Disneyland 2013

Since I was a little girl, just 12 years old, I have associated family vacations to Disneyland. As a child my family rarely had a vacation. But once a year we went to Disneyland, always on Halloween, with my moms office. So I guess it's no wonder why I love to take my kids and love the memories we have from these trips. 

 Family photo

 My favorite guy in the universe!!!

 Cars Land at Christmas time was so super cute.

Goofy always brings out the giggles in everyone.

 Me and my boy getting ready to battle it out on Toy Story Mania....Mom won!!!

 Front row on Screamin' Over California for the first time!!

Spending time with family and friends is always the best way to spend the day. Loved having the Weaver's with us this time too.

Spring Break in Maui, Hawaii

 Spring break had us traveling to Maui, Hawaii!!! Best vacation ever. We had such a relaxing time, no schedule was awesome. Maui is my favorite island and we can't wait to go back

Our view from our room

Sitting by the pool while the kids swim. This was what we did everyday.

 Gorgeous Madisen lights up the beach!

Rockin' his sunglasses chillin' by the pool

Who doesn't want to end their days walking along the shoreline in on of the most beautiful place in the world with the most important people in our lives. I love my little family and look forward to the next adventure

Cabin fever, I think we've got it!!!

All that know me know that I am truly a desert rat. I love the heat, sun, sand and surf. But...after a bit of convincing we headed up the mountain to give some winter sports a try and I have to say I'm hooked!!!  Have nice accommodations is where is starts. A bed, nice warm fire, hot shower at the end of the day, great friends and of course, s'mores! The kids took to skiing like a fish to water. They have no fear and were flying down the mountain after a few hours in ski school. I decided to snowboard and that can be compared to a fish on land. I crashed and burned for hours and finally made it down the hill with the my assistants Justin and Matt. The next weekend I decided to ski which was much easier. Justin was shredding on his new snowboard like a pro after couple of days practicing. We had a blast and can't wait to go again.

 Tanner and Madisen eagerly waiting to hit the slopes

 Tanner at the end of day one of ski school. He learned to keep his all his equipment on after crashing without his gloves.

 Family picture 

 Justin and Matt...brothers from another mother!!!

 Justin and Me...I was crying under those sunglasses because I had just wiped out and my ego was bruised.

Scott, Tanner, Madisen and Drew at the end of the day ready to get warmed up and eat some s'mores.

More than just pictures

All my life I have had a camera in my hand nearly every where I go. It has captured fun memories but none as special as the pictures below. After years of pain and struggle my angelic mother returned home to her Father in heaven on December 30, 2012. A year before that, not knowing that her health would decline so quickly,  she asked that we all plan to do everything we could to be together for Thanksgiving in 2012. Just one week before that celebration we were given the news that she didn't have much longer with us. If not for that request given to us a year in advance we wouldn't have had these pictures or the sweet memories of that wonderful week.

Yes we are alive after a year of no posts

Just a few highlights from the past year...

 Christmas happened! Even without the usual celebrations Christmas was great. This year although different and a bit rushed was special simply because my heart was in a different place. Being so focused on family and feeling so blessed is what it was all about this year.

 Madisen turned 8 and was baptized and has since turned 9! Time flies...

 My little heart breaker, Tanner is 11 and started Jr. High School this year.

So much to be thankful for and so many amazing things have transformed our family and made us a stronger unit. Hopefully I will keep up on all the exciting and new things we do this year.

Tower of London

After doing extensive research by watching the HBO series The Tudors, I was most excited to see everything related in any way to King Henry VIII and what better place to start than at the Tower of London where he sent friends, wives, thieves and traitors to death. We started, first, at the crown jewels. All there reviews we read told us to get there early to avoid too long of a wait and to our delight we had no line and were able to spend about 20 minutes walking around and around looking at the spectacular crowns and jewelry that puts the prettiest of wedding rings to shame. Stunning, STUNNING, stunning!!!

Next we headed over to the Beefeaters tour for some history and "insider" stories from highly decorated retired military officers who are hilarious and charming. If you ever have the opportunity to visit these sights do this tour!!!

Erica, Dan, Justin, Jenessa, LeAnn and Scott outside the Tower of London

Erica, Dan, Jenessa and Justin

Justin and Jenessa with a Beefeater Tour guide. He was taking pictures with some oriental tourist right before we stepped up and was giving them a hard time about the peace sign they kept making. "Who wants peace? Let's do war" he said.

