The magical Adventure- Disneyland

The kids trip started off with Grandma and Grandpa taking Aspen and Danny to Vegas with them for a few days while Mommy stayed back to pack and clean the house.  They had a blast swimming and riding the carsouel.  Than Tyler flew in from Kansas and we met up with the kids in Vegas.  This was the first time the kids had seen Tyler in 3 weeks and they were so excited!!!  We got to California with enough time to go to Johnny Rockets for dinner.  The food was delicious and it was so nice to sit outside to eat.  When we got back to the condo we got to watch the fireworks from the roof!  That was a great start to our magically trip.  Than the kids got to open up there new outfits for the big day!  This is an early birthday trip for Aspens 5th birthday and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it!

Monday we went straight to California Adventure.  The fast pass line was super long for the new cars ride so we went straight to the line.  Tyler and Allen waited with Aspen and planned to get me a switch rider pass when they were about 5 minutes from the front of the line and the ride broke down.  Not the best way to start off the trip.  They wouldn't even give Tyler a fast pass ticket and told him they had to wait in line all over again.  Meanwhile I took Danny to go and see Lightening McQueen!  He was so excited and even got to see Mater to.  We than went on all the rides in Cars Land.  That part of California Adventure was a great add on.  The scenry is amazing and both kids loved it.  Tyler and I than decided to talk to guest services about getting some fast pass tickets to the Cars ride.  The lady took great care of us and even gave us fast pass tickets to a few other rides so it ended up working out great!  Tyler, Allen, Aspen and I all got to ride Cars without waiting again!  Than we got a switch rider pass and did it again!  Seriously that is my favorite ride at California Adventure and is worth any wait!  The other highlights of the day were seeing the Disney Junior show, Toy Story Mania, Aspen favorite ride was Little Mermaid and Cars and Danny favorite ride was Tow Mater.  Aspen was also brave and went on the Tower of Terror.  She was terrified, but was brave and didn't cry.  When we were walking out the lady that worked in the gift shop told Aspen she was the smallest person she had seen ride that ride and she was so proud of her for being so brave.  She had 1 penny that she could give away all day and she gave it to Aspen.  That made Aspen feel so special and now she says she loved that ride.  I think she just loved getting the prize at the end!  After a long day we went to Downtown Disney and looked around at the fun stores and than ate at Rainforest Cafe.  They did a little birthday cake for Aspen.  Than Tyler and I took the kids back to ride a few more rides.  Wow we were exhausted after just the first day!  We went back on Wednesday to watch the Pixar parade and it did not disappoint and that is coming from someone who doesn't like parades!








On Day 2 Aspen got to dress up as Jasmine and wear the birthday pin!  This was by far the most magical day of the trip!  Everyone told Aspen happy birthday and they loved her dressed up as Jasmine.  I have to admit she did look pretty cute!  I was also amazed at how much Danny loved meeting the different characters to.  We had to wait a long time for jasmine to show up, but since Aspen was dressed up as Jasmine it was worth the wait.  To bad she was ornery, but Aspen didn't noticed and was so excited!  I hate parades, but the Disney parades are wonderful.  They are short and you get to see all the characters.  I am sure glad we watched them.  While we were waiting Danny started a trend of running around the street and had all sorts of kids following him.  The kids also loved the different story times they did.  By far the best part of the entire trip was seeing Aspen face when she met the princesses for the first time!

By day 3 we were all tired and moved at a much slower pace!  If it was possible next time we come we will split the days up.  But it was still a fantastic day with lots of memories made.  Aspen was tall enough to ride splash mountain.  She was so scared, but if you ask her if she liked she will most definitely tell you YES!  Tyler, Allen and me also got to ride some of the fun adult rides like space mountain the the Matterhorn.  Aspen gave her first kiss, to goofy!  We met Tiana and lots of other fun characters.  I got my first turkey leg and it was delicious!!!  The kids got their faces painted and that was the highlight of their day!  Tyler and the kids also loved the iron man simulator.  All in all it was a magical experience and a great birthday present for Aspen.  It was so fun to see the kids faces and experience Disneyland while they were still young.  Disneyland is one of the places I love to take my kids to, but I don't understand how grown adults love it so much without kids!  I can happily say that it will be awhile before we go back :) 

More April fun

Tyler planned a birthday geteway for me this year and we went up to a condo in Ogden canyon.  It was still cold up there but so beautiful.  It was so nice to spend quality time just as a couple before the summer craziness began!  We watched movies, played games, went to the Temple and stayed up way to late talking!  I love this man so much!  The thought of him going to Kansas just kills me, but I know we will be stronger from it.   

Since Tyler was leaving soon we decided to get some family time.  We invited the Masons to come to Traflaga.  It was cold but it was still fun.  Aspen and Danny even got to do laser tag for the first time.  Aspen sure loves to rock climb and Grandpa even got up there to help her.  Of course we all loved the race cars!    

We were surprising Aspen for her 5th birthday and going to Disneyland in May.  Originally we wanted to just wake her up and tell her the day of, but since Tyler was leaving to Kansas for 3 weeks we thought it would be fun for her to have something to look forward to.  So I made her a mickey mouse countdown and we than showed her a bunch of videos about Disneyland.  She squealed with delight and gave both Tyler and I the biggest hug.  It was the best surprise ever!

