Disneyland Part 1

I still can't believe we were there.  I had been wanting to take the kids to Disneyland for so long but didn't know if or when we would be able to do it.  When I found out that not only were we going to go to Disneyland but we were going there at Christmas time I was in shock...what a magical time to be at a magical place.  The time went by so quickly but we enjoyed every minute of our trip (except the part where I got us lost in California in the middle of the night for more than an hour.) 

We had only been on the road for a few hours when Megan did one of her "painting" jobs.  Remember when she "painted" hers and Alex's face and hands with lipstick?  That is only one of the many times she has pulled that trick.  This time I still can't believe how she was able to do it.  I had given Megan a mini Hershey bar, just the small little midget.  About three minutes later, thinking that she had enjoyed her little chocolate treat I turned to look at her and see if she wanted anything else.  I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.  She didn't eat the chocolate, she used it to paint her face and hands...again!  We immediately stopped in the next city and used a bathroom to clean her up.  What a start to our trip.

We finally got to our hotel very late on Wednesday and tried to get good sleep for the busy day ahead of us.  Thursday morning came and the kids were electric with excitement.  We caught the shuttle to Disneyland and just tried to take in as much as we could considering the crowds...wishing there were more hours in the day.  There were a few things that we really wanted the kids to experience, anything else we were able to do was a bonus.  We got a map and just let the kids take us where they wanted.  We were able to do much more than I thought considering how crowded it was, it was so much fun!  I loved all the Christmas music playing and all the decorations they had everywhere.  It was like a Christmas Wonderland.  Many of the original characters were also dressed in Christmas style.  The older girls just kept saying they couldn't believe they were there while the two little ones kept looking around as if trying to figure out if they were dreaming or if this place was real.  We made some really great memories there.

Taking a picture here is the traditional first activity you do before you even enter the park.

Alex and Megan feeling all grown up as they get to drive this crazy looking car.

The kids in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.  It was more beautiful than they imagined with all the Christmas decorations.

Another tradition Grandma loves to do is to get the kids an autograph book.  This is such a special keepsake from Grandma.

The girls really liked Alice, but thought that the Mad Hatter was a little creepy.  ha ha

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" is one of Rebecca's all time favorite movies.  When she heard that she was going to get to experience the ride, that's all she could talk about so of course it was the first ride we had to go on.

The workers did a fantastic job on this Holiday set up.  The amount of work that goes into this seasonal transformation is unbelievable!  It was definitely one of our favorite attractions.

I had no idea that Jack Skelington himself would be there.  He was so amazing.  He is just as bony in real life and he sounds exactly like he does in the movie.  He really spent time with the kids talking to them and laughing with them as if they were old friends.

Rebecca isn't the only one who likes Jack.  All the kids really do so they were just as excited to meet him.  He was by far my favorite character to meet.

This was actually a first.  I didn't even know they had a sword until I saw it on a commercial.  This was also something I didn't want to leave without doing.  I had to see if any of my children could pull that sword out of the stone.

Rebecca trying.



Dakota gave it her best shot.



Megan thought it was so fun.

Xander thought he could just shake it out instead of pulling it.

The little ones were having fun but all the rides we had been on so far were more for the older kids so we thought it was time to take them on the one ride we KNEW they would love..."It's A Small World".

Yeah!  Finally on the boat after a very long 45 minute wait listening to the same 1 minute refrain of that famous song over and Over and OVER.  It was all good though. 

There was so much to see and hear in that ride that was geared toward Megan and Alex's ages that they were speechless the whole time.  I think that if the line hadn't been so long they would have preferred to just keep riding that one for the rest of the day.  They absolutely LOVED this ride.

To be continued...

A Special Family Home Evening

My parents were able to visit for Christmas this year.  I couldn't wait for the day to arrive that would bring them here.  They were scheduled to stay for 10 days which was wonderful considering their tight schedules right now.  The day they arrived we were scheduled to go the the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert.  My parents and I went along with my Mom's best friend Martha.  We went early and had dinner before the performance.  We also looked around at some of the lights on Temple Square while we had a minute. The show was fabulous and we had a great time.  I didn't bring my camera so I took some pictures with my Mom's phone and emailed them to myself.  Unfortunately I still don't know what I am doing when it comes to cell phones so I never got the pictures.  Oh well.

