Swords, Spinny-Hats, Sweatshirts and Cousins

Finally, our Disneyland trip!!!

Swords!!! the boys ended up with 3 different swords by the end of the trip. The Sea World swords were the fav and went everywhere!!

Spinny-Hats!! They had no interest at all in the Mickey ear hats (even Jack Skellington--wow)

Sweatshirts!!! Grandma bought everybody sweatshirts with their last name on it. Spencer loved his so much,,,he pretty much refused to take it off, even with flushed cheeks and a sweaty forehead.

Cousins!!! The absolute highlight of the trip was watching Cameron with his cousins. He was in heaven.

That's us!!! All 25 of the Hall Clan. It's amazing it all worked out and we were all able to come.

I can only speak for myself,,,but I had such a fabulous time. I will admit that I was a little nervous at first, but work was not the main topic of conversation (hallelujah), we all did our own thing and hooked up when we could, the kids did well and had a great time together, so what else could a parent want. Oh, and Grandpa ordered perfect weather and sure enough, perfect weather.

The driver of the airport shuttle asked us if we were moving to California.

Absolutely my boys' favorite ride!!!

Monkeys in a cage.

Spencer would giggle and giggle, and my legs got quite the workout (those pedals are hard to push)

This was Dale -at the Character Breakfast. One of my favorite moments of the trip. Our 3 tables obviously screamed "hey we're a big old Mormon family!" The characters are not allowed to talk, so he would whistle songs. I do believe Jeffers got the Michigan fight song and a church song. Pat got Called to Serve, and God Be With You.... Chad got Love at Home. The best was when he noticed Brett and Nat at the end of the table with no rings on their fingers. Oh the hilarity that ensued---He was trying to get Brett to propose. He had my heart going for a moment or two---until I saw the horrified look on Brett's face. That little chipmunk wouldn't let it go---he did get a hug and kiss,,but no proposal. The rest of us were laughing to tears. He started writing on a napkin something about the San Diego Temple and the "Cinderella" sealing room. I hope Nat kept the napkin.

I was amazed that Spencer wasn't afraid of the characters.

Kyler, Cam and Lydia looking at the map of Disneyland. My little stinkers were freakishly good at that map by Tuesday morning. I think I caught on by Thursday night. Spencer actually corrected me twice after coming off the Buzz Lightyear ride.

Gotta have a family picture in front of the castle.

They were Thrilled with the Cars!!

Look at that face!!

Spencer loved the Bugs' Life rides.

Luckily nobody got too dizzy

Aaww!!! Ryan was Cameron's best buddy! And they had a lot of time together because we "puppy-dogged" Matt's family almost the entire trip. Matt had the Fast Pass system down, and Cameron loved being with his cousins, so we just went where they did. (oh, and they were just fun to be with.)

Spencer was too short or too scared to do most of the rides. So he found his own entertainment in the evenings---and mornings.

Wednesday we went to Sea World--Spencer found the swords first thing and carried his around all day long.

Sara and Enoch met us at the Shamu show and hung out the rest of the day. It was so fun to see them.

Cameron was terrified of the sharks!! And not so happy about the picture moment. I didn't get a picture of Spencer's unhappy moment: After the Shamu show the whales were just swimming around and so Chad took the boys down to get a closer look. The whales were right by the glass and their tails made quite the little wave that Chad didn't see until it was too late. He was able to lift Cam out of the way, but Spencer was DRENCHED. It was hilarious!!! Spencer cried and cried and said, "No, No Bad Shamu!!" He still talks about it.

We had been RUNNING for 4 days and Spencer was wiped-out on the bus ride back from Sea World.

The line for the Rocket ride is normally long,,,but we got there early on Thursday. Chad laughed at me on this one---first time around, waves and smiles--second time around, head in hands (trying not to get sick).

