Tuesday, November 30, 2010

On The Move.......Soon!

It's Official - like really official - like Holy Cow is this really gonna happen real.  We will soon be on the move.  Steve got a new job with the same company that will take us to the beautiful state of TEXAS.  After 2 whole weeks with this knowledge I still can't believe it.  I am excited, but overwhelmed.  I keep thinking of all there is to do, all our wonderful friends that we will leave, all our kids Adorable friends that they will have to say goodbye to and the adventure that lies ahead.  The next few months will be chaotic as we figure out all the nitty gritty details of Making it all happen. 

As you can imagine the kids have mixed feelings.  Sometimes they are excited, sometimes they are sad.  Josh is especially confused - this is the only place he has ever lived.  He doesn't want to go and he doesn't like that there are snakes in Texas and he is super sad he will have to go to a new pre-school when we finally get there.  Brooklynn has a million questions, they usually start with, "I have a question about moving......"  Tyler is well, Tyler - he is taking it all in, but not saying too much! 

So if any of you amazing wonderful family and friends know anyone in the DALLAS area - rat them out and send me their info.  I need to talk to/email anyone I can to find out where exactly we should go......It's a big place I hear. 

Monday, November 08, 2010

Fourteen Months!

Noah is getting so BIG!  I love watching his little personality develop, he always brings a smile to my face with his cute grin and his Attitude and boy does he have a little attitude.  Here is a run down of him:
  • He LOVES outside and is often banging on the back door so that we will open it so he can go wander. He can even sort of say 'Ouside'
  • He EATS tons!  This kid is always hungry and is also always happy with some food to munch on
  • He is starting to play with the kids and thinks they are funny
  • He doesn't say very many things - OK he really doesn't say anything at all
  • When I ask him if he would like something he will go 'ah' kind of like 'yay' if the answer is yes and bounce
  • He LOVES his little tiny 'snuggly' or blanket and walks around with it much of the day
  • He follows instructions better than my 10 year old - haha, not really but he understands and follows simple instructions
  • He gets excited when it is time to go bye-bye
  • He keeps us laughing and smiling.
  • Thankfully he is not climbing yet, but he is trying to! Yikes
  • I had to put locks on all the cupboards because he is THE DESTROYER and gets into EVERYTHING!  
  • He will snuggle me sometimes - which I love.
  • It is nearly impossible to get him to hold still long enough for a picture!
Noah is so sweet and cute and brings so many smiles and laughs into our home!  How super blessed we are to have him!

Change!

You know how sometimes you just need a Change. Just something to give you a boost.  Something to make you feel more like - YOU!  I needed one of these changes and so I treated myself to a Hair Makeover.  I've never been much for Long locks and although I have tried to grow my hair and do the Long thing, it just doesn't work for me.  So, this is what I came up with.  I feared it would turn into MOM hair, but I think it is pretty cute and maybe even a little sassy!



Tater took this one and I'm not sure what is up with the lighting, but you get the idea!

Halloween!

This year I will say that Halloween was a little - dare I say Lame!  We did not do the whole trick-or-treating thing and just went to the Trunk-or-Treat at church instead.  I was the super lame mom and made all of the kids just pick a costume out of the costume box!  So, here they all are - although I will say they are super cute no matter what.

Our pumpkins. Tyler carved the middle one, The one on the right Tater designed and the last one our friends did.




This is what most of the pictures of this guy are like - he NEVER stops!


Mission Memories

I did not serve a mission for our church, we are Mormon, although I'm sure the majority of you know that.  But I guess if you didn't, now you do! Steve did serve a mission.  In fact he served a mission in England/Wales about 15 years ago.  (Wow, that means we are getting really old)  Anyway,  while on his mission he had the priviledge of baptizing two amazing young men, Nathan and Matthew.  Their Mum was a recent convert and Steve spent a lot of time in their home.  Through the years he has often wondered whatever became of them, there have even been times when he has attempted to contact them. 

About 2 years ago I got a random message on Facebook from long lost Nathan!  Steve and I were both pleasantly surprised and even more excited to find out that he and his brother were both still Active in our Church! 

Nathan got married in August to a cute Welsh girl and for a Honeymoon they came to the States in October.  It just so happens that Nathan's in-laws have a home about 2 1/2 hours from us!  We had a chance to take our brood and drive up to see Nathan and his wife Zara.  It was Wonderful!  We had so much fun visiting and Steve and Nathan had so much fun getting caught up!  I was so excited to meet them both and thought Zara was just adorable! 

For me it was like I had always known them both.  It was one of those times where you just click with someone.  I was so grateful for the opportunity we had to visit with them! 


Wednesday, November 03, 2010

The Rest of Disney World

The Rest of the Week was spent with just as much fun as the first few days! 

