Disneyland!!!

For Christmas, we gave the kids a trip to Disneyland - we made it!

Waiting for the park to open. We got SO MANY comments on our shirt! We LOVE Phineus and Ferb, and this way we can find everyone!

Talin and Kelcie with their "First Time" buttons.

We ran right to Space Mountian! Probably not the best ride to go on first with your 4 yr. old who hasn't been on a roller coaster before :) He did fine, but was nervous the rest of the time.

We found Mickey!

Talin's one request - the Ferris Wheel! Not even on our list because most of us can stand being up so high for so long, but we did it for Talin (well, some of us).

Tower of Terror! Only Kelcie and Talin would do it with Lafe. (Talin didn't like it)

Because of our shirts, one of the workers told us to catch the Phineus and Ferb Dance Party. It was really fun. They pulled in the three girls to dance with them and they had a blast!

California Screamin' - They're posing! Kelcie LOVED this ride and would have gone on it over and over......

Had to get a picture with the Ferris Wheel all lit up.

"It's a Small World" - Ethan was so excited for this one :)

Mickey at the Entry

Waiting for the Parade

Talin's new hat (he had to get them, all the other kids got them 6 yrs. ago) and his Buzz Lightyear gun.

Dinner at 10pm at Denny's - we're a little tired.

We had so much fun and never stopped! I think we're all still recovering even now! World of Color was really, really cool and the Parade was so fun and awesome! It was so different this time from when we went 6 years ago!!! Everyone could go on almost every ride, and we didn't have a stroller - yeah!!!!!!!!!!! We really took advantage of the Fast Pass system - so much so that we ended up at the end with a stack of them that we didn't even have time to use. But, they were so helpful and great on Friday when it was so busy (in February? Lafe kept asking). And, our favorite ride all around - "Soarin' Over California" - we ALL loved that one! We went so many times we could cue the next thing coming. And, I still LOVE Space Mountain........., and Thunder Mountain.........., and California Screamin'..........., and Splash Mountain (Talin's favorite).......and Peter Pan....................., so many!!!

Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona!!!!!!!!!!

Valentine's Day is always special here in Arizona because it's also the day we joined the Union in 1912 - so we usually doubly celebrate at school ( or at least mention it). BUT, I've been SO excited for this year because it's our 100th birthday!!!!!!!!!!!! How cool!!! I even bought a shirt! ($7 at Walmart, fits horribly and probably won't wear it ever again, but it will look cool in my t-shirt quilt someday) The State invited the Mormon Tabernacle Choir down for part of the celebration, and Lafe and I took my parents to see it (for Christmas) - it was amazing and such a variety! The school had a special Flag Ceremony that was so much fun! The FPAC (PTA) bought every kid an Arizona Flag to keep and to wave while they sang our state song.

Laura

Kelcie

Portion of the kids - I think they liked it.

If you look you can see the janitor on the roof trying to get a picture from above - I can't wait to see it, I bet it's cool! Not huge or extravagant, but fun. More than the high school did - absolutely nothing. I wish we could have done more, but everything was in downtown Phoenix, and not really advertised very well. Happy Birthday, Arizona! 48th State in the Union.

Citrus Trees

Last year we got our hard-pit fruit trees, and this year we wanted to get our citrus trees. We did get a Gala Apple (yeah!) and 2 Pecan trees as well.

Our Nectarine starting to bloom.

The first three - we went back and got two more because we were so excited!

The kids "helping" dig the holes.

They're all in!!!

So, in all we have a Lemon (from 2 years ago, we're hoping it's still alive), a Tangerine, a Ruby Red Grapefruit, a Minneola Tangelo, a Cara Cara Navel, and a Washington Navel - woohoo! Our Cara Cara had two oranges on it when we bought it and they were SOOOOOO yummy!!! Can't wait! Arent's they pretty? We just love looking at them from the kitchen window!

Preschool Field Trip

Talin's preschool went to the Fire Station yesterday - and I got to go too! I think I've gone to all of their preschool trips to the Fire Station, if they went, so I had to go, of course! Talin loved it, but was restless to get out to the Fire Trucks. He really wanted to get on that neat red one, but it's just for parades, now.

Cute little group of kids! We had a good time, and they were so good!

100 Days of School!!!

Wednesday was the 100th day of school, and this year we had all three that hadn't missed any days of school so far!!! Those who haven't missed get to release a balloon at Flag Raising on the 100th day - so fun!!!!!!

Jamie - 7th grade

Kelcie - 2nd grade

Laura - 4th grade

Lift off!!!!!

There they go.........

Great Job, girls!!!!!

Doctor, Doctor!

For January, the Preschool was learning about Community Helpers, and so they asked if Lafe would go in for the Doctor. I think he loves doing it and it was fun to see Talin just beam that his Dad was there!

Checking ears...

Checking mouth.....

Dr. Talin listening to the heart...

Checking Blood Pressure

Dr. Talin - he let each kid dress up in his white coat.

Christmas Morning

SANTA CAME!!!!!

Before....... (those Green Machines are really fun!!!)

Laura - Science Lab

Kelcie - Doodle Bear

Ethan - Electronic Playground

Erin - Star Wars Legos

Kelcie - Squinkies Cruise Ship (cute!)

Talin - Scooter

Jamie - Karaoke Machine

Ethan - Down Comforter and Pillow (it was all in Swedish - Ikea- so he wasn't sure what it was!)

Laura - Harry Potter Castle Lego set - very requested and Santa was really nice!

Talin - Lego Table (Santa likes Pinterest, too!)

Erin - Cedar Chest - supposed to be for her birthday, but we couldn't find it in time. Santa knew where to get it!

DISNEYLAND!!! Mom and Dad gave them a trip to Disneyland! We ALL LOVE Phineas and Ferb, and we like to have the kids match so we can find them, so we ALL got Perry shirts to announce the Disneyland Trip. (Talin already had a Perry shirt, so he got Cars)

Fun Christmas!!! Fun to be with family and watch the kids enjoy their presents!!! Thanks, SANTA!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Earrings!!!

Remember back to Laura's birthday post.........and her soccer post? Well, Laura turned 10 this year, and at our house, that means EARRINGS!!! She has been SO excited! Counting down for the last year and a half! But, if you play soccer, you can't wear earrings. So, she had to wait........ BUT, today was her last soccer game, and she was absolutely going to get them pierced TODAY!

First ear - not even a flinch!!! No tears, nothing!

Second Ear.....

She picked the rainbow daisy so it would go with everything....

Tah-dah!!!! She didn't stop smiling ALL NIGHT!!! And, she's been so great about cleaning them (once again, a great reason to wait until 10!). Happy Birthday, again, Laura! They're beautiful!

Soccer

Laura has wanted to play soccer for a few years now, so this year we finally did it! She signed up with her cousin, Autumn, and I think they had a great time! She ended up on her friend's team, too, with her friend's dad as the coach! That was just lucky! It was fun to watch her learn and play, and the games were even more fun to be able to cheer for 2!

This was her first game. This was the game we learned that Laura and Autumn look too much alike for their coach.....and for us to cheer! So, we bought ribbons and tried to do their hair different.

Autumn Laura

Grandpa Carroll came to their last game! They're so cute together......

Fun season! She wants to play again, but she wants the same coach. So, we'll see.....