Rewind...Road Trip part 3!

This leg of our trip took us to DISNEYLAND! I have such fond memories of going there as a kid and I was especially excited to take my kids there (oh, maybe my childhood wasn't so deprived after all). Justin never went as a kid so he didn't really see what all the fuss was about, but after three days there with our kids and seeing it through their eyes, we've converted him!

We were staying at a different hotel than my family, so we actually got to the park first. While we were waiting, the kids all got their nifty Mickey Mouse ears. Classic.

One of the first things we did was see Ariel. I was surprised at how excited the boys were to see her. I thought for sure they wouldn't really care, but they did...and they loved it.

Then we split into groups to go on rides. The best thing about going with my family is that they have all been a lot so they knew all the tricks and secrets to getting on rides fast. It was a big help to be able to have their knowledge and wisdom for our first trip to the most magical place on earth.

The boys are waiting for the Star Wars ride. This ended up being one of their favorite rides. I went once (I don't remember how many times they went, but it was a lot) and it made me motion sick. Bleh.

Their group also hit up Space Mountain a few times. Clearly Zach knew right where the camera was. I also love the looks on Landon and Clayton's faces.

Sammie would crash hard once a day (which was nice). We would take that opportunity to go on Small World. It was nice and air conditioned and long so it was a perfect place to go. Sweaty sleeper!

I love this. Splash Mountain is one of my favorites. We went on this one several times.

We took the girls to the princess lunch. It was the perfect way for them to get to meet the princesses without having to stand in long lines. Here they get to meet Ariel again.

I just love this.

Josie thought she was a princess too. (Also, I love the dresses that they're wearing. Such wearable princess dress ups. Several people at the parks commented on them and asked me about them. They were perfect. I didn't make them, but if you're interested I can tell you who did!)

Aurora

Belle

Snow White

Cinderella

This picture makes me laugh every time. I cannot remember what's happening here, but clearly Sammie needed Max to stop talking.

The next day we had a magic morning. This meant that we got to go into the park an hour early. We weren't quite sure what to do with our extra hour so we hung out and met Mickey and Minnie while the lines were short. Next time, we will know better and use the opportunity to go on some rides (because that magic morning was awesome and, played right, would be a serious advantage).

This was the day that we were on our own. My family had all left to go back to Vegas so we were doing our own thing (which was nice now that we had learned the tricks of Disneyland). We split up into boys and girls (so from here out, my pics of the boys will be almost nonexistent - sorry boys). It worked out well though because the boys got to go on the rides that were more interesting to them while the girls and I did things like Dumbo and the Teacups.

That afternoon, Justin decided to treat his little ladies to makeovers and the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. These girls were in Heaven getting pampered. It was a little over the top and gaudy, but to my girls, that's how it should be!

I love these next two pictures so much I can't even tell you.

They were worried how she'd do because she's so young, but she sat so still and just let them make her over. It was adorable.

And, of course, Miss Diva was all about it.

She lived that right up!

We stayed late that night for the shows as our last hurrah in the park. Our night ended with four exhausted kids (one of whom - Sammie - puked in the elevator of our hotel) and two parents who felt very satisfied with the awesome vacation they just gave their children.

I know there are a ton more pictures from Disneyland. I need to round them all up and do an additional post, but this is a start.

I know that we'll go back someday (maybe not for another few years, but someday). It was too good of a trip not to repeat. While this was not the end of our road trip (we spent some time in Vegas and some time in Utah), I'm going to call it the end of the road trip posts. I still have a post (or two) to do about our time in Vegas and then I'll get started posting about our new life here as Idaho spuds. It's been a whirlwind summer, but I wouldn't change any of it.

Science Fair!

Its the two words that strike fear into the hearts of parents everywhere...'science fair'. Well, we successfully completed our first science fair project. In the grand tradition of science fairs, there was yelling, tears, someone (me) balled up in a corner - rocking and talking to herself. But in the end, I think we came up with a pretty awesome project!

The topic Clayton chose was "can magnets float?". I'll let him explain it to you:


This kid worked really hard and was involved every step of the way. I won't say that Justin and I didn't give (a lot of) help, but I'm proud of the way he worked hard to make sure it was done - and done right!

And now it's done. Only three more years until Noah has to do the science fair (unless we get lucky and they don't do that in Idaho - fingers crossed).

2014...so far!

We rang 2014 in with a bang!

We started by going to a party hosted by a family in our ward. They're basically evil geniuses who (starting at 4:00) set all the clocks in their house ahead 4 hours, party hard for 4 hours, and then ring in the new year at midnight (8:00) by banging on pots and pans and pretty much just making a ton of noise. Then they get their kids in bed by 9 (geniuses, I tell you)!!

We got home from this party around 9 and I got the girls in bed by 9:30. One of the perks of not having a 'baby' anymore is that none of my kids were crabby or frustrated staying up that late (which I kind of expected from Sammie, but she handled it so well)!

After about an hour at the party, Clayton caught on to the deception. He wears a watch all the time now, and couldn't be fooled because he knew that his watch was right and the other clocks were wrong (smarty). Fortunately, we convinced him not to ruin the secret for the other kids. It made him feel like such a grown up to be in on the secret. He melts my heart. For real.

