Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Disney

I have finally been able to recuperate from our trip and thought I would finish telling y'all what we did the rest of the time we were there. I'm sure y'all have been patiently waiting. (haha)I should warn you now that this post is going to be very long. Sorry.

So, on Sunday evening we went to Downtown Disney. We ate dinner at Planet Hollywood and it was pretty good. My dad didn't enjoy it so much because it is just so loud in there. After dinner, we (Bryce, the kids and I) walked around Downtown Disney to window shop. Legoland was awesome! Cooper had alot of fun playing with the legos and looking at all of the different things made out of legos. Man, whoever put those things together, are some very talented people. There were some really neat shops down there. I could have spent soooo much money, but I controlled myself. (OK, the truth is we didn't have the money to spend on knick knacks and toys.) As we were leaving Downtown Disney, they had a fountain that would spray sporadically for kids and adults to play in. Cooper had so much fun, after he got over the shock of not knowing where or when he was going to get sprayed. By the time we got on the bus to go back to the hotel, he was soaking wet!

Monday was spent at Hollywood Studios, formerly known as MGM. Have I said how stinkin' hot it was there? We were able to meet some of the characters and ride a couple of rides. The Toy Story ride was by far our favorite. Of course, if we had the chance to ride the Rock N Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror, I'm sure those would have been our favorites. We took the kids to see Playhouse Disney Live and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. While Cooper loved Playhouse Disney, he did not like the Little Mermaid. The whole time we were watching the show he kept saying, "Go home." We also learned some interesting facts about Walt Disney. It is amazing the imagination that man had. Cooper got to meet Lightening McQueen and Mater. He also got the coolest toy. It is Lightening McQueen, but it has interchangeable parts. (Kind of like a Mr. Potato Head) He is soooo in love with it! Cooper also really liked the Honey, I shrunk the kids playground. Everything that you would find in a backyard was in this playground, just really huge. So, it was like we were the kids that had been shrunk. It was pretty cool. It was a very long day. Neither one of the kids took a nap that day, so I am sure you can imagine our day.

Tuesday, we decided that we were going to wait until the late afternoon to head to Magic Kingdom. While we were eating dinner, it started to pour. Needless to say, our stroller got soaked. We had hoped that the rain was done for the evening, but it wasn't. So, Bryce and I got soaked too. We were able to ride several rides that Cooper just loved. Then, it was time for the Spectro Magic parade. That was the best parade I have ever seen. Unfortunately, our camera sucks and does not take good pictures at night. I hope my brother was able to get some good ones of the parade and then I can share them. After the parade was over, we went and rode the Haunted Mansion. As we were leaving the Haunted Mansion, the firework was starting. So, we watched the fireworks as we were leaving the park.

Wednesday was our last day in Orlando. We spent another day at the Magic Kingdom. The lines at the Magic Kingdom were ridiculous! So, we were only able to do a couple of things. We did ride the Mad Tea Party though. I feel really bad that we weren't able to ride more rides that the kids would enjoy, but there was no way that Cooper and Sara would have stood in a line for an hour just to ride Dumbo. I have to say, for me, the highlight of our trip was eating at Chef Mickey's that night. It was a buffet and all of the characters came by each table to take pictures or sign autographs. Cooper was so enthralled. Everytime he would see a character coming he would get so excited. It was really cute. Sara, on the other hand, was terrified. I think maybe it was just because she was tired because after she woke up from her little cat nap, she was OK with the characters. There really are no words that I can use to tell you how wonderful it was to see your kids so excited and experience things for the first time. Our waitress even brought Sara and me a cupcake with a candle and sang Happy Birthday to us. The best part of the whole dinner was when Donald Duck got down on the floor and was playing with Cooper and his firetruck. Even though the food wasn't the greatest, the characters totally made up for it.

All in all it was a pretty good trip. It was really nice to see my family and spend some time with them. I get very excited thinking about the next time we go to Disney World or Disneyland because the next time we go, the kids will be a little older and I think they will enjoy it much better. I do have to say that this trip definitely humbled me a bit. I have had a very hard time adjusting to living in Washington, well Warden really. I missed Washington and Cooper really missed his cousins and his Aunt Cindy and Uncle Brent. He literally asked about them EVERY day we were gone. Florida is not my home anymore. It is just where I grew up. Washington is now my home and it is great to be back home!


