Day At Disneyland

Going on this trip to California we told the kids that we for sure would not be going to Disneyland. They all knew the rule. We would not be going again until next year. Wellllllll, we didn't follow the rule. We left Bakersfield to go to L.A. for a couple of days at the beach. When we got there though it was cloudy and cool. Too cold for the beach, but just right for Disneyland. Scott had also checked the website that predicted crowds and they called it a "ghost town".

So, when they woke up in the morning we got them dressed and started driving without telling them at all where we were going. We drove onto Disneyland Dr. and they started guessing and were very excited. Scott and I might have been even more excited.

I know I always say things like this, but this was honestly the most perfect day at Disneyland. It was a "ghost town" so we literally walked on to every ride. A few times. It was cloudy all day so it was cool and there was no sun beating down on us. Our kids were good ages to be super excited and be able to go all day from opening to closing of the park. We brought a back pack full of food, so didn't purchase a thing (except a turkey leg for Scott) and just ate as we walked from ride to ride. We didn't stop all day. We rode every single ride, some a few times (passing Kate off) and spent some time playing in Toon Town. Perfect, I tell you.

Morning arrival.

 First ride of the day - Rocket Ships!

 

Zachy is still trying to figure all of this out. Not so sure of Pooh Bear's dream. He like it so much though that he went on this ride three times in a row while we took Brie on Splash Mountain for her first time.

 Snack and nursing break and a climb up the Swiss Family Robinson tree.

Jungle Cruise. I love this one.

Toon Towne.

 

Flying on Dumbo.

Zachy's favorite . . . Buzz Lightyear and "shooting the bad guys".

"I'm a little Tea Pot . . ."

Riding on Casey Jr., going down the track. We were in the wild animal cage.

Kate had a cushy day at Disneyland. This is how she spent most of the day.

The parade, right up close. Zachy was very excited to see Peter Pan coming and the girls were in awe of all the princesses.

Finally . . . all of Scott's Disneyland dreams came true . . . with a Turkey Leg. As I said before, we don't buy anything in the park. We bring our own food and drinks, but Scott has hoped and dreamed of a Turkey Leg every time and this time made it happen. And it fed our whole family.

Last ride of the day was "It's A Small World". The kids loved that one even for the second time. They were getting tired, but so happy. What a good day. Ba bye.

Celebrate Good Times, Come On

There was a lot to celebrate in Bakersfield this April - my Dad's one year anniversary of his heart transplant, my Mom and Dad's 60th birthdays and my Dad's performance in the stake musical, "The Music Man". Sooooo, it was just the right time for us to all make our way home to celebrate with them. All the girls, plus Landon's girl, were able to make it. It was such a fun few days in Bakersfield with the family.

We kicked things off on Friday by going to a Peruvian restaurant with Dad for lunch. Mmmmm . . . Lomo Saltado! That night was a girls night out to see "The Lucky One" and then Dewars for ice cream. Yes, my second time to Dewars that day. Loved being with these "girls" and totally love a Black and White.

Saturday we tried to keep up with the Skinners' booked sporting event schedule and get ready for the birthday party the next day. Teresa and I hit Costco (another place we always go while in B-town) and then we all headed out to Blakey's baseball game.

All the cousins cheering on Blake as he runs home.

A friendly game of "Cousins Sliding Down the Sewer Grate".

Auntie Laura bought all the kids a treat at the game. Zachy was lovin' his until he conked out.

Then, of course, there was swimming!

Even Kate got to hang out by the pool.

Dinner time.

 And that night was the big performance of my Dad in "The Music Man". It was a good show. It really looked like Dad was having a great time and really enjoying himself. It was fun to see and fun to be with all the family cheering him on. He even surprised us all when he stepped out for his applause at the end holding his red construction paper heart. A teary moment.

The next day was another celebration - the 60th birthday party for Mom and Dad. We had it at Laura's house which worked really well for all of our family and Grandma, Tracy and all the Russ Allred family. It was so nice to be with all of them.

The hostesses with the mostest.

The old folks.

Happy Birthday to You! We love you.

The party ended with some cousin collisions that resulted in a number of tears, a time out for Brie and a possible fractured arm for Brandon.

 We absolutely loved being in B-town to celebrate with everyone. So much fun!

Love / Hate

So, Scott works on Sundays. Last year when he took a new position at work there was a bid for shifts. We looked through the eight options and numbered them in order of what shift we would want. He got his very last choice, which meant working from 7am to 6pm on Sundays. I cried. Really, I did.

I hated the thought of getting the three kids ready for church by 9am on Sunday by myself while pregnant and then adding a baby to that chaos. I really hated the idea of managing the kids on my own during sacrament meeting. And at that point I knew it was going to mean I didn't get to be in Primary anymore. Mostly though, I was so sad to think of Scott not getting to go to church at all. No resting and keeping the sabbath day holy. No family Sunday dinners anymore. I was just mad. So mad.

I still don't like it. Not at all. I hate it. In fact today reminded me of how much I hate it. I was yelling at the kids as we were rushing out the door and into the car already about 5 minutes late for church. We got there and it takes forever just to get everyone out of the car and in the door because Zachary has to "go on the bridge" (the wheel chair ramp) and I have no hands free to chase him. We get to the chapel doors to go in and Kate starts screaming, so instead of going in and sitting down we all march off to the Mother's room to feed baby Kate. She is screaming and they are bouncing around the room while some poor mom was trying to put her baby to sleep. But, what do I do? We finish and all go walking into Sacrament Meeting sooooo late looking anywhere for a seat. Not many left so we all scrunch onto two chairs in the back because no one wanted to sit by Brother Western, because they don't know him. We made it through without any fights and without Kate waking up and me trying to figure out what to do with the other three while I took her out. Phew!

Things are better than I had expected though. We now don't have to be to church until 11am, so getting ready is easy. Zachary is older so is MUCH more manageable. And best of all, Scott usually goes into work early (6am) so that he can take a long lunch break to drive back and go to Sacrament Meeting with us. He is also able to have a calling with the Young Men and be there on Tuesday nights. I still worry about not having Sunday as a day set aside as the Sabbath Day though.

So, there is the hate . . . . but I do LOVE, and I mean love, that Scott has Thursday, Friday and Saturday off. Three whole days in a row! Three days to help around the house, to watch kids while I go shopping, to do fun things together with the fam, to work on projects I have for him, to take afternoon naps together, to come to doctor's appointments, to go on a Thursday afternoon date, to drive kids to school, to leave town on vacation, to take Zachy to Home Depot, to help in Brie's classroom, etc. etc. etc. I mean, really, it's awesome.

A Friday dental appointment that Scott came with us to after he came with me to take Kate to the pediatrician.

Scott joins us for Playgroup with the moms and kids from church every other Friday afternoon.

I get to sleep in the mornings he has off. With a newborn that has been priceless.

A Thursday afternoon at the bowling alley with the family.

Zachary shouting "YES!" after he knocked one pin down.

Brie's celebration.

The others can celebrate all they want, but honestly, Ava kicked everyone's trash at bowling. The girl is good.

She learned from a pro.

Brie spent most of her time spinning like a ballerina loving the slippery, smooth floor.

Kate watched in utter amazement.

A Friday morning at the zoo.

One of the projects around the yard accomplished during one of those days off. A lot gets done around here and I love that.

We will just have to continue loving the days off and hating the Sunday work for a while longer. As one wise older friend said to me when I complained, "At least there is a job to go to and to pay the bills, even if it is on Sunday." I'll just be grateful for a hard working husband and a good job.