Brunch at Goofy's Kitchen. We burned all the calories beforehand trying to make it on time. The monorail broke down, so we had to hoof it for 20 minutes. Luckily, we were only 5 minutes late. Again the food was wonderful and the kids loved the characters (ie. Scott and Belle)

The boys banging pots and dancing with Goofy.

Jeffers got some early entrance tickets to Toon Town for Friday. The boys loved the bright colors.

AND we only had to wait 5 minutes to get pictures with Mickey.

Cam loved the little coaster---we went 4 or 5 times before it got crowded.

Spencer pouting. I don't even remember what it was about---the boys really did well overall, but we still dealt with some pouting and whining (wish I would have taken a picture of Cameron whining)

Cameron signing Lydia's autograph book. Cameron decided on the second to last day of the trip he wanted an autograph book. Me, being the mean mom wanted to say, "tough,,,,next time we will get you one." Chad, being the better parent bought them autograph books and took pictures of the signatures his cousins already had so he could print them and glue them in their books. (yah, he's a great Daddy) I will take credit for the idea to have everybody sign each others books. Love the crossed legs,,he does that quite often (cracks me up)

Spencer being a stinker for pictures---he would NOT get out of his stroller and sit by the cousins for this picture.

Waiting for the Pixar parade.

Another great memory!! Cameron stayed in the park with his Daddy late on Friday night. They picked up McDonald's for dinner and Cam sat on his bed, eating and watching the fireworks. All the other nights he was dead asleep by the time fireworks started, so it was a special treat for him.

Aaah,,,a chocolate shake and bacon!!! What more does a 3 year old need to fill his belly before the flight home.

Spencer was such a trooper this trip. He spent A LOT of time in the stroller. He was either too scared or too short to do most of the rides. I felt bad for him, but he didn't seem to mind. The weather was beautiful and he would just "people watch". So Friday was a great day for him....we did only what they wanted---Autopia, and Buzz Lightyear (Cam didn't like Buzz, but Spencer was a maniac).

Cam loved the ipod. (crossed legs again)
Cam was our "one ride wonder". He tried every ride he could--ONCE. We would ask him afterward how it was--he would say, "AWESOME!!" We'd say, "Do you want to do it again?" Before the sentence was out of our mouth, "NO!!" He even went on Tower of Terror---once. He wanted to be brave and be like his bigger cousins, but the bigger rides really did scare him.

SO EXHAUSTED!!!

Laundry!!!!

I wish I would have had pictures of the 2 times everybody went swimming. We actually asked Cameron what his favorite part of the trip was, he responded, "swimming with my cousins!"

The pool was a nice break from the park. A good time to unwind (I crocheted by the pool to unwind).

Thursday Night was especially great for Chad and me. Wayne came to our room and watched the boys and put them to bed so we could go back to the park. It was so much fun to be there with no kiddos. Well at least our kiddos. We followed Matt and Shan around again. Ryan, Lydia and I held hands and we all practically ran from ride to ride. It was so wonderful to have that evening with my nephews and neice (oh, and Chad too). Disney is great at night. Next time Spence and Cam will be old enough to stay out that late. Although I was a bit sad that we didn't get to do any shopping that night---Space Mountain made us both so sick, we went straight back to the hotel and went to bed. (I am exhausted just thinking about all the running we did that week--I have NO idea how I came back 3 pounds heavier).

We will definitely be making that trip again.

Darn You TAX MAN

Yes, I am blaming the 7 3/4 inches of snow I have on my deck (and eveywhere else) on the tax man. Like April 15th isn't fun enough as it is. And if we go straight from this to 90 degree heat I am going to be ticked. Utah seems to enjoy skipping right over spring.

A Little Part of Who I Am

I have had something on my mind the last week or so (actually it's something that is on my mind quite frequently.) The picture below is my Grandma Loveridge.

She was an amazing woman! Unfortunately I never got to know her, she passed away of breast cancer when I was only 9 months old. I am amazed at the feelings of loss and sadness I have when I think of her and her early death. My Grandparents were never a force in my life, and maybe that would have been different if she would have been around longer. I am sometimes jealous of Richele; Grandma was her guardian angel (literally) when she was in Thailand on her mission.

