Disneyland Vacation

Next we headed to Disnleyland!  Thursday night we checked out Downtown Disney, ate at Rainforest Cafe and got an early souvineer at the biggest Disney store ever.  The next day we got to the park when it opened, and stayed until 10:30pm!  The kids loved every minute of it.  There was a perfectly timed nap when we had to save a shady parade watching spot anyway and everything was great.  Liberty only disliked one ride - Snow White - she just simply told me she didn't like it after she rode it.  Her favorites were Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a rollercoaster she got to ride twice (once with me and once with Cam), the Radiator Springs Car ride at Cali. Adventure, and she really liked meeting the 3 princesses and the parade was AMAZING.  I didn't realize how close we'd be to everything - high fiving all the characters and having Cinderella catch the kisses Liberty was blowing her.  We ate 2 awesome meals and had 2 awesome snacks (dole whip!).  Henry really liked dancing at the Tiki Room show and he enjoyed every ride (teacups, small world, pirates of the Caribbean).  We actually rode 16 rides that day! WHEW!  After watching the Fantasmic show and Fireworks we decided to expand our trip and get a ticket to do California Adventure the next day.  So we headed back to the hotel and let them sleep in, loaded up, checked out of the hotel and went to play at California Adventure until 6pm!  Highlights at California adventure included an Undersea Ariel adventure ride and a Soaring Over California ride - and again the PARADES are just amazing.  One of my favorite parts was the parades and watching my kids faces. Then we gassed up, got McDonalds and drove all the way home - they were both asleep by 7 and slept the entire way. Memories to last a lifetime.  It was a wonderful vacation and the Gates were the ideal Disneyland guides since they've been the park 50+ times!  What great company they were, this trip couldn't have gone better.

My own notes:
DISNEYLAND - 16 rides, 3 shows/parades, 5 characters, 3 meals, 2 snacks = 22 things
Met Mini Mouse, Peter Pan ride, Carosel, Snow White, Tea Cups, Castle Boat Cruise, Thunder Mountain, LUNCH - corn dogs, Tiki Room, SNACK - dole whip, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of Caribbean, NAP - Parade, men Indiana Jones, Parade, Princess Meet and Greet, Small World, Met Mikey Mouse, Thunder Mountain Railway Again, DINNER - fried chicken, Buzz Lightyear, Fantasmic show, Fireworks, Star Tours.  9am-10:30pm
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - 10 rides, 1 show/parade, 1 meal = 12 things
Toy Story, Goofy Rollercoaster, Ariel, Soaring over CA, LUNCH - Chinese, Monsters Inc., Crush Turtle, Carousel, SNACK - coffee, Ariel, Radiator Springs x 2!!, Parade. 9:30am-6pm

Catalina Island Vacation

We drove on Memorial Day to Long Beach, CA to catch a ferry to the lovely Catalina Island!  We were traveling with our good friends Maria and Scott Gates, and their kids Kinley and Emery.  We rented an amazing house with unbelievable views (71 stairs to our door however) and were able to cookout, make glorious breakfast meals and enjoy cocktails on the deck after kids went to bed.  We spent 3 nights on the island and it was truly a great fun and relaxing trip.  The first day we spent at a private beach on our chaise lounges, ate ice cream and walked around this quaint town.  The second day we toured the historical casino and did paddleboats.  The third day the kids spent more time playing on the beach and we watched them and couldn't believe this is our life - surrounded by such joy.  On the hour long ferry ride back to mainland the boat was slowed so we could gather and watch 50+ dolphins play in the waves of our boat!  Then we headed to our hotel in Anaheim to continue the fun with the Gates family - as they showed us the ropes at their beloved DISNEYLAND!

Easter Farewell Party for Martis!

We've celebrated Easter with good friends a few times in the past and this year we celebrated the weekend prior because our good friends Kelly, Ben, Adalyn and baby Nora were moving back to their beloved St. Louis.  We have a lot of good memories of meeting at bookclub and married women's meetups, GNOs, boating, Kierland Staycation, Flagstaff road trip, celebrating pregnancies and births - and simply starting a new friendship from scratch in 2008? 2009?.  We will miss them and their great family.  The Heppner's hosted as usual and outdid themselves again with another potluck feast that included Samineh's dessert like White Chocolate Cheesecake and the best sugar cookies I've ever had (that the kiddos decorated).  She also crafted bunny ears/tails for the girls to wear for a bunny hop race.  The Easter egg hunt was a ton of fun and it was great to sit outside and enjoy our growing families. Cameron was away in California getting his Project Management Certification from Stanford so he missed out on our farewell party - but Samineh took on the roll of photographer, thank goodness, to capture some of the fun.

