Disneyland 2017

I cannot get over the fact that February is almost over.

WHERE or where did this month {or last month, for that matter!} go?

I feel like we've been gone so much this year, but I'm not complaining.

We have been having a ball!

Our Christmas present from Geri this year was a trip to Disney.

And we didn't have to wait long to go as it was scheduled for January!

It rained a CRAZY amount our first day at the park.
Just walking *to* the park, we got soaked.
So our first stop was to purchase ponchos.

We braved a few rides,

Then it was on to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

Sierra is too old for the salon now :(  But Kenners, Kam, and Tay all had appointments.
This mama was relieved to be inside for a bit, and out of the downpour.
We left the park, and headed back to the house that afternoon so that we could dry out a bit.
And off we went in search of a store that carried any sort of rain gear.
An umbrella, Rain boots? More ponchos?
But no such luck.
We even encountered signs on store windows that read:
NO RAINBOOTS.
Lol!
I guess we brought the rain with us to California.

Day 2 was much drier!

And we were much comfier.

Yeah.

This pretty much sums up how happy we were to see a little blue sky.

We got to take in the electrical parade.
It was such fun!

And, of course, it was a must to meet up with some princesses.

I think these swings were everyone's favorites.

And I was thanking my lucky stars that no one talked me into going on this.
Jeremy, Sierra, Kam, and Tay hopped on
{Kenners and I knew better!},
and Sierra reported that I most definitely would've gotten sick.
No thank ya.


What precious memories we made.
And now . . . we're ready to go back!

Forgetful

 I don't have much of a brain anymore.
Motherhood has fried it.
{And I do mean that in the sweetest way possible, because I really would not trade it for anything in the world}.

All this time I thought I'd blogged our recent trip to the beach, yet, no.
These photos have just been chillin' out in my folder waiting for a blog post of their very own.

So here goes.

Earlier this month we went to the beach.
Friends of ours joke with us that we oughta just buy ourselves a beach house since we travel there often enough.

And if we had a million dollars just sitting around, I think we'd do it!
We love it so.

We are super blessed by family friends who share their beach house with us at least once a year.

It is the cutest house.
In the most adorable neighborhood.
Just a couple blocks from the beach.

We settle right in, make ourselves comfy,
 

and set right to work playing games.
Especially if it's just us girly girls.
And it was, that first night.

 

 

The next day, Daddy joined us.
We had beautiful weather, so we walked around downtown, and grabbed some lunch.
 

 

Then, of course, it was off to the beach.
 

Jeremy and the girls dipped their toes in, then he motioned for me to come on over so that I could "get some photographs". Only, he took my camera while the girls took my hands and begged me to get in because "it's not very cold at all, Mama".

 

 

Yeah. Right.
My toes about froze off, but not before Jeremy grabbed a shot. Normally I don't hand off my camera.  But I'm grateful for the moments I do.  Otherwise, one day, my children will be looking through photo books, wondering if they *had* a mom.
 

So, then it got crazy. 
Girls plopped right down in the water {or . . . were shoved?}, and I skidaddled right out of there. Because, no. 
No to being a popsicle for the rest of the day.

Later that evening, Grandma and Grandpa joined us.
After a dinner of oysters and barbecued chicken, we hit the beach again.

 

  

We found some gorgeous shells, and Sis found the tiniest, most perfect sand dollar ever!

 

Tay . . .  found a stick.
She kept drawing a "trail" in the sand that she wanted me to follow, so I did.

On our way back up to the car, I had to follow every inch of that trail.
When I stopped for a second to snap a photo, she asked why, and I told her: because one day, many years from now, when you're all grown, we'll look back on this photo and remember our beach trip, the found stick, and all the trails you made Mama follow.  At that, she burst into tears, sobbing that she didn't want to grow up.  She wanted to stay with me forever.
And I'm pretty okay with that ;)

After a few hugs, she proceeded with the trails.

 

 

Then we stopped for a sunset pic:
 

 

And we got tired, so Daddy carried.
 

