A few stops on the way

Well, we survived…. barely. I won't drive that distance again! EVER!!

Okay, I’ll admit, it was worth it though. Disneyland was fantastic! I have 580 pictures on my memory card…. I’m a “Snapper”. Seeing as though I just finished doing the laundry from our trip, I don’t know when I’ll get to looking at all of those pictures. But I did want to share a few of the most important from our trip.

There were a few stops we HAD to make! First of all, after picking my mom up, we had to go visit Shawn’s family, which is only a few minutes away. They thought we were coming next weekend, so it was a nice early morning surprise. Jefferson got to re-bond with his favorite cousin, Autumn, the kids got a few swings in on the rope swing, picked out a toy from Grandma’s toy drawer, went and saw Grandpa (who was serving at the church), then we were OFF!

We drove a few hours and stopped at our very best friends, the Reeds. We had wanted them to join us at Disneyland, but it didn’t work out (poo!), so visiting them was the next best thing. They served us lunch, which was way too kind, and the kids played for a couple hours while we chatted. I think Reagan tried on every costume they own! I spent the entire time drooling over Jen’s gorgeous home while Shawn talked to Brandon about eyeball stuff.

Reagan was more excited about seeing Carter than going to Disneyland!

Here they are playing in the backyard. Jefferson just adores Gavin

Oh goodness, I love all 6 of these kids equally!!!

This picture makes me laugh, Jen, you look taller than me!

Our families. Thank you guys for letting us crash your Saturday! I stole this picture from Jen’s blog, so it’s a little fuzzy, but it’s adorable. I miss this group more than you can imagine. Our 2 hour visit just wasn’t long enough. What are the chances that we’re stationed at the same Air Base? 1 in a million? That’s still a chance….

Once at Disneyland, we took a short trip visit Shawn’s Grandma who lives in Long Beach… at least for the next 2 weeks. She is moving to Utah, so it was good timing that we got to see her. The kids LOVE their Great Grandma Ballard. She spoils them with dollars every holiday in the mail and candy whenever they see her. I admire this woman… my kids are 3 of her 58 great grand children, and she treats them all like individual treasures. She knows how to win their hearts, and today was no exception. She was delighted to see us and gave each of the kids their very own dollar (they were glowing with excitement). Look at those smiles, I don’t think they could be any happier!

Shawn and his Grandma

all of us…

So, there you have it… the most important pictures from our trip. Although meeting the Disney Princesses is pretty darn important, so I’ll get busy going through my 580 pictures now…..

A vacation farewell

In T-minus 30 minutes we will be loaded in the car headed for the Happiest Place on Earth…. At least the happiest place for those who don’t have crowd phobia and need an anti-anxiety tranquilizer.  Oh my goodness!

I will survive, I will survive, I will survive….

But if that’s not the death of me, the drive will be

We are driving OVER 1000 miles to get there (well, 1002 to be exact, I just sounds more dramatic to say “over 1000”). Google maps says it should take 17 hrs. We’re doing it tonight, without stopping ONCE. Okay, maybe once, but no more than that! I predict 6 hrs from now I will be regretting the trip.

Who am I kidding…. this was my idea. I thunk it up last week, and Shawn said, “lets do it.” How’s that for spontaneous! Shawn has this week off between rotations. He probably should be studying for his next Boards test, but cannot say no to Disneyland. But hey, he has 34 hrs sitting in the car to study, right? It will be a nice break from reality. I’m stoked… the kids are stoked (all 4 of them including Shawn).

But really, wish me luck on the anxiety.

Seeing corn… seeing pink

I completely forgot about last week. Well, I didn’t forget that my mom came, and the fun we had…. I just forgot to post about it.

It’s been a while since my mom has visited us in Oregon, 8 months… that’s a long time for her. We counted down the days ‘til she came. The kids were in school the first day, so my mom and I just visited Thriftstores. I found tons of things… she found like 1 thing. Sorry mom.

Shawn just happened to get the following 2 days off work, I can’t remember why, but it sure was good timing. We went as a family to a pumpkin patch on Sauvie Island. It was time to see a new pumpkin patch, and time to check out the corn maize (oh so witty). We’d never been through one before, have you?

