California Adventure 2012

Day 2 of our Disney adventure.

We were wiped out from Disneyland yesterday. It was like waking the dead this morning!
I wanted to get to the park right when it opened again and luckily that wasn't until 10am. We checked out of the hotel at 9:30 and ran to Target. We bought more bottled water and decided to bring our lunch into the park today. I bought some Uncrustables and strawberries. By the time we got into the park, it was after 10:30am.
I really wanted to take Wiggy to the Playhouse Disney Live show, so I headed there first while Luke took the boys on Soarin over California.
We met up at noon and then headed out for more rides together. I took the boys to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror--but once again, Bubba chickened out. He refused to get on it.
I think this picture sums up what Tubbs thought about it.

He was a little confused? When we got off the ride he looked at me and said, "I don't think I liked it."
I laughed and told him to tell Bubba how awesome it was. :) He didn't listen to me.
Another great day with the kids. The boys' favorite ride was California Screamin' and they each rode it three times. I have to admit, I think it was my fave too. The Grizzly River Run was a close second for the boys. I rode it once and I was good. I didn't like getting soaked when it was only 65 degrees outside.

We ended up leaving the park at 9:30pm---so we were just 30 minutes shy of closing the park down again. But with a 2 hour drive ahead of us, we needed to head out. Wiggy fell asleep around 8pm in her stroller while the boys rode the Grizzly River Run a few times.
All in all, I wish we could come back more often. It's really a shame it's so expensive, because once you step inside it's like another world.

Disneyland 2012

I don't even know where to start on this post. I love Disneyland.... It's in my blood!
As for Luke....not so much.
Let's just say, that as we are taking the shuttle from the hotel to Disneyland Luke says, " Kids, the word of the day is extortion. Let me tell you what extortion is...."
I gave him the "look."
The look that silently pleads for him to pretend he is having the best day of his life and wouldn't rather be somewhere else.
I think he did a pretty good job...most of the time. :)

We drove down to Anaheim the night before and stayed at a hotel a few miles from the park. The boys had no idea where we were going or why we were there. Before we left I had everything packed up in the car and we just told the boys to load up. We told them daddy had a doctor appt. in LA and they wouldn't be at school the next day. Bubba was disappointed and asked if he could stay behind. Seriously? He wanted to stay behind? He is a funny kid.
Thursday morning we are up at 7:00 and we all take turns getting ready, so we can get to the park before it opens at 9. I got the boys each a special Disnet shirt to wear, so I laid them out on the bed while they showered. When they got their pile of clothes to get dressed we announced where we were going. I think I was more excited to tell them then they were, but they both look pleased. I think I jumped up and down like a cheerleader. 
We have been to Disneyland in 4 years...so it's been a while in my world. I've been in a Disney dry spell. The boys don't remember their last trip, so in my opinion we were all due!

The weather was FABULOUS. We couldn't have asked for better weather. I have to say my kids were fabulous. This was Wiggy's first trip and she was the perfect age. She was happy and up for anything. We bought her a little back pack contraption for her to wear, that had a "leash" attached. We bribed her into wearing by sticking some treats and lip gloss in the front pocket. She happily wore it for two days and so we let her walk A LOT!  It was great.

What did Disneyland do before the Fast Pass or the Switch Rider Pass? It was great. The Switch Rider Pass is great for parents who have to split up to stay behind with kids who can't ride. It works the same as a Fast Pass, except you can get as many as you want...I suppose. Luke would ride with the boys and then bring me back a pass. Then I could take one passenger with me and skip to the front of the line. It was great and the boys loved it for the rides they wanted to ride over and over.
The boys' favorite ride at Disneyland was Splash Mountain, which I think they rode about 7-8 times. Thunder Mountain Railroad was a close second. Tubbs rode Space Mountain with me, but Bubba chickened out.

The park closed at 9pm.... and we stayed until 9pm. Luke says he has never "opened and closed" Disneyland before. It was a long day, but it was fantastic. I wouldn't have changed anything. THe kids were all well behaved and patient. I made sure to bring slow sticks and glow bracelets for the kids when it got dark. That way I didn't have to listen to the kids beg for $20 glow sticks from the vendors on main street. I did break down and buy Wiggy a $7 Minnie balloon...but she was such a good girl all day, she deserved it. (And who can tell Wiggy no?!)

