The Happiest Place on Earth

In all my life I'd never been to Disneyland and I'm 27. Most people couldn't believe that when I would tell them. So when I heard about the "give a day, get a day" program where you can do a day of service in your community and you get a free day at D-land, I couldn't pass it up! My friend Alissa and I planted flowers/trees for a local nursing home and this week we drove to CA to use our passes. (We left our boys at home so it was just a girls only trip. Thanks Britni for watching Crew!)

Our first stop was Huntington Beach. It was kind of an overcast day and the water was cold, but the kids still had a great time playing in the sand, scaring the seagulls and collecting shells.

I was able to meet up with my best friend from high school, Jenna, and see her two darling little boys, Daniel and Nathan. I hadn't seen her in over two years!

BFF's

Caysja spelled her name in the sand--don't ask me why she wrote that 'A' upside down!

Daniel had brought his kite and he let Caysja help him fly it. It was a perfect day for flying kites.

Alissa's Aunt and Uncle in San Clemente were so nice to let us stay with them. When we got there THE funniest thing happened! Seriously, I am STILL laughing as I write this. The girls were scared to death of their two dogs. We were in the process of trying to get them used to them when suddenly one of the dogs started to jump on them (or something?!) which scared the girls even more and before we knew it they both had fallen backwards into the spa--that was full of VERY cold water! They were screaming and crying and Alissa was afraid they were drowning so she hopped in after them to pull them out! I thought I was going to pee my pants from laughing so hard!

This is the next morning before we left to Disneyland--We're almost there!

We made it to the 'Happiest Place on Earth'!!!

We went on a Wed. and it had rained in the morning which scared away the crowds so we walked onto most of the rides. However, the line to see the princesses was a 90 minute wait. Alissa was so nice and let Caysja and I go ride the train while she saved our place in line. I wasn't sure it was going to be worth it, but if you ask Caysja what her favorite part of D-land was, she'll tell you "the princesses" so I'm glad we got to see them, even though there were only three.

Tiana from the Princess and the Frog

Ariel

Cinderella

One of the most awesome things about D-land is the beautiful grounds. I loved these animals carved out of the bushes.

Caysja was so excited to meet Mickey Mouse! Unfortunately, Minnie Mouse wasn't in her house so we couldn't get a pic with her.

The famous "Sleeping Beauty" Castle

I talked Caysja into riding "Splash Mountain" with me. She was pretty freaked out after the 50 foot drop! (pictured here) She was sitting in the very front and got soaked!! She said she didn't want to go on any more "fast rides" but pretty soon she dried off and she was just fine. I was so proud of her for being so brave!

Waiting for the parade to start

the parade

Caysja and Halle loved watching all the dancers

End of a very fun nearly 12 hour day at D-land!

This is what our girls looked like on the ride back--totally OUT!

We found these waiting for us when we got home. Guess Daddy and Crewser missed us!

Thanks for taking us to Disneyland, Alissa and Halle! We had an awesome time!!

Easter 2010

We had a wonderful Easter! Here are some of the family pics we took after church.

Our Little Lady

Our Little Man

Best Friends...(most of the time, that is...)

The Midwestern Easter Egg Hunt is always amazing. Unfortunately I hardly got any pictures because my camera battery died, but they had some awesome things for the kids-- blow-up slide, bounce house, face painting, prizes, balloons, the Easter Bunny, etc. Caysja loved it all! Then we went to the Easter Egg hunt at San Lagos afterward. Caysja got tons of eggs.

Crew could have cared less. He couldn't figure out what the big bucket was for.

Opening Easter baskets Sun. morning

Easter Dinner at the Hamar's house

Everything was SO delicious!

The girls playing "princess" after dinner

Group shot with the Morris and Hamar families
We're going to miss you guys SO much!!

We love it when Grandma comes to town!

My mom came and stayed with us for a week during Idaho's Spring Break. My kids were in heaven and didn't want her to leave! We had a great week going to the Botanical Gardens, Oasis Gymnastics and the Mesa Easter Pageant with my friend Kristy and her kids. Thanks for coming to see us, Mom!

looking at the moutains

The wildflowers were so beautiful

Crew wasn't so sure about the foam pit

Waiting for the Easter pageant to start

Totally Pampered

I know this post is a month late...but better late than never! I had a totally awesome 27th birthday! My sweet friends and hubby completely spoiled me. It was seriously one of the very best b-days I can ever remember. (Now you know why I'm so sad to leave AZ!) My friends "kidnapped" me a few days before my actual b-day for a party at Kristy's house where she'd made my favorite--mint chocolate ice cream cake. It was heavenly--thanks, Kristy!!! Then we watched "New Moon" which I hadn't seen yet.

