Disney World 2011

What a trip!!! We had so much fun. I'm still sad vacation is over, but happy to be back. Koda loved every minute...at least mostly. He had a hard time around naps and while waiting in lines. We were so sad to leave Kashe behind, but I'm sure he was happier to stay, then be strolled around in the sweltering/humid heat. Thank you so much Mom, Aunt Natalie, and the Allred's for watching Kashe! He loved all the attention :)


Day 1- Travel to Orlando

Our flight left just after 7am. It was soooo early. Natalie picked us all up just after 5. Then, we were off. Koda had no idea what was coming. Once we got to the airport, checked in our bags, and strolled through airport security (which was a feat in itself), we headed to the gate. Koda had seen airplanes before, but never this close. He loved it. I think he loved the fact that he got to eat candy and chew gum during every take off and landing. I wanted to make sure his ears didn't hurt too much.


Once we landed in Dever we met up with Jamie, Jeff, & the kids, and Marilynn & Steve. It was so exciting. Matthew, Ashley, & Brandon still had no idea where we were going...they didn't find that out until we met Marilynn and Steve at their gate. It was so exciting! Jamie caught it all on tape.


Then we were off. It was a brutal flight! Koda didn't have a seat of his own and could only sit on our laps. So, with a full flight and busy little Koda the 4 hour flight was a little challenging. He normally loves watching movies, but he had a hard time wearing the headphones so that he could hear the movies.


After we landed in Orlando, FL, we caught a shuttle to our hotel - The Wyndam (located just outside Downtown Disney). It was perfect! The rooms were okay and it was a very close walk to Downtown Disney. The hotel pool was awesome. One more perk was that we got to catch a free (sort of free) shuttle each day to any of the parks.

That night we were worn out!! We walked Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island. There was a lot of nightlife excitement. Koda fell asleep in the stroller. It was beautiful and nice and warm.

Day 2- Animal Kingdom

What an amazing place!! We were the first ones of our group to arrive. Koda was so excited, but had a hard time waiting for the park to open. First, we had to pick up Jamie's wheelchair. Unfortunately, she still couldn't do much walking and was in a boot. It was so sad, but she always had a positive attitude about the whole thing. At least we didn't have to wait in all the lines. We got to go right to the front on some, it was great!

First we went to the Safari ride. On this safari we got to board a big oversized jeep. Then we proceeded to go on a real safari. We saw giraffs, crocs, hippos, and all sorts of other animals. Disney does an amazing job at hiding the electric fences. It makes you feel like you are truly out in the wild. Koda loved it. He was pretty quite on the trip, but was wide-eyed. Then we went to a little petting zoo. Koda got to pet the sheep. He loved it! We then went to watch Nemo (I think). It was a play. Koda wasn't so excited about it and didn't want to sit down.

While Koda slept in the stroller, Bart and I rode the Everest ride. What an awesome rollercoaster! I don't want to spoil the surprise...but I definitely wasn't expecting the little twist this coaster threw in. Loved it! Next, we went to try the water rapids ride. Jamie stayed back with Koda. There was hardly a line, so the kids were running to the front. Next thing we knew, Brandon was sitting on the cement crying. He had smacked right in to one of the line poles. He split his head right open and was gushing blood. It all was pretty dramatic...Jeff had to run back to the entrance of the ride with blood pouring all over. Poor little Brandon. Jamie and Jeff took him to the ER. He had to get 4 or 5 stiches. He was so brave. Disney even gave him his own stuffed animal.

The day ended with rain. We went back to the hotel and went swimming. The rain couldn't keep us down. It was a lot of fun. I especially liked the hot tub! Koda loved the kids play area. It was full of all kinds of fountains. He got braver and braver getting wet. He could have played there all day. Whenever he is having fun, he never wants to stop. So, needless to say...we left the pool with a tempertantrum.

What a great day!


