Disneyland - Tuesday and Coming Home

We were at Disneyland so late Monday night that we had a hard time getting up and going on our last day there. We had an early entry pass so we could get there an hour before the park opened. The kids also had their autograph books and got a few autographs throughout the day.

Emmy loves Minnie Mouse. She got a small Minnie doll to bring home and we surprised her with some Minnie Mouse earrings.
We finally got to ride Toy Story and liked it so much that Luke, Emmy and I rode it a second time.
I finally went on Tower of Terror and California Screaming. I don't need to do Tower of Terror again but I did enjoy California Screaming.
Zach had been wanting to get my picture the whole time of me next to the "R" so I finally let him.

It got really cold and started to rain hard. We saw that story book was open and there was no line so we hurried and jumped at the chance to ride it. Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Blaine decided to sit that one out.
On our way out of the park we stopped to see Tinkerbell and were surprised that Terrance was there also.
We went and had lunch at McDonalds across the street from Disneyland and then decided to go back to the hotel room and rest and dry ourselves off. Around six we noticed that it wasn't raining anymore so we decided to head back over to the park one last time for another couple of hours before it closed.
We had so much fun and made so many good memories. We are so glad that we were able to go and have such a fun vacation and make some good memories!

I've decided that airport security is quite the joke with three kids. Taking off shoes, jackets and then putting it all back on. But it was so much fun for them to be able to fly.

Luke is ready to go back. He hasn't stopped talking about it. He keeps telling me we have to get in the car and drive to the place, then get on a bus and go to the airport, and fly to Disneyland. Hopefully we'll be able to make it back again.

Disneyland - Monday

On Monday we got a fairly early start. Not sure how early though. The weather was so nice. We had blue sky and sunshine.

I made the kids autograph books so we saw some characters and got their autographs and pictures with them.

Luke kept requesting to ride Mickey's Fun Wheel. He liked it a lot.
We left for dinner but then went back and ended up being at the park till almost 11. We were all very tired. One more day to go...

More California Trip

On Sunday we got up and got ready to go to church. We drove up to Simi Valley and went to the ward Zach grew up in. We also drove around and he showed us the houses he used to live in and where he went to school. After sacrament meeting we changed clothes and drove the Leo Carrillo beach. It was cold and windy. The kids played in the water and sand a little bit but we really weren't prepared for a day at the beach. When we told the girls to wash off their flip flops so we could go one of Emmy's tried to get away and she got really wet and sandy. Luckily we had a change of clothes in the car. It was pretty and fun to be there but I wish it had been warmer and we'd been more prepared.

On the way back to Anaheim we drove past the LA Temple. We probably would have spent a little more time sight seeing and driving around but I didn't care to much for the traffic and not knowing where we were.

Once back we got ready and headed back over to Disneyland. We took the kids on pirates again. Luke had been singing the song since the day before. Emmy didn't want to go so she hid her eyes for most of the ride.
The teacups were finally opened so we went on those. Zach and Haley spun like crazy while Emmy, Luke and I only spun a little. It was really busy Sunday night. We were hoping everyone would be home watching the Superbowl. But we did have some fun.

Disneyland Trip

We were so lucky and got to go to Disneyland. We went with Grandpa, Grandma, Blaine and Jill and her family. The kids were so excited when we told them we were going. We were going to try to keep it a secret but Emmy saw something on the computer and so they had pretty much figured it out. It was a long two weeks for them though. Luke was ready to go and get on the plane right then. I told him we didn't have tickets for that day so he drew us some airplane tickets. Going through airport security is a little bit of a joke, doing it with three kids is quite the joke.

We got up bright and early to head over to Disneyland Saturday morning. It was raining a little bit but not too bad. Lucky for us Grandma had bought rain ponchos for us to wear so we didn't get too wet. And the rain was just enough to scare off the crowds. We were walking right onto rides or waiting in very little lines.
The flowers were so pretty there. Made me not want to come home to the snow and cold.




Luke was so tired he fell asleep on me during lunch and Emmy was falling asleep too, so I went back to the hotel with them and they got some rest while Haley and Zach stayed and went on rides and had some fun together. We met back up with them a little later and had some more fun.

Another one...

Emmy's teeth are falling out like crazy. She lost her second top one the beginning of January. She has since lost her third top one. A little crazy that she's lost three on top and only one on the bottom.

Long Post

Update finally. It has only taken me a couple of days to edit the pictures and get them on the blog. I just haven't felt much like updating the blog until now.

