Disneyland and California Adventure Trip

We gave our kids a trip to Disneyland for Christmas this year, with the help of Grandma and Grandpa Alger and Aunt Kathy.  We went there in the middle of February though to avoid the big crowds.  It was our first and last time to go with all of our kids while they are still at home.

We did a little bit of waiting in lines, but not very much.  It was wonderful!

The first day we had a couple of melt downs, but nothing too terrible.

I took the little girls off for a while so that they wouldn't keep the big kids from doing the roller coasters over and over.  It worked out well, but Sam was sad because he wanted everyone to stay together since it was one of his last vacations before his mission.  Awe... so sweet!

The line to see Elsa and Anna was 3 hours long so we decided to take a picture from a distance.  They are inside the house, but at least you can see Olaf on the roof. 

The kids went on Space Mountain tons of times.  They had fun making faces for the cameras.

Nate holding the castle with his bare hands!

The first day was all Disneyland and the second was all California Adventure.  We started Day 2 at California Screamin'.

 

Susanna loved the roller coasters and was bummed that she was too short for the big California Screamin' coaster.  Laney didn't like any of the roller coaster type rides but was able to be bribed by Sam to go on the big one for a churro.  She did it and even thought it was fun. 

She didn't do it again but she still says she was glad she went on it once.

The big ferris wheel was super fun.  We got in the carriages that slide around when it spins around.

The only ridiculous line we waited in was for the new Cars Ride which was almost an hour.  We heard that that was good compared to the 3 - 5 hours it is when it is crowded.  Eeeek!

Susanna, again, surprised us all by loving the Tower of Terror.  In the picture below, you can see that she and Daniel are looking back at everyone thinking "What's all the screaming about?"  Crazy little kids!

It was plenty thrilling, but not nearly as scary as I thought it would be.

Then lots more California Screamin'.  We had to have gone on it at least 10 times. There was almost no line.  The kids started making challenges for the ride, like no screaming or being silent through the ride.  Again, they had fun making faces for the cameras.

Sam bought a turkey leg.  He ate a lot of it and then let the rest of us pick at the remains.  It was huge!

Susanna loved the swings and went on them several times.

We finished the day with the Wonderful World of Color show.  WOW!  So beautiful!!!

I thought it was fitting that the first picture was Susanna excited to go to Disneyland and the last one is her all wiped out from two full days of fun.  Both with her sweet big brother carrying her.

The Beginning of February 2014

Tim is 15.  I can't believe he can start driving in 6 months.  I am sure he will do great, but it is still scary!  Tim is my buddy.  We love to garden together, play the piano, cook, clean (well, I don't like cleaning, but Tim does and I like working with him.)  He is hilarious and super smart.  He is kind and always tries to choose the right.  He makes me smile.  I love his curly hair and freckles. 

I finally painted our family room and kitchen.  It feels like home now, even though we have been here for 3 1/2 years.  I love the colors.  They are golden and warm neutrals.  It just feels fresh and clean, no more dirty flat paint that doesn't clean!  Hooray!!!

Richard got me a beautiful bouquet for my birthday.  (That is one of my newly painted walls behind me!)

He took me shopping and we took my wedding ring to Shane Co. to get it cleaned and polished up.  Nothing like a gleaming wedding ring to make a girl smile!  Then we had lunch at Oregano's, super YUM!  I love tomatoes and fresh basil.

Not the best pics, but it was a cool breezy lunch with warm sunshine.  Delightful!

 Some of my cuties on my b-day.

Daniel, Susanna and Laney spent a couple of hours making a Valentine's Day banner for Grandma and Grandpa Alger.  They did an amazing job.  We went to visit Grandma at the care center, she is recovering from surgery, and hung the banner for her.  They were so excited to give it to them and the cards they made for them too.

