Happy New Year!

We have been hit with a flu bug so we are staying home for New Year's Eve. Yes- we have stayed home every New Year's Eve for the last 6 years- but this year we actually had plans that we had to cancel! Boo! That'll teach us!

As 2010 approaches rapidly (we will be ringing it in on the EST drop of the ball at 9pm here)- I do have a few resolutions that I'm making this year-
1) to be a better blogger- this is my scrapbook at the moment so I best keep it up to date!

2) to floss- yeah- I'm sure you could care less about this one- but I'm putting it out there. After experiencing the joy that is deep tissue cleaning last month- I hope to never have that experience again- flossing is hopefully the key!

And that's about it- besides to continue to be the best mom I can be to these lovely little ladies that are growing up way too fast for me to accept! We wish you all the best for a happy and healthy 2010!! I have a feeling it is going to be a wonderful year!!

Merry Christmas- From our family to yours!

We are slowly emerging from the wrapping and tissue paper, boxes, packaging and tape! I promise lots of updates and pictures coming soon! Here's a few from Christmas!

Family Portraits!

We had the opportunity to take family portraits at the girls' school last month- we are VERY happy with the results and are excited to share them with you!!

Tooth Fairy Visit for ASHLEY!

After a busy day at Disneyland last Wednesday, we returned home to get Ashley's tooth ready for the Tooth Fairy!! She was very excited and couldn't wait to put it in the tooth box! Emily has done ok so far with being the last to lose a tooth. She was excited for Ashley and asked to see the tooth one last time. Placing it gently under her pillow.

The next morning... checking out the tooth box! It's empty! "So what did you get?" Maddie asks.

Diving deep to find the goods!

Ashley also got a letter from the Tooth Fairy (that I read to her to show it was different than Maddie's letter) and she also got 5 Disney Dollars!

Can't wait to spend my Disney Dollars!

The girls were all tickled that the Tooth Fairy mentioned Disneyland in her letter! 2 teeth down- WAY too many to go! :o)

Too much excitement!!

Yes- I have been neglecting the blog- I'm so sorry! LOL Things are going full steam here and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. This weekend alone we have 2 birthday parties (one each day). And now the holidays are fast approaching and I find myself tightening my seatbelt and holding on for the ride!

Did I say holidays? Yes- I sure did! Our holiday season started on Wednesday with a trip to Disneyland. It was Veteran's Day (or as Maddie calls it "Veterinarian's Day) so everyone else had the same idea (crowded is an understatement)! Disney officially opened the Xmas season on the Friday after- but we found most of the park ready and decorated! We put up with the crowds for awhile and the girls were good sports about having to wait a little longer for some of the rides. Below- Emily is in line for the Haunted Mansion- she decided the door behind her was the "stuff closet"- you know that you put stuff in, like batteries. :o) Disney is also preparing for their new Princess movie- to welcome Princess Tiana to the park they have a Jubilee show on the river front, complete with umbrella parade procession to the Mark Twainn. (The movie is set in New Orleans) Once on the boat it comes back to the front of New Orleans square for a singing and dancing jubilee (complete with trumpet playing crocodile)! Now check out Ashley below... the show was winding down, Emily has already told me she needed to go to the bathroom (she drank her entire drink in line at the Haunted Mansion) so imagine my surprise as we dashed off to get to the bathroom as the show was ending- to turn around and see Ashley holding her tooth! Yes- Ashley lost her first tooth at Disneyland! We stopped for a moment to collect ourselves and celebrate- I shoved the tooth into my pocket (ick!) and off we ran again towards the bathroom. She was quite proud of herself!
Afterwards we found where pictures could be taken with the new princess, she wasn't there yet- so I opted to take a picture with MY princesses. We then decided to move on. The girls in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle. We went into Toon Town at this point to ride Gadet's Go Coaster. It's a 20 second ride (seriously!) and a miniature roller coaster (kind of an intro to roller coasters). We got on the ride and I had one of those "uh-oh" moments as I watched Maddie and Emily get in one car together and I got in with Ashley. Ever have one of those, "I'm not sure this is a good idea" moments? Yeah- I had one right about now as I watched them with their hands up like pros getting ready for their first solo ride (without an adult) roller coaster- eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! 20 seconds later- everyone was fine, the girls were laughing and happy and I was exhausted. LOL Time to start heading out of the park. Since Toon Town is at the very back, we opted to ride the train to the front of Main Street. Once on Main Street we stopped to get Ashley an "I'm Celebrating" pin to mark her lost tooth. S he was very proud of that too. We went out of the park and took some pictures with the CALIFORNIA sign out front of CA Adventure. All don eup in candy cane stripes for the holidays. You don't get to see the best pictures though- because quite unbelievably- I got part of our Christmas card picture!!!! YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!! So here's a few to tie you over until the big reveal. :o) Disneyland during the holidays is amazing. The decorations alone are worth the trip to see. We'll be making several more trips in the coming months to enjoy all there is to offer (including snow on Main Street!)

