The Happiest Place on Earth.....Part 1

Since I was little I have always LOVED Disneyland! It is a magical place that I could never get enough of. Since having my own kids, I love it even more.

I want to go every month

But Brandon doesn't!

In fact, he doesn't seem to catch the magic like I do. Granted, the last experience we had was at Disney World two summers ago....it was HOT (95 degrees, and 95 percent humidity), and so crowded! Heat and crowds are two things that make Disney World/Land not very fun! So, I reassured him that this time would be better.

And it was PERFECT!!

Our kids didn't know....we surprised them. We told them we were going to St. George for a week. We stayed over in St. George....and the next morning we told them we were going to Las Vegas. 6 1/2 hours later (don't drive to Calif. on Sunday...apparently everyone is coming home from a weekend of gambling in Sin City) we arrived. The kids were not happy we had decided to go to Vegas....it took way too long!

But, bunkbeds in the hotel room solved everything!

I can't believe Kason didn't read any signs or notice where we were. I guess because it was dark, and being distracted by a movie in the car helped!

The next morning we told the kids we weren't in Vegas....but actually California! There faces were priceless. They were ecstatic! The first words out of their mouths were "We are going to DISNEYLAND!"

Nothing is better than totally surprising your kids! It is worth every dollar just for their reaction.

Oh, what a time we had....it was beautiful weather (75 degrees and sunny); and completely uncrowded. We were walking on to almost every ride.

Like I said, It was perfect. Even Brandon said so!

I planned for meltdowns with the kids. But, they didn't ever occur.....I think the "no line waiting" was the reason.

So here is an onslaught of pictures to document the fun!

Braden's favorite rides were Buzz Lightyear, Monsters' Inc., and the new Toy Story ride. I think he rode Buzz Lightyear and Monsters Inc 25 times each. One time he rode Monsters Inc 6 times in a row! Like I said....no lines!

All of the characters. We bought autograph/picture books for the younger kids. They loved it and now they have their very own scrapbook. I recommend doing this if you have little ones!

I will post more of the rest of the trip in a coming blog. We were in California for a full week! Nothing better than being with your kids (no school or other commitments interrupting) and your husband (no work or hobbies interrupting) for a whole week!

Just a note....if you need a great workout try chasing your 5 and 3 year old in "Tarzan's Treehouse" with a 5 month old and 2 cameras in tow. There are a ton of steps in the "Tarzan Treehouse", and 5 and 3 year olds can run much faster than I can! I was seriously so sore the next day...my thighs were on fire. We went up and down the treehouse multiple times while waiting for the big kids who were on Indiana Jones.

Overachieving

I have been taught since I was very little to always do my best in anything I did. Always go the extra mile, do the extra credit, leave things better than I found them, and make sure to do more than was asked of me.

I think this was something that my parents did a good job instilling in me.

I feel like as I have gotten older I have not been able to do this very well....I wish I could go the "extra mile" a little more! It somehow seemed easier to do this when I was younger. ( I must be getting tired!)

But, I have found something that I have definitely "overachieved" in this year:

Anyone else have their Christmas lights up already?


Have you had them up for a few months.....just being extra prepared for the holiday season?


Did you make sure you got them up before the snowstorms come?


Anyone else have such a wonderful husband, that you didn't even have to ask, beg and plead to put the Christmas lights up this year??


Well, we have definitely gone the extra mile in this department, because our lights are up! (I am so happy to see that all of my parent's hard work has not gone by the wayside!)



Just don't tell anyone that we didn't even take them down from last year! Seriously...can you believe that. Brandon just kept rationalizing it by saying that we would be the first in the neighborhood to have our lights up - and the lights are clear - so no one notices them! What?


I am glad I don't have to beg and plead this year to have him put them up. It looks like the problem is going to be begging and pleading for him to take them down! :)

Birthday Boy

Braden turned three last week. Of course, I am a week behind. He has been waiting so patiently for his birthday to come. Brandon and Jaicee's birthdays were last month - and it was so hard for him to understand that it wasn't quite his birthday.

He was so excited when he woke up the morning of his birthday. He just kept saying "It's Braden's spiderman birthday." (He has been telling me he wanted a "red spiderman" birthday for weeks.)

We had our traditional "candle in the pancake" breakfast. He has been practicing this for weeks also!







It was killing him to wait until Brandon got home to open presents....but he made it! Some of his favorite things were his spiderman fishing pole, spiderman hat and gloves, and his "cars" racetrack. He also got a spiderman scooter from Grandma Nae and Papa Jer that he loves.

