Princesses

We were out of Pixie Hollow by 9:10 so we booked it over to the Princess line before it got long. We couldn't believe our luck. There was still a line, but it was only about 30 minutes long which is FABULOUS. The last time we were there, we waited 3 1/2 hours to meet the princesses. This was turning out to be the

PERFECT DAY AT DISNEYLAND.

First we got to meet Belle. Once again, Bladen starting shouting "Belle, Belle." He's SO funny. Cadence & Lorien were in HEAVEN! Taya on the other hand, didn't like Belle for some reason. So she cried through most of the Belle visit.

Belle was BEAUTIFUL! I always LOVE to look at the dresses. It was gorgeous! (I have a soft spot for Belle, since that is who I was supposed to be.)

Poor Taya. . . ha ha ha

Next we met Ariel. I LOVE the new Ariel dress. I always felt bad for Ariel in her fin & swimsuit, but this dress is GORGEOUS! It's the prettiest dress I've ever seen at Disneyland. Ariel was ADORABLE. She just talked to the kids like they were best friends. They LOVED her!

Taya & Bladen got bored of Ariel's conversation with them, so they got sidetracked by the scenery behind her. We were cracking up because they just kept hanging over the edge.

And finally, we got to meet Mulan. Bladen had NO CLUE who she was, so he just passed her to check out the scenery again. But the girls LOVED her.

I LOVE CHARACTERS!!!

(especially when the line is only 30 minutes long!)

Pixie Hollow

We went to PIXIE HOLLOW at 9:00 am sharp & were the 2nd people in line. But really, there wasn't a line. They let us right in. The kids loved the little "boat" & Tinkerbell's "house" on the pond in front of Pixie Hollow. Bladen could hear the Tinkerbell music in the background & he started yelling "Bell, Bell!" which is what he calls Tinkerbell.

The line was cute. They made it so it feels like you are shrinking as you walk into Pixie Hollow. You have to SHRINK so that when you meet TINKERBELL, you are fairy size. Such a cute concept.

We could hardly get Bladen to sit still for a picture. He could see TINKERBELL & couldn't really figure out why she was there. He wanted to touch her SO badly hoping it would help him figure it all out.

This is the first time in HISTORY that NONE of my kids were scared of the characters. All three girls were THRILLED to talk to Tinkerbell. They LOVED giving her their autograph books to sign. But I was REALLY surprised that Bladen was enjoying it. He walked right up to her & gave her a hug & handed her his book. He was SO cute:

"Hi Bell."

She laughed & patted him on the head. He LOVED it!

So what are you going to do next? We're going to DISNEYLAND!

DISNEYLAND . . . HERE WE COME!

For anyone who knows me (& knows me well), I am a Disney FANATIC. I've loved Disney since I was a little girl. . .

I had a Disney Shrine in my closet all through high school for heavens sake!

I worked as an intern as a Disney Imagineer the summer after I graduated High School. I helped design a ride for Disneyland Paris, & 2 rides at CA Adventure, as well as did most of the set design for the Animation Building. While working there I was even offered a job as Belle (but couldn't take it due to time scheduling. . . which I really regret now).

Anyway, even though I've been to Disneyland, CA Adventure, & even Disneyland Paris a gazillion times, I NEVER GET ENOUGH! I would go every day of the year if I could.

So, of course, since we were in Southern CA, we were going to DISNEYLAND with the kids! Opa & Oma were wonderful enough to keep Craiger at home with them so we could really ENJOY the park without having to deal with diapers, bottles, & a crying newborn. It made it HEAVEN! We woke up bright & early (5:00 am!) & left the house by 6:30 so we were at the park gates at 8:00 sharp when the park opened.

The kids were SO excited. Cadence & Lorien brought their Mickey Ears (that they've had for 4 years now) & today was the day that Taya & Bladen would be receiving their first set of "ears."

I love the feeling you get when you walk down Main St. Taya was SO happy to be there. I made Cadence & Lorien close their eyes & I led them to the very front of Main St. facing the castle, then had them open their eyes. All 3 of us started crying. I'm telling you, there truly is MAGIC at Disneyland.

The first thing we did at the park was go into the Emporium to buy autograph books & pens. As much as I LOVE Disney, I don't care much for their prices. They literally empty your pocket book with EVERYTHING! So basically:

4 Autograph Books = $45

4 Disney Pens = $20

Total = $65

Memories of meeting Characters for the first time = PRICELESS

After collecting our "treasure" of books, we ran straight to Pixie Hollow because the kids were DYING to meet TINKERBELL! Unfortunately, Pixie Hollow didn't open until 9:00 so we had an hour to spare. So we visited

Snow White's Wishing Well . . .

and pulled the Sword in the Stone . . .

