{4th}

This year we had the most relaxing 4th of July ever! We went to Eugene for 4 days and celebrated the 4th of July like most Americans, with a BBQ.I failed to get a complete family photo, but here we are in our Red, White, and Blue.Maisey spent lots of time in the water since it was so hot and we just baked.
She loved the fireworks my grandparents set off and I loved that Ryley slept through them.One day we took the kids to my favorite kiddie pool at my favorite park. Grandpa stayed home but Grandma, Uncle Chase, and Aunt Erin came too. I was sad to find out this is the last year any of the outdoor kid pools will operate since under a new ordinance they would be required to put in an expensive new filtration system... I guess we better enjoy it all we can this season!
Four days is never enough time to see everyone and I can't wait to go back again!

{7}

Last Monday (June 29th) we celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary. We didn't spend time alone, and we pretty much carried on as usual, but all the day long I thought about that special day all those years back and how it seems like even longer since we dated for two years.

When I think about marriage at this time the first thing that comes to mind is Jesus saying, "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." I wouldn't dare say it's easy, but I do believe it's worth it.

This post is a week old because we've been very busy, but primarily because I wanted to post wedding pictures. However, I just have to post this now because we can't figure our scanner out. Hopefully the software is just hiding or else it was erased when we did something to our computer, either way I can't let any more time go by.

I love my husband dearly, beyond words, and I'm thankful he appreciates such a strong woman like myself!

{confession- I am one of them}

In case you didn't already know, I am one of them. I am one of those moms who loves to see her daughter on stage, in make-up, performing. I am one of those moms who would do beauty pageants if I lived in the Midwest or on the east coast but in the past I settled for photo contests instead.

Well, Maisey just had another dance recital and I have to confess, I loved the final show. It is so fun watching her get excited over the mascara and the stage- it takes me back. I danced for many years and I admit I get sucked into the event.

This year she took ballet and tap but next year I hope she sticks with only tap or jazz or hip/hop. I think you get more exercise with those dances and they really seem to excite the audience. Plus, she is a good tapper! We will just have to see what she decides. For now, here are a couple pictures.
Before the show.Maisey is on the far left! I was worried after watching rehearsal because the adorable little kiddos seemed to freeze on stage... But in the end, they all did great! She did awesome and I could tell I had a cheesy smile on the whole time!
After the recital with her trophy and flowers!

{old times}

It seems like not so very long ago that another little curious baby of mine loved the library.That little baby loved everything about it. The freedom to roam about and to choose whatever was pleasing at the time was all so exciting.The freedom to climb and explore mischievously is the most liberating part. Well, eventually all the thrill wore off and at about 4 years old Maisey refused to visit the libraries. Lucky for me, now she reads and once again she likes the libraries... And for the times she's not so eager, I now have another little one who is!

{Sport}

Ryley has been the best sport during our trip. He slept most of the plane ride and he has been very patient while waiting, and waiting for everyone else.

He is his usual timid self when we get onto a ride but he hasn't cried once and he ends up loving the thrill! This is his face before the carousel started and before he started laughing!On the dark rides he is a quiet observer. Here he is on It's a Small World After All.Here he is on the tea cups for the third time. When he gets tired he just sleeps.

And when he wakes he knows there is still more fun awaiting him.

Ryley also started walking on our first day here! This is a funny but lengthy (1.53 minute) clip of him as he attempts to toddle over to me after a long day at Disneyland! Hang in there, he gets it eventually and his determination is commendable!

* I filmed the clip wrong and I can't turn it, nevertheless it's still entertaining!

{Characters}

After waiting in line for 90 minutes + we finally were able to see the princesses!

You certainly can't come to Disneyland without seeing and touching them!

Their apparel was beautiful!

We had breakfast with Lilo and Stitch and Minnie and Daisy decided to drop by!

Maisey admires Daisy's cursive writing in her autograph book and has spent a lot of time trying to replicate her signature.

I personally loved the street parade with many of the Disney characters, especially Jessy and Woody from Toy Story (one of my favorite Disney movies)!

After the street parade we saw Tink at Pixie Hollow- shortly before her appearances in the Starlight parade and fireworks display!

Her friend "Raindrop" was there too!

We've seen a lot of other characters such as: Goofy, Pluto, Minnie, Alice, The Mad Hatter, Tiger, Rabbit and Pooh, just to name a few!

{Vacation}

Friday @ PDX- Ryley wasn't sure why we woke him up at 4 am so Chad and Maisey had some explaining to do

This was the seating arrangement-car seats by the window. Of course Maisey thought it was 'unfair' but she managed to fer over it!
This is the view we have from our room of California Adventure at nightLooking out our window at the side of the building The Disney movie room in our hotel, next to the arcade.

