..DISNEY LAND..

DISNEY DAY 1

I could have not dreamt of a better reaction from the kids. Isaac was SOOO excited for Disney Land and both Isaac and Isabel were SOOO good. We partied sun up to sun down. Laughed. Ate. And soaked up every second of family.

And as far as "reactions" go, I was quite proud of myself. Disney is a bitter sweet for me. We took Atticus to Disney Land in September of 2010 and we had an amazing time. Then in 2012, we went to Disney World for   Atticus' Make-a-Wish trip.  It didn't go as well as we had wanted it to, so I don't have a great  desire to go back there anytime soon (don't get me wrong, there were some fun moments but some tough ones too). Being able to go to Disney Land is proof that I have made progress. I didn't go just because it's what I needed to do but because I wanted to. Progress is progress folks and I'm proud of myself.

Disney's newest and cutest fan! Thanks for the cute ears Grandma Lori.

Radiator Springs

When we took Atticus in 2010, they had just started building Radiator Springs. We showed Atticus the pictures and read all about the construction process and plans and told him that we would come back in two years when the baby (I was 5 months pregnant with Isaac) is bigger. Atticus being the CARS fanatic he was, was so excited to return. 

BIG HUGE GUT WRENCHING PAUSE... Then cancer happened and he never made it back.

So clearly when we got to "Radiator Springs," my emotions were high and I burst into tears. My mom-in-law put her arms around me and let me cry. Then I re-grouped, blew a few kisses to heaven telling him how much I love him, then soaked it all in, loving every moment for him. 

I love you Atti-bug. xoxoxo

Oh Mater, you goofy guy you!!

I seriously was more excited to see Lightning McQueen than any kid around us!!

Isaac, unfortunately, was not a fan of the race car ride and cried the entire time. Too loud and too fast. But I loved it and I know Atticus would have too. As Eric and I were waiting to get into our car, I looked to see what color we would get and it was red, I started tearing up. As we sat down I had full blown tear, I'm sure the employee thought I was nuts. Atticus would have flipped. It was such a cool ride. And if being in a red car wasn't enough, we won! Coincidence? I think not. That red car's victory was Atticus saying, "You did it mom! I was right there with you the entire ride! WE did it!!"

Isaac LOVED the rides and wanted to go again and on more!! Later the little kiddos stayed with Grandpa and Grandma while us older "kids" went on a few rides and Becky told me that after she and Isaac went on the Ladybug ride, Isaac said, "Grandma, I want to get buggy again!!"

Isaac and Pop-Pop getting pumped for their ride!

Sissy-Girl lookin' sassy in Liv's shades.

California Screamin'. I literally almost lost my lunch. I'm such a wuss now.

The Jungle Cruise!

Funny Story... Both the girls were asleep so I stayed with them and Isaac while the adults went on a ride. Well, within a few minutes, the girls, who we all thought would for sure stay asleep, woke up and the boy who I thought would for sure stay awake, fell asleep, so I pushed my double stroller and Liv's single  stroller over to meet Minnie Mouse!! It was quite the comedy. 

As I was getting the girls back in their strollers (thank you stranger for holding Isabel while I got Liv settled) I noticed someone come up behind me... That someone was non other than Minnie the Mouse!! I was a little nervous that she was going to wake him and thought, "Ohhh, Minnie, you don't know my rule, ya wake him- ya take him and trust me gal, this boy needs his sleep!" So I tried to play off my nervousness and said, "Oh Minnie, your so sweet to come over, but Isaac's taking a nap, we will definitely come visit you again," but Minnie kept getting closer then told the photographers to come over so they could take this cute shot!! I love it!!

Love this boy and his intensity!!

My kids are so lucky to have such AWESOME uncles and aunts on both sides of the family.

One of his favorites: the Carousel!

Grandma Becky got a great view from way up high, cause that's exactly where Isaac took them and kept them!!

Tea Cups. Neither Eric or I had been on this ride in YEARS. It makes us both way too sick, but Isaac wanted to try it so, being suckers, we took him. We didn't tell him the middle wheel spun, so we actually did really well. And Isaac.... LOVED it.

 There was a lot of "Wheee" and "Wahooo's" going on!

Day One-- was a complete success and completed with a shoulder ride back to the hotel!

..DISNEY DAY 2..

This just makes me happy! Doesn't it make you happy! 

Two amazing things: Disney and Fall!

Isaac requested that his very first ride be "Buzz Lightyear!" So that's where we were headed until we were stopped by this amazing guy... Guess what Isaac wants to be for Halloween?!?!

STORM TROOPER

Buzz Lightyear

This ride, rocked Isaac's world,and we went on it at least 5 times.

He was so in to it!

He may be getting taller and thinning out, but the boys still got his killer cheeks!

Auntie Jenny and Grandma Lori got Isaac Disney Land gift cards and a Buzz Lightyear "Blaster" was his very first purchase!

Isabel was pretty mesmerized with the ride herself then did a little post ride map consultation with Grandma.

