The Mouse Is In The House

More like we were in the Mouse's house. We were very, very blessed to be able to take the kids to Disneyland last week. It was UEA (Utah Education Association) and all the kids in the whole state of Utah were out of school last Thursday and Friday. Steve and I decided that we needed to take the kids and go on some sort of trip. Steve worked CRAZY hours all summer and we hardly saw him, and because of that we were unable to go on a vacation over the summer. We really felt the need to make some fun family memories over UEA. Where we really wanted to go was Disneyland. But we knew there was no way we could afford it. So we talked about going camping at Zions or Moab. But that dang Disney itch just wouldn't go away. So we got online and checked out the prices. We are planning a big 2 week trip in December and we just decided that with that trip and Christmas coming up, there was no way we could justify Disneyland. And we were very sad. We might even have wept a wee little bit.

The next day, after checking on the prices, I rode around with Steve while he was doing business stuff. We kept talking about our Disney desire. That is when we remembered a phone call my dear friend Dianna made to us just a few days before. She does our books and taxes and she called us to tell us that back when she was doing our taxes she noticed we had a ton of rewards points on Steve's business card. She had just cashed in their rewards points at her work and it reminded her that she had meant to call us and tell us we should cash ours in. We knew we were enrolled in some type of rewards program, but we really didn't know much about it and had never redeemed any points. Lemmetellya, we could not get home and on the computer fast enough. And HELLO! We had enough points (within $3.00) to pay for 4 nights hotel and 3 day park tickets for the 6 of us! WOO! HOO! We booked that Disneyland trip right then and there. I know that it was no coinkydink that we had never used any of those reward points and that Dianna called us just a few days before to remind us about them.

So we booked our trip and then we had to wait a whole big long week before it was time to leave. That was hard to wait that long. We decided not to tell the kids. We told them we were going to St. George. HA HA! Our plan was to leave early Tuesday morning and spend Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the park. But it was pure torture for Steve and me to wait that long. So we packed and loaded up the car while the kids were in school on Monday and as soon as they got home we hit the road. Jack.
Zac and Em kinda figured out that St. George wasn't our actual destination. Especially when we drove right through the heart of Las Vegas. And then when we pulled up to our hotel on Tuesday and a Disney shuttle pulled up right next to us. That really kinda gave it away. But Aubrey and Addy are so trusting, they thought we were in St. George. Until we got on the shuttle Wednesday morning and the family behind us talked about what rides they were going to ride that day. Addy was still pleasantly surprised when we got there and she saw "Her" castle. (She is convinced she is Princess Aurora) It was such a fun trip and we feel very blessed to have been able to make a little magic.

Aubrey and Addy in line for the Teacups. I have a picture of Zac and Emily at this same age doing this same pose in this same spot. Except Emily isn't making a goofy face.

Addy's favorite place, the princess store inside her castle. And she let everyone know it was her castle too.

It was fun to see the park all decked out for Halloween.

Zac and Steve especially liked Pixie Hollow.

The Matterhorn. We rode this ride a bajillion times. Even Addy was able to ride. She was able to ride most of the rides because I was able to find her a pair of shoes before we left that made her about an inch and a half taller. The only rides she couldn't ride were Indiana Jones and California Screamin' and she was very very upset about that.

Aubrey at California Adventure

Every time I took a picture Addy made a goofy face. I asked her if she could give me one picture with a cute face and this is the face she gave me.

Aubrey

California Screamin'. That's Steve in the back posing for the picture. And that's me in the front holding on for dear life. I only rode this ride once but Steve, Zac, Emily and Aubrey were repeat offenders as this was one of their favorite rides.

Addy and I were waiting for everyone to ride the Tower of Terror and she tried on every pair of mouse ears they had in the this store.

Steve and Aubrey outside Disney's California Adventure

This child of mine made friends with EVERYONE she saw. I'm not kidding. The last night we were there and we were riding on the tram and she had an old man singing "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmit" with her, I wished I had taken a picture of her with every friend she made. I could have filled an album. Here she is with just a few of her friends.

Just call me Grace. Tom Sawyer Island. Cave. Me. Claustrophobia. Freaking Out. Trying to get out. Fast. No lights. Low ceiling. Bam. Blood. Dripping. From my big giant forehead. Nice.

Ferry ride from Tom Sawyer Island.

We learned that what UEA really stands for is Utah's Exodus to Anaheim. I bet 1/2 the state was there. And the BYU/U of U rivalry still continues across state borders. Everyone we saw was wearing either their Blue or Red. And we heard people talking about it when we were having breakfast at our hotel, riding the shuttle, waiting in line...the first night on the way back to the hotel I sat next to a lady who thought she knew me from somewhere. I asked her if she was from Utah and she said she was. She also said, "Isn't it funny that you can just tell by looking at someone that they are from Utah?" It's true. Disneyland was full of Utahans last week. Turns out that lady lived in the next town over from me. Emily still can't get over the irony of seeing our neighbors while we were riding "It's A Small World".

