Disneyland!!

So, my mom had the most fabulous idea that us "girls" needed to have a getaway. We said farewell to our husbands (even the ones with concussions), our kids, and our everyday drudgery, and went to Disneyland!! The theme was, "We do what we want, when we want!"

Highly medicated, with what I now know was Bronchitis, we hit all of our favorite rides, including Splash Mountain where mom screamed her head off. I think the funniest one was Space Mountain, where mom's screaming was constant. I'm not sure when she even had a chance to breathe!

Probably the craziest ride for me was "California Screamin", a high speed rollarcoaster that shoots you up the first incline and also goes upside down. I've never been in a rollarcoaster that had a harness that goes around your head and in front of your chest to hold you in! It was very fun.
We made daily visits to "Pooh Corner" for yummy treats, and I also tried the infamous chocolate banana- one of mom's favorites. Our collective favorite ride? Indiana Jones. The worst rides? It's a small world with it's possessed singing dolls, and the new Nemo ride- way too long of a wait to hear a child screaming during it.

Of course, Katie and I had to visit our childhood favorite rides- Alice in Wonderland, and the Teacups. We loved that movie. After a full day of shopping, riding, and eating, we crashed at the hotel to watch TV and have a few contests- a bubble-blowing, and belching contest. I'll let you decide who you think participated in those.

By our fourth day, we were exhausted! It was nice to get back to the kids and have some recovery time. Larry had everything in order when I got home- what a supportive husband! Hopefully, it won't be another 17 years until I visit Disneyland again. Thanks, MOM!!

The Most Opinionated Baby

I've decided that Lindsey is our most opinionated baby so far. If she doesn't want to eat something, it's off her tray in a mili-second. If she wants to hold the phone, she screeches endlessly. Even on this beautiful fall day, as soon as Lindsey had had enough of swinging, she grabs onto the sidebars of the swingset and stops herself with a jerk. Is this just female drama? And then there's Spencer. Sweet, loveable Spencer with his little grins and big hugs.

Temple Trip

While I was in the temple on Saturday, Larry took the kids around the grounds and then on a picnic at a park nearby. The kids' favorite part was the alligators in the reflecting pool! (Huh?)

Project Completion!

Here is my first landscape design that I'm getting paid for! It took forever, but it is done, and I'm much more excited for any designs in the future. (Especially now that I've done so much research on Oregon plants). This one was for $175. Doing a design is such a daunting task- I can't believe I'd crank out one of these per week at BYU. I think I'd really like to just prune people's plants, give expert care advice, and do plant identification and get paid an hourly rate. That would be much easier than having to bring a design home and mull over it for hours. I've had one other semi-serious offer, but I'm happy for now to be done. I've got my own backyard landscaping project to do before my yard gets waterlogged this winter.

First Days of Preschool

So Derek and Spencer started preschool this past week. Derek is going to Calvary Lutheran preschool, and Spencer is doing a mom-taught co-op with me and 5 other moms. Derek has been so excited to go! He goes MWF from 9-11:30. He really loves it. Spencer goes on TTH from 9-11:30. He was a little shy the first day. He did very well considering that he didn't know any of the kids or the mom teaching. He was more like himself the second day of class. He really likes their art projects and playing with the toys. It has been really nice to have just Lindsey and one of the boys during the morning. It's fun to have the one-on-one time with them. (Derek was so excited to go to the grocery story with just me and Lindsey on Tuesday that he was literally dancing down the aisles-- he would love to be an only child). Yay for school!!

What do you think??

Miranda's First Day in First Grade

Miranda was so excited to go to first grade this year. She practically came home singing and dancing the first day. It is fun to see her so excited for each new day. She has also really enjoyed having her friend Melissa walk home with her and stay until her big brother picks her up. She worried a little bit about getting all her chores done before school, but so far she has been ready early. She loves her lunches: peaches, go-gurt, granola bar, tootsie rolls, wheat thins, and apple juice are a typical lunch for her.