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My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

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Bagel sandwich, corn chips, clementines, and a strawberry shortcake

2.13.11

That’s what I had for lunch yesterday. Here…

at a lunch table with first graders with Ashlyn and some friends. 
I sorta started a tradition. When Evan was in kindergarten (full day), missing him on his birthday, I decided I’d go visit his school and join him for lunch. The next year, as his birthday was getting close, he asked me if I was going to do it again because, well, he remembers things like that. So, of course, I did. And, the next year, I did it again. So, with Ashlyn now in school full day, she wasn’t about to miss out on the fun. 

We were in Disney World on her actual birthday taking pirate oaths, going on rides, and eating dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table (poor baby). And, with the crazy number of snow days before her birthday, our lunch date was put off until now.

I’m so glad we didn’t skip it. Ashlyn didn’t stop smiling for the 30-minute lunch break. And, I got to hear some very important information from her buddies — one girl’s older brother really likes yogurt, one girl watched a rated-R movie and wasn’t scared at all, one boy has a very loose tooth and had already heard from Ashlyn that I thought loose teeth were gross (he proceeded to wiggle it around just to test that fact–I didn’t let him down and winced). Can’t really recall much of the other things I learned heard since about 4 kids were telling me things at any one given time.

I do recall being informed that the kids who have snack money like to have strawberry shortcake races. You better believe I jumped at that opportunity to join the crowd. Ashlyn chaperoned me up to the snack line where I purchased a Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake for $.85. I proceeded to be destroyed by Rachel, shown in the back of this picture (courtesy of Ashlyn’s photography skills) with her bar.

I was reminded why I hadn’t had one of these in perhaps 20 years. 230 calories of sickening sweet pink stuff, white stuff, and some sort of pseudo-crunchy stuff. Not sure what any of it was, and it certainly didn’t help my issue with tight jeans after Disney. But, it was worth it to have several first graders with their fists in the air, cheering, “Go, Mrs. Raudenbush! Go Mrs. Raudenbush!”

Next year, I’m taking Rachel down.

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: why can't they just stay little forever

Book Review: God Gave Us So Much

2.11.11

I love children’s books. And, I love research and editing. So, I’m excited about combining the two by doing some book reviews for you all. And, I got a winner for the first one I’m posting on my blog.

I love this series. I have bought them for our kids. I have bought them as gifts. All the books are beautifully illustrated and sweetly written. And, more importantly, they open up doors to having rich conversations with your kids.

This particular book, God Gave Us So Much: A Limited-Edition Three-Book Treasury, is a unique one in that it is 3 of the books in one, complete with a satin ribbon bookmarker so that you can read one to your child and then place the ribbon to mark your spot for the next story the next night.

God Gave Us Love and God Gave Us Heaven, included in this treasury, are wonderful. Love the questions they lead my kids to ask me and the opportunities I then have to share Truth with a capital “T” with them afterwards. God Gave us the World, the one I was most looking forward to, was a little disappointing. When I saw the cover page of all the various bears from around the world, I had high hopes (especially at the sight of the panda since I have a Chinese daughter). But, I was disappointed to find that the polar bears are roaming around having their conversation but all the other bears they are observing and talking about are in fenced in areas at a bear museum. You don’t get to see them with their families. Seemed a bit strange to me. And, I wasn’t too thrilled about it though my kids seemed to enjoy it just the same.

Overall, this book is a worthy purchase — one you won’t regret. It’s a keeper. It’s one I’ll be holding onto even when my kids are texting their friends and driving themselves around town (they are way far from that stage now…or so I think).

[I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing for this review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. These opinions are my own.]

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: Reviews

Disney pics Vol. 3

2.9.11

 A highlight of the day for the kids was actually returning “home” to see what housekeeping had done to arrange their toys. Every day, the fairies and stuffed animals and security blankets were arranged differently. 
 Oh yeah, the girl can use chopsticks even if it just means stabbing her food. Hey, she got it in her mouth.
 What a way to enjoy Chinese New Year at the China pavilion having lunch with another blogosphere friend Margy and her husband. They just sent their paperwork to China for their little girl! Yahoo!