Then took a quick spin on the carousel.

We were SURPRISED. Not only was it a SATURDAY, but it was MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND! We thought for sure Disneyland was going to be PACKED! But so far there were hardly any people there so we weren't having to wait in any lines.

It was almost 9:00, so we started our journey to PIXIE HOLLOW.

Lorien's Haircut

I know I'm just asking for what we know as

"the wrath of Mamoo"

(Mamoo is my grandmother who loves LONG hair on little girls)

I love you Mamoo!!!

but it was time to chop Lorien's hair. She's been asking for it for 4 months & I've kept putting it off because I like long hair as well. But it was time.

Doing her hair has been such a chore lately. She's such a tomboy. She's always up in some tree or hanging upside down on the monkey bars & her hair just keeps getting snagged on branches. Then it's IMPOSSIBLE to comb the next day. She just cries & cries & I just can't do it anymore. I hate hurting her!

Out of all my kids, she's always looked really cute with SHORT HAIR, & I was really flattered when she finally asked if she could cut it like MOMMY because Mommy's hair is SO pretty. How could I say NO to that?

So Auntie Tylee cut it for her & it turned out absolutely ADORABLE. Lorien just looks good with SHORT HAIR. It fits her spunky personality. She LOVES it & I LOVE it, & I'm pretty sure Mamoo is going to love it too!

A Day At The Mall

I love the Valencia Mall. I remember going there all the time before I was married & I still love visiting.

(It has a Disney Store. . . need I say more?)

So, Tarrish, Trek, & I rounded up all the kiddos & headed to the mall for a ride on the

CAROUSEL.

But of course we got to walk through the fun stores on our way to the ride.

The kids had a BLAST! Tarrish rode with Taya & I took Bladen. Cadence & Lorien are finally old enough to ride by themselves. Poor Bladen was SCARED TO DEATH of his "elephant." I was laughing hysterically. He wouldn't even "pet" it. Poor little guy.

After riding the carousel, we walked on the 2nd floor of the mall. Auntie Tarrish spoiled each of the kids with their VERY OWN SLURPEES.

I had an inkling that giving Bladen his own was a BAD IDEA, but I couldn't say NO.

Next time I'll trust my INSTINCT!

Yup, just another day in the story of my life . . .

At least we all got a REALLY GOOD LAUGH over it. The mall staff wasn't laughing like we were though. ha ha ha

After the slurpee incident we went into the Disney Store

(one of my favorite places on earth)

for some FUN shopping. We came across this ADORABLE

Captain Jack Sparrow

hat & wig & couldn't resist putting it on Bladen

(yes, he has another slurpee. We are just asking for it; I know)

Ahoy Matee! I'm a CUTE PIRATE!

It was a fun afternoon! I like lazy days where we can just do whatever we feel like doing. It was a GREAT day followed by an AWESOME MOVIE (Kung Fu Panda 2) & dinner at Baha Fresh.

Did I mention I LOVE VACATIONS?

Camp Potter

Isn't this EVERY KIDS DREAM?

I swear, going to Opa & Oma's house just brings back childhood memories for me. My kids are SO lucky to have such fun grandparents!

When we arrived on Thursday night, the garage door opened & there sat Opa & Oma in little fold up chairs just waiting for us to arrive. Trek & I got to go inside first & then the kids got to come in one by one to discover:

CAMP POTTER

They crawled through a little blue tunnel into the living room, where Trek's parents had set up 6 small tents (one for each grandchild) with welcome mats, sleeping bags, side tables, & their very own FLASHLIGHTS.

Talk about FUN! They were running around like CRAZY playing in each other's tents!

Opa & Oma also had $20 for each of them to spend at Disneyland. Along with the money the girls got some FINGER FLASHLIGHTS & Bladen got a LASER GUN!! Boy, this night was just getting better & better!

The kids were in HEAVEN with their new toys & Opa & Oma were in HEAVEN with their grandbabies!

After much FUN & DANCING it was time for bed. I can't believe the kids actually slept in their tents. It was SO MUCH FUN.

Dino Tails!

My friend who knows Bladen & his love for

Dinosaurs

found this pattern for a dinosaur tail (for dress up) & gave it to me. It was SO EASY to sew! And I even had all the fabric I needed right on hand. I LOVE it when that happens!

I was having SO MUCH FUN that I made TWO and Taya got to get in on the FUN.

Aren't they just DARLING?

RAWR . . . .

But I'm Just SO Tired. . .

Come on Bladen. Let's go get your sister from school.

Bladen?

BLADEN!

What a CUTIE PIE!