The Most Perfect Day

So, on our vacation, we had a lot of perfect days! This was the most perfect day! As most people do while preparing for Disneyland, we got lots of advice from friends. Our best piece was from Farrah to do http://www.ridemax.com/! WOW!!!! You buy a program ($3 more than you have to pay for parking, so not really a big deal and COMPLETELY worth it!!!) and enter all of the rides you want to do. It prints out a schedule telling you walking time to the next exhibit, waiting time, ride time, and also when to send runners to get FastPasses (an AMAZING invention since I was a child visiting Disney World). It simply was fabulous!!!! So, we had four different plans printed, stapled and ready to go since we weren't sure what time we would actually get it.

7:15 Andy dropped me off at the gate to wait in line while the rest of the pack drove around until the parking lots opened.
7:40 Andy calls and they are at the gate; where am I? (at the other side entrance of the park.)
7:45 We rush through the entrance and go to ticket booth. (There are so many ways to buy tickets online, but since we just wanted a one-day pass to Disneyland - not parkhopper - it was best to buy them there)
8:01 Tickets purchased (with a little bit of running from JJ to deliver picture IDs) and we are in the park!!!

***Side note. JJ came with us for our trip. This made it even more perfect! Besides being a calming stoic presence, he was a fabulous 3rd adult. I would definitely recommend bringing a friend when you go to take turns watching the littlest of your crew while the other four ride. Now they have these amazing passes where you can either go up the exit ramp or take a shortcut to the front of the line if you are watching smaller children so extra wait time is greatly reduced for everyone to ride!!!***

So, our first ride was Autotopia on our list. This was our first snazzle with Ridemax. They don't open Autotopia until about 8:15 when a line builds up. However, it happens to be next to Nemo (which we were advised not to ride because as soon as the line builds up, it is a super long wait - even with fastpasses). So, we caught the second Nemo boat and still hit the first set of Autotopia rides. Of course, everyone loved these!!! And no, I won't take you through each ride, just some favorites. The kids, of course, loved Dumbo and the flying elephants. Emily just walked around all day with wide open dazed eyes (until she fell asleep on It's a Small World). Ben and Annie soaked it all in and wanted more (and less at times).

I think Dumbo was our third longest wait of about 15 minutes (preceded by carousel and Alice in Wonderland), but the kids were all SO patient.

The two rides I requested were Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Haunted Mansion. Andy wanted Autotopia and Space Mountain. JJ wanted Splash Mountain. This is from Andy and Ben's seat on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

To Infinity and Beyond!!! Emily wasn't so sure about Buzz...

We road Winnie the Pooh several times as it was across from Splash Mountain and I could take Emily on that while the others did the dropping logs. We got to meet Pooh and Tigger right after the ride too! Emily wouldn't even look at them! But then again, she doesn't like the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause either...

Everyone loved the pirate island! They are working together to raise the buried treasure! (This was in between Andy on the phone with our realtor negotiating a housing contract. Then another bid came it the same day. Then the contract fell through 8 days later. Great times...)

We went to see the Princesses but found ourselves in a 2 hour wait line. Since Annie wasn't really sure what we were waiting for, we decided to find other princesses. We were so happy to come along Jasmine and Aladdin while waiting for Indiana Jones (which I think was one of my favorite rides. I laughed the whole time!). WOW! That Aladdin was something else!!! I can still feel my heart melt as we were walking off and smooth as glass, he says to Annie, "Bye Princess!"

This was a little tense moment. Emily woke up not completely happy. They all got ice cream while I rode Indy (and used the single rider line to go STRAIGHT to the front!). All day I wanted a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Sandwich. I got one while we waited to see the Bird Show at the Tiki House for Emily. JJ took a quiet moment to read his book. I think he was about done with us by then! UNTIL.... Space Mountain!!!!

While waiting in line with Ben, Annie and JJ - and I could think was...AM I REALLY TAKING MY 3 1/2 YEAR OLD ON SPACE MOUNTAIN??? And she did fabulous (hands up most of the ride and screaming the whole time!) Ben had to go potty at the very front of the line, but it would have taken him longer to walk out then just ride the ride and go. So, mean mom that I am, I told him he had to wait (thinking he was just scared). Then JJ got to ride next to him. :) The silly car claimed my sunglasses that I forgot to get out of the pouch. I wonder what they do with all of those lost articles... Andy had a parent swap pass (that works for two people), so JJ watched the three kids for us while we rode together - for Andy's first time!

