Dear Disneyland

Dear Disneyland,

I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful week last week while my family came to visit (although you really should be thanking me for spending so much money at your resort...I mean $7.00 for a mini pizza and $4.00 for a pretzel...don't you think that's a bit much??) Anywho, we had a great time. Our favorite ride was Midway Mania in California Adventure and we met lots and lots of Characters. We also loved the Pixar Parade. Job well done. I did however learn some great lessons while I was there. Here are a few.

Lesson #1- You should always go for comfort over style when at Disneyland. I wore my tennis shoes and never once had feet issues. Unlike exhibit A..(see below)




Nate says I should not make fun of people on the Internet but this is simply an example...(ok maybe a little bit of making fun) But seriously..what was she thinking....Hmmm what should I wear to Disneyland today. Oh yes..the 4 inch high boots and my tight leather pants. That should be way comfy! What!! And you should've seen the front..Holy Boobage! Model mom! Ok that's enough making fun.

Lesson #2- Some people who are grown-ups come seriously for themselves. Which is ok but when you come with your husband and are in line to get Princess Cinderella, Belle, and Snow White's picture and autograph is where I draw the "little bit crazy" line.

Lesson #3- About 80% of the Disneyland population does not know how to dress themselves appropriately. I am not excluding myself. But comfort does not always mean leggings and sweaters. Most of us are in need of Stacy and Clintons help from "What not to Wear." Take for example exhibit B

Lesson #4- The month of February and days Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday are perfect days to go. Not to busy and the lines were really short. We rode everything we wanted, watched both parades and went to a couple of shows. I highly recommend the "Aladdin" show. Extremely funny!

Lesson #5-Parents and children are all alike everywhere...it's always comforting to hear another parent telling their tantrum throwing, screaming toddler, "please don't do this to me..it's only 10:00 in the morning. You can't start this already."

Lesson #6- You can totally spot LDS families at Disneyland and they can spot you and there's like this eye contact, smile and nod like "ya I know your LDS and we are too." The garmmie line, and BYU or U shirt help too.

Lesson #7- There are seriously some crazy people out there..crazy bad and crazy good. The first guy was a dancer in the parade and crazy good about his job. He should get a raise just for his facial expressions. The second picture is of a lady so into the "High School Musical 3" show...like insane. At first I thought she was part of the show but oh no..just way too intense fan. She was like 60 years old and totally jamming out. People were taking pictures with their phones..she's probably on utube by now. crazy good

crazy not so good

Lesson #8- Four Children, 12 +hours in the car, five nights in a hotel room, 4 long days at Disneyland = a much needed vacation from our vacation for Nate and me!

So all in all, we had a great time. The kids loved it. Sophie would have ridden all the rides if she had been tall enough. We had to practically drag Ellie onto most of the rides and Connor tried most rides once. Maggie was happy to be along for the ride. She even cut her second tooth while we were there and I was desperate to find some infant Tylenol. Paid 9 bucks for that but was totally worth it. Here are some pics of the glorious 4 days!

A Family in Need

There is a family I know who is in great need of our prayers. The brother of my sister-in-laws hubby, found his 2 year old daughter not breathing and without a heartbeat last night. She is now at Primary Childrens on full life support. As a parent, I can't imagine the horror they must be feeling. The unknown. What will happen? Will she recover? Who can even begin to comprehend these thoughts about your own child. My gosh this world seems to be ending...so much heartache and sadness. Earthquakes, tsunamis, children dying. It's almost to scary. I am terrified of the fact that life can change so quickly and with events so life-altering. It happens in an instant. So what we have is our faith and prayer. We are blessed. I am blessed. I have knowledge that is my saving grace. So please prayer for little Sage and her parents who would die for her..who would trade places in an instant with her...who would take away her pain. Just as any parent would. Pray. For more info click here http://bartonfamilyco.blogspot.com/

I Feel Pretty...

I'm not sure what it is about a good hair cut and color, but I sure do love it. It makes me feel pretty and that's a rough one to accomplish especially since...

a. I have a yucky cold
b. I have a zit on my chin (seriously I am gonna die an old lady who still gets zits)
c. I have a hole in my jeans right at the crotch (dang fat thighs)
d. Still have 20 lbs. of baby weight to lose and
e. I am really sleep deprived due to baby and cold

So thanks Julia for making me feel pretty for today because I never can get it look like you do...although I try and I try. So yeah for hair stylists who work their magic and make people like me feel pretty!

