Brand New Baby Carson Warren

I have yet to meet the little guy, but I am pround to announce that my brother Robb and his wife Heather welcomed their third child, Carson Warren into the family today. What a blessing!

Disneyland Day Three:

Ruby and Mattie were instantly connected and that didn't vary the entire time we were together. They went everywhere together and talked and talked the whole time. It was really sweet and we love Mattie so much for being such a nice cousin to Ruby. We miss she and Pierce (and Zoe) very much!

Day three was a bit of a bust. Chris and Ruby went early to try and get in line for Nemo a head of the crowd, but it was a Saturday and the waited for TWO hours! Apparently, the ride was really neat and though probably not worth the ride, at least it wasn't a disappointment. There were so many more people at the park that day, and Alice was a real grump, so we met Pam and Matt's family (they were flying home that afternoon) at lunch in Downtown Disney and then I took Alice back to the hotel for naps. Everyone else stayed at the park and had a good time in spite of the monster crowds. Alice and I took naps and then we played in the pool for a long time.

Disneyland Day Two:

On day two we went to California Adventure! On our way into the park, Ruby noticed the big "R" and wanted a picture with it.
We went to this random show, "Draw the Magic" and we didn't have any expectations, but Mickey Mouse made a magical appearance.

Alice, who hasn't ever wanted to ride even the little "rides" at the mall that cost $.50, didn't hesitate to ride the carousel on day two. She really surprised me by going on all the little rides and having fun!At Ariel's Grotto, we paid a lot of money for dinner, but we got a lot of bang for our buck...we met five princesses! We got to be the "royal family" for the first princess introduction Mattie and Ruby with Ariel

Zoe and Pam with Sleeping Beauty

Ruby and Mattie with Snow White

Mattie and Ruby with Belle

Mattie and Ruby with Cinderella

Grandpa and Grandma Pierce

This was one of my favorite rides at California Adventure. We all took turn using ponchos that Pam and Matt were prepared with, but Chris chanced it and boy was he soaked! That's what he gets for being a tough guy, I guess.

Mattie and Grandma

At Alice's age, there isn't usually much of an interest in others, but she took an interest in Zoe a few times. Here she is playing peek-a-boo with her. I was surprised because no one else did it first, she just went over and initiated the game. It was sweet.

Disneyland Day One:

Ruby and her cousin Mattie saw Pluto right when we walked into Disney for the first time!

We had a great time on our whirlwind Disneyland trip! It really is a place of uncommon magic, and any parent will have the time of their life seeing their little ones in awe over the creativity and fun Disney has to offer. Even after only a few days, it was somewhat of a shocker to exist outside Disney and deal with rude, more normal people. We met up with Chris' sister Pam and her husband Matt and their three kids, Mattie, Pierce and Zoe. Mattie is a year older than Ruby and Pierce is a year younger, so our kids all get along really well. Mattie and Ruby held hands and talked incessantly for the two days we were together, it was adorable. Pierce was really excited to see both Ruby and Alice because he just loves cousins. He wasn't very interested in posing for pictures with the characters, so he isn't in all of them. We were really lucky to have Chris' parents, "Gooma and Goopa" as Alice says, come as well. It was a nice group with all the right company for everyone.

The first ride we went on was the Buzz Lightyear. I turned out to be a little too scary for Ruby who doesn't even like finger guns pointing at her, and it was dark and eerie. Alice was just fine, and after that it was smooth sailing. Ruby is more of a roller coaster girl, and Alice is game for anything as long as big people she trusts are going too. I feel the same way.
So it turns out that some of the best opportunities for the kids to see Disney characters are at the little shows that they have throughout the day. We went to one, some kind of "Princess Faire" and at first it was a little lesson by people dressed up as royal types, but then, Mulan, Cinderella and Snow White all came onto the stage and did a dance! As a mother of a little girl who loves the princesses, it was really exciting to see them all appear.

Chris, Alice, Ruby and Mattie with Pooh...YIPEE!

That is day one. We had a great time! No complaints other than that Alice wanted Chris to carry her everywhere. I pushed around an empty stroller, but he was a trooper.

Face Painting

My friend Leah started a new daily routine for me and the kids...FACE PAINTING! She did it during our fundraising efforst in order to draw attention to our ticket sales at the local farmer's market. That got her on a kick of doing it for her kids, and Ruby came home from playdates a few times decked out like a butterfly, and the fun spread from there. I haven't ever taken any pictures, but last night I was pretty proud of the bunny I painted for Ruby. Alice loves it too, but we stick to fast cheek art with her!

Daddy's stamp

We all gawked at Ruby for taking so much after her dad, that is, until Alice came along. Alice looks so much like Chris, that I find myself commenting on the unlikelyhood DAILY. She's almost two and I still can't stop being amazed. Ruby has more of his personality, and Alice his looks. Such fun!

