let it be

Wow! Yes, it is true, a new blog from here! Amazing, isn't it??! Well, the truth is, I have been mostly laying around and feeling sick for the past month! I have been so tired and nauseous that I had no energy to even get the basics, such as blogging, done! But NOW, I am feeling SO much better- the whole week has been like a new phase, like the SECOND TRIMESTER- finally! :) So we are (hopefully) back to bloggerworld.

All I have to say really is, Teletubbies. Oh my goodness, teletubbies. Or as Emma likes to say ten thousand times a day- tubtubby (as she points to the TV, VCR or Remote Control)! She is obsessed. OBSESSED. I don't know how it happened. One day she was watching an old tape of Bella's, the next day- it is all she can think about. It is extremely cute, though- to watch her get so excited when it comes on. She covers her mouth in anticipation....she says WOW! and if you are next to her, she will make you do the same thing by pulling your hand to your mouth! And then she mimics EVERYTHING she sees. "Uh-uh" "No!" "Big Hug" "Lalalala". And she does the dances. She rolls on the floor. She hops in circles. She is in love.

Ab and Bella are good. They decided they wanted their bunk beds "down", so they are very excited about the new set up. And they have started a new habit of going "fence climbing". They pack some snacks and go out back. Then they proceed to try and climb over the ten foot fence out back! I don't know what they think they will do if they get to the top! Hop over? I hope not!! They climbed up the swing set and almost reached the top- I was afraid they were going to jump over! I tried explaining it to them, but all was lost. I guess it is just for fun. It is mostly about the snacks, anyway!

And can I just say- I love how no one is talking about how Howard Stern is urging all of the people to vote for Sanjaya!! He is sweet and all, but it is almost like he is doing all he can to get kicked off!! I feel kind of bad for him actually....not that bad though, because really he should just step down. But I do think it is funny how no one is talking about it on the show. Simon was right, what more can they say!!!!

short and really sweet

So, by now you all know (hopefully) that we are going to have another baby! This will be the official blog announcement. Anyhow, the girls REALLY want another girl. Really a lot. And they want to name her Tigerlily. Yes, from Peter Pan! Little Tigerlily!

the weekend

It's been real laid back this weekend- we're getting some much needed rest and relaxation! Todd played with the girls all day and watched basketball games while I laid in bed and read a book by Jane Austen. I don't know what it is about her novels, but they provide such entertainment and escape! I finished 'Persuasion' today after only beginning it last night! I loved Anne Elliot and I had to keep reading to learn if Frederick Wentworth would declare his love once again! And, I know Todd is just as excited as I am to know that the BBC movie filmed in 1995 will be on next Friday! I already have the DVR set to record!

Todd is out tonight with a friend and I am about to watch some A-List celebrity bloopers on TV. What a wonderfully mindless day! :) Oh, it's on! More later! Bye!

Disneyland!

OK! Day 1 at Disneyland! Finally, right?? Well, we were in line at the gate by 9:00 on Wednesday. And then there was the count down at 9:30- the gates opened! We all rushed in and there was another gate at the end of Main St That opened at 10. After some Mickey Mouse candy from the gift shop and another count-down, we rushed in- straight to Pirates of the Caribbean. Isabella had told us before that she wanted to go on the scariest ride first- so we figured that would be it for a 6 year old....well, a good start, anyway.

Before I get to all that, I have to just say it was really exciting to go to Disneyland for me! It was my first time there too! I kept trying to tell Isabella that it was my first time and she would only respond- "me too!" It was silly! So even just waiting with all the excitement- catching a glimpse of the big flower Mickey head in the grass of the entryway was really fun. We were on our way to the happiest place on earth! I have to admit I almost let a bad attitude ruin it when some lady cut in front of me and than turned around giving me a dirty look....but I got over it- with the help of the magical coin. ;) See, we got our vacation package from Costco and with it came a magical coin that had been sprinkled with Pixie Dust by TinkerBell herself! This coin was to ensure us that we would have a wonderful time. We decided before we left that if anyone started to have a bad time, they would just hold the magical coin for a little while and it would help them to feel better!! It worked!! :) (In the top picture Abigail was extremely hungry....see her with the coin?) It was silly but fun- and it seriously worked!! :)

So....back to the Pirates. We got on right away and the girls were having fun for a little while, but it was definitely a little much for the very first ride and poor Bella was crying when we got off. Even at the next attraction, Tarzan's tree house, she was a little leery of the statue tiger and screamed when it roared! After that we decided to go to Fantasy land through Cinderella's castle- that was a little better for her.