Here we are at the entrance of the maze, next to some weird chef. We’ve got our maps handy and an emergency number in case we get lost for hours. The man at the gate (not the chef… a real man) told us it usually takes between 30-60 minutes to find your way out.

It took us 20 minutes. I’m certainly not bragging… I just followed the leader. Shawn was an awesome navigator and we wizzed through that thing.

Here we are at a lookout point.

        

Reagan was amazed with all the corn. “Look Mommy, corn… corn mommy, look, corn, corn, corn, corn, corn… why is there so much corn everywhere?” Here she is, kneeling down to show me some (yes, you guessed it) corn.

The boys enjoyed telling us which way to go. They also enjoyed running ahead, then hiding in the stalks of corn to scare us. Which way should we go boys? “This way”

Hey, we kind of look like a corn stalk, how fitting.

Afterwards, the kids jumped in this bounce house for almost an hour. There was hardly a soul at the pumpkin patch, so the attractions were free. We were not complaining. My mom, Shawn, and I just sat an ate elephant ears while the kids jumped. Notice how Jefferson STILL rolls up his pant legs. It’s starting to annoy me….

The next day my mom, Reagan, and I got all dressed up for an special girls day.

Reagan and my mom waiting for the show to begin. Can you guess what we saw?

Pinkalicious!! The show was…. um… lets just say Reagan enjoyed it, and that’s all that matters.

She waited in line afterwards and got her playbill signed by the cast. She still can’t stop talking about the show. And she wants to wear her Pinkalicious outfit everyday. I’m glad it was so memorable for her.

It was fun to have my mom visit for a few days. We get to see her again in less than 24 hrs, so if she wasn’t sick of us yet, she will be soon.

Halloween was fun, we went trick-or-treating in a local neighborhood. The boys gave all their candy to the Switch-Witch and got Legos in return. Reagan refused to leave more than 1 piece for the witch, so she got nothing except a cavity, I’m sure. Our pumpkin never got carved, which was the tragedy of the Holiday. The kids cried like babies. I guess it was cruel, but we never seemed to find time. Maybe it’s not too late.

I love this boy!

 

I woke up this morning to find this on the kitchen counter.

Jefferson learned about service this Sunday in Primary. His teacher encouraged the kids to do an act of service. Jefferson said “you are always making breakfast for me, so I thought I would make it for you today.” What a sweetheart!

He knows just what we like for breakfast. I ate the cookies and left the bread for Shawn.

Halloween Costumes and a PAVA Party

I tried forcing my kids to be several different themes for Halloween this year, but they boys weren’t interested in any of them. It was sad for me.  The boys had their hearts set on being Ninjas. Here they are…

Reagan didn’t know who she wanted to be, so we flipped through the patterns at Joanns and we both liked Little Bo Peep.

Don’t you just want to gobble her up? I couldn’t decide which picture was my favorite, so I’m showing you both.

All 3 of my hoodlums…

Halloween isn’t for another week, but we had our first party this last Friday. We celebrated with PAVA. This is our last year hanging out with this bunch.

Here’s Jefferson and Grant with their best friend, Logan

I tried to get a picture of Reagan with her friends, Sophie (horse) and Harper (Dorothy).. this is the best I got.

The kids in line for the cake walk.

The highlight of night…. Reagan won a prize for the “best kids costume.” She was delighted. Here she is with her prize.

Here’s our family. Jefferson is hiding from us because he’s mad that Reagan won a basket of candy, Grant is moody, Reagan has a mouth full of tootsie roll, my hair is greasy, and Shawn looks good as usual… that’s us.