Easter!

A very special Easter indeed. After Mass we headed up to Fountain Hills for an Easter Brunch at my mom's house. Joan, Ted and Andy came too - so it was really special to have my entire two families there together. Kelly, Doug, Charlie and Lilly were there too! Even Patrick is home for good. My dad is away spending time with his mom in Georgia, but we skyped with them. We ate, had a great Easter egg hunt, visited and then said our goodbyes. Took Andy to the airport and Liberty to a nap - and then we woke her for Easter round 2 with our friend-family - the Heppner's and Marti's. Another feast of a potluck and a wonderful Easter Egg hunt! It was gorgeous outside, and so relaxing to spend a holiday in the company of great friends.

Liberty's 2nd Birthday Party!

What a party! Elmo, bounce house, all our family (except my traveling dad), and tons of friends...it was such a special party! Liberty was so happy all day long - she woke up to Uncle Andy and ended her day going to the park via her new scooter. And in between we felt the love. My personal favorite part of the day was Liberty enjoying the singing of Happy Birthday to You. We actually heard her singing it to herself on the monitor right before she fell asleep that night. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate Liberty on her birthday.

Train Playdate and Random Pictures

We met up with my friend Chelsea and her kids Ella and Jack for a play-date at Desert Breeze Park and got unlimited passes for the Train Ride and Carousel. Oh happy day.

Also, there are some random pictures of Liberty after a nap and bonding with her "new dog toys" (she has earned 10 dogs for pooping on the potty and she insists we take them everywhere).

Hi Yasmin!

We met up with our friends the Heppner's for lunch at Joe's FarmGrill. They brought sister Yasmin (Andy's giiiiiiiiiiirlfriend). It was fun to meet her!

LIBERTY AND SIENNA with YASMIN:

From 2012-1-8 - Lunch at Joe's with Heppners

CAMERON, BECKY, LIBS and SAMINEH, JOSH, SIENNA:

From 2012-1-8 - Lunch at Joe's with Heppners

New Year's Eve 2011 - HELLO 2012!!!

Had some friends over to ring in the New Year at our 2nd Annual "Kid Friendly, Early, and Short, New Year's Eve Potluck". The hubs played outside with RC CARS and the girls did chalk and water painting. Dinner was a FEAST as usual and the girls had a blast playing with the play kitchen, shopping cart, and other toys. We also went outside after dark for some firework fun with sparklers and glow sticks. There is something so special about 3 little toddler voices shouting HAPPY NEW YEAR as best they can! Thanks to the Martis for taking most of these great pictures:)

Pumpkin Patch with Heppner's

Oh my...more pumpkin fun! After a great breakfast with our friends at the Hangar Cafe at the Chandler Airport (airplanes everywhere!!), The Heppner family met us at a nearby farm on a hot day to ride the train, visit some farm animals, do the bounce house and air pillow and pick out a little pumpkin with our cute pumpkins. Sienna and Liberty had a ball - and so did the grown ups.

Splash Pad

Here are some pictures and small, poor quality videos of Liberty and our friends at a nearby Splash Pad. We got together with friends for a dinner at Liberty Market, and then walked to the splashpad next door so Liberty, Adalyn and Sienna could play in the water. Liberty had a great time winning the fearless wild child award.

Mother's Day Weekend

Busy, beautiful weekend...Birthday celebration with friends(Adalyn turned 1!), I showed a bunch of properties and wrote an offer for clients, and we biked around the neighborhood with our new ibert! Mother's day was great...Handmade card & DVD from Liberty (and Cameron), a new diaper-bag, ibert bike seat, dinner/dessert at PF Changs, lots of sweet cards from family...it was a glorious weekend!

Easter Weekend!

Last Easter I was still VERY pregnant (overdue), so this was Liberty's first Easter. Last year was spent with our friends in town since I had to stay close to the hospital, and this year since I'm seeing my Flagstaff family next weekend, we spent it with our same good friends and *NOW* our kids. What a jam packed fun weekend! We took Liberty to the Zoo for the first time with our friends the Pittman's, then tried a Gymboree play class with our friends the Marti's! Lastly we tried to go to Easter Vigil Mass but I had the Mass time wrong and we showed up to an empty parking lot. BLESSING IN DISGUISE! I went by myself at the correct time and it was a 2 hour 45 min Mass with 30 baptisms, all 1,300 parishioners holding candles...it was beautiful but Liberty wouldn't have lasted. She did however like the Zoo and had a blast at Gymboree. On Easter Sunday we went to the Heppner's for a great Easter Egg hunt and a lunch feast!