Savings

We've been planning this vacation to Disneyland for a while so I set up this "Disneyland Savings Jar" on the counter for the kids to start saving some money. (More a matter of principle) Any loose change, dollars, etc that were found, went in..although sometimes car washing quarters came out. The kids loved it and were faithful in contributing. So yesterday we went to the change exchanging machine at the bank and they all watching as it quickly counted a heavy bowl filled with change. End result $172.70. Not to shabby. So they will each have some spending money and we may buy an ice cream or two before it's gone! Good job kids...and Dad...who was the main contributor :) Now onto another savings jar...Hmmm, I'm thinking Hawaii!

Blog Overhaul

Anyone out there know how to change format slash layout of blogs? And can explain it to a computer idiot like me? I am ready for a blog change and I'm not talking just backgrounds? Advice?

Here's What We Did

Yesterday was a day filled of the perfect snow for building snowmen..so out we went and here is what went down. Although if you drive by today, you'll notice that Nate kicked the snow bucket and Ellie's face went through a rough patch of snow surgery. But it was cute while it lasted.
Our snow family..I especially love my hair-do

Question

So Nate and I are trying to plan a vacation to Disneyland and we are wondering whether to book a 3 or 4 day hopper pass. We are wondering if 4 days is too much..will the kids have Disney burn-out? Has anyone been recently or have an opinion on this matter? Please give us some feed back.

On another note, I am patting myself on the back today for a great deal I found. I bought 12 boxes of Golden Grahams for $.53 ..that's 53 cents people. ..not each box for all 12. What a deal. Found it by luck so we are set in the cereal department for a while.

Birds & the Bees

So a couple of nights ago, Nate and I had "the talk" with our nine year old son. I have been dreading this talk..so many questions. What do you say? How do you say it? How much do you say? I'm not sure how it even got started but there Nate and I were saying big, embarrassing words and trying to be very serious. All in all, I think it went rather well. Connor finally said, "Can I go to bed now...we've been talking for half an hour?" Ah kids!

Our Song

Nate and I have never had a "song." Not because we didn't want one, just because that sort of thing never came up in all our years of dating and marriage..not until yesterday. I came home from picking up the kids from school and Nate was buying some songs off itunes. He asked me if I wanted to hear our song. I was puzzled...did I forget we had a song? Anywho..he had heard this song on one of his many drives to Nephi and said it reminded him of us. Remembering it, he bought it and now it is our song. "Then" by Brad Paisley.

Because Nate and I dated so long in high school we used to always think we loved each other so much..but here we are almost 11 years later and we feel like we love each other even more now. You now how you think you couldn't love someone more and then it's possible. It's like having another child. You don't know how much more love you have and then when that baby is born, your love magically expounds a million times. So listen to the song when you have time. Listen to the words..."Now your my whole world, now your my whole life" "And I thought I loved you then"

So mushy...when I came in and he told me he found me our song, I was so touched. Nate's not a really romantic, thoughtful guy..no offense honey. So this was surprising. We stood in the kitchen hugging, dancing and then Connor walked by and rolled his eyes. Exactly what a nine year old boy should do. So now we have a song with a fun story to go with it. And it's even a country song. Who knew! Love you babe!

A Mothers Sorrow

A mother I do not know will bury her 2 month old child today. I found her story through my cousins blog. Her trial brought me to tears as her baby boy was born just three days after Maggie. I felt a sense of sorrow, sadness, and a gratitude for the gospel. I held Maggie a little longer before bedtime last night. You can read more about her story here, but first get a box of kleenex. http://www.natalienortonphoto.com/

This amazingly strong mother needs our prayers today.

Tubing & Hot Chocolate

Notice the old school string hooking her mittens together. Cute little snow girl.

I'm not sure if Sophie even got any hot chocolate in her mouth..most of it is down her coat

Taylor, Ellie & Sophie

We had a great time tubing with all of Nates family over New Years...even baby Maggs got all decked out in her hat and gloves. Sledding and hot chocolate...hard to beat.

A Name and A Blessing

Aunt Lauren and Aunt Hailee

Proud Grandpa C

Daddy and Maggs

Last Sunday, we blessed our Maggie Jane. Nate did an incredible job. The spirit all through Sacrament meeting was tangible. It was a wonderful day filled with family, food and fun. Thanks to our amazingly supportive family. We are blessed.

Brown Baggin' It

So today I did something I thought I might never do...I entered our local liquor agency and purchased some Marsala wine. You see, Nate has this love affair with the Marsala Chicken from the Olive Garden. So I got online, found the recipe and decided to make it. I had all the ingredients minus the wine. And you can't pick that up here at the local Walmart, so off I went. I have to say I was slightly nervous. I mean what's a person to think when they see their Primary President coming out of the liquor store with a brown bag??? Well I did it and it was even half price today for a grand total of $3.99. Who says drinking is expensive :) So I'll let you know how my first experience cooking with wine goes. Bottoms up!