I think Buzz ended up as Ben's favorite ride. JJ took the complete top score our last ride (he was childless - not that it makes a difference, just wanted to point it out) and did great!!!

8:25 It was time to go home. We had the most perfect day. I was ready and willing to stay longer, but I was vetoed by the boys. We did get to coax in one last ride of the train around the park to soak in our last few minutes of perfection...

Thanks Andy and JJ for putting up with the rest of us! We had such a great time and will remember it forever!!! Thanks Annie and Ben for being so brave on all those big rides and just having fun! Thanks Emily for enjoying your snacks when you were too little to ride. THANK YOU WALT DISNEY for making special moments!!!

***Still to come...the BEACH...along with the beach MONSTER that stole sunglasses, googles, etc.***

Pit Stop

We had a quick stop in Phoenix on our way to California. We left Friday afternoon around 3 and got to Grandma and Grandpa Maas's at 7:20 am (forgetting about the time difference...oops!). Uncle David came down to play. We had a fun Staurday, went to church Sunday morning, then headed to California. We made every moment count! Dad missed most of the pool time because he had 'naptime' instead. He did a great job driving in the early morning hours!!!

We ate most of our meals outside by the pool, much to the kids' pleasure! Ben and Annie absolutely LOVE picnics!

They went on walks looking for the little bunny rabbits that like to eat the struggling plants.

We were all sad to say goodbye to Uncle David! Annie just saw this picture and re-enacted her great big hug that she gave him!!!

We Love Our Teachers

Ben had the BEST kindergarten teacher that we could have asked for! She has been simply amazing! We love you, Mrs. Stapp!!! Quick Shot! We ran in just before Buddy Field Day started, and she was busy getting everyone's name tags ready.

This is Annie's speech preschool teacher, Mrs. Thurman. She taught Ben for one year and Annie for one year. Her room is directly across the hall from Ben's kindergarten room, so Ben and Annie would often see each other. :)

Thank you, Mrs. Thurman for helping soooooo much with our speech!

Why???

Why haven't I posted in so long? That question seems to keep popping up...mainly in my own head! The following are a few reasons...
1. quick weekend trip to Concord, NH to check out law school with LOTS of delayed flights.
2. 54 showings on house (that makes for lots of vacuuming and cleaning...and trips to Sonic; I really should have bought some stock!)
3. end of Ben's school year
4. HUGE work deadline for Andy (i.e. no husband at home)
5. packing for family reunion that has been in the works for 4 years
6. scholarship offer from school in Ohio for law school
7. planning quick weekend trip to Ohio to check out area and look at/for rentals
8. 16 hour drive to phoenix - throughout the night for 28 hour stay with grandparents and fun uncle
9. continue driving to Newport Beach, CA for family reunion with cousins
10. LOTS of planning for one 13 hour day at Disneyland (it was AWESOME!!!!)
11. not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings that wasn't included; this has been my main reason for not posting anything. there is way too much drama with our families. i've finally decided this is my journal project and i need to post the major happenings in our lives. if your feelings get hurt, it is NOT intentional on our part, and please don't take anything personally because it is NOT meant that way.
12. contract on house with fast closing date
13. massive layoffs at Andy's work that Andy's name was on (thank you Boss for going to bat for him!!!)
14. contractors galore coming with bids to make "buyers" happy
15. 21 hours drive home (made in 23 hours thanks to driving through the night...)
16. contract falling through :(
17. add to these things Andy's time at church, and I am VERY thankful for a non-time-consuming calling!!!!
18. sweet niece coming to keep my sanity, unfortunately, she's been here a week and we haven't taken one picture yet!!!

I'm sure I missed a lot of things in there (soccer season, field trips, birthday parties, etc), but these are the main things that have been consuming our lives lately. I'm trying to get some pictures posted as soon as they are done uploading from my camera. However, don't know how much dialogue will be with pictures, so just enjoy my cute children!!!

Decisions...

Well, for the last 14 months, I've debated posting about this...

One night last February, Andy had just returned home from Young Men's and I was sitting in bed reading. He asked what I thought about him going back to law school. I immediately got chills - you know 'those' chills when you know something is so completely right? It's been a long 14 months of studying, testing, applying, waiting, deciding, and finally visiting which we did this weekend.

Andy and I left early Friday morning and spent alllll day in airport, in the air, or in a car traveling to our final destination: the booming town of Concord, New Hampshire. We had one day there for an admitted students open house and an evening of fun with lots of new friends (LDS law students and wives). Yesterday we traveled again allllll day and got home at 1:30 this morning. I don't think JFK is my favorite airport...