Day 3- Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom her we come! This park has always been my favorite! It truly is a magical place. Koda got to ride his first monarail. 

When we first entered the park, we b-lined it straight for Mickey. It was early and so the lines were still short. We still had to wait probably 15 minutes to see Mickey. Koda wasn't so sure he liked Mickey in person. He was definitely a little nervous. He managed to take a photo, but Mickey and Minnie had to be on opposite sides of Koda. Too funny. 

Then we hopped on over to Aladdin's Flying Carpet ride. Jamie & Jeff went off to get their boys done up as pirates. Next, we went to the Jungle Ride and Pirates of the Caribbean. Koda did great, as long as he was sitting on our laps. He didn't even seem to mind the big drop off. 

On Jungle Cruise- looking out the boat

Today nap time was so hot. Luckily Jamie had bought us a spray fan at target. I fanned Koda and ate a popsicle while Koda slept. 

Koda enjoyed watching the 3-D movies. He even kept his glasses on most of the time. He wasn't even scared. Next, we were off to Splash Mountain. I love this ride when I get to wear a rain poncho. I just don't like getting wet. Especially in the humidity of Florida. It's not fun being sticky and wet in hot weather. Bart and I and the Wursten's traded off for Splash Mountain. After the ride Koda did his little number 2. However, this was actually a blow out #2. It was bad!!! And today we didn't have a change of clothes for him. So, we had to buy him new clothes that were way too big for him. It was brutal!

I was so proud of Koda being so brave on all the rides. He even went to the Haunted Mansion. He did great! It was a magical day. He even braved the heat (even though he also accompanied that with mild tantrums :) )

Day 4- Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios was a blast! It's funny how we can look back on pictures and see how fun it was, but forget the things that weren't so desirable. Like the heat and humidity. It was soooo hot! The build up of humidity finally broke loose in the late afternoon and downpoured. What a storm. 


Koda had 2 favorite places at this park:

• 1st it would have to be the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" playground. Walking through the playground made you feel like you were a tiny bug, since everything was so huge. There were fun slides and water fountains. Koda liked climbing the cargo nets. At the very top it was like a hot humid sauna...but Koda didn't seem to mind. He ran everywhere.  

• 2nd it would have to be the Playhouse Disney show. Koda loves watching Playhouse Disney!!! At this show he was able to see Mickey, Little Einstein's, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Handy Manny. Koda was so excited. He was dancing all over the place. It was so cute! As a parent there is nothing better than seeing your little one so happy. It's hard to describe how happy it made me and Bart feel (and that is an understatement!). During this moment, I wished there was some way to capture it and keep this memory bottled up forever. It was bliss. Koda was so cute!

That evening we went on the Buzz Lightyear ride. It's set up like target practice at the fair. It was in 3-D. It was so much fun. Koda really enjoyed it to, even though he didn't keep his 3-D glasses on. Right after this ride, we ran back to catch the start of the Fantasmic Show. It was set on the water, with fireworks, music, lazers, and Disney characters. It was an awesome show (and it was only slightly drizzling). 

Day 5- Epcot

Today the Wursten's and Bone's were off to the beach. We stayed and went to Epcot. The beach would have been fun, but Koda hates riding in the car for long periods of time. So, we avoided the car-ride-breakdown and went to Epcot. 


It's been awhile since Bart and I were last there. They had some pretty cool new updates. Koda loved the big aquarium. It was fully equipped with sharks, dolphins, stingrays, and numerous fish. Koda loved running around and going right up to the big glass windows. 

On the Dinosaur ride we were just getting started and then it broke down. That was hard for Koda to sit still until we could get off the ride. Overall, Epcot was good at the beginning, but then after that there weren't a lot of rides for Koda to ride on. There was a lot of shopping offered, but it was kind of a slow afternoon. We left early and went to Downtown Disney. 