(ok I know that last little "bottoms up" bit is probably more for beer...but my alcohol/wine/beer lingo just isn't all that expansive)

And on another note, the building where the liquor agency is, was the place where my Grandpa was born. It used to be his father's bakery. I feel a full circle moment coming...

Jealous???

For Christmas we draw names and this year my brother drew Nates name. Lucky for him! So this year Rob gave Nate this custom made toilet paper holder. I know you are all jealous...so for those of you who are dying to have one of these beauties, you can come get ours :) Thanks Rob for this one-of-a-kind item. We love it??

A moment of Perfect

Today I sat holding my Maggie Jane in a soft, comfy blanket, watched snow fall outside my window and read 9 chapters from the Christmas Jars Reunion book. It was an hour and a half of perfection. And an excellent book so far. I highly recommend the first one as well.

I'm Dreaming...

Of a white Christmas and that's what we woke up to this morning..about 6 glorious inches. although I just spent the better part of my morning shoveling the garage and walkways. And it wouldn't be so bad except that after it's been driven on, that snow doesn't come off. So as I'm pushing my shovel along, I hit the driven on part and it jars the shovel into my gut. Again and again. But it looks like we'll have a white Christmas after all! I feel bad for Nate who has to deliver in this mess. Yesterday he got stuck in his UPS truck for a total of 3 hours. Poor guy! Only 2 more miserable days left.
Merry Christmas

Facts about Yours Truly

1. I don't mind doing laundry..even folding it..but I hate loads of whites. Socks, garmmies, too many pieces...I dread doing whites

2. I don't drink pop..I don't like it. But i do like Welches Grape...it's delicious. My friend says she doesn't consider it "real" pop.

3. I love Fruit Roll-ups. They are a tasty bit of goodness. They need to come in like 2 feet wrappers. The size they are now, can be eaten in like 3 bites. I'm probably too old for fruit roll-ups but i don't care. i buy them and am the only one who eats them. Secretly, they were on sale at Albertsons the other week for .99 a box. I bought 8 boxes. I'm not lying.

4. I love to read. If i get to engrossed in a book, my children will be eating cereal. I make myself set goals and then if I reach them, I can read. Like I'll tell myself no reading until the laundry is done or something like that..otherwise nothing gets done.

5. I love blogging and reading blogs. Why are we so fascinated with other people..I think it makes us feel normal.

6. I love a freshly vacuumed house. Because even if the house is dirty, the vacuumed floor makes it seem clean.

7. I love the gospel. I feel blessed to be a daughter of God, doing His work in raising my children. I am terrified of failing. I ask Him each day to help me be a better mother.

8. I love peppermint stuff. I hate cinnamon stuff.

9. I am the pickiest shoe person ever...ask my sister. I can go into a department store full of shoes, and maybe find one I like. I am not kidding. I want to like them all, but I just don't. I think there is something wrong with me.

10. I am like every other woman and can talk about giving birth, nursing, periods, and other womanly things for hours on end.

So there you have it, facts about me, interesting or not, I think my kids might like to know things about me later in life..when they think I'm all fuddy-duddy. Maybe reading things like this will change their minds. I think I'm a hoot! Then they will read that I said "hoot" and go back to thinking I'm a fuddy-duddy.

Whistle While you....

My 9 year old son has recently learned to whistle. I can't say I'm all that excited because now that's all I hear..constant whistling...and come to think of it, it's more of a high-pitched blowing noise. Whatever it is, it's rather annoying but I don't dare say anything, cause he seems so darn proud. Whadda ya do!

The More the Merrier???

Each Thanksgiving, I try to get a nice family picture. I dress the kids in nice clothes and then threatened them with their lives if they don't smile nicely for at least one picture. As you can see, I need to practice my threats :) My sister-in-law kindly snapped a few shots and as I was trying to decide on one of the okay, traditional, posed pictures, I looked at this one and thought..oh heck why not. It's what we all know and experience anyways. It depicts our life perfectly. We are never perfectly dressed, happy smilers in real life. Our lives are happy but crazy. So I choose this great picture for our Christmas card. Ordered them on Shutterfly with the caption "The More the Merrier???" I have decided it is now my favorite Christmas card to date! Plus it was fun to step outside my comfort box and do something unexpected. So if you didn't get a card, here it is. Merry Christmas!

6 Weeks and growing

So my sweet Maggie Jane will turn 6 weeks old tomorrow. How insane is that! Time truly flies. It's one of those things my mind can't wrap around..this time thing. It will be one of my questions for God. How does time work? Why does it seem to go so fast but slow at the same time? I'll find out one day. But for now, I will continue to enjoy each moment of this little girls' life. She is amazing and beautiful..oh how we love her!