So, now what? We still need to make our final decision and pray about it - although it feels we have been held by the hand the entire process.

Anyone want to buy our house?

Enter in another offer, with a scholarship, and a paid visit - Akron, Ohio?  Where is that??????

Time Well Spent

Well, the first Sunday we moved into our ward, I was asked to serve in the Young Women's organization at church. I've stayed with them for the last 4+ years. Andy has worked with the Young Men for the last 3 years, in some capacity or another. Yes, it takes a lot of time...but the rewards are so great! We love when they come back to visit us...after college, before missions, on the way home from work...doesn't matter! Tonight we got to do a little fire with 3 of our favs. :) We set up the little picnic table for the kids (notice Emily's new haircut - courtesy of Annie who wanted to see her eyes.

Our smiley JJ, Sarah, and Karyn (sidenote...I babysat for Sarah a time or two when she was a toddler)

Emily LOVED sitting in her chair next to JJ and munching on her s'more!

Ben chose Karyn to read him stories before bedtime. What a sweetheart!!!

Sarah and JJ played frisbee and cleaned up the chairs while we did baths and bedtime. Thanks guys for playing with us! We love you all!!!

COME ON!!!! With all this fun, wouldn't you want to buy our house???? We are now over 45 showings and 0 offers...patience is a virtue!!!

Annie said the funniest thing in the car this afternoon. In a Little Bear video we got from the library, he says he has a sweet tooth. I explained what that meant. A day later, Annie says she has a mouth full of sweet teeth...

SOMETHING WE LEARNED: Sarah brought two packs of starbursts to roast on the fire - like marshmallows. They were SOOOOO YUMMY!!! Definitely have to do that again! They get kind of crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside!

A Whilrwind Weekend

I think I mentioned before going to Utah. My 3 nieces and one nephew were in the play 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' and my mom, sister and I were able to flew up for a quick weekend to see it. Wow! Just typing the title brings some of the songs back to my mind!!! The play was just incredible. Amazing!!! I really hope next year I can come again! Besides being wowwed by these incredibly talented kiddos, we had a great time just playing together. My b-i-l took care of meal planning, cooking, and most of the cleaning, so we just got to PLAY!!!

This is my sweet Cosette who is coming next week to stay with us - until she is ready to go home! These are my sweet kiddos...with two of their friends. Oh...I miss Utah...

We are family...

Playing outside in between shows. This is where I learned that snowboarding is probably NOT my sport...

We were trying to decide what to do to stay busy. Since everyone wanted to do different things, we each wrote our ideas on a piece of paper. Each activity drawn would be enjoyed by ALL of us - for 30 minutes! First was Anderson Park! Below is Peppermint Patty (aka - Addy) with her fierce Duncan!

Then we watched Bronwyn's movie - Sleeping Beauty? I can't remember!!! (I quite enjoyed my weekend doing four things - eating, reading, playing games, or sleeping.)

My pick was next - playing games, but we only got to enjoy that for 10 minutes because it was time for the star performers to get ready again! We finished off the night at the Purple Turtle - care of Grandpa who wasn't able to make the trip with us...

Sorry, Nan. I had to post this..too many memories! We played a super fun game called Curses. "Get your hands off me lucky charms!" I have not laughed that hard in a LONG time!!!

Thanks sweet kiddos; I loved coming to visit you!!!

Massively Overwhelmed...

Enjoy these pictures (and the posts to come) because this is most of our lives for the last few weeks! Dad was home tonight to help with bedtime (which makes the evening go SOOO much smoother!) and he got to snuggle Emily! This cute little girl things the pack and play is for her AND the blue baby...

These are my little towel monsters. I've found it's easier to just get them all out of the tub as the same time, then worry about getting pajamas on everyone.

Waste of Energy

This might be a little rambling, but now you can see how my thoughts work (and why my husband doesn't always follow my stories...).