Maisey's Birthday and Graduation- Our first day in the park

Just through the front gates and Ryley is already exhausted from the day before.
Disneyland's Toy Story Ride (my favorite) which terrified Maisey! "You mean I have to wait for Daddy and Maisey before I can go on the tea cups?"
Ry and I have done a lot of waiting! However, he (and I) eventually got to ride on the tea cups and he LOVES them! Each time he goes he throws his hands in the air and shrieks... It is SO funny!
For Maisey's birthday she got her hair and make-up done at Bippity Boppity Boo Boutique! She loved choosing from all the accessories and being pampered by the "Fairy God Mother's in training!"

The 'unveiling' in the magical mirror. After putting a spell on the princess with tons of glitter the curtain is pulled back and the princess is now ready for her costume (outfit, sash (in this case a birthday one), jewelry, princess bag, and pictures! * One of the most magical parts of the trip by far!!!

The final look. Not a very great picture but we will remember the event!

"Well hello! May I get a picture of you before you go and find the princesses?"

"Wait! I have to give you my wish before you go!" Her wish was that she could live in a castle! Oh, what a hard lesson to learn in "The most magical place on earth!"

Things I've learned so far:

• I like American food
• Don't tell Maisey whether or not the ride will be absent of any light for any amount of time
• Skipping naps scares the heck out of me and makes me worry Ryley won't know what his schedule is when we get home!
• Pack extra clothes- You never know how wet you will get (watch out for California Adventure's Grizzly Rapids)!
• Be prepared to spend a ton of money on bottled water at the parks!
• You will undoubtedly get at least one blister when you spend nearly 15 hours at Disneyland in one day!
• Your suppose to tip your housekeepers! What the...
• The summers around here (summer 2009 kicked off on 6/12 our first night here) are AMAZING (fireworks, street parades, musicals, etc,...)!!!

To be continued...

Still to come: pictures of fireworks (from a boat) with Dumbo and Tinkerbell flying through the sky and everything after the first 24 hours!

{Summer is here}

{climb}

Ryley is pretty flexible and he is always putting his feet where they don't belong.

In the last month he has figured out how to use them to his advantage to climb. This picture happened to be at breakfast one morning. The other day I was on the other side of the kitchen when he opened and climbed onto the dishwasher door.
At last, a success. He made it up, as he does most things with a little perseverance. Doesn't he think he's so sly?
He climber into this chair to cheer Maisey on at her game.He tries to climb over this gate during Maisey's play dates but so far no avail.

He feels so left out when she won't let him get in on the fun.

I even bribed him with a sucker (the size of a pea, but nonetheless sugar and bribery) so that he wouldn't climb out of the Bumbo when he got haircut number 8 last week!
Despite his improving climbing skills, he manages to get stuck a good share of the time. He's been stuck: on Maisey's bed and in the crack, in her doll house (usually the smallest room- the bathroom), in her Barbie RV (his foot and leg-which he persistently tries to force fit into the driver seat each day while usually standing), on her doll bed, on her desk, and other places unbeknown to me I'm sure!

Chad has recently named him "chicken little" because he is still to fearful to walk without a hand; however, I think he is a monkey not a chicken.

(Dr. Seussical The Musical}

Two weekends ago Maisey and I met with my in-laws and cousin Ruby to go see cousin Peyton in a musical at the high-school. It was really cute, and definitely entertaining!

Here is Maisey with her two of her three cousins on Chad's side. The star,Peyton (8) is in the middle and Ruby (11) is on the left.

This is a brief clip which leads into the next. The yellow people are the Whos.

The Cat in the Hat had a great voice and We love performances of any kind no matter how small!

{midnight stroll}

Last night at 12:02 the loud, loud, piercing fire alarm went off in our building. This has happened once before and I remember being annoyed then but this time things seemed far worse. The noise is so loud, and it is so hard to wake up little kids and run them outside in the middle of the night while we wait for firetrucks to come and say it was a false alarm.

The difference this time around, is that we drove around for 30+ minutes and we never saw any firetrucks. When the alarms finally subsided, we went inside and tried to put the kids back to bed for over an hour! Let me just make it known that this incident is just one of the reasons I do not like "community" living!

{T-ball}

These pictures pretty much stink but I'm always too busy with Ryley to get any good ones and so far Chad

has been busy umping. Nonetheless, here are a couple distant snap shots. I failed at capturing a good video of her batting, maybe next time. A hit.
1st Base
Playing outfield- her second least favorite position next to playing catcher. She's the only girl on the team and she's pretty OK with the idea by now. However, when it comes down to the gear she has to make a statement- hot pink on her cleats, a hot pink bat, glove, and helmet. Can you guess why catcher isn't her favorite position, yeah, it's because the gear is "ugly."
We have games every Tuesday and Thursday. If you're interested give us a shout and come on out!