Disneyland

So we just got back from Disneyland. Rich and I went there 8 1/2 years ago for our honeymoon and talked back then about going back with our kids one day. Well, one day arrived and we took off along with our parents. Our trip was fantastic, maybe not as cosy as it was with just the two of us but it was just as fun.

This picture was taken as we were leaving the park on the last night. Just b/f we had been on the train - the ride Christian was waiting to go on ALL day and he had been wide awake for that - within five -10 minutes of getting of the train he was asleep. He did so good going all day long every day. He only had two naps the entire time. Oh - he also really hurt his foot in the Seattle airport - at first we were afraid it was something really serious as he sobbed (unlike him) but thankfully we had a stroller for him so he rode in that and by the end of the week he was skipping around (with a limp).

We had such a great time with each of the kids. Aiden loved all of the rides too. He went on every ride he was big enough for. I think his fav. was Splash Mountain. He would cuddle in too on rides he was a little bit scared in. Christian was scared of a lot of the rides to begin with (pirate, haunted house, Nemo) but he would always go on again and those rides ended up being his favourite. He thought all of the 3D movies were scary and did refuse to go into those ones again.

On the last morning we went to have a character breakfast in Goofy's Kitchen. We hummed and hahhed about doing this but we are so glad we did. The food was so good and it was fun to have the characters come around and spend time at our table. We saw - Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Captian Hook, Princess Jasmine and Sleeping Beauty. They did fun things with the kids too like a band and the macarina. If you go to Disney dig deep into the old wallet and do a character meal.

As we were walking into Fantasyland I saw all of the Princess stuff. I couldn't resist putting this on Callia's head and when I did she lit up. SO CUTE!! I felt a little emotional when I saw all the girly stuff b/c I thought YEAH - I have a little girl to buy this princessy stuff for. We are so blessed to be able to do both the boys stuff and the girls stuff - that was only a dream a year ago and now it's a reality!:)

Ethan loved to go on any rides he could by himself (wasn't many). We had our highs and lows with this guy. Ethan was SO excited he couldn't contain himself on the first day - in fact he didn't even eat breakfast. Lack of food led to a rather irksome first morning as he complained about a lot of things. I thought GOOD GRIEF we're in Disney - who complains here? It was not turning out how I thought it would. HOwever, after he ate lunch he did a complete turn around and was pretty happy. Of course we had our moments, even in Disney no one is perfect. One minute Ethan would tell us it was the best vacation ever and then when something didn't go his way it was suddenly the worst. The best thing with Ethan and Disney was seeing his face light up during and after a great ride. His fav. was the big roller coaster at California Adventure. I also loved it when he was scared and would suddenly grab hold of my hand or cuddle up!

The boys loved to pose with any characters they saw and got all of their autographs. In fact we had to find Buzz light year for them since when we saw him the first time they were "anti" character.

Callia responded in a way I didn't expect. I thought we would just be dragging the poor girl along but we weren't - she thoroughly enjoyed herself. When she was able to go on rides her little head was going back and forth, constantly taking everything in and then (as in this pic) she was enthralled with the parades. Of course she won't remember it but for the moment she was taken by everything she saw.

Christian was our first kid to get an autograph. At first Ethan and Aiden were not going to have anything to do with the characters.

The first thing the boys wanted to do was Jedi Training so we did. We were so happy b/c both boys were picked to do the training. We also did it the last day but only Ethan was picked. Sad for Aiden but he was a trooper and didn't let it bother him too much. This was a fabulous show.

Disney was so great. I can't wait to go back there again with the kids. WE've said we will go back when Callia is 40" - that's the height for many of the bigger rides and they're very strict with it -but Idon't know if we can wait that long!! It won't be too long if she ends up being tall!:)

Pumpkin Carving

Tonight we gutted the pumpkins and carved them. well, we all gutted them, the boys drew their designs on them and then rich carved them. Christian and Aiden went to Aldor acres on field trips but Ethan didn't get to go as our month was too crazy to go as a family. Ethan was okay with it after I promised to buy him a big one. I bought him one and it came to 7 bucks - I thought that was okay until I went to save on foods later and saw one for 2 or 3 bucks and it was the same size! I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get a pic. of Callia at a pumpkin patch for her first fall. Oh well, life goes on and the field trips were much better sans baby. The boys were so pleased with their lit pumpkins.

Fine China and Candlelight

Nope - not talking about an anniversary or my bday or Valentine's Day but Ethan's birthday. We let the kids choose their birthday dinner - it can be home made or a restaurant and Ethan chose to have ribs (so YUMMY!) and wanted the china and candles too. If you had told me 7 years ago when I had my first baby boy that he would request china and candles I would have laughed!!

