New Year's Eve

We had an early flight to catch the morning of New Year's Eve. We managed to get everyone up and on the first airport shuttle. This time Dan and I were alone to navigate through security. All went well. We were way early, so we got to relax and enjoy breakfast while waiting for our flight. We even managed a last minute gate change. Take off was no big deal, Jack and Zoe slept through the flight. We were surprised to see snow on the ground when we landed. Zoe and I waited for our luggage while Daddy took the boys to dig out the van. The day seemed to be going pretty smoothly.

We had been invited to Grandma Sandi's for a New Year's Eve party, but decided we were just too tired to make the drive to her house. We just wanted to get home. Knowing that our cupboards were pretty bare and that the kids were looking forward to a New Year's Eve celebration, we decided to make a quick stop at Costco. So we all went inside, got a few groceries, and then ate hot dogs at the food court before heading out to the van. This is where the fun stopped. When we got everything loaded in the van and everyone buckled up, the van wouldn't start. Dan tried several times and we just looked at each other and laughed, we figured it was better off than crying.

We called our favorite mechanic, (Welge's Automotive) and he said if we could get a tow truck within the next hour he'd still be at the shop and would at least diagnose it, or look to see if it was an easy fix. So, as Dan was calling roadside assistance, to get us a tow, I began calling friends who had a vehicle big enough to get us and at least some of our luggage home. Lucky for us Jalyssa returned my call right away and was on her way to pick us up before I even asked.

The van also got towed in to the shop in time, too bad it wasn't an easy fix. It spent the weekend in the shop getting a new fuel pump. It also got new brakes.

What a way to start the new year. At least we were in a parking lot and not on the freeway when it broke. And we are very grateful to have friends that could and would come rescue us.

Jalyssa dropped us at home and started the job of unpacking from our week long journey. We decided we would celebrate the East Coast New Year and make it an early night.

Here is our nice party spread.All was going according to our plan. The kids were winding down after our long day. I jumped in the shower. And then we got the phone call. We were invited to a party at the Yablonovskys.

Even though we were extremely tired, we couldn't turn down the opportunity to hang out with our neighbors. So off we went out into the cold, dark night. The adults enjoyed playing games and eating, while the kids watched movies and decorated a cardboard house. Even with our early start to the day, we all managed to make it well past midnight.

What a way to ring in the New Year.

A Little Goofy

We started our last day at Disneyland with Breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. It was a great way to start the day and wait out the rain that was pouring outside.

Getting ready to go upstairs to our table. The actual Kitchen was closed and it is temporarily Goofy's Ballroom. A lot of the charm that Dan and I remember from our Honeymoon was gone, but the food was as good as we remembered it.
Meeting Pluto...
Snow White...

Balloo...

Dale...
Outside the restaurant. Just think this could be reality in another 11 years.
Outside California Adventure, the letters all decked out for Christmas...
We didn't want to deal with the stroller in the rain, so Jack spent most of the day in the front pack zipped up under a jacket...

Shopping for our Disney goodies. Each child was given money to spend at the park for Christmas.

Front row view for Fantasmic. Jack and I held our spot, while the others hit the rides.

The Christmas Tree on Main Street, our last stop before heading out of the park for good.
Don't judge me for Jack's outfit. Some how I ended up without a blanket. I guess it was put in the backpack instead of the diaper bag. So I was forced to improvise in an attempt to keep Jack warm. I started layering on all the clothes we had in the diaper bag, so he is wearing a sweatshirt on his legs. In the end it worked, he may have even got a bit too warm by the end of the evening.

Our First Family Picture since Jack's arrival, too bad you can't see his face...
I think it will be a Christmas that the kids remember for a long time. They are already planning our next trip to Disneyland. I told them it will be a few years, so Zoe will be tall enough to go on some of the bigger rides. And we will go at a different time of year.

Pretty, Pretty Princess

The girls and boys split up one afternoon and went our separate ways. The boys hit some more rides and the girls (and Jack) were off to spend some time with the princesses.

Our first stop was Pixie Hallow. Where we got to shrink down to the size of a Fairy.

I think she might have been a little disappointed when we got to the end and met Terrance instead of Tinkerbell. She used to be obsessed with Tinkerbell. On our first trip, when she was just a little over a year old, she could pick out anything and everything with Tinkerbell on it.

Then we were off to meet the "real" Rapunzel. Zoe has been in love with her ever since we saw the movie Tangled. I think she may be my new favorite princess too. I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD. Zoe got to spend several minutes with her and they talked all about her favorite princesses, her favorite rides, and her favorite part of the movie. She even told Rapunzel that she brushes her hair everyday so it can grow as long as hers.

Mommy and Jack got a picture with Rapunzel too.

Then it was off to the Royal Princess Fair where we met:

Belle (Beauty and the Beast)...

Jasmine (Aladdin)... Zoe was too afraid of her to go up to her by herself.

Princess Tianna (Princess and the Frog)

We were both a little disappointed that we didn't see Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) as she is our favorite Princess. I guess it is something to look forward to next visit.