1st Birthday Party!

I was really touched that all my family and Liberty's closest friends came to celebrate with us. A few shout-outs.
UNCLE ANDY! Thanks for jumping on a plane to be with us this weekend. Everything would have been about 95% less fun without you here.
AUNT KELLY! Thanks for leaving sicky Charlie and still driving from Flagstaff to help me put on the party and love on Liberty.
GRANDMA JO AND GRANDPA TED! Thanks for all the slicing and dicing food prep and all the amazing love you showed Liberty this weekend.
GMA & GPA WHEELER! Thanks for braving the snowy road conditions to celebrate with us. And for the liquor chocolates:)
JENNY AND JASON: Thanks for coming to the party while Jenny was in labor. Welcome to the world baby Reed!
EVERYONE: Liberty is loving all the generous gifts. Thanks for making her 1st birthday such a memorable moment.

Happy New Year! 2011

We hosted a "kid-friendly, early and short" New Years Eve potluck with a few friends. Liberty's pals Sienna (14 months) and Adalyn (8 months) came over and even newborn baby Jack made a short appearance (too bad I forgot to take the group picture when Chelsea and Jack were here! dangit!) Thanks to the Marti's and Heppner's for the good food and good company. My oh my what a difference a year makes.

From New Years 2011

From New Years 2011

From New Years 2011

4th of July Party!

We had such a fun swim/cookout Independence Day bash! It was our first 20+ people party at our house and we had such a good time. Three of Liberty's little friends came too - including Adalyn who is 1 month younger than Liberty. They were sporting the same festive outfit so we had to snap a few pictures of that! Our neighbors also managed to shoot off about 20 real, professional fireworks without Gilbert police showing up - which was an added bonus. Liberty was a social butterfly right up until about 7pm when she decided to take a cat nap in the middle of the party. 4th of July is my favorite holiday and I was so happy to be able to spend it with so many good friends.

Overdue at the Zoo! and an Easter BBQ!

Hey that rhymes!

We spent Easter weekend trying to walk this baby out at the Zoo and with friends at an Easter BBQ. We figure we had better make plans or go crazy waiting. I was asked both at the Zoo and at Church "When are you due?" and had to say "Four days ago!" which was strange to say. Sunday's BBQ was hosted by the Marti's who are expecting their baby in 5 weeks. The Pittman's and Heppner's came too - so we had a fun photo shoot with Ella (11months) and Sienna (6 months) and all their Easter dress glory. Liberty can't wait to join her little friends!

Kelly's Baby Shower

My good friend Kelly had her baby shower this weekend. She is 33 weeks and lives nearby - so we've had a good time comparing pregnancy notes. We are looking forward to being first time mommies together. Kelly and Ben are going to be surprised by their baby's gender - so Liberty must anxiously wait to learn about her new playmate. Here is a picture of the gang at Kelly's shower - we are all in Book Club together and a Married Ladies social group. Samineh and Chelsea (on the right) are new mommies of a 6 month old and a 10 month old. And Cheray on the left is 20 weeks pregnant - something is in the water at book club!

Baby Shower!

My mom and sister hosted a wonderful baby shower, complete with homemade baby cupcakes by Kelly. Friends Samineh and Kelly M. helped with decorations, Jenny helped with the cake, and everyone certainly showered this little girl with lots of love and things we'll need for her arrival. She also has quite the extensive library now thanks to everyone bringing a favorite children's book. I can't wait to unveil nursery pictures - my daughter will no doubt have a love of reading if I have anything to do with it.

I can't thank our family and friends enough for all the support and the showering of gifts. It was a day I'll remember forever! Thank you.

Cookie Exchange

I hosted a wine tasting and cookie exchange party for the East Valley Married Women's meetup. Fifteen ladies attended and I had a great time having company over in the new house - the kitchen worked so well for this type of event! Feel welcome to come over and help me eat some cookies:)

Fountain Hills, AZ

Fun with friends in Fountain Hills, AZ! Spent the day enjoying the park and hanging out with baby Sienna (8 weeks) and baby Ella (6 months). Kelly and I brought our in utero babies too - (she's 17 and I'm 22 weeks pregnant). The husbands played Disc Golf and then we all had lunch together.

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