SPRING BREAK 2009!

We were so thrilled when my sister Heidi and her daughter Tia came down for spring break to celebrate with us. We have been looking forward to their visit and had our week planned out from the beginning. Unfortunately, McCrea and I were sick and miserable. I felt so bad because I had been looking forward to their visit for sometime now. Anyway we still had a great time, although some days I had to stay home, while they went out and had fun without me.

Sisters are the Best!

Heidi and Tia come to visit!

We started our spring break with a trip to Desert Breeze Park. We rode a cute little train around the park, rode the carousel and played on the playground. Lorelei and Tia are just a few years apart but were like two peas in a pod. They were so excited to be together and were glued at the hip, ready to play.

Monday the 16th we went to the Phoenix Zoo, we enjoyed all the animals, the petting zoo, the playgrounds, the splash park and Sting Ray Bay where they got to pet the Sting Rays. It was a great day. That night Heidi and I went and got pedicures and had a little girls night out.

Tuesday the 17th was St. Patricks Day! We all dressed up in green and looked like clowns but we had fun doing it. We took the girls to Freestone Rec Center and spent hours climbing the large rock climbing wall. This was Lorelei's first real rock climbing experience. She loved it and they spent hours there. After they were worn out they went to the dollar flicks and watched two movies, "The Tale of Despereaux and Bolt."

Kiss me, I'm Irish!
Paddy's Day fun!
I don't want to get pinched today!

Wednesday the 18th the spent the day at Hamilton Pool where they swam for over 4 hours, went down water slides, vortex pool and lazy river. They had tea parties underwater and jumped off the diving board. Unfortunately they were a little burned. After 4 hours of swimming they went back to the rock climbing wall to climb some more. It makes me exhausted just thinking about it all.

Thursday the 19th we went to Arizona's only amusement park. It only has about 10 rides total. It's totally ghetto, but the girls still loved it. We went on ride after ride and even played some miniature golf at the end. It was a lot of fun.

Lorelei taking McCrea on one of the kiddie rides.

Bumper boats!

Race Cars! We came in first place!

Miniature Golfing!
Tia hitting her ball in! Way to go!
We thought this sign was hilarious!
I have a big head!

Friday the 20th Heidi and I did a little shopping, the girls played at the park and we went to Makuto's Island. It is a huge tree house, with ropes, slides, a huge indoor playground. They spent a few hours climbing around and having fun. We then rented some movies and had a movie night.

Playing at Makuto's Island!

Such a cute sister and niece!

Best Cousins!McCrea enjoying the mirrors and climbing around!

Saturday the 21st, we went out to breakfast at T.C. Eggington's and they did a quick hike up to the Hole in the Rock. We then said our good-byes at the airport and our fun week of spring break was officially over. It was sad to see them go. I just love my sister and niece. We had a great time despite my sickness.

Hole in the Rock!

Saying Good-bye at the airport!
See you next time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Disneyland 2009 McCrea on his first Carousel ride.


Chad enjoying the bumper cars.

Daddies little Princess!

Sleeping Beauty

Cinderella
Snow White

Ariel at Ariel's Grotto!

The sword in the stone.

Buzz Light Year. McCrea really liked this one.

Astro Orbiter

We all love the carousel.

Happy Birthday to me! Eating a yummy dinner

at the Blue Bayou.

Dumbo with daddy!
Would you like a cup of tea!We waited forever to see Tinkerbell.

Lorelei was so excited.

So I turned 32 years today! What better way to celebrate then to be at the most magical place on earth. This year at Disneyland you get in free on your birthday. So after talking Chad into going we were on our way for a weekend trip to Disneyland. It was my birthday weekend after all and I was so excited, probably more so than Lorelei was. What better way to feel young and free again. It was awesome! We spent the first day at the Magic Kingdom. I got a special birthday button and $70 dollars to spend on souvenirs. Although it was extremely busy we still had a great time. We went on all the big rides, I especially enjoy Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. We also made reservations at the Blue Bayou where I had a delicious birthday dinner, filet mignon with lobster and creme brule for dessert. It was delicious. Lorelei and even McCrea had a great time on all the rides. We tried to do it all, but unfortunately didn't get to all the rides. The next day we went back to the Magic Kingdom and enjoyed some more fun. Lorelei's favorite rides were the Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo ride, she refused to go on Splash Mountain and had a huge tantrum over it. McCrea loved and I mean Loved the Tiki Room birds. He giggled and was very entertained. He also really like the Winnie the Pooh ride, probably because it was neon bright in there. We then headed over to California adventure where we had reservations at Ariels Grotto. Lorelei loved seeing the princesses. There was Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, and Jasmine. She was disappointed because she really wanted to see Belle and we never found her. However we had a great time with the princesses and ate a yummy meal. Chad and I loved the rollercoaster "Screamin" and took turns going on it over and over. Lorelei really liked the Orange swings and McCrea liked all the fun rides in "A Bug's Life." We had a great time and was so sad when we had to say good-bye to Disneyland. Can't wait till next time.