Thanks, girls! It was so much fun!

On my actually b-day this is what I found waiting for me in the morning when I came home from running group. Caleb had made me a sign with my 5 most favorite candies--along with breakfast of french toast and bacon and a homemade card. Thanks Honey!

My friends all pitched in and gave me a gift card to get a pedicure which I'd been wanting for a while. Caleb gave me the day off and my friend Britni and I went shopping to the AZ Mills Outlet mall and then ended the day with the pedicure. Thanks for going with me, Britni!

That night Britni watched our kids (thanks, Britni!) while Caleb and I went to a new restaurant in town called "Le Chalet" that specializes in crepes and fondue. It was delicious!

A big thank you to all the friends/family that called me, texted me, emailed me, sent me packages, etc. You made my day so special!

I HATE CHANGE!

I really hate change. My husband can testify to that. It's not a good quality to have and I need to overcome it. I have put off talking about this because I can hardly stand to think about it, let alone write about it on my blog...which makes it more real. It was kind of one of those things that if you don't talk about very often you think maybe it will go away. But it is inevitable and it's going to happen in about 8 more weeks so I have try to face it between now and then. We are moving. At Midwestern the fourth year podiatry students go all around the US to a new city each month to do what they call "clerkships", so starting in June, Caleb will be headed to Detroit. If it were up to me I'd probably choose to stay here even by myself with all three kids because I feel safe here, I have a great group of friends that I know I can rely on should anything happen, and we're so happy here. But, it's really not up to me. We simply can't afford to pay rent here AND have Caleb pay for a hotel room wherever he is living. So, I'm going home to live with my parents in ID at the end of May for the next year. Seriously, just writing that is making me cry. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but I will miss EVERYTHING about AZ--the sunshine and palm trees, the pool at San Lagos, my fun ward, my social life-- (Bunco, Brunch bunch, girl's nights out, sewing projects, doing crafts, walks to the park/library, hiking, shopping, the awesome garage sales, dinner with friends, parties, just hanging out...the list could go on and on...). But most of all I will miss my dear, sweet friends. There are so many of you and I love you all!! Thank you for loving me, accepting me and making the past three years here in AZ some of the most cherished memories of my life. I will never forget this time. I remember crying to my husband when we first moved here almost three years ago that I was so homesick and now I'm crying to leave. I will always have a special place in my heart for Glendale, AZ.

I Can't Keep it a Secret any Longer...

We're having a BABY GIRL!!!


(I'm 20 weeks this Thurs. and due Aug. 12th)

Attempting to catch up...

Wow--I've been so horrible at blogging lately! I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since before Valentine's Day! I take lots of pictures but then I get busy and don't upload them. This is my feeble attempt to catch up...

Valentine's Day was pretty low-key this year. Our kids were sick so we didn't do much. We got take out from Panda Express on Sat. and then Sun. (the actual V-day) we just had a nice dinner at home. Caleb surprised me with chocolates when I came home from ward choir.

It's kind of a tradition that I make Caleb cinnamon rolls (his favorite) on V-day.

Caysja had a little V-day party with her preschool group. She LOVED it and carried the bag you see here around for days afterward.

My crafty friends and I got together and made these fun banners.

I told Caleb that all I wanted for Valentine's was to go to the ballet and see Sleeping Beauty. Well, since he wasn't too thrilled about going with me, we made a girl's night of it. Here I am with my good friends Britni, Kristy, Alissa and Joanna. It was beautiful.

Here are some of the dancers.
(Excuse the random people posing with them--it was the only way I could get a pic.)

Our weather has been perfect! My good friend Kristy and I decided to hike the trails at Thunderbird Conservation Park one day.

Our girls did great and made it all the way to the top! (The way down though was torture as Caysja was hot, tired, etc. and wouldn't stop whining about it...)

Group shot at the top

Crew loves to sit on Caleb's motorcycle

Caleb took Caysja on a little motorcycle ride all by herself. She had a blast!

My very crafty friends helped me with some fun sewing projects...

spring dress

twirly skirt

"scripture" bag for my little Sunbeam

Crew got his second hair cut--this time by daddy

We've been trying to take advantage of the "culture passes" available at the library since we thought the program was ending April 1. Apparently now the program has been extended for another year--yeah!

Here we are the Taliesin West--Frank Lloyd Wright's school of Architecture in Scottsdale. It was pretty interesting, but not so fun for kids.

Whew! I think I'm pretty caught up now!