Pumpkin Carving 2011

 We carved pumpkins last night.  With us being so busy I haven't had time to go buy more carving knives so we had to use large knives.  It didn't work out so hot.  You can barley tell what we carved.  But the kids had fun and that all that mattered.

Dayton and Jace "Kings of the Jumps"

Dayton has been begging us lately to go and ride his bike on a small bike jump track.  For his first time he did really great.  And Jace had it in his head that whatever Dayton could do he could do better!.   Later on we took Dayton back and he really kicked some butt.  There were some old kids ranging from 12-15 there and they were giving Dayton high 5's and talking about how good he was. (because he was actually starting to get some air over the jumps) I tell you what......Dayton is a natural bike rider.  I think this kid was made to do BMX.

Disneyland Day 4/Jace's 2nd Birthday!!

 Jace woke up on the good side of the bed on his birthday.  Which was good.  Because he was refereed to as "Hulk" and "pit bull" over the course of the trip.  He was in such a great mood he was open to giving chip and dale hugs!  When we started the Disneyland planning over a year ago, I was more than adamant that I wanted to go in October over Jace's Birthday.  After all...Last year we had his birthday party at Carls Jr.! I had some serious making up to do.  And what could possible get better than Disneyland for a birthday!!

 We went to Tom Sawyers island.  The kids loved going through the caves and the pirate ship.  They were thrilled to find the treasure at the end.

 Dayton getting the Fairy Godmothers autograph

 We let Dayton pick out Jace a gift and Dayton wanted to get Jace a Light Saber. 

 Later that evening we had a birthday dinner planned at the Storytellers Cafe in the Grand Californian Hotel.  I had planned this evening over a month ago and it turned out wonderfully.   They had a birthday cake ready for him after our meal was done.  I wished they would have put 2 candles on it but Jace enjoyed blowing out 1.  (they originally told me over the phone that they wouldn't do any lighted candles at all.)  The cake was delicious and it was a hit for the whole family.

 Jace's gift from the Herberts

 Jace's gift from the Williams

 Jaces gift from Jason and I.  (I should have had Dayton wait to give his gift at dinner)  This truck was so cool!  ((We made 3 others ones from "RIDEMAKERZ" but this one was a total surprise.  Its like the "truck" build a bear store.  You get to choose everything from body, chassis, wheels, tires, sounds, and accessories. ))

 Jace with all of his loot.

The birthday boy after a long fun day.

Disneyland Day 3

 Wednesday at Disneyland started off with more Characters in California Adventure (this is where we spent almost the entire day)

 Check this out!  Jace will almost tolerate being in the same picture as Mickey Mouse

 Me and the kids with Buzz!  Dayton was really excited to see him!  We really wanted an autograph but they claimed that he couldn't do them.

 Us with lightning McQueen and Mater.  Dayton was able to help shine up McQueen.

 Digger and Jason found it very necessary to play a phone racing game almost every waking second of the entire trip.  They love each other!  Cant you tell!

Jace loved every single ride that he rode on.  But his most favorite was the King Triton's Carousel.  I think we rode on this ride maybe 6 or 7 times. (it was easy to ride it that many times cause there was 0 people in line for it)

Disneyland Day 2

 On our second day we was able to get Dayton on Splash mountain.  He didn't much like it because he got really wet!  Shae was in the back, then Stacee, Lee, Megan, Jason and then Dayton.

 By the second day Jace still wasn't warmed up to the characters.  We all laughed at this picture cause Lee had to force Jace into the picture

 We were in line to see captain hook as right as we got up there they switched out the characters to the step mother and step sisters from Cinderella.  We wanted to see them too but the little boys were all for seeing captain hook.  Dayton said to drusella "Mom!, she is ugly!"

 We headed to toon town and the young boys enjoyed it.  Here they are showing there huge muscles off!

 There luckily was a birthday cake and balloons in Mickey Mouse's house.  We took the opportunity to set Jace next to them considering this birthday was less than a day and a half away.