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Monday, June 29, 2009

Disney Pictures

As you can assume, I took a ton of pictures from our trip to Disney World. Since I don't want to inundate you with pictures, I decided I would divide my pictures and my posts into a couple of days. I know that looking at all of the pictures is very time consuming, but there are some really cute ones in there.

This slideshow is the first set of pictures that I took. These pictures go along with the previous post (most of them anyway). I hope you enjoy the pictures and be on the look out for more pictures and posts from me about our trip!!


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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Sara's 1st Birthday Dinner



Well, we are in Orlando. We arrived on Wednesday at 4pm. We got settled into the hotel and then we were off to meet my family and have Sara's birthday dinner. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Even though the wait was long, the food was good and the atmosphere was even better. Sara looked adorable in her little tutu and birthday onesie! She got lots of compliments on how cute she looked! Cooper loved the restaurant! They have elephants, monkeys, and a large fish aquarium as their decorations. I ordered Sara a Tinkerbell cupcake cake. The cake turned out so cute! She also got her own little smash cake, which she really enjoyed! We had a great night and I still cannot believe that my baby is a year old already!

Thursday is when the rest of our group got here. It was great getting to see my brother and his family. They were finally able to meet Cooper and Sara for the first time and we were able to meet their new little one, Justin, for the first time. That night we went to Epcot. It rained on us for a couple of hours, but we kept going. We were over an hour late to our dinner reservation thanks to the rain and the bus system at our hotel. Since my dad is in a scooter, the bus has to have enough room for it. Well, several buses came by, but they were too full to let us on. I think we ended up waiting for like 45 minutes before we were able to get on a bus. (I stood in line in the rain) Anyways, after we ate dinner, the rain had stopped and it was time for Illuminations, the laser and firework show. Unfortunately, our camera does not take very good pictures at night. So, I don't have any of the show, but when the rest of the family gets their pictures on the computer, I will post some then.

Friday, we spent ALL day at Epcot and still didn't get to do everything we wanted to. We did get to go on the Nemo ride and the 3 Caballero's boat ride. Cooper really loved those. Cooper also go to see Stitch and get his autograph. That night, we ate dinner at the Coral Reef restaurant. It is the neatest place to eat because you are surrounded by a huge fish tank. Cooper thought that was just the greatest thing on earth! After dinner, we went to Turtle Talk with Crush. That was hilarious! Before we went back to the hotel for the night, we took the kids on the Monorail (train) around Epcot. We actually saw some random deer just hanging out.

Saturday, we went to Animal Kingdom. The first thing we did was take the safari ride. It was awesome! We saw all kinds of animals that I can't tell you the names of, but we did see elephants, giraffes, lion, rhino, and some deer. After that, we let my family take the kids to the petting zoo, so that Bryce and I could go ride some of the adult rides. Expedition to Everest was sooooo awesome! It is by far the best ride we have been on so far! It was so hot that we weren't able to stay all day like we had hoped. The last thing we did before we called it a day was to go see "It's Tough to be a Bug". It is a 3-d show. Lets just say Cooper and Sara didn't exactly like it. But, Bryce and I enjoyed it!

So far today, we have done nothing. And it has been kind of nice. We are going back to Downtown Disney tonight to eat dinner at Planet Hollywood. Hopefully, we will be able to take Cooper to Legoland and let him play for awhile. Well, that's it for now. I am not sure if I will post something before we leave on Thursday morning or not. I will get pictures on here as soon as I can!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I know Sara's birthday is not until tomorrow, but we are leaving at 3:30 in the morning to head to Florida. So, I wanted to tell Sara what a blessing she has been to our family. She is such a little spit fire! I think she has more in common with a certain cousin of hers besides her dimmples. (cough*Cara*cough) I still can't believe that she is already a year old! This past year has flown by. Sara is soooo close to walking. She has walked short distances to me, Bryce, and Grandpa. Her newest word is uh-oh. And let me tell you, she is following in her brother's footsteps. Sara is going to have a mind of her own and be on the go 24/7. I cannot imagine our family without her. Even though, I have had a rough year, I know that because of her I am a stronger person and a better mother. Happy 1st birthday Sara!

