February 2022

All 3 kids have been playing basketball this winter.  Siena and Aria are on the same team with some of the same girls they've played with the last few years.  It's been a great season.  Jaron is on a team with all boys from the neighborhood and it's been fun to watch them progress as well.  They've started actually passing the ball and you can see quite a bit of improvement from the last year.  

With Covid numbers down it's been nice to have grandma and grandpa coming to see more games.  They've come to some outdoor things but I've been hesitant to invite them to other things but are grateful they can come more now and the kids love it when they come and watch them play.  They have a lot of grandkids and they always make time to come to at least one game each season.  That keeps them pretty busy.

Shane started working with a company and needed to take a picture for their website.  So I took some.  He insisted on not smiling in them but of course I got him to laugh in a few.  Just thought I'd share how cute he is and how hard he works to support our family along with keeping the house running, clean and doing all sorts of projects.  I love you Shane.

I was so excited during the olympics when a commercial on and showed I could get a Jazz debit card from my bank I'm already a member of.  I requested one immediately and seriously it puts a smile on my face every time I pull it out to use it.  Go Jazz. #TakeNote

The girls have been working so hard this year learning songs and dances to perform a 4th grade Utah Play.  It was so cute to watch.  They dressed up as pioneers, sang some fun songs and even had to do some square dancing and dance with a boy!  haha, they were not thrilled about that.  Aria tried out and got a part in the play.  Of course the day they were to perform it for the school Aria was sick with a fever.  Their teacher asked Siena to fill in for her since she already had it memorized from Aria practicing it so much.  Siena does not like speaking in front of people but I heard she did a great job.  The next day they performed for the parents and Aria was better and was able to perform her part perfectly.

Siena and Aria are into cooking and baking.  Almost every Sunday they ask if they can make a treat.  This particular Sunday they cooked up a batch of 'Siena's Cookies' which was chocolate chip cookie dough without chocolate chips in it and then they put different toppings on a few of them and had a little store for our family to sell them.  They even named each cookie.  Happy Smores, Twixy Earthquake and campfire chocolate.  It was cute and they were actually pretty good.

California, Universal, Disneyland and more

We cashed the kids Christmas present in right after Kali and Mason's wedding.  I was a bit nervous going this week with Covid numbers so high and the night before we left, Aria woke up not feeling well.  Luckily it wasn't covid and she got over it quickly so we decided to go for it.  I'm so glad we did as it was a great week and had so much fun.

Sunday we woke up really early and drove down to California.  We made good time because we didn't want to hit the Las Vegas traffic Sunday afternoon.  We of course stopped by the Aria to take her traditional pictures.  We stayed at a hotel in Pasadena.  I took the kids on a tour of La Canada, where I grew up, our ward building, my elementary and High School, where my mom grew up, etc.  I'm sure it wasn't that exciting but fun for me to see my town again and what has changed.

Monday we went to Universal Studios.  The kids listened to every Harry Potter book over the last year or so and wanted to see Harry Potter land.  They had a fun Harry Potter ride that they loved and we went on it several times along with all the other rides there. At the end of the day, Siena wanted to go see the animal show a 2nd time and it was fun because she got called up on stage to help with one of the dog tricks.  She was excited to get called up and was a fun experience for her.  We even tried the butter beer they serve (no not real beer). The park didn't open until 10 and closed at 6 so not the longest day which was good considering our week ahead.

Tuesday we checked out of our hotel and took a tour around LA/Hollywood.  We went to travel town and rode the little train, rode horses at Griffith Park, saw the Hollywood sign.  We went to the Hollywood walk of stars which I realized my kids really don't know names of famous people but we found a few they knew.  Then we ended driving by the LA temple and headed down to the Brian's.  That night was eventful as they found mouse in their pantry and Brett caught it and ran around the house scaring everyone.  It was so funny.

Wednesday was our Disneyland day.  Cousin Emmy came with us which made it fun because no one had to sit by themselves.  We got there an hour before it opened and was standing inside main street by 7:40am for the 8am opening.  We ended the night at 8pm as the kids ran in circles getting on Thunder Mountain about 5 times in a row.  My kids could care less about the cutesy rides and are all about the fun roller coaster big rides.  We got on Millenium Falcon twice and luckily got on Rise of the Resistance once as it kept breaking down so we were glad we got to get on it.  I realized Matterhorn is way too bumpy for me now and still love Space Mountain the most.  We had gusty cool weather but was glad we got some sunshine as well.

Thursday we got up early again and headed back for another day, also getting there before it opened, this time to California Adventure.  The kids favorite rides was Guardians of the Galaxy, Spiderman, and Incredicoaster.  The new spiderman ride was fun and I like the Cars racer ride and Soarin too.  We closed the park down at 8pm.  I felt like this day was the busiest of the 3 parks and we definitely waited in the longest lines but still a super fun day.

Friday we headed to Newport beach.  We rode the ferry across which I always love.  It was breezy but a still sunny and beautiful day there.  The kids played in the sand for 4 hours and never got bored.  Then we headed to the Corona Del Mar tide pools which the kids love to explore.  That night the kids got in the hot tub and we got take out mexican food.

Saturday we drove the whole way home again, making sure we made it home in time for Jaron to get to his 9:15pm indoor soccer game!  

It was such a fun trip and had been 4 years since we had been to Disneyland so it was definitely time to go again.  Next trip to California I think we'll take them to Knotts Berry Farm and Magic Mountain to give them new roller coasters to ride.