Tubbs is Eight...and its Grrrrrreat!

Happy Birthday my sweet little Tubby Wubbs! I cannot believe you are eight years old.
In my mind's eye you will always be two or three years old and my little bug. I guess its because he is the little brother...but lately I look at him and how much he is "filling out." He is a strong boy and he is getting so tall. He now weighs 81 pounds and he is 4 feet 4 inches.

Tubbs is my special little boy. He is very affectionate and tender hearted, but loves to laugh and have a great time. He reminds me so much of his daddy that it's a bit scary at times. Luke loves it because they are always laughing at the same things.
Tubbs didn't know exactly what he wanted to do for his birthday so he changed his mind several times. He also didn't really know what he wanted for his birthday. We asked him over...and over...and over. He really loves reading and was always asking to use my Nook to download books. So...we decided a Nook for him was the right gift. Tubbs was very happy. Thankfully Grandma and Grandpa Hogue went in on it with us. :)

He wanted to open his presents before school, so he started off the day a happy camper. Dad took him to McDonald's on the way to school for egg and cheese biscuits.

I picked him up for lunch and we headed to Yogurtland and McDonald's (again). It was a nice little lunch with my middle child....and we ate our yogurt first of course! :)

Tubbs picked his birthday dinner meal and we were all VERY pleased: BJ's.

The nice thing about celebrating other's birthdays is getting to enjoy all the delicious food!

Of course Tubbs was so full from all the treats/meals that by dinner he was having stomach aches. The poor guy got a full size pazookie to himself and he couldn't even eat half of it.

After we got home Tubbs hot the shower and got ready for bed. a busy day, full of calories and memories.

Tubbs had his little birthday party two days later and invited Bubba and his two buddies. They went to watch "The Three Stooges," went roller skating at Rollerama, and then climbed the rock wall at Action Sports. Busy day!

We love you Tubbs!

Eight things we love about Tubbs:

1. He loves to watch "Peppa Pig" with his little sister. He makes us think Wiggy is watching it, but he likes to turn it on, even if no one else is around.

2. His favorite meal is still a good cheeseburger. He has a very PICKY pallet and dislikes a lot of foods--particularly pasta.

3. Tubbs recently started Tae Kwon Do and he LOVES it. He begs to go to more than one class a day if his dad will take him. He also enjoys practicing his moves on his big brother.

4. He gets hot easily (like his dad) and likes to sleep with a fan blowing about 5 inches from his face.

5. Tubbs likes to ask questions and know how things work. I can always count on him to ask me things that at times I am not quite prepared to discuss. He keeps me on my toes and I have had to google a few things.

6. He still likes to snuggle up in bed with mom and dad still--even though he is a big boy. He always asks one of us to rub his back.

7. He will try almost anything. He enjoys climbing the rock wall at Action Sports, running with mom, and zipping around the front on his electric scooter.

8. Watching Tubbs laugh is funnier than whatever he is laughing about.

Easter 2012

Easter morning! You finally arrive.
The boys woke up around 6:30am and found their baskets. Then they woke up their sister who was sleeping in my bed, with promises of Cadbury Creme Eggs. (The Easter Bunny of course brings 4-packs of the delicious eggs every year!) Problem this year is that I underestimated Wiggy's ability to get the foil off the eggs...so quickly. She had consumed three eggs in less than 5 minutes.
Breakfast was served!!
I did try to serve the kids a real breakfast but it was eatn half heartedly. The kids had to wait for dad to wake up before they went to search for eggs. It was the longest two hours of their lives!!

 





















We took some family pictures before church. We clean up real nice... I think! :) We got the boys new suits a few weeks ago and they are just a tad too big...which is good because they are growing like stink weeds! :)

Wiggy lasted about ten minutes of Sacrament. She was borderline violent and I think her morning diet had come crashing down on her. Luke ended up leaving with her during Sacrament--and she fell asleep in the Jeep within seconds of getting in her car seat. Oh Wiggy!!









After church Luke's parents, brother and cousin Kylee came over for dinner. Grandma made a chocolate cakeand it was a hit.

Wiggy did model for us during dinner, with the help of cousin Kylee.