Our Visit to the New Gilbert Temple

We went for a tour of the New Gilbert Temple on my birthday.  It was a fun, but long drive out to Gilbert.  We had all our kiddos plus Victor as well as Sara's friend Anna.  We had been looking forward to seeing inside the temple and were not disappointed.  It was absolutely breathtaking!

ABC 15 did a 1/2 hour special on the temple.  It was great.  They have photos from inside the temple and a nice article about it here.  The pictures are pretty, but are far from doing it justice.  

The chandeliers are incredible.  It is as close to being like heaven as I can imagine.  The art work throughout the temple was gorgeous.  It was fun to see the murals in the baptistry especially.  We know the family of the artist and were able to see some familiar faces in the paintings.   

The kiddos

Our family, plus 3 photo bombers on the right.

The temple is a place of peace and love.  It is a place where families become forever and where we can learn more about God's plan for us.  It is a house of prayer and inspiration.  We are so grateful to have a 2nd temple in the valley and look forward to the Phoenix temple which will open in the next year.  

Here is a  picture of what the Phoenix Temple will look like.

January 2014

The little girls wanted to make the Family Home Evening treat early in January.  They decided on doughnuts.  They got frosting all over me, but had a great time frosting and putting on the sprinkles.  They turned out great and everyone was happy to have leftovers to put in their school lunches the next day.

Laney had a frenectomy .  Her frenulum connecting her lower lip to her gums was connected rather high and was causing her to have receding gums so the dentist removed it.  It healed really quickly and didn't end up being a very big deal, even though it looked painful.

Josh turned 17!!!  I can't believe it.  He is a delight.  He has to be one of the easiest teenagers ever.  He is sweet, thoughtful, very obedient, Christlike, and has an incredible intellect.  He's a cutie too.  I love him bunches!

Papa took Josh birthday shopping.  They got matching ties and also got Josh a cool shirt.

 

 Because Josh and Tim's birthdays are only 8 days apart, if they want to go out to the same restaurant, we all go out and celebrate together.  This year they both wanted to try the Macaroni Grill.  It was yummy and their birthday desserts were beautiful. 

 

That evening Josh wanted to go see Frozen with me, as his birthday date.  It was sweet that he wanted to go with me.  

Tim and I bought a bunch of seed and plants for the garden.  It was such a warm winter, we decided to plant a couple of weeks earlier than usual.  Luckily, we really were done with any freezing for the season and everything is growing and looking good.  We are trying strawberries this year.  Tim has already had a couple ripen and they were super sweet!

Our clementines are doing well and have great flavor. 

Susanna was sick for a few days.  She spent a lot of time drawing and writing on our white board.  She had some pretty exciting stories with tornadoes and portals.  So cute!

It was a great month.

Our Gardener

Tim LOVES gardening.  He has been busy inside and out.  Our home is full of his beautiful tropical plants and the yard is sprouting and blossoming all sorts of wonderful things.

Eggplant

An Eggplant Blossom

Basil

Lemon Grass

Crepe Myrtles

Clementine Tangerines

Jalapenos and Wax Peppers

Petunias, Snap Dragons, Lobelia and Pansies

Vinca 

Marigolds

Celery

I cannot believe all the hours he spends trimming, weeding and caring for plants.  I love working outside with him.  It is fun to have one of my kiddos so interested in something that I love too.  We spent this last weekend outside preparing and planting a new flower bed in the front yard, and trimming and pruning our trees.  We are both so eager for spring!

Trick or Treating with Aunt Kathy

Some how I didn't document Aunt Kathy's Visit here with photos. I am not sure what happened. It was a wonderful visit. There was lots of shopping and talking and eating and laughing. It was great to have her go trick or treating with us. Here are a few pictures from Halloween night. 

A cartwheeling Elvis

Lots of fun crazy kiddos

Some of my favorite beauties!

My pretty momma with Peter

Our little detective Zanna

It was lots of fun with only one scary moment.  (Susanna ran out in front of a car.  I just about had a heart attack!)