DISNEYLAND

We didn't just drop off the planet, nope, we were at Disneyland for the past week. We really needed a break from the snow so away we went to sunnier places. As far as weather goes, it was perfect. This was our first time at Disneyland and it was wonderful. We've been to Disney World in Orlando about a year and a half ago, so our expectations were high. It was just as magical.

Julianne absolutely hated the characters. I wish I had gotten a picture of her standing off to the side. Jesse was the first one we saw at the park and you would have thought she was going to eat Sophia alive the way Julianne acted. She was screaming at the top of her lungs and stamping her feet. Miguel was off riding Soarin with Gabriela and I had the two little ones. Once Jesse left, she was fine, but wouldn't you know it, Woody comes passing by and she flipped out again.

I took the girls on Toy Story Mania by myself and this is how they thought they should were their glasses.

Carousells were a huge hit with my girls. Definately Julianne's favorite. She would scream everytime she had to get off.

Minnie Mouse was a family favorite. Julianne is obviously missing but everytime we saw her she would yell her name and point. I was hoping to try again on the last day at the park but never did. We'll just have to wait till next time.

If I had to describe this trip for the older girls, it would be a performing trip. It seemed like everytime I turned around, they were on stage. Here they got in on a toe tappin' jamboree with Princess Tiana and her New Orleans street band. Gabriela was hamming it up.

The haunted mansion but Julianne to sleep. She went in awake, and came out like this. So while she rested the gang enjoyed Mickey Mouse ice cream

The next day we drove out to the Santa Monica Pier and met up with Miguel's sister and her girls. I think the girls were more excited about this than Disneyland. It was an overcasted day, but not too cold. We ate lunch together and then let the girls go at the beach. THEY LOVED IT!!! I think they like that they could play and the adults weren't on top of them telling them what to do. We were totally unprepared, because we didn't think they would really play in the water. Well, we were wrong. By the end they all were in their shirts and underwear.

I have much better pictures than these at the beach, but I can't seem to get them to load. Maybe in another post.

The next day were were back at it at Disneyland. Dumbo is always a must.

The only real line we waited in to meet characters was with the fairies. This place was so stinkin' cute. You really felt like you were in Pixie Hollow.

Julianne cried again, but decided in the end to give her a high five. We are making some progress it seems.

We went to Ariel's Grotto to have dinner with the princesses. This is the way to do it folks. No waiting in line and you get dinner too. I do have to say, I enjoyed this more in Walt Disney World. It seemed really rushed here and the princesses weren't quite as friendly. I think Belle was having a bad day ;)

I have no idea why my kids are scowling in this picture.

Ariel broke Julianne in. First with a high five and then...we made contact. She actually gave her a hug and then you couldn't pry her away from her.

Julianne enjoying her lolli pop meatballs and spaghetti.

The girls got to be in the Celebrate Street Party Parade!

And Sophia got to be apart of the High School Musical show.

It was a fun, totally exhausting, and wonderful trip. The favorite ride ended up being the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. So, So, Good.

The Future of Humanitarianism

Today I had Gabriela all to myself while the other girls were napping. One of my favorite things to do is to get inside her little mind. I love to ask her questions just to see what she'll say or come up with. Well today didn't dissapoint at all. Here's how it went down:
Mom: "Gabriela what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Gabriela: Thinking for a minute then says, "Wow what if I grew up and was one of those big tall trees outside!"

Mom: "Well I don't that I want you to be a tree. You would be stuck in the same spot. And what if someone came and cut you down and used you for firewood, or furniture, or something else."

Gabriela: "That's o.k., because I can move. I'll just move away."

Mom: "That might scare me! If I saw a moving tree that would definately scare me and what if you fell down on me."

Gabriela: "Don't worry, I won't fall on you and you won't have to be scared because I'll just unzip myself and you will see me inside the tree and then you won't be scared anymore."

Seeing that this could go on and on, I asked her the original question again.

She thinks for a while and then says:

"I think I'm going to be a dentist."
Mom: "A dentist, huh?"

G: "I can fix people's teeth when they have a hole in them and people can come to me. Won't it be great if you had a dentist in your family?"