On the way back to our hotel, which is very close to Downtown Disney, we got lost. We got off one bus and were supposed to wait to transfer to another bus...but I didn't want to wait. And it looked like Downtown Disney wasn't very far away. However, I was wrong. We walked and walked and walked and walked! We eventually made it after burning all our calories from the previous 4 days. haha. 

At Downtown Disney, if you ever visit, you have to try Earl of Sandwich. They have the best hot sandwiches ever and at a very reasonable price. Koda loved the Merry-Go-Round, Train Ride, and the Dancing Music Concert for kids. He danced his little heart out. It was so cute! 

Day 6- Magic Kingdom Round 2

Being Pirates

Blankie + Binkie, brings comfort anywhere!

This day kind of enmeshed in the other Magic Kingdom day! I don't remember a lot. Koda loved pirates! And LOVED the Buzz Lightyear toy we bought at the end of the day. It was too cute! In the store Koda went up to Bart and showed him the toy. Bart then said, "We have to ask Mommy." Koda came over to me and showed me the toy. When I said yes, Koda did a little jig. He was soooo happy (mind you, he still isn't really talking, but we understood exactly what he wanted, and he communicated exactly how happy he was when we said yes. It's amazing how much you can understand without talking.)

The castle, as always, was beautiful. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...on this day Ashley got done up as a princess. And I mean completely done up. She sat in a big beautiful chair, while staff waited on her. She got to wear a beautiful Mermaid outfit. It definitely came with a price tag, but Ashley sure had her day!

Day 7- Blizzard Beach 

Waiting for the bus to Blizzard Beach

This water park was incredible!!! I wish that we had had 2 days at this park. It was the water park of all water parks. The lazy river was huge, the wave pool was so relaxing, and the kids play areas were so much fun. Koda was so brave and went down tube slides all by himself. 


There was one tube slide that seated 6. Koda was pretty nervous on this one. He had to sit beside us and not in our laps, he had a hard time with this. The first time up to the top we took the stairs to get on, but when we went for round 2, we wanted to ride the ski lift to the top. Koda did not like this at all. He was terrified. He screamed the whole way up the ski lift. It would have been so much better if he would have been able to ride on our laps. Koda was hysterical. So, when we got to the top he had a hard time calming down. When he was almost calm we went to get on the 6 person tube ride again, and he would have none of it. He screamed and temper-tantrumed so loud. He must have been terrified. When he was sitting down off to the side, he threw his head back on the ground and hit it. That only added to the scene. I walked Koda all the way back down. Poor little guy. This all happened right around his nap time. So, that probably added to it. He feel asleep in his stroller still sobbing. What an afternoon. 

After his nap, he was all of a sudden scared of everything. Even the slides he had previously gone down with no fear. The tube slide scarred him. :( So sad. I'm sure he will get over it. At least I hope so. 

Day 8- Home


Going home from vacation is always sad and depressing. I was sad to leave and go back to life! Even though I missed Kashew-nut terribly. The flight home was brutal. We left our hotel around 7:30am and didn't arrive home until 11pm. What a long day! We had two lay-overs and plane changes. And for some reason I had the migraine of all migraines. It made me so sick. I was basically back in the plane bathrooms for a straight hour. I felt awful. Once I was able to get my headache to subside, I felt much better. Meanwhile, Koda was really giving Bart a hard time. And Bart was sandwiched in     to the 2 window seats. The poor woman on the isle seat! I felt so bad for her. I hope we didn't bother her too much! 


It was such a fun vacation! And it was so wonderful to go with the Wursten's and Bone's! We loved it. We already can't wait to go again. This time with Kashe!

Picnic

We absolutely love AF Canyon!! We haven't gone nearly enough this summer. This was our last little dinner up there. Hopefully we will get up there a couple more times before Autumn is over. The easiest dinner/fast trip is to cook a crock pot meal at home and then just bring that up for dinner. However, this time we were wishing we had firewood. It was quite chilly. 

