MERRY CHRISTMAS

THE BUBBLE MASTER

Nice shades, huh?

A necessary piece of equipment for the bubble master.

Otherwise, when she pops them, she gets soap in her eyes.

PIGS FEET?

A now we take a moment, for deep thoughts.

Why do stone crabs like pigs feet?

How drunk does a fisherman have to be in order to try that the first time anyways?

For that matter, why do fish like worms?

Not really part of their natural habitat, now is it?

ANNE'S BEACH

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, we went a touristing.

One of our stops was Anne's Beach, a little south of Islamarada.

There is a nice boardwalk through the mangroves, along the beach (one of the few beaches in the keys, and natural to boot).

Nice Mosquito bite, huh?

Lovely camera smile.

It was REALLY windy.

The kite surfers were out taking advantage of it.

She would have walked that beach all day if we'd let her.

DING DONG

Joey: "I want Ding Dong."

Mommy pauses and looks at her...

Joey: "Please."

Joey's new favorite Christmas song is Carol of the Bells from Straight No Chaser.

Bruce Springsteen's Santa Clause is Coming to Town got booted.

If you're happy and you know it

I WANT SEE PUNZEL!

I've had the latest edition of D23 for a few months now. (an exclusive magazine for Disney Fans)

On the cover is Rapunzel and Euguene (Flynn Ryder) and there is a nice cover story about them.

So I've had Joey worked up about seeing Tangled for a while.

We finally had the time to see it yesterday.

I don't know which was cuter, the movie or Joey watching the movie.

First of all, she had no patiences for the trailers. Every time another would pop up she say,

"No, no, no. I want watch Punzel!"

Once the movie started, every time a song ended, she break out:

"YEAH!" (Joey clapping loudly)

When they kissed:

"YEAH!" (Joey clapping loudly)

She had more that her share of our popcorn and coke. (Mark is quite proud she likes Cherry Coke.) At one point, she leaned over to me and let out a loud fart.

"Ohh, (small giggle) Excuse me!" (smiling and giggling)

About 3/4 of the way through the movie she discovered Mommy's hair.

Mommy has long hair like Punzel'. She sat there pulling on my hair like Punzel' was pulling on hers.Then I managed to get my hair back and hide it.

She was just too cute, the whole time.

So the way the movie, with some adult humor spattered through it that kept Mark laughing as well.

MY LITTLE BUTTERBALL

MOMMMMMYYY

Joey: "Mommmmmmyyy....What happened Lilo?"

Mommy: "The aliens just took her."

Joey: "Oh. Okay."

One of the advantages of knowing every Disney movie by heart, is when your toddler hollers a question at you from another room, you can answer it without having to stop doing your hair.

You Can Fly, You Can Fly, You Can Fly!

WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES

YOU WANNA GET POPPED?

I was a middle school teacher for a few years and will return to teaching when Mark and I are finished having kids.

I'm telling you that we could fix a lot of the "problem" children in America if someone at home would just give them a sound butt whoopin'.

It just seems to me that discipline has fallen out of fashion these days.

Not just spanking, or popping, but even using the word "No".

I just don't agree.

1st of all, she's going to be expected to understand and obey the word "No" and follow instructions and behave when she gets to school. I think the teacher has enough to to teach besides having to teach my child how to behave. That's my job.

Joey gets popped.

If I say come here, she needs to come here... now.

If I have to count to 3, it is isn't slow and drawn out. And her butt better be moving before I get to 3, or I'm gonna come over and pop her hand, walk back to where I was standing, and start again. If she starts moving when I start moving, that is after I get to 3, she still gets popped. The idea is, you do as your told... not do as your told only if Mommy is serious about it.

Joey gets popped in public.

She certainly doesn't have the false impression that she can get away with stuff in public because Mommy won't pop her in front of people. It doesn't embarrass me at all. What embarrasses me is the way other people's children act and they do nothing about it. I have to restrain myself from correcting other people's children in public.

Joey was misbehaving the other day in Publix and I stopped the cart, looked at her hard, and said "You wanna get popped?"

The lady passing me gave Joey and I a glance.

But Joey straightened right up.

If that lady wants to act up, I can pop her too.

Hmmph!

SEE YA REAL SOON!

ADVENTURE LAND

Joey showed off her TIKI ROOM singing and dancing skills before entering the ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM.

Stroller? I don't need no stinkin' stroller!

I have shoulders to ride.

She climbed every step of the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House.

Up and Down.

(Though we did make her pull over and let traffic pass occasionally)