Mixing Halloween with Disneyland

Well, we decided to try mixing the two this year.  And I've got to thank my sister, Bethany, for finally convincing me to join them.  She had been planning their trip for a while, and kept inviting me.  However, I am extremely partial to DisneyWORLD!  We go there every year, and I was so hesitant to try DisneyLAND.  But because we just went to Florida a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try (a first for my kids).  We spent two days at Disneyland/Calif. Adventure, plus we did the whole trick-or-treat thing.  The boys had a blast riding the rides and collecting candy in their costumes!  Talmage was Raphael, and Barrett was a devil.  
Taylor had a lot going on at work and decided to stay home, so my mom came in his stead.  She looked so cute all decked out in her halloween attire!
My sister made all the kids matching mickey mouse shirts that they sported one day- so cute!

All in all, it was a fabulous trip.  The kids loved it, the crowds were down, and the weather was beautiful.  Disneyland is a good alternative when you're in a pinch, but I am still very biased towards DisneyWorld.  There is no comparison!

MUD RUN 2009

Wow, what an experience!  A few of my sister-in-laws and some friends all ran in the camp pendelton 10k mud run on saturday.  Probably one of the funnest things I have ever done!!  It was hot and the mud smelled like a sewer, but I can't wait to do it again next year!  

My mom and mother-in-law came out to support us!
These are the aftershots, but they don't do justice to the amount of mud that was caked to my body!

Our Whirlwind Week!

What a crazy week it has been!  My mom decided (the night before she left) to take Talmage with her to Florida.  She was going for 2 weeks to visit my sister and to watch her kids while they went out of town.  So they left at 4:30a.m. monday morning.  So Barrett and I had a fabulous time just hanging out the two of us.  We got some great one-on-one time!!But because my mom was staying for so long, we decided that I would fly out on thurday, stay a few days, and fly Talmage home with me.  So, I headed to Florida solo (barrett stayed home with daddy) and got to spend a few days there.  SO FUN!  I love Florida!  Talmage and his cousin are best friends, so they loved being together.  The only bummer was that I didn't get to see MY best friend (my awesome sister).

We went to the Lion Country Safari, where you drive through and see all the animals.  They get so close to your car, it was amazing!  Then, at the end, they have an amusement park and splash park.  

Lovin' Seattle

We LOVE Seattle!!  We went for the first time about 5 years ago, fell in love, and haven't been back until now. It was fabulous!   We wandered Pike's Market for hours!  We loved seeing all the beautiful flowers, eating the yummy fruit, and of  course eating the gigantic doughnuts!! 


We ate at Ivar's pretty much every day (at least once)!  This is Taylor, my brother Stephen, and my brother-in-law Brian just hanging out after enjoying some Clam Chowder.
We took the ferry over to Bainbridge and Bremmerton Islands to pick blackberries and go to the blackberry festival.  Definitely a highlight of the trip!  It is GORGEOUS over there!
Taylor got all into the picking!  He rolled up his pants and plowed through the bushes to get the "better berries"!

First Day of Preschool

Quick Trip to Vegas

Thanks to the fabulous Aunt Becca and Uncle Jared, who watched our kids for us, we were able to take a little weekend trip to Vegas with my parents.  Vegas is one of our favorite places, and we did the usual:  my mom and I shopped till we dropped while the men played around in the casinos!  Of course we ate every meal at one of the many amazing buffetts, and squeezed in a show at the end.

 The Lion King was amazing!!  I am tempted to say it is one of the best shows I've seen.  The singing and, oh, the costumes!!! Simply breathtaking!!

 Thanks Becca and Jared, we owe you!!!!

Camping for the 4th

We spent the weekend with family and great friends up in the mountains near Flagstaff.  The boys spent most of their time playing in the rain and mud.  

Saturday we went to hike some cave, but it was a little too steep and rocky for my boys.  Luckily our friend Carrie was there to help Talmage, because I was stuck at the top holding Barrett, who was cold and wet and cranky!

And then poor Taylor hit his head on one of the rocks above him which knocked him out.  Other than a big gash on his head, he was ok!Even with the mud, and rain, and accidents, and cranky kids, we managed to have a great time.  We are so lucky to have such great family and friends to share our lives with!