Thank you for Nana

Today at breakfast, Ruby blessed the food and said,

“Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Max and Ruby. Thank you for Cinnamon Life. Thank you for our bodies to be healthy and strong. Thank you for Nana, and when can I see her again?

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S.

Does it freak anyone else out like it does me that when you go back 10 years, you are still in adulthood? I always thought that if I subtracted ten years off my life, I'd be practically a babe in arms. I guess when you turn 30 that is no longer the case. For that matter, it has been 12 years since I graduated high school, 13 years since I first kissed my husband, 16 years since I had my first kiss, and 18 years since I first met my husband. TIME FLIES.

Tagged by Dave (Strom on my friends list)

1. What I was doing ten years ago: I was in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina teaching English to corporate big wigs in the oil industry. Going out at night with my girl Megan to Galpon and dancing the night away...literally, they stay out all night there. We lived directly on the Atlantic Ocean and had a full-time maid! It was bliss! However, it was winter there and it literally rained the whole time I was there.

2. Five years ago: I had been married nine months and I was 7 months pregnant...SCANDALOUS! Hating my job at Volunteers of America and no doubt loathing that early sunset just like I am right now.

3. One year ago: Hmmmm...I was busy talking Chris into a move, we went to look at houses, fell in love with the first one we saw and listed our house the next day. The fun of having our house on the market began, but we sold quick and moved just after Christmas.

4. Yesterday: Got Ruby and Alice and I ready for church, went to church and when we got home, Chris offered to take over so that I could go take a lovely two hour nap. Woke up with him cuddling on me and then we made homeade pizzas as a family and had family night. Put the kids to bed, talked about our upcoming schedules and vacation and went to bed.

5. 5 Snacks I enjoy: Popcorn, pistacios, grapes, ice cream, salsa and chips (that last one is a stretch, I would be perfectly happy with the first four...I stick to what I like!)

6. 5 Things I would do if I had a $100 million dollars: Invest $98 million and be generous with the gains, buy a house on a lake, hire a maid, hire someone to take Chris' place at work, travel the country as a family, put my children in a really quality private school, start a non-profit to benefit children in the foster care system, pursue my dream to become a professional student...

7. 5 Locations I would like to run away to: McCall, ID, coastal SPAIN, Hawaii...again, I can't come up with five...I would stop at McCall and Spain to be honest.

8. 5 Bad habits I have: According to Chris...
1. joining in on the conversations of strangers,
2. gas brake, gas brake, gas brake...
3. I'm a sucker for a sale
4. putting makeup on while I drive
5. talking too loud

9. 5 Things I like doing: sewing, learning new things, blogging, photography, garage sale-ing

10. 5 TV shows I like: The Hills, Newport Beach, The Office, So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol

11. 5 Things I hate doing: folding laundry, putting laundry away, driving in traffic, getting ready in the morning, waking up

12. 5 Biggest Joys of the minute: Alice's growing vocabulary, loyal friends, blogging, Ruby's piano class, just watched The Hills...so great!

Five People to Tag: Anyone who reads this and decides they need a new blog entry!

Bye bye to Grey's Anatomy

So I didn't jump on the GA train until a few episodes into last season. I tuned in to see (I'm not ever good with television names) blondie laying on the floor of a bathroom in a prom dress. I was lost, but I stuck with the show the remainder of the season, through dead people appearing as narrators, the narrator dying and talking to her mom and then reappeaing only to appreciate LESS all that she has, and the least appealing guy on the show...well that is putting it mildly...the most repulsive actor on television, "George" in a love triangle that has no appeal, the most interesting relationship ending with a bride standing at the altar AND the most potentially interesting female character running off to another spin-off show, which I have to say I am not going to follow.

If you don't watch GA, that won't make sense to you...and that is a GOOD THING!

As much as I planned to boycott the drama this season, my DVR automatically picked it up and I did suffer through the premiere with way to much George and the introduction of most annoyingly sweet...is it Lexi?...Meredith's sister. Anyway, though I still love Patrick Dempsey, I think I have no reason to continue watching the show. After all, I have like eight new Oprah's to catch up on should I ever have the time. GA is for daytime.

I don't want to sound too good or anything, I mean my favorite shows are high school dramas on MTV, not really something most of you would even admit, am I right? I think that the scripted soap opera type dramas just don't grab me like a bunch of fake blondes fighting over their best friend's boyfriend, what can I say? With the exception of The Office, I have to say, I am totally transitioned to reality television. I like an occasional episode of The King of Queens too...but otherwise, it is American Idol, SYTYCD and Laguna spin-offs that have me sitting on the couch hanging on every moment. Okay, I love House Hunters International too, but that just goes to the DVR for future viewing like Oprah and anything else I don't watch until the kids are in bed and Chris is otherwise occupied.

Three cheers for REALITY TV. (I realize it isn't really all reality...but it is called that!)