Today I went to the mall...for the first time in how many years? At least two. Yuck! I hate shopping, but today was fun shopping. Unfortunately (or so I thought), I had my three little buddies with me because I opted to go to my kick-butt gym class instead of the mall this morning with just two little buddies. Why 3, well that's a side note (Got a call ((during my kick-butt gym class)) from the school nurse saying Ben had a stomach ache. Called them back; he'd been down to the nurses twice. I talked to him; he didn't sound sick. She thought he could try going back to class but just wanted to let me know. Emily had been asleep for about an hour when she called again saying his teacher said Ben needed to go home because he kept complaining. I called a friend who came over and sat with Sleeping Beauty eerrr...Emily, so I could go get Ben. I went into the nurse's office and there was Ben sitting on the cot - covered in sweat. The nurse said he'd just gotten back from recess...hmmm. On the way out to the car, I said, "What's wrong, Buddy?" He opened his mouth and pointed inside and said his tooth hurt. I kind of looked at him funny. "I thought you had a stomach ache?" He hit the top of his head and said, "Oh, yeah! That's right!" He is obviously not very sick as evidenced when he got home and just wanted to eat and play...).

So - the mall actually went great! We went through 4 stores and past the foodcourt TWICE without any whining, begging, yelling, or even asking for food!!! It really was amazing!

The point of my post comes from the ride home. There is a very short 'point of conflict' (or something like that - can't remember the actual name, but it's when people are getting on and off the highway) to go home from the mall. I was trying to get over and was slowing down considerably for the little car next to me to get over (remember short 'point of conflict'). It would have been okay, but he kept slowing down too. Finally, I thought, "this is ridiculous!" and just went fast. He cut over and flipped me off! What a punk! So, that leads to my thought of, "Fine, if he wants to waste energy being mad at me, that's his choice!"

That lead me to thinking about what a waste of energy it is to be mad (per the first 3 pages of a book I read that I need to read more of...) and that it doesn't really hurt anyone except yourself, right? Then I started thinking about how I've wasted my time being mad. I don't typically hold grudges, but there have been two goodies that I wasted way too much energy on. One, I've already discussed previously and the second was 9 long years! My parents went out of town for the weekend, and my brother had a party. I was blamed for the party. The best thing is that I forgave before the apology came! That's the best way, I think.

Alas - hope you aren't wasting energy! There just isn't enough for each day!

AND - more pictures will be coming. Annie had her ballet recital last night and was just precious. I just need to get the pictures off my mom's camera since ours was MIA for the last 4 weeks...

SO - now you know how I think!!! And should have much more appreciation for my husband. :)

Caught!!!

Emily is such a sweetheart and a naughty 2 year old!!! Luckily, this was a great moment while I was on the computer and she found something to play with that wasn't destructive. Love you Babe!!!

Fancy Nancy

I know I have a 1001 things to post about, but this was so traumatic, I couldn't hold it off. For the last 6 months or so, Annie (and Ben and Mom and Dad) have fallen in love with Fancy Nancy. These books are very popular. Nancy loves fancy words and french words. (Nancy also happens to be my older sister and my mom speaks French, so you can pull your own meaning from there...)

So, we do not own any Fancy Nancy books yet because they don't come in paperback...WAIT!!! I think I should change that phrase to - we didn't own any Fancy Nancy books until tonight.

See, we love to check them out at the library and have become very faithful library go-ers the last 9 months. BUT I made a tactical error and left Emily calmly looking at library books while I went to make the girls lunch. When I returned it, Fancy Nancy was no longer so fancy. :( I've been DREADING returning to the library and facing the librarian, but I did it tonight! $22 later, we finally own a Fancy Nancy book (and the Posh Puppy) - even if it is missing half the pages!!! The family will be so proud!

However, Annie was very happy to read Fancy Nancy and Bonjour Butterfly tonight after seeing the butterfly exhibit at the zoo today. :)

A Picture Speaks 1000 Words

And it would...if i could find my camera. You'd think that since my house is completely organized and clean (including carpets!!!), I would know where my camera is...I don't. However, I should mention that the garage is in a different state that the rest of the house.

You see - if there was a picture here, it would show the front of our house with a for sale sign and a phone number for a realtor. Andy has spent the last 14 months preparing, studying, testing, applying, waiting, praying, and waiting more before finally deciding to attend law school in New Hampshire! So, wish us luck with the home-selling adventure we are on and please send any prospective buyers our way!

I really wish I had my camera now to take the cutest picture of my house. We had a stager come and decorate. She brought some stuff in and I now have the cutest black pub table in the 'breakfast area' with 3 red roses. I can't think of anywhere else I would rather spend my 9th anniversary (which is today, the day our house officially is ON the market) than sitting on these tall fun black chairs looking at the green kitchen walls I love that match my happy curtains... Hopefully meetings will go quickly tonight so Andy can join me...and maybe bring home some sundaes from Braum's to celebrate... :)


***And no - there will be no sappy love stories for my husband or feelings about leaving my lone star state because I can't talk about those things without crying... ***

Emily turns 2...a month ago!