We hit Blizzard Beach.  The kids loved it, as did the rest of us.  We even got Brooklynn to go down the Summit Plummit and she loved it!  Josh enjoyed the little kids area and the family slide. 

We took most of the kids to the Hoopdee-do-revue, ok I'm not really sure how to spell that.  It was great and the kids all loved it and so did us adults.

The Magic Kingdom was awesome.  What can I say I am a sucker for the classics.  The day started off with us sending Spencer, Annie, Jackson and Tyler off all by themselves.  Yep, they are all big - Spencer had his cell phone with him so they could check in periodically and then they were to meet back up with us at a certain time.  They had a lot of fun and because it wasn't a super busy day they were able to go on a lot of rides.  While they did that we took the little kids to Fantasy Land to do all the 'little' rides.  It worked out perfectly and just when the dad's arrived from Golfing it was time to meet up with the 'older' kids.  I have to admit as we sent off the kids, I watched them walking away and burst into tears.  Then I started to laugh because I was crying and then Julie and Marilee and my Mom started to laugh at me.  I was sad - sad because they are growing up way way way too fast.  At any rate the day was fantastic. 

The Animal Kingdome was great too!  The Everest Rollercoaster was a huge hit as was the Safari. The river rapids ride (can't remember the name) was also alot of fun - Josh and Brady got soaked the second time they went on it.  I mean soaked - like drenched all the way to their undies soaked.  It was super funny.  Top the day off with Date night and it was fantastic! 

Friday we all headed for home.  Marilee and Adam left EARLY, then Julie and TJ.  Mom and Dad and our crew didn't leave until late in the afternoon - so we were able to hang around at the pool for a few hours enjoying our last little bit of vacation. 

We had so much fun and I love that my kids are old enough to enjoy themselves so much!  They are so great to hang out with and I love to see them happy.  A huge thanks goes out to all those who made it possible! 
Grandad and Tater after Blizzard Beach

All the kids with Bridgette

Tater convinced Nana to get him some EARS - he loved them and didn't take them off all day!

My boys and Bridgette (LOVE HER)

Marilee, Me and Reecey - she is the cutest little girl in the world!

Brady and Tater after they got soaked!

Noah swimming - he had so much fun splashing!

My handsome boys!

Natalie and Brookie with their new hairdos!

Disney World and The Tower of Terror

Monday morning started bright and EARLY, especially for us West Coast Dwellers.  A 7:20AM reservation at Chef Mickey's got us up and moving before any of us really wanted to be, but you can't sleep to late when your at Disney World.  The kids had a great time dining with the Characters.  Well, most of the kids, Noah was not so sure about those Characters, he liked them from a distance and was curious, but get to close and Not so much.  The breakfast was fun and after filling our tummies it was off to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  For me this name is hard to remember because way back when I used to work there and it was The Disney MGM Studios.  Anyhow, we were off and rolling for a great day! 


Noah Checking out Mickey Mouse from afar


Let me preface this segment of our post with a little background information.  My kids DON'T DO SCARY, I mean really.  For example, Steve went to Walgreens the night before we left, he had the boys in tow.  I avoid Walgreens around Halloween because they have their Freaky decorations up and my kids freak out.  So, in they go with Josh saying the whole time, "Not scared, not scared, not scared' Trying to convince himself all was well.  It finally got to the point that he was scared and he started saying,'Getting scared, ok scared!'  You get the idea.  My 3 oldest are all like this to varying degrees, the older they get the better they get. 

Ok, so I tell you all that because one of my Favortie Rides of all time is the Tower Of Terror, I remember the first time I went on it, I know that the one at Disney World is WAY better than the one at Disneyland and I love it.  The Tower is at the Hollywood Studios.  Oh, I also love going on it with my husband because he loves it and he gets the greatest laugh while on it.  Brooklynn and Josh had never been on it, Tyler had.  None of them wanted to go, but Brooklynn gave in and said she would give it a whirl, Josh reluctantly agreed to go because while scared of things like that he is still super curious, Tyler DID NOT want to go.  He does not like that ride AT ALL!  Of course we made him go.  It was as great as I remember it, Brooklynn wasn't a huge fan, but thought it was ok, Josh will like it more the bigger he gets, but Tyler still does not like it.  WE, being the AWESOME parents we are and because there was no line late in the day and with a little bit of bribery got Tyler to go on it with us a few extra times, but still he has NO love for my favorite ride.

Including the Tower, our day was great, we hit the Rockin Roller Coaster, The backstage tour, Toy Story Mania, the Car Stunt show (Awesome and a must see), Muppet Vision 3D, just to name a few.  We really had fun, even with our big group and the heat everyone was happy.  Even Noah was a Rock Star and Enjoyed the day.