Feb. '19- Week 3- Middle Ages Day, Grandma Kelly Leaves, Disneyland!

Friday morning McKenna had the 4th Grade Knighting Ceremony, during which Anna and Bethany took some cute selfies.  The 4th graders also showed off many things they learned while studying the Middle ages and all their castle models were on display.  

They got to choose their knight name and McKenna chose "Lady Lover of Pasta."

We got home around 10 and I did some cleaning.  Dan got new glasses today also! Darker, more bold frames.  :)  After school, I went back to school to help sell Peter Pan tickets.  I also got to hear a little of the 4th grade's guest speaker, King Henry the 8th.  He was great!  We started packing that afternoon to be ready for our Disneyland trip on Monday.  That night was the last night with my mom in town, so we made our fancy Valentine's dinner to eat together.  :) 

Saturday we worked a lot on packing, cleaning, laundry, running errands.  We also had my ministering sisters' kids over, the Jaynes and Pugsleys.  We babysat them so their parents could go on a date.  Anna went to McKayla Searle's BD party.

That night we watched some history of Disneyland videos on You Tube and we continued to pack!

Sunday Ben got some snuggles from Alice.  There was a discussion in Sunday school about Jesus cleansing the temple.  Something that stood out to me was another way I can keep my home clean, like the temple, is to not gossip or talk bad about others.  Our Come Follow Me lesson was about the "beattitudes" and how to find true happiness.  Right before dinner, Dan accidentally touched a hot burner and burned his finger tips.  :(  After dinner I cleaned out the van and did more packing.  

Monday we were on the road to California by 8:45am!  The kids watched "Sleeping Beauty," "Peter Pan." We stopped for lunch in Cedar City.  There was some snow on the drive, but the roads were fine.  We got gas in Mesquite, but once we hit Vegas, we hit some BAD traffic!  We had Arby's for dinner and continued in the bad traffic.  The kids watched "Nemo" and "Tarzan." I felt pretty carsick and had a bad headache most of the day.  I listened to "Unthinkable" and edited pictures.  Dan listened to "Educated." We stopped at Wal-mart to pick up groceries and got to our AirBnb at 10:20pm!  Such a long day in the car!  The traffic probably tacked on an extra 3 hours!  Also, unfortunately, the heater in our AirBnb was broken so it was quite chilly.  Thankfully, there were space heaters.  

Tuesday we got to Disneyland by 9:15!  We were all so excited!  We wore our matching t-shirts, the girls had Minnie Mouse buns, and we definitely still needed jackets.  Our first ride was the carousel.  We then spent a lot of time in Fantasy Land riding Pinnochio, Snow White, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tea Cups, and Casey Jr.  

Then we headed to Tomorrow Land and we rode Space Mountain twice.  

We ate our packed lunch, then headed over to Indiana Jones and the Tarzan Treehouse.  Thank heavens for FAST PASSES and Stroller swaps!  The big kids got to ride almost all the the fast pass rides twice! Once with Dan, once with me.  

Dan took the little girls to Pooh's Corner while I rode Indiana Jones with the big kids.  Then we headed over to Thunder Mountain x2.  We ran into Dan's friends Chelsea and Hillary.  

 We had dinner in Tomorrow Land where Dan got a turkey leg.  It was quite cold by this time and we were wondering if we needed to buy more layers just to feel comfortable.  The three big kids rode the Buzz Lightyear ride while Bethany and I found a spot for the parade.  

 Unfortunately we weren't able to meet back up for the parade, but I got to watch it with Bethany and Alice and they loved it! 

 After the parade we pulled out some glow sticks, bought some hot chocolate, rode the jungle cruise, went in the Enchanted Tiki Room, and rode the Haunted Mansion.  We finished the night with a light show and dance party on Main Street.  

 We all wore our matching Disney jammies and slept very well!  

