Disneyland

Okay I am way behind surprise surprise. We went to Disneyland the week before Thanksgiving and it was incredible! First we drove, which I was a little nervous about but everyone did really well. We made it there and back with out a complete melt down by anyone. I think that means success. So on our first day there we had only been in the park for a little while when Meg got picked as a winner in their year of a million dreams. There are several gifts given away each day and it is picked totally randomly. It is a certain ride,time, seat, and seat position. Meg happened to be in it! I was with my mom waiting in line to see Tinker Bell at the time. Daren called me just as we were getting to the front and told me Megan won something and I needed to meet them. I was a little annoyed because I had just waited 20 minutes in line. So I asked is this worth getting out of line for? Daren had already asked the dream team member who picked Meg. She said YES! So they took us into this little office on main street and showed us a short video which said we won a night at the dream suite in Disneyland! We couldn't believe it. So they had us meet them a while later (after Daren had gone to our hotel and gotten an overnight bag) in a "special" parking lot. We got into one of their cars and they drove us around back stage and we entered though some side door into Disneyland. We met Queenie our "neighbor" and there was a band and they gave us all noise makers to be a part of the band. After that we got a tour of the suite. It is a 2200 square foot suite with a court yard. It was incredible. Completely magical. Inside there was a fire place that was digital and little sparks would fly out every once in a while and turn into a firework. Every hour when the clock struck a picture appeared on the face of the clock and something magical happened in the room. there was a good night button in each bedroom. We could push it 3 times in each room and when we did magic happened. In one room this train that looks encased come to life and travels around the room. As is passes things they come alive as well. In the other room when you push it the room turns in to a jungle. There were jungle sounds and images projected. A picture over the bed changes and mermaids appear. In the master bath the bathtub was huge and encased like a cathedral. When you push a button classical music plays, the lights dim, and Mickey mouse appears in stars above your head. The closet in that room is almost the size of my kids bedrooms at home! So after the tour they sent us to dinner at the blue bayou. We each had $75 dollars to spend. We didn't use it. We tried, we order extra desserts for the light show but we didn't make it. Then we were in a parade where they announced us as the winners of the dream suite. After which we hurried back to see the light show which was right in front of us. Before it started they shined a spotlight on us announcing us again. So then after the park closed they took us on a after hour tour. We weren't allowed to take pictures because there were trucks, landscapers, and cleaning crews all over. It was crazy. But we got to learn some of the inside info about Disneyland. So that night they locked us in our suite, there was a concierge right out side in a little office whom we could call anytime for hot chocolate, juice, water, or fruit. By the time we left had like 7 random half drunk cups of cocoa laying around. She just had to pick up the phone and ask for it and they brought it. She ordered for everyone all night. In the morning we got to go to the rides before it officially opened. We were the first ones on peter pan so we got to go twice. Then they treated us to breakfast with the characters. It was fun and delicious. As we were bid farewell we were reminded that we had dream fast passes. Anyone can get a fast pass but those give you a time to return. Our passes sent us directly to the front of the line. It wasn't even busy enough to have to use those is another great part of the vacation. It was such a wonderful time for our whole family. My girls were absolutely mesmerized by all of it. It was magical as far as they are concerned. My brother and sister in law and their 2 boys live in Mesa (which is 20 minutes from Disneyland). So we got to spend time with them as well. We went to the beach on one of the evening. The weather was fantastic the entire time we were there. There is a pictures of meg running from a wave in her swimming suite. Funny thing is we has an identical picture of Abby doing the same thing on a beach in California when she was that age. 4 year olds don't care about the tempature they just want to play in the water! I am sure I left out things and Honestly I tried to slim down the photos-sorry. Watch what you dare. Maybe I'll remember more after a good nights sleep.

HALLOWEEN

I just need to get this out there. The wording is pretty strong and maybe I should cut back but I hate Halloween. Now I know any of you who knew me as a child are shocked right now and thinking I have finally taken that step over the edge of my life as you knew it and have turned into that grumpy adult we all avoided being around. Well I can tell you the good part first. I truly enjoyed walking around our neighborhood and seeing and talking to all of our neighbors. Most don't have small children any more and they were all thrilled to see little kids in costume. They were very kind to us and that was fun. I wish we could come up with more holidays where I could go around and talk to all of them. That said even as we were walking around I was thinking why are we doing this! We just went to our trunk-or-treat for our ward and now we are continuing to collect candy. Do we each need a bag full of candy, seriously?

