A Few Pictures

I have spent my computer time making a photo book of our trip, two times over.  For some reason I thought the program I was using automatically saved.  It didn't.  Needless to say, I am so sick of looking at these pictures, which is probably a good thing as it helped me come back down into reality.  I have just picked a few to share on the blog.

Oh how I miss and absolutely crave Butterbeer, of the frozen variety.

Diagon Alley.  Yes, my eyes are closed, but I was just taking it all in.

Eating at the Leaky Cauldron. 

Ready to dig into the mini version of "The Kitchen Sink."

Having a chat with the Knight Bus conductor and shrunken head.

Grabbing a bite at Epcot.

Lunch at Animal Kingdom

Outside of Gaston's Tavern--one of my favorite areas of the park
in Magic Kingdom!

On board the Hogwarts Express

Finding places to try out their magical wands in the park.  So cool!

My adorable parents.

The "Gray Stuff" at the Beast's Castle.

In front of the Beast's Castle.

At our resort--Port Orleans Riverside.

Port Orleans

Cocoa Beach

Taking a water cab to Downtown Disney.

Tower of Terror in the background.

Gaston's chair.

My boys.

Me and my hubby.

Okay so maybe there were more than a few pictures, but seriously, how can I resist?

A Dream Come True

We're back. We've been back for 6 days, and I can say I'm not a huge fan of real life right now. Where's my theme music when I'm driving around in my van?  On second thought, why am I the one driving to where I need to go?  Why doesn't my food magically appear when it's mealtime?  Why am I even thinking about menu planning and grocery shopping? Where's my cute, themed room that's magically cleaned everyday?  Do I really have to worry about homework, and sports, and Scouts, and Sam being gone, and responsibility, and life in general.  Really?  I'd rather be worrying about when to go swimming, what delicious treat I HAVE to eat next, what ride we should go on, which park is the best, and how we can possibly cram one more fun thing into our schedule.  Now that's what I'm talking about.

I seriously get giddy just looking at this picture.  What a trip!!  What a dream come true for us.  I know it might sound silly, but we have been looking forward to taking this trip for years.  We're kind of Disney freaks at our house (probably more me and Sam than the boys even), and throw in Harry Potter at Universal and it was all more than we could stand.

To top it all off, my parents and youngest sister joined us.  They had a layover in Denver, so we hopped on their plane and off we all went.  I can hardly believe it happened.  I'm still pinching myself.  I'm even still dreaming about it.  I know, cray cray, but it's the truth.  It's factual.  Everything is satisfactual.

I'll try to take it easy on the forthcoming pictures, but it won't be easy!!!

Chase Turned Eight!

Chase turned 8 this summer.  Crrraaaaaazy!  Eight is a big deal around here because not only are you a year older, but you can start Cub Scouts and decide to be baptized.  Exciting times!

Chase's favorite dinner of
bow tie noodles with bacon and chicken

His birthday present, a DS

First day of Cubs.
He was just a little excited.

For Chase's baptism, Sam's parents were able to come.  We were so glad to have them here and grateful for the love and support they showed.  It was a very special day.

My boys getting ready.
I love my boys.

Chase chose to go to Hacienda for his
celebration dinner.

I'm so happy for the righteous desires of Chase's heart and for his decision to be baptized.  How wonderful it also is that he now has the gift of the Holy Ghost, something that will guide and comfort him throughout his life.  Chase is a happy kiddo who is full of energy.  He absolutely loves to play with his brothers and do whatever they're doing.  He can definitely fend for himself and keep up with the best of them.  I love that he still lets me cuddle with him and humors my request for big hugs. His little sense of humor has been growing lately, and he makes us all laugh.  I love my Chase!

Chase's Favorites:

Book--Any of the "Branches" books like the Notebook of Doom series.  He also loved listening to Harry Potter #7 in the car this summer.

Movie--Clear and Present Danger

Food--Bow tie noodles

Candy--Skittles

Scripture Story--Captain Moroni

Song--Imagine Dragons

Primary Song--Oh What Do You Do In the Summertime

Sport--Football and wrestling

Thing to do--"Spend time with my family"

Place to eat--Country Buffet

Color--Light pink

When Chase grows up he wants to be a football coach.

A Summer to Remember

This summer was spent running to the pharmacy.  I counted 12 prescriptions that we had filled.  In less than 2 months.  We're talking 3 ear infections, 2 sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. These are just the ailments that required antibiotics.  The coughing, fevers, aches, and more coughing just. never. quit.  Well, they did.  Just in time for school to start.  I'm really hoping it means that we got it all out of our system before the winter gunk starts.

At least we got our road trip in first thing.  And at the very end of the summer we squeezed in a family reunion up in Washington, so I guess it wasn't a total bust.

The reunion was great.  Sam's sister really put in A LOT of work to the planning and organizing of everything.  We're so grateful!