On Halloween we went to This Is the Place for their little haunts. Luke wasn't very happy to be there and I made Zach come even though he wasn't feeling too great, so it was mostly fun. The kids had fun riding the ponies, doing crafts and trick or treating. Luke was Thomas, Emmy Johnny Appleseed, and Haley a rock star. Luke loved riding on the trains, as always.

Because Zach wasn't feeling very good that night I took the kids trick or treating which turned out to be kind of a mess. Luke was getting sick and didn't really want to be out there. So Zach came and picked him up and I kept going with the girls. Haley and Emmy's costumes didn't change but Luke decided to be a dinosaur that night.

We celebrated my birthday the beginning of November. Someone forgot to buy candles and/or they ones we had were put somewhere but no one knows where exactly. So the candles are kind of interesting, a two a five and a nine. Now figure out how that adds up or makes it work for how old I am...
Emmy turned seven on the 21st. She was so excited to get her doll from Grandma and Grandpa. She had a few friends over on her birthday for pizza, bracelet making and nail painting. She's not a big cake eater so she had peanut butter rice krispie treats for her "cake".

Thanksgiving was nice. We were with my family this year. I stayed over at my mom's so I could go shopping the next morning with everyone. While I'm out shopping Zach and the kids are usually getting the house all ready for Christmas.

I decided to take Luke to the festival of trees. He wasn't too happy about it. we got to the point that we were taking pictures of all the trains. When he saw this reindeer blowing a trumpet he yelled, "Moroni mom, that's Moroni." So we had to make sure to get his picture by it. The volunteer standing by the tree got a huge kick out of it.
On the first Sunday in December Luke came home from church and told us he needed to go potty. I looked at Zach and said ok and took him. He has been using the potty ever since. It has been so nice to not have to change diapers anymore. He is so proud of himself and usually the first thing out of his mouth is that he uses the potty now. Doesn't matter who he is talking to.

I met my sister at the mall one day and we got to see Santa. Every time Luke told Santa what he wanted it was always trains.
Emmy lost her second tooth. When they get loose and are ready to come out it doesn't take much time. Which is good cause I don't like loose teeth. They gross me out.
We got together with cousins to decorate ginger bread houses and cookies. It was a fun night but I wasn't feeling too hot.

We went to This Is the Place once again for Candlelight Christmas. We had to ride the train first. The kids were able to see Father Christmas and the reindeer. We danced in the school house and made lots of fun crafts. We are so glad we can go up there with Grandma and Grandpa.

On the 18th we went down to JoAnn and Craig's for their Christmas party. While we were eating dinner Santa showed up.


Then came my family's Christmas party and gift exchange.


Christmas Eve was a busy day. We started the morning off with Zach's family at our house for breakfast and gift exchange. The food was yummy and we had a good time having everyone at our house.

After the breakfast we delivered the rest of our neighborhood gifts then headed down to Provo. We stopped in Orem and had an early dinner at Chili's and then went down to Ingrid and Norman's for Bethlehem. On our way home we stopped to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point. When we got home the kids all got to open their new jammies from Grandma and Grandpa. Then Haley made sure to set out a cup and a cinnamon roll for Santa and left him a note that there was milk and carrots in the fridge. Luke and Emmy had no trouble falling asleep but Haley had a hard time.

We told Haley she could get us up at 7:15 because that is the time they get up for school. Sure enough the girls were in our room waking us up right at 7:15. We told them to go back to their room and we worked on waking up and getting Luke up.
The kids had fun opening all of their presents and we were opening for about an hour and a half. Luke was so excited for all of his new trains. The girls were excited about all the stuff they got for their dolls. Haley loved her new camera and Emmy her new mp3 player.

On Christmas we went to the Grand America. We stayed for two nights and came home Sunday morning. We didn't have as much fun this year. The kids wanted to be home playing with our toys and our room wasn't as nice as last year.

Luke didn't know what to do with two forks at his place setting so he had to use both of them at the same time.

We enjoyed some time in the pool swimming.

We rode the train to see the lights on Temple Square. It was too cold for that and we didn't enjoy it too much. But Luke loved the train ride.

I don't think we'll go to the Grand again on Christmas. We thought it would be better to use the two nights together but I think it would have been better to separate them. So this might not be an ongoing tradition.

So how's that for a long update. Now maybe I'll keep on top of it a little better. Probably not but I can hope.