M: "That would be great. Do you still want to be a Mommy?" (That's what she told me the last time I asked her what she wanted to be)

G: "Yeah, I'm going to be a dentist and a Mommy."

M: "Who's going to watch your kids when you are at work?"

G: Thinking "You are! You are going to play with them when you are a grandma. I'm gonna work for like ten days and then I'll be back. But if someones teeth need fixing, I might have to go back."

M: " Are you still going to live in Utah?"

G: "Yeah, but if there is a place where people don't have a dentist then I might have to leave and go there. You know like Mexico or Atlantis. Do you know where Atlantis is? It's like over Disneyland and Georgia and over the ocean and past China. OH, and you have to cross FIRE LAND."

She then goes on and on about how there are dried fish on Fire Land because there is no water and we have to ride in a plane that gets burned a little bit and you get the idea. I to go and do something, so I had her draw a picture for me. (This is other thing I love to do with Gabriela. I tell her to draw a picture of something specific. So here is her illustration.) This is a helicopter taking us over Fire Land. We are dropping buckets on all the fire.

Makeovers

Well, I got pretty tired of seeing raggedy kids running around my house all day with hair in their faces, so I decided we needed a trip to the salon.
Gabriela's problem: hair grows forward and her bangs just hand in her face. Her hair was way too long.

Solution: short bangs and trim 3 inches off.

Sophia's problem: teeny tiny face and long long hair. She always likes it up and hates to have it brushed. She's my tender head.

Solution: chop it off. I love the bob. It fits perfectly with her personality and frames her small face. I LOVE IT!!!

Now Julianne, poor child, there is no hope. She did have a trim, but you would never know. Her hair does it's own thing. Short in the front and long in the back.

Oh, and one more note about this cute kid...SHE'S POTTY TRAINED! We've been good for about a week. We used Gabriela's trick and told her if she pooped in the potty, she could go to the store and pick a toy. Well, several days later she came and found me to report that she had done it. Since then, we haven't had any accidents. It's such a victorious feeling as a parent. Miguel got lucky this time, she picked this simple little light up spinning princess thing from the Disney Store. When Gabriela went she picked a really expensive Princess dress up costume. We got off easy this time.

Dear Crayola,

I would just like to send you a letter of thanks.

Thank you for allowing my children to express themselves.

Thank you for giving them a creative outlet.

Thank you for your brilliant colors.

Thank you for giving my children a means to decorate my whole house.

By this I mean:

Furniture

Walls

Clothes

Bodily parts

And most recently....................................MY CARPET!!!

Sincerely,

Lindsay Ruiz

Better than I had dreamed.

As I was pulling laundry out of the dryer and folding this morning in my unfinished laundry room, I was thinking about how this quirky little house was definately not the house I had dreamed of as a little girl. When you are growing up you try to imagine what life will be like. Remeber playing M.A.S.H....you pick your dream guy, with his dream occupation, where you will live, how many kids you will have, and so on and so forth. This old house did not make it on my dream sheet, however I started to think about the other things, and you know what...

My little family is better than I had dreamed. I couldn't ask for a more devoted husband. He has a job that allows him to pop in every now and again and have lunch with me. I couldn't have thought up cuter kids or that I would be lucky enough to have 3 girls. I live in a great neighborhood with great friends. I've had some great experiences, so you know what, I think the Lord's plan is much better than my own.

My latest creation.

The girls loved their Halloween dresses I made so much, that I decided to make them Valentine dresses. Especially since they insisted they wear their Halloween ones out and about. I think these turned out darling!

Dropping Hints

“I asked several bishops what self-reliance skills the sisters in their wards needed most, and they said budgeting. Women need to understand the implications of buying on credit and not living within a budget. The second skill bishops listed was cooking. Meals prepared and eaten at home generally cost less, are healthier, and contribute to stronger family relationships.”2
Spensor W. Kimball

This was highlighted on the church website today on my computer. I usually close windows left open by Miguel without paying much attention, but today I happened to take a look. NICE!!! What a way to start dropping hints. I love this man, but sometimes just have to shake my head.