Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust--Day 3

ALOHA! What a surprise to find ourselves freezing still but in the middle of tropical fun Disney style! Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch was delicious fun in which we took pictures and added another button to our lanyard collection!


Let's feed these people!


It takes so little to please some. Your own cup and straw and you get to hold it yourself! Life is good.


One half of the table. (We took up 1-1/2 tables of course!)


And the other half.


This is the cute half of the other table. We should all have shirts like Katelyn's "Yay Me!" t-shirt!


Always room for one more!


It is true, Brock did eat 2 or 3 Mickey waffles and a bunch of fruit. Practically licked his plate (and mine) clean!


It's not really a true Hawaiian experience without some kind of entertainment! Here we have "Hawaiian Stick Dancers" in training.


Does anyone else get the impression Blake is contemplating other uses for his wooden props?


After a little more dancing. . .


And a few more pictures, we headed off to Legoland in Carlsbad.


Now, you're probably saying, "That looks like a water park, not Legoland." And you'd be right to think that. This was the ONLY day it was sunny for the better part of the day and so we took full advantage of the sun and water! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see many of the Lego exhibits that are for older kids.


We stayed here at these sprinkler pads for quite a while trying to keep track of everyone and still letting them have a little freedom to run-or stand as it the case with Bryson pictured above.


What more relaxing way to spend the afternoon but by peddling nowhere and shooting water at a target. On the side, Uncle Chris patrols the area.


While Blake is clearly have a blast, Brock was not so keen on having sprinklers go off in his face. It made for a good picture and was really funny to watch unfold (did I say that outloud?).

After the sprinklers and a few rides for the older kids we made a b-line for lunch. Hamburgers, hotdogs, stir fry for a few of the older tastebuds and of course dessert treats lined the plates and tables we occupied. We stuffed ourselves silly then took off for the Legoland version of the autopias. Legoland, being geared more for the younger crowd, had two different race car areas for older and younger kids. So, Scott and I took Bradley, Bryson and Nathan to stand in line for their cars and then went right next door and Scott stood in line with Blake, Katelyn and Benjamin for their cars. The result is we have a clear understanding why the driving age is 16 and not 6. . . or 4 or 3. They all had a blast!

On Your Marks. . . .

Get Set. . . .


GO!!!!


I'm sure there was a no bumping rule but the boys follow directions about as well as their dads!


Race to the finish line!



Bradley & Bryson both taking the task seriously!





By this time lunch had been digested and everyone was ready for more water fun. So we went to the Pirates Cove. It was great because the older kids went with some of the dads for serious wetness and the little kids stayed and played in the swings and little puddle pools.




Bradley's favorite was the pirate ship with the huge bucket of water on top. After filling it would tip over on to unsuspecting people below. Here is Uncle Brett about to be soaked!




Hyrum doing some heavy meditating.


Brock and I just hanging around enjoying the sun and water!


Benjamin all wrapped up in some "borrowed" towels. Not saying from where, but they were returned.


Another couple of bundled popcicles.


Blake could have stayed in the puddle pools all day long. Splashing and running are what Blake does best!


On the way out we did run into a couple of characters. . . concrete evidence we were in Legoland!

Here is where the Faith and Trust comes in from our Blog Title. It was closing time at the park. As we returned the stroller at the gate I stopped to count jackets and "borrowed" towels and at the same time, unbeknownst to us, Brock slipped out of the stroller and got away. We were so preoccuppied counting "things" we forgot to count heads. Fortunately Mom was with us and sat down on a bench with Bradley, Bryson and Blake and said a quiet prayer. Scott frantically looked around asking people if they had seen him. I started to go back to the last spot I knew he had been when a whisper in my mind told me to go to the "Lost Parent Center." I thought for sure he was gone, kidnapped, killed in the parking lot--any and all of those and worse rushed through my mind. Pushing those thoughts aside I raced to the front of the entry area and I could see him through the glass door being held by an employee. Sobbing I grabbed him as the employee said "There she is" and walked back to the bench where Mom had the other kids. We got Scott's attention and while squeezing Brock very tightly started to walk to the cars. As we exited the gate a man stopped us, recognizing Brock by his bright yellow shirt, and said he was glad we found him. He had watched Brock exit the park, turn around and go back inside where the man picked him up and took him to the "Lost Parent Center." He said he had 4 kids of his own and knew how scary that situation could be.

