The Happiest Place On Earth

Oh Disneyland, how we love thee... It was so fun this time being there with all the Christmas decorations up. Kenya was able to go on a lot more rides this time since she is 40" and Charlie was able to go on a couple more too since he's a good 46". He went on Indiana Jones with me and Jayme and was really scared, he didn't want to go on that one again. Right before that ride we were in Tarzan's tree house and Charlie and Samara ran ahead of us, way ahead of us. When I caught up to Jayme they were even ahead of her so I hurriedly walked through the tree house with Kenya and finally caught a glimpse of Charlie crying, looking around for me. We talked to them a lot this time about staying by us because we heard a scary story of a girl that got taken at Disneyland (she was found, miraculously.) Anyway, I knew he'd be scared if I wasn't there but I caught up to him and all was good. That was the only scare we had. And it scared him enough to stay nice and close to us.





Kenya got to go on Splash Mountain this year and loved it! When we went down the drop she said "I love dat!" Later she was telling Mark that the bear peed on her, now sweetie, that was just water.

She was so excited after every ride saying "I love that one!" Or my favorite was after watching Captain Neo I looked at her and she said "That was awesome!"

Liam was a pro napper in this little stroller. Jayme and Jeremy forgot theirs but made do pretty well with this.

The princesses! Kenya's dream come true...
Look at her open mouth, I think she was just talking but I love that she just looks in awe.

Leila was thrilled to be at Disneyland too. Complete with a Minnie shirt.

Waiting for the parade.

Kenya was SO excited to see the Beast, that's right, the Beast. Forget about Belle, she wanted to see the Beast.

Every night we walked back to the hotel. Before we've always taken the shuttle but we're convinced that walking is the way to go because this is what happened every night and they were a breeze to put to bed.

Charlie turned 6 while we were there. He had a great birthday. Disneyland will give you a pin if it's your birthday saying "It's my birthday" with your name on it so he got recognized all day by workers and characters.

I made him a muffin cake in the morning, he was thrilled with it, why do I go through the torture to make those elaborate cakes again? :)

Love how they're both just looking at the ground, acting all shy.

We haven't ever gotten our kids the mickey mouse ears before, so he was so grateful and excited when I let him get these birthday ones.

On the monster Inc ride the monster lady at the end said to Charlie "Are those your real ears?" He said "yep" she goes "whatever."

Donald was very adamant that he was #1, not Mickey.

Kenya got this Minnie Mouse baby for her souvenir and wanted to show all the characters.

You're not a man until you eat a turkey leg.

The dancing never stopped during the Pixar parade.

Kenya really wanted to see Sleeping Beauty and we saw her twice but both times she was leaving. This last time I told her to go up to her and see if she could get a picture, this is what we got...
She said in her sweetest princess voice "I'm so sorry, I can't stay long." and continued walking...
So sad. She just stood there staring at her. I walked up to her and said, "are you okay sweetie" she just had a sad confused look on her face and said "but where's Pwince Phiwup? (prince phillip)" She apparently loves the princes just as much as the princesses.

Until next time Disneyland....

Partay!

Charlie had his friends and family birthday party early since we were going to be in Disneyland on his birthday. He wanted to go bowling for his party so Bountiful Bowl was where we headed. The boys all had a good time, then we headed back to our home for some lego cake and ice cream.

I had fun making the cake and cupcakes, but I think I might buy my cakes for the next year or so. When Charlie woke up he asked to see his cake (that I was up until midnight making the night before) I told him it wasn't finished but he could look at it in the fridge, he came back in my room and said in a very disappointed voice "please don't tell me it's that block cake in the fridge." Let's just say that made me a bit upset. Once we had it all put together with the lego star wars on there he was very happy though.


I took terrible pictures, not one of all of them together! It's too much when I'm trying to do everything else too. I feel like I need to hire a photographer for events sometimes because I never get the good pics, too busy doing everything else! (of course I would never do that but wouldn't that be nice?)


We had the family over that night and continued the festivities. I was nervous that Charlie wasn't going to be grateful for the presents he got since earlier that day he was saying "Mom, what if so and so get's me a DS, that would be awesome!" I was worried his expectations were a bit high but he was very excited and grateful for every gift, phew!

