Florida

I'll start backwards when telling everyone about our 3 weeks in los Estados Unidos. First up, our time at Universal and Disney. And because I'm rather lengthy when it comes to blogging, I thought I'd try to give you just the highlights...

Ryan pre-roller coaster

• Ryan is  was afraid of roller coasters. We're talking really, really didn't like them. Something about going fast. This photo is pre our first roller coaster. Elliott and I didn't know what to expect... puke, screams, crying...

Ryan post-roller coaster

• He did great! He even enjoyed them... Definitely a highlight!

   

Enjoying Butter Beer

Look at our new wands!

That's right, the Hogwart Express

• Highlight Number 2 - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We're talking amazing, seriously, amazing. It's a magical place. It really is inspiring and I'm really happy it exists. 

Playing with toys at Pirates of the Caribbean. 

At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

• Number 3 - Seeing Elliott have so much fun. He was in heaven at Harry Potter. It was really fun for me to see him have so much fun at 16 with things that made him so happy at 5.

•  Exploring the different countries at Epcot is always my favorite. But it was especially funny to see all of the parks with these two jokers. 

• Disney's Electrical Parade. I've seen it so many times, but it never gets old. Ryan would disagree about the music, but I don't care. Special thanks to these too who were D.O.N.E. by the time the parade started. I still believe in Disney. 

Marathon

It's official. I've decided to run a marathon this year. It's a NYR. I'm not sure which marathon because I don't know where I'll be, but I'm thinking fall. Possibly Chicago... Possibly South Korea... Who really knows at this point. So there you have it!

New Year's Resolutions

Ryan and I go back and forth about resolutions. He doesn't like them and I tend to make too many. I'll say something like, "I have a NYR for you Ryan, check your email everyday." And he'll say something like, "Here's one for you: put things away when you get them out." Which are things that we should be doing but don't do.

My question about NYR is are they really healthy? If I start the year with these loft goals and then I don't accomplish them, am I a failure? Does not accomplishing them do more damage than the good intent of trying to reach the goal does good? I really don't know.

What I do know is that every year around this time, I have this undeniable feeling of needing to create a list of goals for what I want to accomplish in the next year. Things that I want to work on in areas of my life, things I want to do, adventures I want to go on, changes I want to make. And I feel anxious until I have them written down and settled upon. Healthy? I don't know, but I just can't help it.

What about you? Do you make resolutions? Would you be embarrassed to tell someone about them because they're too personal or too lofty, or are they obtainable?

Dinners thus far

I'm not sure what the best way to do this, for my own record keeping is. For now, I'll just do it as I can. This is what we've made so far with our groceries...

31-12-10 Groceries

And trip number 2 to the store...

First and Feeble Attempt

Alright, so this is a work in progress. I can't quite figure out how to get everything to look the way that I would like it to. But you'll get the picture. So... here's what we spent at the grocery store on 30-Jan-10.

Updates on Chuki

After worrying and trying to figure out what to do with Chuki while we were gone, I'm happy to report that he had just as much fun on his vacation from us, as we had on our vacation home! I can't wait definitely what it is, but Sebas and his family have a way with dogs. Chuki came home to us much more calm and much more happy. Knock on wood.

As this is our first dog, ever, we're learning what works and what doesn't and we're not afraid to ask for help. Sebas is still on vacation, so I haven't had a chance to ask him exactly what it is that he did with Chuki while we were gone. But all of a sudden, Chuki is playing by himself, sleeping more, not going 100% crazy when we walk in the door. All of these things are SERIOUSLY amazing!

The best part about it is that Sebas and his family really enjoy having Chuki at their house. It's seriously win win. Which makes me really feel blessed, especially as there are lots of little trips we want to take before we leave Ecuador for good!

In other news, Chuki loved all of the Christmas presents that we bought for him at home. Actually, we haven't given all of them to him yet, but he's loved the ones he's received so far. Ryan took him for a walk with his backpack on (yes, we bought Chuki a backpack). It made him REALLY hot, so we'll have to plan for that next time we want to take a hike with the pups. He's also LOVING the real bone we bought for him. He will seriously sit and chew the thing for an hour and then fall asleep. It's amazing! Plus for the price of the real bone and the huge amount of time it will take him to finish it, they're quite a deal. I think the best thing so far has been the $5 stocking we bought at one of the pet chain stores in the States. He freaking loves those little toys with the squeaky things in them. Ryan didn't think he'd play with them because so far his favorite toys have been water bottles, but he does play with them BY HIMSELF! AMAZING!

We're saving some of the presents we bought because his birthday is coming up on January 16. We're thinking we'll have a BBQ outside and grill him a big steak! But we'll see!

All in all, we're happy to be home and reunited with Chuki. I just can't wait for him to be in IL this summer. He's going to have so much fun swimming in the river and running around in all of the parks. Plus he has so many fun people to meet.

MULUB,
Taylor

PS. He's also thrilled to be back to home cooking instead of ProCan! Every time we feed him he gets so excited I think his little nub is going to wag right off of him!