Florida

For Chris' bonus trip this year, we headed off to Orlando, FL. We truly had the time of our lives...and I know that sounds cliche and overstated but really truly we had the greatest time! Minus a few very cold days, everything was perfect...So here we go a little day by day action. There are a ton of pictures but they each have a special meaning to us.

SATURDAY

Honestly, I was just hoping this day would end quickly! 6 hours on planes with 1 layover and 2 kids is not fun. Fortunately, Em's excitement carried over to all of us...she was definitely on one. Her announcement that we had arrived in space or when her Lovey had to go potty, about put me over! Funny side note...our layover was in Phoenix the day before the Superbowl in Florida. You could imagine any noise our kids made paled in comparison to those Cardinal fans. Kind of fun.

And of course when we arrived at our condo, we had to run around like crazy, lay in every bed, sit in every chair and open ever drawer. It's just what we do.

SUNDAY

Our exploration day...props to Chris. He finds vacation rentals like he finds gifts...he's got a knack for it. We stayed at the Ginn Reunion Resort, a community that sits on 3 golf courses with one hotel, a billion of these condos and some single family homes. It also has a heated waterpark, a clubhouse with a game room, gym, pool etc etc..playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, daily activities for kids, and my favorite...a Spa! And it's all included! Best part, it was like a ghost town. We felt like we had it all to ourselves!

MONDAY

Breakfast with Minnie, Donald and Goofy at the Disneyland Beach Resort!!

Dreams really do come true!! And I will never forget it! I literally was so happy, I could have cried. It was by far my favorite part of the trip. We were so lucky, typically the restaurant caters one character to every 67 kids...but on this day it was so empty and there couldn't have been more than 25 people in the whole restaurant.

Donald was first...I was very surprised at how at ease they both were with him.

I love this face, I don't think she ate one thing that morning...she was always looking and waiting and anticipating.

Goofy was of course very goofy with the girls. Emma thought it was the greatest when he stole her chocolate milk for a sip. And if you ask her about him, she'll tell you all about his swimsuit and his missing hat! Which she decided he had to leave at home so it wouldn't get wet!

Minnie was the best! I was so grateful to her, she just made herself right at home at our table eventually taking a seat on the floor and cuddling Taylor for a long long time! Lets just say, we will be having a Minnie birthday party in a few weeks!

After breakfast, we took a walk around the boardwalk. I love this picture. We loved having daddy all to ourselves for a whole week!

TUESDAY

Animal Kingdom

This is a great park! Some highlights...The Lion King and Finding Nemo Shows, the Safari ride, Petting Zoo, and the Parade.

Em's reenactment of the Llama's very flexible neck! The Llama was hilarious, definitely thought she was the queen of the petting zoo.

WEDNESDAY

GATORLAND

I love just saying that word...it sounds so white trash and it was but it also was a crazy experience being surrounded by these huge, and I mean HUGE, gators! Pictures do not do these things justice. I still remember Granny and Grandpop's lake and seeing those red eyes come out of the water. Am I making this up, or was that really real?

The highlight of the day though was going into this life size birdcage, and trust me, I wouldn't have gone in if I knew what I was in for. A little nectarine juice is all it takes and you get swarmed. At one point, Chris had 5 birds on him and one almost made an escape hiding out in his backpack. Good times, glad I didn't know what to expect!

THURSDAY

One of our favorite things to do was to fix up a yummy breakfast and eat on our porch, even with freezing weather! I think it got down into the 30's this day but that didn't stop us!

After breakfast we were off to the Florida Mall for souveniers and to just be indoors...

It was the Spa for me during naps...! And it was wonderful! We couldn't leave Florida without bowling...

FRIDAY

Hollywood Studios

Emma was so excited to meet more characters and get their signatures, we are totally those people now!! Other highlights, Playhouse Live on Stage, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid Shows and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area.

It was a super highlight for our little princess to see Belle in action!

Finally, Mickey Mouse!! Who was apparently in a witch costume! :)

I have to admit, I was slightly annoyed to stand in line to meet these guys who neither Emma or I were familiar with. But it turned out to be a really funny time after Emma called Bolt a bunny and then wouldn't allow the hamster to be in the picture!

SATURDAY

Waterpark Day

Thank the heavens above, Saturday was a nice sunny day so we hit up the waterpark on our very last day. We couldn't help but think of my nieces and nephews who will pretty much swim at any given moment...you guys would love this place! Ogden Florida Reunion at Reunion in 2010! I'm calling it.

Taylor is our little water baby. She couldn't get enough of the lazy river and it was pretty much the cutest thing watching her tiny little body in this tube floating down all by herself. She giggled and oohed and ahhed the whole way...I especially loved her face when we'd go under the waterfalls! Once was enough for Emma...she's always been a little more timid. But she cheered on her "little fellow"!

So this will probably be our last year receiving these bonus trips, we'll miss them, but it was awesome while it lasted!

Princess Emma

Last Thursday, Emma graduated on to the Disney Princesses.  I have been avoiding this for as long as possible!  There is something about going from Mickey Mouse to Cinderella that makes me feel like Emma's growing up.  Which I like to believe she's not. But when Janae invited us to the Princess Fantasy Faire at Disneyland with her and Madeline, I knew it was time!  So I decided to really embrace it...thank you to my neighbor, her trash became a special part of the day and Emma woke up to a new Tinkerbell backpack full of the necessary items when meeting a princess.  She was so excited...to say the least...!  

