Wednesday, September 29, 2010

the happiest place on earth...

We spent last week in California visiting my sister's family and going to Disneyland. It was so nice to get away from the normal routine and do something different!!

We spent Friday and Saturday night at my sister's house. We had so much fun, especially the kids! My kids love their cousins!! They all get along for the most part too, which makes it nice for the parents.


Saturday my mom flew in to spend the weekend with all of us...well really the grandkids! :) We had fun going to the park, swimming and having a birthday party for Drew, Bethany and Da. Drew and Bethany loved their new blankets from Da. They both wrapped up in them as soon as they opened them. It was pretty cute!


Sunday we explored downtown Claremont (where Amber lives) and went to Newport beach. Too bad we found out their is a Cafe Rio there after we visited!


The kids and boys had fun playing in the water. It the first time my kids and Ky have really been able to get in and play in the ocean. The water has been to cold the previous time we have been at the ocean. Ky loved it!!


Sunday night we went to our hotel in Anaheim to get ready for our 1st day at Disneyland. My mom and Amber's boy met up with us that morning. My kids loved having their cousins and Da there with them. It was a lot to keep track of them all, but they had a blast!


That afternoon Amber, Adam and Sammie joined us. It was a lot of fun!!


Our 2nd day we went to California Adventures. We have been there before, but it was so busy last time that we didn't do any rides there. So we were all excited to get to try them out.

Rylan really liked seeing Cars.


Bethany's favorite was screamin. She surprises me sometimes. The other kids got their share of the carousel (which was right next to screamin) while me and Ky tooks turns with B on screamin.
The kids next to their favorite characters.

Bethany - Daisy, Rylan - Goofy, and Hannah - Minnie

Rylan on the carousel after a long day! There were no lines for the rides and was overcast and cool all day. We stayed from opening to closing. Rylan's favorite ride was Monsters, and Dallen really liked the spinning ladybugs. He laughed through the whole thing!

Wednesday we went back to Disneyland. We were able to walk onto most of the rides, but there were still a lot of people there! I get so tired of the crowds.

We stood in line way too long to get to meet some princesses. Then a little bit afterwards there were 3 princesses having storytime. So we took a break and listened to some stories.

Dallen loved looking around and pointing at everything. I think he enjoyed himself more than last time we were there. His favorite ride was Winnie the Pooh. He would get so excited every time we walked by the ride.

Splash mountain. Mine and Bethany's favorite. I never like the ride when I was a kid, but have so much fun on it now. Bethany is in pure heaven on it. Hannah enjoys it, but the last drop she wants me or Ky to hold onto her.

Thursday we did disneyland in the morning, when it started to get busy we headed over to california. We did take a break this day and went back to the hotel for a few hours. Amber's family came back out and went to california with us that night. The kids again loved it!!

I had waited to go on the tower of terror until my sister was there so my and Ky could go together. We also recruited Drew and Bethany to come with us. It ended up being one of my favorite rides! So fun.


Ky, me, Jerrod, Drew and Bethany on screamin. Since Jerrod is Bethany's height he got to go on it. Poor Hannah couldn't go. Next time she will be tall enough though.

Friday. Our last day at Disneyland...thank goodness!! We had so much fun, but we all got so tired, and our feet ached!
We did Disneyland first. Saw the fairies for the girls. Silvermist (blue) is Bethany's favorite, and Rosetta (pink) is Hannah's favorite.



We all got to pick 2 rides to do on Friday.

Bethany ~ screamin and splash mountain

Hannah ~ small world and the red roller coaster in toon town

Rylan ~ the big train and monsters

Dallen ~ we picked winnie the pooh for him

Me ~ thunder mountain and tower of terror

Ky ~ pirates and soarin over california
So that was our agenda. Plus the Let's celebrate parade at 3:30. We always have to see the Disneyland parade because that is the only time Bethany gets to see Daisy duck. She gets so upset that she is never out at the park. She is her favorite!

The kids with their ears! Dallen actually has Rylan's on. Dallen has a little red one.


On our way out of the park for the last time. Look how tired all the kids are. This is the only time we let them all get in the stroller at the same time. We were all so worn out...but had soooo much fun!!

That night we went to my sister's so we could all say goodbye. It took us over an hour to get there when usually it is only about 30 minutes. The traffic is horrible there and would drive me so crazy if I had to put up with it everyday!!
Saturday we made our 11 hour drive home. It was a long drive with grumpy kids and parents. But we made it...Yay!!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Best Day EVER

This would be a example of a "best day ever" for Rylan. He would watch these trains all day if we let him!

Almost every night Rylan tells us that this was the "best day ever!" He also does it at dinner time, if he likes dinner. Best dinner ever! He also lets us know when it wasn't a good day. Sunday we were home sick and did pretty much nothing exciting. At bed time he told me with a grumpy face, "I did NOT have fun today." At least he hasn't started saying worst day ever...but I'm sure it will come.


Hannah's half

Saturday we got to celebrate Hannah's half birthday.
(notice the 5 and a half candles)
Earlier in the week, Bethany was trying to figure out if Hannah was 5 1/2 yet. Hannah looks at her and says, I'm not 5 1/2 yet. I asked her how she knew that. She said, "I haven't had my half birthday yet!"
You ask her how old she is now and it's not just 5, it's 5 1/2. I guess these half are more important than I thought! They are counting on them! Hopefully I don't forget the kids, like I did mine and Ky's.
She got maple and strawberry cinnamon rolls in the morning.

She enjoyed reading her own scavenger hunt clues this time round.

And all the kids enjoyed her present and made some fun pictures.
Happy half birthday Hannah!

dinner and a show

Almost every night after dinner the kids run outside to practice for their show. They like to do circus's and plays. After me and Ky get the kitchen cleaned up we go outside to watch their show. They are too funny!It usually consist of hulu hooping...

cartwheels and handstands....

Rylan swinging crazy...

running "backstage" during their acts.

(backstage is their playhouse)
lots of singing and dancing...usually lion king songs.

Rylan doing tricks with various toys, like with the hockey sticks.

Dallen wandering around pretending to be one of the big kids.
being silly...
and lots of laughs!!
One night for Hannah's homework she got to make abc pretzels. Her and Bethany did most of it by themselves, and were so excited to serve them after their show that night!
I am so glad I have these wonderful little people to make me laugh! They are the best!