Wow - It Has Been Quite a While!

Well - the truth of the matter is - I discovered Chatbooks and Instagram - which has changed the way I document our family's doings.  I enjoy it - but I do miss writing more of the stories that occur.  So I wandered over here back to my blog - trying to remember where I had left off - DISNEYLAND.  Gosh - that was a long time ago. Almost 3 years.

There are too many things that have occurred since then - including being a diaper free residence (did you know people actually can do that?), taking the trip of a lifetime for my and Steve's 10th anniversary to Europe visiting France, Austria, Germany, England, and Wales, and having our kids all growing up taking over our lives. 😉

Ross has lost all sorts of teeth, has learned to ride a bike, found a love for golf and learned to swim long ago, and has been in the middle of a handful of other sports.  He is a fantastic reader and loves anything Star Wars or Marvel, building Legos, and playing with friends whenever he can.  He is still a stellar big brother and is interested in anything aquatic or science related.  He's always wanting to learn new things.

Ruby is growing up too fast on me - both in the literal meaning (she's just about Ross' height now!) and passing of time meaning.  She dances and sings her heart away like always, and STILL always has a sparkle in her eye for fun.  She moped, complained, and dreamed of the day to be in Kindergarten - and finally got her wish this school year.  She LOVES reading and can be found sounding words out wherever she is. She learned to swim last summer and loves it. This last soccer season, she decided she loves soccer and scored one or two goals every game (trash talk included - passionate as always).  

Rowland is the eternal swords lover (and constant loser of said swords due to expert use).  He has been loving riding his bike everywhere (trying to keep up with brother and sister) and loves to wrestle his dad and brother whenever he gets the chance.  He's our most aggressive child - which Steve is hoping will pay off in the sports world. ;)  He is my little buddy during the school days when Ruby and Ross are at school.  (Though he's been put out that he didn't have a school to go to for quite a few months.)  He keeps us laughing all the time, and I just don't want him to grow up!  His birthday is in two days - he will be 4.  Where has the time gone?  

Anyway - I'm going to try and write some of our stories more often.  Sometimes you just need more than a paragraph to paint the picture, you know?  Life gets so busy - but these things are important!  

Last Day of Disney

Well our 3 day passes came with a magic morning where you could go an hour before the park opened...we were all DEAD (as in - Ross was moaning why we were going to Disneyland AGAIN because he was so tired and was asking to be carried by 8 that morning) but we still cashed in on it.  We went straight for Star Tours - which Ross thought was AWESOME.  Ruby was a one timer.  She was fine during the ride, but didn't want to do it again.  Afterwards we did the Buzz Lightyear ride which was also crazy fun and the kids loved shooting all the aliens (I was a HORRIBLE shot apparently) but they did that one a couple times since the line was pretty much non-existent.  We did the Astroblaster ride with uncles and then after that we went over and waited to see the princesses.

Ready for Star Tours!

Rocket ship riding is the best!

Our Fam in front of Disneyland!

Ruby was SO happy to see them!  She would chat with them about their dress, touching all the different sparkles and gems on them and then tell them she forgot her bow.  The BEST part was when she warned Snow White, "Stay away from the mean queen!" all on her own.  It was sweet how concerned she was for them.  When we saw Ariel next, she warned her too, "Stay away from the sea witch!" to which Ariel replied, "You too!" Ruby loved every second of seeing Snow White, Ariel, and Cinderella.  After seeing the princesses, we took them to the Royal Theater to watch a mini play of Beauty and the Beast which was SO clever and cute.  

Being silly waiting to see the princesses (which Ross was NOT interested in doing)

Cat nap time

FINALLY!

Seriously - these little plays were SO entertaining!  SUPER fun!

The others had gotten fast passes to Thunder Mountain so we headed over there.  Ross wanted to try it so I was going to stay with Ruby, but she said she really wanted to ride the train...so I thought we'd give her a shot.  She didn't squeal with delight or scream in panic afterwards, but when I asked her about it, she said she wanted to ride it again!  Brave Ruby!  After that, of course we took her on Splash Mountain which she also liked!  She's THREE! My kids definitely impressed me this trip.

Ridin' Thunder Mountain! (EVEN with her hands up!)

We did the classic Small World ride all together and there just wasn't enough time for them to look at EVERYTHING that was going on.  I could have ridden that ride a few times - they all loved it.  It was nice since they've snuck in movie characters in all the different countries you go through.

Small World! (Auntie Meghan likes to photo bomb!)

After Splash Mountain, Ruby and I snuck into the Pooh Corner store and got a Tigger Tail I've been wanting to try.  It was SUPER yummy - marshmallows dipped in carmel, chocolate, and sugar sprinkles.  Ruby pretty much ate the whole thing.  Good thing I snuck in a bite first!

Almost got Ruby's face except for the lady in front of us had giant long arms!

Gettin' serios about this Tigger Tail!

