Disney Day 2....Vacation Day 5

Our second day at Disney was spent at Disney California Adventure Park....but because we actually were staying on Disney property we got to go in early to Disneyland that day....7am to be exact...ahead of the general public...so we took advantage of this offer....and explored a few more areas in Disneyland before heading over to the Adventure Park.


We all enjoyed beignet's for breakfast in "New Orleans".....Adi especially enjoyed hers...the powder sugar all over Eric was the evidence!


In line for "pixie hollow" with hopes of seeing Tinkerbell.....



One of Tinkerbell's friends.....and Ana


And finally - Tinkerbell herself....this was the ONE character Ema was most excited to see!!


Next up....the jungle safari cruise....once again this ride didn't not come without fear.....


Tarzan and Jane's tree house....




Actually seeing a Disney character in the park was kind of a rare sight.....


Finally we were in California Adventure Park....


Adi....being Adi....


Ema, Ana and Eli all got their face painted.....what I failed to remember....is Ema's days are FULL of tears...and face paint and tears just don't mix well......



Such cute faces while they lasted.....


Jesse....we actually saw quite of few characters in costume in this part of the park.....


Adi getting in any kind of a snooze she can....poor girl....2 days without naps just plain tuckered her out....by the end of this day she was sporting a fever....


AND this would be the result of tears and face paint.....oh EMA!!


In line for the Toy Story ride....probably one of the best interactive rides they have....


We spent a little time in Bug Land....

And the grand finale.....every night they put on a water, light and laser show (some what similar to the Bellagio in Las Vegas)....we got tickets, got their early to get our spots...and waited, and waited, and waited...and finally threw in the towel after 2 unsuccessful tries for them to get the show going, 4 hungry tired kids, and 2 parents whose patience were shot....and wouldn't you know...as soon as we walked away...it started...but we missed it!



Patiently waiting....

Disney Day 3...Vacation days 6, 7, & 8....

On Wednesday we woke up with the "plan" to head to the beach and then back to Pasadena, but those plans changed rather quickly. We decided instead to head back into the parks and spend one more day wondering between the two and taking in some last minute rides and shows we just hadn't had time for. The weather also made our decision rather easy that morning...because it certainly wasn't a morning to be spent at the beach.....it was quite cloudy, damp and cool.


Here the kids got to participate in the Mickey Mouse clubhouse show....


Ema...being a "ham"....Ema is either "on" or "off"...there is just no in between with that girl.....while she was good at Disney...she had lots of "off" moments...probably most undoubtedly from her lack of naps and good rest....but alas we survived....Ema and all.


Don't judge....Lucky charms I know...but hey....she was eating....and it wasn't disgusting Disney food....


Ema and Eric on the "rocket"....


Eli was in all his glory standing next to Mater and Lightening McQueen....


A second swing through the "Monster's Inc" ride....my kids find many many things scary to them...but for some reason...this ride (Monsters and All) was not scary to them....


And this....is the picture of the end of day 3....Ema exhausted and having a "not so good" moment......she proceeded to lay here crying in this position for a good 10 minutes while the kids and I waited for Eric.

Day 7 was spent driving back to Las Vegas for our return flight home....a good portion of this day was spent in the car...and shopping :) .....and well I guess there were no photo ops or I was photo opted out.....cause I don't have one picture to show for it.

Day 8 was an early flight home....it was nice to be home early and have an entire weekend to recuperate....but an early departure was not entirely pleasant....a family of 6 to the airport by 5 in the morning is brutal.....

We had a wonderful time, the kids actually did remarkably well in all respects and we'll look forward to doing it again in.....ummmm..... maybe 10 YEARS!!

Ballet Days.....

Ana and Ema are both trying ballet this year.....Ana has tried it once before (couple years ag0)....and I think again she has realized it is not her "thing".....thankfully I only paid up to Christmas...so she'll finish out these last couple months and then be moving on.....but here is a small glimpse into her class......




Ema on the other hand is "over the moon"....to be in ballet class and just loves it every week. She is in a Disney Fairytales class.....six week session (NO RECITAL - YEAH!!!)......they read a disney story and then dress up and act out the story dancing to the songs......


Her class is quite small....5 little girls...but usually only 3 are there every week....




Ema decided this week that the "Dress" was just too itchy...and dancing in her ballet clothes was much better.

Chocolate Pudding anyone....?

Adi loved her chocolate pudding just a little too much...and was even willing to share!

Flag Football....

FINALLY!! Eli has something to call his own....he was finally old enough this year to get involved in something....and flag football it is! He is taking a 6 week clinic in flag football skills/drills...they don't actually play any games at his age....but he could not be more PROUD....to be playing "football"....(I think his Dad is pretty proud too....cause it doesn't involve girls, barbies or poly-pockets!!)

The Balloons.....

2 weekends ago....we awoke to about 7 hot air balloons landing about 3 blocks from our house.....so the kids and I jumped in the car quick and tried to get a closer look!! There is something pretty amazing about watching a hot air balloon come down and land!

Cartwheel.....

Ana has been trying master the "art" of a cartwheel.....Adi has caught on to watching Ana's cartwheels and has now begun attempting her own cartwheels.....Let's just say....she has a LONG way to go!!

Too BIG...Too Fast!

Someone sure doesn't seem like a "baby" anymore!!

Happy Birthday Suzie...

Happy Birthday Suzie!!

We love you and thank God for the wife and mother you are!

- Eric, Ana, Eli, Ema & Adi

The Birthday "Parties"....

Ema had her own little party on Friday with a friend over (who I failed to get a picture of...sorry Elle!).....but it was without the intrusion of her older siblings...so she felt pretty special....




Instead of a cake...I had a cookie decorated for her...of course she choose the cookie with the most amount of frosting....



On Sunday we celebrated again...just our family.....and she opened her gifts from us and Grandma and Papa.....


She could not have been more happy with her very own backpack...that she will actually get to use when we go to California next month!



And the grand finale of them all....THE BARBIE MOTOR HOME!!


Even Eric couldn't help himself and had to play a little.... :) (Okay maybe he was just still assembling it in this picture!)


And finally the "cake"....my very sad excuse for a cake....but she didn't seem to mind!!
Happy Birthday Ema lou lou!!

Emalee is THREE!!

Sweet Emalee is THREE today!!

1 day old

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

Ema brings such laughter to our home....always has something funny to add....and she knows she is funny! She also brings much "screaming" to our home....were working on that! Ema loves to play with Barbies and dolls and doing her best to keep up with Ana and Eli. She can't wait to go to school next year and she just started ballet this fall. We love you Ema and are so proud of the little girl you are becoming!! (minus the screaming!!)

Labor Day Weekend...project.....

Our entry way from the garage is quite small....the width of a standard "hallway" so all six of us coming into the house from the garage gets a little crowded....when everyone is trying to also take off coats and shoes....so this weekend we tried to remedy that problem just a little bit.
The laundry room which sits just to the left of this entry way got a total renovation.
We stacked the washer and dryer, painted the room and then added tons of shelving, storage and a bench.
My hope is that the kids will come inside and filter into the laundry room to remove shoes and maybe make the whole area just a little less crowded.