California- Day 3

Our second day at Disneyland started with us driving to a Barnes & Noble to get a book for Daddy to finish off the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Then we went to California Adventures. We did Monsters inc a few times, the bugs life show, we met Donald (who Abi had been talking about all yesterday and this morning) played in bug land, I went on the Tower of Terror, Richard went on California Screamin, and we all went on the Carousel. Then we came back for a few hours to relax and went back for the Parade--which was awesome.

We took this shot of the back view of Mrs. Incredible. Somebody needs to tell her not to shake her booty so much--it isn't very flattering:

Abi seemed to really like the Parade:

Kate enjoyed the parade from the stroller--it was pretty windy

Look how cute Kate is!

Don't get in this chick's way. She is one awesome driver:

Meeting Donald--Abi always got sooo shy: I can't tell you how many people commented on how cute these two are--especially when they were holding hands like this. Kate & Abi really love each other. It is wonderful!

Abi waving to everyone:

Carousel ride:

California 2nd Day

The girls slept so well last night. Hallelujah! We figured we wouldn't get any sleep as our girls are not used to sleeping anywhere but home. It was nice being an hour ahead from our time zone because we were ready to go before the park even opened. We ate an awesome free breakfast at our hotel--(hotel post to follow) and headed across the street to the park. It is such a short walk.

We went to astro blasters, then the fairies, then I fed Kate while Daddy and Abi went on the flying rocket thing and explored toon town. I guess Abi gave Minnie a hug but didn't want to have anything to do with Mickey. We ate our sack lunch in toon town and the explored some more. Abi ran off chasing a bird through toon town. We went to its a small world and then to Futureland where we again chased birds and we even found a duck and followed it around. I love how the birds at disneyland let you get so close to them. I'm sure it will be one of her favorite parts.

I know some people think it is stupid to spend so much money to go to Disneyland when they end up liking things like the birds or the pool at the hotel more. Other people think it is stupid to take young children who won't be able to remember into their adult lives. I totally disagree. I don't care if they remember this when they are old. I don't care what I paid for Abi to have enjoyed the birds or to see Kate enjoy the flowers. We are getting out as a family away from work, home, and LIFE. We're having an adventure. Sometimes you have to get far enough away from home so you can rely on each other and experience something new. Nope, they probably won't remember this in a few months but I don't care. We WILL. We are having fun with our little girls and fun with each other and that is what is important.

Anyway, back to story line. Richard let me go on Space Mountain. I don't know if I can handle rides anymore. Having kids has just changed my body so much I don't know if "thrill seeking" will ever be the same again. It was fun but not so cool to go alone. I missed Richard but he was sweet to let me go.

We went to the Tiki room. Kate and Abi seemed to enjoy it. We rode Pirates TWICE because Abi wanted to. I figured she would hate it. She constantly suprises me. Then we rode the jungle cruise and headed for the hotel for dinner. It started raining on the way back and we ended up just watching a movie and eating in. I took Abi to the pool after it had rained and we stayed in about 2 minutes. She LOVED it though and had so much fun. We went back to the room and took a bath (in our bathing suits) in the tub. Then Kate joined us and then off to bed again.

It was such a beautiful day! The weather was perfect (until the time we left) and the longest we waited for anything was 30 minutes to see the fairies this morning. Everything else was around 5 minutes or less. It was awesome! The girls were perfect. The weather was perfect. It was fun.

Waiting to see the Fairies:

I think this was supposed to be Faun. Abi liked her well enough, but notice that there are no pictures of her and Tinkerbelle. She didn't want to have anything to do with her or Terrence.

Playing at Disneyland

I usually hear people talking about Abi being cute when we were out in public. She just is a free-spirited cute personality and adorable looking kid. Today was no such exception. I always respond with "and she knows it" because she does.

I love Kate's expression. Silly thing

Daddy had the cutest look on his face--which of course I couldn't quite get on camera. He was watching the Jedi training when Darth Vader and Darth Mal came out. Too cool.

