My Favorite Thing...

Abbie said at Disneyland (actually screamed from her horse while riding the carousel),

"Disney....I love your land!"

Abbie Thompson, age 5

The Happiest Day on Earth

Last week Lindsay, Sam and I took the wee ones to our favorite place, The Happiest Place on Earth. Lindsay wanted to take Nate to Disneyland for his birthday but didn't want to go in August when it is boiling hot and the lines are long. She wanted to go in May, on a weekday and she wanted us to go too (because if you want a little...why want want it all, right?). Our family hadn't planned on anything like this so we really didn't have the dough but some serious stars aligned and Tripp was in town(to stay home with Kyle & Kramer), thought I needed a little Disney cheer (which I had to admit I did), we scored a major deal on a three room suite through Tripp's corporate account, my dad then insisted on paying for our gas (he loves it when his daughters plan something together...gets all misty eyed) and to top it off, a coworker of Tripp's offered to get four of us (the most expensive four I might add) in for free! I couldn't believe our luck. We all must have really needed this happy jolt or the time together or both because these things don't just happen every day (or at least in my world). Lindsay made bags up for the kids for our drive...they were all smiles at the beginning of the long drive.

We stopped in Ontario for a little mini golf before we had dinner and hit the sack. Sorry about the buns photo Sam but this cracks (excuse the pun) me up. Abbie hit a ball into the bushes and they were digging through them looking for it. Look at Abbie at the bottom peeking in. Aunt Lindsay did find the ball.
The next day we hit Disneyland bright and early and had a full, fun day. Thunder Mountain and the Matterhorn scared the -Bleep- out of the kids but otherwise, a great day. We didn't really take that many photos but when I went to load them on the blog it was too many to post them all so this is a random "Smash-up", if you will, of our day.








Tired kids on the way home. We drove home that night after the park closed. I thought it would be tough (especially after eating a carmel apple, my favorite DL treat that turned out to be a poison apple and gave me a terrible stomach ache) but with two sisters to chat with it wasn't too bad. And Tripp tickled my head when I got home to help me wind down and fall asleep...the perfect end to our Happiest Day on Earth.

Spring Break

Spring Break flew by this year. Abbie's big art exchange started off the week along with a doctor appointment. The next morning, her piano teacher's daughters, Scottee & Hadley, came over for a long overdue playdate. That evening we had plans for bowling with the Gublers (or half the Gublers), but there were leagues playing everywhere so we hit Metro Pizza then King Put instead. I don't think anyone was too disappointed.

Wednesday morning Kyle left to visit with his mom and we headed out of town for Reno. It took us the entire day to get there but the girls made sure to play with their favorite toys before they went to bed that night.

During our visit, we did the regular Reno things (library storytime & dress-up, Deli Towne (which is now called BellyTowne in our family), tennis in the backyard, watering Grandma's plants, taking Kramer for walks in her neighborhood and to Great Harvest, visiting with Aunt Sue, visiting with the Legarzas) plus we added in a few more including Abbie's first tennis lesson, decorating eggs, and a trip to Starz gym for an Easter Egg hunt and then open gym.

We did a little "Peeping" and "Egging" while we were there and Aunt Susie never fails to disappoint with her box of dress-ups and this time a play house to color. She even surprised the girls with new outfits upon our arrival!

Before we hit the road Sunday, we had a chance to sort through the girls' Easter loot (both the Easter Bunny & Easter Beagle visited plus Grandma gave them a gift for their bears) then inhale a yummy breakfast. It was sad to leave but luckily summer isn't too far away!

Art Swap

Today was the day for the big Art Swap. Abbie had all of her pieces ready and we took them to the post office and sent them off around the world. She is so excited to begin receiving some in the mail this week. It's a shame we will be out of town when many of them will arrive.

Daisy was heartbroken that she wasn't old enough to participate so Nate decided to do a small exchange with her. We shared our supplies with him and they prepared their art just like everyone else and exchanged it this afternoon. So much fun. They can't wait to officially participate next year.

What a neat program. Huge thanks to the lovely women that organized and volunteered time and talents to make it happen. Can't wait for 2012!

Papa Thom's 70th

It has been a week and a half now, but we traveled down to Pat & Jennifer's for the big 70th celebration in honor of Papa Thom. Tripp's Mom was in charge of getting everyone invited and together and planning the menu and wanting it to happen, Pat & Jennifer were gracious enough to help them pull it off and allow us to invade their home so the rest of us just showed up!

