The big "D"

Allison has been earning stickers to go to Disneyland. After days of telling Allison, "We need to make you a sticker chart so you can earn your way to Disneyland," I finally just grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled some things she could do to earn stickers....here are the results!

Dan and I had to talk in "code" for weeks. We tried to go a few weeks ago but Cole got pink eye. Then I got sick. So Dan and I kept planning a day when we could go to the big "D" as we called it. I'm sure she'll figure that one out pretty soon. After Dan had his last day at Innovative, we decided it was a perfect time to go! And best of all---it was nearly business-call free!!!!! YAY!
Here is Allison before getting her first season pass picture!
More photography by Allison...
We went on Wednesday which was PERFECT weather! I was really excited because Allison is finally 40 inches which means she can go on most of the bigger rides now! But of course when I tried to take her on one...Star Tours....she was afraid to even stand in line with R2D2 and C3PO talking to her. So we tried the "boat ride" instead--I told her there were bunnies on it!
Here's us before the big drop!
She was scared a few times especially in the end where she tucked her head in my armpit. But she was sooo excited afterward that she went on the big ride and according to her "We got dripping wet!"
Other shots you've seen a million times over-

When I grow up....

I think Allison is going to be a photographer as she grows up. She loves to take pictures and she's pretty good at it! Here's some of her work...

Last Saturday as we were running errands together, we came across this little safety fair and decided to check it out. While Dan took Cole up to drive a firetruck, I was taking their picture, and I lost Allison. Not for long-she pretty much ran for her life because she didn't want to go in the fire truck. About 6 firemen pointed the way to find her. She was terrified. Maybe Cole will be a fireman when he grows up!



Also, Allison has been practicing writing her letters and she has discovered how to write an "A"! They usually end up sideways or upside down but she is so proud of herself every time!

Farewell...

For those of you who haven't heard yet, as of today, Dan has officially closed the chapter to his 6+ year career at Innovative Communities and has started a new company with Andrew called Pacific West Development. We have had a whirlwind of weeks where Dan passed his General Contractor's license as well as his brokers license exams within a week of each other. He is looking forward to taking a little breather while he waits for his GC's license to arrive. He had a ridiculous amount of PTO which means he hardly took any time off from work over the last few years....so we're making him come with us to Disneyland next week and we're trying to sneak in a trip just me and him to Hawaii before the madness starts.
It was difficult to see my husband come home dragging every night and dreading his work week every Sunday night. Since his interest in starting his own company, Dan has had an energy and enthusiasm that I have missed. It has been amazing to see the Lord's hand in this transition. It started with an idea and doors have been flying open left and right to move it along. Dan completely leaves it to divine intervention to have passed those two exams on the first try and so close together. Although it will be a challenge, we're excited to try something new and allow Dan to fulfill a dream of his to work for himself!! Shannon and I are glad we're able to go through this change together! It's a little more reassuring when you're not alone in such a huge transition in your life!
Here goes nuthin'.....wish us luck!!!!!!

"Preschool"

a.k.a. "book and craft group" a.k.a. structured playgroup :)
Love love love having "preschool." Allison loves going...but with Ruth's kids gone, we went from 5 to three. The girls seem to still have a great time. I love when she comes home with little things she's done. This week, they learned about their 5 senses. Liane got a book about it from Susie and did the cutest things with them to teach it to them. It was a lot more of what I was hoping this little group would be. Emma, Olivia, and Allison are all a little over 3 and they are really enjoying going to each persons' house each week. I think Isaac will be joining us this summer...Jake? Wanna come to summer school? It would be nice to get some boys in the group and have more than 3 mom's rotating. We start at 10am and go until 12:30pm and feed the kiddies lunch at the end.

I was going to put Allison in a paid preschool next year but with our current situation, I've decided to try and save that money this year and do joyschool. Liane and I were talking about doing it together next year... and I think Susie is going to start her own preschool...which I think she'll really do great at since she is a teacher. But again I want to save money and I'm having a hard time finding others who want to do it. Joyschool is mostly focused on values like obedience and honesty which typically isn't something that is focused on in regular preschool...but I want to add a more academic portion to it. I've talked to a girl in another ward about joining her group she does but if enough people were interested, I would just do our own group. Problem is, most of the older kids around Allison's age are going to preschool already. Anyone interested or know someone who is??

Feeling crafty?

...well, I have been. Here's some of the latest:
I made a wreath for my mom for her birthday...well, I didn't make the actual wreath part, I just added the flowers and shtuff on it.

