2014 summer fun list

Presenting our 2014 Summer Fun List

1. Welcome Shane home from Afghanistan
2. Jawbreaker Contest
3. Visit family in Utah
4. Have a picnic with Hayden
5. Have a picnic with Grandma
6. Play dates with homeschool friends
7. Read books
8. Go camping
9. Swimming
10. Sleepovers in Mom and Dad's room
11. Go to the Drive-In
12. Kids dollar movie club
13. Have a water fight
14. Go to the dog park a lot
15. Ride bikes

Disneyland

This was our last trip with our Disneyland Annual passes that we purchased last year. We can't wait to buy them again.

We stopped by the LEGO store in Downtown Disney on the way home and the kids had to pose with The Hulk and Olivia

Cozy Cones

Aren't these the cutest souvenir cups you have ever seen? 

Before each trip we take the kids have an opportunity to do extra chores and odd jobs around the house to earn money to spend and when it's gone then it's gone and there is no more money.

The kids saw these adorable cone cups and had to have them so they each spent half of the twenty dollars that they each earned. I wanted one too but couldn't justify the extra money especially since I needed to buy a new antennae ball for the van since some very rude and dishonest person stole mine last week.

Summer Fun

At the beginning of Summer the kids and I made a list of fun things we wanted to do this summer. We've checked off quite a bit but still have a ways to go. Nine more weeks left of summer until we get back on a normal schedule.

Disneyland

Ever since I took Robert to Disneyland in April 2010 we've been waiting for both kids to be tall enough to ride most of the rides so we could take them. We decided to surprise them and take a two day trip. I was determined to take a million pictures but half way through the first day I got lazy and the kids were tired of the photo shoots. 

We went to celebrate Sage's 8th birthday a month early. It was great and vacation none of us will ever forget.

 Sage with his birthday badge and Aurora with her first visit badge

 Aurora posing with the book in Sleeping Beauty's Castle

 Aurora on King Arthur's Carousel

 Sage in King Arthur's Carousel

 Driving in Toon Town

 Sage and his Indiana Jones hat

 Waiting for the Jedi Training Show to start

 Waiting in line for Star Tours

 Sage, Robert and Aurora on Tower of Terror

 Checking out Ariel's Undersea Adventure

The kids loved the Jungle Cruise

We splurged and bought passes for the year and plan on going back at least five more times this year.

The Happiest Place on Earth, Part 1

We're heading off to the Happiest Place on Earth for two days to celebrate Sage's 8th birthday a month early since we will be in Utah on his birthday, this will be the kids first time going. We waited until they were both tall enough to ride the majority of the rides.

The bags are waiting to be packed, laundry is washing. snacks are packed and new

Disney Character shirts have been purchased {much cheaper than buying them at the park}.

I couldn't keep the secret any longer so I spilled the beans this morning. Sage's reaction was exactly what I expected. Aurora's.... not so much. She's excited, she just didn't freak out like Sage did.

                                  

It goes without saying that I am the most excited. I love all things Disney and cannot wait to see the joy on the kid's faces when they walk down Main Street U.S.A and see all of  the amazing adventures that await them.

Spring Break / Easter in Utah

For Easter this year we decided to go to Utah to visit friends and family.

 In preperation for the trip I found these great little clipboard caddy things at Target for the kids, so they could color while we drove. They were a big hit!

As we were coming into Utah I looked over at the mountains and saw snow. I was hoping that it would stay in the mountains.

The first day we went as far as Spanish Fork, Utah where we stayed with my friend Marci and her family. The next morning which was April 1st, I awoke to the worst April Fool's joke ever....... SNOW! I'm not a fan at all but the kids LOVE it so we turned them loose outside.

Sage & Aurora had a blast hanging out with thier "cousin" Callie.

We loaded the kids up and went into Provo and saw HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, then went to visit Hayden.

The kids of course had to make a snowman for Hayden.

My 3 kids and the snowman.

Sage then started a snowball fight at the cemetary.

The next day we went to Draper for a visit to THE SWEET TOOTH FAIRY Bakery that was reccomended by Stephanie Nielson of NIENIE DIALOGUES

The cupcakes were to die for!!! The one on the top left is called the Va-NIE-lla Squared and all the proceeds go to the Nielson family to help pay for thier burn treatments.

