Disneyland, California Adventure & Aunt Karina

Oh where to begin??? This trip to Disneyland was one of the most fun trips yet! Sadie is really starting to listen and is enjoying more of the sights. We were able to meet up with Aunt Karina while we were there for her birthday.

This picture is from later in the morning but it's one of my most favorite so I thought I'd put it first. We were waiting to get into see A Bug's Life - 3D. **Note to self: Do not take Sadie on this ride for a while. It was too much for her.** (Yah...You'll be seeing that a lot this time)

This trip my main goal was to get to the Princess Faire. When we went in February I found out about this and the wait was an almost two hours. So I thought if we got up at the crack of dawn and drove down we might miss some of the waiting...

WRONG!!! We got in the line at 9:30 and it was still over an hour wait. Poor Sadie. I know I'm a horrible Mom but dang it, I knew she'd love it. She was so tired though. And all she wanted to see was Cinderella. Well lets just say I was so sad for my baby. When we started in the line Cinderella was one of the princesses but by the time we got up front, they switched. My poor baby spent the rest of the day looking for Cinderella.

But she did get to see Princess Tiana (Princess and the Frog)

Belle (Beauty & the Beast)

No Comments on the blurrness...I thought I had gotten a good one at the time.
Sadie and Belle twirling their pretty princess dresses
Princess Ariel (Little Mermaid)
Sadie was a bit more happier when she saw Ariel.
As soon as we were done with the Princesses, Sadie fell asleep. She didn't sleep at all on the way down so she was VERY tired (and so was I). About that time Karina called and she had made it to the park. So we met up with her.

Karina in the big O outside California Adventure.

We had a blast. Karina hadn't been to California Adventure so she got to go on a few rides and see all the fun new actractions. She and Sadie rode King Neptune's undersea carousel. This was Sadie's first time without someone standing next to her. I know what you're thinking...yes I'm a sap and yes I was a little nervous. But she did great and LOVED it!

Across the way Jesse from Toy Story 2 was out and about so we stopped and got a few pictures with her. (I don't think Sadie has seen the movie, we don't have it...but she is all about the "cowgirl")

Mickey's Ferris Wheel (A note to self moment here)

We got in line and I didn't realize until it was too late that we were in the "rocking" car line.

I just have to say the lines were AWESOME! We didn't have to wait very long at all (except to see the Princesses and Tinker Fairies) And the weather...it was AMAZING. It was just right and there was a perfect breeze. Dont' you feel jealous yet?!

I am in love with this picture. It captures her anticipation completely and it looks like it could be in the classic 1955 photos of the park. (minus the snack on the chin of course)

This was not our car, we rode on Goofy's car.

We were moving but we really hadn't started rocking yet...

And here we go...she was scared but we think that it's because she couldn't see out. Once she climbed onto Karina she did better. And yes she CLIMBED onto Karina.

We made our way to the Bug's Life show and came out to see Mickey and Pluto. Of course it wouldn't be a trip to Disneyland without getting a picture with Mickey right?!

So of course I had to join in the fun!

Sadie and her Pluto

Lately one of Sadie's favorite movies is Monsters, Inc. So we ventured to that ride. This is at the end of the ride but it just cracks me up. My nephews, Spencer and Kyson loved this movie too and one summer I got to spend with them and Spencer would walk around saying "I'm watching you Mike Wazowski, Always watching" and Kyson would say "Mike Wazowski, Mike Wazowski" and now Sadie is says the same things.

Sadie and Karina in the Monstropolis taxi car

Outside the ride they had a huge door that looked like Boo's from the movie. So I had to get a shot of our little Boo.

After Aunt Karina got to ride Tower of Terror she had to head out...but on the way back to the main gate we ran into this Acapella group. They were great.

Aunt Karina & Sadie outside California Adventure

Sadie and I were going to head home but the weather was perfect the lines were short and Sadie had caught her second wind so I threw caution to the wind and we stayed. So we headed over to Pixie Hollow so Sadie could get some pictures with her "Tinker Fairy" Friends.

Sadie and Silvermist (She's a water fairy and my personal favorite)

Silvermist was very sweet and kind to my baby...she just earned herself some extra pixie dust!

Sadie and Tinker Bell

Tea Cup Ride (Yet again another "note to self" moment)

She'd been on it before and liked it so I didn't think it would be a big deal...WRONG!