The next day was the Sunday before Christmas.  I was excited to have my parents there the day Dakota and I sang in the ward choir and I also directed my little Primary kids in a special Christmas number since I am the Primary Chorister now.  After church my parents joined the older girls and I for a very special spiritual experience in the evening that couldn't have been more perfect.  To have my parents be able to join us on such a special occasion was a tender mercy from our Heavenly Father that I will forever be grateful for.

On Monday evening we had a special Family Home Evening put on by Grandma and Grandpa.  We played a game that Grandma made for the girls that tested our knowledge about Disney Princesses.  We were in teams and I was teamed with Rebecca who seemed to know everything about the Princesses so we dominated the game. 

Rebecca being the winner got to open the first prize.  It was a letter sent to her on special Disney paper.  The letter made her scream with joy.

Then Lizzie and Dakota got to open a special letter as well.  You can see how happy they were to get their letters.

What was in the letters?  A special invitation to spend two fun-filled days with Grandma and Grandpa in Disneyland!!  This was the most exciting Family Home Evening they have ever had.  Unfortunately my camera's battery died after just three pictures so I couldn't capture the rest of the excitement in our house that night.

We had one and a half days to get ready and then it was off to Disneyland.  Unfortunately CJ was not able to go because of work.  He tried everything he could to get the time off but it just didn't work out for him.  We spent Wednesday driving to California (and true to our tradition got lost just before we made it to our destination), spent all day Thursday at Disneyland, all day Friday at Disney's California Adventure, and then spent some time on the beach Saturday (Christmas Eve) before driving home and going to bed before Santa came.  It was wild and crazy but oh so much fun!  I will write about our trip in another post so be on the look out, especially on our day in Disneyland since we barely made it out without serious injury or even death. 

My parents had to leave the day after Christmas so even though they were here for 10 days the time went so fast that they were gone before we knew it.  I'm still in awe of everything that happened last week and feel so blessed to have had such a special Christmas with my parents.

Dakota's performances

For the month of December Dakota was one busy girl.  She was cast in her 6th grade Christmas play, asked to be a puppeteer for the 6th grade art show, and performed in her very first Orchestra concert.  She had many practices both before and after school all month long and then had at least one performance almost every day for the last week and a half of school.  She was so excited to be in so many performances and we had fun going to them and watching her shine.

Her first performance was for the art class.  The teacher had the students make Japanese Bunraku puppets for the story "A Christmas Carol".  Some of the students were asked to perform the story for the school and parents.  Dakota was so excited when she was chosen.  She was the only person who did not have a puppet to control but was the puppet herself.  She played the ghost of Marley.  The puppets and props were painted with bright florescent colors because the play was performed in the dark under black lights.  All the students were dressed in black so that you couldn't see them.  It was really cool.  Unfortunately I couldn't get any pictures of the play itself but here is what I could get.

Dakota and her besties with their puppets.

Dressed as the ghost of Marley.

Her next performance was her Orchestra concert.  I couldn't wait to hear her play because they have been working so hard.  For kids who only get to practice together for 2 to 3 days a week they are doing really well.  I was very impressed.  She has a great Orchestra teacher.  They even performed at the School District building for the school board.

Playing her cello.

Her last play was the traditional 6th grade play.  Most of the kids are in the chorus but they could audition for the few speaking parts.  Dakota practiced for the audition a lot and was so happy to have a speaking part.  She got to wear her PJ's the whole day at school because it was her costume for the play.  That morning she had an orthodontist appointment and she got lots of questions on why she was in PJ's and curlers.

Ready for the play.

What a trooper.  She had just gotten a new bracket put on her tooth that has finally grown in and about half an hour latter one of her bottom brackets popped off so she had to perform with a sore mouth.

Diva

Megan had fun putting some Christmas stickers all over her face and arms and then asked if I would take her picture.  No problem.  I love it when the kids want their picture taken with out a struggle.  What I didn't expect was that she wanted to be in charge of the "photo shoot".  She kept making different poses.  It was so cute.  Here are a few of her diva poses.

Connections

It's all in who you know!  Our neighbors have connections of Holiday proportions.  They personally know the big red suited man himself...Santa Clause.  He visits them at their house each year before he gets really busy checking and double checking his list.  This year our kids were invited to join in the celebration.  I didn't tell the little ones because I wanted it to be a surprise but I was excited enough for the both of them anyway. 

Alex didn't want to sit on Santa's lap.  I don't think he has gotten over the trauma of sitting on his lap last year.  He didn't fight me when I put him on Santa's lap but he wouldn't look at Santa either.  He just sat there looking very nervous.  He did give a little smile though when Santa gave him a goody bag.