California- 1st Day

The 19th of April we headed down to California for a family vacation. We planned and planned (by we I mean me) for months and tried to have an organized but flexible vacation.
A little after midnight on the 19th, I heard Abi walking around in the kitchen. She was so excited and was all ready to go to Disneyland. We woke the girls up a few hours later and headed off. Abi and Kate both woke up after we put them in the car and were awake for a while. Abi seemed to enjoy looking at the stars and Kate probably enjoyed looking at Abi? Who knows. During our first potty stop, I asked Abi if she was excited. She did a little dance and kind of hid her face as she said yes--hiding the fact of how excited she was! Cutie. We stopped in St. George to go see the temple. A nice Senior Missionary was eager to take our picture. At lease you can see all 4 of us were in the picture. :)
Then we drove to the outskirts of Vegas and ate lunch (we ate, Abi played) at a park. I LOVE the canopies at the parks in Vegas and California. Utah needs them too! We were going to stop at the Calico ghost town but Abi was out at that point so we stoped in Baker instead for an early dinner and then drove to our hotel.
The girls were wonderful--actually almost perfect. At every stop we let Abi open a present - most were movies, a few luxury candy items like ring pops and a pez and I also got her a mini etch a sketch and a crayola light board (awesome by the way). We didn't hear a peep from her until the last 10 minutes when she said a few times that she wanted to go to the park. Kate got a few new toys and she was super happy. The last 2 hours she started to fuss a little but it was pretty darn good considering we had been traveling for 10 hours already and she is still a baby. They are wonderful!
I really enjoyed our driving day. It was actually relaxing and enjoyable. We really wanted to have fun and "find joy in our journey," and we totally did. It was still long but it wasn't really that long. And, the girls went right down when we put them to bed. They are angels!

The sun was in their eyes. I don't blame Abi for not wanting to look:

Cutie Pie:

We're getting closer to having a picture of all 4 of us. 3 of us are looking at the camera and only a portion of us are cut off. :)

Kate sitting up so straight. Isn't she so prim and proper? Except for the fact she's naked. Oh well. :) I just love her baby skin! You can only guess why she was wearing no clothes...

I love my girls!

How did they make it this long...

is probably what a lot of people are thinking. Suprisingly enough though, Richard and I have made it together for 7 years. Poor guy. I know I wasn't the best choice for Richard but he DID pick me and I'm grateful. I know he got the short end of the stick but it was his choice. Despite the fact that I have "corrupted" him and I know some people wish he had married someone better, he is stuck with me.
I've loved being married to Richard. I think he is awesome and what a catch! He must have been drugged while we were dating though--there were so many better options and why he chose me we'll probably never know.
Regardless, I'm in love and here's hoping for plenty more years ahead.

Even More pictures

So, there is a whole looooong post below with text of what we have been up to. I'm sure only my Mom will read it. Its really for our family history anyway. The post below has pictures of Abi. It wouldn't let me post all of these and it just ended up turning out this way:

Mess face:

Abi took this picture of Kate & I:

These are the girls Easter dresses I made. I have yet to get a decent picture of them.

Catch Up

Life really does go by so fast! I can’t believe how much Kate has grown and Abi has grown up! We are having so much fun. Here is a look at what everyone has been up to:

Kate is still known as Kate Grundle, Kate Kate, and Grundle Bundle and now Grabby Hands. She is so stinking quick and she has really good accuracy for such tiny fingers. She can pull her binky out, play with it and get it back into her mouth. She loves to take a nap in my arms—which she is doing right now. She has to con me into doing it and she is very good at it. She is indifferent about food. She doesn’t hate it but doesn’t show that she loves it, which for some reason is very funny to me. Her favorite toys are the orange triangle, the play piano, the Daddy/Riley doll (it is sometimes Daddy and sometimes cousin Riley) – she really just likes to chew on his head, Sister’s baby dolls and Belle. She loves bathtime and loves playing games on my lap—well for about a minute. She can get away with lots of things with her smile and that laugh—don’t get me started. I love it! She loves seeing herself in the mirror. She gets the biggest grins! She sits so very still almost always when I hold her—quite opposite from another cute little girl we know. I love to hold her! She is so very ticklish—especially in her armpits and under her chin.
She is getting her 2 bottom teeth—Wahoo! We’re excited for her. She loves to play peek-a-boo with us. She likes to cover her head herself and then have us say boo when she removes it.