Of course the first thing we had to do was get the dresses. Isabella had decided before we went that she wanted a princess dress. Abigail and her had both been very excited about this! So 3,000 dollars later, out they came outfitted as Belle and Sleeping Beauty. They were very cute trucking around in their dresses- but don't think they were out of place. I think almost every little girl there had one on!!

I think the cutest part about it was that all the workers- the cast members- were so nice and would act so excited to see them- they would say- "Oh, Belle, Aurora, I didn't realize you would be joining us today" or something to that affect. It was cute.

The sweetest part of the day- the most magical and ridiculous was at the Parade of Dreams! We were watching all the characters wave and sing and dance around and it was all fun and good. Bella was extremely excited to see Belle on the beauty and the beast float and all of dancing spoons and forks and tea cups. But that wasn't the sweetest. It was when the very last one came by with all the other princesses on board. And there was Sleeping Beauty. Abigail had been waiting and waiting to see her! So, as she went by Abigail blew her a kiss- and because the Princess had been looking down at her, she blew her one right back. It was so incredibly sweet that I almost started crying! Ab was beaming because she was so happy. Yes, the happiest place on earth! I told you it was ridiculous! So, needless to say- we are obsessed with Disney at our house now. All things Disney. That was the end of our first Disneyland day. Back to the hotel for some much needed rest! 2 more days to go!

cutie

I have to take a break from the vacation update to just say- how cute is she?! It is 86 degrees here in Santa Maria today- it is BEAUTIFUL. So the girls all wore their sundresses, including Emma. This is my favorite little girlie sundress hand-me down from Bella and Ab- doesn't she look so cute! And she let me put her hair up and she actually left it in for once! Yay!

Downtown LA

OK, so day 2! We started off at Target in Hermosa Beach- we accidentally forget an entire suitcase of the girls (oops). It was fine since these are Targets everywhere!! So after some nightgown & sock purchases- off we went to Downtown LA.

Driving into LA, past the Staples Center was pretty cool- we'd never been Downtown before- so I have always sort of felt like I'd never 'officially' been to LA. Down the blocks we drove wondering if we would be safe at our destination! When we finally found Santee St. we knew if would be fine. People were everywhere and vendors were ready for us! Santee Alley is in the Fashion District and they describe it as something like a foreign market where bartering and haggling is encouraged. Walls of purses and sunglasses- note it says "babe" not "bebe"....hmmmm. Might be a knock off? But there were clothes and shoes and shoes and more shoes- $10 a pair! and they were cute! So Carol bought about 10 purses for everyone ;).......and we had a really fun time avoiding the bacon-wrapped hot dogs. And I am DEFINITELY making another trip sometime soon!!

So after that adventure we headed back to Hollywood for a hot dog at the famous Pink's Hot Dog Stand. Apparently it is a celebrity hang out with- yes, valet parking. They had hot dogs named after the celebrities who ordered them and autographed photos all over the walls. It was pretty fun- but we didn't see anyone famous. Oh well.

Finally we were off to Disneyland. We had dinner in Downtown Disney at the Rainforest Cafe (which was SO fun- they have thunderstorms every 15 minutes..... which Emma was not thrilled about). We had a fun dinner- great hot wings- and headed back to the hotel. The girls were very ready to go to Disney, but we had to wait one more night...so we all got to bed early so we could be at the gates when they opened.....but I'll save that for the next blog!! :)

Hollywood!

Our first stop in LA was Hollywood and Highland. It was the day after the Oscars, so it was all still gated off from the red carpet! That made it exciting! In the first picture you can see the curtain still hanging in the entrance to the Kodak Theatre and the giant Oscar still standing there. By the time we left almost all of it had been taken down! We had watched the Oscars so it was like an added bonus to be right there next to the red carpet and inside the hallway entrance to the Kodak!

We walked down to Grauman's Chinese Theatre and looked at all the hand and footprints that are in the foyer there. There were all kinds of people dressed up like characters.....it was kinda shady....especially the giant and sort of dirty Elmo. We kept the kids away. Yes.

They were giving away tickets to some talk show...but we had the kids....so we just hopped back in the car and drove down Sunset Blvd where we passed by The Viper Room, The Whisky (the "dump") :) and The Roxy....all pretty exciting to see after always hearing about.

Next came Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Hotel and Rodeo Drive. We didn't get out....we just drove through. Then we got on some over crowded(!) highway to Redondo Beach where we stayed the night. Todd and I had dinner on the Pier while Fred and Carol watched the kids. Exciting day 1 in LA!

We're back.

Quickly, we had an amazing time in LA and at Disneyland last week. We're back and attempting to get back into the flow of everyday life. I will post some pics of our vacation soon along with some of the highlights of our trip for you all to read when I get a few minutes. Just wanted to let you know we're home safe and sound!