Disneyland in January 2013

Back to Disneyland we go!  We're hoping to squeeze in as many trips as we can before our passes expire.  I think I will add January to my list of favorite times to go.

We had another 2 day adventure at Disney.  This time it was just me, Sam & the boys.  The night before we left Sam got out the tape measure and gave Ryan another measure.  He was 39.5" inches which is just a 1/2" shy of a lot of big rides!

We left my house shortly after 6am to make the drive and drove in to Disneyland around 10:30am. We wanted to try a few new things this time so we made time for the rafts over to Pirates Island, Indiana Jones {Nate actually liked it} & the Pixar Parade on Day 1.  

Ryan has always wanted to ride Splash Mountain {one of my all-time favorites}.  Sam was brilliant and took her mitten & folded it and put it in Ryan's shoe so the band was under Ryan's heel and wa-la!  He was 40" tall.  I had to carry him the entire way because you can imagine this isn't very comfortable but he was a trooper to be able to ride the big rides.  He absolutely LOVED Splash Mountain.  After the big drop he says - "more drops?  bigger drops?"  He was kind of disappointed there wasn't a bigger one!  Nate & Sam were in the very front and they got pretty wet, which doesn’t matter in the summer but it was pretty chilly outside!  Ryan and I stayed dry.  It was wonderful to be able to take our entire party on a big ride.  A Disneyland breakthrough!

On Day 2 we got to the park quite early so we could get in line.  It paid off!  After waiting behind the big rope a large crowd was slowly escorted to the Cars ride - Sam was 9th in line!  We waited all of 2 minutes before getting on the ride that typically has a wait of 90 minutes.  Ryan loved this one, too {thanks to the mitten trick}.  He waved and said hello to all of the cars in there.  

Every time we go to Disneyland Nate wants to play the arcade games over by Toy Story Mania.  This time, I said yes.  It was pretty fun & we won!

Natalie, Reed & Dean met us for a few hours this afternoon.  We let the boys explore in the RedLands Wilderness area and it was a huge hit!  There are large rope bridges, slides, etc. for the kids to run around and explore.  They even had a ceremony and were crowned "Senior Wilderness Explorers".  The UP characters are in there - kids loved it!

Sam & I have been waiting for Nate to want to ride some big rides.  Somehow he agreed to try Tower of Terror if we'd buy him the stuffed penguin he wanted.  Deal!  Ryan had no clue what the ride was but is up for just about anything so he came, too. Yes - we took a 2 year old on Tower of Terror {again, thanks to the mittens}.  Both kids survived but for obvious reasons did not like that ride.  Ryan wimpered for a brief second but they weren't traumatized!  Now Nate says he's ready for Space Mountain on our next trip.

When we went with Ali & the girls in May 2012, we got on the swinging cars on the ferris wheel and it was one of the funniest and most terrifying moments for Nate & I.  Somehow we got him back on it this trip and he agreed it wasn’t so bad!  I on the other hand, am perfectly fine never doing that again!

While Disneyland is fabulous and we love it - I do have to just record that even the happiest place on earth is a challenge with these boys of mine.  Sam and I come back absolutely exhausted & I am in physical pain from holding Ryan.  But we continue to go back because it's magical and worth it all.

New Years Eve & Day

By the time New Years Eve comes around - I'm not up for much.  Christmas is a wonderful but hectic time of year and being the secretary in primary kicks my butt every year with the endless things to update and create so New Years Eve is spent at home. Exhausted.  

We were lucky enough to have Sam join us this year.  It was perfect.  We played a ton of games and just chatted & enjoyed each others company while we rang in 2013.

I was introduced to the Dillards New Years Day Sale this year.  Never knew this beauty existed.  Wes was out shooting things with a friend so I was going to haul my kids with me to the sale until my dad called on my way down there and told me to bring the boys to him.  What a life saver - after going to the sale - if I would have had my kids I would have turned around and walked out!  It was a zoo but such a fun sale.  I'm thinking that's a tradition.

January 1st is my dad's birthday so we took him bowling in the morning while my mom was out and about.  And then that night we did dinner & a movie with my parents and Sam.  We saw lots of movies that week - loved it!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & the day after 2012

Sam started what I hope to be a yearly tradition – making cookies for Santa at her house on the morning of Christmas Eve.  She had all four kids there all by herself and it was a success.  They loved it!

One of our traditions is to do Christmas Eve dinner at my parent's house.  We had a yummy dinner and then did the Griffeth rendition of Luke 2 to read about our Savior and his birth.  Santa paid us a visit before it was time to go home . . . the kids know to listen for his bells outside!  He brought them each a little something.  It's turned in to quite the tradition.

Sam typically has to work on Christmas Day. It works out well because she got so many days off before and after!  So on Christmas Day, we spend it with our own little families which I love.  We can stay at home in our jammies and not have to leave for as long as we want! The kids LOVED playing with all of their toys for hours and hours.  What a great morning home as a family.