Picture from the Tooth Fairy visit that evening are coming next!

Happy Halloween!

We had an amazing Halloween this year! We are still recovering so more pictures will come- but here are a few samples to whet your appetite! Enjoy!!

The girls and me at their Kindergarten Carnival on Friday

Halloween evening- ready to go Trick or Treating!

We always go down to Grammie and Grandpa's house first and then make our way back to our house.Titi Joann joined us and so did Uncle Mike and Aunt Chelle!
Like I said- we are still recovering (2 parties last weekend and one today!). I have tomorrow off of work and will be using the time to get some posts done! Yay!

More Disney Fun! Trick or Treat Adventure!

Halloween is upon us already! How did this happen? What happened to September?? Seriously- time is going way too fast and I can barely catch my breath! The girls are super excited about Halloween this year! Costumes are ready and my little trick-or-treaters got to kick Halloween into high gear this past week! It started with a walking field trip with their class to the local Farmer's Market. Everyone got to buy a small pumpkin and something for a snack. The girls did great picking out their pumpkins (which they REALLY wanted to put on their heads)- snack was Kettle Corn...hmmmm.... not the healthiest of choices at the Farmer's Market- but they are my children after all!
And then the BIG event finally came- we've been counting the days (actually we count the number of "sleeps") to our big Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disneyland's California Adventure! This is an event we look forward to every year! Trick or Treating at Disneyland? What could be better????

Ashley in her witch costume

Disneyland closes CA Adventure early- gets all their Halloween decorations out and then only lets in guests that have purchased tickets for this special event (our passes do not count towards admission- but we do get an excellent discount!!). For 4 hours the park is open to those with T or T tickets- there are stations throughout the park to go Trick or Treating and the rides are all open. In years past we've spent time going around seeing the different characters at the different Party Zones. The girls weren't as interested in them this year- so we stuck to rides and candy!

I love how every trick or treat picture I have the girls are checking out their loot!

Emily FINALLY decided on being a Mermaid (she literally changed her mind every day for 2 weeks! 14 different costumes! I kid you not! LOL When she said mermaid 3 days in a row it was settled!) Below she is posing at Ariel's Grotto restaurant- we didn't eat there- but she looks so cute- quite the pose! She knows how to work a mermaid dress!! I'm a little concerned after seeing her sash-shay around the park!!

Madeline decided early on she wanted to be a ladybug!

Toy Story ride!

This was Aunt Megan's first year at T or T night and her first trip to CA Adventure!

Susie and Emily- ready for action!

Hmmmm... my mom and I ended up together- I was blue- she was red. I win in points but she wins in accuracy!

Maddie and Megan

Aunt Sara, Joann and a very determined Ashley

Time to ride the carousel!

I was a little sad to not have a theme for their costumes this year- but I'm happy that the girls are getting to be individuals- they're still too cute! Theme or not!

Time to get more candy! What's nice about each station is that they also offer a healthier alternative! You could choose from sliced apples, raisin and craisins this year!

Starting to get sleepy. But still having so much fun!

The Family!
Tired eyes- time to head home!

Maddie and Grammie share a joke while waiting for the tram (or as the girls call it, "the tramp"- hey- it's a Disney movie right??)
Emily didn't make it to the car. LOL I did bring their jammies to change into one we got to the van.
And this is how Emily rode home!! HAHAHAHAHA! Such a ham! Yep- her feet are through the arms of the jacket and the hood over her head!
I'd say it was a successful night! Already thinking about next year- but first we have to get through all this candy!!!!!!!!!!

We have a new host for Favorite Foto Friday! (FFF) This week's theme is "Adventure" and I'd say for sure that our Trick or Treat night was an adventure!! If you'd like to check out more FFF pictures, please visit: Hannah's Blog! She takes beautiful pictures!! Hope you're having a great weekend!