I sewed this cute crayon holder Shannon told me about. I got the material yesterday and sat down to make it while my kids both took naps. I'll say I was quite pleased with my first attempt...even if it is a 15 instead of 16 crayon holder...and the ribbon was inserted inside out...oops.

And last- block letters for Cole's room. Just like with Allison's letters, Dan used the scroll saw to cut them out for me after me pestering him for a while and then I just let them sit there for months. I finally painted them blue but decided it was a little too plain. (The car is just a weight since the "C" is unbalanced.)
Hmm....what do you think if I covered the front with cute printed paper? Here's the pattern on the "C"

and the "l"

I didn't attach the paper yet--just wanted to get an idea for what might look better. Any ideas? Paper, no paper?

Happy Mother's Day to me :)

I was thinking yesterday, " Yes! Mother's Day tomorrow means sleeping in, and being "of-duty" I can't wait." Then I realized, wait a second.... Dan gets up with Allison almost every morning so I can sleep in until he goes to work...AND he comes home and helps out sooo much with everything that EVERYDAY feels like Mother's Day with a husband like him! I know the "off-duty" part obviously isn't a daily occurrence but let's face it, it doesn't happen ON Mother's Day either. So as I was thinking this the other day I started thinking of all the many things Dan does for me and how he is such an amazing husband and father...and then today, he decides to essentially do the same but in writing--about me!!! All day today I stumbled on little notes around the house... taped on the computer "I love you because you pay the bills...and keep the budget"... on the bookshelf..."I love you because you read to our children...on the dresser..."I love you because you dress classy"....on the mirror..."I love you because you are beautiful"...and on and on...he says he made 25 and he expects me to encounter them hidden in different places throughout the week. How sweet is that! He really is the greatest and I'm so glad to be able to raise our kids with him. He constantly tells me what a great mom I am... most especially when I'm feeling down about not being great at it. I'm the luckiest mom/wife in the world!

That's not all...I have the greatest mom in the world too. My mom has taught me soo much over the years and always instilled confidence in me from a young age to become independent. She is so easy-going and happy, and as a mom she is always in "teaching mode." I don't know how she does it. To me it seems exhausting teaching a 3 and 1 year old the things they need to know but to my mom it comes easy. My kids gain so much from being around her and learning from her. I'm am so grateful that I can call her whenever I have a dilemma or I need her help with a tough parenting situation. She always reminds me of the principles she has learned that work like magic! I love being an adult now and having our relationship transform into a friendship. It's amazing how becoming a mom yourself opens your eyes to the countless sacrifices that your own mom went through--and still goes through. It sure magnifies the love I have for her and helps me to comprehend a little better the love she has for me. I love you mom and hope to be as good a mom for my kids as you have been for me!

The Wedding!

April Fisher...soon to be April Alexander!

I was able to help throw a bridal shower for one of by best friends, April Fisher. We had it at my parents' house and can you believe we fit 30 people in their family room! It was a moment in history! It is exciting to share such a cool time of life with my good friend.

Here are all the fisher girls!!

April's oldest sister, Amy did a great game where we saw how much April knew about her hubby -to-be. She asked April questions and if she got is right, she got a lay (she lives in Hawaii) and if she got it wrong, we got to tie a pipe cleaner to her somewhere. In the end, the Lays meant how blessed she would be in her marriage and the ties meant how many kids they would have! I think we counted 9--the number of kids in her future hubby's family!





April's sisters, Leah and Laura made these divine cupcakes...we each had to try every kind of course!


The future in-laws....sweet family.
Some favorite gifts--a cute apron--April has great talent in the kitchen--she's ahospitality management major.
And our friend Amanda drove 6 hours from Arizona with her two kids just to be here for April and she put this together--we all wanted one!

I had the opportunity to go with April through the temple for her first time and it really was a great experience. April--you are an amazing woman and I'm so excited that you have found the love of your life! You'll be a fantastic wife and whopefully one day soon :) a great mother! Good luck on wedding day!!!

Summer Summer Summertime!

Ok maybe not quite yet but it felt like it last Saturday so we called up the Dixons to join us at the pool! The kids had a great time especially because their daddy played with them in the pool almost the whole time. It was nice to enjoy the sun!

As if he hadn't had enough...

Right after we got back from Utah, we headed back down to SD for a kids music class and then a padres game later than night. In between we had some time to kill so Grandpa came with us to the park...I was surprised he wanted to join us after enduring the long trip last week :) Not to mention that our coming to visit meant him stopping whatever he had planned for the day. My parents are really great that way though and they welcome the interruptions when it's their grandkids!