Uncle David and Nonie came to visit and celebrate Emily's second birthday. It rained most of the weekend, so we did a LOT of puzzles and legos inside instead! We had Emily's little birthday party with some of her favorite friends (big and small) and ate lots of yummy treats. She was thoroughly spoiled and enjoyed every second of it! We finally stopped celebrating this Monday as the last balloon was popped!

We love you, Ems!!!

Unfortunately Annie started throwing up in the middle of the night and most of Sunday morning. Poor little girl... :( She did a GREAT job of getting to the potty though!

With Ben playing Legos and Annie sleeping, Emily loved her time one-on-one with Uncle David and the marbles. She is wearing her new St. Patrick's Day dress! Love you Em!!! Thanks to everyone who made her birthday so special!!!

A collect-all

Life is crazy around here. More details to come... Here is the past few weeks.

Easter Morning - I had to take a quick picture which resulted in us being late for church. Easter Egg hunt with Grandma and Aunt Jamie. It stormed the night before, so we did it by the pool instead.

Emily quickly learned to bite open her eggs as soon as she picks them up to get the goodies out!

Grandma and Grandpa Maas sent a box full of eggs for a hunt at our house. This is the kids hiding their eyes because they couldn't stand waiting inside for me to hide eggs.

Ben finding egg.

Annie posed finding egg because her hand was just too fast!

Yesterday a friend told me about a field of bluebonnets, so we had a great time! Now I can see why my dad always made us pose in the fields of flowers. It smells sooooo incredible! The kids had a (well, just Ben and Annie) had a great time running through the fields until they got back in the car and were super itchy. That's the part I remember from being a little kid!

Does it get any more perfect??? Maybe if the kids were looking at me!

Sweet Emily didn't love the flowers so much and begged to be held!

Happy Spring!!!

FHE Tonight

We had a fun FHE tonight that I wanted to share. At the beginning of the year, a friend emailed me a book of FHE lessons that go along with the primary lessons/theme. LOVE IT! Feel free to use the following. Ben totally got it (5 1/2), but Annie was still a little bit lost.

Lesson 13: I Choose to Follow The Plan of Salvation Before I Came to Earth

Opening Song: “I Lived in Heaven” (CS, page 4)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony: 2 Nephi 2:27

Lesson: Ask the children to listen as you sing or read the words to the first verse of “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, p. 4) so they will know the answers to some important questions that you will ask them.
“I lived in heaven a long time ago, it is true; Lived there and loved there with people I know. So did you. Then Heav’nly Father presented a beautiful plan, All about earth and eternal salvation for man.”
· Where did we live a long time ago? (In heaven; see D&C 93:29, first sentence; Abraham 3:22–23.) “Long before this world was created, all of the spirits of the men and women who were assigned to this earth lived in a spiritual existence” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], p. 30).
· Who lived there with us?
· What was Heavenly Father’s plan for us? Explain that Heavenly Father wanted us to be able to receive a physical body, to learn to choose between right and wrong, and have the opportunity to become like him.
Explain that our life on earth is like a school. We are here to learn and be tested. If we make right choices, we will pass the tests and be able to return to Heavenly Father. Read and discuss the following quotation: “My brothers and sisters, we’re away from home. We’re off to school. Our lessons will not be easy. The way we react to them, the way we conquer and accomplish and live will determine our rewards, and they will be permanent and eternal” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 28).

Activity: Review the stages of our lives in the plan of salvation with the children. Make word strips of the various parts of the plan. Place the word strips around the room. Have children locate a word strip or figure, then stand in the correct order. Use simple costumes to have additional children represent a mother, father, and grandparent. Place this family in front of the Earth Life sign. Choose another child to stand in front of the Pre-mortal Life sign. Sing “I Lived in Heaven” (p. 4). Discuss the blessings of coming to an earthly family. Have the child move from Pre-mortal Life to the family in front of Earth Life. Have the mother place a baby blanket around the child to show the love that a family provides. Sing “A Happy Family” (p. 198). Explain that part of the plan is to leave earth life. Move the grandparent from Earth Life to Spirit World and talk of the sadness the family feels because the grandparent is no longer with them, but of the peace they feel in knowing that his or her spirit lives on. Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188). Discuss the role the Savior plays in the plan of salvation. Have a child hold a picture of Jesus Christ in front of the Resurrection sign. Sing an Easter song. Discuss how each child can qualify for the celestial kingdom as he or she chooses the right.