Then we attended a Royal Coronation Ceremony and learned to dance like a princess.

The closest we got to Sleeping Beauty....

We sure had a fun Girls' outing.

Disneyland Parades

We had a chance to spend 3 days in the "Happiest Place on Earth," also known as Disneyland. This was our big Christmas gift this year. Dan got a good gain share bonus at work, we owed Grandma Lynie and Papa Mike a visit, and the kids have been real troopers through all the many changes we experienced this past year. This was Noah and Zoe's second trip, but the first one that they will remember. It ended up being 3 very long days full of action.

We stayed in the neatest Motel, The Camelot Inn and Suites, right across the street from Disneyland. Our room had a view of the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, the Big Tree on Main Street, and we could even watch the fireworks from our balcony.

Noah got to go on almost all of the rides he wanted to. His favorite ended up being Thunder Mountain. He must of ridden on it close to 10 times. The only one he didn't get to go on that he really wanted to was Indiana Jones. The ride attendant at the beginning of the line said he was tall enough, but the ride attendant at the place where you boarded the ride said he was too short. I guess it is something to look forward to next time. He also loved the Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and The Pirates of the Caribbean. He was a little disappointed with the Peter Pan ride because Captain Hook was too fake.

Zoe was still too short for most of the Mountain rides and favorite ride was Buzz Light Years Astro Blaster followed by the Pirates of the Caribbean. She also loved meeting Rapunzel and learning to dance like the princesses.

We think Jack's favorite ride was It's a Small World.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle...

The Main Street Parade. I managed to save front row seats for us. The kids got to enjoy it with their Dad and Grandma, Jack woke up right before it started so I was in the back with him.

Toy soldiers...

Pooh and Tigger on their sleds...
Sleeping Beauty, unfortunately Zoe didn't get to meet her personally...
Beauty and the Beast...
Happy...
Waiting for the Pixar Parade to begin. I managed to save us all front row seats, again.

Jack Jack...

Crush...
The aliens...
Lot so Bear...
Lightning McQueen...
Mater...
The kids really enjoyed the parades and wanted to watch them every day. We had to talk them out of them so we could fit in some of the rides they wanted to go on.

The park was super crowded and we only got to see Mickey Mouse from a distance. The kids can't wait for our next trip.

Round 3 (Christmas Day)

We spent Christmas this year with Grandma Lynie and Papa Mike. The kids woke up way too early, but some how I managed to get them to go back to bed until after 9am.

Here we are coming out of the hallway with Grandma Lynie...

See how surprised the kids look.
The tree...
Checking to see if Santa ate the goodies we left out for him...
Checking out the stockings, or as Noah and Zoe put it the socks...
Stocking fun...
A new princess sweatshirt.
Tearing into their treasure from Santa...Zoe got a walking dog, Noah got a fire truck, and Jack got money for Mickey Ears.

Grandma Lynie and Papa Mike got them bikes. Zoe's is a pink princess bike and Noah's is a green Buzz Lightyear bike.

Jack catching a nap in the same Santa suit Noah and Zoe wore on their first Christmas.
We had plenty of junk food to munch on all day. Starting with yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Ham and funeral potatoes for dinner. Peppermint Ice Cream Sundaes for dessert. It was a nice day, warm enough for the kids to try out their new bikes. What a fun day!

--------------------------------------------------------

Some Christmas funnies...

Noah: "This is yummy Pig!"

G'ma Lynie: "It's ham."

N: "This pig sure tastes good!"

G'ma: "We call it ham. Just like it is hamburger and not Cow."

N: "well, it is pig isn't it?"

...she eventually gave up realizing she wasn't going to win this one...

A Nativity was a "Jesus' House" to Noah and Zoe.

Zoe singing "Good tithings we bring" Instead of: "Good tidings we bring." ("We Wish You a Merry Christmas")

Zoe singing " in Chelsea's stable," Instead of: "in ex-cel-sis De-o." ("Angels We Have Heard on High")

Zoe singing "the little poor Jesus," Instead of: "the little lord Jesus." ("Away in a Manger")

Noah wanting to ask Santa for a robot that kills moms for Christmas. He was mad that I wanted them to help me clean up the house.

Noah and Zoe trying to run away. Another result of me asking them to clean up their toys. They got to the corner before they decided that it was too cold and too dark. I only let them take their shoes and the clothes on their back. I didn't give them a flashlight, or anything extra. Plus I wouldn't give them the code to the garage to get back in. Noah decided he still needed and wanted me to take him to school every morning. Since it wasn't going to work running away to a friends' house they then thought about living in the van in the garage. However, I explained to them that it was my van so they couldn't stay in it. They then thought about living in the linen closet. But decided it was too small. At one point Zoe even asked me if I wanted to run away with her. I think she forgot about the whole purpose of running away. In the end we mended our disagreement. They decided it wasn't worth the effort and that they they didn't want to miss our upcoming trip to Disneyland.