I can't believe Ethan is 7. This time 7 years ago he had not been born for even an hour. I love Ethan so much - though he has a way to drive me completely insane. Ethan loves his siblings (even though he sometimes declares life would be better with out them) - he will help with Callia, he will hold her and play with her. Him and Aiden play together and he can be kind to Christian and play trains with him. Ethan is a smart kid (if I do say so myself) and so sometimes his mouth gets him into A LOT of trouble (maybe it would even if he wasn't so bright) but at the same time he can come up with the sweetest comments to his siblings or to me. He has an incredible memory and it is often so cool to hear what he has to say about things we've done in the past. Life is always interesting when Ethan is around - one never knows what is going to come out of his mouth next! I do pray that as he grows that God will continue to work on his heart and that what comes out of his mouth will glorify God and will lead others to HIM. Love you Ethan!!

Gone are the days....

Gone are the days of stuffing a poopy diaper in my diaper bag or taking a three point shot from our bed to the garbage can. Callia has been eating her cereal like a real trooper over the past week and a half and we are now experiencing stinky, sticky new poop! Oh, for the sweet smelling breast feeding poop -oh well, there's no turning back now. At first she would not touch the cereal and we thought oh no!! We were a little worried since she has now rejected the bottle and formula (we keep trying ) however, we found the right consistency and she loves the stuff. Now to begin the introduction of veggies - I kind of want to wait until we get back from our Disney trip but by then she'll almost be 7 months. So good bye sweet smelling pool (relatively speaking) and hello diaper genie.

Five years!

My Aiden turned five this month. WOW! For months he had been asking for a Star Wars bday party but about two weeks b/f we were going to have it he changed his mind to a Hot Wheels party. I was kind of glad - I have nothing against Star Wars but Hot Wheels just seems more age appropriate - more innocent. Aiden had six kids to his party and I think everyone had a great time. We raced cars, played hot car potato, raced plasma cars outside, drew race car tracks and made goody bags. Now Christian wants a hot wheels party too.

Aiden is such a sweet boy. He is very full of emotion - which can be very frustrating at times but I think it'll end up being a good thing. I was worried at the beginning of the year that he would have a hard time making friends b/c of his speech but he is having no problems. In fact he invited three friends from school to come to his party where as Ethan had no friends yet that he wanted to invite when he was in kindergarten and we thought Ethan was the out going one. It so made me smile inside when I took him to soccer a few weeks ago and we were a bit late but when we arrived a bunch of the boys yelled out "Aiden" "Hi, Aiden" - obviously he is well liked. I'm not writing this to brag more like to let out a PRAISE that God has heard us and answered our prayer with regards to Aiden making friends despite the difficulty they may have understanding him.

Aiden loves to play with Ethan and though he won't admit it him and Christian play well together too. Aiden loves hot wheels, star wars, transformers, playmobil and building things. Aiden also doesn't stop talking at home - sometimes I tell him to be quiet. I feel kinda bad about it but for one thing sometimes I need quiet for another thing it can be tiring listening to him since you really have to listen sometimes to get what he is saying. Anyways, we love Aiden so much and hope that he has an amazing year!!

1/2 a year!

Miss Callia is 6 months old! Not sure where half a year went - but it's gone. Let's see what's different with our princess:
-loves to sit in her exersaucer
-eats cereal by the gallon now (only for a bout a week)
-can balance for a few seconds while sitting on her own
-moves all over the place in her bed
-naps two times a day for sure for 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours and needs a third nap but doesn't always take it
-stares at us when eating (very intense - I wouldn't be surprised if the food flew off the spoon and into her mouth with how hard she stares at it!)
-puts everything in her mouth - including toes
-loves the big bath - splashes lots
-makes a coughing sound for fun and will mimic you when you do it (at first we thought she was choking)
-weighs in at 11lbs 12 oz (might get her checked out but Christian stalled at about this age too)
-down to four feeds during the day and then I still get her up at 10:30 (don't know if I need to or not but I tell myself I have to or my milk will deplete - really I know if I give up that feed it's a sign she's really growing up big!)
-easily laughs
-played strange with people for a bit but I think she's over it for now - unless she's really tired
-goes to the church nursery (sometimes) with no problem

I think that's about it. I love her smiles and giggles and how she lights up when she sees ME (makes a mommy feel great - maybe not so great for others). We all love her to bits!

Silly faces

Callia has moved up to the big bath. It only took me over five months to do it. She enjoys her bath time - she is beginning to really splash now that she's not all scrunched up in a baby tub.