McDonalds Convention 2012

Every two years there is a worldwide McDonald's convention held in Orlando.  The restaurant franchise owners come to see the latest and greatest products.  They have everything McDonalds related that you can imagine - different types of ice makers, drive through windows, play equipment, happy meal toys, restaurant furniture, new food products, technology upgrades, etc.  Ben manages commercial insurance accounts at an insurance brokerage firm (did I say that right, dear?) and most of his clients are McDonald's accounts.  So, people from his office go to meet their clients and network and whatnot.  I think of the 8 or so people who went Ben is the only one who brought his spouse.  They probably think we're really silly and young and entertainment deprived (which we are) that we would look forward to it.  But this is our third time going and we always have a splendid time.

My parents watched Sadie and Jax (they were already feeling much better by Monday, although, now they have rashes and it turns out they have Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease - YUCK! But at least they're feeling better).  We tried to get McKay to sleep in the crib (shown below) but he didn't like it.  So, Moe and I slept in one bed and Ben slept in the other.  It reminded me of the cruise we went on where we accidentally booked a room with bunk beds.

Get me out of here people!

If I smile will you get me out?

Monday evening we had a wonderful dinner at the Melting Pot.  We were worried how McKay would do because we were there nearly two and a half hours but he actually did great.  He LOVED the food, too.  He gnawed on the apples for probably 45 minutes.  It was such a fun evening.

Feed me!

Yummy apples, dad!

Dessert was DELICIOUS!

He fell asleep on the drive back to the hotel.

The next morning we quick ate breakfast and got ready and headed to the convention center.  I had planned to work out to undo the damage from the night before but time did not permit.  Had I known how much food was at the convention center we just would have skipped breakfast and I would have worked out.  Hindsight is always 20/20.

Inside the convention center they had brought in 5 full McDonald's restaurants and they serve free food all day.  Some of the products are also new items that are being added to the menus.  Everything inside is free - they had LOADS of food, not just McDonald's but ALL kinds.  You just walk up and take whatever you want, as much as you want.  I totally over ate this trip.   I think I gained back in one day the pound that had taken me two weeks to lose.  But it was worth it!

   

That afternoon McKay and I went shopping and then we headed home.  Ben and I were so excited to see Sadie and Jax.  However, they were only semi-excited about seeing us.  The whole drive home they kept saying, "I don't want to leave!" "Want Mimi house"  "Turn round" (didn't even know Jax knew that phrase until he barked it at us).  I guess they had fun, too!  

Special thanks to Lowell Fuller for giving Ben a job.  Ben would have just graduated from Optometry school last year had this job not come along.  We're happy where we are and grateful for what we've been given.

Crazy how much things have changed since the last convention.  This is the post from two years ago: http://bsakj.blogspot.com/2010/04/orlando-disney.html.  

Sick Kiddos

We spent our weekend cuddling sick children.  They have fevers and they're very lethargic.  McKay is about over his ailment but the other two are still struggling.  Sadie's fever got up to 103.  She always gets higher fevers than the other two.  Poor baby.  

He's such a sweet, attentive father.  

Jax fell asleep like this tonight.  He was actually trying to poop and just didn't have the strength and layed his head in my lap and fell asleep.

McKay crawled up and wanted his picture taken, too. He's feeling better.

Sadie doesn't want us to leave her side....so we don't.

We've been watching old church videos all day.  This is It's A Miracle.  VERY entertaining!

All day she's said, "Daddy can I hold you?"

This weekend has reminded me of Sadie's first two years of life and how hard they were.  She was always sick or uncomfortable.  At 22 months things changed; not sure what sparked the change.  It just isn't fair that she had such a rough start to life, and she's been trying to catch up ever since.  I love her.  I'm so grateful for her usual good health and strong little body!

My family is my greatest happiness.  I'm so grateful for them.    

Updates

Updates:

1) My kids have fevers.  It's very sad and pathetic.  They don't have runny noses or coughs...just fevers.  McKay is especially pathetic and adorable.  I think it's going to be a long night.  He still gets up to eat at 12, 3, and 6. (Some nights it's only 2:30 and 6).  I didn't think it could get much worse than that.  I think I was wrong.  

2) Jax went the entire day without a single accident.  Yeah for having only one child in diapers again!  It will probably still take another week or two before he's got it down perfectly but I think he'll get it figured out.

Today he pointed to a piece of paper with his name written on it and said totally out of the blue, "Jax - J-E-X."  I went over to see what he was looking at and sure enough...it was his name.  He's a clever one.  Even if he thinks his name is spelled J-E-X.  

3) I've been learning Lightroom this week (it's like photoshop) and LOVE it!  Thanks to my technological brother for getting it for me.

4) I feel like I should write something about Sadie.  I'll try to think of some of the funny things she's said lately.

