Play day

Part III

Ok. We are home. And like I predicted, I don't want to do the blogging now--tired, and real world stuff to attend to. BUT-I forced myself, and glad I did. Looking at these pictures make me smile :)

Fantasyland Carousal---Maddax screamed like a kidnapped child when I took him off the horse. He apparently doesn't understand the concept that our turn was over.
Hannah was so excited to wear her Camelback backpack she got for Christmas from Grandma Peggy and Grandpa Kim.

Ahhh, the infamous teacups. Personally, I hate them. Spinning in crazy circles isn't my gig. But Hannah loved every single second of it!

It was SO crowded at Disneyland that day. Apparently it was Spring Break for area schools in California as well. Literally, elbow to elbow with people almost the entire day. Kolby and Hannah actually spent 3 hours between the line and ride for Splash Mountain--seriously. Maddax took the opportunity to not only hit random children for attention, but he also would escape the lines and try to hide behind people.

The flying Dumbos. Hannah looked forward to flying her own Dumbo since apparently 3 years ago her cousins didn't give her a turn-and she hasn't let it go for the last 3 years-hopefully this put the issue to bed. Maddax threw a tantrum if we didn't let him walk down every step, curb, stair, etc...we gave in. Not worth it. And the bottom right picture is Kolby and Hannah watching me and Maddax drive the Autopia car because they had to leave for yet another potty break ;)

The day after Disneyland we were all a little exhausted. Hannah put baby Minnie, baby Buzz and talking Sid the Science Kid on the couch to watch cartoons with her.

Later that day we headed to Huntington Beach. A place I spent many a childhood summer and remember how much fun it was. I do not remember, however, the swarming mass of ladybugs! It was the craziest thing ever!! These pictures don't even begin to capture the shear mass of insects that piled on Hannah's head, all over our bodies. It was ridiculous! (I later googled the phenomenon and found it had something to do with Santa Ana winds and the birthing of new baby ladybugs...)

Hannah loved the beach. Literally-L.O.V.E.D. I could barely watch her, she was like a fish. Jumping waves, running along the tide...She kept coming up to Kolby saying, "Dad, you wanna come catch a wave with me?"

And this goofy kid. He wasn't so sure about the water. However, he loved the fact that the tide made the sand muddy. He spent most of the day grabbing handfuls of wet sand and throwing it back into the tide. (Most of it ended up on his back.) He also would not wear his own sunglasses, but wore Hannah's for quite a while. Finally, the bottom right picture--if you look close, you can see that he is smiling. He is pretending to layout on the sand like everybody else. It was too funny!

*I do have to point out that the 11 hour trip home in the car was long. But nothing beats the absolute embarrasment I experienced in Cedar City. We stopped at Chiles for dinner to meet Matt. We ordered dinner and were halfway through eating when Maddax vomited ALL over. Literally, all over the high chair, floor, aisle where people walk, my shoes----everywhere. The smell was disgusting, and here people are trying to eat. I did my best to clean it up, they brought me a few napkins and I looked at the guy and said -that is not even enough...bring me a lot more and a mop!- He sent a guy with a mop, but let me tell you, it wasn't enough. Not even 10 minutes later, Maddax knocks over a glass of water that spills on the other side of his highchair and into the aisle...Can you say "check please?!"

*There were a few potty mishaps at Disneyland, short version, we ended up throwing some clothes away. Then there was Maddax getting pummeled by the hotel door when his toe got smashed and bled, then we had the vomit debacle. Traveling with kids is NO easy feat! However, I wouldn't have traded a minute of it for the world!

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.