I apologize for the flipped photo's, Blogger is being wierd.

We then went to Village Inn where Sage informed me that with crayons inbetween his fingers he's just like Wolverine.

The next day the kids had to build themselves Snowmen. Aurora insisted on a Princess Snowman, so we cut and colored paper and make a crown and bracelet

Sage insisted on a Spiderman/Pirate Snowman

The next day was Easter so we did an Egg Hunt where Sage found the golden egg. Then we went a visited Hayden one last time before leaving town to next morning.

We then found the house that once belonged to Robert's Grandpa in North Salt Lake.

One way home Monday we stopped in Scipio for gas and I saw this in the window

Only in Utah!

We stopped at Zion National Park since Robert had never been there. We drove a mile through this awesome tunnel in the mountain.

Sage & Aurora thought it was AWESOME and that Robert was the smartest Daddy ever for finding the way out of the tunnel.

I love this arch cut into the rock!

All in all it was a great trip and we had fun visiting family and playing with friends. We made lots of great memories.

Utah ~ June 2009

My Mom, Sage, Aurora and I just returned from a great trip to Utah for my Nephew's High school Graduation. Here's how it went:

June 3rd ~ Got up at 4:15am and loaded the van with last minute items and the kids and left the house at 5:00 am. We were in hopes that the kids would sleep but they were wide awake as soon as I put them into the van. I drove all the way to Mesquite, Nevada where my Mom and I traded places because I'm a wimp and don't like to drive the Virgin River Gorge. We stopped in Beaver, Utah for the night, cause the kids really needed to get out and run.

June 4th ~ Got up and left Beaver at 8:00am. We were driving past Springville and Sage insisted that we stop and buy a toy for Hayden so we went to Wal-Mart and picked up this Pin-Wheel and Basketball. We Got into Salt Lake City around Noon and went directly to see Hayden.

Then we drove to my Brother Danny's House in Kearns, Utah where I dropped off my Mom and visited while the kids played with their dogs Snoodle and Parker. I then took the kids to Robert's parent's house and we had dinner and met the kids newest cousin Joshua. He's soooo tiny! Then I loaded up the kids again and went back down to Spanish Fork to stay at my best friend Marci's house. Marci also married a Parker{no relation that we know of).

June 5th ~ We spent the morning playing with Aunt Marci, Uncle Shawn and cousin's Callie and Wade and then went to the park. We came home for naps and worked in the backyard and then Callie, Sage & Aurora played croquet in the backyard.

Sage hugging Callie after he accidentally wacked her in the leg with his croquet mallet.

We then found this Ginormous Bee in the backyard. Sage even rode the back of Uncle Shawn's Police Car.

June 6th ~ We spent most of the day inside because it was so cold and the Sage & Aurora's allergies were really acting up with all the pollen in the air. The kids took naps and then we went shopping and then came home and ordered Papa Murphy's Pizza(the best pizza ever). We went for a walk along the stream near the house before bed and then came home and put the kids to bed and the adults stayed up till 12:30 am talking and laughing.

June 7th ~ I woke up at 7am and got the van packed up and said goodbye to Marci, Shawn, Callie & Wade at 8:30 and left for Salt Lake City to pick up my Mom and visit Hayden one last time before we left. We just added these pretty white flowers to the pink roses we took him a few days earlier. I really miss him and can't wait until April 2010 when we move him here to San Diego.

Then I dropped my Mom off at my Brother's Ward so she could be there when my Nephew was set apart as an Elder before he leaves for Snow College, where he'll be playing Football. I went and got gas and then we headed out. We stopped in St. George, Utah at Fazoli's for dinner(yum-o).

I snapped this after we came out of the Virgin River Gorge. The kids were watching a movie. We stopped at the Virgin River Hotel in Mesquite, Nevada for the night so the kids could run around.

June 8th ~ We left around 8am and headed for home. Sage was being super silly and was really enjoying watching his favorite movie off all-time, Ducktales: The Movie.

Aurora spent the entire trip home with her legs propped on the sides of her seat. She's such a little spaz.

It was a really fun trip, but we really missed Robert and are glad to be home. I don't think I'll ever travel with the kids without Robert until the kids are much older.