Disneys Hollywood Studios

Roller coasters, Roller Coasters, Roller Coasters! Jake absolutely loved the intensity of Hollywood Studios. He rode the Rockin Roller Coaster three times, and the Tower of Terror twice. We all got sick on Star Tours, but the boys thoroughly enjoyed the Star Wars Theme. We came home with a Darth Vader Goofy, Luke Skywalker Mickey, and an R2D2. Boys, Boys Boys! They were in absolute Heaven!

Disney Day Five

Unfortunately Gavin started acting a bit unhappy on day four, and was really unhappy by the time we got home from our late night halloween party. Chris and I spent the morning driving around from urgent care to urgent care looking for a place that had less than a four hour wait. Meanwhile everyone else packed up and headed for a leisurely day at Epcot Center. With a diagnosis of ear infection, and a few drugs later we caught up with them. The big boys thoroughly enjoyed the race track, and everyone seemed to enjoy the finding Nemo ride and exhibits. I got to take the kids on my childhood favorites including "journey to imagination", or the figment ride as we always called it, and we even saw "Captain EO" in 3D. Classic! It was so fun to make new memories with my kiddos while reliving my childhood.

Best Trick Or Treating Ever!!!

While preparing for our trip to Orlando I came across an advertisement for "Mickeys not so scary Halloween party", I knew instantly that we had to attend. Our family loves Halloween, and what could be better than trick or treating in Disney World? I was not disappointed! In order to attend you had to purchase special tickets, so the number of people in the park during the special after hours party was limited. We enjoyed a special Halloween fire works show and parade, and got to ride on anything we wanted to with relative ease. Who could forget the ride of the headless horseman? It was awesome! It was definitely one of our favorite experiences while there. We may never have another Halloween quite as exciting as that special night!

Disney Day 4

Just a warning that these disney posts are mainly for our own family history, feel free to scroll through the millions of pictures and skip the rest.
Tuesday was our trip to the Disney Animal Kingdom. This was a first for all of us, and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

We absolutely loved the Safari! I have never seen animals so close up. Jake couldn't get enough of the Mt everest roller coaster, and we found ourselves in need of some Zofran before we could finish the day. The Bugs life show was fun, and Brayden purchased his first souvenir, an african mask. We went home early to get ready for what may have been the most exciting evening of all!

Disney World Here We Come!

Monday truly was Magical. As we entered Disney World childhood memories came flooding back to me. It was exactly as I remembered, only better, because I was watching my children beam as they took in the sights and sounds surrounding them. We were off in a flash, some of us heading for the Dumbo line, while others rushed for coveted "fast passes" to the most popular attractions. Despite some co plaining from the dads of the group we all enjoyed "its a small world", and then split up to take the "big kids" to thunder mountain railroad. Everywhere we looked there was another Disney character, or exciting ride. The parades were fun, and we thought that life couldn't get any better. It was a day not to be forgotten!

Disney Days one and two

We flew to Orlando on a Saturday. We arrived via three different flights. Brayden and Jake flew with Grammy and Grampy, Chris and I took Logan and Gavin, and Dustin and Lisa flew with their little two, Cohen and Zander. Matt would arrive the following day. We Spent the day traveling, and then got settled into the beautiful seven bedroom home we rented, complete with pool and hot tub, three master suites, and a canal (with real alligators) out back. We attended church the following day and then drove around the Disney property mapping out our plan for the following day. We couldn't have been more excited to be in Orlando with so many of our loved ones. Six little boys in one house may have been noisy, but it was also wonderful!

An Amazing week

The day after my Halloween post we all woke up early for a very exciting day! You see, thanks to my amazing in laws we had been planning a trip to Disney World for several months. The best part was that we managed to keep it all a secret from the kids. We got up early Saturday morning, and I could hardly contain my excitement. I was excited about the trip, but even more so I was thrilled by the thought of giving this gift of surprise to my children. I was nearly in tears by the time I woke them up. I had packed a backpack for each child to take on the plane. The backpacks held "clues" as to our plans for the day. The biggest clue was a T-shirt of Mickey Mouse on the front, complete with each child's name, and the caption, "my first Disney Experience". As I watched Jake and Brayden open their backpacks tears streamed down my cheeks. Then I realized they didn't seem to be getting it, because they certainly weren't jumping up and down. Finally Jake started crying. Tears of joy? No, he had figured out that we were leaving for Disney World, and his reaction was worry because he was going to be missing school. Brayden said he was excited, but wondered why he had to get up so early. It was definitely not the moment I had pictured so many times. I was mad! Luckily the rest of the trip was a lot more exciting!