Halloween is far from over. The kids can’t wait to go trick-or-treating. And they’re already excited to give all their candy to the “switch-witch.” I can’t remember where to give credit for this idea. Did someone I know tell me about it? Sorry. But Halloween night, the kids are going to leave their candy out, during the night the switch-witch will come and take the candy in exchange for a toy. Lovely idea. I hate candy wars.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween….. and, here’s one more picture …. I can’t help myself

Some cute kid stuff

It’s been a long time since I documented some of the cute things my kids have said…. a really really long time! I looked back.... some of the last posts were HERE and HERE and HERE. Could it be possible that they haven’t said or done anything cute in 2 years? I think I just stopped writing things down. I feel bad. Now they’re getting older and funny things aren’t said as often. But I have been able to capture a some….

Grant: My stomach aches, I think I’m going to have diarrhea.

Jefferson: do you know why they call it ‘diarrhea’? because you feel like you’re going to DIE!

Me (when talking to Reagan about princesses): Someday when you get married you will be a princess.

Reagan: yes, when I marry Daddy

Me: well, daddy is already married. I’m his princess

Reagan: no, that’s no fair. You have to share Daddy. When I grow up it will be my turn to marry him, okay? Remember, "take turns" (said in the tone I always use).

Jefferson has pulled out his tools and started making things again. After listening to hammering for entire afternoons, I need an ibuprofen, but I guess it's a small price to pay. It keeps them busy. They're latest project... Guns! Really? I bit my tongue. 

One night Shawn asks: Grant, what do you want for dinner?

G: (thinking) I don’t know, I’ll have to check the menu

(we have never had a menu)

Me: Reagan, how did that makeup get all over your lips?

Reagan: oh, it must of just falled there somehow

Reagan: Mom, the boys are being naughty. Please call the police and put them in jail.

We were at the thriftstore (shocker) when Reagan ran up to me really excited, "mommy, you HAVE to come see something." She drags me over to the shoe racks and points, "look, they are real Cinderella glass shoes....and they fit me, see." (Have I told you yet that she is obsessed with Cinderella?) I bought her the shoes. I regret that choice every single day. She wears these EVERYWHERE! and EVERYDAY! It's cute.... and it's annoying. She pretends to loose one, then try it on my feet. She'll put it back on her own foot, and squeal with delight because it fits (which is cute). But they're heels and she doesn't walk very quickly in them (which is annoying). But for a smile like this, I don't have to be in a hurry.


At dinner, the kids are always asking us where our food originates from. One night,
Jefferson: where does rice come from?
Me: China
Grant: where is China?
Me: it’s all the way on the other side of the world
Reagan: hey, no, I have a va-China right here (pointing to her lap)

Yesterday, Jefferson got his very own library card. The only requirement to get the card was that he had to be able to write his full name (which is pretty long) in a small space. He did it... and was thrilled! I think he was a little shocked, because while at the library he asked me a dozen times, "so, can I really check out any book I want?" He holds onto this thing like it's a winning lottery ticket. And the cutest part, is when the librarian asked him what he wanted his password to be, he said, "Nana." that should make my mom happy.

 
Shawn: The prophet holds all the keys to the priesthood...
Jefferson (interrupting): I know, I know…. He can open any door he wants

Grant: I’m 5 years old. Before that I was 4 years old. Before that… 3, 2, 1 years old. Before that I was Tummy Years Old.

Our family started working on this puzzle one Sunday... we did the outline. Since then, Grant has taken over and almost finished the thing.

This is how far he's gotten, as of today. There are 750 pieces. Go Grant!

When talking about temples I said to the kids: Our family is sealed for all eternity
Grant: AND BEYOND! (in a deep voice)

Jefferson lost his 6th tooth earlier this week. We were in a hurry to leave, so I had him quickly rinse his mouth, and stick the tooth in a bag. I forgot about it. 3 days later, Jefferson came up to me holding the tooth. "Mommy, I put my tooth under my pillow every night, and the tooth fairy still hasn't come." Oh my goodness! It was one of those "Awful Mom" moments. I had to think of some excuse, and quick. "I wonder if she's had a hard time finding you because we moved" He bought it! So Jefferson typed an email to the Tooth Fairy telling her his new address, and we sent it. She found the house that night, thankfully!
Here's his toothless 7 year old mouth.


I love these little rascals. They sure make life interesting. My goal is to listen closer... and document better, so we can always remember their little thoughts..... They're too valuable not to.