Disneyland

We made our way to Disneyland Monday morning to meet up with Andy's Aunt around 10:00 when the park opened. We headed start to the Princess Fantasy Faire to visit the princesses. They allow you to see 3 princesses at a time. Well the two times (and 1 1/2 hours) we waited in line Snow White was never there. Etta went down a participated in the Princess dancing and then we all took off to find some rides. We hit Buzz Light Year ride and then the Carousel. We made our way to New Orleans square and enjoyed a great lunch. We took the kids on Pirates again and they still both hated it. While walking to our next location Tomorrow land both kids fell fast asleep. I rode Space Mountain, Andy jumped on Star Tours and we got fast passes for Splash Mountain (which we never used).
When the kids woke up we tried one more time to meet Snow White and had great success. Strolled over to Mickey Mouses house and visited with him a while. Played around in Minnie, Donald and Goofy's houses. And ended the day riding Dumbo, Pinocchio, Casey Jr train, the Jungle Cruise and Daddy and Etta hit the Tea Cups.
We got them both little souvenirs, in which Etta's princess bracelet fell off and was lost. Gibson's first pair a Mickey Mouse ears was a great ending to a great day.

(not to happy with slide they cut off a few captions. If you want to see all the captions just click on view all images and you will see the slide bigger)

Lori is such a sweet heart. Thank you so much for getting us in to the most Magical Place on Earth.

California

We got a call last Wednesday morning letting us know that Andy's Grandmother, Etta May, had past away. Andy and I talked and decided to head down to California. We drove, not so fun. But the kids did sleep a bit of the way.


Just precious

We wanted to be with family and hopefully be there for some type of memorial. Etta May hated funerals and so the family decided to cremate her. We did go out to dinner with all the family in honor of Miss Etta May. It was good closure for Andy. Being with family and helping take care of all her stuff. We went through pictures, documents and fun trinkets that brought back some amazing memories.
After the cleaning the kids where a bit restless so we headed out to Chuck E Cheese. They had a ball, I love going to Chuck E Cheese outside of Utah. Much cleaner, not as many kids and all the games work. Gibson found a fun game that he played forever. You bang on the buttons when the lights light up and it makes sounds.


Look at that concentration. He won! (he won every time)


Etta loved hitting the moles

Grandma Etta lived in Monrovia and every time we came to visit her during the summer we always went to the Monrovia street fair. So we headed out for a fun night with memories of happy times in Monrovia. Jason, Andy's brother, carried Gibson on his back. Etta had fun with daddy and the petting zoo and of course she had to play in the bounce house and slide. She also got to hold some fun little bubble snake made by the street bubble blower.

Great job Jason, his first time packing a child (good birth control)

trying to get Mr piggy to come play

Petting Mr Cow

Is this Donald Duck?

Holding the duck just like she holds her baby dolls

Down the fun slide she goes

Etta's bubble snake

One night we tried to go to a dodgers game. With grandma and aunt Linda we had some great babysitters. The game was sold out and the scalpers where asking for way too much. This is as close as we got to the game.


The parking lot

We spent so great time with Auntie Linda, Uncle Hans (Grandma Donna's sister and husband), Grandma Donna and Uncle Jason.


Auntie Linda and Gibby laughing and giving high fives

Jason and crying Gibby, he was just sad Jason was leaving

Gibby loved sitting with Uncle Hans drinking his milk

Auntie Linda and Etta had a fun painting party, toes and fingers in beautiful pink

We were going to head home Monday when we got an email from Andy's cousin (his Dad's cousin), she works for Disney and offered to get us into Disneyland. What a great little treat for our trip down to California.

Random Fun

A few random pictures that show how much fun we have just being at home and finding fun things to do.

Being on Daddy's motorcycle made Gibby oh so Happy!

Etta wanted her turn too

We made boats out of cardboard boxes and they played for hours

Etta singing some random song while in her boat

Gibson just happy he didn't have to share his boat

Etta and Gibby where playing ball and singing Take me out to the ball game. I had to get it recorded but of course they didn't perform as good as before once the camera was on them, they ended half way through.

Oktoberfest

We headed up to Snowbird a few Saturdays ago to enjoy Oktoberfest eating good food, riding the alpine slide and hanging out with good friends. We walked around the little shops and I saw a princess crown. Etta has been dressing up everyday as a princess (actually Snow White) and she would put my knifty knitter loom as a crown. I had to buy my little princess a real crown. She was so excited and wore it the whole time.
Daddy took Etta went on the alpine slide while I chatted and had fun with Jill and Richard. Then it was on to some really tasty food. Gibson wanted nothing but his raspberries while Etta, Daddy and I downed some Brats. We listened to the fun music and watched the great dancing. Then I noticed Etta had my camera. She was taking pictures of everything. She had some pretty good shots and some not so good. Now I know what to get her for Christmas. We said goodbye and headed back down the Mt. to go watch the great USC play football.
I love Saturdays with friends, family and football.