• While in the car she said to me in reference of McKay, "Mom he is so cute. Can we keep him?" 
• Today I overheard Sadie talking to Jax while they were playing with cups and water in the shower and this is how the conversation went..."Mommy spider we need to kill your baby spider now." Pause. "Yup, he's dead Jax.  Good job little buddy.  Now we can finish our beautiful paintings."  I went in there to see what was going on, and there was not a spider in sight, thank goodness. 
• She's forever instructing Jax on our family rules..."Jax you need to share.  If you don't share it will make mommy cry buddy" or "Jax these are your big boy undies, you need to keep them dry or it makes big messes for mommy."  

I love her.

That's all.

Except, I don't think I can do a blog post without a picture.  

Here's one of Sadie and Andrew from this week.  Sometimes they're best friends and sometimes they're not.  Luckily this day they were both LOVING each other.  They kept running from dinosaurs and playing in the water fountain.  Jax trotted along behind them wherever they went, giggling all the while.  

And one more picture of my sweet, sleeping, sick baby....

Released

Ben was released on Sunday. My happiness knows no bounds :)  We're meeting with the new Bishop, Bishop May, on Wednesday.  We'll see what our future holds.  

Since my last post (10 minutes ago) Jax wet in the toilet perfectly.  I've never been so proud!

We have a busy week up ahead:

• Pool with the Smiths tonight
• Tuesday morning playdate with the Andersens and taking dinner to two families that night
• Wednesday my mom is coming up, we're meeting with Bishop that night, and I'm teaching the Web-lows about photography
• Thursday - can't remember, but I think I have something set up.  Oh dear, what is it?  There's a baptism that night - maybe that's it?
• Friday - Joy School in Seminole and date that night if we're lucky ;)
• Saturday - beach clean-up in AM.  I think that's all!
• Sunday - we're having a dinner party with ward members at our house.  We've been doing those once a month.
• Monday and Tuesday - Ben has a convention in Orlando and I think I'm going with him.  Not sure if we'll take all the kids or just McKay?

Here's pics from lately....

John's Pass

He never knows what to think of cold things.

Burying her Easter Bunny....again.

A walk one evening.....

I kiss him.

He kisses me back.

Makes me laugh every time I see it.

She tries to be serious when posing for pictures lately.

Playing with the neighbor girls on the trampoline.

My goal for the week....

What do you think - is 21 months too early to potty train?  We gave it a half-hearted trial run last week and he had a 50% success rate.  Not bad.  So, I'm going to give it my all this week and we'll hope for the best :)      Today we've had 3 accidents and 0 successes.  

  

Much Thanks & Going Ons

Well, thank you for the kind messages and words of encouragement regarding my Easter post!  My brother called me right after I posted and said, "You seem so normal and happy in person but then I read your blog." Haha!  Perhaps I'm too honest?  I find it therapeutic.

Anyways, church issues aside, life is actually wonderful. That sounds awful!  Life is only wonderful because of the knowledge I gain from church and the testimony that burns in my heart that I have a Savior who knows me and loves me and understands my challenges and provides comfort and sustains me in my trials.  It's because I understand the importance of church and desire for my children to have testimonies of the Savior too that I care so much about them being present and reverent in Sacrament meeting.  I love church!  I want my kids to love church, too.  So badly.

Anyways, that's not what this post is about....

Life is wonderful!  Ben is home lots more and even took a day off work recently just for fun.  The kids seem much happier, Ben seems less stressed, and I am feeling more relaxed.  I also love that the sun is setting late because it provides us with opportunities to go places and do fun things in the evenings.  I haven't been great about photographing our explorations but here are a few pictures from recent outings...

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The kids favorite restaurant is Sweet Tomatoes.  We went there on Friday.  The paper has coupons for $20 for a family of four.  Not bad, right?  They love the all-you-can-eat and pick-what-you-want-to-eat aspects.  Among their favorites are the macaroni and cheese, breads, cheese, broccoli, and definitely the ice cream bar.  They think it's better than Disney World.

After that we headed to Clearwater beach....

Sadie was burying her Easter bunny stuffed animal in the picture shown above. 

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We went to Target recently to pick up a special something for Jax (I'll share it in another post).  Sadie is sad that she doesn't get to ride in the cart anymore so I let her bring her own stroller.  People give us strange looks and say things like, "Well, you sure have your hands full." I just nod my head and move on.  I think people think I'm an unfit parent because I have three kids close together so we don't usually get sweet comments out in public anymore.  This is what we look like:

We're not so bad, are we?

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We have a few Pasco beaches close by.  They're just rocky and yucky beaches but sometimes we go anyways for the sunset.  The kids always enjoy scooping out new places.  This one had a boardwalk/sidewalk along the water.  When we were leaving the house Sadie didn't want to get off her bike and in the car so we told her she could bring her bike if she would get in the car happily.  She said, "Oh, okay!"  She was thrilled that she could take her bike along with her.  We brought the baby stroller for Jax to equalize things.  

Is this why there are slots in the front and back?