Disneyland Family Fun

We're FINALLY here! Emma kept telling us to wake her up, she couldn't believe we were really here. After waiting for this day for over a month, a plane ride that couldn't go fast enough, an airport shuttle ride and then a hotel shuttle ride, we finally arrived at "The Happiest Place On Earth."

We had a great time! We rode a bunch of rides, (Bekah was a little too short for a few, but we still managed to have fun while the others took their turn.) And we saw a TON of characters! In a few years we will definitely return with Moriah for another fun-filled vacation. It was important to Mike and myself that we go now while the "magic" is still alive in our older kids. Afterall, it's more fun when you really believe your meeting Mickey Mouse, instead of just a disney worker in a funny costume.

I guess it doesn't really matter what age you are, I think I loved it as much as the kids did. This will be a treasured memory forever and seeing my kids sheer joy when they took it ALL in was priceless!!

" Do we have to leave?"

Princess Power!

A "Classic" Beauty - Snow White!

Beauty from within is far more important

than any crown, jewels, or gown.

Belle!

Sleeping Beauty

"I must be dreaming!" - Emma

Cinderella!

Every little girl is a princess,

And every boy a little prince!

Ariel!

Aaron got to kiss her hand!

What A Character!

Here's a couple of "nutty guys."

(Daddy's Fav, Chip 'n Dale!)

Hugs for Goofy, ahhhh!

(Mom's Fav)

"Quack-tastic!"

The one & only - Mickey Mouse!

Mickey's loyal friend to the end, Pluto.

Mom, Pluto & The kids.

Minnie Mouse

Adorable!

Emma really enjoyed watching the Main Street Quartet.

She said, "I think the blue-one liked me."

Marilyn Monroe?

Nope. Just our little drama queen. Ya gotta love her.

Big Brothers

Aaron is so handsome...MoMo looks a little unsure.
Aaron is especially sweet with his littlest sister.

Lolly-Pop

She's sick today.

How could I rest this picture!?

NO Animal Planet...Ever!

Okay, of course I'm kidding. (And this has nothing to do with Animal Planet - my kids never change the channel away from Nick & Disney) But to truly "get" this post you need to read the one before this.

This morning Bekah woke up screaming! When I went in her to room to see what was wrong, she was sitting in her bed, shaking her hands and saying, "Black Widows, Black Widows!!"

Well, after a quick check to make sure there really wasn't a spider in her bed, I picked her up, and brought her to our bed. As soon as I picked her up I noticed just how WARM she was.

A fever nightmare! Yuck.

And then while she was laying in bed next to me, she told me there was a spider on me! Bekah, DON'T DO THAT! I hate spiders.

Last Summer when Mike and I, (mostly Mike) were putting in the backyard I saw enough spiders for one lifetime! This year we will definitely be spraying our perimeter again!

Okay kids we have a big trip coming up: So everyone get better! We've been fighting bad colds at our place. Double Yuck.

Did I just say Double Yuck?

Less Nick, More Animal Planet

Aaron & Bekah love to play pretend with eachother, (Emma prefers to play alone in her room.)
Aaron & Bekah have been playing together all morning and today I overheard Aaron telling Bekah not to worry because crocodiles weren't real, they're just like bad guys in cartoons. Oh boy, do we need to go back to the zoo!

Another game they like to play is pretend snake - I'll explain. They use a belt, most of time it's Aaron's new one - and they pretend it's a snake. They also like to pretend it's Indiana Jones' whip - from the spoof The Chipmunk's did on that movie. Today Bekah told me why her snake is such a good snake, "My snake doesn't run away, he just walks right in front of me and stays by me." I didn't have the heart to tell what you thinking, snakes don't walk honey.
At least their using those wild imaginations of theirs.

My Hubby

Mike doesn't know I'm posting this right now. So next time he pulls up the blog - Surprise!
Happy Valentine's Honey!

Things I love about my hubby:
1. He cooks! Since our new P90X diet - that's been a very common occurance around here.
2. He understands that I hate jewlery and buys me music instead - much more appreciated.
3. His beautiful blue eyes!
4. His dedication to his calling - (the Youngs Men's Organization, I think God is allowing you extra points points for going on all those camps.)
5. The way he explains things to our children.
6. He's really, really smart but never flaunts it.
7. His dedication to his career.
8. He rubs my feet whenever I ask him to, even when he's tired.
9. He introduced me to Weird Al, and since that day I've loved him almost as much as Mike.
(If that's even possible).
10. His dedication to his family.
11. He takes over all my responsibilities on Girl's Night Out/RS Meetings/Scrap-a-thons or when I just need to go see a movie with my sis.
12. He let his kids get a cat - even though he'd prefer a NO pet household.
13. His dedication to the Lord.
14. The way I know that in his eyes I'm the most gorgeous, intelligent, talented woman that ever walked earth.
15. The gentle way he teaches me things I'm sometimes too blind to see.
16. The way he cares about my mom.
17. The way he cares about his mom.
18. His wavy hair and handsome smile.
19. His discipline on our diet - Honey, you're a good example.