To settle my nerves just a little(though I still think it is stupid that they are getting something for their candy) we have found a "good witch" who comes to our home Halloween night. So they get to pick out 20 pieces of candy (crazy amount still) and they leave the rest on our back step for the good witch. She in return leaves them a book. At least, so far that is what we have gotten. Everyone so far loves her and is excited to participate. If she ever gets uninvited to our house I don't know what we'll do. Someone just told me you can dry-pack can your candy and it stays fresh. Maybe that will me my next step.

I was focusing so much on not being late for the trunk-or-treat that I forgot to take a group shot before we left. So here are just some snap shots of the night to help you get a feel for it. Max knew exactly how this worked. Before we even left the house we took is little haunted house box (meg made it for him) to Daren and said, candy, sucker,sucker, sucker, sucker, sucker until Daren put something in is box. He thought it was the best day of his life. Every piece of candy that went into his box he had to take out and just handle for a minute. On the drive home he kept saying candy please candy please! So cute and he said please which is still getting ingrained in him so I have to give him the candy right? He still keeps finding the girls candy bags and getting into them.

My sweet Lizza put her candy in a bowl on Saturday because some of our cousins came over (both younger than her) and some neighbors and took it out to her "fort" she was building. Partly I think that is was got the little kids to come out and that is what kept them there but she can be so giving. So everyone ate her candy on Saturday and she hasn't complained as Meg and Abby keep pulling out little pieces to eat. Of course Meg has shared some of hers with Liz because that is what Meg does.

Abby was a vampire

Lizza was Gabriella from High School Musical. She insisted that she had to have a brown wig or nobody would know who she was. (Even though the dress says HSM) on the front.) So I got a very cheap on half off at Shopko. She wore it for maybe 5 minutes and then took it off. Oh well at least she felt good about her self right?

Meg was a lady bug

Max was our standard 18 month elephant that every child has been. But still cute.

CANDY!!!!!

Meg and her "best" friend Madison/strawberry shortcake

Max and his buddy Quinn

trick or treating our neighborhood.

Halloween is over and we are on to bigger and better things. We are going to Disneyland this month YAHOO! We are all excited and planning what we want to do. We have also started talking about what we are grateful for. We do have so much to be grateful for I hope I am teaching my children to see all the goodness around us and to have a grateful heart.

moving on

Now for the real updates.

We have had another great month. Soccer has finally come to an end YAHOO!!! It was fun, I think, but it is so nice not to have to hurry after school to get everything done before soccer. Both girls improved and say they want to play again. I ask; are you sure? I know I am a lazy mom but I do enjoy having them around and not running all over the place with them.

Yep they still played and actually it stopped raining just as they got there.

Lizza loved to run fast to get to the ball.

Next we started something new in our family we started a parents kid date night. I have been stewing over this for a few years but just couldn't' figure out the logistics of how to do it. So With Daren's job change and no travel and less hours I asked someone else about it. Now the person I asked I absolutely worship and seem to ask her something about parenting monthly. She said that dates with their kids was probably the number one most important thing they do with their kids. I am reading 5 love languages of children and in the beginning (which is where I am) he list the 5 languages. One was quality time and it hit me that my kids don't really have any quality time with me. If we are together alone I am running errands, cleaning the kitchen, or helping them do homework, even when I read to them I am usually directing someone else to get something donw. So very rarely do I just stop everything I'm doing and give them 100% of my attention. That obviously made me feel bad hence starting the dialog about date nights. So we have moved family home evening to Sunday nights and every Monday either Daren or I go with one of the girls (Max is still to young) on a date. We have a rotating schedule to follow to keep it fair and it gives the girls consistency and they know what to expect. We go for 1 1/2 hours and we can only spend $3. Also it has to be all about what the child wants to do. We don't' run errands or run really quick to Albertsons for milk. We are trying to show them we love them enough to give them our complete attention and time. Well we started with Meg and since she was the first she could choose which parent to go with. She picked Daren. All day she was so excited about the date. She kept telling me they were going to dress up in their nicest cloths, go get ice cream, and find someplace to just chit-chat all night. So when Daren got home from work she made him put on a tie and she picked out her "prettiest" dress and added jewelry and a shiny purse and off they went. Daren said she just talked the entire time about everything.

