DISNEYLAND!

So, for the second part of our vacation we headed up to Anaheim for Brooke and Brayden's first trip to Disneyland!! I honestly wasn't sure what to expect taking an almost 3 year old and almost 1 year old, but the kids were AMAZING!! This was such a great age to take them! Brooke loved EVERYTHING and Brayden loved just being outside and slept a lot, haha! We had originally planned to go down in September, for our birthday month (Brayden's is 9/9, mine is 9/22 and Brooke's is 9/23) but when we found out that Drew and Chelsea's wedding was the first week of August, we decided to move our trip up a month so we could go to the wedding too! We had already told Brooke we were going to Disneyland for her birthday, so everytime we said we were going she said, "ya, for my birthday". So even though it was a month early, we celebrated her birthday. Disneyland gives you pins if you are celebrating something, so they gave Brooke (and Brayden) "It's my birthday" pins and wrote their names on them. So when you wear a pin ANYONE that works at Disneyland says, "Happy Birthday". Brooke LOVED it!!! She got a ton of special attention! I have saved a special experience that we had for my next post, but I will give you a hint...it involves PRINCESSES!! :) We had such an amazing trip, and of course, took sooo many pictures!

Hugging her Mickey and Minnie on our way there!

Just a little excited!!

Waiting for the Parade!

Unsure??

Even people in the parade said Happy Birthday to her! She waved the entire time!

Brayden enjoyed the parade too...I think :)

She loved that the Princesses blew her kisses and waved to her :)

She loved the castle and I think we went through it and read the Sleeping Beauty story 5 times while we were there!

DUMBO (which Brooke calls Gumbo)!

One of the ladies that was working the ride took the individual pictures of us and was so sweet. We saw her again later that night when we were about to get in line for Alice and Wonderland. She recognized us and told us to follow her. She took us through the exit so we could walk right on to the ride and not wait in line! She said she wanted to do that for us because we just seemed like a sweet family and our kids were super cute! She saved us a 35 minute wait, which was AWESOME!

Buzz Lightyear ride!

Family Picture on Pirates with Brayden sleeping!

The Second Day: We bought Brooke a Belle dress before we left (that is her favorite Princess right now) so we let her wear it for our full day in the park.

The new Little Mermaid ride in California Adventure! SO cute!

Monster's Inc. ride!

Meeting Buzz and Woody! She loves the Pixar movies so it was so fun to watch her get to meet them. Brayden just stared at them, but didn't want to touch them, or get too close.

This little cutie turned 11 months old when we were there! He isn't in as many pictures as Brooke because he slept a lot, but this was one of my favorites. I love this sweet little face!

We played some games and won some prizes!

OUT!! She slept for over an hour like that!

Small World! Brayden sleeping again!

Brooke really like Small World and at one point she saw 2 girls by themselves and said, "Look mom, it's me and Makayla (her little bestie from home)" So cute!

NEMO!

Meeting Mickey!

Brooke kept asking to ride the roller coaster and the carousel the entire time we were there. She wasn't tall enough for either. Apparently the kid rides weren't enough of a thrill for her ;)

World of Color

The first night we watched Fantasmic and the Fireworks show in Disneyland and the second night we watch World of Color. Both shows were amazing! I think Brooke liked Fantasmic more because the characters come out.

It was such a wonderful trip and best of all, the kids were free! haha! Seriously though, even if the kids don't remember much, we have tons of pictures, obviously. It was such a great time for us as a family and Tim and I will remember it forever!

Drew and Chelsea

The first year that Tim was a youth pastor up here, we had a couple of students who had just started dating, Chris and Brenda, and Drew and Chelsea. Last summer we had the privilege of seeing Chris and Brenda get married! This summer it was Drew and Chelsea's turn!

They got married right on the beach in Coronado! It was beautiful!!

Tim, Chris, Berto and Drew

Me, Chelsea, Candice and Brenda

Candice and meCongratulations! We love you guys!

Vacation

The first week of August we headed down to San Diego for VACATION! I LOVE vacation! I know that sounds silly, because who doesn't, but I really LOVE LOVE LOVE vacation! I love the quality time with just the 4 of us. I love visiting family and friends. I love new adventures and watching my kids experience new things. No work. No one else's agenda. Just doing what we love...being together.