We rode so many rides...we had such a great time...can't you tell?!
Mommy and Sadie (And yes I got on a horsey!)
Sadie and the honey pots...annual tradition now!
I will post a few more pictures on my other blog later. We had so much fun it was hard to choose what pictures to include and what ones not to include.

Inspirational Moments

I have to tell you what happened to me this weekend. For I feel like I need to share just how sometimes even though we don't know what we need, GOD does know what we need. This weekend our Church is had it's Stake Conference. For those who don't know what that is, it's where several congregations meet together to hear speakers.

These meetings are generally hard for me only because it's two hours and my back protests sitting on the uncomfortable seating. So I'm ashamed to admit, but I generally back out of going to these conferences. Knowing that I have to tell you what happened to me yesterday.

I was checking my email and I had received an email from a friend whom I hadn't heard from for a while. I worked with her husband and I used to scrapbook with her. They do not belong to my Church but they had family members visiting from Australia who do belong to the same Church and they wanted to attend services this weekend. So I gave her a call and I spoke with their cousin. I explained that it was Stake Conference and that he could go to another stake if they'd like or they were welcome to come with me. He said he'd talk to his children and they'd give me a call if they decided to go so we could all sit together. I actually never thought they'd want to go, but I received a call last night and they did want to attend with me. SO I went.

And I have to say that I'm so very thankful for my Father in Heaven, who knows me and knows what I need. Sometimes He acts in subtle ways and others He has to hit me on the back of the head (NCIS reference). I am also so very thankful for the Holy Ghost, who helps me know when I am doing something right and wrong. I am so very grateful for the friendships that I have that they know they can call me with situations as these. I never talked about the Church with these friends. And to be honest I never knew they knew I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. But it just testifies to me that even though I may not always feel like I am being the best example, I must be doing ok. If people see me and know my faith from my actions, then I must be doing something right. It just reminds me that we never know who is watching us. Who is looking for guidance and that we need to always be examples of Christ.

This whole experience has been an eye opener for me. Even though this world is really large and that there are billions of people on the earth, we are all God's children and the gospel is true no matter where we are at. Heavenly Father puts people in our lives for a reason...some for a brief moment and others for eternity. I am very privileged to have been able to attend a wonderful conference and especially to have met these two very fine men. I hope that I will be able to keep in touch with them, and if not I want them to know that this simple act of seeking to attend services during their vacation was truly inspired and I know that I have felt the spirit this wonderful Sabbath day. It truly is a small world.

CALM

My friends, Virginia & Emi, decided to take the three girls out to CALM (California Living Museum) today. We think the girls had a great time. They all certainly came home and crashed hard enough...

Virigina & Atley

Tammy & Sadie

The Three Amigos

Sadie and her sticks

Sadie whispering in the bears ear.

Emi & Nina

Feeding the Goats

Sadie loved this...she could have stayed here for the entire day!

Nina wasn't too sure about it though.

Gma & Gpa Eastlick Come to Visit

This past week we had a visit from Steve's parents. We certainly did enjoy visiting with them. Sadie especially. She loved having Gma and Gpa around. We played Chicken Foot (dominoes game) & Sequence, shopped, ate out and BBQ'd. We even got to go to the park...

Steve and Gpa Chet
Steve, Gma Judy & Sadie

We taught her to swing on her stomach on the big kid swings. She enjoyed that.

Gpa and Sadie

Daddy, Sadie & GpaSadie Swinging...those are screams of joy I promise.

On one of our shopping trips, Gma picked up these fabulous sunglasses

Saturday I got to go over to my cousin Krissy's house. She was having a yard sale and I made out like a BANDIT! Sadie has decided to skip size 3T altogether so we were on short supply for clothing. Well Krissy's sister was getting rid of all her daughter's old clothes. I took a bunch. And Sadie is LOVIN' them!

One of the many dress up outfits I got.

I don't even remember what day this was, but it was way to cute not to include!

Sadie got a new pool for the summer and so we had to "test" it out.

Daddy helping Sadie down the whale slide.

Then the whale slide came out and it became a lounge pool. Doesn't she look comfy?!

And of course it wouldn't be a proper grand opening of a pool without a dance.

Sunday it turned a little chilly so while Daddy & Gpa ran an errand we had craft time. We made kitty masks. Sadie wasn't very keen on them but Gma was quick and got a shot of her wearing it. Needless to say we caught just as the hand on the bottom of the mask whisked it off.

My big girl sitting in her new booster seat at the table coloring.

Taking a moment to read a story.

Thanks Gma & Gpa for coming to visit. We love you and hope you had a great trip.