Things I want to remember from our first day: We were nervous about Anna being scared to go on certain rides but she had zero problems!  The late arrival from the night before did not help our energy level.  Bethany was easily scared on some of the Fantasy Land rides.  McKenna was excited to do bigger rides.  We saw the Alexanders!  Alice did well and our food situation worked well also!  A GREAT first day!

Wednesday we were slow moving in the morning and got to California Adventure by 9:45.  We first went to the Disney Junior dance party.  It was cute and fun, but I liked the Disney Jr. show we went to back in 2014 better.  

Then we had snacks and waited in line to see the Frozen show.  It was amazing!!  

Then we headed over to Monsters Inc. ride.  We ate lunch, saw Spiderman while Ben had on his Spiderman jacket, and then headed over to Guardians.  Unfortunately, McKenna's nerves got the best of her and she was too scared to ride it.  However, Ben, Anna, and I rode it and loved it!  Then Dan rode it again with B and A.  I went and nursed Alice in the child care center with Anna and Bethany while Dan took McKenna and Ben on Incredicoaster!  McKenna was also a little nervous to ride that one, but she did great and said she loved it!  Then we headed over to Little Mermaid and Cars Land.  

After Radiator Springs and Mater's ride (both x2), it started to rain pretty hard.  We thankfully got a seat inside Flo's diner for dinner!  

Next, we went to meet Anna and Elsa! 

Then we met Mickey himself!  Since it was pretty late at night and cold and rainy, there wasn't any line!  Ben gave him such a looong hug.  

We left the park at 9pm and went back to the AirBnb and everyone showered and slept well once again! 

Thursday we attempted to use our "Magic Morning" pass.  We should have been able to get in at 7am, but due to long lines, we only made it in by 7:45.  Oh well.  We were all pretty tired by day 3.  This was the day we had two princesses (Elena and Cinderella) and a Kylo Ren.   

I went and nursed Alice while Dan took the older three on Matterhorn and Star Tours. Then we all met at the Buzz ride.  While I was nursing, Bethany took off her shoes and said, "my toes smell like chicken nuggets."  

Then Dan took McKenna and Ben to Indiana Jones again, while I took the three little girls back to Fantasy Land and we rode the carousel, Snow White, and Pinnochio.  We also ran into Peter Pan! 

McKenna and I then rode Space Mountain while Dan took the other kids to wait in line at Small World.  

Sadly, Alice had a fever off and on Wednesday and Thursday.  After we got home, she had a slight rash all over her trunk which explained the fever.  I felt bad she felt yucky, but it was actually kind of nice she slept so much! 

We ate lunch in Toon Town then explored and rode rides.  

We rode Thunder Mountain x2, then Alice in Wonderland and made sure to get a picture with Alice. We rode the Story Book Canal Boats, then went to the Royal Hall to meet some Princesses. 

While we were in line at the Royal Hall, it started to pour rain!  

Anna loved meeting Cinderella while dressed as Cinderella.  

We put on our ponchos and headed to the Star Wars building in Tomorrow Land. I nursed Alice while Dan took the other kids to meet Chewbacca.  

The rain stopped but it was quite cold!  So we rode the Monorail, Matterhorn, then ate at a Mexican restaurant in Frontier Land which had heaters!  We then went souvenir shopping, had our pictures taken, and left by 7:45 because we were all so cold and spent!  

Feb. '19- Week 2- Ben's BD Date, Ben's Baptism, Jazz Game, Knight's No Slip Grip, Charter Day on the Hill, Jr. Jazz, Hair Cut, Valentine's Day!

Friday I was able to go to the temple in the morning then Amy Hamblin came to visit.  We waited in line for a while after school to buy Peter Pan tickets.  After that, we got Keva Juice and Great Harvest bread for lunch.  Then my parents came into town for Ben's baptism the next day!  I trimmed Anna, Bethany, and Alice's hair.  The kids did a heart craft with Grandma Kelly, then Ben left for his BD date with Webster grandparents!  All the 7 and 8 year old boys got to go on a group date with Grandma and Grandpa!  They ate out and received matching blankets to snuggle with while Grandma and Grandpa are on their mission.  