20. Everything else I didn't have time to mention.

Hopefully I tell you enough Babe, I love you!
And I always will.

Love,
Me

Happy Valentine's Day Indeed!

I helped out with Emma's class party today. I love to volunteer when I can, but with 3 other little ones at home, it's difficult to help out as much as I'd like to. Anyway today was the day and I was really excited to help. So, with Aaron and Bekah enjoying themselves at a friend's house I set out with Moriah to a first grade Valentine's party. While I was there I ran the Valentine Bingo game and I endured many a child coming up to me and telling me something like this:

"Are you Emma's mom? I need to tell you something, sometimes Emma's mean to me."
"Are you Emma's mom? One time Emma tried to come over to my house without asking you first.
"Are you Emma's mom? Did you know that one day Emma got a black card?"
Me - "Is that a bad thing?"
"Ya, it's like so bad that you might have to go to the principal's office!"
"Are you Emma's mom?"
Me - "No, no I'm not. That super cute little girl over there - I don't know her."

Of course I'm kidding about not claiming my child, although I have joked while about that before. While we're out in public when people are making that face at my unruly children I make the same face then say, "Whose kids are those?" It usually gets a good laugh and then they stop making that face.

Here's the plus side, Mo slept through the entire party! Bekah didn't pee her pants at her friend's house and Aaron also behaved very well. Progress? I call it such!

The Kids Are Too Cute!

Bekah likes to snuggle with Grandma. She likes to pat your back when you pick her up and has done it since she was a baby, we call it the "Bekah pat." She's so SWEET!

Here's our oldest, Emma has a style all her own. I liked this outfit so much I decided to snap a quick photo of her before she left for school. Apparently she's in an early Madonna phase. I like it...as long as it stays modest. Our stylish little girl is definitely growing up...stop it!

Aaron has some Lego cars...as you can see he likes to mix them up. He's so creative & we love him so much. Aaron you're awesome!

Emma, The Twilight Critic

Emma and I are alone today, Mike took the other kids up to his parents. In the meantime, we decided to watch Twilight again, (she's seen it before & New Moon for that matter, she likes the Twilight Saga, she's 6 going on 16)! She's pretty hilarious to watch a movie with, here's some of her commentary:

During the scene of Bella and Edward at the restaurant - "He doesn't want to eat anything because there isn't any blood on the menu, right mom?"

During their first kiss - "Don't kiss her too much Eddie!"

During the baseball scene when Laurent, James and Victoria come unto the field - "Here come the bad vampires, they're just trying to act cool, but they're not cool!"

And my favorite one of all - "Are they going to make a cartoon of this?"
And my response - ya, they probably will, there's a whole other audience they could tap into, of course they'll make it into a cartoon eventually.

Towards the end of the movie - "Mom, are vampires real?"

Spit Up!

Moriah is my worst spitter. HOLY COW she can burp it back up! When it ends up all over her face like this we call it the "Milk Gotee." (Not sure I spelled that right, but I'm too lazy to look it up.) You know what I mean. But she's a cutie no matter what, even with spit-up all over her face as this picture proves. Hey, I'm constantly wearing spit up on my left shoulder, (the burping shoulder) why not her too. Uhggggg! I love the first year soooo much, but I hate the constant spots all over my clothes, not to mention smelling like baby spit-up, yuck. This too shall pass...right?

Grandpa's Birthday Continued

The kids & their Great-Grandpa...he is pretty GREAT in our book.

Love ya Grandpa. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Emma grabs the broom at Golden Corral and starts sweeping away. Hey maybe they'll give her a job. (The kids had to entertain themselves in some way while all of us adults chatted away.)

Me, my Grandpa Mac, & my Beautiful Mother.

I love you guys!

Grandpa's Birthday

This is a portrait of my mother's family in 1963, my mom is the adorable little girl in the bonnet. Doesn't my Grandma just look classic! She was so gorgeous and so kind. I miss her so much. (I hope our loved ones that have passed on get a little peek at the blogs too!)

My Grandpa is turning 77 on the 7th and we're having a birthday celebration for him. I've been put in charge of the scrapbook (actually, I volunteered). This project has made me quite nostalgic. Many of us have lost touch & it will be soooo nice to see everyone. This time I'm going to put together a family directory so we don't lose touch again. I love my family!