Because Clayton was on to us, he knew that it wasn't actually after midnight when we got home. Justin and I agreed that Clayton and Noah could stay up until real midnight if they wanted. They both wanted. So the four of us ate pizza rolls, read a few chapters of Percy Jackson (we're reading The Lightning Thief - such a fun read aloud for our family), played Imaginiff (which was a really fun game to play with them), ate ice cream sandwiches, and counted down to the new year.

I can't remember the last time I actually celebrated the new year (shoot, I can't remember the last time I stayed up until the new year). It was a lot of fun though, and I so look forward to making this a new tradition!

A few pictures from our new years:
Noah decided to ring in the new year in a very zen state.

He was meditating everywhere. Not sure he found his inner calm, but it sure was entertaining to see all the places he meditated.

Me and Sam. She had been sad about something (see the tears in her eyes), but getting the camera out made her smile.

 Me and sassy Miss Jos.

 Clayton's face here cracks me up. This kid is seriously the best!

The four of us who made it to midnight. It's hard to take a picture of a group of four. In hindsight I'm thinking we should have used the automatic timer, but this way was more entertaining!

On the first day of 2014 we got busy taking down Christmas (which is always sad, but I feel like my house always looks so clean and uncluttered afterward). We were gearing up for the polar vortex which was making its way over to us.

For those who have been living under a rock, the polar vortex is a massive cold that hit the Midwest and New England earlier this week. We experienced temperatures in the -30 to -40 range for two whole days. Schools were closed (for 3 days actually), roads were considered hazardous and closed to everyone except emergency vehicles and first responders, and just about everything was closed (not that you could have gone anywhere anyway). It was bitter cold. It was so cold that even Disco wouldn't go out to go to the bathroom! I would open the backdoor to let him out and my lungs would burn - and I wasn't even outside the house! Thankfully we were prepared and were able to spend three cozy days just hanging out.

The big freeze hit our house on Monday. The Sunday before, it was not too cold outside (mid 30's) and snowing like crazy. Church had been cancelled so we went outside for some backyard fun while we had the chance!

Umm, let's talk about how adorable this baby is. Seriously, she kills me.

The snow was too soft for a proper snowman, so the kids an I made a snow turtle. Noah named him Sheldon. Get it? 'Shell'-don! Ha!

We then turned our deck stairs into a mini sledding hill. It wasn't our best sledding ever, but the kids had a great time with it!

After a while, they realized they didn't actually need the sled and could go down penguin style. We were laughing pretty hard!

Monday and Tuesday we stayed put. We hunkered down and road out the big freeze together and had quite a bit of fun.

Justin worked Sunday night. He was also supposed to work Monday morning doing C-sections but because of the weather, they cancelled all non-emergent procedures and sent home everyone who wasn't absolutely necessary. When Justin got home he couldn't get his car into the garage because of the amount of snow that had fallen (even though he'd shoveled the drive the day before so he could get out for work). So my poor babe had to shovel the drive. In -40 degree weather. He assured me it wasn't as bad as I thought it was, but it sure looked cold!

We weathered the big freeze with some movies, some games, some reading, some cleaning, and lots and lots of playing.

This makes me laugh. The girls had disappeared and were playing quietly when we heard Sam cry. Not a hurt cry, but cry nonetheless. Justin went up to check on her and called "Ari, come up here! Quick!" I could tell by his voice that it was going to be funny so I grabbed the camera. Sammie had tried to climb INTO her crib and had gotten stuck. She wasn't too happy about it, but it made us laugh (**side note: we are wondering if she's ready for a big girl bed. I vote no. She's my baby and there are just some things I'm not ready to let her do.)

We played some checkers. It took some time for the boys to figure it out, but once they got the hang of it they loved it. Clayton's actually not too bad. It won't be long before he stars beating me on a regular basis!

Finally, on Wednesday, the roads were deemed safe for travel. School was still closed but at least we were able to get out! We went to the gym (I was in desperate need of serious physical activity) and the boys gymnastics and karate classes were on. Clayton recently got his yellow belt. Yellow is the third belt (after white and orange). He's pretty proud of himself (and we are pretty proud of him too)! He's loving karate!

On Thursday they opened the schools back up (as I type this, the Hallelujah Chorus is playing in my head) and the boys went back to school. They were excited to get back but not excited about waking up early (here here).

Finally, today, I went on a field trip with Clayton's grade. We went here:

This is part of the Studebaker Museum and Northern Indiana Museum of History. It was a fun field trip, but if I ever have to chaperone a group of 11 fourth graders again, it will be too soon. My favorite part was being with my guy:

 Ha! Check out his long tongue!

This one's my favorite. On the bus ride back from the field trip, he hugged me and told me how glad he was that I came and how he always wants me on his field trips. This is exactly why I do this. I don't particularly love field trip chaperoning, but I most definitely love Clayton. I would do this a million times just to feel his tight hug and hear his sweet thanks. Man alive, this kid's the best!

So now we're back to normal around here. Schedules and routines and all that goes with raising this brood. It was nice to get those extra three days of vacation (especially since Justin was around for most of it - that was one of my favorite things), but I'm glad that we're returning to normal now.

And here's a picture of Sammie. Just because she's adorable and squishy.

Our 2014 has gotten off to a great start! This is going to be a busy, crazy, and exciting year for us. I can't wait! It's going to be a good one. I can feel it!