Saturday we got ready and scrambled a bunch of eggs then we headed to the church at 10 to decorate and set up for Ben's baptism luncheon.  Here are all the Baptism pictures Aunt Lara took that were on display at the lunch.  He's such a sweet and good little boy! 

McKenna and Anna helped set up the display tables.  

The brunch was lovely.  We had all the Websters (minus Emma), my parents, Mickelle, Jonathan, Grandpa Condie, the Eppersons, Chuck Thompson, the Holdstocks, Alexanders, and Lewises.  

The kids loved running around in the gym afterwards.  

We're so thankful for all the love and support for Ben and our family.  Lots of people helped clean up the lunch as well so I didn't have to worry about it.  

Grandfather was so sweet to attend.  He knelt and greeted Ben when he came in the chapel.  So many ward members came to support Ben as well.  The Bramalls, Novaks, Becky and Alana Smith, and his school teacher as well.  

The Program:

Grandma Kelly- Piano

Lara Webster- Chorister

4th Article of Faith- Opening Song

Grandma Sibber- Opening Prayer

McKenna- Talk on baptism

Cousins- Sang "Baptism"

Dan- Baptism Ordinance

Bro. Thompson and Bro. Epperson- Witnesses

Grandpa Webster- Talk on the Holy Ghost

Dan- Confirmation

Grandfather- Closing remarks. He called Ben up and talked about the Covenant Path

He Came for Us- Closing Song

Grandpa Mike- Closing Prayer

I'm so thankful for the priesthood power and authority to perform this ordinance for Ben!  He said, "I've never felt so calm before in my entire life!" I felt like it was such a perfect day I didn't want it to end! 

Dan's parents gave Ben some new scriptures and he received a new scripture case from my parents!

We were home by 1:45 ish and Alice took a good long nap while my parents babysat and Dan and I went to the Jazz game with Dan's parents. 

We had a nice chill evening at home that night.  

Sunday Ben laid out his shoes and *new scriptures just like McKenna does before church.  He also stood in Sacrament meeting to be recognized for his baptism.  My mom took Alice for me during YW and she took a nice snooze on her. :)  We practiced our song in YW again.  We did Come Follow Me when Dan got home, then he went to Sis. Womack's setting apart for her mission.  We had dinner at the Webster's as a big snow storm was coming in!  We celebrated February BDs (we gave to Truman). 

  Monday I did the usually laundry, and Anna played at the Alexander's.  My parents came by to hang out and my brother Jonathan started a new job at eBay! My mom helped put together a new Fall wreath for my front door.  The kids worked on their Valentine's along with their homework.  

Alice has a thing for belly buttons and makes the funniest sound when she sees one.  My kids love playing piano duets with Grandma Kelly when she's in town.  

My parents stayed for dinner and then we filmed McKenna's sales product commercial for school.  She (and I) made balloon stress balls filled with water Orbeez.  She called them the "Knights No Slip Grip" since it would help strengthen their grip.  

Tuesday I exercised, went to Jan Evans's class and took my turn in the nursery.  I finished my book club book, "Educated." McKenna got to go on a field trip with Student Council to the Capitol for "Charter Day on the Hill." 

I took Ben and Henry to Jr. Jazz that night with Anna and Desi. 

Wednesday I visited Amy Pugsley. The girls had a tea party to celebrate Rachel's BD. We went out to lunch with some family for Swa's BD, and Skyped Kelsey for her BD.  My mom and Mickelle came over for a bit.  McKenna stayed up a little late that night and we read about our Disneyland memories from 2014.  

Thursday was Valentine's Day!  I picked up my mom from Mickelle's place and then visited Shelly and got a hair cut.  In the afternoon I went to Ben's class for his Valentine's party.  

After school, I helped decorate for McKenna's 4th grade middle ages day.  That night, my mom was nice enough to babysit while Dan and I went on a date, even though she was away from her Valentine, my dad.  We went to Hug-Hes restaurant and then the Utes Basketball game (we won!).