6 kids, Easter and Disneyland



I am way behind on blogging. So I am going to try and catch up. In March, right after Austin's birthday, we packed up the car and headed to Arizona to watch Jared and Wendy's kids. They were going on a cruise for a week, so Austin was nice enough to come with me and watch all 6 kids. It was a busy week with school, scouts, naps, shopping, swimming and lots of play time, but we had a blast.

 

 

When Jared and Wendy came home, Austin headed back to California while the boys and I stayed one more week to have more fun. We spent lots of time with cousins and swam more. On our last day there, we got to go a lake that is about an hour away from Jared and Wendy and we got to test ride their new boat. I tried surfing behind the wake, but I couldn't do it. I'll just have to keep trying I guess. It was a ton of fun. 

 

Sam's first boat ride!

 

Sam also started crawling on this trip! I guess he was trying to keep up with all the kids. After a fun week, we got to fly home. Yet another first for Sam, and a first for me, 2 kids alone on a plane! Let's just say I'm glad it was only a 45 minute flight!

 
 
 
 

 

When we got home, the fun didn't stop. Easter was right around the corner, and Grandma and Grandpa Baillio had some fun things waiting for us in the mail. Luke got 2 dollars and a fun new robot shirt, which I can barely get off him long enough to wash. Sam got 2 dollars as well and some new pjs! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Baillio!

 

We dyed easter eggs, and then I had a wonderful egg salad sandwich for the next 2 weeks :)

 Easter morning before we headed down to see what the Easter bunny brought us. Sam was super excited

 

Since Mom and Dad had to be in their ward Sunday and we had to be in our ward Sunday, we didn't get to see them this Easter, so we went to our second family, the Turley's with Steve and Stephanie. We had a little Easter Egg hunt. Sam was content to suck on the eggs, while Luke, Colby and Cooper searched for cleverly hidden eggs by Daddys.

Then we had a few down weeks while we waited for Austin and my 10 year anniversary. Luke is the coolest kid around. 

 

 

We played hard everyday, trying to beat the massive heat wave we had. 103 was the highest we got, and our pool was being redone, so we got creative and played at home. 

You can never be too safe. Luke told me he had to wear his jacket, just in case he fell in, safety first! 

Then Kim and co. came into town, and while I was packing up the car to get ready to go, Sam fell asleep watching a Baby Einstein. Love my boys. 

When Kim was here, we did 2 days of Disneyland. Luke rode Big Thunder Mountain for the first time. He said he liked it, but never wanted to do it again, ever. 

Splash Mountain is always a hit, especially when it's so hot out! We even got Grandma to go, she decided to sit in the back with Luke, but I think she got the most wet! Love our Grandma! 

I love it when Dad comes to meet us. It's always fun when Grandpa comes! 

Mom and Dad took a sleepy Sam home, and the big kids got to stay and play. Toon Town was empty, so we made it our own and the kids had a blast running around where ever they wanted while Kim and I put our feet up and rested! 

We love being on the go! Thank you to all who let us come and make fun memories!!

8 is GREAT!

 Disneyland! We slipped away to Disneyland before we headed out to Las Vegas to see Ellie get baptized. Mom came with us, which is so super fun. I love my Mom so much, she would sit with Sam while Luke and I went on rides, she makes the trips much easier and much more fun!

 On the Mater Ride.

 Luke is FINALLY tall enough to go on the big rides. We got to go on Star Tours. He loved it. Splash Mountain is still his favorite. But he loved this one.

 Waiting for the train. and with Grandma in the Tiki Room. Sam and Luke love their Grandma.

 Then we packed up the bags again, and headed to Las Vegas. We got to go see Andrew's pine wood derby. His car won 1st place! They also do a "free" round and let the kids race cars that aren't old enough to be in the derby.  Jenny and Brent let Luke race a car. His award was fastest 3 wheeled car, since his car lost a wheel on the way down.

Then we got to see Ellie do her cheer routine. She was so cute in her little outfit and did a great job!

 Saturday was the big day. 

Ellie looked so beautiful in her white dress. I'm so proud of her for making such a big decision. She is growing up to be such a beautiful young woman. She did great. Love our Ellie

 After we got back, we opened presents and ate yummy cake. Grandma and Jenny made an awesome cake, everyone got a chance to blow our candles, a fun tradition we always do!

 Just be sure to get a piece on the opposite side of the cake :)

 We had a great time. I love being with family. I have such a great one. Sam and Luke did awesome in the car. Can't wait to go again!

Christmas and New Years

 This year the Christmas season started off with seeing some Christmas lights and heading to the boat parade in Newport Beach. There was a house in Nelle Gail that had a whole bunch of lights synced to music, which by itself was pretty cool, but they also let you walk in their house! They had the whole downstairs decorated in little villages. They had a whoo-ville, Peanuts-ville, Polar Express-ville, Candy-cane-ville, you get the idea. It was really pretty awesome.

 Outside the house. There was a huge line, but we didn't mind waiting because they passed out homemade donuts and hot chocolate.

 Inside, I'm still blown away that they let people walk through their home. They said they had about 1,500 people that night and they do it every night for 3 weeks! The owner of the home said they start decorating in August. Can you imagine! It was amazing though. So fun to go see.

 We also went to the boat parade, but it was kind of a bust this year. There were hardly any boats and we sat kind of far away. If we go next year, I'm going to walk around the island like we've done before. But it was still fun to see all the lights and get out.

We held the Christmas activities and had a baby shower for Mandy. I'm so glad I got to celebrate with her. She is one of my very best friends. I'm so happy for her and Brandon to welcome baby Rusty. 

 She's probably the cutest pregnant person ever. Love the belly

 We kick Christmas into high gear after the shower and loaded up the car and headed to Arizona for Christmas this year. It was fun to spend the party with family. Luke and Lizzie were best of buds. They were inseparable. They even got married while we were there. We put reindeer food out so the reindeer would know where to come.

 Then we wrote a thank you letter to Santa and left some cookies and carrots for the Santa and his reindeer. Then it was off to bed so he would come!

 Santa did not disappoint! He left so much loot! The kids were pretty excited. When Luke walked downstairs, he kept saying, it's too bright! Funny kid. We had a great Christmas.

 Dad and Austin were matchy matchy

 Everyone got on skype when Mom and Dad opened their gifts from the kids. It was fun to all be "together"

 Then Kim and co. and Aaron and co. came over and we had even more fun playing games and watching movies.

 We spent a few days at the park trying out our new stuff from Santa. Grace and Luke were buddies at the park.

 Sam in his Sunday outfit from Grandma. Sweet baby boy.

 Then New Years Eve came around. We spent it at Kim's with Aaron and Brooke, Dave and Joy, and Wendy and Jared. Kim came up with some awesome minute to win it games, and we popped a balloon every hour until midnight. In the balloon we had something new and fun to do. We kept busy till mid night then passed out on the way home. Luke and Liz made it till 10:00, and Grandma offered to take them home to bed, she's so nice :)

Austin got in on all the games. He's really kind of awesome. I'm so blessed to have such an amazing family. Happy New Year!