 Pointing out her kiss from Mulan. Wrong cheek, but she’s got the idea.
 Wasn’t about to wake Lyds for this. Wish she would have been awake for a good family picture. Oh well. 
I’m thinking these may be part of the reason that despite the miles we walked everyday, pushing a stroller with a buggy board no less, I managed to come home with my jeans a bit snug. The sundae there is a brownie sundae with caramel popcorn. Who would have thought that would be so good together?

Ashlyn readying herself to watch a parade

 Loving a cousin as we wait for the parade to start.
I’ve been trying to get a job at Disney World myself just for a weekend or two a year. But, no real leads yet. Maybe Mark can learn how to do this and get a job down there himself? It could happen.
Some Disney-related reviews and tips to follow sometime this week…

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: why can't they just stay little forever

Disney pics Vol. 2

2.9.11

 My sisters and I got a bit into the outfits for our Disney trip (hence the ziplocked outfits for each day). I made these tunic dresses for my girls and one of my nieces out of a vintage Mickey sheet. Over the top but totally right for Disney World. Everything is over the top there.
 Same picture but zoomed out for perspective. Every time we walked past this, Lydia would say, “Bye Bye, big ball.”
 Ahh, the princess breakfast in Norway that the ladies loved (I even got a little choked up when all the girls were told to parade around the restaurant behind their favorite princess and wave at all the diners). The boys pretty much suffered through it (picture to come to demonstrate their suffering).
My favorite restaurant as far as the actual food goes — Coral Reef in Epcot. Check out the fun thing they did for Ashlyn’s birthday on her make-your-own sundae dessert — that is a piece of chocolate shaped like a wave that says “Happy Birthday.” 

 Our kids on their single most favorite ride — Test Track in Epcot. Also lost count of how many times they did this one. They could almost say the little entry video word for word with the speakers. 
 I made the mistake of saying to Lydia, “Wanna take a bath?” when I was scooping Drew out of the bath and helping him get dressed. I turned around and she had helped herself. She is looking at me like, “Well you asked me if wanted to take a bath, and I did. So, what’s up?”
We cheated. You are supposed to buy these pictures for some unreasonable amount of money at the end of the ride. We just took a picture of the screen. Sorry, Walt. This was from the Dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom which is actually quite scary. Ashlyn got off and said she didn’t want to do it again (can you tell? She’s in the second row on the far right). I’m digging the people in the back seat too. Don’t know who they are but their expressions are perfect.
 You bet I made Ashlyn get up there and be a part of the Lion King show when a cast member invited her to. But, I had to stick with her. There was a little girl whose mom was pushing encouraging her to join in as well who I ended up helping along. She was a runner–my family was cracking up as it apparently looked like I was manhandling her as I was trying to keep a grip on her arm. Ooops. Little girl’s mom, sorry. Hope your pictures of the event don’t look like some strange lady is trying to kidnap your kid.

Another cutie patootie set of outfits for the three littlest girls in the fam made by Robin at Red Thread Stitches. The skirts have kids from all over world on them; the tops have music notes – a small world theme.

This was our favorite breakfast by far – The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. It was near the end of the week, and Lydia actually enjoyed the characters.

Since we’ve been home, I feel like my kitchen looks a lot like Mickey’s kitchen. Ugh. 

 Last time we went to Disney 3 years ago, Ashlyn was into the princesses. This time, it was all about fairies. To meet them, they sprinkle you with pixie dust to make you shrink down to their size. Believable? No. But, still fun. 
I think I could spend all day just walking up and down Main St. in Magic Kingdom. The fake chocolate chip cookie smell outside the bakery, the Mickey balloons, the pretty buildings, and the view of the castle pretty much just make me happy inside. 

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: why can't they just stay little forever

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