And magical it was!  Full of hugs and kisses and compliments for the girls.  I was amazed at how they moved so perfectly and plastic-esque!  They were wonderful and so sweet with her. It took her to the 3rd and last Princess to really warm up but she is now completely smitten. 

I don't think a day has passed that Emma hasn't said how much Belle loves her and how beautiful Cinderella is.  And I don't think I've gone a day without buying something with a princess on it. We'll be back soon and lots, I'm sure of it!!

Chris just left for work. And some mornings when I hear that dreaded shut of the door, I get very jealous. Jealous that he gets an uninterrupted 15 minute drive to work. Jealous that he gets adult interaction for the next 8 hours and so on and so on.

Then a moment like this comes...

and I am quickly reminded that I am the lucky one.

SICK

Now for more current news...

I've got 2 sick kids and one sick hubby.  And one trip to Florida that needs to be made soon!  I realized that Emma definitely takes after me when it comes to her sick needs.  She likes to be on the couch with her "sick blanket" and her "sick crackers".  She likes to share the love.  

We also build forts on sick days, it has become tradition...

(Check out this pic, Emma is in mid-sneeze, it is so fantastic!!)

Can you match the parent with the fort?

And who doesn't love the nebulizer? 

Tonight when putting it on, she said..."Just like Papa's, Papa's elephant mask"...followed by her famous elephant sound!

Here's to a healthier tomorrow!

YOLO

A few weekends ago, my cousin Tofer was married to Carolina, who was so beautiful and who I can't believe I don't have one picture of!  This makes 3 weddings for the Miles' in the past year which is always great because it means reconnecting with them and having my Mom here for a day or so!  My Dad couldn't make it, he was too busy golfing with Elder Bednar...geez!

Mom arrived with matching outfits for the girls that were adorable and Emma welcomed her with her... BED.  Welcomed, danced, shouted, ran and jumped.  She was very very very (yes, that's 3 verys) excited as was I.  We spent the next day at the Spectrum having lunch, riding the carasol and getting soaked (well one of us at least). 

The wedding was that night in Dana Point right on the harbor.

Meet Trey.  A Tofer in the making.  This little boy, absolute cutie, took a quick liking to Emma and her the same to him.  When it came time for the dancing, he walked right up, put out his hand and asked her to dance with him.  She hesitantly followed.  Once on the dance floor, he ripped off his jacket and threw it on the table.  Next his tie.  Have I mentioned he's 4!  And then the dancing began.  He came at her with moves I have never seen before, think Elaine from Seinfeld mixed in with a little MJ.  He had eyes only for Emma.  She quickly fell in love and they danced hand in hand.  Then I remembered, I had seen those moves before.  Anyone remember Heidi's wedding at Knott's?  Tofer spinning on the ground, ring a bell?  It's in the genes.  He was adorable. I was in love for that matter.  At the end of the night, he followed us out as we left.  One hug for me and one for Emma.  We'll miss you, Trey!!

Tofer is pretty much the closest thing I have to a little brother and although adulthood has separated us some, it always feels like no time has passed when we hook back up. {If I might add, we will never live down our horrible act of stupidity at Jacy's wedding reception. I think I am reminded of that every time our families get together. Oh, how I use to love attention!}  Congratulations to Tofer and Carolina!  They make a beautiful couple! 

Now we just need to get all of those Miles' blogging...a little shout out to Cori. If you haven't heard or seen...she has a blog. Check it out here.

New Post

Emma just told me a 5 minute story about a rhinoceros with the hiccups.

Life is good.

We are alive.

And I will return to a more regular blogging schedule soon.

2009

Happy New Year!

Lots and lots of food, Wii, Rockband, Games and one very loud yet entertaining tour of the local Christmas lights accompanied by "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" courtesy of Emma!  It was a great way to ring in the New Year!

Name that tune?? Bless your heart, Jacy!

We wish everyone a happy, healthy and a very rockin' 2009!

Special Gift and Stockings

I just have to show off one of my gifts from Chris, he always out does me no matter how hard I try!  Anyways, I thought my blogging friends would appreciate this..

It really is so nice inside and has renewed my blogging efforts knowing that I could get a hard copy every year.

STOCKINGS are big in our family and since hitting the adult ages, instead of "santa" filling them up...we fill eachother's stockings.  It's super fun and usually very funny...and there's usually one gift that will break out all the cameras.  This year it was....

SEXY PEEL 

from Mom.  If interested in the history of this sexy peal go here.

Christmas Morning

Really, I don't think it could be any better than waking up to these faces on Christmas morning!  You could just see it in Emma's eyes, she believed.  It was awesome.  

My favorite emma reaction to a present this year...her Princess Bike from Grandma and Papa!  Here's a small clip...

Christmas Eve Fun

I've always loved Christmas Eve at my parent's house and even at 29 it still does not disappoint! Although we've lost a few traditions along the way (I hear the candlesticks are going to make a big come back next year!), we've kept most of them and added a few others. There's the big Turkey dinner which is always rushed by excitement to open one Christmas Eve gift. I learned Em has a little of Jacy in her...she could not control herself when it came to sneaking a peek! Then on to our Christmas Program...which sounds official, and some years we try to make it a little more prepared and official, but really it's just filled with lots of laughter, singing (bravo to Jazz), bells, and reading the account of Christ's birth.

Here's a sample below...pretty much a good indication of the noise level for the next 12 days! But who would have wanted it any other way? Don't answer that.

We end the night with tracking Santa and making up our plate of goodies to leave by the fireplace...