We went to Seaport Village on an absolutely beautiful day!

Brooke in front of the fountain. She kept asking me for "cossing coins" which apparently she thinks is what you call coins that you "toss" in the fountain.

Nana and Brayden

Brooke and daddy on the carousel

lunch time

me and the babies

We stayed at our friends, Nick and Katrina's house. Baby Nicanor and Brayden are less than 6 months apart and are destined to be BFF's.

Brayden was trying to play...

hugs!

Mission Beach

We went on some rides at Belmont Park

Brooke just wanted to look at herself in the mirror the whole time

We thought all the kids rides would be fun for Brookie, but all she wanted to do was go on the rollercoaster. She wasn't tall enough...maybe next year Brookie girl.

We went to Luigi's and we each got a giant slice of pizza!

except for Brayden, of course, but he thought my piece was for him!

get it!

This was at Crown Point

my sweet girl

me and the boy!

We were able to do so much on our vacation, it is too much for one post. We went to a wedding, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. I'll post those soon! (hopefully!) :)

Brooke-isms

Brooke started talking around 11-12 months (saying words like mama, dada, ball etc...). Then around 18-19 months, she went from saying words to complete sentences, in what seemed like, overnight. She says words and talks about topics that sound so funny coming from her cute little toddler self. I have been writing them down (and posting some favorites on facebook). My paper is full so it is now time for, what I'm sure will be the first of many, Brooke-ism posts.

me: Brooke, would you like water or milk?

B: I'll have water and milk.

me: no, you can't have both. Would you like water or milk?

B: water and milk.

me: Brooke, you have to choose one or the other

B: I'll have the other

While we were potty training she came in, while I was using the bathroom and said, "mommy, I'm so proud of you!"

B: Mommy, do you have some cash?

me: (after laughing) no Brooke

B: does Daddy have cash?

me: I don't know, what do you need cash for?

B: I need to ride Snoopy

-there are some little snoopy rides you pay a quarter to ride on and she loves them!

"I just don't get my life."

"Mommy, I'm so happy daddy married you!" -me too Brookie!

me: Brooke hop in the bath

B: I don't know how to hop

B: mom, can I have some fruit snacks?

me: sure babe.

B: I can count on you mom!

after drinking some cold water: "ahhh, this is so refreshing! Mom, what does refreshing mean?"

ANYTIME my hair is up: "mom, I don't like your hair like that." -opinionated much?

"I want to go to Chuck E Cheesus."

while in the car, "mom, what is going on with my finger? It is freaking me out!"

looking at a receipt, she shows it to me and says, "this is my education" -what???

"apples make my tummy happy"

holding a handful of change, "here daddy, I'm going to help pay for college."

B: That was my butt.

Tim: did you fart

B: yep

as she closed the door shutting Brayden in the room by himself, "Brayden just needs some alone time."

looking at the mud on her shoes, "mommy, what is this crap?"

me: Brooke would you like a nutrigrain bar?

B: is it squished?

me: just a little, do you want it?

B: ummm...no thanks

while I was getting her dresses for gymnastics and she was just laying there as I dressed her, "mom, I'm essausted."

Brooke was watching a show and all of a sudden, from the other room, Tim and I hear, "awwww man! This is SO not my show"

after we put her to bed one night, she came out and said, "sleeping is not easy."

At church I picked Brooke up and started running to get back to the sanctuary to make sure I did not miss Tim preaching, Brooke says, "mom, you are making me nervous!"

"mom, I'm not happy about it." - I don't even remember why she said this...she is seriously so dramatic.

"I am Belle and you can be the Beast" - thanks.

Tim: Brooke, who do you love more, Mommy or Daddy?

Brooke: Makayla

-Makayla is Brooke's BFF. They are inseperable. (she is on the right)

B: I really want to get married

me: (after laughing) why Brooke?

B: because I really want to get some flowers

and my favorite:

"I don't eat things with a face" -she refused to eat chicken one night and steak the next, and said this to us both times. We told her she had to eat it...I might feel bad about this one later if she decides to be a vegetarian!

My funny girl!! She keeps us on our toes and we love her sooo much!!

10 months

This handsome boy is 10 months old!!

I just love everything about him!