Our kids have been talking for weeks about getting together with their cousins. Abbie & Daisy had a slight meltdown when they realized it was the same weekend as Ruby's Build a Bear Birthday Party but thank goodness Rubes is a bestie and and we will have lots more birthday celebrations together.

This photo shows about 70% of those in attendance over the weekend. Of course Mama & Papa Thom aren't in it, neither are Pat & Jen. Doodles and Tripp seem to be absent as well. But it gives an idea...lots of cousins!!!!!
Pat had a kickball game planned for Saturday afternoon. I think the photos from that game are the most amusing of the entire weekend. Take a gander...





Kyle didn't really believe I could do anything so I was just standing around a lot. Not including those photos, thanks. Uncle Paul treated all the kids to the ice cream truck (young Uncle Paul that is. We also got to see Tripp, Pat & Paul's Uncle Paul later that evening...such a cute man!)
Tripp and Daisy just sitting and visiting with the group. This might be where they were when the couch photo was snapped?
Abbie and Daisy sort of fell in love with Garrett on this trip. He charmed them. Just before we left town they were trying to convince me our family should adopt a baby from China, then they hung out with Garrett all weekend....

Cute, cute cousins. Besides the absence of Doodle Bob, we missed Sweet Emily. Can't wait for an opportunity to get them all together. She is really, really missed. Having the Gormus Family call over Skype when while presents were being opened, etc. was one of the highlights of the weekend. We miss you guys!!!!!!
Overall, a great time was had by all. Too little sleep, check! Too much to eat, check! Chili Pepper, check! Three cranky kids on the drive home, check! Lots of lovely memories that I hope my kids have for a lifetime...check.

April Fools

I can't remember the last time we didn't do something for April Fools Day. Normally, Tripp and I fool Kyle or one year Kyle and I fooled Tripp (any of you remember the year I had Mr. Rosensteel fill out the paperwork saying Kyle was up on the school roof and got a citation? Doesn't seem quite so funny now but back then, when he wasn't actually getting suspended every week, it was a hoot), but this was the first year I tricked the girls....

I made "Peas & Carrots" cupcakes long after the kids went to bed Thursday night. Way long after...left me wondering why I get myself into these things. But when I told them they had to have some veggies before we went to Costco and I had these babies in a container with a fork, ready to go, they just looked at me with a sad look and started trying to muscle it down. Then they realized the carrots and peas were candy and it got better. But they didn't think it was very funny...until we played the joke on Nate and the Boyle kids with some extras I made. I'm not sure we really fooled anyone but the girls thought it was pretty hilarious and Nate says he is going to trick me next year so I can't wait for that.

I guess I stay up late doing thing stuff is because of the look on Abbie & Daisy's faces when they were trying to eat the veggies without fussing (we had a REALLY bad night with Kyle the night before that continued into the morning and they were trying to make me happy) and then later when we smoothly walked away from the Griffeth & Boyle doorsteps and they were so sure they were fooling them and then burst into the most hilarious giggles when we got into the car. Those giggles were totally worth it.

Swapping Some Art....

I read about the 2011 Kids ATC Swap recently and thought it was such a fun idea that Abbie definitely needed to give it a try. She sometimes needs a push when it comes to projects but she loves getting mail and she is always so proud of herself when she actually completes things.

It's really easy to join. You enter you child's name (must be at least 4), and where your address then your child is put into a group of six (I believe) other children their same age. Abbie will need to create five pieces of art by April 18th. Then on the 18th, we'll send one piece of art to each of the five kids in her group so that everyone gets one thing from Abbie (and Abbie gets one thing from everyone). She will be so excited to get her mail and it will be good for her to start and finish (doing her best work, without rushing just to finish and having time to use her creativity and to spread out the work load) a project like this. Besides, what a really fun tradition to start with your kids.

You have until 4/4 to enter. Click on the button at the left of my blog if you want to do it. I thought of a few of you who might be interested (Jennifer T., Jen C., Laura, Nikki, Katie...just to name a few that came to mind immediately). Today is a big "Feature it on your blog get to know you day" so I thought I would try to participate.

Thanks to Angie Gubler who introduced me to the project on her wonderful blog "Blonde Designs". She also created the super darling button for the project, because she is that wonderfully talented (I just think the stars and moon of her abilities).