DISNEYLAND!!!!

5 glorious days at the Happiest Place on Earth!!! Yeah, we're Disneyland F-R-E-A-K-S!!! So if you really know us, you already know that little tidbit of information. Going to Disneyland on Tuesday's and Wednesday's are the BEST. No crowds at all. I think the longest we had to wait in line for a ride was 15 minutes and that was for Space Mountain or Indian Jones. It's GREAT!!! Thursday more people showed up but it was manageable. Friday and Saturday was N.U.T.S!!!!! Very crowded but we still had fun.



It is a tradition (ever since Amy's been a kid) to start your first Disneyland Day on the Jungle Cruise.


"Aw, look at those sweet lions watching over that zebra. He's dead tired."


And we get to see the 8th wonder of the world
The Backside of Water!!



Here's what happens when you go down this drop!

You get wet!!


Awesome entertainment through the park:

The Trash Can Band
Very "stomp" like. They were our favorite!


The Pirate Band


The New Orleans Square Jazz Band

LOVE this pic of Rob & Amber

This was our matchy, matchy, dress like a tourist day.


Oh dear!!

King Arthur's Carousel


Oh yeah!!! The front is the BEST place to ride!


Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters


Tea Cups!


Proof! Amy went on the tea cups. Rob, my engineering husband, made sure the cup faced in the same direction the entire time. I'm sure people thought we were strange!


California Adventure



Rob, David & Mason Loveland
Grizzly River Rapids ~ a ride that Amy just "holds the purses" or she'll get sick.

Our Hats!






Rob bought a shirt instead of a hat.


The BEST breakfast in Disneyland ~ The Carnation Cafe


Classic!


Me & Rob on the Disneyland Railroad

On Saturday our dear friends, Bob & Cathy Conway joined us for some fun. Cathy and Amy have been friends since their Sophmore year in high school.


David, Seth (Amy's brother), Bob & Rob

The REAL reason for our trip!







While we were waiting for the fireworks show on Saturday night, we were able to witness the sweetest thing. A wedding proposal!! Right in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. With the help of Disneyland Cast members it was a surprise as well as successful! She said YES!!! Of course all of us nearby cheered!


And our vacation ended with a bang on Sunday. I'll fill you in tomorrow!

We Interrupt This Blog....

...for photos!!!!

So here's a reason we were so busy when we returned from Disneyland. Robert, Jessica & Elizabeth came to visit for a week. While here, Jessica honed her photography skills and increased her portfolio with Senior pics of Amber (Class 2010) and family pictures. She's put up a sneak peek on her blog. Go check it out and let us both know what you think.

Jessica Anderson Photography

Time for some updates!

Sorry for the lack of posting. I just can't believe how incredibly busy we have been. And having fun along the way. I'll just catch you up in sections so I don't have one incredibly long post.

CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME!!!

The day started out without a hitch. All flights were running on time even though we had a 2 hour layover in Seattle. (We took off out of Bellingham). It wasn't until we arrived in CA that the problems began. But first - this is Amber's travel buddy, Kutie. This is how he traveled through the airport on Amber's back. He got a lot of attention!

Kutie has gone to EFY, Education Week and California many times. In fact, Kutie was "born" in Downtown Disney so Amber really likes to take him "home".

LOVE blackmail pics while sleeping on the plane.

The boys doing homework!! Math :P

Once arriving in OC we thought we'd be efficient and have Rob go get the rental car while we get our luggage. You know that feeling when the luggage ramp stops and you only have 3 of 4 suitcases? Yup! That happened to us. Rob's suitcase was missing. So we continued to get the rental car (Note to all: Don't ever use Thrifty Car Rental in OC) which took forever. They told us it would be about 10 minutes before they brought the car out in the parking garage. Great we thought. Let's go over to Alaska and get this luggage thing taken care of. Alaska was very upbeat and confident that his bag would be in on the next flight coming in at 5:00 pm. So we gave all the info we needed to do and then went down to get the rental car. It wasn't ready!!! It wasn't even there!!! We again got the "10 minute" answer. Hello they've already had 3 10 minutes!!! Grrrr!! So we got the mini van and off we went to kill an hour until the next plane comes in.

This is for Tabitha! Palm Trees AND a bread store :D


Then off to get this and sit in the warm sunshine!