The boy cousins got to sleep in their own cabin.  Oh man did they think this was the best.  It wasn't so great when they got up the first day at 5 in the morning ready to start their day together.  They were ready to go swimming at 9 while the rest of us were barely cleaning up breakfast.  But why not? They were in and out of the pool all week long.

There were games to be played, bows and arrows to make, movies to make, scooters to ride, good food to eat, ghost stories to tell, and lots of hanging out and talking.  It was the perfect mix of activities and chillaxin'.

On our way home we stopped by my sister's house.  It was so nice to see her family and finally meet my newest and super cute nephew, Adam.

Nebraska or Bust

As soon as school got out we headed out on a road trip.  Sam had some offices to visit, so rather than flying out we all hopped in the car and hit the road.  We made a big circle as we first hit....wait for it....Omaha, Nebraska, and then the exciting destination of Des Moines, Iowa, followed by Independence, Missouri, then Kansas City, and back home.

Now, I know what you might be thinking.  Could we have gone on a less interesting trip?  Would that even be possible?  But before you judge, check out some of the fun things we did.  It really was a delightful trip.  It was fun to see part of the country that I've never seen before and it was SO wonderful to do whatever we wanted whenever we wanted.  It was just our family and the open road.  The boys really did feel like we were on an adventure as we explored new places, swam to our hearts' content, ate out every meal, watched all the Weather Channel, Animal Planet, and Discover channel we wanted, made fun and goofy memories, and drove and drove and drove and drove.  Actually, that part really wasn't that bad at all.  I think the longest we were in the car at any one time was 8 hours. Easy peasy (at least it is when your youngest is almost 8).

Our first stop was Omaha.  Did you know that Omaha has the number one ranked zoo in the country? Don't ask by who, but still.  It was pretty cool.

You can also walk across a suspension bridge where you can be in Nebraska and Iowa at the same time. I know, pretty cool right?  I know all you all are checking your calendars to see what you can squeeze in a trip to the Midwest now.  Try not to be too jealous.

We goofed around in a fun park with a fun fountain.

This was the Abram-Stinky-Arm-Pit-Picture.
Don't judge.  I just report. (And apparently play along at times.)

Playing Bingy Bingy (for any Perfect Strangers fans left in the world--yes,
the tradition still continues in our family.)

We also got to see Winter Quarters where the Mormons hunkered down during the winter of 1846 before heading West to settle.  They have a visitor's center that we toured, and we learned more about the history of that time.  The most moving part was walking over to the temple grounds which also happens to contain their cemetery.  Several hundred saints died that winter and we walked the grounds of the cemetery.  In looking at the headstones we felt sad for the difficulties and tremendous sacrifices the early saints made.  And yet as we looked up and across the small field, there stands the Winter Quarter's Temple that was dedicated in 2001.  What comfort, peace, and hope we could immediately feel.  It really was powerful.

Off we headed next to Des Moines.  Honestly we did squat here.  It was heavenly.  The boys swam and swam.  I read.  Everyone was happy.  Well, Abram could have been better.  Remember how we've been sick since June 7th?  Abram was the first to come down with our summertime virus.  He ran a fever the entire time we were gone.  Poor guy.  He was SUCH a trooper though.  If he's looking a little peaked in any of the pictures, you'll know why.

We did eat out at Cheesecake Factory, a divine splurge.  Maybe we should have waited a little longer to introduce the boys to Cheesecake Heaven.

On our way down to Independence, we stopped by several church history sites.  These were truly amazing and really were the frosting on the cake.

First was Adam-Ondi-Ahman.  It was probably the family favorite.  There was such an incredible spirit about the place, and it was absolutely beautiful.

Sitting on "Preacher's Rock" where Joseph Smith
was known to have preached from.

Then we hit Far West.  There was not much to see there other than a plot of land that had been fenced off.  Inside you could see the four cornerstones that were laid when the saints attempted to build a temple there.  The monument also explained what revelations were received by Joseph Smith during that time.

Liberty Jail was next.  You can imagine what an experience that was.

Last of all we visited the visitor's center in Independence.  I really loved the tour we went on there. Overall I walked away from these sites wanting to be the best person I can be, to be closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior, to work hard, to be happy and find joy in the journey.  I had such an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love in my heart.  I will definitely treasure these experiences.

One of the first editions of the Book of Mormon

This 2-acre plot of land that has been revealed to be
the site of the temple to be built at New Jerusalem.  Interestingly enough, the church does
not even own it yet.

By now, Abram was getting sicker and we needed to head home. We were going to stay longer in Kansas City, but decided to get some miles on us instead.  We did do the most important thing to do in Kansas City before we left and that was find us some good BBQ.  After some very serious research Sam found us lunch.  It was a little hole in the wall joint but the smells that accosted our noses as we opened our car doors told us he had chosen wisely.  This and the fact that the line went out to the street told us we were in the right spot.  In a word, it was glorious.  And shoot, as it turns out some famous people have eaten there including Harrison Ford.  To be eating in the same place as Indiana Jones was just so cool.

Minus Abram being sick, it was a marvelous trip.  We're ready to do more of these road trips!