Life as We Know it

I have spent an entire week trying to get the blog all caught up so I could blog about California. The time has finally come! Its not that this trip was so much better than all the others, it just was the perfect ending to an already perfect month. You know how sometimes life is too good to be true, but it still is true? That's how I would describe February. Good luck March.

In February of 2015 (give or take) Juliana told us that she was working on a Disneyland/beach trip and was opening it up to anyone that wanted to come. At first we were totally in, then we thought we were moving to Seattle and were out, then we moved to Phoenix and were still out becasue February was cra cra, but then Ethan was awesome. Here's why...

We are always working on "the next Disneyland trip" even if there really isn't one coming up anytime soon. We talk about it ALL.THE.TIME!!! We love it that much. In January we started toying with the idea of meeting the Mannings in California for their Disneyland trip. There were too many factors that made sense: the Smith's were also going, it was only 4.5 hours away, it was a time to see cousins, a dead time at work, etc. Ultimately however, we decided not to go becasue of all the things we had been doing and were going to do. It just wasn't in the cards.

Then Valentines day happened. Ethan and I have decided not to go big on VDAy. We always celebrate but we keep it simple.I really wasn't expecting anything but as the night was coming to a close, Ethan handed me a hand written card. It was a piece of computer paper and on the top it said It said, "I hope you don't mind getting your Valentines Day present a little late this year..." and in the inside it had the itinerary of a trip to the beach/Disneyland with the Mannings and Smiths. I almost fell to the floor with shock. Ethan had been working with Julie and Reo the whole time! He threw me off course just to surprise me. I totally love it!

So that's how we ended up in California yet again. We spent some Christmas money and had the most amazing weekend. On Saturday morning we drove the 4.5 hours to California and spent the weekend (plus some) with the Smiths and Mannings. I totally believe that money should be used wisely and there are times to save and times to spend, but I can also say, you really can't put a price tag on time with family. Kelsey literally cried with excitement when she saw her aunts, uncles, and cousins and in the same breathe, I sobbed when we had to say goodbye. Families are a beautiful thing.

The first day at the beach was heaven for some and, well, not heaven for others

I didn't bring Kelsey a change of clothes since the sun was going down, but that didn't stop her from getting in the water. Sure she was freezing after, but once she got in, I didn't have the heart to tell her to stop. She was having so much fun.

This was Kelsey face the second she saw the family walking down the beach.

We went to Newport beach mostly and there were some amazing rock formations. Kelsey loved them, but she just kept asking to get back in the water. She wasn't even kind of nervous of the water. I love that she loves to swim. Definitely a Wing

I got Madison to touch the sand if I was right there with her.

This was the courtyard at our hotel. Kelsey thought it was her house.

The second beach day was Newport beach, just a different part. The sand was so shelly and fun. I loved it. We tried to meet up with everyone, but I mixed up the directions and so we ended up at different ends of the same beach. Kelsey and I both cried a little but it still was a fun day.

Madison was really mad that we were at the beach, but finally started to warm up. Towards the end of the day she was actually playing it.

That night for dinner we did get to meet up with everyone, but I was still a little bummed from the beach earlier. Luckily its hard to stay mad at Disney surrounded by some of your favorite peeps. We were lucky enough to eat dinner with some of the Disney characters and Kelsey was so excited. She brought an autograph book for them to sign but initially got too scared to have them sign it. After a small pep talk, she was determined not to be shy an ask every character for their signature and she was a lady of her word. She started to realize that it was a lot of fun and honestly chased people down for her book. It was so much fun.
Side note: Kelsey is getting way too old to be held in pictures. Its just reached a point where she looks better on the ground than in our arms.

It's sort of turned into a tradition to go sit outside the gates the night before we get to go in. Now that I'm writing it, it sounds like a sad form of torture, but it really does help us get that much more excited.

We had to wait in line FOREVER, but we finally made it into the gates. We were with the cousins most of the day and that was maybe better than the rides.

Julie Andrews horse

Meeting Snow White and telling her all our personal information. Good thing Snow White isn't creepy becasue she literally could steal our identity with the knowledge that she now contains.

We were worried about this one but she was AMAZING!! She slept when she should, eat when she wanted, and was just as pleased with walking as Kelsey was to be on Dumbo.

The view from Dumbo

Nemo was a huge hit

COUSINS!! Waiting at Splash Mountain

Awkward but the only whole group picture we have

Heres the thing... I was so mad at Reo for two reasons. 1) The UTE sign? Really! The one time we got to ride Splash and you throw that? 2) You clever man! I am so jealous of your wittiness. Genius. This was perfect. And no, I'm not actually mad. If anything I admire how funny you are. #familydivided

Me and Emily's debut of riding together. Thanks for taking this one solo Dan. It was the ride of my life

People started to get a wee bit tired

Apparently you can send letters from Disneyland. I had no idea. I am totally doing this from now on. That being said, I discovered this by taking letters out of this mail box only to find out they were real with real stamps. Please don't call the cops on me!

At the end of our trip we watched the Paint the Night Parade and fireworks. Should a fire work show and parade make a grown mother cry? I don't know but they totally did.

In my defense, its the 60th anniversary of Disneyland so they kind of went all out. I mean they had videos playing on the Matterhorn and the castle, tinker bell flew down from the Matterhorn, Nemo swam up, and my goodness, when Elsa sand there was snow. SNOW people. How could I not get choked up! The magic is real!

I am so glad that we got to tag along on this little adventure. It was fast and furious but totally worth it.

*One thing that I thought was hilarious was our ward on Sunday. We went to church in Anaheim and without even blinking the greeter was like "Welcome. Where are you from?" I'm sure they have more visitors than actual attendees in that ward. It was really cute.

Since we went to the Grand Canyon on Madison's birthday, we decided to celebrate the following Sunday with some close neighbors and friends.
We had a little ice cream bar and opened gifts. It was simple and perfect. I really wanted to do something more elaborate but it just wasn't in the cards this year. Hopefully when Madison has the ability to hold onto memories I can come up with something awesome. Until then, I think low key is the way I might play it.

This was my sad attempt at making the cupcakes fancier than they were. The thing is I don't even feel bad. It is what it is. Some talents we have, others we don't. I can live with that

The party went really well and Madison had a great time, until we gave her a cupcake. I mean it could have been the hat that she hated, but we took that off and she still hated the cupcake. She literally spit the frosting out. Once Madison got her berries, she was a happy camper. #lifegoals #cleaneating

We can't pick on Madison too much though because Kelsey was the exact same way. I don't know where these children come from. This frosting licking mother of theirs is VERY confused.

Here is Kelsey at her first birthday.

The rest of the evening was spent surrounding Madison and telling her how wonderful she is. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty awesome party to me.