DiSnEYlAnD!! 2010

Disneyland...even just saying the word makes me smile☺ It is such a magical place! Matt and I really enjoyed just walking around and taking in all the amazing creativity of all the different areas, and don't even get me started on the smells! YUMMY!! I remember the smells from when I was a child and it is just so unique to that place I love it!
I hope if you are choosing to read this post that you have a few minutes, well a few more than a few! Prepare yourself for picture overload and lots of fun! WHEEE!!! Yeah, that is cheesy, just a fair warning...
We arrived at our hotel on Sunday evening and of course, the kids found the pool right off! They all scrambled to find their suits and they were gone! It wasn't the warmest of nights, but from where we came, anything feels warmer! Cori, our mom, and I enjoyed sitting on the side of the pool with books in hand and blankets thrown over our laps. Perfect way to end the day after a looooong drive!!

Tucker looks forward to swimming almost more than he does going to Disneyland! This kid is a serious fish!!

What do you get when you mix a cheerleader, a dancer, an athlete and two dads eager to play? A whole lotta horseplay!! These kids had a blast launching eachother into the air...I missed it but Bayli did a back flip off her dad and Uncle Scot's launch!!

We love to swim with dad!

A flyer in the making...

Bridgy loves her cousin, Haili!

DAY ONE: Up and ready by 7:30 so we could get to the park when it opened. The kids were very excited as were the adults!

My two little princesses ready for a big day!

I loved this tree...it was huge and the first thing you saw when you entered the park. Forget trying to get a family picture next to it, can you believe those crowds?

FIRST STOP: ADVENTURELAND; Tarzan's Treehouse...

Indiana Jones (Tucker was not a fan)!

All the kids on the Jungle Safari boat ride.

As with Disney World, Tucker's favorite part was meeting the characters! I felt really bad because it was so crowded, the characters couldn't come out much, so the few we saw were very exciting!

Brightyn, Bridget and Tucker hung out with dad while mom and the older kids did the bigger rides!

Tanner, Bayli, Haili, Emma and Tucker wait in line for the space ships.

Tucker and Haili...

Big Stud, Tanner...

Bayli and Bridget...

Taking a lunch break...Tucker, Matt, Bridget, Mom, Emma, Tanner, Alex, Sean, and Cori.

Haili and Bayli...

He's off to ride Buzz Lightyear!!

Bridget and mommy on Buzz Lightyear!

It's a Small World...

Toon Town is my favorite part of Disneyland! I love to look at all the cute little houses and shops where Mickey and friends live! So cute!

Goofy's car...

Hello, Pluto!!

We met Tigger, Pooh, and Eyore.

And one of the Country Bears...

We had a lot of fun for the three days that we were here. It was very crowded the first two days, but then on Wednesday, it poured rain, so we got out some ponchos and spent our longest day at the park just riding on everything until the park closed that night!

Most importantly, we made some great memories that my kids can always treasure, just as I did as a little girl. I felt bad that we didn't meet any of the Princesses and more of the characters, but we will go back one day soon and hopefully the whole world will decide to stay home this time!

My kids told us it was the best Christmas ever! Mission accomplished!!
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Christmas Day! 2010

Christmas morning! There is nothing more anticipated and more fun in all the world than this one magical morning! I love the Christmas season in all of it's joy, peace, comfort, and knowledge of the true happiness that we find through our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is just something about the actual morning that makes my heart so happy and so grateful! I love to watch my children's faces and bask in the excitement of giving! It is truly the best!

We were pleasantly surprised this year as Tucker gave a gift to all and actually slept in until about 7! This is unheard of! This little boy gets soooo excited for the simplest things, even the tooth fairy! He has been known to wake up at 4 am just to show us his money from her...SO, we were all very happy that the sun was shining when we arose to find that Santa had indeed found his way to St. George!

This year was really fun for me because my kids didn't ask for anything in particular. I got to shop for whatever I wanted! Bayli recieved a Clavinova in October and was told it was her Christmas. Tanner received his catcher's gear for the upcoming season and that was his Christmas. So, the older kids knew that they were not getting much and not to expect much. They were really good about it! They actually got into the gift-giving scene more this year and had a lot of fun shopping for Matt and I and for eachother. I was very pleased with their attitude about giving is better than recieving...and because of how proud I am as a mother to these five wonderful children, I was soooo excited to give them their very last gift, a surprise that luckily, we pulled off (my sister's family was in on it too)...

Santa came! Notice the large box on the right...more on that soon!

Tucker was obsessed with the Blue Angels ever since he saw their show this past summer. He got a whole set of the planes and he loved them!

Bridgy and her pillow pet! She loves anything pink, so this hippo was perfect for her!

And the most favorite gift for this boy was his Red Rider BB gun! Watch out! He was so surprised and excited about this (his dad's idea, I was skeptical). But he has done great with the rules and safety of owning a gun!

Thank you grandma! This coat is never coming off! Brightyn recieved a twin one and they look adorable in them! We love zebra!

Little Miss Bright in her Santa Baby outfit getting ready to open her gift! Merry First Christmas, Baby girl!

Bayli was totally surprised with her Sony Walkman, which she loves! She enjoys music a lot, so this was a pleasant surprise for her!

Tanner couldn't believe his new cleats! He also recieved a new mitt and was very pleased, to say the least!

And, now for the final gift for all the kids...drumroll please...a three-day hopper for all to Disneyland! They all assisted in shredding this box open to find Disney shirts for each of them and a little note from Mickey Mouse...

"Dear Alex, Sean, Haili, Bayli, Tanner, Emma, Tucker, Bridget, and Brightyn,

Merry Christmas to all! I have had such a ball,

waiting to tell you the best gift of all!

Are you ready for a great surprise?

Listen up kids, for I do not tell lies.

For Christmas this year you are in for a treat.

Oh the things you will do, the people you'll meet!

For three whole days you will spend your time,

hanging with princesses, myself, and friends of mine!

The rides you will take, the things you will see...

it will be such a blast when you get to Disney!

Well, what are you waiting for?

Get ready to go! You will leave tomorrow and before you know...

you'll be at Disneyland where dreams come true!

I will wait in my house just for you!

Thank you all for behaving so well,

Santa is proud of you, I think you can tell!"

Were they excited??? Ohhhhh yessss! All of them started jumping up and down and hugging eachother! Pat on the back to these four parents who pulled this one off! It was difficult, I must say!

Bridget in her new Disney sweatshirt playing with her Cinderella Barbie.

Matt and Bayli getting her Walkman loaded up for the trip.

Tucker tries out the Red Rider..."you'll shoot your eye out"

And I couldn't resist posting these darling pictures of my Santa Baby! She was so fun and so pleasant this day! We had a blast playing with her...♥

Of course, this blue-eyed beauty couldn't pass up a photo op. herself!

It was a gorgeous day, so we took a stroll to the park and let the kids get out some energy!

Tucker and Emma played basketball...

Brightyn babysat Bridget's new doll while looking on at all the fun kids!

This brother loves his sisters and is always looking out for Bridget so she doesn't get lost or hurt!

And Christmas just isn't Christmas without the food! We started the day with these delicious creations...Coffee Cakes! A family tradition through the Christensen side since I can remember! YUMMY!!! The matching jammies are also a tradition (a New Year's Eve tradition for my sister amd mom and I)
And then there is the delicious prime rib dinner made with love by my mom and sister! Oh so yummy! We were stuffed to the max!

I must say, this Christmas was one of my best and most memorable! I look forward to many more Christmas seasons with my children and hubby! Who could ask for anything more??