Fam pic

Fam pic

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Look who's 2!

Brynna turned 2 this last Friday!!! So exciting.  My baby is growing up so fast.  My friend and I decided that we would throw Brynna and her daughter, Eliza, a party since Eliza birthday is 2 days before Brynna's.  They are both the youngest and the only girls, so it seemed fitting to have a princess party!  I know, I know, but I cant help myself.  At least Brynna likes princesses almost as much as I do.  So here are some pics from our way fun event!
In attendance: Us, the Wilders, my grandparents, Elizas grandparents, and the Nebekers (a mutual family friend)


Traditional candle-in-poptart breakfast!
Princess Birthday Banner.  The things on the edges are the castles (Cinderella's and Sleeping Beauty's)
The 2 most spoiled rotten princesses' presents
The spoiled rotten princesses


She was soooo excited for her new shirt and crown.  Oh, and earrings, oh and... mostly she was just really excited!

hanging out

Chopping some onions for the burgers.  We had hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, chips, fruit and veggies, and soda.  Yummmmmm!
Kids out playing.  It was supposed to rain so we had the patio all covered in plastic, but the rain held off till everyone left!
now there's a cheese face
Mmmmm hot dogs.  not exactly sure what is with brynna's face
smile everyone (notice the plastic)
time to open the mountain of presents!
Not sure what this says, but as long as they keep coming, im good 
"a princess dress" really its a tutu skirt
a fun little people fairy carraige
!!!!!!! Princesses!!!!!!!
Cindereall barbie with a horse
tag so she can "read" while her brothers are.  Oh and of course more princesses
a princess comforter for the bed in her room
There was also some stuff for her dollhouse, some shoes, some pjs and a really cute outfit that missed a pic I guess.
the cake, decorated by sarah, me and my husband.  actually, i mostly just gave moral support :)
sarah, we see that you are cheating!
this is how the princess wanted to eat her cake
"what?!? it's good!
So there is brynnas party in a nutshell!  We had loads of fun, but I think we are going to be party free for awhile.  Too much work ;)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland this last week!  We left Monday and drove to our hotel in Anaheim.  We got there and got settled and decided to get our season passes all sorted out.  So we decided to walk to the Mickey and Friends Parking.  Our hotel said it was a 15 min walk.  We looked at a map and thought we could make it.  However, we couldnt figure out how to cross the street to it, so we ended up just walking all the way to Disneyland.  Not too bad.  We went down Main Street to the pass place and got our pics taken.  At that point Ben decided we were already there, why not stay (the original plan was to hang out at the hotel and let the kids swim).  So we went over to the Jungle Cruise.  The kids thought that was pretty fun, and I realized how funny that ride really is!
Waiting in line


Then we met up with our friends the Wilders, and had our pic taken with Mickey Mouse!

Then we went on the train that goes around Disneyland.  I thought it was pretty boring but the kids liked it!


After that, we walked over to New Orleans and went on Pirates of the Caribbean.  Love that ride!


Then we went and watched Fantasmic. Addison told Ethan that there was going to be a dragon in it, so as soon as the fireworks were over, he started freaking out!  He kept telling us to go inside because of the dragon.  When the dragon finally came out, he was like "oh this is just the dragon from Sleeping Beauty" so he stopped being scared.  He cheered when Mickey stabbed the dragon :)
After that, we went back to our hotel to get some rest.  The next day we met up with my grandparents and went into Disneyland.

Then we headed back to Toon Town to have some fun.  The kids played in the dog house, got scared when they opened the electric company door, and "drove" around in a car.



Then we split up.  Ben and I took the boys to the Gadget Go Coaster while Grammie and Grandpa took Brynna over to meet Mickey Mouse.  About 10 seconds into the ride, Ben decided that he didnt like that ride.  It was too scary!




Then we went to Its a Small World.  Ben decided that he would run over and get a fast pass for Autopia and then meet us back in line.  But the line moved too fast so he missed the ride all together.  (he was distraught :) )  I liked it.  They updated it and there were a bunch of disney princesses all throughout.  



 Love this girl

Ben took our pic on our way out
Next, Ben and I took the boys on the Matterhorn.  We got to jump in line cuz of our group of 4 which was nice.  Ben, again, decided after about 10 seconds that he didnt like it cuz it was too scary.  He kept telling me he wanted off.  Sorry bud, nothing I could do!  I had to assure him over and over that the monster was pretend.  Ethan liked it though.


After that we ate lunch in Tomorrowland.  We were really good and packed the kids luches (they dont really like chicken or hamburgers anyway) so that we only had to buy lunch for the adults.  Saved a bundle :)
me and my grammie!
Next, we were off to Autopia.  I got a car that was almost impossible to push the gas.  My grammie said hers was like that too but my grampa said his was just fine.  My leg was dying by the time we finally finished the course.  I told everyone that they need to switch to electric cars!  The exhaust was pretty gross!
 my bens

 me and brynna



 grammie
grampa and ethan
After that we braved the line for the new Nemo Submarine.  It was way hot and Brynna had fallen asleep.  I was so worried she was going to get burned, so i was jumping from shade umbrella to shade umbrella.  I dont think the people behind me really appreciated that, but oh well.


awww soooo cute!
After Nemo, we did more of Fantasy land.  We rode Peter Pan, Mr Toad, and the Storybook Land Canal Boats.  
 Excited to go on Peter Pan



On the boat
By this time, my kids were completely tired out.  So my grandparents took them to IHOP and then back to their hotel to watch Despicable Me

Ben and I headed over to California Adventure (Neither of us had ever been there before) and went on the swings, California Screaming, ate some yummy rice bowls, went on the tower of terror (where someone gave us their fast passes so we didnt have to wait as long!), California Soaring, and then got some ice cream.  Then we went to get our little munchkins so they could go to bed.  
The next day we met up again and decided to go to California Adventure.  But first, Ben and I went to do Thunder mountain while my grandparents took the kids to meet some characters.  They met Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Minnie Mouse.  I was glad that Brynna got to see Minnie cuz every time someone walked by with Minnie ears she would get really excited!




In California Adventure, they have a Bug's Life Land.  The kids loved it there so much.  The lines were pretty short and the rides were to the kids liking.  Unfortunatly, it was kinda hard for the grown ups to fit into the rides :)  I slammed my knee into the pole on the ladybug turners (like tea cups but with Frances). There we went on Heimlich's Chew Chew Train (sooo cute), Tuck and Rolls Bumper Cars, Frances' Ladybug Boogie, and Flick's Fliers.





Next we met the Wilders and went on the Monsters Inc ride.  Then we got lunch at the Pizza place in Tomorrow land.  While the kids finished up, Ben and I went on Space Mountain.  Little Ben was tall enough for it but we figured that we had tortured him enough.  After that we went back over to CA and went on some rafting ride.  That we did take ben on and he of course didn't like it.  I was really surprised by that.  I actually thought he would.  The kids played in the Brother Bear area, then we decided that we needed to head home.  On the way out, the kids played in the mist.



My new favorite picture!
We went to the mad hatter to get the kids Mickey Ears on our way out (sorry no pics, i need to take some.  They are soooo cute).  Then we were off to our car and off home!  It was a great trip and we are all anxious to go back soon.  Especially Ethan!  He has been asking me every hour if we can go back!