January

Aside from our Disneyland trip, we had a pretty good January. We spent New Year's Eve at Grams and Papa's house, and managed not to get much as far as pictures - this was it:

Thrilling huh?

My little sister Ace moved out to leave on a mission. It was really not my favorite thing to take her to the airport. I might have cried a good bit. It's going to be hard to not have her around for the next 18 months. My little brother and I took her to drop her off at the airport, and we may have made her a little anxious by not letting her leave to go through security until long after she was "supposed" to. We goofed off chatting until she just couldn't take it anymore. I really have enjoyed having her living with us since she graduated college. She's been a pleasure to have around to go on runs/walks with, just hang with, and also to be our live-in babysitter of course!

Arc really really loves her new cousin Mbc, and is so glad that we get to have her come hang with us once or twice a month while Aunt Mlbc teaches school.

Now that Cpc and cousin Cac are no longer in Joy School together, we try to get them together as often as we can. We've been going to Grams house once in a while and taking the dog Bentley on a walk, picking up Cac on the way. Then we spend a little time playing together after if we can. They really love that!

 My dad used to take me to Millie's Burgers as a kid - so one night we thought we'd show them the place. I love what a little hole-in-the-wall that place is. Good food too!

 Cdc had a birthday! He is now the big 4 and very proud of it. He got a perplexus for his birthday and totally digs it. You can tell the other boys did as well!

 We really love storytime before bed around here. Pmc is also loving his new Guitar!

 Cdc's birthday cupcakes.

 Arc still loves chocolate.

Checking out what slime feels like on your body. Cpc used to not be able to handle this, but he's learned to kind of like it now. We had Cpc evaluated at the Children's Center, and started doing a little bit of family therapy with him there. We really feel like they're helping us understand things with him, and the tricky dynamic between him and me.

Also in January Pmc and I also got the privilege of speaking in church this week - we survived, and that's all I really have to say about that.

Funnies From The Boys

Cdc: mom, I liked the book "the amazing spiderman," except for spiderman part.
Upon hearing us laughing...
Cpc: what did he say that was ridiculous?
Cdc: mom, you're not a young girl, you're a growing up girl.
Via Instagram

 annwhatch Haha! Oh those guys are funny!
 howardeyredood My doods

Aunt Ace

This did not just happen. Or I can keep telling myself that until tomorrow morning when I can't leave the sleeping kids at home with her while I run Cpc to school. Then it will set in and I will cry. Yep, I'm only sad about losing my free babysitter, forget the part about my favorite sister. Oh wait I can't say that - my other sisters have Instagram. Oh wait - no they don't! Haha!

Via Instagram

Vacation Part Final

On our final day in the park we stayed long enough to enjoy the fireworks and then drove to Aunt Snitz' house really late. We were all wiped out and really enjoyed a good night's sleep.

Grams and Papa were also at Aunt Snitz' house and we enjoyed some time with them, as well as taking a trip with the kids to the beach where we got engaged. We didn't manage to remember to take any pictures with Snitz, but we really enjoyed the beach! It was a beautiful day and the kids were happy to be at the ocean. El Pescador beach will always be a special place for our family, I guess Pmc is something of a fisherman the way he courted/courts me!

Then we braved the long drive home - and it actually turned out just fine. The kids had so much fun on the trip, and they enjoyed letting us help them journal everything on the way home.

Vacation Part 3

After a couple really full days of play, we took an easy day. We swam in the pool at our hotel, did a little grocery shopping, and walked around Downtown Disney. Arc got her nails painted, we watched a movie and went to bed. It was the perfect break from our vacation - haha!

 

 

Then we went back to the parks for two more days. Now that the kids had kind of experienced everything, we really just let them tell us what they wanted to do and enjoyed ourselves. The kids got to spend the Disney money Santa gave them. They chose some Cars penny racers, and a Cars racers car that you can put together and take apart. Arc got a little Minnie Mouse set with outfits to change her into. She was so into Minnie Mouse the whole time, and that meant Mickey Mouse too. We had no idea she would care so much! We went to a show called Mickey's Magical Map. At one point Mickey disappeared into the stage and Arc started crying and would not stop until he showed up again 5 minutes later. She was absolutely THRILLED the two times she got to meet Minnie Mouse. The boys also got to drive the steam ship on the last day!

 Cpc had a really hard time choosing not to get a Piston Cup with his money - until he realized "it's just an empty cup!"

 Every trip to Disneyland needs one of these suckers.

 Argh!

 

 

 This ride was equivalent to the Tea Cups for Arc.

 Cpc LOVED the Tower of Terror.

 

 Arc really loves that spinning feeling.

 Happiness in Carsland!

 We got in trouble for taking this picture as the ride was about to start, but it was so worth it!

 Cdc LOVED the Matterhorn.

 We watched this movie shortly before our trip and the kids thought it was so funny.

 

 

 As you can tell, Cpc couldn't get enough of Space Mountain.

 Cdc started to be more okay with it by the last day.

 

 My how things changed in 7 years!