Disneyland

Grandma Nish bought season passes for all the grandchildren for Christmas. Since Riley is under three and still free, I got to have her season pass. Grandma Nish and I decided to take Tyler and Jayden to Disneyland on Tuesday since neither of them have preschool. We packed the BOB in the van and walked from the parking lot to the security entrance (20 min walk) where Grandma Nish was stopped because she had a selfie stick in her purse! Since Grandma Nish didn't want to forfeit the selfie stick she decided to take it back to the van. While she did that, Tyler, Jayden, and I got our annual passport cards.

Jayden holding her annual passport card~

In front of the castle - Jayden really wanted to go inside to see princesses. Tyler really did not want to go inside. He wanted to do "boy stuff" not "girl stuff"~ 

While Grandma Nish was still on her journey to the van, we decided to make our first ride the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Mostly because it was only a 5 minute line (which was really 10). Jayden was scared of the dark and wanted me to use her blaster. Tyler wasn't too scared and had a good time blasting the targets~

After the ride, Grandma Nish found us and we decided to do Star Tours. Tyler and Jayden just made the 40" height requirement. While in line, we were treated to a viewing of two Storm Troopers. They were regulating the line and telling people that they're keeping "an eye on you". Jayden and Tyler were a bit scared, but really intrigued.

During most of our time standing in line Tyler kept asking me if we were going to see "bad guys" like Darth Vader. I had just been on this ride a couple of weeks ago and there were no sightings during the ride so I kept saying "no bad guys". I didn't know it then, but there's multiple videos shown during the Star Tours ride and of course, Darth Vader was in it for 20 seconds holding onto our star ship and not letting go! Tyler had fun telling me that I was wrong afterwards. 

Star Tours is in 3D and both kids liked their glasses~ 

Next we went into the DC Experience, but the lines were too long to meet Spiderman or Thor~

Jayden's wish came true and she met Sleeping Beauty by the castle. Jayden was very shy and only nodded yes to Aurora's questions about her favorite color being pink (Tyler did not want to photographed with a "girl" princess)~ 

Before entering Toon Town, we asked the balloon vendor if Jayden could hold his inventory. Much to her disappointment, she did not fly~

Having fun in Toon Town~ 

It was a very quick trip to Disneyland. We got there around 10am (after we dropped Chase and Riley off) and then had to leave the park by 2pm so we would be on time to pick up Chase from school. Jayden and Tyler had a great time and they both behaved very nicely.

Later that evening, Grandma Nish watched everyone while I took Chase to basketball practice. She had all of them in the tub and cleaned by the time we got back~

Christmas Eve & Christmas 2015

Christmas Eve was very mellow. During the day we made sugar and gingerbread cookie cutouts. Jayden liked rolling the dough out and using the cutters~

Chase participated too~

We made a big mess!

Chase spent most of the day playing football with the neighbors - which he loves! 

Jayden and Chase delivered Christmas cards to our neighbors~ 

 

After dinner we decorated the cookies~

Guess who made which cookie~

Leaving cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and his reindeer - 8 reindeer and Rudolph~ 

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The kids were so excited to open presents on Christmas morning~

The kids LOVED spending Christmas morning with Grandma and Papa Logue~

The afternoon was spent preparing for everyone to come over for Christmas dinner. We had ribs, steak, potato casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green beans, salad, sweet rolls, etc. Too bad I can't ever remember to take any pictures!

Uncle Marcus grilled the ribs~

Grandma Nish also brought over a huge batch of shoyu chex mix~

It was a wonderful day and we feel so lucky that we got to spend it with so many members of our family! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Free Slurpee Day

Took the girls to get free slurpees at 7-Eleven on 7/11:

The girls definitely love sweet treats! Riley was thrilled to get her very own - she doesn't like to share. This was our first time getting free slurpees. It was really easy! No line, just walked into 7-Eleven and a worker is standing by the slurpee machine with the small cups asking, "What flavor?". We can make this an annual tradition. =)

Summer Days

This summer we're trying to keep a balance of planned and unplanned activities. One of Riley and Jayden's favorite "unplanned activity" is going to the park. Riley loves the swings. Unfortunately for me she loves to try every one of them. She likes to swing on each one for a good two minutes.

Riley is also a dare devil. I have to keep a close eye on her because she'll climb anything...

One of our "planned activities" is ballet/tap class for Jayden once a week. She loves her little leotard/tights outfit and has a ball in the shoes. I told her to strike a ballet pose before we headed out to her first lesson~

Riley wanted to pose too~

To celebrate her first dance lesson (which she listened and participated really well) we got frozen yogurt. We did not get anything after her second lesson when she decided that she was not going to listen to the teacher....walked slowly to get in line, not bending her knees, or walking the right direction, etc. She loves to know what her boundaries/consequences are~

5.20.15 Notes

In security line going back to LAX from SEA:

Chase: Is my hammer a weapon? Will I get in trouble?

Me: It's plastic, it's deflated, it's OK.

Chase: Are you sure the police won't get mad at me?

He has a healthy fear of the police


A couple of weeks ago one of our neighbor's houses got toilet papered.

Chase: Mommy, Danesh & Nahib (our 13 year old neighbor twins) said that they didn't clean up the TP because the police are going to come over.

Me: OK

Chase: Mommy, I touched the TP, will the police see my fingerprints and think it's me?

Me: No, because your fingerprints are in only one place.

Chase: Actually Mommy, I touched the TP in two places.

Me: It's ok, two places is fine. Besides I know that you didn't TP their house.

Chase: (looking relieved) I know, but I don't want anyone to think I did.

Very healthy fear of the police, lol.

Words Riley can say:

1. Mama
2. Dada
3. Ball
4. Da (dog)
5. Ca (cat)
6. Yea (yes)
7. Na (no)

Riley likes to put on a purse and wave goodbye. She loves waving at birds, dogs, lawn mower people and truck drivers. She goes out of her way to catch their eye while she's waving. Pretty cute!

Jayden loves dressing up. She always wants to wear dresses, capes and pretty shoes. She walks on her tip toes so she can pretend she has heels. She loves to wear her blankie as a cape and she loves for us to put capes on her barbies.  She's three going on thirteen.