DIsneyland 2025 - Day 1

 Kendra and Hadley came over the day before we left and did Disney nails with the girls in preparation for our trip.  She also helped me figure out our tickets and some last minute details.

Day 1: Travel Day

Day 1 was a travel day.  We meet Grammy at the airport and flew from Eugene to Long Beach with a quick plane change in Sacramento.

The girls were so excited to fly and just took it all in.  They did really great with their backpacks and suitcases and everything.

We started out motivated to get our homework done.

Off We Go!

Maddie

Aubrey

Evie and Hazel

 When we landed in Long Beach I was a little bummed to discover that it was raining but aside from that all went as planned.  The kids were really excited about the palm trees.  Its funny what makes an impression.  Apparently Evie has never seen a palm tree in real life.

We rented cars through Turo which was a new experience for us.  Figuring out how to find and unlock them was a little clunky but not too bad and then it was off to find our condo.  The condo unfortunately was extremely hard to find, especially in the dark.  We did obviously find it eventually, along with the assigned detached garage and parking space.  The parking space was pretty straight forward but the garage was the tiniest garage I've ever seen and the condo was small and a bit worn.  Thankfully we're just sleeping there but it was definitely not as nice as the Funtierland ones we've stayed in in the past.

This is the one we stayed in last time and LOVED!!

After getting our luggage unloaded Brandon and I ran out to grab In-N-Out for everyone and then it was time to unload our grocery delivery and head to bed to rest up for tomorrow.

January 2025

January 2nd

Visiting Daddy

The kids always have a blast visiting Daddy at the office.  So over break we made sure to squeeze in a trip and interrupt his day a bit.  We brought Carl's Jr. and Hawaiian Time and the kids generally caused a ruckus!

January 3rd 

Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses also happened late this year due to illness and just the business of December.  Not sure how to slow things down better.  With such a big family and extended family there is always just a lot going on.

Aubrey

Maddie

January 9-11

Anniversary Trip

This year Brandon and I rented a place in Sisters.  We didn't really have much of a plan other than knowing we wanted to have some down time.  We ended up eating at 3 Creeks Brewery and 10 Barrel, two of our favorites in in the area.   We also went to see Wicked, which neither of us have ever seen, had ice cream at Ben and Jerry's, and played a lot of card games.  We're never quite ready to head home because the change in routine and pace is just so refreshing but we're thankful for this time each year as a couple.

January 15

Packing

We might be just a little bit excited about our trip to Disneyland.  

I've spent a little bit of time making shirts and shopping on Temu and SheIn for cheap Disneyland accessories.

The oldest 3 got suitcases for Christmas and the youngest 4 bought them with birthday money.  They were soooo excited when they arrived the other day!!!

January 19

My Birthday

Brandon bought me the most amazing Skylight calendar for my birthday this year.  Its a calendar and a chore chart and a reward system and a meal planner all in one.  AMAZING!!!!  He spoils me!

Wyatt's 14th Birthday

Happy Birthday Wyatt

We decided to change up the birthday routine after the kids turn 13. Before that we always do a family birthday with all the cousins which is quite a group but it's a lot of birthdays for the family and the kids often want friends which I usually say no to.  So we kind of decided to make a change and after 13 we decided year to year what they want to do.  This year Wyatt requested to have 3 friends from youth group over (Charger, Titus, and Linden) to play airsoft out in the pasture and sleep over since his birthday was on a Thursday and there happened to be no school on Friday.  So that is what we did.

Opening his new airsoft gun.

Cooper also purchased one so that he could join in the fun.

Safety First!

Night Games

Boys being boys.  Funny how they grow and you can look at them one minute and be so sad that they're taller than you and growing up so fast and then the next minute be rolling your eyes and laughing at how completely ridiculous they still are.  Boys really are so fun!

Happy Birthday Wyatt!!!  So proud of the young man you are becoming.  You love the Lord and your friends and your family.  You continue to carry a kind and compassionate heart and we just couldn't love you more!