Disneyland March 2010

It's been two whole years since we've been to Disneyland and Jeff and I were having serious withdrawals (I know we're ridiculous, you don't need to tell me). So off we went! We got a deal on a hotel, we got a deal on tickets, and only bought one meal in the park, so even food was inexpensive.Here are my cute excited little guys waiting for the park to open. They were climbing on the giant letters that spell out California. They're so cute!!!

Jeff's parents, Mike and Mary, came with us and they made it even better! The past two times we've gone, we've had some of my family come along, so their turn was long overdue. Having them there also meant that the boys were a little more spoiled than they might have been (take a look at the Disney shirts they're all wearing- thank you Grandma!)

Grandma also somehow got suckered into buying Mickey shaped ice cream. It must have cost hundreds of dollars- I didn't dare to ask. Gabriel felt deeply cheated that his ice cream didn't have a stick like all of his brothers- you can see how happy he is in the first picture, but once we traded with him, all was better than good.

My Funny Boys

When The big boys went with the other grown ups on Indiana Jones, the little ones and I went for a walk and then we got some french fries. Knowing that the big boys would be disappointed about not getting the novelty of fries, we quickly gobbled the last ones and threw away the container when we saw them coming. Then I said "Okay, little guys, those were our secret french fries, so we can't tell anyone we had them". As soon as Jojo saw his brothers he shouted excitedly, "GUYS! Guess what?! We had secret fries, but we can't tell anyone!". Hahaha!!! This was met with the disappointment I expected from the big brothers, but, oh well, they got to go on Indiana Jones.

Look at my cheesy little actors "trying very hard" to get the sword from the stone. They did this for several minutes before any of us noticed their theatrics- they're usually weird for their own enjoyment.

The first photo makes me laugh the hardest because, well, just look at Bear's face. But secondly, because one boy is pulling up and the other is pulling down. Hahahaha.

The Characters

The Tigger photo was taken right after Jojo actually knocked Tigger over from crashing into him with the worlds most insanely energetic hug. It was kind of hilarious.

The Rides

Notice the posed surprised face we all have on the Splash Mountain photo. Even Jojo did it!

Jeff, the big boys, and I all decided that Space Mountain was our favorite ride. Gabers and Jojo say that Pirates and Winnie the Pooh were theirs.

Disneyland wears you out. Especially when you miss a nap. But all the walking and sounds and excitement definitely proved to be too much for Gabers and he zonked out. Mary pointed out how funny it was that he sound asleep in the middle of the day wearing a festive button that reads:

"I'm Celebrating". Hehehehe.

Jeff has a very fond memory of going to Disneyland with his paternal Grandfather. He was so exhausted at the end of the day his grandpa carried little Jeff out of the park sleeping on his shoulder. When he and I realized that little Jojo's grandpa was doing the same thing, we had to get a photo. This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip.

Stools

Do you see them? Do you?! Aren't they beautiful? Comfy?
I love them so much!!!

You may think I'm insane for being so excited for stools. But you know don't know how much these little babies mean to me, do you? Well, let me tell you, when Jeff and I bought our cute little house we were so in love with it. It was ours. Our kitchen, our walls, our bathroom, our grass, our trees, OURS. We didn't care about the upkeep of an old house or other minor inconveniences like having no outlets in the bathroom.

Our house is 90 years old- it has the original doors and hardware on the upstairs rooms, you know the knobs with the skeleton keyholes that you can see through? So cute (although not always very private:-). The kitchen had been remodeled with LOTS of cabinets and counter space- I still love love love my kitchen- with one exception. When the kitchen was remodeled they put in a big island and rather than leave space for a table, they just put four chairs at the island rather than lose the storage space that the island created. So Jeff and I and our two boys enjoyed that seating situation for about a year or two... until we had a baby and lost the seat to him. And then we had another baby. Now we have four kids and four chairs. So for the past 2 years Jeff and I stand for every meal. I've been running around all day, then standing and cooking for an hour and when the meal is served, I continued to stand there and lean over the counter to eat the lasagna and steamed veges I just slaved over. There isn't room in the kitchen for more chairs at the island, the lip that you tuck the chairs up to barely fits the four that are already there. And there isn't a place around the island for any other seats that won't block the fridge or other cabinets if it's left there.

I finally had had enough. These two beauties now sit against the far wall away from the island. When it's time to eat we drag them over and, get this, sit down. WHAT?! I know! We sit down to eat dinner!

I love those stools...

Dinner with our Cousins

In January we went to have our little bi-yearly dinner with my Cousin Wendy and her family. She made some DEElish chicken and Caesar salad and then we chatted and played some guitar hero. Rick was still in town so he was able to come with us. It was, as always, delightful fun and most certainly worth the 45 minute drive. I wish we did it more often.

Me 'n' Wen getting silly.

Each one of our kids matches up pretty close in age with one of theirs. Except her baby- ain't he cute?

Our two year olds were TRU-BUL. It was funny how cute they were together. (I couldn't fit their horizontal photo in the other collage...)

We ARE guitar heroes. :-)

After we were done rockin' out, we found Paul doing the dishes! What a man.

Right as we were getting coats on the kids Wendy disappeared and came casually gliding into the room on this scooter with out a word- hahahahaha! Then of course it took 15 more minutes to get going because everyone had to try it.

I wish we all lived closer because it's hard to find a couple to hang out with that both spouses get along with. They are one of our favorite families to spend time with. Love you guys!!!

Window Dancing

Most people know that I'm pretty uninhibited. Most people know that my brother Rick is also. Most people know that I live on a vey busy street. Most people know that Rick and I always manage to create our own brand of fun.