{Then we got back to the car, and found out that the car keys that had been in my sweatshirt pocket were no longer there.  They were somewhere on.the.beach. 
See above for reference to lack of brain.  Sigh.  Luckily they were found almost immediately, and back to the beach house we went}.

The next morning Jeremy had to go to work, so it was just us girls again.
Grandma and Grandpa hung around in the morning, and took us on a walk:

 

{This is in front of the condos we stay in every February with my parents}.

Then it was off to a very yummy breakfast.

We said our goodbyes, and enjoyed the beach the rest of the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And Tay pointed the way home ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To The Beach We Go! Part 1

 

I want to continue chit-chatting about photo organization ~ especially since I've received some questions that need answering.  BUT, I have to cut in with some photos from our recent beach trip.

The beach just seems like home to us ~ it is one of our most favorite places to be.

So when Jeremy had to head over for a conference, us girlies jumped at the chance to tag along.

We even packed a dear friend ~Sissy's bestie who was visiting all the way from Kansas ♥  

 

 

Practically the second we spied the beach, we just had to feel that sand between our toes . . .
 

Then things got crazy:

 

 

These are some happy girly girls!
 

 

Tay is forever searching for treasures.
I can't tell you how many of these shells we came home with . . . I lost count at 3,792.
 

 

 

 After all that salty sea air, we had worked up an appetite!
Typically we stay in Seaside, but Jeremy's conference was at Salishan ~ a resort a few miles outside of Lincoln City.

What a treat! 
We don't make it to Lincoln City very often.
{Fun fact: Jeremy and I got engaged in Lincoln City over 13 years ago. Awwwww}

Jeremy's favorite restaurant, Kyllos, was an absolute must, as it had been years since we'd last visited.
 

 

The girls thought it was particularly great as we got to look out over the ocean as we enjoyed our meal.

And Tay loved mixing her ketchup and tartar sauce together . . .
Hey, whatever keeps a 3 year old quiet and occupied!

 

 

 

 

 

 After dinner, we went for a drive down the coast, and stopped to take in some beautiful scenery.

 

 

 

 

And then back to the hotel we went to rest up for the day ahead!


What have y'all been up to?
Tell me about your favorite vacation spot! 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Away

I realize I'm a terrible blogger.
I'm making peace with that.
There is so much going on around here, just in our day to day, that there simply isn't time.

But I had to check in because . . .
Jeremy and I got away.
Overnight.
Without children.
Pretty much for the first time in eleven years.

Jeremy had a conference to attend in Tahoe, so away we went!

 

 

It was gorgeous.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Chilly.
But gorgeous.

Look at these colors!
Try as I might, I couldn't quite capture the beauty.
But I definitely tried.
 

 

 

We had a fabulous time.
I missed my girls big time.
And we texted approximately 5,872 times in the little more than 48 hours we were gone . . .
 

 

But it was wonderful to have some alone time with my gorgeous hubs!

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Bound

Oh how I love the beach.
It is one of my most favorite places.
So when Nana and Gramps asked if we'd like to take a little beach vacay,
we were like, "Oh, okay.  Twist our arms".



We always start out the trip with a stop at Camp 18 for lunch.
There were THREE precious kitties runnin' the place, and Tay was thrilled.
"KITTY!"
She'd point, and shriek, and chase those poor little furry lovies.
 

I mean, is he gorgeous, or what?
But not quite as thrilled with Taylor as she was with him ;)
 

The group shot, of course.
 

My same little group, in the same little spot a year and a half ago . . .



As soon as we got into town we headed for the sand.
And Miss Tay found more animals to love on . . .
 

Kam was content to stick her toes in the sand.
 

I was content to snap some photos.
 

 

And Sissy and Kenners had a ball on the beach bikes.



 After three days of fun in the sand, we were happy to head home.
{Well, most of us.  Kam would have moved into the condo permanently if we'd let her}.
 

 

 

 Thanks so much, Nana and Grandpa!