Part II

As Hannah kept saying 'April showers bring May flowers..."

The morning began with heavy rains, so we postponed the Magic Kingdom one day. We saw 'How To Train Your Dragon' in 3D---super cute! Then we hung out with nothing in particular to do (which is exactly how vacation should be!!) We spent an hour or so walking around Fashion Island and lost our keys, which caused me to panic since our only other set is a few states away, but alas, my cheap purse had allowed the keys to slip into the lining. I guess you get what you pay for, and I paid about $25 in a hidden chinese shop in NY, so there you go.

{They picked out some shades while roaming Fashion Island}
{Capping the night in a hot tub}

{New Newport Beach LDS Temple}

{Playing tag after a nice afternoon nap}

{Always being a goof!}

Spring Break!

Ocean view from the balcony----the kids love to watch what is going on below (basketball and the people hanging out around the firepit)

The path to the beach is lined in the cutest yellow flowers

I'm thinking if I update our vacation daily I won't be too exhausted to do it when we get home---here goes:

After 11 hours of driving (including potty breaks) yesterday, we finally arrived at our hotel in Newport Beach. We are so happy to be here enjoying time as a family. We honestly don't get enough time together, and this has already been so fun just seeing the interaction. The kids love the beach (and I love it even more because it tires them out and they take awesome naps when we get back!) Kolby and I got a little more sun that we thought (not quite a burn though), and while Kolby was napping we had quite the earthquake. It was bad enough the fridge in the kitchen moved like 6 inches! My heart got racing a bit---Mother Nature is teasing me quite a bit the last 7 days!

Budding artists

Hannah loves to draw, all the time. However, Maddax doesn't quite grasp the concept of sidewalk chalk. Not only has he drawn on the foundation and stucco, he got the deck, sliding glass door screen, then continued inside the house on the doors and walls. Ugh, I just barely bought another pack of Magic erasers for his last pen and crayon adventure. At least chalk wipes off with water.

The wind is not my friend!

Just got home, walked straight to Maddax's room, put him in pajamas and walked into the kitchen, and what do I see?! It's not popcorn popping on the apricot tree {I could only be so lucky!} Out the sliding glass doors I saw my trampoline in about 8 pieces, all warped and funny amidst this massive dust/wind storm! I immediately ran outside and forcefully removed the legs at which point a massive gust caught the top of the trampoline and flew it like a frisbee straight into my fence! (there might have been a curse word as it nearly chopped off my leg it hit on it's maiden voyage as a discus-don't tell) I had a slight breakdown as I tried to take the thing apart before it could fly anywhere else-long story short-someone FINALLY answered their phone and came to help me and the wind quickly dried my frantic tears before he came to help ;) Alas, no picture though---I'm too ticked and in pain to bother.

Now, the reason I was gone during this crazy tornado windstorm...Hannah had a school program. Each grade performed a song as a tribute to people who did hard things and forged a way for the human race (Columbus, Martin Luther King, Henry Ford, Wright Bros. Walt Disney...) It was cute and Hannah was so proud of herself. It's fun to see the kids all doing the hand motions and getting into the song.

Last weekend a good friend of mine was sealed to her family in the Oquirrh Mountain temple, it was a great experience. As I was sitting outside adjacent to the fountain, I looked up and this is what I saw, it was such a beautiful day and it was so pretty. I'm no photographer, but I do have an appreciation for beautiful things.

This is the kids' PREASTER picture. {Pre-Easter} Hopefully an actual Easter picture will be taken oceanside :)

Glitter Toes

Hannah had glitter toes done at a birthday party last month and I've been envious ever since. So...I had a little glitter shindig of my own:

I'm not so great at remembering to take pictures and Hannah took most of these!

Kolby's new truck

Goodbye FJ...you were sporty and could turn on a dime, but I was sick of hitting my head and squeezing between your awkward doors in a parking lot.

Welcome truck! I adore your 4 full doors and the room to stand in the backseat while buckling carseats.

Past the mid-20's mark

Yesterday for my birthday we went out to dinner at Market Street (my fave!) and saw the movie 'When In Rome' which was pretty cute. I appreciate all the birthday wishes!

The Easter Bunny

On Saturday the Easter Bunny came to the mall. Hannah was so excited because she is concerned the Easter Bunny won't find her, since we won't be home. Maddax had no idea what the Easter Bunny was, he just like the candy and the train that kept going around the mall.