This past Monday was Lizza's and my turn. I was all excited because Liz is usually our play it up girl but it wasn't as climatic as Megs. We had fun and she was happy for sure. She chose to go to Boondocks which is a video arcade place where you earn tickets to get a prize. She was excited to go my complaint was that it was so loud we really couldn't talk to each other. After that we went to the library to read books. That was fun and she just snuggled up and helped me read. I am excited about doing these and if nothing else it takes away some of my guilt about no quality time.

Lastly Abby Finally got baptized! I cannot believe she is old enough for this. Driving to the church I was saying this is it. Now everything counts. I hope we have taught her well enough. She was so excited and nervous about the whole thing. It was great though. We had family come for the weekend, which was great and really made her feel good. I am proud of Abby. She is a good girl and I hope she stays that way. We are grateful to have her in our family.

I've been tagged

So I was tagged before we went to Tahoe and I just didn't get around to it until now. I took the pictures right after we got home and then never got to downloading and writing about it all so here it is.... A self portrait of me. Serious anyone have any tips on eyebrows? I cannot control mine. I have them professionally waxed every once in a while then I think I can do this myself and just follow their lines but after a while they get like this. Pictures of the outside and inside of my fridge. You never know what your going to find in there. I thought you all would enjoy a close up of Abby's cultures she was growing in our fridge!! Is that safe to mix dinner with science projects? the kitchen sink. My favorite room in the house? This one stumped me for days. I compromised and found the 2 I dislike the least. The family room because it is the most likely to be clean and my food storage room because I love having a place to store all the food and looking in there makes me happy (even though it's unorganized.) The bathroom (s). Funny thing the person we bought the house from considered this a selling point that the bathrooms were connected and we shared on bathtub/shower combo. Yeah real great. No Lizza is not going to the bathroom I have no idea what she is doing. My favorite shoes. If you've haven't caught onto me yet I am a white-meaning indecisive. I don't' know of very many things I have a definite favorite of. Laundry Room. Okay so this is a place no one ever goes into but me so it get no attention in way of cleaning. My mom has taught me to never show or admit this type of stuff in public and I am sure if she looks at this I will get a phone call. My closet. What are my kids up to? Who knows!! Actually Abby and Lizza are getting ready for bed which means being extremely loud, laughing, teasing, and running around the house until one of them cries. Meg is obviously helping me and Max is already sleeping. My dream vacation.. (remember the white) I think it would be a service trip to an orphanage with my family. Or to a tropical beach with Daren. 6 quirks about me 1. I just cannot let my kids unbuckle their seat belts. Even ride without a booster. Abby is 8 and I try every once in a while when I am taking Daren's car and only some of them, thinking we're just going around the corner less than a mile. Then I always stop in the drive way and switch the seats. I just can't do it. I would never be able to live with the guilt if something happened to them. 2. I cannot feed my children white bread. I don't know why again I've bought it before because they asked for it and I just can't make sandwiches with it. I think of the waste in eating something that has no value. It's does and it's fortified but I can't willing do it. 3. I pretty much drink hot cocoa every morning-even in the summer. I love chocolate and it's my quick and easy fix in the morning I suppose. 4. My pinkie toes basically have no toenail because they are such small toes. My sister has made fun of me my whole life because of it. She still just has to look at it when we see each other. 5. I love to read but once I am done with the book I rarely can tell you the author or even the complete title. 6. I take food with me where ever I go. I cannot leave the house with out a package of Ritz, pretzels, grapes, cheese sticks, craisins, etc. I am so afraid of being stranded somewhere and my kids being hungry. Finally this is off my back! I tag anyone who wants to play but you have to leave me a comment so I can go look at yours and not feel so exposed myself.

On our way up to the gondola Meg loved the bear waving at us.

