Only E

I am Lily's primary teacher now and so I get to watch E-bear in his little Sunbeams class. He does really well, though he is always backwards in his seat messing with whatever girl's dress is behind him! The music leader was calling different kids up to participate in singing time and called on E. He got up, all excited! His job was to hold a little baby softly to represent a part of a song that we are learning. I think the part of the song was "the love that he felt for his little ones, I know he feels for me" (about Jesus). So E is up there holding a baby doll, and during the song, he turns it into a weapon, quietly using the little baby arms as guns to shoot! Only he could turn a baby into a weapon! The other teachers and leaders kept looking at me and just laughing with me! They all know him and so we all were cracking up!

Best Vacation Ever!

I can't even write a little about Disney, because so much happened! Ok, well, I'll write a little! Dave and I are Disney fanatics and babies, so we were loving every second! We'd wake up, eat our continental breakfast at our hotel and get outta there! BTW, I definitely recommend the "La Quinta" on Clementine, our rooms had two queen beds and a separate room with a TV and bunk beds for the kids separated by a curtain and a glass door! It was so magical watching the kid's reactions to seeing Tinkerbell and Terence in Pixie Hollow, talking with Crush from "Nemo", watching parade after parade- though the BEST was the Pixar parade in California Adventure! We had an incredible day on the 23rd, it was just our family and the Passey's (Dave's sis and fam) and we got to do everything we wanted to do. Ebay even did Space Mountain! though he was super scared! He and Lils LOVED "Funder Mountain Wailwoad" the best. They rode that at least 6 times over the whole trip. We got our sourdough bread bowls in Cal. Adv., got to see "The Nightmare before Christmas" at the Haunted Mansion, and Princess Tiana was there!


Christmas Eve at Disney was so magical. Our whole family (all 26 of us, Dave's parent's, sibs and their kid's) had dinner at this private outdoor restaurant near Thunder Mountain RR. There were lights everywhere, hot corn bread cakes, the best ribs and sausage and baked beans, and live music! There was a cowgirl and two cowboys playing country Christmas music! They would call all the kids up on stage and the kids would dance and play the jingle bells! Baby Rose did not want to come off of the stage and threw a fit every time we had to take her off! She was such a scrunch that one of the singers told us she could just stay up there, so she did. She stayed up there and played with the Christmas tree and danced and was a cutie. E surprised us with how much he danced and was crazy all night! He was a hoot! Lils has 2 cousins the same age as her and those three girls were inseperable. Ebay and his cousin Seth did everything together as well.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Lils and her cousins

Christmas Eve was amazing. I will never forget it. I knew that it would be special to have Christmas at Disney, but part of me was sad not to have the home traditions. I never realized just how perfect that night could be! After our dinner, we went on "It's a Small World" and the kids all loved it! Then it was time for bed.


Christmas morning, the children awoke to a few presents from us and grandparent's under a mini tree in our room and at 7:30 we all congregated in Grandma and Papa's room for Santa's gift and stockings! $50 for the big kids! Oh yeah! It was tough for me not to put my 2 cents in on what the kids should buy, it was their money, so they bought dumb stuff like those huge lolipops that they sucked on for a second and then threw away! Christmas Day was fun, but Disney was packed, so we headed over to California Adventure and played at the Bug's Life area. The kids got on ride after ride! No one was there. The rest of the day, it got more and more crowded, but we did all of the things we wanted to. We saw the Pixar parade and headed back to the hotel. Once the kids were asleep, Dave's Dad stayed in our room so that Dave and I could go back into the park! Dave and I met up with Jeff (his bro) watched the beautiful Christmas fireworks, saw Fantasmic and went on Indiana Jones! We got back to the hotel at 12:15.

California Adventure

Saturday we went to Legoland, which was fun, but Rose was done with theme parks. Sunday was a nice down day, Monday was a day at beautiful Huntington Beach! Swimming a few days after Christmas? Crazy!

Rose at Huntington Beach, she loved the waves and chasing seagulls

The three girls

He LOVED the water

There's the whole crew at Legoland

Tuesday was the big day! My bro-in-law married his beautiful bride in the L.A. temple and it was a wonderful ceremony. I haven't been to a live sealing in a while and it was so special to be there with my husband and to listen to the counsel my bro and new sis-in-law were receiving and to think about mine and Dave's marriage.

When you are first married, it is such a fun, sweet time, but I feel like Dave and I are having the best time of our lives now. Especially with how well we know each other. I am so blessed to have married such an incredible guy. I can't believe that as a stupid, silly, crazy 19 year old I met him and that I was barely 20 when we married! I was so young! I guess I knew a few things. It was the best decision I ever made. Though it didn't really feel like it was a choice for me... there WAS no other choice. He was it. I am just so happy and so in love with my wonderful husband. He is the perfect man for me and we've sure done a lot of growing and learning together. Sorry, I didn't mean to take a sappy turn there! It was a wonderful day.

