40 in. at Disneyland

Today was such a beautiful day and I hated to spend it inside. After an awesome church service, Kylee and I hopped on the freeway and headed to Disneyland. We had just planned on spending a few hours there hitting our favorites (Matterhorn and the Tea Cups). We were on our way to "Pirates Life" and "Haunted Hantion" as she calls them and I took a turn to a short line at Thunder Mountain to see how much taller she had to be (we check often). To our surprise... she made the cut! We jumped in line quickly and had our first experience on THUNDER MOUNTAIN!!! How exciting! She loved it. Since she was 40" I decided to explore how brave she would be on Tower of Terror. She loved that too. Next time, we will attempt Soaring! Can't wait.

My week as a SAHM

This week has truly been amazing! I loved each and every day. All were packed with fun. Our school district had us take furlough days and to be honest that was perfectly ok with me. I actually was able to experience life as a stay at home mom for the week. I love my family and my girls. It seems crazy how much I love them and then they do something adorable and my heart melts all over again. Reagan is just getting more fun by the minute. She laughs at things now and really gets it. She has one speed ~ fast! She runs everywhere. She wants to be just like big sister and it is so special to watch them really play together. They will spend some time "reading"together, building with their pink blocks, coloring (Kylee is actually staying in the lines), and I just love when they push their baby strollers all over the house like little mommies. I am telling you, Christmas is going to be so much fun this year. Kylee gets so exciting for everything now. She is showing me different parts of a book (back and front and spine thanks to her preschool), and I seriously love when she uses her imagination. She will make up stories to match what pictures she sees in the books that she "reads". She also loves to make up songs. Oh how I love these girls!!! God is so amazing. I have so much to be thankful for.

This week:

Saturday~ Christy and I went out for a wonderful girls night out of shopping and dining. We went down to the Grove and it was so beautiful. It really put me in the Christmas spirit. The trees were lined with lights and Christmas music was playing to help with our shopping experience. We went to Woodranch for dinner and walked the Grove and came home with a couple surprises from American Girl Doll.

Sunday~ This day was special because I was able to sit in church with my Grandma. I love when she is here and I love sitting with her at church. She is an amazing woman of God. I admire her with all my heart. After church, the girls went to the nail salon and we all got manicures and pedicures. I think that is one of Kylee and Grandma's favorite thing to do.

Monday~ I was actually able to take Kylee to preschool. It was sweet to see her in action there. I then had a special morning with Reagan. We went shopping and to the park. I had to set my phone alarm to 12 so I could remember where to be. I am so not used to being anywhere during the workweek except at work. In the afternoon Kylee, Dylan, and I went to the library. We try to go every three weeks on Monday. Sometimes Grandma Jan is there and reads Kylee stories.

Tuesday~ We went to Disneyland with Gina and the boys. This was Grady's first trip so it was extra special. The whole day was fun and exciting. We went on many rides and watched the Christmas parade. I love going to Disneyland and seeing it through their eyes. They just light up at all the sights. I saw Kylee taking it all in. She was noticing all the decorations and pointing them out to me.

Wednesday~ I took Kylee to see Tangled. It was such a special experience. I love spending time with them one on one. The movie was excellent and Kylee cried when it was over.

Thursday~ Thanksgiving!! Eating eating eating eating.... YUM! We went to my parents for lunch and it was amazing, then to Kevin's parents for dinner and it was amazing! That is the yummiest day of the year.

Friday~ Black Friday... I did not participate this year. :( I was ok with it by the end of the day. Kylee and I decorated a gingerbread house. That was great. We put our Christmas music on and spent some time together. When Kevin got home from work we decorated the inside of our house for Christmas. The girls had a great time helping out.

Saturday~ Owen's 5th birthday! Happy birthday buddy...

I think this year is extra memorable because it marks the 5th year of Kevin's illness. It makes me so aware of how precious life is. Appreciating each day is the way to live and we have to remember that. He has come a long way and has been healed in an awesome way. We thank the Lord for Kevin and for giving him a chance at life. We are so blessed.

one year later

This weekend marked the one year anniversary since my grandfather went to heaven. He passed away two days after Veteran's Day in 2009. Words can not express how much he is missed. I miss the way he loved us, the way he loved Kylee, the way he used to buy me things off of infomercials, the way he used to love hamburgers especially from McDonalds, the way he used to love the Lakers and Dodgers, the way he used to be here for Christmas, the way he used to be a listener and not much of a talker, the way he loved Kevin and the way he used to take forever opening his Christmas presents. I miss how he could fix anything, how he would love to do crosswords and it would take him all day and he wouldn't have any other care in the world. I am so sad that he will never see my girls grow up, and they will never know what a great guy he really was. He opened his heart to me and I will never ever forget that. He was such an amazing guy and it was so nice that I was able to have 30 years with him. I am so lucky for that. I will look forward to the day where we will see each other again in heaven. In the mean time, I can only pass on the memories and know that he is with Jesus. I miss you Grandpa.

a sweet day

Today was the sweetest day. We took Kylee down to the Grove and had lunch at the American Girl Cafe. What a cute experience for us all.
Kylee received a Just Like Me doll for her birhtday so we set off for lunch for 4 to the Cafe. I was just so thrilled the entire time watching her enjoy this experience. I loved watching her walk through the two-story Place; she loved every square inch. When it was time to check in for lunch, the staff there treated us so kindly. I actually felt so excited myself to be there.
From beginning to end, the lunch was spectacular. There was never a lull throughout the meal. Once we were seated, we got delicious cinnamon buns, then a fruit and veggie tray, then the lunch came which was followed by the sweetest dessert ~ a flower pot of chocolate mousse, star sugar cookie, and a heart shaped cake. I was smiling all through the day and couldn't wipe the smile off my face all the way home. Happy birthday Kylee girl! I love you.

The napkin ring is a pony tail holder that Kylee was able to take home.

all tuckered out

After a long fantastic weekend, this pretty much sums up how we all feel... EXHAUSTED!

reagan's birthday at home

We had such a beautiful night at our house on Reagan's first birthday. After my wonderful family helped prep the house to get ready, the fam came over, ate dinner, played in their "park", and had a delicious and amazingly beautiful cake. Then we all watched Reagan tear into her smash cake. It was so special to have people over who love her so much. It was certainly a night to remember.

Me and Reags

Smash Cake

Sisters

The beautiful banner from Auntie Gina

Happy birthday baby!

reagan's day at the land

Happy birthday Reagan! We took Reags to Disneyland to celebrate her birthday. This was just the beginning of her many birthday activities.

We had a spectacular day particularly because there was virtually no one there. We couldn't remember the last time we just walked on Dumbo, Small World, and the Carousel. She thoroughly enjoyed each ride (although she did fall asleep during Small World). She was happy that day and loved to meet the characters, especially Donald Duck.

We arrived there around 9AM, visited the park, headed over to DCA and left for home around 3PM ~ just enough time to get ready for the night time activities. What a great start to celebrating Reagan turning ONE!