Weekend Activities

Well, it was a pretty low key weekend. The girls and I went to Woodland Park zoo on Friday (they didn't have school), and it was a perfect day for the zoo. It was sunny, but still a bit chilly and not very crowded. On Saturday we had a nice visit with the Briggs, and then we made sugar cookies with the butterfly shaped cookie cutter we bought at the zoo. The girls love decorating the cookies, especially the sprinkles.

Spider web in the Temperate Forest play area

Anna posing with the big gorilla

The Zoomazium

This picture turned out well of both of them, which is unusual

Anna posing by the elepants (with poo in the back)

The zebras came really close up in the African village.

Disneyland

Sorry, I've been a bad blogger. Here are our Disneyland pictures. I loaded more than ususal so they are in an odd order.

We had a good time, the girls loved all the rides. The weather could of been a bit warmer (one day it rained alot), but it kept the crowds down. We rode every ride at Disneyland at least one some twice (thunder mountain, space mountain, pirates of the caribbean, jungle cruise, buzz lightyear, splash mountain, and the matterhorn). The first day we went with cousin Andrew, and the second day we went by ourselves. We watched Fantasmic that night which was really cool and worth the hour waiting sitting on concrete. It is based on Fantasia, and it is a light and water show. We hit all the major rides the first day and then we hit the smaller rides and major rides again on the second day. There was a short deluge the second day, so we rode Space Mountain during the downpour and it was done by the time we got out. The girls wore their Dora Rain Ponchos, so they didn't get to wet. Anna took pictures with all the characters except for Woody and Jess (from Toy Story), and Woody was really tall. Mickey was her favorite of course. Toontown was the girls favorite part of Disneyland, we went through Mickey and Minnie's houses, it was a fun area.

Then we went to California Adventure with Kara and that was the nicest day we were there. We had lunch with the princesses at Ariel's Grotto. The lunch was better than at Epcot (we went two years ago), and the girls loved seeing the princesses. Madison blushed when Aurora commented on her beautiful dress and told her she had good taste. We rode most of the rides at California Adventure, except the few that the girls weren't tall enough for. The girls played in the Redwood Forest play area, where they catapulted and climbed all through the play structure (their favorite thing of the day). We say Playhouse Disney and a High School Musical 3 dance performance. To end the day we stood in a really slow moving line for Soaring California, but it was worth it.

While we were there we spent two nights with Aunt Kara and than one night with Michelle, Bill and Cousin Andrew. One day it rained all day long, so we went to the Anaheim Children's Museum, along with every other california mother. The magic school bus was the visiting exhibit. Well, we have been to Disneyworld and Disneyland, and Disneyland was much more managable for them (at this age), they walked everywhere without complaining and we got to see everything we wanted to see. Before we went I thought well this will be the one time we go to Disneyland and then we don't have to go again. But now I know why everybody goes back again and again, it has special charm and it is the happiest place on earth. The girls are already asking if we can go back next year.

Beaming Madison

Steamboat ride

Pooh Corner

Madison with an extremely tall Woody and Jess

Andrew, Anna and Madison

Aunt Kara with the girls (California Adventure)

Madison on the Catapult

Madison and myself at the Redwood Playarea

Anna and myself at the Redwood Playarea

Anna at Disneyland with her tinkerbell hat and sunglasses

Madison with her mouse hat - it is pink of course, has princess written on it, a tiara glued to the front and has a veil in back.

Mickey with Madison

Anna with Mickey

Lots and Lots of Snow

Well, Christmas is almost here and we are ready. We put our tree up the first weekend in December - it is our biggest tree yet!! The gifts are wrapped and under the tree. The girls are anxious to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house, because that is where Santa will deliver their presents and of course see everyone. Now we just need the weather to clear up a bit so we can get over the pass.

The girls posing in front of the tree.

We had snow all this week, but the girls went to school the first three days. There were 90 minute late starts on those days (AM kindergarten cancelled), but since the girls have PM kindergarten so they went to school. I love PM kindergarten. School was cancelled on Thursday and Friday and the girls have been sledding ever since. They go out at least four times a day and sled with the neighborhood kids. Our dead end street is semi-steep, so the kids can sled right outside our house (I can watch them from inside). We also have a grassy knowle in our development that is fun for sledding. Dave hopes he might get a skiier out of one of them.

Anna sledding in front of our house

Anna and Madison sledding on the grassy knowle in our neighborhood.

Madison conquers the snowy hill.

Madison making snow angels

Madison trying to hide from the camera

Anna falling out of the sled

Thanksgiving

For thanksgiving this year, we flew to Utah to spend it with our Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Our whole family flew down and Mom and Dad drove down. It was the first time the girls had been there and they had a good time meeting everyone. We visited with everyone and had a nice relaxing time. On Thanksgiving, Mom, Uncle Bill, Dave, myself and the girls went for a drive up to Sundance Ski Resort. The girls played in the snow and then we went home for a great dinner.

Doug, Megan, Toad, Kara, Me (Madison & Anna in front)

Kara and baby Zoey

Playing at Sundance Ski Resort

Great Uncle Bill and Anna at a park near their house

Anna patientily waiting at the SLC airport for Doug.

Bad Blogger - October Update

It has been several months since I last updated and I apologize. It has been a busy few months. October was a fun month. I went to visit Kara for four days in October, we had beautiful weather - lots of sun. We went to the beach, saw a movie and relaxed. Kara invited Doug and some friends over for dinner, which was fun. Then, the next week Uncle Doug was in town for a wedding, we went to Gene Coulon Park and had dinner with him.



Halloween (my birthday) was fun. Madison was Sleeping Beauty (costume from Costco) and Anna was Dora again (her third year in a row, her costume is now retired). Mom and Dad came over for the weekend to help celebrate. Perfect weather for trick-or-treating, the girls didn't even wear coats. I included both pictures, they never smile at the same time. Mom and Dad babysat the girls Saturday night and Dave and I went to a local theater show.

Remodeled Bathroom!!!!

We remodeled the girls bathroom in August. We planned to tile the floor and replace the toilet, but then we thought why not replace the vanity, countertop, sink and faucet. The only glitch was that the new vanity was higher than the old one, so the mirror had to be resized (we had professionals do that). It turned out great and it only took us a week to finish the majority of the work. I don't have any pictures of the before bathroom (it was pretty boring - white linoleum floor, which I hated!!!!!)

View from the doorway of the new tile floor.

The new vanity, coutertop sink, and faucet.

First Day of Kindergarten

The girls started school last Wednesday. They are in PM half day kindergarten, which works best for all of us (Madison and I aren't morning people). We got into the school we wanted and they have a great teacher. Anna was very excited to start school, so she could have homework and ride the bus. The Renton School District has a 90 minute late start every friday, and the AM/PM half day kindergarteners alternate going for the full day every other friday. So the girls went all day last friday and they have it off this friday. This is nice because I have 6 hours to myself (on those fridays) and they get to have lunch at school on those days also, which will help prepare them for next year.

They rode the bus home all three days. They rode with our neighbor, so that reassured me they would get home safely. I took them to school last week, but we will try the bus this week. They have matching princess backpacks, Madison's is pink (of course) and Anna's is purple.

They are both excited, we were 15 minutes early for school!!!

Madison posing in front of her class.

Anna contemplating whether she will have homework!