I'm not sure why this time was different but Megan was bound and determined not to sit on Santa's lap.  She held on to me with all she had.  I told her that she didn't have to sit on his lap but asked if she would just stand in front of him for a special picture...she didn't buy that.  It wasn't until Santa offered her a goody bag too that she went near him.  I even got a nervous smile out of her.  I am very proud of Megan for facing a very big (although surprising since she has never been afraid before) fear so that I could have a special picture.

Santa saw Dakota and Rebecca who came to help with the little ones and asked if they wanted to sit on his lap too.  Rebecca decided not to but Dakota wanted one more chance to ask Santa for that telescope and star chart that she wants so badly.

Santa had to leave early because his reindeer were making too much noise on the roof but we all got to stay and visit for a while.  This was such a fun evening that I am so happy we got to be a part of.

"I wanted to be a monster."

Megan and Alex have been very active lately.  Trouble is, they are most active doing activities that they are not supposed to be doing.  I went to the store a few nights ago and when I came home this is how I found them...that's lipstick by the way.  I asked Megan why she painted hers and Alex's hands and face and she said it was because she wanted them to be monsters.  I think she succeeded...I think they are little stinker monsters who can't seem to stay out of the make-up and nail polish.



Alex...caught red handed...and red faced.



Megan adding a little more because she thought she missed a spot.



Alex filling in a spot that Megan must have missed.



Rubbing it in really well.



Her hands were covered both front and back.  She was very proud of her work.



Alex had a ball getting all painted up.

Clean up was not easy.  Lipstick doesn't just wash off with soap and water...at least that much lipstick doesn't.  I ended up having to use dish soap on them to get it off as well as I could.  They did still have red eyebrows the next day.  Oh, the joys of motherhood.

A work in progress

After the successful painting of our bedroom I wanted to get all the painting done.  However...just the thought of how much work that was going to be was enough to make me change my mind.  I put off choosing colors for the rest of the house but thought about it constantly.  There came a time however that I realized I could no longer put off painting the rest of the upstairs (minus the kid's rooms.)  What made me get started?...it was the fact that we are fortunate enough to get new flooring for the entire upstairs (minus the bedrooms again.  They will have to wait until the basement is done.)  We are getting a really nice carpet for our front room and a beautiful tile for the rest.  I wasn't crazy at the thought of tile throughout until I had to constantly clean the messes on the carpet.  Now I can't wait to get rid of the cheap carpet that came with the house and put in beautiful new tile that does not have to be constantly guarded from the mess that comes from 5 kids, 2 cats, and 1 puppy.  I figured that while the furniture was moved out and the floor was all tore up in preparation for the tile it would be a great time to paint.  We kept pulling paint sample cards from the paint isle when ever we were there and finally sat down and chose the colors.  We would have a light olive green on two walls in the front room, a cream on the third wall in the front room that would also go throughout the entry way and into the hallway.  The kitchen/dining room and living room would share two shades of blue (a little lighter than the bedroom) since they are one big common room.  Now that the colors were picked all we had to do was begin.  Since we were getting the carpet in the front room first that is where we started.  We moved all the furniture out (a task that I was totally dreading) and began to paint.  I quickly realized that the colors we got from the paint cards were not exactly what we had envisioned.  The green was more of a pastel not light olive, and the cream was more like bright yellow butter.  The blues also turned out to be darker than hoped for too.  At this point there was nothing I could do but except it and move on.  It wasn't easy because it didn't really look as I had hoped but the colors aren't bad so I just let it go and now enjoy what we do have.

The last items to be moved from the front room.

White walls soon to be bathed in color.  It was so hard having to take my vinyl lettering off.  I can't wait to get them back up.

Megan gets to paint this time.

Green done and yellow started.

Hard at work.

The finished arch.

The hallway.

The entryway.

The two colors together in the front room with the old carpet.

 After the walls were painted it was time to install the new carpet.  I was excited because this new carpet is so soft and plush.  Not to mention it has a stain guard on it.

The new carpet.





You can't see it in the picture but the new carpet is much higher than the old one.  The old carpet is almost as flat as the linoleum.  The old carpet is only two years old but it looks about 15.  The quality of the carpet really does matter if you want it to look nice for a long period of time.  This new carpet should look good for many years and is so soft that everyone wants to sleep in there.

I haven't started on the rest of the upstairs yet because I wanted to wait until the holidays were over.  I didn't want to have my house all tore up during Christmas.  So after the new year I will start painting again and we will also begin to tear up the floor for the tile.  Good times.