Silver Lake family trip

After 4 years of not being able to make it up to Silver Lake, we were FINALLY able to go up with the entire family for the weekend. We went up with Grammy, Grandpa, Uncle Scott, Auntie Kelli, Auntie Missy, Dave and of course all our family...oh and can't forget Carter and Hilda (the dogs). Darin was thrilled to be able to go fishing up there in a boat this year. He has been a fishing machine this year. It did help that Matt, our cousin decided to come and join us up there, which was great to see him and quite the treat. Sydney and Hailey loved being in the cabin and spending time with their cousins and playing games. Hailey especially loved playing with the dog bed that was in grammy and grandpa's room, go figure out of all things. She thought it was a great place to play! We went on a few small hikes which Sydney did really well on but Hailey on the other hand had a different idea. She wasn't interested in walking or being carried in the backpack carrier. She wanted to be carried everywhere we went which explains why we only went on small hikes to the lodge, to the waterfall and just past the waterfall to glass rock. That was far enough for Hailey. At the waterfall the kids raced boats up under the bridge to see who's boat (stick) would finish first. Scott, Darin and Missy always did that when they were young. We also had some surprise visitors on Sunday, Uncle Craig & Aunt Danette came up with their dogs to hike and hang out for a while. We had an awesome weekend up at Silver lake. We always love going up their to smell the fresh mountain air and enjoy the sounds of "True" nature.

Salad Anyone?

It was a gorgeous day outside yesterday so, what better way to end the day but with a BBQ? We ate outside, it was awesome. As we wrapped up dinner we all sat around enjoying each others company. Sydney on the other hand decided that she was still hungry. Sydney is a huge fan of Caesar salad so, she figured everyone was done so instead of putting more Caesar salad on her plate, she decided to just bring out the entire bowl. We were laughing. She can be so quirky sometimes.

Last Day of School Fun

Sydney's last day of school was fairly early compared to most of her friends and cousins. Yes, her last day was in May and before Memorial Weekend! Crazy right? Well they start in early August, so it makes sense. Sydney's last day of Kinder, all the Kinder classes played games, made bracelets, played pass the bean bag, played ring toss, play dough, and many other activities. It was bitter sweet knowing that it was the last day that Sydney would be with all the same friends in a class and that I wouldn't be helping her teacher Mrs. Esteves anymore, she was such a blessing for Sydney. Sydney had a fantastic year at Monticello Elementary! Summer here we come!

Sydney's Kindergarten Nursery Rhymn Presentation

Part of being in Kindergarten and passing, Sydney and her classmates had to memorize, recite a nursery rhyme alone in front of the class and parents as part of their class participation. Sydney decided she wanted to do Mary, Mary Quite Contrary. She always loved that one because her and her Grandma say it together. Plus it set her apart from the others as many did Hickory Dickory Dock, 1, 2 buckle my shoes and Row, Row, Row your boat. Sydney was a tad bit shy for those who know her, that is an oddity but she did a fantastic job! I was so proud of her. Her classmates did well too!

Kids say the funniest things...

Sydney had another cute moment with Robynne last night. She tells Robynne (my mother in law for those of you who don't know), "Grandma how come Daddy has a Grandma for a Mom, how did that happen?!" Tell me that isn't hilarious. She can be so witty. She said it really innocently too I guess from what Robynne was telling me!

Disneyland-Mom, daughters and grandbabies trip 2010

We made it!

Castle at night.

Waiting for the fireworks

This is so exhausting!

Stroller buddies, Hailey and Ethan

Hailey LOVED It's a Small World(on the ride)

No front teeth! Too cute!

Teacups with Auntie Kim

Cousins at California Adventure Park

Mr. Toad Ride

Snow White Ride

A day with Nana at Disneyland;

Ashlee, Sydney and Dillon

We had another fantastic adventure at the Happiest Place on Earth! We went on our annual, Mom, daughter and granbabies trip with my Mom, my sisters and all our children. We went for 4 days, which was plenty!! We had an adventure around every corner. The kids were thrilled to go from ride to ride. Ashlee and Sydney were super excited when they were tall enough to ride on Indiana Jones this year. Sydney did cheat a little, she wore he Sketchers with the heels so she could ride, but hey she got on. The girls are really starting to like all the "big" rides now like Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad, almost, yes ALMOST better than the Fantasyland rides like Peter Pan, Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland. We had breakfast on the 1st day at Goofy's Kitchen which is always fun, then Breakfast at the Park Inn with the Characters in the park on the Thursday. We even enjoyed a BBQ dinner at the Thunder Mountain Ranch, which was delicious, except we missed Woody and Jessie this time around. We hit the park running from 8 am to 9 pm every day. We would start with a a yummy breakfast for lots of energy and go from park to park going on rides, enjoying special treats and end with fireworks in the evening. The second day we were at the park Kim told us of a great spot ti watch the parade down by "Its a Small World" so we headed that way, found a spot and started to get settled in with the kids. A group of Disneyland Honorary Volunteers came and asked us if we wanted to join them to be in the parade...oh yeah, we didn't decline, that was for sure. All 10 of us were able to ride in the Grand Marshall car which is the very front of the parade. It was so cool! We enjoyed waving to all the people lined up to watch the parade, Miss Piggie and Kermit were on the float directly behind us followed by all the Princess's and all the characters. I tell you what all the kids did fantastic considering we had 6 children ranging from 1 year to 6 years old. Sydney was especially good. She got the award for being such a trooper. She never rode in the strollers or took a nap during the day. She was the only child with us that didn't! She got a special treat from Nana when she took her shopping while all the other kids were sleeping! Thank the good lord for Nana's. Good times, good family, good fun. There were just way too many details on our trip to describe everything, but check out all the photos and you will get it!!

Hailey's 3rd Birthday Party

We celebrated with lots of family and friends for Hailey's 3rd Birthday at our house. We had a Mickey and friend party, which is what Hailey picked. We had a late afternoon party as it seems to work out the best for our family. We feasted on good ol' American hamburgers and hot dogs. Kristy made her awesome macaroni salad, Kelli made her delicious taco salad and beans, I said we feasted!! (can you tell I am hungry right now?!). Darin, Scott and Scott (yup Scott Christensen and Scott Riley) built the trampoline which Santa brought to Sydney this year but we put off building it because of all the yucky rain. I tell you what, the trampoline was the hit of the party. Hailey stayed in there for days and days until we made her get our to have cake. She would lay, sit and let all the kids bounce her here there and everywhere. Hailey loved to be sung to, although she loved blowing out the candles the most, she blew them out before we all finished singing, but oh well it is her day! Shortly after cake we opened present, even though many people had left by then. She did have the help of her cousins as she would get a gift and want to play with that, then she wouldn't want to open another. The hit of her gifts was anything Nemo, which is by far her most favorite Disney character to date. We had an awesome day, and as we were wrapping up all the cleaning, Hailey grabbed herself a bowl of goldfish and fell asleep eating them! What an exhausting day!!