California...Part 1

We made a trip to California right when school ended.  Actually, Braeden missed the last day of school.  We had a blast.  Well, I did.  Mark wasn't feeling well (read post below) but he was such a great sport about it.  He wasn't excited to go to Disneyland at all.  He felt tired and couldn't be in the sun for very long because of the medication.  But he didn't complain.  He knew I was really excited to go, so he came anyways.  

We kept this part of California a secret from the kids for 2 reasons.  First, we wouldn't hear the end of it from them.  We would get so many questions and "Are we there yet?"  Second, we were excited to see their faces when we told them.  So we drove up Wednesday night and got to a hotel by Disneyland while the kids were still sleeping.  They woke up when we got there and we told them we got tired of driving so we got a hotel.  (We wanted them to sleep instead of being excited all night.)  Then when we woke up, we told them we were going to eat at IHOP and they were so excited.  Then Braeden noticed a couple Disneyland rides and begged us to just go in the parking lot to look at the rides.  We said we would do that for him and he got excited.  Then right before we were done eating, we told them the news and Braeden and Elli got way excited and couldn't wait!!

Elli and I went on the Winnie the Pooh ride while Mark and Braeden went on Splash Mountain.  It was really nice having a baby because one of us would stand in line while the other waited out and then we got passes to go to the Fast Pass line.  And Winnie the Pooh never has a wait, so we got to go on that ride many times.  

Elli and I on Splash Mountain.  She had no idea what to expect, so she held on the WHOLE TIME like that.  It was great that both Elli and Braeden were tall enough to go on all the rides.  Elli BARELY made the height requirement, but I got shoes that made her look taller.  

Tarzan's Treehouse

Mark waiting for us outside the treehouse.

Pirates of the Caribbean.  Obviously Elli looks a little scary.  The lady in front of us took the picture and couldn't see a thing when taking it, so she cut out Braeden on accident.  The people behind us weren't too happy about the extremely bright flash.  Oh well.

Waiting in line for Thunder Mountain.

Elli was mad at me for something and that's why she isn't in this picture.  She wishes she was now... It's the Princess Castle.  She still believes that this is Princess' home and they sleep there.  She gets a huge smile when hears that.

In line for Buzz Lightyear.

I went first on this ride with the kids while Mark sat out.  Halfway through the line I realized that there were only 2 seats in a row on Space Mountain.  This was the first time both of them have been on this ride and I couldn't figure out who would sit where. So I decided it was better that they sit together and not be alone.  They seemed pretty excited to go on this ride, but I could tell they were a little nervous.  I prayed they would be fine and that Elli wouldn't fall out of her seat.  But I saw the way she was holding on and I knew she was good.  She had one arm over and one arm below the bar.  She wasn't letting go.  They had fun, but Braeden didn't want to go again.  Elli actually decided she didn't want to go, but it was too late and Mark made her.  Just like my dad did for me when I was little.  He always forced me to go with him.

This was Caleb's first experience with eating a sucker.  He absolutely LOVED IT! 

I think he enjoyed it a little too much.  

But he did end up throwing it on the ground like everything else he has in his hands.  So he put a straw in his mouth.  I love when he does this.

It's A Small World.

Elli was the only one brave enough to go with me on the Tea Cups.  We had so much fun!  

Then Braeden decided he wanted to join us, so we stood in line again!!  The lines were great that day.  There was a ton of people there at Disneyland, but the lines were super short.  Perfect day for Disneyland.  The weather was perfect too.

In line AGAIN at Winnie The Pooh!!

I love Disneyland.  Mark doesn't understand my love for it.  He thinks it is weird that I want to be there an hour before it opens so we are there when the gates opens to the second it closes.  But since Mark wasn't feeling the greatest that day, I let it sleigh and we left 2 hours early.  But we had a great time.  Can't wait to go again!!