I will try to post pictures of our trip to Disney World every other day or so.


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Monday, June 15, 2009

Thought For The Day


Dolphin-safe tuna, that’s great if you’re a dolphin. What if you’re a tuna? Somewhere there’s a tuna flopping around on a ship going, “What about me? I’m not cute enough for you?”


------Drew Carey




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Friday, June 12, 2009

Thought For The Day


"Most of us ask for advice when we know the answer but we want a different one."

------Ivern Ball

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

How Time Flies


I just cannot get over the fact that Sara will be 1 in 7 days! Maybe it is harder on me with Sara than it was with Cooper because of the PPD and the fact that she is most likely my last baby. I am trying to figure out what kind of a party to have for her when we get back from Disney. It's not like she is "into" anything yet. For Cooper's 1st birthday party, we had a John Deere party because most little boys like tractors. So, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know!


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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Man, What A Busy Couple Of Days!

I know I have posted anything recently and I am sorry, but holy cow have I been busy! On Monday (our anniversary), we went to Tri Cities with the kids and went out to eat at Red Robin.

Wednesday, the women of our ward had a going away party for a sister in the ward and her daughter. Alane is getting married at the end of the month and moving to Spokane. She and Amanda will be greatly missed by all. The testimony that they have of the gospel has touched so many lives here and we are indeed greatful to have known them. I wish them both the best of luck in their new adventure!

On Thursday, the kids and I went to Moses Lake to a Pampered Chef party given by Mishelle. Mishelle has decided to become a Pampered Chef consultant. So, this was her first show. She did a great job even though she dropped a bag of cheese on a baby's head. (Sorry, Mishelle I just had to pick on you!) The food that she made was delicious! Hopefully, I can have a party one of these days and she can be the consultant!

Saturday, we again went to Tri Cities. As you can tell by my ticker, our trip to Disney is fast approaching. Have I mentioned before that I am so not prepared? Anyways, we went to try and get some last minute things done before we leave. Namely, we all need some clothes for the trip. I love shopping for clothes for the kids. Now, shopping for clothes for me is a totally different story! We did get Sara the cutest bathing suit! I can't wait to take her swimming! We also went to the Dollar Tree and stocked up on toys and coloring books for the plane ride that will hopefully keep the kids busy for a little bit. So, we had a very long day on Saturday as well.

I am not sure how many of y'all know that Sara's birthday is also the day we are leaving to go to Disney. I have been having a very hard time finding a cake for her that we can have that night at dinner in Downtown Disney. I think once I can figure that out, maybe I won't be stressing so much. OK, so I will probably be stressing until we get back from our trip! I just cannot believe that my baby girl is about to turn 1! Where did this past year go? So, how has your week been?


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Thought For The Day


As a being of power, intelligence, and the master of his own thoughts, a man holds the key to every situation, to make his life what he chooses it to be. When he discovers the divine power within his soul, he can lead his life to a God-like nature. If one dreams lofty dreams, so shall he become. There is magic in the way one thinks. If we expect the worst, we will get the worst. If we expect the best, we will receive the best. If we train our minds to have faith in God and ourselves, we are using one of the great laws of life. If we think and live righteously, happiness will find its place in our lives. It is amazing when we expect the best how forces are set in motion which cause the best to materialize. Our thoughts more than circumstances determine the course of our lives. Outward circumstances do not determine the course of our lives as much as the thoughts that habitually occupy our minds. These thoughts carve their impression on our faces, in our hearts, and on the tablet of our eternal souls.
-----President Howard W. Hunter
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sorry


I just thought that I should apologize for my other background. I always try to make sure that what I post is readable on the background. I even asked Bryce to make sure that he could read it also. So, I'm sorry for having a background that hampered y'alls ability to read what I wrote. Please let me know if this problem ever occurs again. Thanks!


