A Magical Surpise

What a surprise we gave the kids! At 4am on Wed we woke them up with the invitation to go on a plane ride. They were thrilled even though they had no idea where we were going or how long we'd be. I guess it never occured to them we'd be gone a few days since Jacob even asked if he could invite a friend over when we got home that day.

Landing in Long Beach, CA there was still no guesses as to what we were doing. Ideas of the beach, maybe an Amusement Park but no definate guesses. Not until we left the hotel and started to walk down Magic Way did Jacob really clue in to where we were.... Fortunately I have never much talked about Disneyland to the kids so they really had no idea what to expect. IT was more than they could have dreamed of.

For three straight days we got up early and went to the Park...coming home late at night we would eat and then crash in those nicely made hotel beds, then do it all over again the next day. Despite the three days we didn't get to see everything...which only leaves us with one option....TO GO BACK!!! We had a great time and it really is the happiest place on earth....It was so easy to forget about any kind of responsibility...only what fun we could we do next.

Jacob loved almost everything.. He wasn't so sure about going on the Indiana Jones ride again but was first to enlist himself for Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Thunder Mountain and the Matterhorn And the wild Screamer in California Adventure (it puts colassus to shame). Luckily for him we would get the fastpass..(4 of them) and he would first go with Dad and then with Mom. (Madi wasn't feeling as adventurous.)





He also enjoyed the Pixar Parade with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Lightening McQueen... the only time he wasn't having fun was when he wasn't on a ride.

Madison also enjoyed rides but was hestitant to go on some. (I blame myself for taking her to the Bugs life 3-D movie....where there is a sign stating "may be scary to some small children--she freaked).



But by far the highlights for her were getting to meet her heroines the princesses and then seeing them in the parade.. she would stand up and waive and say "Ariel, Ariel, here I am" or "Hi Sleeping Beauty!!!", "Cinderella!!!!" She and Sam went and saw Playhouse Disney and danced along with Mickey and other characters.

"the princess waive"

Sam would have run wild if we let him but he did go on some rides, Pirates of the Carribean, the Safari Cruise and many of the little kid rides.. BUT the best was watching him during the parades...He would dance and point and clap and waive at everyone and everything in the parade...I loved the parades...such nostalgia from my childhood but it was a joy to watch Sam and my other kids make those same memories.



It was a wonderful time. Jacob wants to move to California and Madison wants to go back to our "other home"-the hotel room. It really is a magical place.

LIMBO

Disclaimer- I had good intentions of posting pictures of recent family outings. I was quite excited because I got some really cute picutes of Sam looking for easter eggs (yet he only went for the big Suckers ). I also caught him going down a big slide all by himself and having a blast. I took some nice ones of Madison and Jacob without them posing for the camera (resulting in forced smiles that that never look good).... I love to have picutres that capture those moments that happen only once and you want to remember! Well (sigh ****) while downloading my pictures to the computer I ran into problems and they were all lost.. AUGH! So I have been a little hesitant on taking more with the risk of losing them in the transfer process. So this will be a photo free post.

Again another month has gone. We have had several people come and look at the house and have had good things said but none were serious buyers I guess you could say... Just window shopping. That is not what I need...the waiting is seriously the worst. Of course we are not in a predicament where we need to sell immediately, but I am the type that gets an idea or a plan in mind and I want it to move quickly and smoothly. (not patient at all) We have found a house we like and that will meet our needs and give us room to grow. So we are in a state of Limbo. This phase is rough on me. I am planning to quit my job at Jetblue and spend more time with my family and get up at a normal hour. -no more bags under my eyes!!!! All this is dependent on selling this house.
-Summer is just around the corner and it would nice to be able to take off on the weekends...and it will be fabulous having the holidays off again...it has been 3 years since I have not had to work a major holiday. We may even travel this year....

It's March???

I recieved my gas bill in the mail today that said I owed a huge amount of money....to my shagrin I never paid it last month. There really should be no surprise there, the month of February just seemed to fly by. My natural reaction in the coldest month of the year is to hibernate and thus life seems to just float by as I snuggle in my warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and a a movie (or lots of reruns) Isn't it supposed to be warming up? The mounds of snow in my front yeard seemed to only grow -no global warming here. The snow did eventually start to melt and I could see grass only to be snowed upon again. I thought the weatherman (or "weather person") coould give me some sort of hope and it may get up to 50 this weekend. Can I even remember what that feels like?
I also realized that the insane amount of time that I spend indoors has triggered a need to just unload junk, yet it is too cold to go outside and start the process. Entering the garage is entering like entering a huge freezer. Part of my need to unload is that we really are running out of room. I have done the organization and such but I am running out of space to store things. I love my home with all the work we have put in to it- and I have oh so many more ideas on what to do. But Carlos and I decided before we start all that reconstruction and such we would try to find something a little bigger. So we put our house up for sale....not expecting much action but enough faith that there is someone or some family out there that can make this thier first home and enjoy it as we have. IF not....then I will invite my friend Marisa over to help me punch some holes in the walls (since she won't do it at her house I'll volunteer mine). So wish us luck... ( just a side note...we are only interested in something a little bigger but in no way are we anxious to start a new life with new friends, ward and school...so we will sticking close to HOME.)

Mom and Madi sledding

sledding

Just a little sledding on New Years Day. I can't decide if my kids are just fearless or I am just gutless. The hill isn't that bad but once I get on that sled my maternal insticts or just an overreactive imagination...I get scared and amd white knuckled all the way down. The kids had a blast. Madi would just giggle all the way down...even tried out some little jumps (against my better judgment- she is a strong willed kid). Sam again missed out on the snow... he fell asleep in the car (the drive was less than 5 minutes). Maybe next time.

Christmas

WE had a fun morning..the kids were so excited to see what Santa had brought them. Madison loved her little princess kitchen and princess dolls.. She also recieved a cute outfit from G & G Swanson along with a little doll that she just adores.
Sam went from one thing to the next but the first thing he noticed was the small broom and mop...he went all over sweeping the floor ( a little easier to handle than my big broom...less injured siblings too!) Sam also got clothes form G & G Swanson that are just perfect!!!!

Jacob had a great morning. After sleeping on the couch trying to get a glimpse of Santa he awoke in his own bed.. Apparently Santa put him back in his bed. Jake got lots of great things. Clothes, toys, cars. He really wanted a Wii, but even Santa couldn't find one. So he has a coupon from Santa to get one whenever we find one at the store. (we've been calling daily to check on the shipments...it could be awhile.)
Carlos and I were treated good too. I finally got a camera that isn't broken and Carlos is getting a fishing trip on the Green River..
We couldn't ask for anything else. we are all well and happy and together. IT has been a good year.