Our favorite frozen yogurt!! Golden Spoon Yogurt!

True yumminess!!

Then back to the airport to catch our luggage. No luck! It didn't come in. Now there is only 1 more flight that will come in that night. All hopes and prayers were on this plane. ALL of Rob's clothes were in this bag and the reimbursement that airlines offer are a pittance until 48 hours.

So we decided to drive up to see my brother and go to dinner. Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante. A MUST on our list every trip. And we even discovered a new favorite pizza ~ Quattro Formaggi with Cappicola. Yummmmm!!!!

While eating dinner the phone call came from Alaska. They had good news and bad news. The good news ~ they found our luggage! The bad news ~ it was in Phoenix! PHOENIX?!?!?! More good news ~ they were able to get it on a US Airway flight BUT it wouldn't be in until 9:30! OIY!! So we enjoyed a longer dinner, took Seth home and went to the airport again! Woohoo!! It was there.

Now to head out to the Loveland's in Riverside. And we run into this!! TRAFFIC!!! People it's 10 at night!! Crazy stuff! We even had a complete stop on the freeway for no reason. Welcome to California!!!

We didn't pull into their place until 11 pm and soon we had our second wind and stayed up talking way too late.

MOTHER'S DAY was a great day! Off to church and then back to the Loveland's where I promptly took a nap and got cards from the kiddos and phone calls from the other two. Here's my view while I was talking with Robert & Tabitha.

I was a happy Mom. Then I went into pure heaven when Mom & Dad Loveland brought these beauties! Fresh from the stands!!! There is nothing better.

Try a literally, fresh picked tangerine!!

All the Mom's!!

Mom Loveland, Tutu (Lyn's Grandma), Lyn, Me


Enjoying a beautiful sunset California style.


Monday - was just a relaxing morning visiting and lunch. REAL Mexican food - YAY!!! Then off to get Seth and check into the hotel.

Off to dinner at the La Palma Chicken Pie Shop

The best chicken noodle soup EVER!!!

And then we went to Boomer's! for some fun!

Tomorrow? DISNEYLAND!!!!

We're Outta Here!!

But before we go here's a recap of yesterday's celebration.

Amber made life easy for her Mom and wanted to have her birthday dessert at this cute little cupcake store down in Fairhaven.


How cute is this?!


A Black & White Birthday cupcake


It WAS yummy!!! :D

And now ~ we're outta here!

On a Sunny Day 17 years ago....

...this little peanut FINALLY came into our family.

Finally you ask? Remember the L.A. Riots? The whole Rodney King thing? At the time we lived a good hour or so away from "ground zero" so we were safe but tensions were most definately high. My brother was in the National Guard at the time and his unit was activated within hours. My brother came to say goodbye since he didn't know how long he'd be gone. And guess what I did? I went into labor!!!! And stayed in labor for weeks. Amber was (and still is) one stubborn baby and was just too comfy and cozy inside her Mommy. I remember laying in the hospital bed watching the news coverage and hoping to see my brother. I never did see him but I did see other guys in his unit that I knew. So Miss Amber is lovingly called our "Riot Baby". There are times that she has lived up to that nickname :D But for the most part she is such a joy and a great addition to our family.

Once Amber decided she was going to make her grand appearance she gave me a hard time. My first EVER back labor!! WOW! That hurt!!! She was my smallest bunchkin coming in at 6lbs. 11 oz. The doctor determined that she was early by a good 3 weeks. And she had jaundice something awful. She had to stay in the hospital longer than her Mom :( (Times have changed where jaundice is now treated at home). I remember spending Mother's Day at the hospital. She was the only girl in the baby nursery and they put her right next to a 10 lb. baby boy. Such a contrast.

So here's just a few pictures to highlight the wonderful 17 years we've had with our little princess.





Her favorite attraction at Disneyland! (I think she looks like Lizzie in this pic)


Do we see a trend in these faces?



She wanted to snuggle with the kitty


Irish competitions


Birthday dinner at Red Robin


She's the ONLY one that could do this to Robert




The artist



A favorite Easter activity ~ watching peeps melt in the microwave

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER!!!!!

Did you know that today is

SARCASTIC WEDNESDAY?

Thanks Kim!