Disneyland Day 1

On Tuesday morning we headed to Disneyland first thing in the morning.  We got there right when it opened at 9 am.  Our first ride was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  I went on it with the boys and then Pete convinced Shaylee to go on it with him and the boys.  She didn't like it too much, but I was proud of her for giving it a try.  We then went over to Pirates of the Caribbean and rode that.  It was so much fun that everyone could go on it together.  I don't remember the exact order of all of our rides that day, but here are some of the ones we went on and how we felt about them:  Astro Orbiter (Good), Buzz Light year Astro Blasters (Fun), Dumbo (Jaron's favorite), Tea Cups (Shaylee loved), Splash Mountain (LOVED), Space Mountain (I loved), It's a Small World (Classic- Maycee fell asleep and napped for a few hours after this one), Winnie the Pooh (great for little kids), Tom Sawyer Island (OK), Star Tours (Kids loved, Made Pete sick), Tarzan's tree house (Boring), Indiana Jones (FUN), and the Jungle Cruise (liked).  We also saw Captain EO starring Michael Jackson.  My kids love Michael Jackson so they thought it was great.  Shaylee, Kenyon and I all walked through Sleeping Beauty's castle.  That was really fun. I love Sleeping Beauty.

Jaron was sick on this day, so he spent a lot of it curled up in the stroller.  He did go on the rides we could all go on together and Dumbo.  He really liked Dumbo.  He was just tall enough to be able to ride Star Tours and he liked it a lot, too.  He loves Star Wars, so it was right up his alley.  Splash Mountain was a favorite of Brandon, Kenyon, Pete and Mine.  Shaylee went on it, but was not a fan.  The last hill was too much for her.  I really liked Space Mountain and so did Brandon and Kenyon.  But, Shaylee hated it and Pete was still feeling sick from Star Tours, so it wasn't his favorite.  Pirates of the Caribbean was a favorite, too.

On our way from the Tea Cups to Star Tours, Kenyon got lost for about 20 minutes.  It was pretty scary.  We looked for him by ourselves for about ten minutes and then we got security to help.  We FINALLY found him just walking casually towards us like nothing was amiss!  I was so upset when I realized that while we were getting fast passes for Star Tours he decided to go on Astro Blasters by himself.  He didn't go just once either.  He went TWICE!  We had a nice little chat with all of our kids about how we don't go anywhere by ourselves or without telling mom and dad.  Thank heavens it turned out alright, but he probably took ten years off my life by doing that.

We ate dinner at Denny's across the street from D.L. because it is just so much cheaper to go out and eat than to stay in the park.  The food is so expensive!  We stayed until the park closed and then we headed back to our hotel and crashed!  It was full and fun day.

Getting ready to go on our first ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The boys and me on Thunder Mountain (you can see my blue hoody)

Their second time.  This time with Pete and Shaylee

Shaylee is so excited!  :)  Poor girl was so scared!

Mark Twain river boat

Our family on Tom Sawyer's Island

First time on Splash Mountain and so excited!

Splash Mountain

Pete on Splash Mountain

The kids on Splash Mountain this time with Shaylee and they used the ponchos

Splash Mountain picture

Mommy and Jaron on Dumbo

Brandon and Shaylee on Dumbo

Kenyon on Dumbo

The Mad Hatter Tea Party!

Brandon on the Astro Orbiters

Shaylee and me on Astro Orbiter

Let's Go to Disneyland Part 2 (Las Vegas)

On Monday morning we headed out to California.  We had a great time looking at the gorgeous sites of southern Utah.  When we hit Las Vegas, we decided to drive down the strip, so the kids could see all the cool hotels and casinos.  They were very into it.  We got lunch and then continued on.  About an hour out Vegas, Jaron threw up in the car.  UGH!! I was not happy, but we just stopped the car and I cleaned him up while Pete got out his clothes.  We changed him, and put everything in a plastic bag and got back on the road.  He threw up once more, this time in plastic bag, and then we finally got to our hotel.  Luckily they had a laundry, so I was able to wash his yucky clothes up as soon as we got there.

Brief interruption in DL post

It has been just over a year since I last posted about my weight loss journey.  I am kind of at a stand still right now, so I am hoping that I can get some motivation going to get over this little hump.  In the last year I have lost 22 pounds, my total goal is 40 pounds, so I have 18 more pounds to go.  I have been at a stand still for probably the last four months.  It is SOOO annoying!  So starting Monday, I am going to exercise every day and CUT my calories.  I am also going to drink LOTS of water.  My goal is 5 pounds by Memorial Day.  So doable and the 5 more by mid July when I go to Utah.  I CAN do this!  GO ME!!!!

These pictures are taken about nine months apart and I am 20 pounds lighter. 

Let's Go to DISNEYLAND!!!!! (Part 1)

At the end of January, we decided to make a spur of the moment trip to...DISNEYLAND!  Pete's brother, David's, health has declined in the last few months, so he wanted to go to Utah and spend some time with him.  We decided to all go with him and then on our way home go to DL.  We had about three weeks to plan our trip and so we didn't get any hotels right across from DL, but we were still able to get a hotel around the corner and down the street.  After a lot of searching we booked the hotel, bought our DL tickets, loaded the van and headed to Utah, on February 10th.

Here we are up on a mountain in Eastern Oregon and the clouds are below us.  Such a cool pic.

We stopped at my parents house on Friday night and then went down to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Salt Lake with Pete's mom.  We dropped Pete off with her, so he could spend time with David and the kids and I headed back to my parents.  I spent Saturday shopping at Target, eating at Costa Vida, chatting, celebrating my nephew and dad's birthday, having a barbeque and enjoying good company.  It was a day packed with fun and bonding.

The birthday pies for my dad and nephew, Matthew

My dad with his banana cream pie

Matthew and his chocolate cream pie

Jaron and Steven playing Angry Birds on Grandma and Grandpa's phones!

Seriously!  Isn't this beyond cute?  Lil buddies!

On Sunday, we spent the morning with my family, packed up, went to sacrament meeting with my mom, dad, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews and then headed down to Utah County to spend time with Grandma Phelon and the the Phelon cousins.  The kids had a blast with their cousins and Pete enjoyed his time visiting with his brothers and mom.   After a huge and yummy breakfast on Monday morning made by my fabulous sister in law Inger, we headed out of Utah and on to California! 

The kids with Uncle David

Maycee with Grandma

The boys playing games with their cousin Isaac

Shaylee and Jaron are playing an alphabet game with Uncle David

David and Pete!  (#2 and #9)

My Moo is getting big!

Maycee with her first pony tail!  Isn't she adorable!

Look at those curls!

I love her smile

Cub Scout? Nope a Boy Scout!

Brandon crossed over and is no longer a Cub Scout.  We have a Boy Scout in our midst!

Brandon with Jenson getting his Webelos and Arrow of Light.

Playing a game!

Even though it's blurry, I like how they are standing by the flag

After he got his Webelos and Arrow of Light

Crossed over and now a Boy Scout

Our clarinet player

Brandon is in the band this year and he is playing the clarinet.  He had his first concert on January 24th.  He played a solo, Yankee Doodle, and did a wonderful job.  Brandon is very musically inclined and seems to pick up new instruments easily.  He is starting to get really good at the piano.