I'm a Little Excited

So Matt and I have decided to go to Disneyland.  They had killer deals on tickets and we even got a free night in our hotel room.  So we booked it.  Needless to say, I'm excited.  I was so excited, I made the mistake of telling the kids that we were going to Disneyland.  So then every other minute they kept asking "When are we going to Disneyland?"  "Do we need to pack our suitcases yet?"  So finally, to stop the never ending questions I made a countdown calendar:
 
They move a little family picture of us on the tea cups each morning.
We are leaving April 20 and driving down to state-line (staying at buffalo bill's) and then we will be in the parks April 21- 25 (staying at the del sol inn).  We'll drive home on Sunday.
My two sisters are bringing their families on the 23th and staying through the 25th.  I am excited to be all together at the happiest place on earth.
Both my mom and dad have had Bailee and Jeremy busy working to earn money for the trip.
Jeremy has gone to help his Grandpa on the farm everyday.  Bailee folds towels and helps Grandma do the dishes and cook.  I have been on the Disney boards trying to map out a plan of attack.   Matt has even made some dinner using the Disneyland recipes.  We had chicken fusilli last night.  It was so yummy.  It tastes just like the fusilli at the Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. 
If anyone has any tips, let me know.  Did I mention that I am excited!!!
So, I'm going to add some of my favorite shots from around the parks:
This is the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  It is one of my favorites.
  
Matt's favorite ride in California Adventure.  The Tower of Terror.  I have to post a pic from the inside too:
Creepy!!
 
Bailee's favorite all-time ride - the Tea Cups!
 
One of my favorite rides:  Splash Mountain!

Matt's all-time favorite - the Haunted Mansion!

The Big Cheese himself - Mickey Mouse!!

I figured I end with an awesome pic of the fireworks.  So in just 32 days I will be there.  Anybody care to join me?

Transgressions

It was the word of the night. Every kid stumbled over it, except for Sam. That was the only word he got right. It was a great FHE. Sharon made some awesome Pelmeni and then we played Aricles of Faith Concentrations. The kids loved it.

This one was a little harder for the kids to memorize, but they did ok:




It was a great night and I am glad that we were able to share it with the Payson Morrills. Good Food, Good Company, Great FHE!

Like a Little Girl

So this weekend, Matt was acting like a little girl.  Whining: "Why don't you write a blog about me."  I looked at him and asked if he was serious.  Forget the countless others.  His birthday, our anniversary, etc.  So here it is Pookie, just for you:
1.  I love the fact that I can call him Pookie in front of everyone.  Back when we were dating Matt told several HORRIBLE jokes.  It got so bad that we banned him from telling jokes unless we were at a Denny's.  So late one night, Matt told me the Pookie joke and it was so BAD that I started calling him Pookie.  Eight years later, it is my favorite pet name.  My kids have even started calling him that.
2.  I love that he has absolutely no concept of  gender roles.  He PREFERS to cook, and he really enjoys doing the laundry.  He has gone up to members of the ward (old ladies mind you) and asked for recipes.  He's not ashamed about it either.  He could go on and on about the best ways to prepare an egg.  However, the next minute, he will be downstairs watching how to rebuild an engine on Horsepower TV.
3. I love how hard he works.  He really does.  He works full-time up at pinnacle Monday thru Friday and then Saturday he spends all day working out to the meadow.  He is busy guy, and he teaches his kids the value of hard work by his example.

4.  I love how emotional he gets.  Matt is a sap.  He loves to gush about his family and one of his  favorite things to do is tuck the kids into bed every night.  Bailee has him wrapped around her little finger and he knows it.  All she has to do is look at him and his heart melts.
5.  I love that our priorities are the same.  FHE is important to Matt.  He loves to help the kids with their talks and scriptures for Primary.  He wants to spend time with his family when he gets home from work.  He looks forward to our date nights just as much as I do.  He likes to go on family vacations.  He helps Jeremy with his school work and reading.  And he knows that a family rooted in the Gospel will be able to overcome anything that might come our way.

I love you Pookie and I hope that you enjoyed your list.  You are a great dad and a wonderful husband.

The Difference Between Me and a Grown-up

So I have been reading a lot about the "Big Love Controversy."  Frankly, I am peeved.  How dare they?  To air such sacred ordinances is insensitive and for what?  Ratings?!?  It really bothers me.  So while we were in my Dad's office at the church I started ranting about it.  And then I asked him what he thought about it.  This was his response:  "Well, that certainly is their right."
That is the difference between me and a grown-up.  My dad understands that those kind of things don't really matter.  The only thing that matters is what I am doing and how I am becoming a better person.  Even the church has said, it "as an institution does not call for boycotts..." and "Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness..." 

I Am Amazed!

Jeremy has come a long way from the first of the school year.  Most days, Jeremy can be found doing this:

Actually all he ever does now is this:

Thankfully we have shelves of books.  So Jeremy has been grabbing books and going to town.  He sounds out the words and when he gets stuck he comes and asks me or Matt.  I am just amazed.  My little boy is reading and he actually likes it!!!  They are having a contest at school.  If each kid reads 500 minutes during the month of March, they will get a free ticket to 7 peaks water park.  Jeremy is very excited.  So if you have any book suggestions, I bet he would be happy to hear them.