Jeff and Steph- aren't they so cute?

The next week was full of two receptions, New Year's and finally, some down time. Dave and I came home the day before New Year's and had a day to put things away, relax, and chill out. We spent New Year's having a "Harry Potter" marathon and playing Monopoly! New Year's day was the Oroville reception and it was beautiful. I spent a lot of the time this trip with the "out-laws" (the in-laws of the family). We bonded as we were forced to take all 16 kids to the church gym for 4 + hours while the parent's and siblings cleaned up and prepped for the reception- which was very necessary! We started off playing "HORSE"- and if any of you knew me and how sweet I was :) at church basketball, you know I showed up my three bro-in-laws ! :) I actually held my own and thusly earned the respect of my bro-in-laws and became a part of the out-laws. It was a hilarious and fun trip! Unforgettable.

the out-laws

Oh Ninety-five!

We were listening to some beautiful Christmas music on the way home from school and Lils asked, "what's 95?"
Me, "It's a number, Lils, silly!"
Lil, "Why is she singing about 95?" (then she sang) "Oh nine-...ty..FIVE!"

I laughed so hard! "No, Lils, it's 'Oh night...diVINE" Now whenever I hear "Oh Holy Night" I'll be hearing "Oh 95". :)

Purse + 2 Zipper Wallets

I have been looking for wallets for the kids for a few weeks now so they can have something to put their Disney money in that they will get for Christmas. There are no wallets at our Target, Wal-mart or Micheals for boys and the girls wallets are $7+. So, I had the kids each choose their favorite fabric and zipper color at Wal-Mart today. Then I found this little tutorial : http://sewsally.blogspot.com/2007/08/zippered-coin-purse.html and I made them each a little wallet for $2. And they are cute! I used the left over fabric to make a purse for Lils to carry her wallet and purchases around Disneyland. Getting excited!

Santa Claus is comin' to town!

Wow! My neighbor called me tonight and said, "make sure you keep your kids up tonight! (knowing we put our kids to bed promptly by 7 every night) Santa comes through the neighborhood and you can't miss it!" I don't know how we missed this last year, but we certainly didn't this year. All of the neighborhood kids congregated on the street awaiting Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the cool fire trucks! 15 minutes of kids running around in their pajamas and jackets passed and then we heard the sirens! Santa was coming right in front of our house! The kids gave Santa toys and food to give to children who need them and we got some great pictures, candy canes, hugs, and teary eyes! What a fun, memorable, and exciting evening!

Who's excited to see Santa! "MEEEE!"

It's that time of year...

For stomach flu! Ugh... But, only 8 more days until we head out to Disneyland! Hopefully it'll run it's course and we'll have the best Christmas ever! My brother-in-law is getting married to the sweetest girl down in southern Cali, so the whole family (17 grandkids in total) is going to make a real trip out of it. Disneyland on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, LegoLand, trips to the beach, chill at the hotel, and then the marriage in the temple on the 30th. I CAN'T WAIT!!!! Just got to get through the last week of school/work/flu.

My ringtone has been changed from Twilight to Tinkerbell. I think it's fitting. Everytime someone calls my cell, I get so excited! I'm feeling the magic of Disney... oh, and the marriage will be pretty great, too! :)

What we've been up to...

We had an amazing time in Utah for Thanksgiving. My parent's and brother, Cordell flew out from Virginia! My brother, sister, and their families live in Utah, so we hung out all week together. We missed you Lorel, Craig, Ella, and Orin! We went up to Milburne to an "investment" house of my sister's and went 4-willin' (as they say in Utah) ! It was a blast! Cora and I went first, we traversed a mountain, discovered a cave, and Cora flipped her 4 wheeler over on a huge ditch. (She was OK, though, her sweet ninja rolls saved her.... yes, and the 4-wheeler was ok too- though it smoked and stunk for a while after) There was this crazy dog that followed us up the whole time, stuck with us through the icy patches and guided us along. It was kind of a sweet, scruffy thing. It frolicked in foot deep mud and leaves and snow so by the time we got back to the house, it was filthy! And guess who left her van door open? Not me! Thank goodness! That dog ran all around in Cora's van and would NOT come out! I pulled and tugged and yanked until I thought I would choke him.. Anyways, my bro-in-law Brian managed to get him out.

It was wonderful spending time with my Mom and Dad and brother who I don't see very much. I needed that time with them. We made gingerbread houses with all the cousins and the kids spent most of their time playing out in the snow or the new "Super Mario Bros Wii" game- which is a MUST for every family! Dave and I play every night and laugh so hard! It is great. Oh, and of course the kids love it, too. Good times, good food, good laughs. I love my family!

Cora, Gibbs, Cordell, and I. We're just missing Lorel and Orin.

The cousins

Family photos

Lils

Baby Rose

Ebay

The kids chose their ornaments this year: Lils got a sparkly cupcake, E got a car with smoke flying out the back, and Rose got a cute little vintage girl ornament.