Ross went with Grandpa and Grandma to ride Pirates of the Caribbean again, which Ruby wasn't in to.  So Steve and I ended up taking her with us to the Haunted Mansion....haha - less scary right?  She actually did fine on it and liked seeing the dancing ghosts. ;)  Ross went on it again with us later with fast passes.  

We hit up the Jungle Cruise and the Tiki Room afterwards which was super fun.  Ross actually fell asleep against Grandpa in the Tiki Room which was hilarious.  We rode Alice and Wonderland along with the Teacups once again and then did a bit of shopping afterwards.  I scored some cute Mickey and Minnie salt and pepper shakers that sit in a cute red car, and we got Ruby a plastic snow globe of princesses (sadly it only lasted less than 12 hours since she dropped and broke it at the Disneyland house the next morning...no more snow globes for a while!  

I had a nice moment enjoying a Dole Whip - just hangin' out in Disneyland!

Tiki Room! Ross fell asleep about 5 minutes later ;)

Of course, we had to visit Mickey and his friends again which is what Ruby loved the most of all of Disneyland.  Then we went to a Mexican restaurant in Frontierland which was pretty cheap for a lot of food and we chilled for a little bit.  

Her BFF ;)

We watched the parade again - seriously that parade is SO fun to watch and then watched the fireworks at the It's a Small World ride.  Ross slept through the ENTIRE LOUD fireworks show. It was hilarious. 

Waiting for Alice in Wonderland Ride ;)

Sleeping through the ENTIRE fireworks show!

 After the fireworks, Steve and I decided to call it a day and left the hour early to head for car.  What then commenced may have scarred all the young couples thinking of having children for the rest of their lives.  Of course, it was crazy crowded queuing up for the tram back to the parking lot.  Ross was DEAD asleep and Ruby was trying to fall asleep unsuccessfully.  Now our Ruby becomes a bit of a drama queen when she is going to sleep or waking up.  She was having a melt down the whole way out of the park AND while we were waiting for trams.  We were the lucky ones who got to be by all those people trying to inch ahead of you since you have a stroller and your hands are full.  THAT was fun let me tell you trying to claim our place in line so we could get these exhausted kids home.  When our tram finally pulled up, I boxed out the other people who were seeing if they could sneak past me, while Steve claimed a bench holding a melting down Ruby ("Dad, cough cough, my froat!!!") and all our stuff, while I juggled Rowland, handing him to Steve, and then tried to throw our rag doll Ross to Steve with the other hand and then hurry and fold up the stroller. While Steve was trying to catch our dead asleep Ross, Rowland managed to slip off his lap and get a little bonk, so now we had two crying kids and a non-lucid one.  I stuffed the stroller in with us and then we laughed the whole way back to the parking lot with a couple telling us they're expecting their first baby.  We laughed trying to tell them it's not always like this, and wondering if we've scarred anyone else from having multiple children. ;)

By the time we got to the car, Ross finally woke up enough to walk and we put Ruby in the stroller and Rowland - our chill child - just was content being carried.  After the whole fiasco, we only made it home before the others by about 15 minutes.  Haha!

Good-bye Disneyland - you've been good to us!  

We were going to try to go to Sea World the next day, but we had zero energy left in the tank, so we decided to just do another beach day.  I didn't take any pictures then and just enjoyed being all together.  Uncle Thomas got stung by a sting ray in the water!  (He seriously has the WORST luck with his feet - in Hawaii he got bit by a centipede on his other foot!) We headed back, cleaned up, and then went to our Conference dinner which was quite scrumptious!

The next morning, the others headed out early, taking Rowland with them since I would be flying to Utah by myself and he was free to fly, and then Steve and I checked out of the house and we went and checked out Downtown Disney getting a few souvenirs and then grabbing a sandwich at one of their quick restaurants.  

The Lego Store - Ross's dream world.  Of course he picked his souvenir from here.

We decided on a music box instead for Ruby - less breakable. ;)

Me and these kids hung in there with a flight delay, but nothing bad - just a packed airport. ;)  

Steve then left for Colorado to work for the week until he met back up with us in Utah.

Disneyland was SO fun and MUCH more magical taking my own kids.  I enjoyed it ALL and am so glad we were all able to be together before Steve's parents headed on their mission.  It was a magical week!  

Beach Day!

We were ALL glad to take a day to recoup after our double day marathon of Disneyland.  We slept in a bit, ate breakfast slowly, played, and then finally headed to the beach in the afternoon.  It was SO FUN. We are beach loving people - especially my mother-in-law.  She would be happy all day on the beach. ;)  

Grandma attempting to teach the kids how to play, "Go, Fish".  Ross was the only one catching on. ;)

LOVING that Grandma is pouring water on Auntie Meghan - I think that's where her kids get all their prankster-ness from ;)

Beach baby - LOVIN' the ocean :)

My hot husband (who LOVES these sunglasses...even if they're camo)

Starting the sand castle

Where grandma is happy to stay ;)

The finished product...hard to see the moat, but it was a decent sand castle ;)

A successful day! ;)