One night in January when we had nuthin' better to do we decided to do a dancing show for all the passersby. It lasted for a good hour. We had no music playing but we didn't need it baby.

Nanos and Max played along too. I wonder how old they'll be when they finally decide that I'm an embarrassment and stop joining in.

FINALLY got my hair done!

It's been six months since I've had my hair cut and it was beginning to get pretty scraggley. Is scraggely a word? Whatever, it is now.

Here are some before and after photos. Not super exciting, but it feels so good to have it cut now!

This time I was able to go with Sara. Ren overlapped our appointments for us (which wasn't easy for him to do. He even cancelled someone else for us- what a guy!). It was really nice to hang out with them.

Thanks to Ren and Sara for a lovely Saturday morning. :-)

Knock it off Napoleon! Make yer self a dang kaysuhdilluh!

Today my 2 year old insisted on watching Napoleon Dynamite. So about half way through I joined him and my 4 yr old Jojo on the couch. First of all, that show is still funny. What's even funnier is when Jojo casually said:

"Mom, did you know I can throw a football over the mountains?"

Me: "Really?"

Jojo: "Yep."

Embarrassing story for Shellie

My newest favorite friend is Shellie Kendrick and she is an absolute professional at making embarrassing moments a hilarious part of my everyday. I can't claim to be able to rival her retelling of her most horrible moments in life, and I can't hope to match the joy she has given me by blogging about them. However, I dedicate this post to her (plus she was all nagging and accusing me that I don't blog often enough for her taste).

Once upon a time, at the tender age of 12, I had a mad crush on a boy. His name was Jayson Kennedy. I drew pictures of him and wrote his name repeatedly all alone in my room while listening to Wilson Philips. He was the coolest boy in 6th grade. I think this was largely due to the fact that he was the only black kid to attend my school in a decade or two, and also because the dude had hair like MC Hammer and a killer running man to match. It was the first time I remember thinking that dancing was hot. Actually at the time I used the word "fine" or "foin". He had a best friend named Jacob Majors. It sounds like a foin name to be sure, but he was the nerdiest looking kid you've ever seen- super blonde hair, glasses so thick he looked cross eyed, and a lisp to boot. But that guy was funny. So we all over looked the dorky exterior cause we really did like him. As a matter of fact, my friend Jennie had a crush on him, and I decided I did too after a while.

At my school, everyone at recess had to get a pass from the Aide to go in and use the restroom. The closest bathroom to the playground was the one in the 6th grade so there was always a 6th grader stationed at the bathroom doors in an authoritative neon orange vest checking for a pass from anyone going into the restroom. The Bathroom Bouncer if you will. This job was highly desirable because it meant that you got to stay there and bum around during all the grade's lunch recesses while the other sixth grade suckers had to go back to class. One fateful day, Jayson Kennedy had this job...

That day little awkward knock-kneed 6th grade Michelle decided to stall doing math so had a sudden need to walk really really slowly to the restroom and carefully study everything on my way as though that was what I was going to be quizzed on when I returned to class. I rounded the corner to the bathroom and there sat Jayson Kennedy, looking as cool as could be, leaned back on two legs of the chair against the red brick wall and donning an orange vest that I was certain was the only person to look that rad in it. He teasingly asked me if I had a pass and I sheepishly nodded and slid past him against the opposite wall trying to hide my flushed cheeks. So since I didn't really have to go to the bathroom I stood at the sink and tried to breath again. Fixed my hair, which I'm now certain was unsalvagable, and then decided to pee anyway... but very quietly because I would be so embarrassed if he heard me. As I exited the bathroom he put his high-topped foot up on the wall while still balancing on two legs of the chair and said "So did you wash your hands?" and gave me a crooked smile. Since I had no idea how to flirt I just said "Uh, yes..." (I hadn't) and waited for him to drop his foot. Then I as I walked past I suddenly had a spurt of sass, a swing in my step, I think I may have even flipped my loose french braid over my shoulder. I disguised my sheepishness so well he couldn't possibly have detected that I like him. And then I walked away on a cloud because holy crap I think he likes me!!! He must! He was being all cute, and did you see that smile? Oh...my...gosh. My cheeks were warm and my pits were getting sweaty for like the 3rd time in my life and I finally had a need for that deodorant I had begged my mom for. And then I realized something... a weird tugging feeling at the back of my waste band. Did I tuck my shirt in funny? So I pulled at the front of my shirt to adjust it. Then I pulled at the front of the elastic waistband of my pink and orange cotton unit. It still felt funny as I walked. So then... I can't say it... it's giving me bad feelings in my heart.... I reached to the back of my waistband to discover a long flowing tail of toilet paper. It was so long that it was dragging on the ground which is what created the funny tugging sensation. I HAD A T.P. TAIL IN FRONT OF JAYSON KENNEDY. Someone please just kill me. I was walking all sassy and it was probably swinging like I was a freaking cat... a rough one ply toilet paper cat.

HOW could this have happened? I'm now assuming that as I stood up to pull up my pants at the toilet that the long strip of t.p. hanging from the roll got caught in my waistband and as I walked away to go not wash my hands (cause I was in 6th grade and I was gross) it just kept pulling off the roll until it finally broke. But at the time, I didn't care how it happened, I just cared that it had. I balled it up in my fist behind my back without looking at that horrible horrible sight as fast as I could (which seemed to take a shocking amount of time and I envisioned that it stretched from my pants all the way back to the bathroom where Jayson K. was laughing and deciding when to tell the whole grade). I slunk into my desk and stuffed it into my tote tray.

I don't remember what happened after that. I may have blacked out from shame. From riding on the shame train. The shame train of toilet paper.

But you know what? No one ever said a word about it, not even Jayson Kennedy. That's the kind of classy guy he was.