Not a fun week

Mark hasn't been feeling well for a while now.  His diverticulitis acted up about a month ago.  So he got some antibiotics to fix it.  Well, that didn't work, so the doctor gave him another round of antibiotics.  That stuff wasn't working either.  So the doctor prescribed another round of antibiotics.  I know, I was so bugged by how much he was taking.  But finally Mark told the doctor he wanted a CT Scan and insisted he get one right away.  After the results came back, they sent him to the hospital immediately.  I guess the scan showed fluid in his colon which meant there was a blockage and he needed to be on IV antibiotics.  If that didn't work, he would need surgery to remove part of his colon.  But luckily that hasn't been needed yet.  So Mark spent about 6 days in the hospital.  For the majority of that time, he was on a liquid diet, which made it hard.  But I took the kids everyday to visit him and then sometimes I would go back by myself to see him.  I just missed him too much.  And I know he was miserable being there.   

Mark's birthday was this past Monday and we were hoping he would come home on Sunday.  But that didn't happen.  But the doctor did give Mark the OK to start eating real food.  So Monday morning, on Mark's birthday, the kids and I took Mark some breakfast from Crackers.  He got to eat eggs and french toast.  He was so excited for me to come with FOOD!!  Then the doctor told him if he kept 2 meals down, he could come home.  And he did, so my Mark got to come home on his birthday!!  The kids were so excited to have him home! 

My whole family decided to go to dinner on Saturday night to Cheesecake Factory.  I was really torn because Mark was in the hospital only on liquids, but I wanted to go with my family to dinner.  Mark told me to go and to not feel bad.  So I took Braeden as my date.  Everyone had a date and I needed one too.  Before we went to dinner, we visited Mark in the hospital.  Braeden was so excited to go on a date with me and I told him we should trick Dad and tell him that I have a new love in my life.  Braeden got this huge smile on his face and was so into that idea.  But Braeden was being so cute there and was talking like such a big boy.  Mark and I enjoyed listening to Braeden's cute voice and ideas. I also told Braeden that whenever Dad and I go on dates, we hold hands.  So I got to hold his hand.  What a lucky mom I am!!  Thanks Braeden for being such a great date!!

We were driving around in Mark's car while he was in the hospital.  The second we got in his car, Braeden said, "Dad needs to get a car wash because he doesn't like a dirty car.  Maybe we should wash it for him!"  Then I said, "We should wash it for his birthday."  The kids thought that was a great idea.  Braeden couldn't wait to wash it.  I thought about just taking it to the car wash, but I thought it would be more fun for the kids to actually wash it themselves.  It was as fun as it could be washing a car in 100 degree weather.  But the kids had a blast.  Braeden suggested that he and I should go into the car washing business and charge $20 for each car.....so if you want your car washed, Braeden & I will do it for $20!!  Any takers??  But Monday we were washing his car and while we were finishing up, Mark called and told me to come pick him up.  We finished just in time.  The kids were so excited to show Mark his clean car.  It was cute!

Caleb being a trooper in his stroller watching us wash the car.  The balloon he is playing with was a balloon we got for Mark when we took him breakfast.  But Caleb loves balloons and didn't want to give it up, so he held on tight to it and wouldn't let it go.  CUTE KID!!

We are glad Mark is home and is feeling better than he did before he went into the hospital.  But he still isn't completely better.  We're hoping it heals well and he can be completely pain free.  Thanks to everyone who has kept him in your prayers.  We have felt them.

It's Summertime!

It's summertime around our house.  100+ degrees....... Bring it on!  We love swimming and my kids don't let me forget that we have a swimming pool!  I just love these goggle pictures.  

HE DID IT!!!!

Our Braeden did it!!  He earned enough money to buy himself a guitar!!  He is SOOOOOO excited to FINALLY have a REAL ELECTRIC GUITAR.  It's the real thing just a little bit smaller for him.  His Dad has been teaching him some chords and Braeden has been practicing.  He knows 3 chords so far and wants to learn more!  I'm so excited this kid has found so much joy in music.  He LOVES the piano and LOVES the guitar and he even likes to sing once in a while!  I love it as a mom watching him grow in these areas!  He is such a fun kid!  Gotta love his enthusiasm for life!

