..::Barrett: First Movie::..

Our local theater has a summer kids movie deal...you pay $5/person for 10 movies, one each week throughout the summer.  Pretty darn good deal!  I knew the girls would love it...but was a little skeptical, okay a LOT skeptical as to how Barrett would do.  He's never been to a movie before.  And it's only been in the last few weeks that he'll actually sit still for an animated movie at home.

 

I'm not sure why they chose Mirror Mirror as the kickoff to the summer movies...but it wasn't a good one for Barrett.  So even though he seemed excited at first for this new experience...we only lasted about 1/2 the movie before he and I were wandering the halls.  Thankfully, I had taken one of our regular babysitters and her little brother with us so she was able to watch my girls for me during the rest of the movie!

 

Hopefully next week will be better!  It's a cartoon, so it should be!

The Happiest Place on Earth

Disneyland Family Trip - February 2013

Since it was Rodeo Week, we decided to take advantage of the fact that Alexa had two days off of school.  So we packed up and headed up to Gilbert as soon as Kevin got home from work on Wednesday afternoon.  We dropped Barrett off at Kevin's parents' house for the weekend so we wouldn't have to deal with napping, diapers, strollers, etc.!!  And boy what a fantastic idea that was!!!  We figured he wouldn't have remembered this trip anyways AND we'll go back when he's older, so it was all good!

 

We got to our hotel RIGHT across the street from Disneyland very late on Wednesday night (Thursday morning) and then got up super early to head on over to The Happiest Place on Earth! I think I was as excited as the girls!!!

 

We went through Sleeping Beauty's Castle first thing.

 

 

 

The girls' first taste of a Dole Whip!

Payton loves it so much it's putting her to sleep!! :-)

 

The Carousel was a favorite! 

 

As was Dumbo!

 

The Teacups!

 

The Toy Story ride was a huge hit too...mostly because the line wasn't very long when we went to it, so we got right on!!

 

I loved seeing the looks of joy on their faces MANY times throughout the trip!!!

 

Our cute little family!

(stinker Payton wasn't in the mood for a picture, apparently)

 

How appropriate to find a toothbrush while waiting in line for one of the rides in Toon Town.

 

The second day we were there, we started off over at California Adventure.

The Little Mermaid ride was an instant favorite!

 

We loved this ride too!

 

Me and my pretty princesses!

 

Daddy and his princesses...they are all ready for our lunch with THE princesses!!!!

 

One of the best decisions we made was to get tickets to have lunch with the Princesses at Ariel's Grotto.  The girls got to have their picture taken with Ariel before we sat down at our table and then while we were eating, the other princesses would come out and walk around to each table to meet all the kids.  We were near the beginning and so it didn't take long to see each one as they came out!  Definitely a highlight of our first Disneyland Trip!

 

I waited in line a long time to get our fast passes to the Cars ride...AND we even had to wait out a delay where the ride was shut down...AND we were worried we wouldn't make it to our designated time slot due to being at lunch with the princesses.  BUT, we made it and it was super fun.  Not near long enough of a ride though, if you ask me!!! 

 

We managed to be eating dinner right where one of the parades went by and Payton loved it.  She wanted to be right out there as everyone went by.  Alexa was a bit more unsure and held back.  But it was nice not to have to stake out a spot and wait forever for the parade to start!

 

We went on the huge ferris wheel...looking happy before we realized that it's a CRAZY ferris wheel.  We knew we had chosen the car that rocked to and fro but we didn't realize how MUCH it would actually rock us!!!  We had one nervous little Alexa after that ride!

 

On Friday afternoon, we walked back to our hotel to take a nap so we could go back to the park for The World of Color that night.  And I'm sooooo glad we did.  It was awesome! 

 

Seriously spectacular!

 

Payton turned out to be our little daredevil on this trip.  She loved all the scary rides that Alexa hated!  It was kinda fun to see their different personalities really come out!

 

Our last day at Disneyland!

We knew we needed to represent Tucson!

It was pretty funny how many times we heard "Beardown" or "Go Wildcats" from other fellow Arizona fans while we were there that day!  I swear, we saw more Arizona shirts/hats/gear than any other school!  I guess most people get out of dodge when the rodeo comes to town...and they all head to Disneyland!!!

