Things I swore I'd Never Do

1.  I swore I'd never buy Crocs...

BUT

My sister Julie, mother of twin boys about Sam's age, came to visit last summer.

Her boys wore Crocs.  They were cute on the boys (but, come on, ANYTHING is cute on twins.  Am I right?)

AND....they could get them on and off by themselves.

AND....they are waterproof.

AND.....comfortable.

Sam has his regular pairs of shoes for church and when he goes to school...

 BUT....we love Crocs the very best

 AND...we already have a pair for next summer.

2.  I swore I'd never buy a minivan

I've already sung the praises of my "5th child" in this post.

3.  I swore I'd never let my daughter take jazz.

I sort of grew up a ballet snob.

I thought (and darnit, still think sometimes) that ballet was (is) THE superior form of dance.

I have become a LOT more open minded since beginning teaching at my current studio more than 10 years ago.

The jazz teachers there are phenomenal at what they do.

So...as long as Lucy still takes ballet from me, then she can do any other form of dance she likes.

4.  I swore I'd never buy bunk beds.

They are ugly, cumbersome, and dangerous (do they come earthquake proof?)

BUT....I love this one from Pottery Barn and I think it will be our next major purchase for the kids' rooms.

There's just not room for 2 twin beds side-by-side, and a dresser in Jake and Sam's room.

5.  I swore I'd never get a dog.

And I still haven't.  Not officially at least.

I started dog-sitting my sister's dog, Georgia, last year when her other dog, Von, died.

She has become a part of the family and we love her.

Keri drops her off nearly every morning and picks her up at night.

We have her right now for an entire week while Keri is out of town.

She's the easiest dog in the world to take care of.

We all love her and I am slowly warming up to the idea of having a dog of our own someday (after Jeff retires).

6.  I swore I'd never go to Disneyland

(Again!)

I went as a kid.  Only twice.  Once when I was about 9 and once when I was 18.

We only went for one day.

It was crowded, hot, and miserable.

We rode only 3 or 4 rides the entire day and spent the majority of the time in lines.

It took a lot of convincing on Jeff's part (years) to finally get me to go.

We took Josh (3) and Jake (15 mos.)

Let me be cheesy for a moment:

IT.  WAS.  MAGICAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Long story short, we have gone at least once a year since then.

It is my very favorite place to visit in the entire world.

I like our Disney vacations better than Christmas.

I listen to the Disney Ride Theme Songs all year round.

I cry, really cry, when we have to leave and come home.

I sink into a minor depression for about 2 weeks after the vacation is over.

I start planning for the next one about 6 months in advance.

 I check the Disney vacation package rates every day.

I am obsessed.

We stay in the Paradise Pier in the park, get 6-day park hoppers, go off-season (that's key--no crowds) and ride all day, every day.

I'm working on getting Jeff to agree to go twice a year.

Come on, Jeff.  PLEASE!!!!!?????!!!!