A Bike Ride

Grandma and Grandpa decided to go on a bike ride and of course, they couldn't keep that secret from the little ones.  They ran outside with them and hopped on their bikes.  

Another "What are these kids thinking?" Post

It was getting late on a school night and I told Braeden that it was time for him to get ready for bed.  He acted sad and told me that he forgot to do his exercises.  (He does some "exercises" on the swing set outside)  I told him to just remember to do them in the morning because it was time to get ready for bed.  He said he would forget to remember to do his exercises.  So I told him to write himself a note to remind him.  And then he left the room.  I thought for sure he was getting ready for bed.  It had been a while and it was really quiet.  I wasn't sure what was going on.  So I got up and to my surprise, I found this....

It starts right outside his door.

Around the corner.

Up the stairs.

All the way up the stairs.

Around another corner.

Through the hall.

Into the laundry room.

This is it.

A little pose as she always does when the camera is out.

Oh wait, it's not the end.

Out the door, leading to the swing set.  But this is where I caught him, so he had to end it here.

These kids used 56 pieces of my computer paper (Braeden counted them for me the next morning) to put arrows on that was leading to the swing set.  All so Braeden wouldn't forget to do his exercises in the morning.  I couldn't get mad, I just laughed.  It was so cute all the work they did for this.  Plus, he DID get ready for bed.  As much as it was funny, I told him I was disappointed he used all that paper.  They are only supposed to use 1 paper a day to print with or color on.  Braeden knew how sad I was that he used all that paper.  Needless to say, they can't use any of my paper until this paper with arrows on it gone.  After they were in bed, I found this note right outside his door.

  

TRANSLATION:  Me and Elli are very sorry that we wasted your paper.

AWWWW, how cute was that apology.

Oh, those FEET!!

I couldn't resist taking a picture of those adorable feet of Caleb's!  WAY CUTE!!

Sure he looks cute and innocent, but little do people know how mischievous this little guy is!  ALWAYS into something and ALWAYS keeping me on my toes!  But well worth it.  He lets me smother him with kisses, squeezes and hugs!!

How To Eat Sunflower Seeds??

This was so cute to me.  We've been eating sunflower seeds at Braeden's tball games and Elli had her dad teach her how to eat a seed.  What a cute daddy!!

Note to self: If you have Diverticulosis, DO NOT EAT SUNFLOWER SEEDS.  It may lead to a flare up of this condition.  Mark can attest to this.

I Am The Luckiest Mom & Daughter!

I have the best and craziest kids ever.  They sure have made this Mother's Day the best so far.  Last Night Braeden and Mark went to pick up some dinner for us and they came back with flowers and a balloon for Elli and I.  Everytime Mark brings me flowers, Elli thinks they are for her too, so we just tell her that.  Then this morning when we were eating breakfast, Elli asked, "When is is going to be Happy Sister's Day?"  We all laughed and decided that it's today.  So Elli and I get to sit on the couch and watch the boys do everything for us.  Braeden loved that idea.  He agreed to it because he knew when it was Father's Day, Elli and I would do everything for them.  Pretty funny.  

They have cleaned up for me and Braeden decided to be obedient today.  He has done everything I have asked him to do!!  BEST PRESENT EVER!!

They both made me some pretty cute things.  Some even made me cry they were so cute!  I loved every bit of it!!  Braeden, Elli & I got to play the "Newly Wed" game in primary today.  We answered questions about each other and Braeden & I did pretty good.  We answered some questions right.  Elli just had some cute answers.  But they had fun doing that.

I am also so lucky to have such a FABULOUS MOM!!  She has always been there me and has been such a great support!  I love you Mom and I am glad you are mine!!  Thanks for everything you do for us!!  You're the BEST!!  I Love YOU!!