Disneyland 2010

Wow, what a week! IT was so much fun! We left Monday and met up with the Sorensen's, Wrights, Francom's and Tammy and Tony in Vegas. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe and then headed down to Whiskey Petes in Primm. We spent the night there and had quite the fright the next morning. Asa was MIA. We were looking up and down halls, stairwells, back side of the hotel, casino, lobby. We even had security helping us out. They were going to pull up the Elevator cameras to see if he'd gotten on one. After searching for maybe 30 minutes I thought someone had to have him in their room. Some preditor saw the stinker leave the room and grabbed him. I hadn't really hit hysteria at this point, but Cody did. We looked high and low for him. The interesting fact of the matter was that the door was chained. Unless he was a rat and could squeeze through the door opening with the chain on, he couldn't have fit. We had looked under the table, cody through the beds apart, not in the bathroom, not anywhere we could find. So when I was becoming more on the panicked side....wondering where he is, if he's safe or is someone violating him etc....I get a phone call "we've found Asa....he was in the room". The little stinker was hiding in this little nook, under our suitcase that was sitting on the little rack thing that was in there. Talk about relief. Then it hit me and the tears started flowing. Instantly I was thanking Heavenly Father for the fact that my Asa was safe, not lost and not being violated. So we got ready and checked out to head to Californ-I-A! I was not myself for the whole 3+ hour drive from Primm to Anaheim. As we got closer to Disneyland, the feeling of trauma subsided. I felt like that scare we had was to help keep us all on alert and mindful of all the little kids that was in the group. We made it to Disneyland/California Adventure around 3pm Tuesday. I can't even put into words the kind of fun we had! First there was rain, then there was sun, then there was cold. We made the best of it and had a great time.

We found all the characters we were looking for, except Donald and Daisy.

Asa was glued to his "other Grandma and Grandpa" Pam and Dennis Sorenson (Tony's parents). He went on his first ride (and many others) with them. They were so kind to just take him in as one of their own. Below, Coen and I are headed into the "It's a small world". Pam said that by the end of the ride Asa was back there singing the whole song. I don't doubt it!
Asa was just barely the right height to go on most of the big rides! He loved the roller coasters! He rode each of them with his hands way up like this. He didn't care that he was sliding all over the place in the seat. He said his favorite ride was "Daisy's rollercoaster" in Toon Town.

Crazy hat!



Friday night Cody and I and the other adults were able to hit a MLB game. It was Angels vs Yankees! I'd never been to one, and we were grateful for the opportunity. Pam watched all the little kids so we could all go and enjoy ourselves. It was really cold, but the scolding hot chocolate warmed me up for a while. We filled up on peanuts and hot dogs...what else do you eat at a ball game?? (I didn't take this picture, but it was so awesome I had to borrow it)

We also hit the beach Friday. I thought my kids would be afraid of the water, but they weren't really. They didn't attempt to get out in it, but they had a ton of fun playing around on the beach and in the shallow "sink holes" that were in the beach. The weather was still a little cold, but not as bad as it had been.

We had a great time and were so grateful the Sorensen clan let us tag along to their family vacation! Thanks to everyone for watching Asa's toes the whole time and helping us keep them all safe! This was a trip I will cherish my whole life.

Injured warrior

It started Thursday....The soldier was attempting to climb up the solid wood barstool to retrieve a soda from the counter. Then alleged barstool came tumbling down atop of the soldier. He was instantly wounded severely. The barstool struck the soldier across both big toes.

battle wounds.
Oh you'd like a closer look of the nasty one
oh and the x-ray. As a result of the barstool attack, soldier received a broken left toe in two places. Dr removed the toenail and administered 4 stitches.
Soldier is recovering in the comfort of his home being waited on by his Momma.

Easter

We had baskets

candy action
the egg hunt (a couple of them)
Pretty boys
and matching cousins
It was a great holiday! We had a bbq for lunch with an egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's then a huge family dinner Sunday night with a "dunked bird" aka-deep fried turkey. We had an easter egg hunt in the back yard with all the cousins and it was just a great time. I want to say it was the best Easter ever! The kids loved the easter egg hunt and the treasures inside. My sister and her husband helped the easter bunny with some little cheap trinkets in a bunch of the eggs and it was awesome.

Brothers

When I found out about 3 years ago that we'd be expecting another little boy, my heart was full of joy. I couldn't wait to be the mother two precious and special sons, that Heavenly Father was so generous to let them be mine. I had the hopes at that time that they would become best pals. And they are. Every picture I take of these two, Asa always has his arm around Coen (without being asked). They hug and love each other all day....well and wrassle and fight too. But at the end of the day they are best pals. I hope they stay this way.

