Taking It Literally

Here in Utah they have been playing Christmas music on the radio since November 1 on some stations. It's been a little crazy, but I have enjoyed it.

The other day I asked Macey what she was listening to. I guess she heard two Christmas songs that she wanted to tell me about. One was about a lady who needed to go home but it was too cold to go (Baby, It's Cold Outside) and the other was about a woman who wanted a baby for Christmas (Mariah Carey -- All I Want For Christmas Is You).

I had to chuckle. I love Macey. I love seeing Christmas through her. She's great.

Big Time

Molly was invited to a birthday party! Her little best friend is two days younger than she is, and he had a little party. He is a big Wonder Pets fan, and so we got him a little Wonder Pet, wrapped it up, and went to a great party with his family. They rode lots of rides together and had a great time!

Good Golly, Miss Molly Is Three!

A few days after Thanksgiving, my Black Friday baby turned three!

To celebrate, my sister came over with her family on Sunday night for a Snow White Party and Princess cake and ice cream. On Monday, her actual birthday, we met Garry's brother and his family at Chuck E. Cheese and Molly's best friend came as well. She had a great couple of days! I also took her to Barnes & Noble and we had a hot chocolate and a big chocolate chip cookie and she picked out some books.

What can I say about Molly? She's adorable. She's feisty. She likes to talk. She really likes to get her way. She likes princesses, especially Snow White. She loves Disneyland. She likes to play with Macey. She's a great big sister to Braden -- he loves to play with her. She's stubborn. She's tiny! Just a petite little thing. She loves to sing. She's brave -- she went on the Matterhorn Ride at Disneyland and giggled the whole time.

We love Molly!

Now Pass That Pie!

This year for Thanksgiving many members of my family came here to South Jordan. Nine of us decided to participate in The Human Race, a race to benefit the local Utah Food Bank, but I wish that they would pick a different name. It sounds too much like The Human Fund from a Seinfeld episode. My Mom participated in the 5K walk and did great!

My friend Shauna joined us on the 5K race. I am glad that she was there as the rest of my family is much faster than I am, and it would have been a lonely 3.2 miles. Shauna and I improved our Halloween 5K time by 30 seconds. Go us!

After the race, I headed home and started on some pies! And I did not feel the least bit guilty about eating a lot! I had run off a lot of calories and looked forward to taking them all back.

Emma was happy that our chocolate pie was devoured first. She thought that it was a competition between the Moms and her Mom won. It's awesome having a cheering section.

Leaving. . .

We were at Disneyland for three days, and it was hard to leave. When we walked out the gates, I realized that we would not be back in the morning. I was sad. I looked down and Emma was crying and crying, she was so sad.

We've been home for almost a month and every night Molly prays that we can go back to Disneyland. Tomorrow. I told her that it is expensive and we have to save up all over again, and so periodically she'll take pennies from the coin area in the van and give them to me "for Disneyland". If Molly was in charge of the world, it would be a much better place.

Good & Bad

In June of 2009 , the last time that we went to Disneyland, Emma was selected in the Jedi Training Course. She and her cousin Trey were selected this time, and they did a great job! In 2009, Emma was too scared to battle Darth Vader, but this time she took him on! And won!

Macey did not get selected, and it made her cry. Kids should never cry at Disneyland; it broke my heart because she's such a good girl. That's why this is a good memory and a bad one -- excited for Emma, proud of Emma, sad for Macey.

The Cunningham Boat

On our third day at Disney, Garry's brother and his family joined us. I love it when they come with us because Amber, my sister-in-law, is a Disney expert, having grown up in California. She knows where all of the bathrooms are. She knows the best places to eat. She is the best guide ever.

With the four of them and the six of us, we got our very own boat on Its A Small World. They redid everything inside for Christmas. It was great!

Sensory Overload

When we went to Disneyland, Braden was 7 1/2 months. He took each and every day in stride, even though he never got a good nap and never really got fed when he wanted to be. No fits. No screaming. Just his normal perfect self.

I think that he was overwhelmed by it all. So much to see; so much to hear. Even in line there is music and things to look at. When we finally got back to the hotel each night, he would just babble an kick his legs -- like he took everything in all day and now could relax and let you know what he thought about it all.

I love this picture with Belle taken when we were at Ariel's Grotto. Braden obviously likes brunettes. Good boy.

Worlds of Color

Here's a picture of Garry and Molly as we waited for Worlds of Color. It turns out that the same guy who did the fountains at Bellagio in Vegas also did the Worlds of Color show at Disney.

It is AMAZING. Favorite Disney clips play on the water fountains along with amazing colors and music and it's just a great water and laser show. Over and over again I saw that Disney does not do anything "small". They truly go all out. They also show clips from Pirates and in that part they used fire flames. That was the best part. It was a great show!

This picture also represents Garry's main memory of Disney: carrying Molly everywhere. Luckily she is the lightest little thing and maybe he'll listen next time when I suggest we take the double stroller. Just sayin'.

I Know Flynn. . .And You're No Fylnn

While I was taking the girls on the carousel ride at Disney, I saw a huge line forming over near the Snow White ride. I told Garry to go investigate -- I bet it had something to do with Rapunzel.

Sure enough, it was the line to get to go in the tower and meet Rapunzel. I stood in line while Garry took the girls on the Dumbo ride and through Sleeping Beauty's castle. One lady walked up and asked the line attendants what this "ride" was. She answered it was to meet the characters from Tangled. "What's Tangled?" she asked. And I thought, 'wowzer lady, you and I lead very, very different lives".

Rapunzel was very nice to the girls, but I was disappointed in Flynn. He was a little short. And hairy.

Macey gave Rapunzel a flower. It was fun.

And then there was Disney. . .

So I admit that I have been slow to blog lately because I have been overwhelmed by how to blog our Disney trip. Egads! Too overwhelming! So instead I am just choosing my favorite pictures and sharing my favorite memories. Starting with this.

Molly's favorite princess is Snow White. She calls her "Snow Wipe". It's so cute we just cannot correct her.

While we were at Disney, on the second day there we had lunch at Ariel's Grotto -- the character dining place with the Princesses. Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Snow White are all there. They are introduced one at a time and they come to each table for a picture. Molly saw Snow White enter the restaurant and she stood on her chair yelling, "Snow Wipe! Snow Wipe!" and waved her hand furiously. She was so excited! It was a good moment.