Disneyland Day 1, 2 & 3!!

How to blog this without it getting too boring...too late. We had 3 days at Disneyland and 3 days at the beach and one day at Nottsberry Farm--I think I'll tackle Disneyland first--but first a quick look into each day before the onslaught of pictures!!

DISNEYLAND! Day 1

SO EXCITED! Heading into the park! We're at DISNEYLAND!!

Day 2

Still excited--but we've done everything once...what to do...what.to.do...

Day 3

Done everything...at least 5 times...take.me.home.

With 5-10 minute wait times, we did all of Disneyland and all of California Adventure in ONE DAY--and that was walking, not running. We tried to take our time and just enjoy things as they came--and boy did we ever!

Anyone who knows Jenna, knows she is obsessed with snow globes--this was MIND BLOWING!
Jenna was the ONLY one on the entire raft that got wet--and she was SOAKED!Grandma Gwen gave each kid $20 to spend on our trip. Jenna saw this the first day and I made her wait until the last day to buy it in case she saw something else. She didn't. p.s. it broke the day we got home.
The best kept secret at Disneyland: this air conditioned room under the arch of the castle. A movie is playing, it's quite...heaven.

We met a lot more characters than usual--probably because there weren't hoardes of people hiding them. Jenna really liked them, Gavin and Kesley liked them but were embarrassed to admit that they did!
One morning Jenna and I ran to try and be one of the first in line to meet the princesses. It is nothing short of hysterical watching overweight/out of shape adults try to sprint to the other end of the park to save a place in that line--everyone is gasping for air about half way there. By the time I got there I was totally shaking and pretty sure I was going to throw up--but we were 3rd in line!!! Woot! Woot! Jenna got to meet Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, but she burst into tears when she realized that there was no Ariel! It's hard to be a 4 year old.
I really got into these snap shots that they take on the thrill rides and then try to sell to you for $15 each. I tried taking pictures of them with my camera and they aren't so great, but they still capture some of the panic/excitement the kids were experiencing. Kesley was the thrill lover of the trip--she LOVED any ride that went fast or made you feel like throwing up!

SPACE MOUNTAIN: First time--dark and fast. Kids weren't so sure and poor Jenna's head was whipping around like crazy!

Second time: Love Kesley in this picture--she just LOVED the thrill rides! I hated feeling like Jenna's neck was going to snap, but she loved it too!

Tower of TERROR:

They take you up in an elevator and drop you!

First time--love Jenna's reaction!

Second time--Awesome! This was one of our family favorites!

California SCREAMIN

First time--check out Gavin's face! Brent and Kesley in back

Second time with me--liking it a little more. Kesley is behind again.

I'm not sure where to stop with the pictures...we had such a good time and I took a LOT. But that is a good start. Tomorrow--beach days!

We went WHERE????

We successfully pulled off a surprise trip to DISNEYLAND! Last Saturday the kids found a note in the mailbox with three letters in it. They each got to read one: (missing one that Jenna read that said, "Have fun!")
I think we tease them too much because no one believed the notes at first. When they realized it was REAL--Gavin was convulsing on the ground, Kesley was walking around in a daze and Jenna was a perma-grin! SO FUN! I got it all on video.

The drive up to the airport was hilarious. Gavin was counting the minutes--or counting down the minutes until we got to the airport. Cute for a minute and then I was just REALLY grateful we were flying and I didn't have to hear that for 12 hours of driving. This was the first time the kids can remember flying (we flew into Portland for Gavin's second birthday) and they were E.X.C.I.T.E.D. We got through security and to our gate in 10 minutes and still had 2 hours to wait...and wait...and wait! Kinda took some of the excitement out of the moment.

WAITING for our plane

READY FOR TAKE-OFF!!!

