California Trip!

We just got back from a family trip to California! Brock had been preparing Annabelle for practically a year for Splash Mountain at Disneyland. He would throw her up in the air, watch videos of it, and constantly be saying SPLASH MOUNTAIN! So when the time came that we Finally left we were really excited! Annabelle for the past year has been saying we're going to disneyland! we had to tell her we're going in the summer, then when summer came, we're going in August. Lily flew with my parents since she flies for free right now. They said she did really well. Annabelle, Brock, and I drove to st. george, then the next morning drove the rest of the way to San Diego. We stayed a few nights with Scott & Jill and went to Sea World. The girls loved it! Annabelle says her favorite was the Dolphins. Lily loved the whales. My favorite part was the Dolphin show and seeing the dolphins at Dolphin Point. I think Brock's favorite part was seeing the Killer Whales in the under water viewing area. I think we wore out my parents that day because we couldn't take a break. Lily got exhausted by about 3pm and fell asleep in her stroller. Monday we went to Sea World again because we had a free ticket. It was fun to see more of the exhibits. Annabelle thought the girl performing at the Dolphin show was a princess that had taken off her dress. Lily was so excited to see Elmo.

Monday night we drove to Anaheim, we were crammed with all of us in the car but we made it and got unpacked. The girls went swimming in the pool with Brock while my mom and I got some groceries. We got lost with the GPS and ended up at a Mall instead of grocery store...which would have been great if we weren't so tired. Next our GPS took us to a Spanish store, my mom said I fit in well but she didnt think she did haha. Everything was in Spanish so it came in handy to have my rusty spanish speaking skills.

Tuesday we went to California Adventure! We had a magic morning so we started at Disneyland, we thought magic morning started at 7am, come to find out the summer hours were done so it started at 8am, however with the buses not running on time we ended up being there in perfect time for the 8am. The girls' first ride was the buzz light year ride. After Brock took Annabelle to the bathroom and she said loudly, "I want to go kill some more guys!" Brock said, "you mean you want to play the buzz light year game again and shoot the bad guys..." haha probably didnt sound too good in a bathroom. We had a lot of fun in the Bugs Land and Cars Land. My favorite ride would have to be the cars speed racers. We at lunch at Ariel's Grotto and got to see Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, and Princess Minnie Mouse. The Girls loved it, but I've never seen Lily look as excited as she did when she saw Minnie.

Wednesday Annabelle wore her Elsa Dress but we couldn't get Lily to wear the Anna Dress. Brock and I took turns standing in the 2 hour line for elsa & Anna. It took forever, but in the end it was worth it to see the girls reactions. They were so Happy. Annabelle was smitten, and Lily just kept saying "It's Anna, It's Anna!"
Annabelle's favorite ride of course ended up being Splash Mountain! She wanted to ride it again...too bad the lines are so long. She also loved Thunder Mountain Railroad. Lily's favorite ride by far was the Carousel. She rode it at least 8 times. They also loved the Ariel ride.

Thursday we slept in and went to the beach. For dinner we celebrated my birthday and my dad's birthday at the Rainforest Cafe. Sooooo good!

Friday we did another day at Disney and California Adventure, My parents took the girls home early---they were kinda grumpy, and Brock and I got to enjoy some time together. We saw the World of Color show....so awesome!

Annabelle is on this ride behind the guy in the red shirt, this is splash mountain

Both Annabelle and I were excited to see Merida :)

our stylish girls

Date night at Disneyland...kid free

World of Color Show

Saturday we were soooo tired, but we went to Universal Studios because we already had the ticket from the City Pass. We went on the Minion ride which Annabelle loved. The lines were so long, and it was really hot. At about 4 we left to drive to st. george. and then home. Happy to be home, but it was an awesome vacation!

Fireworks at Grandma & Grandpas

Brushing goats at the zoo

Lily & Ellie

Annabelle & Will taking a ride on the tiger

Lily & this penguin had a connection 

Annabelle loves climbing on the rocks

Their conversation was "my sissy...no my sissy...no my sissy" yep you're both right :)

Jeff, Dad, Amy, Gpa Richmond, Travis, Jessica, & Jeff, My Dad, His Dad, and his brothers! Richmond Reunion

Harley and Annabelle at the Reunion

Playing together, I love seeing how Annabelle is going to dress herself each day...she is very determined to dress herself

Miss Happy Pants!

Lily in luxury

Annabelle playing on the swing set

Lily can climb up the ladder and go down the slide all by herself

We went out to shoot our bows, the girls loved playing in the dirt

Annabelle LOVES hiking! so Brock climbed some rocks with her, she has no fear and was so excited to jump off the rocks

Brock, Annabelle, her cousin Harley, and uncle Jeff

We had tin foil dinners and banana boats, so good!

Lily found some soda

Me and Annabelle

So excited to color Easter Eggs

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Coloring Eggs at Grammy and Papa Richmonds

Girls in their Easter Dresses

Coloring Easter Eggs at Grandma and Papa Searles with cousin Will

Oregon Trip!

So I randomly made the decision to go to oregon with my sister-in-law Alicia to go to her sisters wedding. Brock is in Tax Season, so we don't see him hardly at all. I didn't have any other plans so why not? We had such a blast and Alicia's family is amazing! We took the kids to the beach and there was a lady feeding the squirrels peanuts. She let all the kids take turns and they LOVED it! 

Lily feeding the squirrels

Annabelle had to learn that she shouldn't chase them with the peanuts, they would come to her if she was still and quiet

We toured the Tillamook Cheese Factory

Our beach day was beautiful! sunny, no wind, it was pretty much a miracle for oregon

Annabelle loved playing in the sand with Clair

She also got soaking wet running through the creek that went to the ocean

 Annabelle recently started gymnastics. We started out in a mommy and me class, I was worried she wouldn't like her guy coach, but we learned that "Dave is Nice." now she loves it, she mostly loves the trampoline, I'm not sure how much she likes the other stuff. however I think she loves being able to run around and burn energy.

She does so good on the balance beams

Now that she has gotten used to her coach she was moved up to the flippers class of 3 and 4 year olds. last week was her first time, she did really good! I don't know if she will end up loving gymnastics, but we just want her to experience some different things so she can find what she loves. That is something I want for my kids is that they each have some activity that gets them active. Lily always wants to do what her big sister does and while Annabelle is in Gymnastics lily has to sit on this fence and she jumps and gets so excited about everything Annabelle does.