Climbing aboard our ride. Some how Aaron and Stephanie with no kids ended up in one with 4 kids!

Ty-Ty loved the hike can't you tell.

After it was all said and done they could still smile. Doesn't that mean it was successful?

Tahoe take 2

Josh the baby of the fam was the music man. He did fantastic and was right on que.

Meg sitting with Jason and Tif. She had her ups and downs thru-out but she made it. But I love this picture of her little chubby face. She was so excited to see Stephanie and her beautiful dress.

The girls got to be flower girls. The weren't expecting it and they have told everyone since we got home about it. There were some petals left after they made it down the aisle. They kept them and brought them home. They thought it was fantastic.

Beautiful Abby. She loved these flowers behind her and specifically asked me to take a picture of here by them. Where is a solo picture of Lizza you may ask? She was busy following Stephanie around the entire day. If she couldn't be by her for some reason she was following her cousins Fisher and Tyler and round. She loved "taking care of them". They were good sports about it too. At the wedding they had put disposable cameras on the tables. So the kids all picked one up and started snapping pictures. On the one hand it was a life saver. We were having Hors d'oeuvres while Aaron and Stephanie were getting pictures taken and they were growing restless. On the other hand all I can say is sorry Aaron and Stephanie. I gave everyone the talk about these are to take pictures of the people at the wedding and they don't want to find pictures of the rocks, the chairs, your feet, the clouds, etc. They all nodded and agreed that it would be funner to see faces but then forgot apparently as soon as I released them.

Lake Tahoe!!!!

We had such a fun trip to Tahoe City, CA this past week. My brother Aaron got married there. He and Stephanie did a great job planning this all out and making it memorable for everyone. My parents rented a house for everyone to stay it. It was so great it even came stocked with polly pockets and books to read. What more could I ask for? The house was just a 100 yards from some trails that we managed to run on and hike on with Abby, Lizza, and Cousin McKenna to gather pine cones. It was great. We went on 2 other little hikes as well. Emerald Bay you'll see down below the other one we rode a gondola up the ski hill and hiked to a lake and back to the gondola to get back down the mountain. It was so fun to be out all together talking, singing, and joking around. My kids had a great time. Aaron and Stephanie joined us for that hike, which was above and beyond. They had to leave as soon as we were done to drive back to Hanford, CA. Elizabeth stuck to Stephanie like glue. she had to ride up with her and walk with her. They went ahead of us to get back to their car and she was pushing the whole way down to hurry up so she didn't miss Stephanie. I can't figure out how this post is going to work so things will be jumbled up. Below are random pictures I will explain under each but this post may end up being a few post long so good luck. We got out and walked around Donner's Pass memorial. You can't really tell how tall this is but up to where the people are (not counting them) is how deep the snow was! The place was about to close so we didn't do much more than walk to this monument and get a few pictures.

On the dock at Emerald Bay. We hiked down a mile to get to this bay area. All the kids did very well. The bummer was we had to hike up a mile to be done with the hike but everyone made it and I don't remember any crying either. Don't quote me on that one I am pretty good at blocking it out now a days.

Mandy, my sister, and I looking down on Emerald Bay.

Daren had a great hike! I don't think he had to do this for very long but still I wouldn't have even offered.

Birthdays!

We celebrated Daren and Abby's birthdays a few weeks ago and I just haven't had time to get anything posted about it. Now it's old news and all of you have heard about it so I will make this short. Abby tuned 8 and will be getting baptized October 25th. She missed the September baptism because we were in Lake Tahoe at my brothers wedding. It took a little bit of time to work through the angst of that but now she is good. She had a friend party this year which was actually very manageable. I haven't had to do a friend party for several years and I was a little worried about this. Every year I give them the option of doing a special family day where they are in charge or having a friend party. They have chosen the family thing in the past. But she has been talking about this friend birthday party for months. She invited 8 friends plus her sisters and She knew exactly what she wanted to do and it went really well. By this age they are still really sweet to each other and pliable i.e. happy to do what they are told because THERE AT A PARTY!!! We had pizza, played high school musical on the wii, played the candy bar game, painted magnets, decorated cupcakes, and opened presents. It was great. There was a point during it that I was sitting down thinking I have nothing to do right now...weird. It's Daren's day to so the girls all sang to him as well and I got him cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. I planned ahead on their birthdays, at least better than Megs. So I am counting it as a success.