How the time flies!

I can't believe that it has been months since I have posted. So many things have happened since October! I am going to do my best to catch up over the next several days. If you are bored, feel free to skip i, but I need to get it all down before I completely Forget!

My Bull

Went to a party with a sexy bull last. Had a great time. I love Halloween (and my sexy bull)!

Firsts

I know it seems I have been blogging a lot about Gavin lately. I figure it is because he is still at the age of constant firsts( plus he doesn't talk back yet, so I am usually happy with him). He makes a new discovery nearly everyday, and it is so much fun to watch Him! All of the little things that I don't give a second thought to are an adventure to him. Its refreshing to stop and take a look at the world through his sweet innocent eyes. Today's first? Dilly bars!








Nicole

More looks than before

Whenever I go places with my four boys we get plenty of looks. We often get comments, "are they all yours?". "four boys". I suppose we are pretty used to it. So, how do you get even more looks and questions? Take five boys to the zoo. My nephew Hunter fit right in!


Nicole

More cub scout fun!

The rain gutter regatta. Basically it is the boating equivalent of the pinewood derby. Our pack held their rain gutter regatta this past month. Now that I am a den leader I felt I should also be participating. Of course, if I was going to make a boat, and Jake was going to make a boat, how likely was it that I could get away with Bray and Logan not making a boat? Not likely at all! Chris was a great sport as the four of us sat down to make boats, none of us having the slightest idea of what we were doing. In the end Brayden, Logan, and I had fun designing boats that were cute, but didn't float very well. Unlike the pinewood derby, Jake (with help from Chris) designed a boat that proved to be unbeatable! We had a great night together. Boys really are a lot of fun!

Three cheers for Gavin!

Gavin was born five weeks prematurely. It seems he is always playing catch up. He is small for his age, in fact his weight still hasn't made the charts. At 18 months he just started walking. He isn't really talking yet. Despite all of this, he is a confident and hilarious child. He has all of us trained! Whenever he "goes for a walk", be it down the street or just across the family room, he stops and waits for us to cheer. When he does something he finds funny, he gives a darling little laugh, and then waits for us to do the same. Whenever there is clapping or cheering, Gavin believes it is for him and responds accordingly. I hope he never loses this part of his personality. He is so much fun!






Nicole

What?!

What is that? I was asking myself the same question when I walked outside the other day to retrieve my oldest two from the neighbors. Did we have a massive snake? A Prarie dog or some other kind of animal in the yard? I decided to question the boys and see if they had noticed anything. Upon questioning I found my answer. The boys had dug the hole themselves. Why? That's what I wanted to know! The nonchalant response: "we were practicing our golf, and needed a first hole". I guess I should feel lucky that I caught them at the first hole rather than the ninth or eighteenth!

Congratulation Jake!

I am really having a great time working with Jake in cub scouts. One of the perks for him is that I am always aware of what he should be doing to progress, and we work on it together. This past month Jake received his religious knot, the boy scouts achievement in religious recognition. It was a great experience watching Jake strengthen his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are proud of him and his willingness to share his testimony with others




Nicole

My Littlest Man

I never thought i would be that super sensitive super sentimental kind of mom. When the school year starts I nearly shout for Joy! A vacation sans children, Hallelujah!!! I never pictured myself feeling so sad to see my youngest child growing up. Gavin is nearly eighteen months old. He is walking, and doing some talking, and throwing fits. As wonderful as I think it all is (yes, even the fits, I think being strong willed is an important trait), I ache inside knowing that my baby isn't

going to be a baby much longer. See that naughty twinkle in his eye?