So today it might have been cold enough for the Snuggie.  It was one of those really cold, wet, rainy days.  At one point tonight we even looked at Robie's thermometer in his car and it was the same temperature it was when we were in Utah for Christmas (it was cold and rainy there, too :))  When the hail finally came the kids were pretty excited.  Apparently, I'm a spoilsport because they all just wanted to say it was snowing, so when I reminded them that it was snowy, Brooke finally said, "I know it's hail, but can't we just call it snow?"   Geez, Fine.  Fox was even walking around saying, "no, no" (of course he also said this the other day when it was cold and rainy, but still it's cute).. that was fun.  Now where's the sun?

snugglicious

It's been a little chilly lately, but I hardly think it was this cold..

how many posts can I have titled "disneyland"?

The kids were off school this week.  Of course, we just had to do a few fun things, right?  We took the kids to Disneyland on Tuesday with Robie and Fox was totally loving everything (although, coincidentally also NOT looking like he is enjoying himself in any pictures!).  Everything was a "choo choo" - the actual train in Disneyland, the matterhorn, the rollercoaster in California Adventure.  I don't remember the girls enjoying the rides as much as he does.  Whenever it was time to get off of the ride (Casey Jr especially) he was either signing, "more" or saying, "no" (as in, no, don't make me get off this awesome ride). Luckily it wasn't too busy, so another ride was soon at hand.    Also, he is obsessed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and within seconds of arriving at the park, his favorite characters were only feet away.  He just kept saying, "mny ms" over and over (because as you may know, there are things with Mickey on them all over!).  He even tried to steal someone's autograph book while we were waiting in line - thank goodness he is still at that "oh, that's so cute" age instead of the "whose annoying kid is trying to grab my book stage".  The book did have Mickey Mouse on the front and we were in line for the princesses (long and boring), so I can't really blame the kid.

With success behind us on Tuesday, the kids and I decided to join our friends again on Thursday.   Honestly, we had so much fun both days - it was beautiful weather and we didn't really rush anything either day, so i think that is what made it so nice.  You want to ride the carousel 5 times in a row, Fox?  No problemo.  Kids want to go back on Toy Story Mania, why not?  On Thursday we even did some things we have either never done or do very rarely.  The highlight for my kids was definitely the Animation Academy.  A friend of mine had said that she goes everytime she is there, and I have to say, we probably will too.  It was awesome.  Basically an artist just leads the group in a group drawing lesson for one of the Disney characters.  I knew Brooke and Ashley would dig it, but even Lauren loved it (ok, Fox didn't like this one that much after the first 5 minutes, but still).     On Tuesday he was definitely enjoying the rides, but today he was FREAKING OUT.  For example, we went to a Bug's Land, where he can ride most of the rides.  Of course, the kids start with the bumper cars which he is not tall enough to ride and he screamed bloody murder anytime I got near the car area because he wanted to go so badly that he kept squirming to get down, trying to go into the exit or running into line with the kids.  it was actually a little bizarre.  I had to leave the area and take him to the bathrooms and then to the other rides over there.  When the kids got off we went on the other little rides there, but everytime it was time to get off he threw a little bit of a fit.  eek!  Luckily he finally drifted off and took a nice mellow nap, waking up just in time for a few more rounds of Buzz Lightyear before we headed home for the night.

On a side note, another proof that Disneyland really does rock at customer service.  David (a friend we took with us) dropped his new collectible pin that he purchased only a few hours prior somewhere between Pirates of the Caribeean and Buzz Lightyear (or was it between Thunder Mountain and Pirates?) or maybe.. you get the idea.  Anyway, I figured it didn't hurt to ask if anyone turned it in - of course, no one had, but after searching for like 10 minutes the lady came back and gave us a voucher to go get a new one at the store.  nice, huh?   David, Ashley and Lauren all even fell asleep on the way home.  Of course, Fox was wired/tired and only wanted to listen to either "Eye of the Tiger" or Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" for the entire ride home. Obsessive tendencies anyone?

Bubbles

Dude is digging the bubbles.  As with most other things right now, he wants to do them himself, though, which is only a problem when he keeps trying to eat the bubble thing, which I believe is officially called a wand.   I'm not sure of the toxicity level, but it definitely didn't seem like a good idea, so I just stood like 6 inches away and everytime the wand got too close to his face I'd reach down and pull it back away a little.  One of the times I missed it (which may or may not have been because I was trying to get a cute picture), I grabbed the wand after it had already entered his mouth.  Of course, he opened his mouth to protest, and we were both a little started as a bubble came blowing out directly at me.  Hilarious. 

oh, and, yes, I did try to photoshop out the dirt under fox' fingernails, but it got too tiresome (apparently, just like the actual act of keeping them clean.. ha ha ha ha ha)

FHE

Robie and I have been trying to be more consistent with doing Family Home Evening every Monday night.  The kids love it, but of course, sometimes our laziness gets in the way, blah, blah.  This year we are covering the basic scripture stories. (this may or may not have been precipitated by Robie asking the girls about one of the big ones, I can't remember which one now, and they really had no idea what he was talking about - eek!).    Anyway, Monday night was the Creation along with Adam and Eve - can you tell we are just starting our cycle through the little blue binder of scripture story pictures?.  As we were reading the scriptures about man having "dominion" over the earth, Robie asked if the kids knew what dominion meant.  Lauren just couldn't help herself, so excited that she knew the answer she blurted out, "minions, minions - like in Despicable Me.".  She seriously just couldn't get it out of her mind for the rest of the lesson (and so then, neither could I :))

watch out, random meanderings..

So pretty much the biggest excitement of the end of the week last week was my having to leave my spin class early because my spin shoes kept clicking off the pedal leaving my left leg to hang there while my right leg spun excitedly.   It was a classic moment as the poor person next to me kept glancing over concerned that my whole body might be coming off the bike next.  oops.  Guess Robie needs to fix those again, bummer.  

Brooke actually wanted to at least try to practice basketball with her casted arm.  She actually did quite well, although we're hoping that she gets the cast off tomorrow and can use both arms to actually play in their last game (well, i keep telling her it is her "first game of the playoffs, so you could play more... ").  Her team did only lose by 1 on Saturday which was honestly such a dramatic improvement that I was getting actual tears welling in my eyes that they almost won a game.

Sunday mornings we've been taking a walk around the neighborhood.  It's nice to get out of the house and I've been hoping it will wear Fox out so he will take an early nap.  Didn't work this week, but at least it was a nice day out! (this picture was clearly taken during our walk last week because this week we would not have been wearing sweatshirts :))

I did try something out new with the kids today.  I got dinner all ready and any tasks I wanted to do this afternoon before they got out of school, so then I took at least 10 minutes to just sit and talk to each kid about their day, their homework, whatever they wanted to talk about.   Ashley and Brooke both really seemed to like that, so I'm going to try to do that more often.  Of course, I talk to them all the time, but I made the effort to sit with each of them alone (not something that happens that often except for when they are in trouble), so that part was kind of tricky.  Ashley's friend came over to play after her turn and they took Fox with them, so Brooke and I actually sat and talked for over an hour - I'm hoping she doesn't grow out of liking that!