Be Back Soon!!!

California Adventure

We tried out a new adventure! The kids and Ryan had never been to Disney's California Adventure.
Thanks to G'ma and G'pa, (and a So.Cal. zip code) this trip was made possible.

We invited our friend Lindsey along so the parent(who-can-ride-on-rides) to kid ratio would be better. She was a life-saver! The kids had a blast with her!






Ezzy and Joel loved spinning and flying and riding in Flik's Bug's Life Land. There is fun to be had around every corner.









Driving and bumping on these little racers was definitely a highlight of their day! They laughed and laughed!











Everyone LOVED the Toy Story Ride. Especially sporting their hot 3-D glasses. Shooting the pop-gun was great too and we had a contest to see who scored the highest...Ryan won, of course.


































Ezzy and I missed out on so many rides, so we decided to treat ourselves to a MOST DELICIOUS mint-chip waffle cone. Oh yum! I don't know who enjoyed it more.







I have entered a whole new realm. Emily LOVES going on roller coasters now. She only wanted to go on the fastest, tallest, wildest rides at the park. I couldn't belive how much fun she had on those crazy roller coasters. I can't wait until after baby comes and I can join her next time!
Once again...everyone was wiped out on the way home...and I just love seeing them crash out in the car from pure exahustion from a fun-filled day!

Thanks again G'ma and G'pa!!

miss this girl

The highlight of MY Spring Break (as opposed to my childrens' highlight) was FINALLY seeing my long- time BFF. The last time I saw Marie was about 6 years ago!!! That is just too long!

What I love best is that even though we now have 9 1/2 kids between us, we've been apart for so long, and live on opposite ends of the country, when we get together the time gap is gone! It's like we just pick up where we left off!

I know this will only be funny to a few, but we found a lost cell phone at the park and were trying to locate the owner. After several failed attempts at phone-calling, Marie decided to text the stranger who was texting that phone. It was quite entertaining to watch the action of her texting for the fist time. I'm not saying I would have been any better, it was just so fun to watch!

The moms got to visit for 4 hours while our little ones played at the park. They played dress up and used their little imaginations for hours!

We chatted, talked about old times, shared stories and laughed. I found myself wanting to cherish every minute for fear of another 5 years going by before I got to do this again. There's just nothing like a long-time friend that you share history with.

Not to mention her perfectly behaved little ones who didn't utter one word of complaint while we were there! Marie, as crazy as you say you are, and may very well be... your kids are great. You are definitely doing something right! Thanks for the fun Spring Break memories!

Spring Break '09

It's so much fun to have a little get-away! The actual event of driving 8 hours to HAVE the little get-away is NOT so fun. However, we survived the car ride and had a FABULOUS TIME!
Here is a portion of our fun...
EASTER

Dying Easter eggs was a highlight for sure...how can you beat that fun transition from boring white egg to vibrant colored masterpiece? plus, that vinegar smell that goes right along with it? oh the memories. The kids loved dying their eggs with their cousins.
My crafty little one took it one step further and made little chicks to hold the eggs and adorn our Easter Dinner table. They were a hit. Move over Martha!

There were multiple egg hunts, it NEVER gets old!
From "finding" eggs scattered on the community lawn, or reading a clue at home to find your hidden Easter
basket, to truly HUNTING for as many eggs as you can find in Grandpa and Grandma's back yard, an egg hunt is always exciting!

The past month...

Where has the time gone? (am I ALWAYS saying that?)


Here's a little glimpse at the busy, fun things we've been doing for the month of March (and a little of April).

Don't forget, a little "hunny" get away to Utah was somewhere in the middle of all this! You've seen the fruits of that "labor".

So, get ready for probably more pictures than you care to see:

We've been playing "Fire Balls" on the trampoline - hours of fun!

We ate Green Eggs for breakfast - WAY back at St. Patty's Day

We even attempted, yet again, to catch a leprechaun,
with luck of only getting a box of Lucky Charms cereal.

We've performed at another piano / violin recital

(then MOM and DAD escaped to Utah...Thank you Grandparents and Ali for making that possible)

When we returned, we enjoyed time with G'ma and G'pa,
including a BBQ at the park
( I love SPRING)

Performing wonders at the BBQ
soon it'll be in our own back yard!

We took a little "Jungle Cruise" at the Happiest Place on Earth

A new favorite: Tom Sawyer's Island
(now called the Pirate's Lair)

My little aliens...

Who had more fun?

The group at Small World

I couldn't resist this exhausted shot!
It was a long, fun day!

Now that it's Spring, we've been busy planting.

...and planting

...and planting

We (well, Ezra) also decided to feed Tuck the Turtle, all on his own...
the entire container or two of turtle food!
Poor Tuck!



Now, we are off to enjoy Spring Break in the land up North! yea!!!
Be back soon!

Old film reels

In full contrast to the colorful and playfulness of the Salt Flats we took to a more serious note and went back a few years. Though the temperature actually got colder so we sure didn't fake it. This is called "Hands in Pockets" which is also the name of the song. Stylistically, I see it along the lines of an Anthropologie catalog. Yes, shot all in HD, but scuffed up to bring out that vintage feel. Staring Kelly, Sheena, and Cara. Filmed in Draper, UT. By the way, Kelly is 22 weeks pregnant here. I can't imagine how hot she'll be when she's not cause this was so fun we're definitely going to do it again (but maybe when its not 27 degrees)


Hands in Pockets from IRIS AND LIGHT on Vimeo.