Weekend?

First off WHOOO for BYU. Daren went down to the game with his brothers and Parents. I do enjoy watching some of BYU football but I cannot just sit and do nothing else for the entire game. Maybe it's because I know I will be watching highlights all week so I will catch all the good stuff anyway and Daren can give me a descriptive play by play if I need it. I love it about him. Anyway for his sake mostly, I was hoping they would win so he wouldn't come home all mad and feel like he wasted a perfectly good weekend. But I wasn't asking for a blow-out. It was 52-0 I believe. I did turn it on and watched a little of it. Daren isn't home yet so I could have the score wrong. If so I am sure he will correct me. Mean while while he was gone we have basically been doing soccer. Abby had practice last night (straight through dinner-definatly planned by a man i.e. the coach) 5:45-6:45 Friday night, lovely. So we all went and had a picnic. After wards I needed some ice cream to recover from the wet grass, grouchy Max, and crazy girls. So we headed to Dairy Queen for a little. Today we had 3 games. Abby had one at 12:00, which ment we started getting ready around 11:00 which is right when we finished our chores for the day. Then Both she and Lizza had a game a 2:00. So Meg, Max, and I just ran back and forth between the two games. All the games are played on a soccer field complex is the good news. The girls were so much better this week. After last week Daren was like I don't know if I can do this. This meaning watch his girls dink around on the field and shy away from any ball that may come close to them. After a week of pep talks from both of us, and some reverse pschology they did much better. We told them all week how fast both of them were and they could get to the ball first and kick it. Lizza is convinced she is the fastest runner alive and she ran and ran today! She runs and flicks her hair and adds a little jump in there every couple of steps but she is fast. By the end of the game she was drenched in sweat. It was dripping down her face and she was estatic. she made 4 goals. ( I dont' care about the goals but the girls tell me Dad says they matter.) Abby did so much better too. After the first game where she would get to the ball and then kind of stick her leg out to kick but cringe her body (if you can picture that-basically just mad kicking) I talked to her about following the ball after she kicks it to make sure it gets to a teammate or to the goal. She did it! We also told her about guarding someone on the other team and she was on that girl like glue. At one point the other coach (which was the referee for the half) walked his player around Abby because she wouldn't let her have an inch. We still have things to work on but it was fun. I find myself yelling things like get the ball , find the ball, Follow it Abby or Liz. Then I think what am I doing? She can't hear me and now I sound like one of those psycho parents yelling at their kids on the sidelines. It sucks you in I tell you. Tonight Abby was telling me about her friend Bret who has a stepmom. She said "I just feel so bad for him I don't know when his parents got divorced but he's had this step mom for a while now how awful." I suggested maybe his mom died. "Yeah maybe...hopefully because if they got divorced that would be wrose for Bret. Atleast if she is dead he would know he could see her again and she is happy and in heaven-but divorced that would be the worst." I personally think there would nothing worse than your mom dying she disagrees-intersting. Mental note never, never divorce Daren because it would destroy Abby-just die.

September

Holy Cow summer ended so quickly for us and now we are into the thick of school and fall life. We had a great summer to end it, we went to Twin Falls and went through the temple open house. Its was really fun for our girls to see the inside. They were fascinated.

Then the week before school started I went to education week at BYU with some friends and Daren was left all alone to hold down the fort. He did well. There were a few mishaps but everyone is still alive and happy. We (meaning he really) had a lot going on that week that he had to handle and he worked Monday and Wednesday so others had to watch our kids those days. The girls started soccer practice that week and they had meet your teacher night which he had to attend. Since I missed both of those I feel so out of it. I have introduced myself to both teachers but haven't really gotten to talk to either of them and I can't recognize Abby's soccer team because I haven't been to any practices. Daren is the assistant coach so I haven't been to any. Lizza's, I just went to for the first time this week so now I know what they look like sort of.

We went to our first soccer games yesterday-no tears which is an improvement. I think they both had fun and now I know what we can practice at home this week.