The end of this day made us more grateful for our Faith in Jesus Christ and our Trust that He is our Savior and watches and protects us even when we are not being as responsible as we should. How grateful we are for those blessings that come when we least expect them and how much more aware those situations make us of how much better we ought to be.

And so, the third day of vacation in the land of Southern CA came to an end. And although there had been much tulmult round about for a season there was great happiness and rejoicing in the end.

Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust--Day 2

Day 2 was Blue t-shirt day. Even though the kids shirts said "I run on Solar Power" and "I Make a Splash" the sun was no where to be seen. Being June I didn't anticipate being so cold! The jackets we brought for night-time fun were worn most of the days. Of course the lack of Solar Power didn't stop the kids from just plain running!


We wandered around Paradise Pier trying to stop at Ariel's Grotto for lunch reservations but everything was full so instead we decided to head back toward the Hollywood Backlot but not until a few of us quick adults husseled on to California Screamin'! It's been years since I've been on it because it always gets lost in the shuffle of what the kids want to do so it was really fun to ride it with Brett, Kaley & Chase!


Leave it to boys to be impressed with dirt and destruction!


Ok, not even my kid by such a cute picture!!!


Which one IS Mr. Incredible?

In the Hollywood Backlot area we found a place for lunch but had to wait for it to open. In fact, we had to wait for all the food places there to open. So to keep Blake out of trouble momentarily we went on a walk to see what time the Smoothy place opened. On our way back to the group we saw a little street show starting so we wandered over there with Uncle Brett to kill a few more minutes. It was the cutest show about using your imagination and they pulled Blake up to the front to be in the show! After they asked him his name they asked where he lived and he asnwered "With my mom." He got to take home a drawing of Woody that they used in the show. This is why I love Disneyland! Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures!


Bryson ended up needing a little time away so he and Scott went back to the hotel. Bradley, Blake and I stayed and went on Woody's Midway Fun with Grandma, Uncle Chris & group. Blake really wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel so I got in line with he and Bradley to do that next not remembering that there were seperate lines for swinging and non-swinging cars. OOPS!


Here we are in a swinging car. Blake was a little nervous and Bradley wasn't happy about the mistake at all. But he was a trooper and put his head down on my lap and we just endured the swinging parts. Blake was very sweet at one point and padded Bradley's head and told him it would be all right.

And it came to pass that the second day of pictures at Disneyland came to an end. The people rejoiced at the fun they were having being together. So much was their joy that they forgot to bare record of the remainder of the day.

Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust--Day 1

Our first trip of the summer took us away from the AZ sun and into the storm clouds of CA where our family experienced much in the way of Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust. But more of that later. What started as a Southern CA trip on the blueprints a long time ago ended up being a multi-day trip to Disneyland and one day stop at Legoland. The kids couldn't wait for the school year to be done and to start packing suitcases! Mom, of course decked everyone out in coordinating t-shirts so we could spot each other quickly. I'm just waiting for the trip where Mom and Dad don't match the rest of us so they can go along and NOT be clumped in with our ever-growing group of crazy fun!
We tried to organize ourselves a head of time so everyone could do everything they wanted to. We had our list (two pages!) and set out to conquer the most fun possible in 4 -1/2 days!

The AZ delegation was able to sneak in right after we got to the hotel--hence the 1/2 day--and headed to CA Adventure for some Pizza Ooh Mow Mow deliciousness! I think it was 3 large pizzas and a drink spilling later that Mom, Dad, Kaley and Chase caught up with us there. And the crazy had just begun!


This is how we start all our trips into Disneyland--with Blake on Chase's shoulders. I'm sure Blake will have to find a different mode of transportation someday but for now it's his happy place!


Mom & Dad herded us to City Hall where they bestowed "Family Reunion" button upon us. Later we picked up lanyards which was great because the kids were starting to tear holes in their shirts from the buttons!


Can't resist a cute picture of Brock!


We went in early on Wednesday and got to be at the opening of Toon Town, which was fun because we'd never done that before!



As you can see everyone had their hands (and arms) full!


I think Goofy has found some roommates!


So, I thought this was funny because it looks like all the adults on the Go-Go Gadget Coaster ride in Toon Town. Does anyone even remember who Gadget is? ("Ch-Ch-Ch-Chip & Dale-- Resuce Rangers!" Can't remember what comes after another round of "Ch-Ch-Ch-Chip & Dale. . ." Great theme song though!)


And here we see that little kids were actually on board! I missed Blake and Chase in the very front--but they were there!


Smiles sponsored by Sparkle!


