The Therrible Three's

Happy Birthday to Malia!  She is soooo easy to buy for these days.  If it's frilly, pretty, or girly in any way it's just her style.  Speaking of style..........

STYLE should have been her middle name!  She looks ready for anything.

Nothing like having your best friend help you learn how to ride a bike!

And she's off!  She was extremely excited as you can see by her face.  She caught on after just a few passes up and down the side walk.

I found this, and many others like it, later as I was going through the camera.  Didn't know she knew how to do this.  If she ever signs up for an online dating service, this it the picture for her!

And wonderful, vigilant Riley helping his sister learn to ride, and sticking by her in case she falls.  He is so sweet!  

April 2012

I love April!  I enjoy when it rains, because I love my plants and I love how clean it makes everything look.  Here's a few pictures of life for us this April.

 Frequently Ben will do this after Malia's bath.  She gets the royal treatment from her Dad!  I thought it was so cute/funny when he started doing this.

Easter dress...one of several courtesy of Grandma Blacker.

Riley didn't want their to be any misunderstandings between him and the tooth fairy.  He did his part, now do yours tooth fairy!

We are up on top of a hill/mountain nearby.  It was difficult for Malia to get up and down.  It's hard enough for an adult, let alone with a two year old holding desperately onto one arm!  But I love this picture!

I was able to see my Grandparents in early April during a visit to see my Mom.  My Grandma is a wonderful dog trainer.  Her dog Skye is such a cool border Collie!  She is very loved, and the dog too :)

Do I think I'm a flamingo?  I don't remember putting one leg up.  Anyway, me with my Grandparents.

My Mom playing her piano.  This piano was my Great-grandma's.  It is a beauty, but also a beast with how heavy and akward it is to move.  And we get to move it in 2 months!

My Mom will probably kill me for putting this pic on, but I couldn't resist playing with her neck.  She really doesn't look like this, but you can't deny she is happy.

Awwwww.........Easter candy!  Now WHY do we give chocolate bunnies and such on Easter???

One of my new favorite things:  Day Camping!  It's camping without all the crap.  Just food stuff and fire stuff, and then after a few hours you get to go home and have comfort.

I can't remember what I bribed them with, but I definately bribed them for this pic!  But I need at least one pic of my kids hugging.

Riley is an expert marshmallow roaster.  Malia is roasting her marshmallow too, although without a long stick I don't know how she'll do :)

I had a nice visit with my dear Jr. High-and-beyond friend, Heidi.  It was so great to see her and catch up.  She lives in California!

March 2012

Happy 11th anniversary to us!  We went extremely low key with cake and a nice kid-free (thanks to Dad and Laurie) night at home watching movies.  Relaxing with my honey, whether it is in Hawaii like last year or home this year, is so fun.  Okay I admit, Hawaii is more fun.

 I don't think the kids got too much snow time this year because I don't remember having to dry wet snow clothes more than a few times.  Bad parents or no snow?  I don't remember!  And I think we only shoveled our driveway once or twice.  Lazy or no snow?

 My brother Ben enjoys torturing Malia, and she feels the same.  They love a good wrestle.

 Malia smiling very sweetly, and my Dad looks extremely happy :)

 It's fun to stand on your uncle!!!  This is Sam.

A quick show off of my husbands great work.  I will encourage him to forever stay at his job because he gets to do special things like this!

Disneyland!

Yes we really did it!  We went to Disneyland the last week of February and it was a great experience.  I don't know if I'd call it the HAPPIEST place on earth, but that is because even while in Disneyland children still tend to whine, complain of hunger, and need frequent potty breaks.  But sitting on the rides next to my kids was really, really fun.  Except It's a Small World.  That ride is extremely annoying and creepy.  It also rained most of one of the days, and I never expected to be cold and wet at Disneyland.  But enough of that. All in all.........FUN!

This was SUCH a fun little studio we stayed in.  It had a little kitchen too.

One thing about going in February....it's still a little chilly, although not freezing like in Utah.  So getting into the pool was brave, but once in it wasn't too bad.

Sacked out after a long day.  I loved that part of the day, when the kids were sacked out :)

Spent a day at the beach.  Again, a little chilly but the kids first time so very fun!

 No amount of cold could keep Malia out of her bikini!

 Riley had one focus: collect seashells, no matter how big or small, and broken was okay by him :)

 
A little cold Malia?

We saw a sea lion in the water near the end of this pier.  It kept popping out of the water and "barking" at us!

I really appreciated when the long lines for rides at least had some entertaining aspects to help distract kids.

 I took this before the kids woke up for the day.  They are spooning!  They would never knowingly do this :)

Ben is showing off Malia's "cheater" shoes we put on her whenever we wanted to go on one of the rides she was an inch too short for.  She hated those shoes, they were to small, but the big heels plus the little foam inserts I put in helped her pass the height test.  Unfortunately they gave her a blister and then we paid the price for our sneaky ways.  But seeing her excitement on Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain was WELL worth it!

 In line for space mountain.

 Can't go to Disneyland without the classic castle picture.

Malia finding ways to stay entertained in line.

 My two guys.  Two very masculine males....sitting in a teacup.

I wish my camera had captured this better.  It was a night time parade, and like everything at Disney it was very cool.

Finally home.  The least fun part!  For the last 40 miles or so we drove through a TERRIBLE snow storm.  It was not awesome.