 

We came back to our hotel on Saturday afternoon to find this.  We had put up the Do Not Disturb sign on our door the two previous days and simply forgot that day.  But the girls loved what housekeeping did to their bed!

 

AND THEN...we went to the beach.

First time for Alexa and Payton.

And despite it still being somewhat chilly, they got right in the water.

We told them to just get their feet wet, but it didn't take long until they were soaked through!

 

Do you think they liked it???

 

Me and my love!

 

Couldn't resist!

I know they'll hate me in years to come for posting these pictures...

but those cute little bum cracks were too tempting to pass up!!

 

And on that note...we are DONE!  Phewf...picture overload!

But what a FUN family vacation!

Can't wait to go again!

SNOW!

Yikers...WHAT is that I see????

Yesiree people, THAT is SNOW...in TUCSON!

In MY backyard!

CRAAAAAAAZY!!!!

The kids loved it!

 

 

I wish I could figure out how to upload my video of the kids' reactions...it was pretty cute!

Payton: First Primary Talk

Payton gave her first talk in Primary today!

She did a great job!

Sure love this little lady!

 

..::Dear Tooth Fairy::..

 

Dear Tooth Fairy,

We now require your occasional presence in our home.

I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of each other over the years.

Alexa, our oldest, has lost her first tooth!

She is beyond excited!!

Please be kind to her each time she loses a tooth

And don't forget when she places her little baby teeth under her pillow!

Maybe keep some dollar bills on hand...

Just in case!

Sincerely,

Kevin & Collette :-)

::..a BIG first..::

Barrett's first trip to the ER.

 

I say "first" because I know it will be the first of many.  This little man is soooo busy and soooo into everything, that I just know throughout the course of his life, we will become well accustomed to the ER!

 

Here's the story:

 

This afternoon, the kiddos wanted to go outside but Alexa was using the little girl's room and needed my help.  Barrett followed me in but when I mentioned outside, he went to follow Payton.  Then I heard him screamed.  Payton had slammed the back sliding door shut.  I opened it to free his hand, scooped him up in my arms while I'm scolding Payton and went to sit down on the ottoman to comfort my hurt little boy.  That's when Alexa asked, "Mom, is that blood?"  To my horror, I look down at his hand and there is blood everywhere.  All over his hand, all over me, all over the floor.

I immediately took him to the sink and grabbed a towel but he wouldn't let me touch his hand.  By this point, I could see that the tip of his pinkie finger was hanging on by a thread.  I always thought I'd be calm and cool during an emergency...but I was scared to death.  I managed to tell Alexa to grab my cell phone and then somehow was able to call my neighbor, Brandon (he's a stay-at-home dad and our kiddos play together).  He wasn't home but said his wife Karla was and he'd send her over.  Then I managed to call Kevin (all while holding a screaming baby and trying to calm down two hysterical little girls).  First miracle/blessing/tender mercy: Kevin answered his phone (he'd just finished up with a patient).  All I said was "Barrett just chopped off his finger" and he said "I'm on my way home". Second miracle/blessing/tender mercy: Kevin was at our new office that afternoon that is only 2 miles from home. He was home within 5 minutes.  Karla had already walked in the door and managed to help calm me down a little and then invited the girls to go back home with her while we took Barrett to the hospital.

 

It took 7 stitches on his tiny little finger to reconnect the tip but they told us it would barely show a scar.
Kevin and I had to literally pin Barrett down during the procedure, together with one of the nurses, as the anesthetic had already worn off.  My poor baby felt each and every stitch and it broke my heart.  But he was such a trooper...when it was all over, we said "Barrett, what do you tell the doctor" and he said "gankoo" (thank you).  It was so sweet.

 

(*side note: this post is written 5 months after the fact and I STILL cringe every time I think about that little finger!)

 

I'm grateful that my little boy is safe and that his finger will heal but I sure don't like ER visits...I hope he'll go easy on me during his growing up years! :-)

Oh Blessed Day!

 

Look at this handsome little man!

On Thursday, he was 18 months..which means he can now go to NURSERY at church!

Today was his first day....one we've been looking forward to since before he even turned one!

He's such a busy little guy so it will be refreshing to now be able to enjoy the last 2 hours of church without him crawling all over me!  And he'll be having fun with toys, snacks and friends...it's a win/win for all!! :-)