Watch out!!! CRAZY GIGGLING 3 yr. old driver on the loose!

His, "Im so cool and awesome and totally drove my own car" pose!

Zachy-boy and his meat (it was actually really good!).

Meeting Winnie-the-Pooh.

Let me start this out withbthis, we have never even seen a full episode of Winnie-the-Pooh, but Isaac could not get in line fast enough. These were his exact words, "Mom! I need to talk with him!"

So that's what we did. We "talked" with Pooh-Bear. 

This was the THIRD time we got in line (back to back) and he got in this pose, and said, "Mom! Take my picture!"

Pooh-Bear you and Isaac are now BFF's and in fact, the Disney employee helping Winnie-the-Pooh gave Isaac the "Fan of the Day" award!

Another map consultation!

We tried so hard to convince Isaac to come on Splash Mountain but he absolutely positively was not going to budge on his decision. But we big "kids" had SOO much fun. The boys always try to get us to pose and I always try but always end up getting a picture like this... me screaming.

Disney Land is exhausting!!

Sister-Sue. Happiest baby in the world. She was grins the entire time....

Our 2014 Disney crew!

Isabel loved "It's a small world." Isaac however, did not and said, "Dad? When do we get to get off this ride?"

Atticus LOVED "Sugar Sticks" aka churro's so each one was eaten for him (and yes there were multiple ones had!).

The roller-coaster in Toon-Town. He was pumped and ready to go. Then the ride started and he said, "This is going to be scary!" And proceeded to scream and cry the entire time. But when you asked him about the ride later, "it was awesome!!" Crazy kid.

Baby love with the Grandparents!

The Parade. Possibly one of my most favorite moments of the entire trip. Isaac was SO into it. He said "hi" to all the characters, was waving and dancing and head bopping and duck-lipping and basically the cutest thing in the entire world.

Love his duck-lips!!!

"Hi Peter-Pan!"

"Hi Donald!"

We ended the night with a very low-cal meal at Blue Bayou... the Monte Cristo.

A teeeeeeny-tiny calorie count of 921 in ONE sandwich! If you haven't eaten one, you haven't lived. Holy yummy-ness. A perfect ending to Disney Day Two!!

..THE BEACH and DISNEY DAY 3..

After breakfast we hit up the beach for a few hours.


There are two things (aside from our family), that make my husband happy. Baseball games and the Beach!!

Oh, Isaac!!

He shares his daddy's love of the beach.

And Sissy does too! I absolutely loved watching her. She would dig her little hands in the sand, scoop the sand up, rub her hands together then smash it on her face!! 

Digging for buried treasure!

And cutie patootie Ms. Live! Isn't she the cutest thing ever?! She is.

Love my sis-in-laws!

"Vollyball" with Pop-Pop!

I love seeing them have fun together.

And this girly... fah-get about it!

The BEST view of the trip!

***

A fun couple of hours at the beach then back to the hotel to shower so we could do this again... 

Our last day at Disney.

Tower of Terror, another favorite of mine.

Another favorite of Isaac's-- Astro Orbitor

This girl napped here napped there and STILL is happy as a clam!

And Isaac, finished off his Disney gift cards, with the purchase of a sword and shield!

And that's a wrap! Disney 2014. It's been real!! 

THE BEACH
Salt Creek Beach

Seriously, is this not the most amazing view?

We spent the entire day here and spent hours playing in the water in the sand and listening to the waves. Listening to Isaac laugh while chasing the waves, watching Eric and Zach play in the waves, and holding a sleeping Isabel made for a pretty perfect afternoon!

He's a great Grandpa.

Sand Castles with Daddy.

Just needed this guy to make it a PERFECT day....

The older Isaac gets the more he looks like Atticus.

A little rolling in the sand to end our day!

We went back to the hotel to shower then loaded the car up to start our drive back to Utah. We stopped at non-other than Primm, Nevada and had ourselves a luxurious night-cap!!

And this ADORABLE girl is what we woke up to!

And THIS is what she did while I showered!

She thought she was pretty funny! 

..BACK IN UTAH..

S'mores at Auntie Jenny and Uncle Matt's

September 27th

We had BIG plans for Saturday, the guys had a golf tournament in Midway and Jen and I were going to Kennedy's soccer game. Then we got POURED on. It rained and rained and rained, but we kept to our plans and had a great day!

Isaac and Jenny braved the soccer game first while Isabel and I waited in the car for it to slow down a bit.

It was freezing and poor little Isaac was shivering...

But cold weather would not keep him from playing soccer with Auntie Jen.

He was freezing but did not want to go in the car.

We always have a good time with Auntie Jenny! And Kennedy makes one heck of a goalie.

We picked up these amazing donuts (top two are bacon maple-- and seriously so good).

Ate them till we were sick then hit up the trampoline place. And bounced our hearts out.

He would jump off the ledge then somersault.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

The next day we hopped on the plane and headed back home. Thank family for 10 amazing days. We love you. See you all at Christmas time.