Sweet dreams..

..a perfect way to end a day that started at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m..

Beach Party!

Loving the beach.

Since we got there before the tide had come in and there weren't any tide pools, the boys decided to make one. Sadly, no star fish washed up on shore.

Just look at those abs! Work it, baby!

The tide rolled in and drenched the kids over and over again. It was around 80 degrees but the water temp was more like 65 degrees. We are such beach bums we didn't care. The boys went swimming regardless and Anja splashed in the waves all day.

Given the chance, we'd live on the beach. Although, I'd pick the east coast or Hawaii where the water is a lot warmer. It's been a little over a year since the kids have been at the beach so we spent as much time as we could soaking up the sun and digging in the sand. It was so nice to sit and relax and not really do anything. I think I even dozed a bit. I love eating snacks on a towel, spending the day in a swim suit and letting the kids run around in their suits. Once and a while we rinse off in fresh water--but why? We're at the beach.

Mickey ice cream.


Mickey ears

This was the one and only time I could get the boys to put on their "ears" for a picture. Enjoy it grandma and papa-- it will mostly likely be their last unless cold cash is offered.

If you get close you'll see Jensen is driving.

Rich doesn't like things that make his stomach flip, turn or spin-- this was his one and only tea cup ride. The kids and I did it a few times. Anja especially loved it.

The boys spent most of their time on roller coasters.. over and over again.

This was one of Anja's favorite rides and the line was always long. While the boys rode the roller coasters we waited in line over and over again.

And if we weren't in line for Dumbo we were on the merry-go-round.. over and over and over again.

Day Two.. the big Princess Day

Celebrating Anja's birthday.
(Here's how that happened.. on Main Street the previous day, Anja was dancing and singing in the middle of the courtyard. As you can imagine, she was attracting a lot of attention. One of the cast members -an employee-told her she was a beautiful girl and asked if she was a princess. Anja said yes. Then he asked if it was her birthday. Anja said, "yes, I'm three." Before we could correct him, Anja was whisked away into the Disney store and handed a special "button" to wear announcing to everyone she was celebrating a birthday. The buttons get you a lot of extra attention and every cast member who walks by said, "happy birthday princess." It was Anja's favorite thing. So, we told the boys to just go along with it and it was her birthday for three days straight.)


Our favorite, Princess Snow White

Princess Aurora

Princess Cinderella

Princess Belle

Princess Ariel

Telling Ariel all about our day.

The family with Mickey

Main Street

Striking a pose in front of the Mickey bush..

Bigger than life Indiana Jones.

If there is a fountain-- we must stop and splash!

The only way to travel!

I'm going to Disneyland..

DAY ONE--

We flew from SLC to SNA on the morning flight.. smooth sailing! Anja played with her princesses the whole time and the boys played video games. There was a family on the flight with little kids who screamed the whole way. I was SOOOO glad that wasn't us. It would have been us--in a car.

I've been flying for many years and for the first time, completely by accident, some good friends were on the same flight as us. Our kids are in the same school and have played together many times. Since we both had a day to kill before Disneyland, we met up on Main Street for a few pictures, gown-up socializing and Lego playing (in the Lego store). It was a wonderful treat to hang out with them.

Jensen Spring Concert

Jensen participated in his spring recital this weekend. I would post the actual playing but his pieces are getting longer and it would take too long to download on blogger. Sorry, grandpa. He did well but I can't help but feel like these recitals are held to kick the mom's butts in gear by showing us how well all the OTHER mom's kids are doing. Crap, one more thing to feel guilt over.

Easter Eggs

Keeping with tradition, we spent the day before Easter coloring our eggs at the Coombs' house with cousin Nikki. Too much fun-- and way too many eggs!

What we've been up to...

After five months of major work--thousands of hours--hundreds of pages and dozens of rewrites, it's done. The newly formed charter school board is official. Our application is in, we hope to hear in the next few weeks. Thanks to the many who helped us! And the amazing husband who supported me.

Good-bye Lexy

Saying good-bye isn't easy. In this case it took me 10 days to get to the point I could write it. Our little Lexy dog finally passed away on Monday, March 28, 2010. Lexy was an old chihuahua; she was 14 years old and we knew her time was short. As many times as she made me crazy it was still hard to say good bye.

We got Lexy while living in South Carolina and she was our first baby--my parents first "grandchild". She flew from the east coast to Utah several times. She never got used to the snow and hated to be cold.

Jensen took it the hardest. He carried her collar in his pocket for several days before he could let it go.

I miss her and I am so glad she was part of our family for so long.