I think Lizza likes school. She is one you can never be to sure about. She also is changing her mind constantly. But she is adjusting to all day school and the melt downs have gotten smaller and fewer. It really is a long day.

Abby of course loves her teacher and knows the name of everyone in her class. She starts the challenge program (which is like the gifted and talented program they just don't call it that anymore here) tomorrow. She is nervous because it is something new but a little excited too. She keeps asking me to tell her how it is all going to happen. She needs the whole picture painted for her always to know what to expect.

Meg enjoys the time with out her sisters. She tells me "it is so nice because then she doesn't have to fight with them about this is hers or let me play." I enjoy the time with her but she wants me to play all day. When I try to do something else she just lays on the floor by me and keeps asking are you done yet mom? Can we play now mom? I feel bad for her so then I get roped into playing again. I don't know how much more of pony's and Polly pocket princesses I can play. Luckily I am starting her preschool this week and she starts dance too. So she will have things to do.

Max is Max. Wild and crazy. He is becoming a talker more and more. He repeats anything you say to him. He is officially 18 months today! Which means nursery here we come!

catch up time

I cannot believe it is the middle of August. It is sad to see the summer winding down I am not quite ready to send my kids back to school but such is life I guess. Abby and Lizza finally got to take their swimming lessons they have been asking about all summer. I did private lessons for them and it was awesome. They learned so much and it was fun to just be in the pool alone with Kortney (the teacher). Meg felt like she was the experienced one because she had already taken her lessons. She kept standing by the edge of the pool cheering them on or trying to tell them what to do. When it was diving board time she coaxed liz out of the pool telling it yeah come on, it's okay, you just do this. She was fun to watch as well. Both girls were really proud of themselves when we finished. Next up Soccer, here we come! We went for a long weekend down to Pocatello to see my family. Mands flew in from Texas, Matt flew in from California (minus his family), and Josh and Natalie shuttled Mandy and Matt up from Utah. IT was so fun to get together. My brother Matt is a Chiropractor and he was busy all weekend treating patients. If he wasn't he was working on one of us (his family for free). Thanks Matt. I can't forget Mandy she graciously brought her otoscope and checked my ears what would I do without you guys. We hit up the all important Chubbuck day Parade (Chubbuck is a "suburb" of Pocatllo) with cousins Mitchell and McKenna. Always a good time to be had at the Chubbuck days. There was a float for this dinner and theater place which is doing wizard of Oz right now. The people were all dress like the characters of the play. So the wicked witch came up to Meg, who really wasn't paying attention, and touched her and did you wicked laugh right in Megs face. It scared her to death. The rest of the parade Meg was lukewarm. I felt so bad for her. I wasn't really paying attention either or I would have shielded that. She woke up that night and said she was afraid of the witch and has mentioned it a few times since then. She is still on a kick of not wanting to go to the bathroom alone. Now she says there could be a witch in there. Super, just what I needed.

Next Mandy, Daren, and I went on a mountain bike ride up City Creek in Pocatello. It was really fun. Then we brought our kids back later and did a family hike up there. They had a good time and the trail was fun for kids. It was shaded most of the time and there were little coves of trees we could duck into and be right by the stream. The kids had a great time.

Lastly a picture of some of us. Me, my dad, Matt, Megan, Mandy, my mom, Josh, and Natalie on the driveway.

Okay my Dad loves wildlife and is fascinated with birds but when they start getting into his stuff that's a whole different story. He gets so mad at the squirrels that steel his bird seed and the deer that get into his garden and fruit trees. He spends a considerable amount of time thinking of ways to stop them. At one point he would use a sling shot and shoot marbles at the squirrels that was disturbing to my children but he still tried. He has put this ugly plastic orange fencing around his garden to keep the deer out but to no avail. He had just complained to me that they ate all his squash this year. He was contemplating having Josh (my brother) bring up one of his paint guns and he would shoot paint pellets at the deer, nice. So as we were leaving for the hike we caught them red handed in the trees there were 4 deer just walking around looking for some food.

Once we got home and started to put the pieces back together Max is right back at it. Why do I even bother? he is stuck underneath the baby gate. He does fine on the stairs It was up because I was cleaning the turtle tank and we all know that Max and access to the turtle don't mix.