Saturday, April 30, 2011

Happy Easter

Easter came fast this year. We got back from Disney on Friday and Easter was that following Sunday. Saturday we went to our friends parents annual Easter egg hunt and BBQ where the kids had a blast!!
Sunday we woke up EARLY to see what the Easter bunny had left for the family. The kids were so fun!! Liam even loved it. We went to church (all of us:)), came home and dyed eggs, hid all of the eggs inside the house (the kids requested it), and then went to the Evatts for dinner and fun. We love days like today where we can celebrate all our Savior did for us, spend it with the family and finish it with great friends.








Friday, April 29, 2011

DISNEY....

Our most recent family fun was our trip to DISNEY!!! How lucky are we that we have a fabulous family that wants to spend a week together in the 'Happiest Place On Earth', or so they say. I must say, we had a great time- but far from the relaxing vacation after the walking and more walking. Although it may not have been all that relaxing- fun it was!!
We all arrived Sunday and walked around Downtown Disney. Sunday night, Heather got us all tickets to a pirate adventure where we were able to take a boat to the lake and watch the fireworks over Cinderella's castle. It was a lot of fun.


Our first monorail ride of the trip...


Waiting for our Pirate adventure.


FIREWORKS-




Pirate Patch- He was the best!!

Monday morning we got up and headed to Magic Kingdom. Our first stop was Space Mountain where all who was tall enough partook of its greatness. From there we tried to do all we could through the mass of people.



The only thing Morgan HAD to have was the Princess Jasmine costume. She wore it to Magic Kingdom hoping to see Jasmine herself but she was nowhere to be found. Morgan looked beautiful!

Space Mountain...





The kids rode the carousel, watched the parade, rode Thunder Mountain (Morgan cried the whole ride, I do not think rides are her thing), and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Wouldn't be Disney without a turkey leg...
or three...

she loved watching the princesses go by...


DISNEY part two...

While the others were waiting in line for Pirates, Morgan and I rode the magic carpet ride. She loved it!


After that, we were DONE. It was hot, sweaty, and crowded. We left Disney to go hang by the pool, where we stayed for the rest of the night.


Tuesday was my favorite park- Animal Kingdom. After a great breakfast at the Polynesian Resort, we got to Animal Kingdom and headed straight for the safari ride. We waited in line for about an hour- which was a long wait but worth every minute!! Liam was able to ride and he even enjoyed seeing all the animals.






We walked around, went to the Dinosaur ride (well the adults did, I took the kids on the kid dinosaur ride), had a light lunch, watched the parade, went to our favorite ride at the park- Expedition Everest, ate dinner at Rainforest CafĂ©, and then went on the last ride of the park- the Rapids ride (Morgan did get on the one…. and to say she LOVED it would be an understatement). Today was HOT so this ride felt great!!



ALL WET- some more than others!

DISNEY part three...

By Wednesday- we were ready for some relaxation. Steve, Aydin, Morgan, Heather, and Taylor all woke up early and headed to Blizzard Beach (the water park) while Mike, Mom, Liam, and I stayed behind to hang out by the pool and get massages.

Mike was so good to take Liam in the water. He stayed in the water for about 2 hours.


After everyone got home and cleaned up- we headed over to Epcot to walk around and grab some dinner. We were all about to go on the Nemo and Land rides… which everyone enjoyed.

It was the flower festival at Epcot- it was beautiful. Heather took more pictures of the flowers- but here is one of them...

Morgan and Grandma- Morgan is not too sure if she will like this ride...


Last time we came- Morgan wouldn't even go near this shark... what a difference a few years makes. She went in first this time and wouldn't get out.

Liam loves fish- so much that FISH was his first word...


On the land ride... Liam, Mike, Taylor, and Mom

Grandma and the grand kids...

Dinner was ok- if even that. I cant say I will ever go back to the Mexican food stand but we ate it anyway. As the night was coming to an end, we walked out to the firework/laser show over the lake.


Thursday was the last day of our parks- at MGM-Hollywood Studios. We did everything we wanted and more. Aydin and I rode the Tower of Terror first- and he was terrified!! He did not want to go- but I made him and he hated it.

In line before the ride...


Our next stop was the Rock n Roller Coaster which is my favorite. By the time we finished this, the Drake family finally showed up. As they waited in line for the Tower of Terror, we went to the Beauty and the Beast show. It was great and the kids loved it. From there we had lunch and went to the Indian Jones show- where we got VIP seating in the third row. This show is amazing in the front. Morgan’s face was priceless the whole show.

All of us before the Indiana Jones show...


We then watched the Lights Motor Action show, rode the Toy Story ride, and all (that were tall enough) went on Rock n Roller Coaster one last time before we left for the night.

Before Toy Story...

Steve, Heather, Aydin, Taylor, and Mike...

From MGM- we went to a fabulous dinner at Jiko in Animal Kingdom’s Lodge. Great dinner for the last night we were at Disney.
Friday it all came to an end. We packed up, at a great breakfast, walked around downtown Disney and had a late lunch. We all had a great time!! It was so nice seeing the family and spending time together.

Friday, April 1, 2011


I cannot believe that over three years had passed since I last saw my siblings and this was the first time since then that my whole (immediate) family got together. Although we definitely missed Mike's family and Ben’s wifey and Trina' and Gary's kids, it was SO nice to see everyone else!!

Utah was a blast!! I never thought I could ever have a good time going to the land of wierd… but I did!!

THANK YOU John for finally getting married so we all had an excuse to get together!!


We flew in Tuesday night and I finally met my new sister in law (to be) and I love her. I just wished we had more time to spend hanging out. Thursday was the beautiful wedding ceremony. Morgan was so happy that Lindsey asked if she would be a flower girl. She loved her dress, getting her hair done, painting her nails…. And POSING for EVERY picture. She loved the camera!! Although I was sad John and Lindsey left right after the reception, the rest of the family had a blast.


We went back to my Aunt Georgia’s house to hang out. My brothers are hilarious… they kept us all laughing with childhood stories. Friday we went to the bounce house with Ben and his kids, Missy and Mike and their kids, and my parents.
that afternoon, we all went to Missy’s for a BBQ and to hangout. After dinner, all the guys and Jen and Jessica went up to Sundance to ski/snowboard while the girls and all the kids had a puppet show.


Saturday everyone (except us) left Utah… so we went to Trafalga to let the kids play mini golf and go carts. Aydin loved that he was finally tall enough to drive a car by himself.

Sunday was church and dinner at Jen and Corom’s, Monday we went to eat all together one last time… and that was that.

Monday night we drove to Aunt Georgia’s for the night and we left early early Tuesday morning. I can’t say I will miss Utah or that I hope to go back soon… but I sure do miss my family already!! It was so fun seeing everyone again and I hope it will not be another 3 years before we see each other again.