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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Weekend Review

Man, did we have a couple of busy days! Of course, I would rather be busy than bored. As some of you know, my mom is going to be losing her job July 1. This will be the third time in 10 years that she has been laid off. Unfortunately, the town where I grew up doesn't have alot of job opportunities anymore. The paper mill was shut down and destroyed about 10 years ago or so. The railroad company laid off (I think) all of their employees, but 3-4. Now, Arizona Chemical is following suit. With the plant closing down, the only jobs left will be working at the Piggly Wiggly, McDonald's, or going to school to become a realtor. Of course, with the economy the way it is, not to mention St Joe and the surrounding areas have a ton of Realtors, sell real estate is probably not the way to go. So, my parents are going to have to sell the house that I grew up in and move away. At this point, they have no clue what they are going to do or where they are going to go. One choice is to move up here to be closer to us. There are a couple other choices, but right now it is going to be where ever my mom can find a job.

So, anyways, on Friday, Bryce, the kids, and I went to Moses Lake to look at houses for sale. We found some really great houses that I know we would love to have! We feel like we found the perfect house for them. It is a new community towards the fair grounds and the house has yet to be built. So, they would be able to pick all the fun stuff (cabinets, colors, countertops, etc.). The house is also built to be handicap accessible, which is important for my dad. I know that it is probably very selfish of me, but I would love to have my parents move up here and be closer to us. I know that my mom would love to be around her grandkids and get to watch them grow up. It would also be nice to just have my family here, as well as Bryce's. It has been very hard on me the past 2 years since we moved from Florida. I have really missed having my mom close to me. So, right now they are just hoping that Heavenly Father will lead them in the right direction. Hopefully, that direction will be to the northwest of the US!

Saturday, the kids and I went to Cael and Cason's pre-school graduation. It was so adorable to see the kids sing and do little dances! I just hate that I wasn't able to take a lot of pictures. (In case you haven't figured it out yet, I love to take pictures!) Cooper was so excited to see the twins. When he woke up Saturday morning, the first thing he asked me was, "Go see Cael and Cason?" I do believe the twins are his idols!! Anyways, congratulations boys!! Soon you will be on the way to your first day of Kindergarten!! Sorry, Cindy. I know it is hard seeing your babies grow up. You are more than welcome to get some baby lovin' on Sara though!!


After, the boys' graduation, we went to a playgroup get together over at the Leavitt's. Our Relief Society has started a playgroup for the moms of children 5 and under. It was alot of fun to go hang out with some of the other moms and get to know them better. Not to mention, the kids had other kids to play with that were close to their age. Cooper loved playing in the pool and just running around the backyard! Sara enjoyed the pool until she got splashed in the face. Then, she was just over it! All in all, I think it was a success and can't wait for the next one!





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Monday, June 1, 2009

4 Years Ago......

Bryce and I were married 4 years ago in Panama City, Florida. We were supposed to get married on the beach, but when we woke up that morning it was raining. Of course, I have heard that rain on your wedding day is good luck. So, anyways, we moved the wedding to the cultural hall in our church. It was a very small wedding with maybe 20 people attending. But, we were lucky enough to have my family there (my brother had been over in Afghanistan but had to come home because our dad was very sick). My niece and nephew were able to be part of the wedding and that meant the world to me. Our bishop that married us could never get Bryce's name right. It was actually kind of funny. I think I might have married a Bruce instead of a Bryce. We were also very lucky to have Brayden be there with us. So, here we are 4 years later. We have had 2 beautiful children. Bryce graduated from nursing school. And we moved across the United States. Did I mention that all of this has happened in the past 4 years? All I can say is that these past 4 years feel like a whirlwind. But, I wouldn't trade it for anything. (Well, maybe the crazy ex-wife.) Just a little bit of useless knowledge (unless you live in the south), today is the beginning of hurricane season. Yes, we got married the day the official hurricane season begins. Very fitting for some of the storms we have weathered. Happy Anniversary Bryce! I love you!



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