Next we headed to Small World. Some of the kids weren't so excited at first but they soon changed their minds when they saw all the changes that had been made on the inside! It was really fun to try to spot all the Disney characters in the different countries and regions depicted.

It took two boats to get all our gang afloat but float we did and some of us even sang along too!


Bryson and I having a brief Kodak moment!


This is a cruise I'd take anyday!


Who let these Monkeys out? Did we already pass the Casey Jr. Train and someone forgot to shut the door?


Next we headed to the Tea Cups for some head spinning fun! We divided ourselves into groups according to how fast the kids wanted to spin--or not spin. As of yet, no one has thrown up after a wild ride on the Tea Cups but I'm sure the odds are it'll happen sooner or later!


Mom & I took Hyrum and Joshua (can't remember where Brett wandered off to. . .). Our cup was the funnest! Not the fastest, but definitely the cutest and funnest!


If you look closely at Ryan he just has this look like "Someday, I'll get this saucer right off the ground!" The boys in this group had fun whipping their heads all around as Uncle Ryan tore around the Tea Party like a Mad Hatter!


Like Ryan did on his Blog, we all owe Kaley and Chase a huge Thank-you for providing fun, entertainment, transportation and parenting for those children leftover at any given moment! I'm not sure who is steering but Blake seems to be loving it!


But clearly, we were the Tea Cup winners. It was fun riding with Joshua and Hyrum--way to go boys!


Always a sweet ride!



And thus ended the first day of pictures at the place called Disneyland. Although the fun went on for hours after and even into the night, the camera was put to rest until the dawn of the next day. For inasmuch as you have too many pictures you will never finish an entire blog history.

End of the School Year

As happy as everyone is to finally get to the end of the school year, it has to be the busiest time of year, second only to Christmas! We lived through Bryson's first year of Coach Pitch baseball, Bradley's first year of Soccer (all those days of playing kickball on the playground really paid off!), end of the year parties and awards ceremonies and of course--THE DANCE RECITAL!

To say we lived through it means we all survived still speaking to each other after everything was all said and done. And that, my friends, is a miracle! Here's a few pics from the end of the year!


"The Happiest Show On Earth" really was for me because Bryson and Katelyn were in our 2009 Dance Recital. It was fun to see them work hard all year and perform so well. Bryson and Katelyn were in a Tumbling class. Their routine was "The Incredibles." Clearly, they found the right man for the job! Katelyn was also in my Company class and did outstanding for her first year ever of dancing! So proud of both of them!


Here, Bradley is presenting a science experiement to his class on how and why an egg will float in salt water. He did an excellent job even though it took a lot more salt to make the egg float than when we practiced the night before.



Ms. O'Neill is a one-of-a-kind teacher! She held a candy bar awards ceremony in her room. Knowing that Bryson does not like chocolate, (I'm sure everyone was notified a head of time :)) he received The Gummy Bear Award for being so loveable and sweet!

Party All Day

With Bryson's birthday coming when Scott was out of town I talked him into waiting until Scott was back to have his "friends party." The boys were so great and had a blast racing down the slip and slides and racing the Pine Wood Derby cars we made. Here's a little video of all the fun!

Meanwhile, our cousins Ally, Regan and Jake came from California to celebrate Mother's Day and join in the crazy fun Saturday. By the end of the day I was. . . shall we say DRENCHED in fun!

Crazy Two Weeks!

With Scott out of town for 2 weeks for some job training with Country Financial, I feel like I had a short term Single Mom experience. In some ways life was way easier because everybody does EVERYTHING my way and there is a lot less laundry. Of course, the downside is 2 less arms and legs to move our little people around and I hate being the only responsible adult in the house at night. To top it off, I don't think I could have crammed in one more activity in the 2 weeks he was gone including a school carnival, parent teacher conference, soccer and baseball games and Bryson's birthday. By the end of the 2 weeks the older boys were really great helpers and even Blake was more cooperative. Brock pretty much stuck to his usual routine but they were all really glad to have their Dad home!

Here's pictures from Bryson's birthday. It felt like a whirlwind but I think he had a happy day!

Yes, that's the Millenium Falcon with plates and spoons in it!



Somehow Darth Vader made his way into a box of Krispy Kreme's! Thank goodness for Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan standing by with gift wrapped light sabers in disguise!



Here's the whole gang!
(Megan, Blake, Bryson, Bradley, Katelyn, Brock, Kaley and Adam on the ottoman)



Ready to make a galactic wish!