Etta and her new Princess Crown

Heading up to the top of the slide

Here they come!

They made it and had big smiles on

Really cute picture of Jill and Richard.

Gibson digging the raspberries

Darling couple ( I believe Etta took these)

Cheesy Daddy (taken by Etta)

Beautiful Princess Etta

Richard was thirsty so he went and got himself some water from the waterfall

Daddy kisses


Silly Gibby loved the music and was bouncing up and down it was just so cute!


Etta was the perfect gingerbread boy height

Gibson didn't even make it back to the truck before falling asleep

Grandma Etta May and Etta Lyn

Our Darling Etta Lyn was named after Andy's two wonderful Grandma's. Etta May and Evelyn. She was never able to meet Evelyn but has had a number of wonderful trips to southern California to play with Etta May.
Grandma Etta May was really sick on Saturday and ended up in the Hospital Sunday. Later that evening she suffered a stroke. Monday Andy was told she didn't have a good chance of getting better or recovering. Facing the hard decision to remember her simile and funny jokes he opted to stay home and not fly out. We left him in the office to have some alone time. Etta came and asked me why daddy was sad. I told her Grandma Etta was very sick and in the hospital and daddy loves her very much and is sad she is sick.
This morning while doing breakfast and house straightening. Etta walks in holding her play phone to her ear. She talking quietly and has a very concerned face. She than hands me the phone. I ask her who it is and she tells me it is Grandma Etta, and she is still really sick in the hospital. Etta tells me she wants me to tell Grandma Etta I love her and to get better. This will make Grandma Etta happy. So I do so trying not to cry. Once I am done she takes the phone back again and tells Grandma Etta she loves her, Daddy loves her, Gibby loves her and then continues down her list from Hatcher to each baby doll.
Little children are so precious and full of unconditional love that shines through every thing they do.
We don't believe Grandma Etta will be getting better, but we have loved every minute with her, loved her always happy smile and the many games of dominoes.

State Fair!

The State Fair is the Best. I love going each year. It is the event that turns summer into fall for me. We headed to the State Fair on last Thursday night. We usually walk up and down the shops and in and out of the buildings to see all the crafts and stuff for sale. I opted to skip all of that this year and it turned out great.
We headed straight to the "little hands on the farm" area. I love this exhibit. The kids get to do everything a little farmer does. First they get baskets, aprons and corn. Then they feed and milk the cows. Pick fruit, plant seeds, harvest their vegetables and then ride their tractor to another barn. They finish up by brushing the lamb for wool and getting eggs from the chicken coop. Off they go to sell their goods at the store which in turn they are given "fake" money to buy anything at the store.
(I ended up with around 50 pictures from the state fair so you will need to watch Etta and Gibson do their whole process on the slide show)
Etta and Gibson loved the hands on activity. Gibson got a bit scared while trying to milk the "fake" cow. It mooed right when he touched it and he wouldn't try it again. In the end I love how my kids choose healthy treats. Gibson grabbed an apple and Etta went straight for the milk.
Next came the bid yellow slide. Gibson was enjoying his apple so Etta and I headed for the top of the slide. She was holding her breath in the whole time until we got to the bottom. Then she told me it was "so much fun, Mommy". I was just glad she didn't pass out holding her breath so long.
Trying our best to avoid the other carnival rides we went straight to the live animals. Pigs were being lead from their pens to the stage and we watch them walk right in front of us. Gibson was bouncing up and down everytime a pig passed by. The cows were fun Gibson was trying to mimick the mooing while Etta just looked at them and kept walking.
The Goats were the main attraction for our family. Almost every goat had to get personally touch by both Gibson and Etta. One even got a Kiss from Etta. As we were leaving the goat barn we saw one that looked just like Hatcher but with out ears. So we took a picture of Hatcher's missing cousin missing ears.
Last thing we hit up was the pony rides. I love seeing my kids old enough to ride the ponies. Etta was a pro and did it all by herself. Gibson grabbed onto the saddle and loved every minute of it.
Leaving we enjoyed a slice of Pizza and headed home.

I can't wait for all of the fun fall activities now that State Fair has got me excited for Fall.

Preschool - First Day of School

Etta is still only 2 and so I (and Andy) decided to wait until next year to do a true Preschool. This year we are doing the Joy School Preschool again with some Mom and Etta's friends. They had their first class on Monday at my house. Etta was so excited. She wanted me to take tons of pictures of her before her friends got here.

Striking a pose

Wanting to dance

Still either dancing or posing

At school she did great. We learned the letter A and all the kids traced in on the white board. They also practiced writing the number one but in the end they all just colored their pages. We had story time, songs, they each answered questions about themselves and I measured them to see how tall they are. At the end of preschool in Dec I will measure them again and they will see how much they have grown.
It went really well and all the kids play and participate great. Etta can't wait until school next week. She loves playing with her friends and is having fun learning at the same time.

Her fun little class: Audrey, Holden, Emily, Etta, Anni and Adam