Disneyland - Part Eight

Two more Disneyland posts to finish out our lovely trip :) C is really into letters and writing.  She asks all day about what letter words start with (and she is doing a great job sounding them out and making educated guesses.) I love this picture where she is tracing her name on the pin - she kept doing it in line to see Minnie Mouse.  It really kept her occupied and her mind working - the perfect combination!

A few more cute pictures from the princess lunch...

I could never really tire of this view...

My sister and her family left after the lunch, and we headed back to the hotel to go swimming.  The pool was amazing and C had a blast.  She also loved 'modeling' her Minnie Mouse swimsuit.  This picture really cracks me up - the look on her face is similar to one I see in a lot of my little kid pictures.

Back in the park that afternoon we went on lots of new-to-Cambrie rides.  First was Soarin' and that scared her.  She grabbed onto me the entire time.  She loved the pictures on it, but didn't quite love the flying part.

We also were shocked that C let us take her on the Tower of Terror.  It is my moms favorite ride and I was sad she wasn't going to be able to go on it, but C was totally brave and joined us.  She was scared but didn't cry or scream.  And she didn't talk about it at all afterwards. We did buy her a t-shirt as a prize :)

On our last day we had tickets to Mickey's Halloween party.  We weren't really sure what to expect but we were excited.  On our way we had to take pictures with Goofy and use our last fast-pass for the Cars ride.  

We were sad to leave California Adventure, but we were excited to go back to Disneyland for a night to remember!

Thanksgiving 2014 - Part Two

For the pre-Thanksgiving with my family Damon and I hosted everyone at our house for a lovely home cooked meal.  We love to entertain and cook, but don't do it as often as we should anymore.  Even though we missed my sister and her family during the real Thanksgiving, it is nice having our pre-holiday dinner together.

I was super excited when I found these plastic plates that match our china for the kiddos to use...love their little kid table that C set and decorated by herself.

This is what my grandma looked like the entire day.  Love her and her purple iPad that she is desperately trying to learn how to use.  Her favorite is taking pictures of everyone.  Sometimes they are videos, sometimes (well, most times) they aren't exposed right or focused.  But they make her happy and I love that.

This girl...she loves herself some turkey legs.  Oh my, so ladylike :)

The standard self timer photo of the group...my family always groans and moans when I make this picture a requirement, but it is really so important to capture.

And the beautiful four generations of women in my life. So thankful for them!

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving proper this year was spent up at the ranch - it was a beautiful day for celebrating family.  We spent the morning cooking at home and watching the parade.  Cambrie was pretty obsessed with the floats - she loved it and was sad to leave.  

Here is my sweet family with a little self timer photo before the festivities began.

The day was extra special since Damon's grandma was shuttled from her rehabilitation center up to the ranch for the day and because all four of her daughters were there.  We took a few pictures and I know they will all treasure for years to come.

Lots of grandkid pictures...

and great-granddaughter pictures too!

Leana was hosting dinner for Tylers family at her house, so C was missing her usual cousin playmates.  Thankfully Jaycee and Charlie was there to keep her company.

I didn't take too many pictures with any non-phone cameras - that seems to be a trend these days.  Time to do a huge phone photo post!

Cambrie's Gymnastics Show

Okay, another break from Disneyland for a few days...Cambrie participates in gymnastics at her school every Friday.  Coach Gary is pretty awesome.  He is funny and really is able to engage the kiddos to listen and pay attention.  Its amazing how one person can easily command the attention of a dozen kiddos ages 3 - 5.

Cambrie was VERY excited to be in the show.  She talked about it all week and requested to wear her cowboy boots.  I don't normally let her wear them to school, so it was a big deal for her.  She also told me they wore socks during gymnastics.  

Well, she mis-spoke and they wore their shoes during the performance.  Oh my - I was mortified that C's had on bright pink non-athletic shoes.  

Coach Gary also always wears Disneyland shirts - another reason he is awesome!

C knows that the symbol is for her friends schools....she is the train, Charlotte is the rainbow and Avery/Landon are the apple.  Plus, Ryanne's school is across the street from her school.  She likes knowing exactly where her family members are each day.

Taking a bow for a show well done!

Our sweet little girl - so involved and so into being involved already.  Love it!

First Pheasant Hunting of the Year

Damon and I have a lot of activities that we have enjoyed together over the years.  It is awesome to start introducing Cambrie to them.  This November we took her to Blackpoint pheasant hunting with Shasta.  She was all ready with her camp overalls, orange shirt and 'noc-ulars (as she calls them.)

The four of us had a fun walking the friends.

(Don't mind C's crazy lip, she had fallen at school pretty badly and it was really scabbed over - but my oils helped heal it within a few days.)

Looking for the birdies!

It was also super warm that day and C asked me to take off her shirt....so we did a little redneck hunting too!

Shasta pointed a beautiful point at a bird and we all got to see it.  It was pretty awesome.

Our family - love them all so much!

We are headed again this weekend with the Papas :)

Disneyland - Part Seven

My sister was talking about a friend who had a picture with a life size Sophia doll and I told her I didn't think that they had character in the park, well, on the day that my sister left it turns out that they do :)  We waited in line to meet her, C was very excited to show her her Sophia the First sunglasses.  Sophia was just as excited as well - it was super cute.

Cambrie was wearing the perfect outfits for the characters this day in the park because on the walk back to the hotel we ran into Aviator Minnie Mouse while C had on her Planes t-shirt.  Her and Minnie were flying like airplanes with their arms - it was super cute and I didn't get any pictures, but it is a good memory.

This was our first time taking pictures with Red the firetruck :)

At the Mickey's Halloween Party (where my sweet girl dressed as Elsa) they had a great set-up of magic photos.  I need to get these printed for C - aren't they adorable?

Showing off her frozen powers!

And a little dancing with Olaf!

Just so magical!  And a perfect little model who loved the camera :)