Tuesday, November 22, 2011

St George

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(Our family at the Swiss Days Parade in Santa Clara)

At the end of September, Eric mom got tickets for her, me and Adyson to go see Little Mermaid at Tuahcahn in St George. So we made a quick weekend of it. I drove down on Friday morning with all 3 kids. Eric would not leave work early so he took a flight down later that night, (hooray for St George's new airport, hopefully we will use the St George house more now) It was also the same weekend at Santa Clara's Swiss Days which we attended both the fair and the parade for.
Here are some highlights from Swiss Days.
I know we took some pics at the Little mermaid, which by the way was incredible! But i cannot find them, maybe they were on my old phone?

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I have to preface this next photo with the caption I put under it when I put it up on facebook.
It makes me laugh every time I see it.

"The Dixie High Band got more than they bargained for when they passed Lucy on the parade route" babies gone wild? oh Lucy.

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Thanks for a fun weekend Kandell Grandparents! For the show, for flying in to have a weekend with us. Everything.

Monday, November 21, 2011

7 years

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(2 weekends after our anniversary we headed to Vegas for a weekend away, here is a photo from our favorite Sushi Samba)

I suppose 3 month later is better than no post at all.
On August 27th Eric and I celebrated 7 years of wedded bliss.
Although anyone who is married knows wedded bliss actually means: good times, bad moods, fun trips, not so fun plane rides, sexy dates BUT more unsexy ones, more pregnancy sickness than I care to relive, petty arguments, the bond that only bringing children into this world together can give, lost patience, lost wedding ring, late night movies and SVU episodes, late night newborn feedings, the knowing smile we give each other when one of our kids does something to is "so eric" or "so hailey", the other knowing smile when our kids do something "right" despite having imperfect parents. Friday night date nights out, and others at home, birthdays, anxiety attacks, holidays with loved ones, disagreements over who does more dishes (not even close, me!) and through it all being still happy with the choice I made at the youngin' age of 20 when I could have possibly known the importance of my choice. So glad I fell into something perfect. Imperfectly perfect.
Oh darlin' I love you so.... sure do.

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(our actual anniversary we had a lovely dinner at Forage. Have you been? Are you a foodie? Do you have 3 hours to eat a bazillion teeny delish courses? Then go!)

(below more Vegas getaway pics)
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Sunday, November 20, 2011

Disneyland, our fall tradition

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Our Disneyland trip this year was a whirlwind. We decided to add family pictures to our usual quick trip which made everything else a little quicker.. but it was fun and wonderful all the same.
Our first day after spending the day at Sadderock Ranch and Vineyard doing pics. We got the usual sitter for Lucy at bedtime and took Ady and Max to a late dinner and show at Mideval Times. We ate with our hands, we cheered on our knight and Ady was awarded the knight's banner at the end of the evening complete with special photo of her being presented it by her knight. Eric was less than pleased his daughter was chosen as "Queen of Love and Beauty" and that he forked out an additional $25 for this memory to have a photo momento but Ady was thrilled to be chosen as the knights one and only in the crowd.
On the way home in the taxi our kids fell asleep... and we barely got them up to the room with all our stuff and treasures from the show and carrying 2 sleeping kids.

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for the next 2 days we hit the park. all our favorites plus some.
but of course starting our day with the Storytellers Cafe breakfast at our hotel every morning is a must. Lu thought the characters were rockstars and squealed with delight when any of them were close by...

(our Ariel, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell)

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The next night we order room service for our kids and their "Fairy God Mother" babysitter nad headed out for an hour sans kiddos. We hit the jackpot of sushi restaurants and will for sure be returning for our fix next time we are there.
Then we went back to the hotel to pick up the 2 older kids while Lucy went to bed in the care of the sitter and we took the kids on some big kid rides.
They braved, Thunder Mountain, Soarin (a couple of times, it was their fav) Splash Mountain (hated it, anticipation of the big drop had them both in tears), and Ady braved the ultimate in freaky Disney rides the Tower of Terror. She went with Eric, came out traumatized, but since tells everyone its her favorite ride.. I don't think she will go again any time soon but she earned those bragging rights. So she is using them.

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(our amazers sushi find pictured above, and my big kids Ady and Max on Main Street waiting for fireworks on "adults/big kids night" in the park pictured below)

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Lu and dad waiting in line for the new Little Mermaid ride, its darling. Lucy and I went on it like 6 times in a row one morning while Eric and the kids hit Soarin again. and again.

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(Minnie Mouse and Jasmine)

All in all it was a successful quick trip, a fun tradition we have kept and wonderful to have quality family time. That dad of ours is busy busy lately and we soak up all the dady/kid time we can get with him.
Til next year Diddyland!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Halloween Festivities

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It seems Autumn and more specifically October has come and gone around these parts quicker than I would have liked. I have been worse and worse at blogging. But lucky for me Instagram and the new Iphone complete with fab camera, at least for a phone its fab. And it is keeping me at least documenting my sweet busy kiddies so I'm not missing too much.
Here is our Halloween Festivities in snapshots.

Visits to Cornbelly's
Including one extra fun visit with the Lovell cousins where we ran into the Kesler cousins.

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Girls Day at HeeHaw's while the boys were up at the cabin working on the fence with all the Smoot men.


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Our kids first visit to a spook alley called the "Springtown Express" a haunted train ride. Kids were not fans.

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Making halloween crafts during "Maxwell's sick week" home from preschool for a whole week and we got pretty stir crazy.

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Picking out pumpkins at HeeHaws and carving them up at home

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1920's Adults Night Murder Mystery Party, me and my girlfriends threw at Stacy's.
I was silent film star Zetta Zarbo and Eric was my boyfriend and mob boss Hal Sapone. I ended up being the murderer But the highlight of the evening was dressing in 1920's garb. We all agreed, they knew how to dress back then and other highlight was our other friend Aubree's amazing meal she catered for the night. She's my new favorite chef.

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Fondue Feast for 5, our little family started a fondue tradition for the weekend before Halloween. Everyone helped, Ady even made super spooky Halloween place cards.
Next day we continued the good eating with pumpkin soup bowls with our tomato bisque.
Lucy now only insists on her root beer in goblets. Who is this girl?

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Dress up day at school, Halloween programs, Dance Halloween parties.

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Trick or treatin at Daddy's office.

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The big night.
Ady was a adorable version of Poison Ivy, picked for her long red hair
Max was a super tough Darth Vader, picked for his mask and sword
Lucy was a darling clown, picked cuz mama only has one child who lets her pick costumes any more.
We enjoyed our tradition of trick or treating with cousins in Sandy in the Lovell's neighborhood and this was my favorite year since the weather was so fantastic.
Best Halloween.

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Now to catch up on everything else thats been happenin'..... ahh, hopefully someday soon.