 We rode on the tea cups.  The kids loved it.  We we spinning so hard and so fast the kids could barley keep their heads up.  They laughed and laughed.  Good thing they don't get motion sick!

 When you go to Disneyland there is always a character that sticks out from the rest.  During this trip it just happened to be Cruella Deville.  She was amazing!.  She had a huge sense of humor and had a laughing the entire wait to see her.

A cute little family shot after the "Its hard to be a bug" Show.

Disneyland Day 1

 We left for our Disneyland Adventures on Monday, October 24th.  The kids were thrilled about the airplane right.  Although they were very load during the flight they seemed to have done way better flying than what they would have done driving.

 This was right when we walked into the theme park.  All the kids instantly got to see Pluto and Mickey Mouse. 

 Jace wasn't so sure about any of the Disney characters.

 We all tried really really hard to pull the sword from the stone but it just wasn't happening! (Check out how skinny my legs look in the picture!! ps.they aren't really that skinny something must have been wrong with my camera or it must be an optical illusion.)

We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp for our first night out.  It was good.  They had all kinds of shrimp! (;  I wanted a picture in Forrest's chair with my luggage, box of chocolates and my comfortable shoes. (I can walk all day in these shoes and not feel a thing!)

Riding at Grandpas House

 Things are getting a little horse crazy around my house.  The constant hum around the house seems to involve horses, trucks and bikes.  When we say we are going to go ride horses at Grandpa Ricks house we get all sorts of followers now!.  First off Dayton rode a horse all by himself.  It was a huge step forward for him.  He was also bucked off of this same horse not 5 minutes after this picture was taken.  (no worries it was a nice tumble to the ground and he has not a bump, bruises or blood to prove the event).  We made Dayton get back on the horse just as soon as he was bucked off to make sure the horse knew that he had not won.  Dayton wasn't so into riding horses though after that. 

 But Jace was.  We didn't let Jace ride all by him self like Dayton.  Jason helped maneuver the horse around with a lead rope.  Jace was successful in trotting with this horse and not falling off!  (: 

 Shaelynn came to join us in our horse riding adventures.  She got to ride bucky and she did a great job!

 When you say the horse Megan is close following behind.  She loves horses and she is a great horse rider.  She should have been a rodeo queeen!!

 And yes here is the big moment you have all been waiting for!! Me, Yes, Me!  I'm riding a horse.  The first horse since I was 16!!  I had to wear a face mask to keep my allergies down.  I still had a allergy fit afterwards but not nearly as bad as what I am use to .  I guess we are going to have to keep bulk face masks at Grandpa Ricks house.  I enjoyed riding the horses also.  Jason slapped my horse on the butt which sent Alpo into a run... needless to say that kinda sucked all of the fun out of the event. But I wont be scarred for life and I will ride again.

Looky here! Mama Kari and my Dad showed up to ride horses also.  Kari grew up with horses and she was excited to ride.  Look at her posture! 

Dayton had picture day last week in school.  Dayton's teacher was nice enough to make every parent a disk of pictures.

Today we headed to the mall to look for so new luggage.  As we were walking in I noticed that both Dayton and Jace had their pants tucked into their right boot!  (and of course Jace has to take his "baby" monkey every where we go!) Rather than fixing it... I went ahead and tucked my pants into my right boot also.  Hey its okay if we make up our own fashion statements right?!?!?!

 We went to the Sand dunes this past weekend.  They weather was beautiful!  And other than a few small tire glitches everything went perfect.  Here is a picture of Jim and the boys all eating apples together.

 Of course Jason found it very necessary to work on the ranger while we were there.  Chris is a much better helper than I.

 Goggles, or as my kids say "Gobbles" are so stinking funny on my kids.  They squish their faces and pull down skin and make their eyes look funny.  But they love em and I love that they love em!

 We all decided to bury Dayton during a small break-down on the dunes.  He actually enjoyed it the crazy kid!  Jace was so good to climb on top of him.  (He takes any chance he can get)

Can these kids get any more adorable or happy?!