He got lots of legos which he's never had before and he is loving them! As far as those Kung Zhu pets go, bleh. I asked him tonight where they were and he said in the playroom (he bought part of the "arena" with some birthday money) I said "why haven't you played with them?" He said "Because I've been having SO much fun playing with my legos!" I think we know which toy to build on now.

4 months

4 months and she has changed a lot this month to me. She's just getting so big and her cheeks are getting bigger and I get giddy just thinking about kissing them, she's just so cute. I really am enjoying her and her sweetness. I told Mark that I feel like I can be a good mom to babies but then they grow up and I don't know what I'm doing! I think it's going to get harder the older they get in different ways and I'm not sure what I'm going to do, I think Mark probably gave me some pretty good advice tonight...lighten up! She really isn't doing too much differently but here are a couple things

At 4 months Leila

Isn't going as long at night anymore (6-8 hours for the last week or so, what's with that?)
weighs about 13 lbs.
Rolled over once, hasn't happened again
Is a little bit better on her tummy
Ate her first bowl of cereal.
Is doing better with a bottle.

I decided to start feeding Leila some cereal since she has regressed in the sleeping at night area. I was going to try and wait until 6 months to start her on solids but I think I'll sneak at least some oatmeal in earlier, we'll see how she sleeps tonight. The doctors keep changing things up with every kid so I'm starting to think I'll just do what I want...okay maybe not a great idea, all of you with newer babies, when did you start solids and what did you start with?

Good news is, she liked it...eventually!

Charlie and Kenya turned in their candy to a dentist and they each got $4 for their loot. They were pretty excited to take that money and put it towards a new toy. Kenya knew immediately what she wanted when we walked down the aisle, a Cinderella doll, no second guessing that one. Charlie however is a little more like me, mister undecisive. He kept going back and forth and I kept telling him to hurry, at one point he said "I just can't decide, there's too many things." Well he finally decided on a Kung Zhu pet. I'm not sure if this is a toy I should build on and he will actually play with it or if I should just leave it at the two that he now has, anyone's kids actually play with their zhu zhu pets?

I really don't know why I'm asking these questions, I think there's like 5 people that read this blog, or at least 5 that will occasionally comment.

Halloween

On Halloween we made it to my sister Cami's for our traditional chili and soup dinner with a little bit of trick or treating with the cousins after. It was beautiful when we got there and just as we were getting ready to set out the rain came. It didn't stop anybody though, they all went out at least for a little bit, some were soaked, others had strict rules to stay under the umbrella or else black would be all over their face and dress, which thankfully she obeyed. :)

All 12 cousins!

After Cami's we trick or treated in our neighborhood. The rain had stopped so Mark took them for a minute and then came home to watch the Utah game which means he was a zombie for the rest of the night, especially since it was a close game, thankfully they won. I took Charlie and Kenya out again and had fun doing it, they're so cute at this age trick or treating, I want to enjoy it while I still can. One guy in our neighborhood was dressed up in a gorilla costume and was sitting still on his front porch holding the bowl of candy. My kids were very scared as we walked up their steps. I said "don't worry, he's a nice gorilla, he's not going to scare you." They didn't believe me and Charlie kept asking me to take the candy. I finally gave in and after I took a couple pieces said "See he's nice" just then he reached out for Charlie with a "roar!" Oh man, Kenya started crying and Charlie totally screamed. The gorilla immediately took of his mask to show them that it was just him and that helped a bit but for the next 5 or so houses Kenya was telling everyone that answered the door about the "ungrilla" that scared them. Charlie said he "screamed like a man" when he retold it. Too funny. Another cute moment was when we went up to a house that was playing "monster mash" and Kenya stopped dead in her tracks and started shakin' her bum with her fingers pointing out. She has been dancing to that song in her dance class I think. It was cute.

I wish I got better pictures of Kenya, I thought she was such a cute Snow White. She was in heaven dressed up as a princess. I know she dresses up just about every day in her dress ups but she doesn't actually have any Disney princess dress ups, plus I borrowed the costume from Cami which is always a plus.

Happy Halloween!