Aspen got to celebrate her early birthday at school.  She colored her poster and wrote a few of her favorite things.  Than I made cupcakes for her class to celebrate!  The poster says:

My best friends are: Cade, Kylee, Kaia, Michael, and Owen- Her cousins

Favorite Movie: Tangled

Things I like to do: Ride bikes, swimming and swing at playground

Favorite food: Cake, broccoli

Some places I have been: Seaworld/Legoland, Oregon Coast, St. George

My favorite color: Pink



 

My Boys!

For my birthday Tyler had these awesome pictures of him and the boys and than he had Sarah put them in a collage.  Best present ever.  I love it and i love my boys!  Danny was actually being really soft in this picture, but Colt just wasn't having it.



 

Danny and Colt like to party

On Monday we through a joint family party for Colt and Danny!  It was a superhero "art" theme and I had a blast planning it.  Danny is really into art right now so we did tons of art activities.  We put together their art easels for their party favors, than painted art easels and than did a color spinning activity.  All the cousins had a blast.  Than it was time for cake!  Colt got the traditional tennis ball cake.  He was not afraid to dive right in.  He is our sweet tooth boy and hes not afraid to make a mess.  Danny is obessed with superheros right now and since we were going with the art theme we decorated this awesome art superman cake.  I came up with the idea and Tyler executed the design on rice cake paper.  I am sure if we were professionals it would have turned out even cuter, but I couldn't be more proud.  Danny was excited and that was the most important part!  Than it was time for presents! Once again the boys got spoiled.  I love having their parties on a different day then there actual birthdays because than the stress is over with. 

Coltster is ONE!

How is my baby one!  This kid is the funniest baby.  He is easy going and happy all the time.  He can eat more food than should be humanly possible!  He really loves breakfast food.  He isn't picky and will eat just about anything but he really loves bananas, avocados, hard boiled eggs and rice.  He is a mommy's boy and really enjoys nursing.  I am nervous and how he will react when I quit nursing him.  He loves to watch Aspen and Danny play, but doesn't like it when they pick up him or boss him around.  He is walking along furniture and crawling like crazy, but he has no interest in walking.  When Colt cries you know its him because it is a screech and it hurts your ears, but he has brought so much joy into this house and has the biggest smile I have ever seen!  You can tell Colt will be our sneaky trouble maker, but hes so darn cute its hard to keep a straight face with him.  Here is his 12 month stats:

• 17lbs (less than 3%)


• 28 inches (4%)


• 45cm head circ (13%)

We are having his party on Monday with Danny's so today I made his favorite pancakes, chocolate avocado and we sang to him!  This boy is such a joy!

Easter

Over the weekend our neighborhood had an Easter egg hunt!  I had Rob's kids so I brought them with us.  The kids had a blast finding their eggs and I was amazed how fast they actually found them.  The Easter bunny was there, but poor Kiri wasn't a fan!  


Easter Sunday was beautiful.  I had a talk with the Easter bunny and he agreed to get more healthy snacks and not as much candy.  He also did a church theme this year and scaled way back on the kids Easter basket fillers.  The kids couldn't have been more happy though.  It was great reminder on how simple kids really are!  They were just thankful the Easter Bunny stopped by.  The kids also got new Easter clothes!  Aspen looked beautiful in her in new pink and yellow dress and it was fun to dress the boys the same with their bright yellow ties! Church was wonderful and the best way to spend Easter morning!  After church we went up to the cabin to spend time with cousins.  Grandma did a fun easter egg hunt for the kids. Than she did a spiritually lesson about the real meaning behind Easter, the Resurrection.  To top off the night the kids decorated sugar cookies and dyed Easter eggs!  I love the cabin and I love having traditions with the kids. 

Wheeler Farm

We love Grandma days with Kathy and with in vertigo we haven't been able to do as many lately.  But today she was brave and we went to wheeler farm.  The kids loved running around and feeding the ducks and seeing all the animals.  I love that I get to be a stay at home mom and enjoy all these moments with my kids!  

Leprechaun Fun

Life is all about making memories and I get excited for holidays!! Right now I have seen blog posts going around where moms are complaining that they can't keep up or that they feel other moms are going overboard and they are asking people to stop celebrating every holiday.  To me I think that each family needs to do what they feel comfortable.  I love taking time to go out of my way for holidays and do a little something.  I don't spend hours and hours and go all crazy and spend all kind of money, but I do like to make traditions and memories with my kids.  There are lots of other areas I am lacking in as a mom and none of us can do it all. But why should others get frustrated with someone who wants to do something special for their kids.  If its not something you enjoy than don't do!  For those of us that do enjoy it I don't think we should feel guilty from the moms that don't!  We need to stop comparing ourselves and be grateful we all have different talents.

Now ill get off that soapbox and show you our fun day!  Our kids woke up to a silly leprechaun who had left footprints down the stairs, green mess in the toilet, messed up kitchen chairs, and a few random things by their shoes.  They were so excited and still talk about the silly leprechaun that came to visit us!  I also make our traditional rainbow waffles (even using natural dyes this year) and green smoothies and kiwi.  It was a green kind of day!