Disneyland For Christmas

Once again the girls decided that what they wanted for Christmas was a day at Disneyland! So we ended up having another fun filled day at Disneyland.

The week before it threatened to rain, but luckily the day was a beautiful bright sunny day. And there was hardly any crowds, due to the fact that it was a Wednesday and it had been raining the days leading up to our trip. The longest we had to stand in line was at the Peter Pan ride and Pixie Hollow!

It was fun to take the girls and see what they were excited about this time that they never cared about before. We also had Austin with us and this was his very first time ever at Disneyland.

We also did a few things for the very first time on this trip. We rode the Matterhorn, a first for everyone but Erik, the lines are usually so long for that one that we just skip it but not this time. Emma screamed the whole time and said it was okay while Austin kept his eyes closed the whole time, but Mia and I enjoyed it!

We watched Fantasmic for the first time. I was impressed with the whole show. Disney really knows how to put on a show!

We also went and watched the Jedi Academy. Both girls got picked to be part of the academy! They had a blast!

We also watched the Christmas parade. Well Erik, Austin and the girls watched the parade while I made a run to the car to get the jackets.

One good thing is about going every year is that the girls don't feel the need to get their pictures taken with every character, which means we have more time for rides!

Mia's favorite part about Disneyland this year was "The Matterhorn, Fantasmic, and just everything pretty much!" Emma's favorite part about Disneyland this year was "The fireworks and Fantasmic!"

Austin and the girls!

Us in front of the castle, Thanks Austin for taking the picture!

The castle lit up with Christmas Lights!

Erik and the girls on the bridge on Tom Sawyers Island

Mia fighting Darth Maul!

Emma fighting Darth Maul!

Circus!

We had promised the girls for Christmas two years ago that we would take them to the circus. Well, that first year we couldn't find a circus near us. So when in the second year I found cheap circus tickets for a circus 15-20 minutes from us I jumped on them and bought four tickets six months early!

Then Erik's grandfather passed away and the funeral was being held that same weekend. And the girls and I had been sick and didn't want to get anyone else sick. So, Erik went to the funeral and the girls and I took Mia's best friend Charlotte to the circus.

We attended the Barnum and Bailey Ringling Brothers Circus Musical Spectacular Zing Zang Zoom! There was elephants, zebras, tigers, acrobats, trapeze, dancers, singing, magic, and so much more. We had a great time!

They opened up the floor of the circus an hour early so you could meet some of the people in the circus and see some of the acts pretty close. With so many people crowding a round some of the things we were able to see better from our seats, we were in the 6th row! Good cheap seats, that's a great deal!

The girls decided that they want to run away to the circus. Charlotte wants to be one of the dancers because "they are in the show alot but the don't have to do any dangerous stunts." Emma wants to work with the animals, especially the elephants, because she loves animals. And Mia is having a tough time deciding, she likes all the acrobatic stuff, like the cirque de soleil inspired stunts, but she also likes the dancing, and the ringmaster!

Here are a few pictures that turned out okay. I will be having Erik show me how to put together a video, because we shot a ton of video!

Waiting somewhat patiently in line in the blistering heat!

Sitting in their seats waiting for the show to start

Smiling pretty with the clown

Part of the opening act.

Where's My Holiday Spirit?

Christmas is usually my favorite time of year! I love the excitement, decorating, present buying, present wrapping, baking, and everything else that comes with the holidays! But this year I have been a total Grinch.

Okay, maybe not total as I did still do all the same Christmas activities, but I certainly did not have the same excitement. We put up our Christmas tree, last week mostly so the girls would stop bugging me about it. I feel just terrible!

And this year instead of goody trays I made mini loaves of bread, so I wouldn't eat all the goodies and balloon up again. I was up until 2:00am last night finishing up so Erik could take them around to his stores. It's my own fault, I've had all the ingredients for a week and just kept putting it off.

In the midst of all the holiday preparations my Grandma Uber passed away. She had a stroke the day before Thanksgiving and the doctors didn't think that she would make it through the week. I was heart broken. We have not been out to see everyone in over a year and I wanted to be there one last time to see her and have her see the girls one last time. But finances being what they are we couldn't afford it.

After the week had passed she started to show improvement. SO, I didn't feel the pressing need to get out there . We were hoping that she would hold out until we could make it out next year. A couple of weeks go by and the reports are all good.

And then I got the phone call, she suddenly got worse. She was in so much pain that they had her on so much pain medication that she was pretty much out of it. And then my Grandpa Joe had to make the hard decision to take out her feeding tube and such and let her go. The next afternoon she was gone.

The funeral was yesterday in Pennsylvania and here I am in California trying to get excited about Christmas. I feel like I am just going through the motions. Paste on the smile, give the gifts, wish everyone a Merry Christmas--over and over again.