This is traitor's gate where prisoner's like Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry and Anne Boleyn, enter the Tower off the Thames River.

This is the Scaffold Site where Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard lost their heads after the king accused them of adultery and in Anne's case witchcraft as well. Jane Boleyn, Anne's sister in law was also executed here for arranging the affairs that Catherine Howard had. Only a few people lost their heads at this specific place. Most were taken to Tower Hill and executed at that site instead. I can't imagine loading up a picnic basket and heading out for the day to witness the execution of traitors and thieves for entertainment.

I don't remember what this building was used for specifically but it was my favorite.

In Beauchamp Tower was were prisoners were held waiting trial before they were most likely sent to Tower Hill for execution. Above is just one of many carving left behind by prisoners. Some were as simple as a name while others were elaborate representing their families of declaring their innocence.

In the White Tower Museum we saw the armor of King Henry VII from the time he was a

boy (above) to his robust days toward the end of his life.

Chopping block and ax. The ax used to execute usually weighted about 7 pound.

Tower Bridge

Our trip to London (part 1)

It"s too hard to narrow down what my favorite part of this trip was because I absolutely LOVE this city. So I'll just go day by day and highlight what we did in pictures wit captions since, let's be real, that's really what you all want to see and read about.

Day one had us upend departing Las Vegas at 6am on Friday morning and landing in London on Saturday morning at about 9am. We were so excited and tired but were determined to stay awake the whole day so that the rest of the time we were there we could be use to the time difference. Our first stop had us at West Minster Abby which did not disappoint. there is no photography allowed in the abby itself so you'll just have to trust me when I tell you it was stunning.

After a much need nap Justin and I headed out at sunset to walk down the Thames river by the Eye of London, and Big Ben which was literally outside our super awesome hotel. It was such a beautiful night with a spectacular sunset. The perfect ending to a perfect start of our vacation.
This was just down the street about a block from the Park Plaza West Minster Hotel, where we got a smoking' deal and would stay again. With 7 full days left we got something to eat in the restaurant in the hotel and headed to bed to rested for our day at the Tower of London.

Madisen's special day!

I feel like I don't get very emotional when I blog very often but this one might do me in. My sweet, smart, loving, bundle of joy, Madisen took the first step of many in her journey to further her relationship with her Father in heaven and continuing her eternal progression here on earth when she chose to be baptized yesterday. I didn't realize just how many people had come to support my daughter until I walked into the Relief Society room and had a hard time finding a seat. Madisen beamed from just being baptized and was so excited to be confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost and a blessing just for her from her Dad. All clean and dressed in white surrounded by friends and family she oozed pure JOY as she hugged those in the room with her. It was such a sweet spirit that filled our hearts and welcomed her as the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

Skipping ahead since my pictures won't download to my computer

Well...Christmas and New Years did happen even if there is no evidence of it on my blog. It was great and we, as usual, didn't make any resolutions so not much to talk about any way.

This week has been an interesting one. First I feel as though the kids only go to school part time any more since they have had 4 day weeks the last couple of weeks and following their long weekends they have missed a couple of days because of illness. I guess it's just been weird so I thought I'd mention it.

Following all this weird school nonattendance Madisen got her tonsils and adenoids removed a couple of days ago and despite my preparations for a miserable child she had done awesome.

Waiting to go back she was nervous but her doctor and nurse and anesthesiologist were fantastic putting her at ease. It a was time to go to the OR and I went to take Piggy from her and the nurse let her keep her with her so that helped too.

After getting home she wouldn't sleep but ate ice chips and ice cream and Popsicles all afternoon which was what she had been excited for for months. She's doing great and hopefully she will continue to recover quickly and get back to school. Only a few days at home and she's ready to get back to her friends.

Wow I need to catch up

So below are pictures of us to get everyone caught up on what we've been up to. I'm going to be better at keeping this blog updated.

Disneyland in October. Not many pictures but we had a blast

Tanner turned "a decade old" in September. He got a cell phone and a gun. So mom's freaking out he's so big and Dad is awesome for talking mom into both gifts.

Above, Tanner's first day of 5ht grade and below is Madisen's first day of 2nd grade.

Halloween isn't my favorite but I even got into the fun of dressing up.

Our Skeleton Gangster

Madisen picked this out. We are not sure what it is but she looked cute and really grown up.

The kids on Thanksgiving

Last but not least is Tanner playing flag football. He did so well this season and absolutely loves it. Next season he's off to tackle football which I hate.