The boys both asked Santa for their own set of tools & Nate threw in handcuffs as well.  Santa delivered and got them plenty of tools, a badminton set, stockings full of goodies and he surprised our family with a foosball table. 

We managed to get dressed in the 3pm hour to meet up with Ali & family to see Rise of the Guardians.  What a great movie & a hilarious outing.  Abbie & Nate were BELLY laughing almost the entire movie.  They had no idea how loud their laughs were - they were genuine outbursts that made Ali & I almost pee our pants in laughter.  Then to top if off we had quite a few experiences in the bathroom.  Wes was telling us all about his nasty experiences with Ryan in the bathroom all while Tripp comes out with a wad of toilet paper stuck to his shoe.  It was all just hilarious at the time and made for a great Christmas afternoon.  We went over to see the big Town Square Christmas tree after the movie. 

{I think a little too much popcorn was consumed.  I threw up in the middle of the night and Ali threw up the next morning.  Pretty sure it was an over consumption of delicious movie popcorn.}  On our way home we took the boys by Quiver Point Street - a highly popular and decorated street in Green Valley.  Love the Christmas decor!

On December 26th, my whole family gets together at my parents to do Christmas Take 2.  My parents make breakfast & we open presents again.  Wes was slammed at work so he had to leave early but it was fun to get together.  We love having another Christmas with Sam!  This picture is the kids shutting their eyes for their big surprise.  My dad couldn’t resist getting this horse that you can sit on and ride around the house.  It was quite a hit.

That night, we went to see Les Miserables with Ali, Tripp & Sam.  What a fabulous movie.  

Another great Christmas.

my mom’s birthday

Sam, my mom & I flew up and back to Salt Lake City on December 22nd {my mom's birthday}.  Why, you ask?

The Ballet West Nutcracker holds a special place for our family.  My Grandpa - Willam Christensen - started Ballet West and choreographed the first Nutcracker in the United States.  We grew up seeing the Ballet West Nutcracker almost every year.

My Grandma Florence passed away last December on December 29th & The Nutcracker was her last outing and all of her children were there with her.

I knew my mom wanted to go to the Nutcracker as a tribute to her mom and to get the family together so Sam & I made it happen.  We called my Aunt Linda and before we knew it, her entire family was on board to spend the day together on my mom's birthday!  Ali, Tripp & the girls also drove up for the weekend & joined us for lunch and the Nutcracker.

Sam, my mom & I had a great day.  We got on a flight at the crack of dawn and took a taxi to City Creek where we grabbed breakfast and started shopping.  Even though we all live so close to each other we don't do these things very often so it was a real treat.  We met Ali & her family at the Blue Lemon for lunch before walking over to Capitol Theatre to meet up with everyone else.  My mom's entire family - including all of my cousins - were able to make it.  

We finished up the night at a delicious restaurant called Sea Salt with all of my mom’s siblings.  It was so nice to have a long, leisurely, delicious dinner with wonderful family members without kids!  I truly enjoy my mom’s family and wish we could see them more often.

Bill & Michele drove us to the airport that night.  On the way they drove us down “Christmas Street” to see a festive street in Salt Lake. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!  I think birthday adventures should happen more often.

Nate’s Rocket Shop

   

Nate is quite a creative kid.  He's constantly finding things around the house and inventing with them.  One day a few months ago I was going through the newspaper and he asked if he could have a few sheets.  Before I knew it, he rolled up a page and painted some note cards and assembled his first rocket.

After a few months, he wanted to open a rocket shop.  So we opened it up for one week in our living room and friends & family were gracious enough to come buy a rocket for 50 cents.  {Sam suggested the "tips appreciated" note on the sign - it worked!}  He made about $25 that week selling rockets.  

He's already working on his next invention to sell in 2013.  Bead art or balloon animals, perhaps?

christmas fun 2012

I love the Christmas season.  It always creeps up on me and I never do everything on my Christmas to do list but it's just a magical time of year.  

We kicked it off right with a trip to Disneyland to see it during Christmas time & it was full steam ahead from there.  

Our Elf, Santa Elf, got a little more creative this year which the boys loved.  

Nate made a trap to try to catch Santa.

We took a family trip to Cowboy Christmas.

Our Primary Presidency did the 12 days of Christmas for a family - I especially love serving others this time of year. 

We did our 2nd Annual trip to the Santa Train in Boulder City.  I bought 50 tickets this year - it's fun going with friends!

Our Senior Primary sang at the Springs Preserve one night.  Nate & Abbie knew all of the songs so I let them tag along and sing as well.  It was a neat experience for the kids & the Springs Preserve is always a hit.  Wes took our boys home a little early while Abbie and I stayed for the second performance.  We were pretty chilly so we stopped for a hot chocolate on the way home!

We made it to the Cactus Gardens at Ethel M.

I got to fill my van full of cub scouts to go caroling to people in our ward.

Ali, Sam & I went to watch the kids join Papa & Grandma in the Henderson Christmas parade.

December was a great month.  Amidst all of the activities - it is always wonderful to focus on the birth of our Savior and the wonderful example He is.