Our two hour layover in Vegas wasn't as exciting as I expected. The kids were "bored" (I seriously wanted to slap them) and I forgot to grab some movies for the DVD player, so they watched Curious George for the KA-ZILLIONTH time. Hey! At least there was something in there!
After the hour drive to the airport, the two hour wait, the hour flight to Vegas, the two hour layover,the hour flight into LAX, the 1/2 hour waiting for baggage, the 1/2 hour drive to the rental car place, the 1/2 hour wait at the rental car place and then the 1/2 hour drive to our hotel.....we figure we could have driven there in less time. LONG DAY!

Tomorrow: THE BEACH! (Were we really mean to make them spend Sunday at the beach and not Disneyland?... I wish I could say it was a "keeping the Sabbath Day holy" kinda thing, but it was more of a "Disneyland will be less crowded on a Monday!" kinda thing...)

Kesley turns *7*

This lady is just beautiful--inside and out. And because I am an idiot, I took a picture of a picture instead of scanning in a beautiful picture because I do not know how to do that....or have a scanner.I was thinking this morning about the day Kesley was born. It was beautiful and warm--much warmer than February should be. She came out looking just like Grandma VanCott (my dad's mom), which was weird because she looks nothing like her now, but it was so striking I almost wanted to name her Kesley Emily instead of Kesley Maria. The next morning we woke up to a foot of new snow. It felt like we were snowed in and I loved how quite and calm it was the whole day. Nobody really visited that day because of all the snow and I got to sit there and snuggle her all to myself all day. I enjoyed every second. Looking back, Gavin's birth was no fun because of all the toxemia drugs that made me feel like a drunk and Jenna's birth was a whole fiasco I don't really remember --so I am extra grateful Kesleys birth was so perfect. Today kinda reminded me of that lovely day. A foot of new snow. Quite and peaceful...until all the kids woke up...but still...just lovely.

Happy Birthday Kesley. You are one special lady. I feel truly blessed to have you as my daughter.

Presents! The big one this year was a Barbie swimming pool
Talking to Elder & Sister VanCott on the phone--thanks for calling!

Surprise sleepover guest, cousin Naomi!

Rainbow cake--much easier than a lego cake

Love you lady!

2 little diddys

1: It's already been one year AND a month! since we moved into this house. Unbelievable. It is true that time seems to go faster the older you get.

Kesley decorated my room when we first moved in. Cute pictures of me and Brent and a little extra "oomph" made for the perfect decor that stayed up for the entire year. I just took them down because I wanted to use my fireplace and already miss them.

2 : Jenna was extremely frustrated when her ears would "POP" as we were traveling through different elevations. I hate that feeling of not being able to hear and hearing yourself talk in your head --I can only imagine the frustration a 4 yr old would feel because of the lack of understanding. After lot's of complaining, she was at her breaking point. She screamed, "UHHHG! It's like a voice is copy-catting me right in my ear!"

Day 3 Finale!

Staying in St. George on a Monday night in the middle of winter is surprisingly affordable. We found a nice place with a gorgeous pool on the internet and the kids were so excited to wake up Tuesday morning and go swimming. Much to my horror, the pool was IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKIN LOBBY! What? WHY??? Had I seen that when I checked in the night before I may have gone somewhere else. :/

But--after slipping out of my towel and oozing myself nonchalantly into one corner of the pool, all was forgotten and we had a BLAST. And the pool went under a wall and was even bigger outside--so all was right with the world again.After swimming we headed over to the St. George Temple. I've never stopped in to the visitors center before, so it was new to all of us. The cute little old missionary told us the film about the building of the Temple was only about 7 minutes long--but I think all of my kids will tell you it was MORE LIKE THE LONGEST, SLOWEST 20 MINUTES OF THEIR LIVES. Anywho, it was nice to see some old relics and he did peak my interest in touring the Brigham Young winter home a few blocks away.

The kids feeling the love in front of the Temple

Brigham Youngs winter house was really interesting. My kids were intrigued--but that was because of our fine tour guide who had lots of interesting things to share. Did you know Brigham Young only used the house for 4 winters? From age...wait, was it 70-74 or 74 to 77...blast it. Anyway, he died of appendicitis in Salt Lake after only using the home for 4 winters. Oh, something I do remember--Saints were called to St. George to grow cotton...did you know that?

