March 13, 2008

•      So we went to Disneyland last week.  I don’t mean to make you all jealous but it couldn’t have been any better.  75 degrees with a soft breeze.  No crowds.  Good deals on hotels.  Everyone was happy and healthy.  What more could we ask for.  We headed down Sunday afternoon and checked into our hotel.  We stayed onsite at the Paradise Pier.  (Fantastic rate of $149 a night)  The rooms were not FABULULOUS but the convenience was.  We took a walk that night around Downtown Disney and then settled in at a good time.  We had two queen beds so Brian and I each took a kid to cuddle and the baby slept soundly in his swing.  We got up early and ordered breakfast from room service to save time rather than try to find a better deal driving somewhere.  Not too shabby.  Then we loaded up the stroller and headed across the street to the Grand Californian where we used the “secret entrance” or the private entrance for Disney Hotel customers into California adventure.  We spent a good part of the morning and afternoon there.  Serra is officially tall enough for all the rides now and her favorite is the roller coasters, believe it or not.  So we did the switch rider thing where Brian would wait in the lines and get a pass for me to go next and not wait in line.  This way Serra got to ride everything twice.  She didn’t complain.  The only hardship that day was when I tried to feed the baby and keep track of Rosie, who has a tendency to wander, at the same time.  I decided not to do that again.  We headed to Disneyland around 2 pm and Rosie was wiped out.  We decided to get some lunch and while we were juggling trays and kids Brian heard a lady say, “Little girl?  Are you ok?”  Much to his dismay Rosie had collapsed on the floor of the Pizza Port and fallen asleep.  I put the baby on the front pack and we transferred rosie to the baby seat where she slept soundly through lunch.  She was ready for round two by the time we finished.  We watched the parade that night and then headed back to the hotel which was about a 15 minute walk from the parks.  Too exhausted to do anything else we ordered room service again.  (I know we were totally living it up)

       We didn’t get up as early on Tuesday morning but managed to get to the parks around opening time.  We had to load up the car first since we weren’t staying there again that night.  We headed to California Adventure so “Serra” could do the roller coaster a few more times before we spent the rest of the day at Disneyland.  Trust me she didn’t have to pull our arms too long for us to give in.  That is a really fun roller coaster.  Rosie thoroughly enjoyed the Merry Go Round while we took turns.  My favorite moment of the day was when we went on the Pooh ride for the first time.   We got in line and you could hear the music for Winnie the Pooh playing softly.  Rosie’s eyes lit up and she exclaimed “Pooh!”  She was hollering at all the characters in glee throughout the short ride.  While we took turns on Splash Mountain she enjoyed it many more times.    We had lunch/dinner at the Blue Bayou which is the restaurant you pass by on Pirates.  Very tasty.  Rosie again collapsed in exhaustion.  Serra even laid down for a while in the darkness.  We hightailed it back to our car while the parade was going on so we could beat the crowds and headed to a new location (cheaper) for our last night. 

       The Holiday Inn gave us a great rate on Priceline ($45) which we couldn’t complain about and we were so glad to get settled in that evening.  We were very tired.  (I wore a pedometer both days and we averaged a little over 10 miles per day)  The kids not as much so since they rode in the stroller most the day and had naps.  We took our time getting off on Wednesday not wanting to get back to reality.  We stopped at the new house to check on the progress and were impressed.  I can’t believe we are moving so fast on this house.  We will be moving in before we know it.  We had to pick up Mo as well, much to my chagrin and then we headed home.  We’ve been playing catch up ever since. 

     We were assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday and finding time to put that together took some creative planning.  Newborn babies are sure demanding.  It’s hard to write a talk while holding an infant.

     Brian has been struggling without his computer.  It got really buggy shortly after the baby blessing and so he got some anti-virus software and tried to clean it up.  Instead, it took a big crap and all he got was the blue screen of death.  For his last birthday I got him an external hard drive so he could back up all his business stuff and he was in the process of getting started on that when this happened.  It looks like most of the data is retrievable but he is without his business for the next 2 weeks.  NOT good. 

     Baby Weston just passed the 2 month mark and we will try to take pictures early next week to mark the event.   He is a really good sleeper at night and takes one grand nap in the morning and a few shorter ones throughout the day.  He is smiling and has a really cute dimple on his left cheek.  His eyes remain blue and his hair is coming in a little lighter. 

       Rosie has taken a new interest in Weston and he is not so thrilled about it.  She gets a little bit too loving and he squawks at that.  Her babble is still difficult to understand but is getting better and better all the time.  She is usually dirty and sometimes gets a bath in the morning and the evening to combat the layers she attracts.  She loves Winnie the Pooh and watching movies in the car.  She is really good most of the time if I can keep track of her.  She has a fascination with going out front and if I don’t keep the doors locked she has been known to escape. 

       Serra has been struggling lately with emotions.  She cries at school when she thinks something is too  hard.  We are working on getting her to understand that we only expect her to do her best.  She is trying hard to work on being brave and just doing her best.  She has made vast learning improvements with her reading.  I think it finally clicked with her a few weeks ago and she is sounding out words and asking how to spell things so she can write.  She is sooooo helpful picking up the house and running things up and down the stairs for me.  She can even get  a breakfast of cereal ready by herself if I am running late.  I send her downstairs with Rosie and she takes care of it.  Her jobs right now are feeding  the dog, cleaning out the utensils in the dishwasher, and vacuuming the stairs. 

       But here are the pictures from trip…I know that’s what you really want…

  

  The first ride of the day.  Here we go.

  

  I wore this thing for a lot of the time. 

  

  Rosie is the Coppertone girl.

  

  I think it’s going to miss us!  I think it’s going to miss us!

  

  I was wrong.

  

  Sure is bright and sunny.

  

  Plenty wet from the river adventure and Serra was less than enthusiastic about that part.  Sweet Rose.

  

  Rosie loves Stitch and just about ran him over when she saw him.  She doesn’t quite get the line thing.  People were understanding. 

  

  TOWER OF TERROR!

  

  Rosie and her finger in its favorite spot.    Sweet Serra….waiting for Mr. Toads Wild Ride.

  

  Rosie’s size lend itself to the best seat in the house.  This expression makes it all worth it. 

  

  Still enthusiastic after a long day.  Watching the parade… I love how Rosie is trying to turn Brian’s head in the direction she is looking. 

  

  Again…Rosie’s face…priceless. 

  

  We stayed at the Paradise Pier…to the right of the giant orange.

  

  Someone’s been drinking all his milk….a seriously chubby baby.  Nice one Serra.

  

  And once again…priceless expressions.

  

  The roller coaster.

  

  …and yes I know where the cameras are.  Find Serra.

  

  Chubby cute baby with awesome hair. 

  

  Hey! Let’s get this show on the road. 

  

  Serra’s ride is posing for the picture too. 

  

  Waiting in line….

  

  …not a problem for Rosie…

  

  …who unlike Serra who gets bored…

  

  …finds amusement anywhere.  

  

  Serra had to ride the toon town roller coaster alone since I was with Rosie. 

  

  Breaking out…. and off to Neverland.

  

  All three kids.    Rosie..ready for a nap has a breakdown while waiting in line to see Pooh and Tigger.  She still wanted hugs and a picture though.

  

  Tigger delivers…   and yes I know where that camera is too. 

  

  Settling in and heading to the next attraction.

  

  Dinner at the Blue Bayou

  

  At least she got a little nourishment….

  

  …before she crashed. 

  

  We win!

  

  Serra helps take the luggage in to the last hotel. 

   

  • 3:09 pm
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