I feel such a connection to Grandma. Mom really loved her and talks about her often. I LOVE it when Mom says, "you are so much like your Grandma." When Mom and Dad would go over for a visit, she used to say, "Come see what I'm working on." She would take Mom to the bedroom with all of her projects (and they were numerous--the projects, not the bedrooms :)). Grandma would just light-up showing off what she was doing. I find myself taking my projects to Mom's, Pat's, even work to show everybody. My projects are also numerous (sorry Chad). I just "eat up" the stories mom tells about Grandma. Many of them resemble me and my interests. Oh, mom also tells me I got my thin lips and skinny legs and ankles from Grandma--(luckily the Reva leg genes are stronger than the Bennett thigh genes--woo hoo)

All my love to Grandma Loveridge---I'm glad you are a little part of who I am.

Reva and Elwood--1937 (a favorite) Reva and Elwood square dancing
Loveridge Family 1955--My dad is the youngest--what a cute little fart
Reva and Mac
Reva and Mac--1960
Reva Beth and Mac--1952Santa and Reva

I just had to throw this one in of Mom and Dad in 1975. Nice shirt and chops dad.

***thanks so much to Carolyn for her comment about crocheting that REALLY got me thinking about Grandma. Also to RevaBeth and Arnold for putting the pictures together--they are cherished***

Such a Rebel

We have always known that Spencer is spunky (nice way of saying it). But now we know that he is downright rebellious. We always tell him to fold his arms for the prayer--sometimes he does, and sometimes he looks at us and defiantly says, "I do dis" (he clasps his hands together.) We let him think he won that battle (do we really care that he clasps instead of folds---NO, but he thinks we do)

Last night he took his rebellion to a new level---"Spencer fold your arms, bow your head and close your eyes for the prayer"

To which he clasps his hands, opens his eyes wide and looks at the ceiling. We just ignored him and said the prayer. I could see the wheels turning in that little boys head--"ha ha I won another one---stupid mom and dad"

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I am always amazed at the insights my kids have and the things they say, particularly concerning the gospel. There are many family nights that Chad and I just look at each other and say, "WOW!!"

Well, tonight was not one of those nights. Chad taught the boys about Easter and stressed the significance of the resurrection for us as a family. Cameron really was listening--he always likes to talk about Grandpa James and has even asked if he will still have allergies when he's resurrected. Spencer seemed to be listening, but when we asked what Easter was about, he answered "Easter Bunny doesn't have a phone."

We asked him again a little later and he said, "Easter Bunny bring me a scooter."

WHAT THE HECK!!!! I don't take credit for the wonderful insights and I sure won't take credit for the random thoughts either.

If he was truly insightful, he would know that the Easter Bunny definitely has a Blackberry.

Take Care of the "Money-Makers"

The pictures below are the reason I haven't posted about our Disneyland trip yet.

I LOVE TO CROCHET!!!! It's my newest "thang". I love the feel of the yarn, the cadence when I get a row going. It is so calming to me. I know it's a funny time of year to start making beanies, but I will just stockpile them for Christmas gifts. I am getting quite the collection of cotton yarn--such fun colors.

I have been crocheting so much that I am feeling it in my wrists and forearms. Better slow down---gotta protect my "Money-Makers" after all. I am especially loving the brims---so handsome. They wore these (the ones pictured above, not below) to Wal-Mart the other day and we got at least 4 compliments on them. Cameron acted like he was the one that crocheted them.

I really can't believe they wore these for pictures!! I have been using their heads, trying to get my gauge and sizes right, but I thought for sure they would bolt once I took the camera out.

I wish I had a picture of the tiny one I made for Richele to use when she takes newborn pictures. I want to make a little boy one with a brim for her pictures as well. Little Caleb will be here before we know it to model it for us.