Side view of the house

Holding cotton they just picked from the cotton bushes next to them! So cool!--Don't they looked excited?

The tour of the home was fascinating. Gavin loves all things old fashioned and was in heaven. He asked great questions, listened intently to the answers and is still repeating facts to Brent. I was very impressed.

The Living Room

The Maids Room--Kesleys favorite because of the old sewing machine with the old "Barbie" doll on it. Apparently Brigham Young would make them out of wood so the little girls could learn how to sew by making clothes for them. See? I do remember some stuff.

And finally, Brigham Youngs bedroom with his original bed. Gavin loved the hat laying on the bed, but we found out it was made in 1913, so obviously not Brigham Youngs. After this tour we headed over to the Daughters of the Pioneers museum and spent at least an hour walking through it. I was pleasantly surprised with how interested they all were in everything--well except Jenna who was laying on the floor whining about how hungry she was--but still, they did great.

AWESOME TRIP! I'm ready for the next one!

Vegas--Day 2

Day 2 Another beautiful day. We decided to head up to Red Rock canyon for some hiking--along with EVERYONE else in Las Vegas. Holiday + beautiful weather + free entry to the park day = BUMPER TO BUMPER traffic out in the middle of no where! It was crazy. We had a great picnic and then forged our own trail, away from the hordes of people, down a dry
river bed. It was the most exercise I have had for a long time. :) My kids loved every second of it.

The crew Gavin, Kesley, Jenna, Maggie, Audrey & Drew (miles was on dad's back)
Holly's husband, Owen, was an awesome tour guide and kept things interesting for the kids. I wish I could remember interesting facts...ya know...about anything...
We hiked to these cool Indian petroglyphs-
And then joined back up with the crowds at this waterfall. Holly and I had flash backs of the Hindu tourist attack we experienced at The Grotto up Payson canyon... you can't see all the people in the picture, but trust me.Now, the big ugly "Y" t-shirt I am wearing was meant to be slept in, but the weather was so great and all I brought were long sleeves, so it became my wardrobe--totally embarrassing.

Day 2 Success! After a great dinner, we said goodbye to the Sanders, loaded up and headed home--well, at least to St. George. And so begins DAY 3!

Weekend in RAS BEGAS!! Day 1

I had to get OUT of the smog and cold for a couple of days. Brent was going to be working through the weekend and the kids had Monday off of school, so I loaded them up in OUR NEW-to us-SUBURBAN (woot! woot!) and we headed south to visit friends in Las Vegas. It was Sunny & Warm and SO MUCH FUN!--it was the perfect, much needed getaway.

DAY 1 After a feeble attempt at church...we had a lovely picnic in the park and enjoyed the 70 degree weather. We could have spent the day there, but the Vegas strip was calling and you know the saying, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!" I gave in to my dark side and took the kids to an afternoon MAGIC show with this dude:The promo showed him making tigers disappear with pyrotechnics and such-something very Vegassy and amazing...we, apparently, caught him after his career peak. $10 a ticket got us an off the strip dive, about 30 people in the audience and lot's of paper tricks--I think I saw Joshy Boy perform a few of the same tricks for the neighborhood when he was 8. But the kids had a blast and they all got to go on stage and be helpers which was very memorable for them and worth every penny.

After the marvelous magic show we headed for the strip. The kids felt the HEAT from the Mirage volcano and the cool, misty breeze off the Bellagio water fountains. They were in AWE! It was a great night--aside from carrying Jenna the ENTIRE time--my back still hurts.

Here we are waiting for the volcano to erupt:
And in front of the Bellagio waiting for one of the 4 water shows we saw:--check out grumpy pants. She was asleep on my shoulders about 20 minutes after this was taken--poor tired lady.We also walked through the Bellagio gardens and saw it decorated for the Chinese New Year--Year of the Rabbit. Not as cool as others I have seen, but still cool.Day 1 was a SUCCESS! Day 2 coming soon...