I love that I can dress them the same and they think it's fun

And that they can sport the same haircuts and know they are cute

And that they can be silly cowboys

"Sometimes being a brother is better than being a SuperHero"

bzzzzzz

Everyone who knows Coen, knows that he hates loud noises. Especially the vacuum! Asa told me the other day he was ready for a haircut, so we went down to cookie cutters and got hair cuts. Coen of course said he didn't want his cut, but I made him. It was his first time getting it professionally cut and he actually did really well once he got in the little car of his choice.

He doesn't dare move while she's buzzing his hair
Look at his face watching her in the mirror so intently while she cuts. He didn't say he was scared and that he didn't want it done, but you could tell he was not comfortable with what was happening.
Then it was over. They both got balloons and darling haircuts!

Old photo

Well, I figured I should update my blog with something, even though there isn't anything going on. This picture was over the Christmas weekend. We spent a few hours at my brothers warehouse where he designs and manufactures silencers. (www.silencerco.com). We-meaning Cody and I- got to shoot a few different guns testing out the merchandise! The boys were more interested in the echo of the large concrete rooms and running around and being loud. I thought they would think the guns and the machines that build the silencers were cool...but not so much. And that is A-OK. It was a fun day and I'm glad we got to hang with my brother. He is so busy, so I'll take whatever time I can get with him!

Cleaning out the garage

Well it came time to do a little spring cleaning. Not your average spring cleaning of the garage....

but it was exciting and important for us!

So, We got rid of this:

and this:

and replaced them with this:

Which also left us:

Normally i wouldn't be so prideful to post about getting a nice new (to us) car, but a few of you know of the car drama we have been feeling. The Audi broke down on the way home from purchasing it. And since I am a little on the neurotic side, I couldn't get over it and was constantly scared it was going to break down again. Cody has had his precious truck parked in the garage since the beginning. He only drove it about once a twice a QUARTER. So, since it had a crazy high monthly loan payment, he decided it was time to say goodbye. He found a nice car that would replace it and we got a super good deal on trade ins, as well as the purchase price. It was such a blessing and an answer to our prayers. I can't even describe the amount of relief I feel now about our automotive situation. So now we are a normal family with one truck and one car.

Sorry about the horrible formatting...I don't know what is going on.

A spectacular Valentines

Well I finally have something worth blogging about! This past weekend was the best valentines day EVER in the history of US! It started off Friday when Cody had flowers delivered. Pretty Lily's with a handmade card (that he purchased)

Us with the flowers (yes I just like using my new camera). Don't mind the kids half naked. We were in transition to pajama's to spend the night at Grandma's and just hadn't got to the fully clothed part yet.
Then we decided spur of the moment to head out of town for the weekend. We headed to vegas at about 8pm Friday night.
We stayed the first night in Mesquite at the Oasis. Yes you are probably wondering how we could stay there since it closed several years ago. Apparently Virgin River is running the rooms there. And let me tell you....not the nicest room we've stayed in. When we walked in there was no TV. So at first i thought someone stole it. But then cody walked down the way and saw other rooms didn't have TV's too. The beds seemed new, and the bathrooms seemed renovated...and those are the items that matter so it was okay.
our room 3rd floor
Then we headed towards vegas. On the way we saw this crazy accident. This big rig was completely blocking the freeway perfectly straight across.
Our first stop was the outlet mall. I generally come every year during Nascar, but this year it wasn't going to work out, so I'm glad we stopped in.
I was able to fullfill my yearly watch purchase at the fossil outlet. a $95 watch for $30.

Then we checked into the Monte Carlo. We haven't stayed there before, but it was pretty nice.

Our view outside the window. Normally we get the parking garage view or the rooftop view of the annex building next to the hotel.

Above-Sunset

Below-morning

We ended up eating dinner at a nice restarant in the New York New York.

Met up with Jason before hand

And this is what he spent his time doing

Then...the highlight of the trip....our first vegas show...Frank Caliendo. Hilarious!

We woke up Sunday and went to the Original pancake house in Henderson (kinda a tradition) and then Jason and Cody played Blackjack on the way out and we headed for home.

This is the first trip that we've ever taken where it was just us (for the most part) the whole first day we didn't have anyone to worry about entertaining anyone but ourselves. It was a nice break to get away from life at home and just have no real plans and just hang out. I'm so grateful for everyone who watched the boys last minute so we could go.