Abi is Miss Busy and is sooooo imaginative! She is constantly coming up with new games to play. I just can’t even keep up with her. She constantly amazes us with how much she knows. Her favorite things to do are paint, draw, color (an artist in the making) play outside and scream (we always tell her she can’t scream in the house so she has learned she can get away with it outside), play PBS kids with Mommy, feed her baby dolls, play hide n’ go seek, watch cartoons, bake—for real and pretend, and SING. She gets a microphone out and sings and dances. It is so stinking cute. She is becoming a better helper everyday and seems to be looking for ways to help me, which is very much appreciated. Her hair is getting so long now and is soooo beautiful. I’m learning more about taking care of it and styling it. She LOVES her little sister and is really mindful of her. Kate was distressed the other night because someone tried to hold her and Abi was right beside her trying to calm her down and saying things like: “I won’t leave you Kate. I’m right here. You’re all right.” I love to see the sisterly bond they share. Abi’s favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, yogurt, meat, bread, and fruit. She is obsessed with birthdays and asks for a birthday cake every day. She is constantly learning how to take care of herself which is good but is really sad at the same time for us because she is growing too fast! Abi is getting better at saying prayers and wants to read the scriptures every night.

I have been trying to enjoy as much of life as I can. These little girls are so wonderful and my husband is so awesome. When I get any free time, I’ve been trying to sew anything and everything I can. I really love it and I’m having fun learning more and more.

Richard has had a lot of weight on his shoulders for quite a while. There is so much that he has been responsible for. He has been working so hard at work and has had to work at home a lot at nights. He’s been a trooper with everything he has had to deal with. It seems like he is constantly in such high demand for helping out here and doing this and that for so and so and it wears on him. We’re so grateful he is willing to work to provide for us and allow me to stay home and raise our girls.

Funnies & Teeth

Abi's funnies for March":
"I just want to eat chili"
Abi crying-- Mommy: "What's wrong? Abi (concerned look): "My arm is hard. Bolf of them." Mommy: "Those are your elbows"
"My nose smells funny."
"You're silly Kate Kate Grundles"
"nay buhz" = neighbors
"madzidole" = magical
"I need a new piece of water"
"I have super powers under my dress"

Kate has at least 1 tooth coming in. So exciting! She is sooo growing up and Abi loves her and we love both of them! We're having lots of fun!

Giveaway!!! Giveaway!!!

Ok, so I kind of have been spacey and forgot to start my advertising campaign for my Etsy Shop. So here goes what I should have done a week ago--and by the way, everything in my shop has been discounted 40-50% to get started seeing as most people who see my stuff are friends and family.
Anyway--anyone who would like to win ANY item from my shop can do any combination of the following:

*Place a link on your blog or follow me on facebook for 1 entry (if you have both a blog and facebook and do both, you will be entered twice) - for the facebook, i still have to figure out how to make a fan page --anyone want to tell me how???
*Put a post on your blog or facebook with a description and web site address for 2 entries. If you mention the Lupus donations you get 1 additional entry.
*Put the product pictures to the right on your blog. Contact me and I'll get you the code. This will give you 5 entries.
If someone buys something from me and was referred by you and tells me so, you will get a whopping 10 entries!
I will draw from entries on April 9th.
Please leave a comment telling me how many entries you qualify for! :)

http://www.modishpodish.etsy.com/

What Monday Mornings Mean to Me

Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with Sundays? I mean in some ways I love it--attending church, socializing with the saints, spending time with family, etc. But the aftermath of Sundays (and how I physically feel)--well, just see for yourself:

My 2 1/2 year old has always loved to make messes but there is something about Sundays and my preoccupation with getting ready and giving Kate a bath allows someone a little more time to run wild and pull and pull and litter and litter. You can't walk anywhere in the house on Sundays without finding things all over the floor. After church and making dinner, Richard and I were just exhausted---like usual and the resulting mess from the day wasn't cleaned up and this is the fun i get to start my week out with. :)