Last Disney Day

The boys and I were a bit emotional about our annual Disney passes coming to an end in February. I'm sure we will make the investment again sometime in the future, but the finality of our first year in California being over hit us hard.

When we sat the boys down over a year ago to let them know we were going to be moving to Southern California, there were a lot of tears. Their only consolation at the time was that we would live close enough to Disneyland to visit whenever we wanted. In fact, a parent from Blake's first grade class called me the next night to inform me that her son told her, "Blake is moving to Disneyland!"

Of course, now the boys love many things about living in California. But giving up the first hopeful thing they clung to was harder than anticipated. 

Not to get too dramatic, but Disneyland filled us with a lot of happiness over the last year. It was the place we went when we didn't know a soul in our new home. It was where we went when I was missing out on my beloved book club. It was where each of our boys' birthdays were celebrated on individual birthday dates. It brought our extended family together on a few occasions. It was the topic of many conversations with new friends. And it happened to be the 60th anniversary year, which meant we got to witness debuts of new parades and attractions. 

I wish I could say our last visit went smoothly, but emotions and expectations were running high which set us up for a less than ideal evening. We managed to make the most of it despite traffic, long lines and cranky attitudes. It helped when we declared it to be an "ice-cream-for-dinner" night.

Some of our friends came with us and were very patient as I tried to capture the slanting sun through Mickey's Fun Wheel one last time.

While the older boys scurried off to go on a favorite ride, the little boys had the best time running free.

Crew is so protective of his baby brother.

The drinking fountain was hands down the favorite attraction of the night. Maybe the boys won't miss out on Disney passes after all, as long as we can find ample drinking fountains to keep them entertained.

I love this series of photos so much that I just couldn't narrow it down any more. 

Crew's shirt was much more drenched than this by the end. Worth it? 100%.

Blake and Nash kept separating off with our friends to go on the big kid rides, which meant that I got to sit down and enjoy the parade with Crew and Finn. It was a good move, because Crew was in heaven. He had seen the Pixar Play Parade several times, which made the anticipation that much better. He waved nonstop the entire time. I'm still convinced that right around three years old is the most magical time for Disneyland.

We fit in everything we could until it was time for the inevitable; time to say goodbye. Crew slept through the farewell but Blake and Nash had tears streaming down their faces. I'm sure the late night and sugar high didn't help the situation, but it was heartbreaking to watch them cling to Mickey Mouse benches to bid farewell on our way out of the park.

We are all incredibly grateful that Disneyland was a part of our day-to-day reality over the last year. Those tears on the way out signified the end of an era more than they did giving up rides and fireworks. We will surely miss Disney days.

February Long Weekend

The boys had a four day weekend over President's Day and we took advantage. 

The weather was gorgeous so we met up with a bunch of friends at the beach who were also taking advantage of no school.

It was our first time experiencing Three Arch Bay, a private beach just south of Laguna. We love beach hopping.

Blake set up a photo booth with a boogie board backdrop for his friends (note all the girls...) to enjoy.

Like most beaches here, the stairs going back up to the street were a beast. But we sure didn't mind the view from the top.

Valentine's Day was sandwiched into the long weekend so we made our traditional monster cookies with red and pink m&m's.

Troy and I opted to wait until the following weekend for our Valentine's date, but we made it a little festive in the meantime.

With another day off school and work, we headed to Legoland with some friends. When we visited the park over Christmas break, they gave us passes to come back once again before the end of February.

Blake and Nash made sure to bring a collection of LEGO minifigures to trade with the workers this time around.

Some of the waits were long due to the holiday, so instead of waiting in line to go on a water ride, the boys took advantage of being able to spray the riders from the sidelines.

It was their favorite part of the day.

Finn was happy as long as he had his thumb and nie-night. We made sure to bring the back-up nie-night because it was too risky to tote along the original.

He conked out for a little while.

We had a great time exploring the areas we didn't make it to the first time we visited Legoland.

The long weekend in February happened to be our one year anniversary of moving to California. We reflected on everything that went down in the last year and pinched ourselves once again that we live in such a beautiful place. I don't think the novelty of spending winter months at the beach will ever wear off.

Christmas in Action 2015

I do realize it is March, but my brother just finished compiling some Christmas footage that needs to be posted for the archives. I'm always so grateful for his captured moments that freeze time in a different way than pictures do (see the annual beach videos here).

I always want to remember this particular Christmas at my parents' house in the desert. The year that despite a car accident on the way out, an infected cut under Finn's nose and the stress of cramming in last minute gifts and wrapping, we were together and that was all we needed. 

I want to remember how Blake smiled with pride about his two missing front teeth. How Nash was obsessed with all things drawing. How Crew loved climbing in the boxes more than opening them. How Finn was mostly crawling but beginning to take his first steps.

I want to remember the last time the red elf jumpsuit was worn. It was passed down to each of the boys at Christmastime and Finn was the final recipient.

I want to remember the year that all of my children believed in the magic of Santa Claus, because I have a feeling it might be the last.

I want to remember the moments that made all of the chaos that swirled around during the month of December worth it. And now I can. Thanks, bro!

LEGO Birthday Party

Six seems to be the magic age in our family for the first birthday party with friends. Nash knew what the theme would be for approximately 234 days before the highly anticipated event. 

I was thrilled that the weather looked promising enough to hold the party outdoors instead of in our small living room. It turned out to be a gorgeous day. I never thought I'd be throwing a party outside the first week of February.

I kept the food incredibly simple because I've learned that kids mostly just want to play at parties. I found some LEGO jello molds here and made jigglers in four different flavors.

We opted for Rice Krispie treat cake. So much less mess and fuss than real cake.

I made a balloon dart board years ago and it has been well used. It even made the cut for the move to California because I knew we would continue to use it again and again.

The balloons were filled with small Candy Blox that exploded each time a balloon was popped.

I made sure to have some favors filled with Candy Blox so they didn't have to eat the balloon remnants from the dirt.

The hit of the party was the LEGO race car track.

I picked up enough wheels at t]The LEGO Store for each child to have the same starting base. They spent the majority of the party going back and forth from the building tables to the racing track. I loved to see all of the unique creations they constructed with the assortment of LEGO bricks.

I kept thinking this party would require minimal effort until 2am the night before when I was still building the race track.

I would have liked to add more bells and whistles, but I don't think the kids minded that we used a wrapping paper roll as the starting line that held the cars until they were ready to be released. 

They were just so happy to figure out which designs raced fastest.

Blake planned to have an estimation jar full of LEGO bricks for months and took complete control over organizing and executing the activity. 

Before we knew it, it was time to sing to the birthday boy.

When it was time to announce the winner of the estimation jar, we realized that we left the prize at home. It's a good thing we live just down the hill because there was no way after all of Blake's effort he was going to let that one slide. He sprinted home to grab the prize.

Finn spent the majority of the time chasing the giant beach balls we had floating around.

And stuffing his mouth with a grass and dirt covered Rice Krispie treat.

Those who could step away from the race track long enough made LEGO figure masks.

Nash felt so loved, surrounded by friends and cousins. The LEGO party met all of his six year old expectations.