A little Chezney oddity

Chezney's getting into chocolate.

Me: "Chezney, please stop."

Chez: "Okay mommy."

......

I look at Mike. "That was weird"

Mike: "Yea... she did that earlier too... weird."

Disneyland- 11th Anniversary

Mike and I planned months ago to go to Disneyland for our 11th anniversary this year, and that just happened to be this past weekend. So we loaded up the kids, took them to my mom, the dog to my in-laws, and headed to sunny California! The first day had a number of things go wrong and many expectations burst, but after we readjusted our expectations, the trip went really pretty well. It was a lot of fun. We went on a lot of rides, got a few character pictures (Pluto gave Mike a pretty hard time pretending to fight him for me and then proposed! HA!), and even got to do a few things we've always wanted to do but couldn't with kids... like have lunch at the Blue Bayou (too expensive with 6!)! We found a cozy spot in a deserted part of Disneyland to watch the fireworks all by ourselves and have dinner on the riverfront (literally BY OURSELVES!). Those two things were probably my highlights. We also got to experience Disneyland at Christmas time, which is a whole new thing. Who said there isn't snow in California!? At Disneyland, everything is possible! (they actually make it snow on you during the lighting of the castle). Of the many lessons we learned on this trip, another valuable one: We need a new pocket camera!

Above: In front of one of the many elaborate christmas trees in DL!

Below: a quick ride on the Tom Sawyers Steamboat.

Pluto proposing =)

Our own little corner of Disneyland... which really was remarkable because of

how crowded it was when we were there! Just a little blessing!

Lunch at the Blue Bayou (the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean)

Bath-time

Chezney decided that her precious Dora was in need of a good scrubbing so I caught her giving Dora a bath... and she was in the bath, too, of course. Then we practiced spelling her name on the wall with crayon soap. Such a great tool... it doesn't wash off the walls as easily as one would think, but it's still worth the scrubbing... and the occasionally dyed bathroom wall.

Christmas Traditions

Last year, we started a new tradition and the kids are so excited to see them coming out again this year. I made advent boxes last year and filled them with little sweet treats. Each night, we open one and then read a scripture and "thought for the day" from a free print out I got from a site called the Jesse Tree. The kids love it, it's easy to understand, and it works us through the biblical lineage of Jesus up until his birth starting with Adam.

Last year, the dog got ahold of some of the boxes, so along with making a few new ones this year, I added a little more vintage "bling" to my boxes and I like them even more this year. Such a fun tradition!

Oh Christmas Tree....

Today we went to get our Christmas tree at Shelton's Tree Farm in Cashmere. This is our second annual trip and- I have to say- even though it was much easier to get our tree with so little snow (at times I was walking on grass trails!) it was just a whole different experience last year in 2 feet of snow, and the trees caked in white! Maybe next year...

And the day of activity wouldn't be complete without a picture of Cohen sleeping....