It's not so much missing the funeral that hurts so much it's missing the last chance to say goodbye. Being LDS I know that she is in a better place. I know that she is surrounded by friends and family that have gone before and I know that she is happy. I know that she can see us, it just hurts so bad that I can't see her.

So, if my smiles seem more fake than real and the Merry Christmas greeting seems empty please understand that I am trying.

We do wish you all a Merry Christmas. May your Christmas be great and the New Year wonderful!

Breakfast With Santa

On Saturday we had breakfast with Santa for the kids. We had a breakfast of pancakes at 9:00am and then Santa came.

Unfortunately since I am part of the activities committee I had to get there early to set up. But before I could go to the church I had to stop at the store and pick up the orange juice for breakfast. (I didn't have enough room in my fridge to keep it in there until it was time.) And Erik had to go into the office so I had to get the girls up and take them with me. So, on a cold and gloomy Saturday we were up at 5:30am! Can you tell that I'm not a morning person?

Anyway, we had a pretty good turn out and it seemed like everyone had a good time. If you didn't just lie to me and say you did! ;)

The girls knew exactly what to do when it was their turn to sit on Santa's lap. They jumped right up and told him what they wanted. Santa brings our kids one toy each year and then the rest are from mom and dad. It's easier on Santa that way!

Emma asking for a Littlest Pet Shop Gym Playset!

Mia asking for a Barbie.

Okay one more quick story. Emma's Sunday school teacher, Melissa Zendejas got her class each a gift. (Well, Mia's teacher Gayle Sapronetti got her class a gift too but this story is about Emma's gift!) Anyway, part of the gift was a puzzle. Later that evening after church Emma decided that she wanted to do the puzzle. So, they got out the puzzle and started working on it.

While they were working on it I was putting together presents for the ladies I visit teach. They got the puzzle put together and oh no, there was a piece missing! So they searched every where all over the floor, on the table, under things sitting on the table and they couldn't find it!

Then it was time for bed and they still hadn't found the piece. They were so sad! Even Erik couldn't find the piece. I decided to give it a try and I'm looking everywhere, I'm even on my hands and knees under the table!

I then had this horrible thought that maybe I had accidentally put the puzzle piece into the gifts I was making for the ladies I visit teach. I really didn't want to take apart each gift just to find a puzzle piece--I had made the potpourri/light vase thingies--most of you have probably received one as a gift at some point. But being the good mom that I am I pick up the first vase ready to dump it out, and there stuck to the bottom of the vase where I had taken off the price tag was the puzzle piece!!!

Yay!!! So, I call the girls out give them the piece they put it on the puzzle we snap a quick picture and then they are off to bed! Good save, mom. I was able to be a heroine to the girls and I didn't have to dump out and redo each present! Whew!

The completed puzzle!

Disneyland Fun!!

On Friday we went to Disneyland, that was our families' big Christmas present! The girls had a blast, as did Erik and I.

It reminded me of when Erik and I went to Disneyland for our honeymoon. For those of you who don't know, I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I had never been to Disneyland. I had been to lots of amusement parks, I LOVE roller coasters!! So, I assumed that Disneyland would be like the other amusement parks I had attended--lots and lots of roller coasters.

Well, I could not have been more wrong. There are hardly any roller coasters, which works out well for families with young children. I remember being so disappointed with Disneyland that day.

Now that I have kids of my own I understand the magic of Disneyland. So, while my first experience with Disneyland was way below expectations, every other visit has been magical!

Erik's boss had made reservations at the blue Bayou restaurant inside Disneyland for their work Christmas party. The food was great, but no kids allowed at the party. So, Erik's parents made the drive down to Anaheim to pick up the girls and take them home. They went way beyond Grandparent duty that night! Thanks again!

With the new release of the Tinkerbell movie they have a section of the magic kingdom done up as Pixie Hollow. They have it set up so you feel like you have shrunk down to fairy size. Here the girls are inside pixie hollow.

You also get to meet some of the fairies and get your picture taken with them. Here the girls are with Tinkerbell!

And here they are with Rosetta!

This is the girls waiting in line for the Indiana Jones ride. This was their first time as they were finally tall enough to ride. Notice the look on Emma's face that pretty much tells you how she felt about the whole ride, not exactly thrilled.

THE princesses!

On the teacups. I get sick riding them so Erik being the great dad and husband that he is does teacup duty!

This is the first time that we have ever seen Mary Poppins and Bert at Disneyland! We didn't bother getting pictures with characters we had met on previous visits. But since we had never met them and we LOVE the movie we just had to meet them!

Erik and Emma riding the Dumbo ride. The Dumbo ride is still one of Emma's all-time favorites!

I rode with Mia so I had to snap a picture really fast before the ride started!

Here's Erik completely looking completely confused because he can't find the girls. Oh yeah, they're with Mammy and Grandpa!