Splinter

Welcome to what I have named "splinter" in Indiana. The calendar says "spring" but the weather shouts "winter." I realize that then it should be called spinter or something but I like the added "l" because splinters are annoying and painful, just like the weather right now!!

It's supposed to warm up by next weekend so hopefully I will be able to say goodbye to splinter but in the meantime, snow is expected this week during my spring break.

We don't usually do much during spring break, our big trip is during fall break. It seems that prices are jacked up during spring break time and every place is busy so I avoid it and stay home.

We did spend our weekend in Columbus, Ohio. We love to attend Columbus Crew soccer matches and decided it was a great way to start off our spring break. We drove to Columbus on Saturday morning and went to the Easton Town Center so we could meet up with my mom, Eve, my cousin, and her daughter who went to the American Girl store. We shopped at a couple of stores then went to the hotel to check in.

After checking in and dinner, we headed to the match. It was their first home match of the season (First Kick) and the place was exciting. We had front row, corner seats, which ended up being awesome. There were some corner kicks and the players were so close to us!! I think the next time we go we will try to get the same seats. 

Someone lost a shoe on the roof of our hotel!!

We got up and left to come home early on Sunday morning. Something I forgot to mention is that hubby had pneumonia. He is slowly feeling better but he didn't feel like doing much. They also wanted to get home so they could watch the Kentucky game.

I had to board Penny for the weekend and am super bored without her. I can pick her up this morning and we are all ready to see her (except for the cats, I think).

Did anyone watch The Good Wife last night? WTH?

I think since this is my spring break, I am going to do a DIY week because I have a ton of little things to get done! Stay tuned for the first project!!

Vacations are planned!!

Well, we are finalizing our vacations plans.

For spring break, in less than one week, we will be spending one night in Columbus, Ohio to go to the American Girl store and to watch the Columbus Crew play.  We love watching the Crew play and try to do it as often as we can afford it. This year the four of us are going with my mom, cousin, and her daughter. We will also meet a cousin and her 2 daughters there (she lives in Columbus). The plan is to spend the day at the mall and go to American Girl. Then once the early evening hits, Xander, Joe, and I will be heading out to watch First Kick for the Crew. We will come home after spending one night. Not a huge spring break trip, but Joe has to work.

As for a summer vacation, we won't be taking one. It is hard on us financially to do much over the summer since I don't get paid. We will probably just relax and swim our summer away.

Then we have fall break. Last year, I told my kids that we wouldn't be going to Walt Disney World over fall break because we needed to take a family vacation. They were both mad, of course. I am so happy that they love the World as much as I do. I told them that if they could convince daddy to go with us as a family vacation then we could go. He didn't take much convincing. He hasn't been on a vacation with us since 2008 and he has never been to Florida in a month when the temperature isn't set on Hell. I think he will enjoy the mild temps and staying on property. He won't enjoy bus/transportation hopping like we have to do to get to certain restaurants so I will plan accordingly and make them close by. (Last year we took a bus to MK, walked to the monorail, and took it all the way around to the Contemporary, it took over an hour). We will even rent a car and go to Universal Studios for a day. He is excited about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they are supposed to have the other part opened up by this summer so he should be able to experience both. 

I found out one of my good friends and her family are going over fall break as well, although they won't be staying as many days. The kids are excited to have some other kids to hang with and to ride on the plane with. 

I have decided to stay at the Beach Club resort this year, since it holds 5 and is a deluxe resort. My friend also has 5 people but they will be staying at the Art of Animation. I insisted upon deluxe or Villas this time. I like the amenities better as compared to value. I did consider 2 value rooms, like we have had before, or the AOA but I really don't want to ever do value again. I like that the Deluxe resorts are closer to the parks and most of them have alternative transportation (boats, monorail). There are also little things like slides at the pools and the little curtains that separate the bathroom from the rest of the room, essential when you are traveling with teenagers. 

I have our restaurants chosen and am just waiting for my reservation window to open up. I am also waiting for the Disney calendar to open up that far so I can see what parks have EMH and then I can decide when we will go where. The resort is booked so I can start making payments and we have already customized our Magic Bands. I got a cute little packet in the mail today that had a magnet in it that had important Disney dates on it (my dining reservation date, Fastpass+ date, etc.).

I love making Disney reservations!!

Our Little Penny

I disappeared for awhile, sorry.

We got our new puppy on February 7th and we have spent most of our time taking care of her. We love our little baby so much.

We have also had some illness floating around our house (cough, congestion, etc.). 

Now, back to Penny. We named her Penelope Joy but we call her Penny. She is such a sweet girl. She has the best personality. She loves our cats but they seem to hate her, although Purry seems to like her about half of the time so I am hoping a friendship can come out of these two.

We are dying to take her to visit my moms dog but her dog had Parvo last summer and we are concerned about Penny. She won't have all of her immunizations until mid-April, so we are waiting until then to introduce her to other dogs.

We have had to potty train her inside on puppy pads and it is making me crazy but Indiana has had LOTS of snow since January. The snow in our yard was taller than little Penny, so I didn't have anywhere to take her outside.

She has grown a little since we got her. On February 7th she weighed exactly 2 pounds. Three weeks later she was up to 2 pounds 4 ounces. She is still tiny but she can now fit into her extra small sized jacket and snowman jammies :)

Here are some pictures I have taken the last month:

Her first day at home!

She fits in Xanders sweatshirt pocket.

Hope you have a good Monday!!