on our way back from Disneyland that day:) We celeberated a little early with a dinner with the princesses. Keegan HATED every moment of the characters being that close (some great pics to follow soon!!!!) but Reese really enjoyed the entire experience. She even went to bed that night pretending to talk to Snow White and Ariel and sang "Happy Birthday" to herself for about and hour.

Tonight we celebrated with cupcakes at home and our new family tradition of everyone wearing a silly hat (we have a large dress up closet due to my obsessive costume shopping after Halloween last year!!!!)

Here are a few pics from tonight...and once I am fully recovered from the Disney magic I will post LOTS of other photos!!!

The family in their "party hats"!!!!

I think I look rather good in the sombrero:) Do you like Keegan's pimp hat???

Reese in her hat...ready for any danger that may arise from that candle!!!!

Mmmmmmm...cupcakes!!! Keegan wanted to make cupcakes for Reese...how sweet is that!!!

Reese with her 2 favorite gifts...her Minnie Mouse with a wardrobe and her cool new shades:)

and now for the sentimental part of the bday post....

I know every mom says she cant beleive how big her kids are getting, how fast the time flies by, and to enjoy every moment. I always felt like those were just cheesy lines that unorginal moms came up with to describe their parental journey. So, here I sit, truly feeling all those sentiments...and there is really no better way to describe the experience of watching your children grow. I would like to think of myself as an extremely honest person, and I am comfortable admiting that being a parent is the most difficult thing I have ever done and that most of my days are far from the image of picnics in the park and baking cookies that I had imagined. Yet, here I am thinking about my baby girl turning 2 and it is hard to complain. It really is all worth it. I have a beautiful, healthy, feisty and funny little girl...and I really have no idea where the last two years went. I remember the overwhelming feeling of having the responibility of an infant when Keegan was born. Then Reese was born and it seemed like 10 times the work rather than the double work load I was expecting. I kept setting little goals like getting through the first month, then the first 3 months, then getting her sleeping through the night, then the first year. At the time I felt like I couldnt get through some days and now I have a two year old who is very independent and sweet with a little dash of rotten and myschevious!!!!

So...as I sit here I cant help but be very proud of Kurt and I for getting through the last few years with lots of smiles, laughs, and amazing memories to make the sleep deprivation and temper tantrums seem trivial. We really are blessed to have each other and to get to be in the front row to witness two little people experience all that life has to offer.

So...take a little stroll down memory lane with me. Here are some pics from Reese Elizabeth's first 2 years on this earth:) We love you Reesie Cup!!!!!

Reese's 1st smile:)

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We just cant get enough...

You would think a pilot and his wife would get bored with airplanes...but its just doenst happen!!!! We were fortunate enough for our honorary squadron commander to open his home and his hangar to us this weekend,,,and we even got some rides in some really cool airplanes. What an amazing day...and to make it even better Kurts parents and sis are here so we didnt have to take the kids!!!!

We have decided that when we retire we are going to live on an airpark...although we havent quite figured out how we will afford the airplane yet:) Good thing we have some time to figure these thinsg out!!!!

Kurt flew in a WWII T-6 and I got to fly in a Stearman bi-plane...and even got to go fly with my good friend Jasmine (who will from this point forward be refered to as my wingwoman and we will only use call signs!!!!)

Oh...and the first pic is of Kurt and baby Jude...the latest addition to the Hoolie clan!!! I had to include it b.c he is just so cute!!!!

Enjoy the pics!!!!

There is no place like home...

The kids, Nonnie and Joe-Pa, and I (yes, mismatched grandparents...but the other ones were working) spent the afternoon at Jeffery Mansion. This was one of my favorite places when I was little...and to this day I just dont think a trip back to OH is complete without a visit. This is one of those times that I am reminded of exactly how long Kurt and I have known each other. When you used to hang out at the same park you know you go WAY BACK!!!! Kurts mom even pointed out to the kids that Kurt and his sister planted the tulips out front when they were little.

Kurt and I used to go there all the time when we were in highschool. It was our little romantic spot. I even have pictures of us in highschool hanging out there. Of course I didnt take a walk down by the water since Reese is a crazy woman and I envisioned some sort of rescue diver needed at the end of the day. Life sure has changed!!!! Kurt and I are so blessed to have most of our family in one place...and to pretty much have the same memories to look back on. I hope one day our kids appreciate this...and maybe even live somewhere long enough to establish their own little military kiddo version of home sweet home!!!