He picked his favorite spot for a birthday dinner.....a gourmet restaurant, with a playset....Carls Jr!

Grandma Debbie and Papa Bruce took him to "Build A Bear", and he thought he was in heaven. He spotted the Spiderman bear right off - and couldn't think of anything else. He wanted that bear!

His cousin Max (whose is two weeks older) came too. They loved it!

Thanks Papa and Grandma!

Braden you are a wonderful little boy and I love so many things about you.

I love that you are so polite. You have always said thank you and please from the time you could talk. I especially love your reply that you always give of "Thank you really much Mom" (said with such true sincerity).

I love that you adore your big brother Kason. You wait for him to come home from school and follow him from the minute he arrives.

I love that you run around the house in your spiderman, batman, superman costumes and say "SUPERMAAAAN" (No matter what superhero you have on).

I love that you said after getting on the scale this morning..."Mom, I growing bigger. Now I can go to the mountains with Dad, and hunt moose and bear!" (Seriously, like father like son)!

I love that you say "I wuv you Mom. Bye" as you are running out of the room.

I love that you are so excited every time your Dad gets home from work! No matter if he has only been gone for 1 hour, your reaction is the same. You scream "Daddy!!" and run to his arms.

I love that you wake up in the morning and immediately ask "where's my daddy?" When I say that he is at work, you reply "Daddy at work making lots of money?" Then your next reply is "I want my Daddy back!"

You are a climber...not so sure I always love that part, because it is so dangerous. You climb everything from tables to pantry shelves, to columns on the front porch. You are too coordinated for your own good.

I love that you say "wipe my drippin eyes" when you have been crying. You want me to wipe your tears off of your face with both of my hands (not just one). Funny thing is your big bro Kason said this same thing when he was your age! So crazy!

You are a special spirit, my litle Braden bug. I love the happiness and pure joy you add to our family. Happy "spiderman" Birthday to you!

And I had to add a few pictures of this sweet baby! She is 4 1/2 months and growing like a weed. She is my chubby ball of happiness with thighs that have endless rolls. (Seriously, I will have to post a picture - it is amazing!) And I love every square inch of her to pieces.

Afternoon of Pampering

What do 12 little girls want to do for a birthday party.......

Get their hair and nails done, of course!

Jaicee had a great time at her birthday party. All the girls got their hair done into a beautiful "do", and their nails painted with their favorite colors! It was a perfect 8 year old birthday party. (Great for Mom too, because all of the entertaining was taken care of).

Dancing makes me happy!

I was able to go to "So You Think You Can Dance" with my sister and sisters-in-law a couple of weeks ago.

I have decided that there aren't many activities that make me as a happy as watching this amazing art form. The human body is incredible....and when you add that with music - it is magic.

I have always loved to dance, but I think as I have gotten older and cannot do exactly what I used to do, I love it even more. It brings joy to my heart whether I am the one dancing, or watching someone else dance. I just love it!

So it was especially fun watching these amazing dancers dance for 3 straight hours. Pure entertainment.

Me, Shaundee, Cyndy, Jess (love the binocs), and Celesta

Beautiful extentions ladies!

And I got to enjoy it with great company! Thanks girls for a fun night!

Kids Really Do Say The Darndest Things!

I love Primary and get the great opportunity to do sharing time (teaching all of the children in our church under the age of 12) every few months. This past month our theme was on prayer. I was teaching the kids about the Prophet Enos from the Book of Mormon.

I held a picture up of Enos and asked if anyone knew who this was.

A child in the back raised her hand and answered: "That is Enos."

"Right", I said, "This is the prophet Enos" (pointing to the picture)

And then I heard this statement from a little 7 year old boy on the front row: "What?, The prophet penis??" (With a very confused look on his face)

"No, the prophet E.N.O.S!" I repeated quickly

It was all I could do to not fall to the ground with laughter. Luckily, only his teacher and a couple of other younger kids heard him say it....so I was able to quickly move on.

I had the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the sharing time - and couldn't quit hearing this hilarious statement being repeated over and over in my head.

So, for all of you parents out there that teach your children the proper anatomical terms for their body parts.....Great Job!

I will just make sure I don't teach about the Prophet Enos for a while, or at least enunciate his name a little better next time!

Another Cousin

I just realized that I never posted a picture of my little sister's new baby girl. Sloan was born September 15th at 9 lbs! That is right....we (Shar and I) must feed our babies ice cream in the womb! Shar and baby are doing great (except for a nasty breast infection) and I am so ecstatic that she has entered mommyhood!

I am definitely so sad that I cannot love that baby....hurry home Shar!