All Ears

Thanks to Steve running as soon as the gates opened and waiting in a big huge line that wrapped half way around the park, we were able to get tickets to sit in the viewing area for the hottest show in town. Our girls have been seeing this advertised on The Disney Channel, and it was the one thing they really wanted to see. The new water/light spectacular known as "World of Color". We saw it our last night there and we were able to have front row seats. And when that sign says "You will get wet" as you are entering that viewing area, it really means you will get WET. We were wet and freezing but we decided to just enjoy the experience.

The Russians Are Coming Part 4 - The Russians Are Leaving

The night before Kristy and her kids left to head back to Moscow was a sad, sad night around our house. I went into Aubrey's room and she and Tia were sitting on her bed, listening to Tia's Mix CD and singing along while crying. I asked what was going on and Aubrey said, "We are having a sing a long of sadness." Tia had a CD with her that Kristy made and while they were here, the girls listened to it ALL the time. It includes songs like Fireflies, Party in the USA, I Got a Feeling, &Girls Just Wanna Have fun. Kristy let my girls keep the CD and they still listen to it ALL THE TIME. Every time I hear it, I think about these cute girls and the 20-30 minute show they put on for Kristy and me on our deck one day. We MISS these guys! We loved having them in our home for 2 weeks. Addy was just in here with me and she saw the pictures and she said, "Mom. I miss my friends! I miss Tia and Owen and Baron and Kristy!" I miss them too. Here are the cute good-bye pictures.

Kristy walked into the room singing and I snapped a picture.

This is Kristy saying, "You better NOT put that picture on your blog or Facebook!"

Click below for:

The Russians Are Coming Part 1

The Russians Are Coming Part 2

The Russians Are Coming Part 3

The Russians Are Coming - Part 3

So many pictures, so hard to narrow it down. Above, Uncle Sam gives magic carpet rides.

Below, Aunt Allyson gives pedicures.

Owen, too cute the way he eats his hot dog. He eats the dog right out of the middle of the bun. The bun is just a handy holder for him.

Just one of the many fun meals eaten at this table.

Kristy and Emily
Eating ice cream
Zac and Sam

More food.

One Saturday, there was a shindig at the park we went to. It was to celebrate the one year anniversary of Lauren's Chiropractor's office opening. She is also a friend of my mom and Lauren and invited the whole fam.

Steve, Zac, Sam, Baron and Teresa

Sam and Baron

Park? What park. Meh...we'd rather play with grandmas ipad.

Z, S & T

Allyson and Baron

What would a gathering be without a little Magic Sam?

Click here for the Russians Are Coming Part 1

Click here for the Russians Are Coming Part 2

Monday Morning Musings - An Island Oasis

TA DA!

It has been a long, long time coming. But at last the time has come. We now have a genuine mostly finished island in our kitchen. We (and by we I mean Steve) put the drawers for the island together last January or February, I really can't remember. Then we waited many, many months, until the 4th of July to be exact, to have the surround installed. And HOORAY! HOORAY! We finally got our counter top about a week and a half ago. Our kitchen looks like a for real life actual kitchen. I am so excited. The other side has stainless steel drawers, which at the moment do not have handles. But I am sure if you give us another half a year or so, we will have those too. And another HOORAY! Because my bar stools that I bought are just the right kind of ugly. I found them at DI (a local thrift store) and they are old, but they are in perfect condition. And they were only $8 each. I saw them and then I debated for about 15 minutes as to weather I should buy them or not. I thought they are just ugly enough that they might look awesome in my house, but they are just ugly enough that they might just be ugly. Then after 15 minutes of internal debate, I finally said, "Hey dummy! They are $8! Just stinkin' buy them and if they work, they work. If they don't, you're not out that much." I am so glad I finally worked it out with myself because I LOVE them.

Last Monday, our family had the opportunity to go to a care center near our neighborhood to do a Family Home Evening for the residents. We played a matching game with the Prophet and Apostles to help get ready for General Conference. The kids loved being there and interacting with the residents. They even asked us yesterday, when we were watching Conference on TV, if we thought they were watching it over at the care center. I was glad to know they were still thinking about that experience. They want to go back and visit again soon.

Can I just say, right now, there is nothing like sitting in a quiet dark house at 11:00 at night, when your husband is still at work, and hearing a loud bang against the house, right outside the room you are in. Then hearing the sound of something screeching like it is being attacked. Because that is exactly what is going on right now and I am just a little freaked out.

But on with the post...

The other day we were waiting for my mom to arrive at our house because she was eating dinner with us. We were in the kitchen and I saw her van pull up in the driveway. I said to Addy, "Addy! Grandma is here!" To which she replied, "Hallelu-la!" I have never heard her say that before and it was so cute. We all started cracking up.