CHRISTMAS IS HERE!

Packing up to go to Utah!

McCrea's first trip!

We headed up to Utah for Christmas this year. We stayed with my parents at the Molloy Palace. I had to have everything wrapped, packed and ready to go. We left on the 19th and we stayed for over three weeks. We spent the holidays with my 7 siblings, spouses and 13 nieces and nephews. It was chaotic, but fun (depending on who you talk to.) We all enjoyed going to see the lights at Temple Square, seeing our friends, making a traditional German dinner for 30+ people with all my sisters, and enjoying the beautiful snow. Chad got to go snowboarding. He ended up getting frostbite on his big toe, from loss of circulation. He still has lost some feeling in his big toe, but the black is going away.

Temple Square with the family

Christmas Eve

We enjoyed a Christmas Eve celebration! We ate a yummy German dinner, played with the kids, and we had all the kids do the traditional Bible story play. Lorelei was a "princess" shepherd and McCrea was baby Jesus this year. He protested and didn't want to be wrapped in swaddling clothes, but it was so cute. We all had to do a talent for the talent show, this is my mother's favorite tradition. So, Chad found a two string (the other strings were missing) Russian guitar downstairs in my parents closet and picked out the song of Jingle Bells, everyone had a big laugh. And I had Lorelei and McCrea dance to the song "Santa Clause is coming to town." McCrea was in his Santa's outfit, it was so funny as I tried to get him to move this way or that way to the musice, he seemed to enjoy it, even though he didn't have a say in the matter. It was really funny. We then opened gifts from everyone and just hung out, talked and played games.

My little Santa Man!

Mary (Tia) and Baby Jesus (McCrea)
Joseph (Grahm) Mary (Tia) Jesus (McCrea)



Talent Show
Chad playing a Russian guitar he found downstairs with only two strings. He strummed out Jingle Bells. Everyone had a good laugh.
McCrea and Lorelei danced to "Santa Claus is coming to town"

Christmas morning my little family got up before my parents and saw that Santa had been there. Lorelei was so happy to see all the presents. We opened all of our gifts. Lorelei's favorites were Nutcracker barbie, and Tinkerbell DVD and barbies, memaids, human body book. She also loved her new rollerskates. McCrea liked the moving train and all his toys he can suck on and play with. Chad's favorite gift by far was the Wii. He got two of them, one from me and one from his parents, we took back one of them and got the Guitar Hero. Chad has been in heaven every day since. My favorite gifts were a beautiful earrings I got from Greece, a Canon Rebel, and a beautiful picture of the Temple. It was a great Christmas. We spent the rest of the day opening all that stupid packaging, playing games and taking it easy.

Christmas morning

McCrea's first reaction of Christmas morning

He looks very excited!

Lorelei first look at all her presents! She is so excited that Santa came!

We are all ready for the presents!

Playing horsey on our daddy!

Hugs and kisses!

McCrea eating the yummy wrapping paper!

Opening presents is fun to do!

On the 26th we all got babysitters and all the adults in my family went to dinner and a play. We went and saw a play at the Desert Star Playhouse. It was called "The miracle on 42nd street." They do spoofs on different plays. It was fun just being with the adults and not worrying about all our kids. We actually could have a conversation without being interrupted.



We also got to see a few of Chad's friends, before he headed back home. Lorelei, McCrea and I stayed for another two weeks. We enjoyed being with friends and family. I didn't get out and see everyone as much as I would have liked to, but I did enjoy my visit and had a great time. Some of the highlights were shoveling snow, Dinosaur Musuem, Highschool Friends Party, Twilight with my girlfriends, spending a night with my sister at the Marriott without my kids, and going to BodyWorld. It was a lot of fun. I miss everyone already!