Koda is going through different phases. Just a few weeks ago he loved looking right at the camera, smiling, and saying cheese. Now, no matter what I say, he doesn't want to look up. So, here he is in the trees. His most favorite thing was throwing rocks into the river and lake. He could do it all day and never tire.  

Kashe was so cute! He got all bundled up and seemed to love being out in nature. 

He is always full of smiles. 

Summer Fun

This summer we got the passes of all passes (7 Peaks, Trafalga, & Liberty Land). We've used them a handful of times. It's been so much fun going to 7 Peaks with the boys. They both love the water.  

Kashe didn't quite make it through the day. He fell asleep. It was so hot though... and so I sat by the kiddie pool and kept spooning cool water on him.

Koda loved the inner tubes!! 

Growing Up!

Wow, I can't believe it has been soooo long since the last post. Where have I been??? Life has been pretty hectic. Even when I'm home resting the boys keep me busy and make it difficult to sit down and blog. When I do get a break I need to clean, pay bills, and sleep. I'm loving every minute!! Well mostly...haha.

I thought I would give a quick run down on everything since there has been so much going on lately.

Mommy~
In June I got a new job working on a Shock Trauma Unit, I love it! It's been a lot of fun and lots of learning for me. Some day I would like to go into life flight. Well, at least I think I do. The flying part might be a little scary. I work a lot of nights and only a little bit of days, which has been hard. I am tired all the time. But...It's worth it. I get to be home with the kiddos more. I only have to work 3 nights a week, so that's nice. I just try to get some ZZZZzzzzz when I can so I can have energy to keep up with the boys. In August I graduated with my Masters Degree in Public Administration. I can't believe I did it!!! I'm finally done with school. It was definitely worth it, although I questioned that a lot during the program. It was an amazing program with the most exceptional teachers I could ever ask for. I feel so lucky to call myself a BYU Marriott School Alumi. I will grately miss all my wonderful friends and classmates.

Daddy~
Has been working very hard at work lately. Shelf Reliance just moved into their brand new building. The companie's grand opening is today!!! Yeah!!! It's a beautiful building. Bart loves working in his new office cubicle. I am so proud of him and all of his hard work! I know he does amazing things. I have been impressed by some of his most recent photo sessions. I love my man!! Bart has also been hard at work getting our yard in. At the beginning of the summer we did the rocks in the front and leveled the yard with top soil. Then came the sprinkler system, which took much longer than I had anticipated. Bart was working on the sprinklers for ever. Well...maybe just 2 or 3 weeks. Then came the black tarp in the flower beds and then the bark. Wow. Now the summer is almost over and we have only planted 3 trees. We need to get cracking.

Koda~
Is 22 months!!! Holy Cow! He is such a big boy. He is sooooo stinkin' cute! Bart and I can't take our eyes off him. It's so fun to watch what he will do next. He can say dada, moma (infact on Monday night when I went to work, Bart said he pushed his workbench chair to the front room, stood on it, looked out the window and cried for "moma". Awww...that is so sad, but so cute!), juice, cheese, ah oh, woof, grwllll, brrrr (car noise), jesus (sometimes), and then he just jibber jabbers. He seems to say all kinds of words at some points, but then he doesn't always repeat them. So, I don't really add it to his word vocabulary. He is a climber and loves to climb on everything. He is really daring when it comes to climbing on the playground equipment and going down the slides. He runs all over. He loves to try and jump, but that only consists of him moving his body up and down with his feet never leaving the ground. It's so funny. He understands a lot now and is such a helper. He likes to give Kashe his paci and give him toys. Koda is finally weaned from his bottles and now just drinks milk in his sippies. Next we need to wean the binkie, I really don't want him to have buck teeth. Koda eats really well, although he still likes to trhow all his food. I am working with him on trying to have him help clean it up. Koda has a very good arm and throws everything. This sometimes ends him up in time out for a little while. He loves movies: especially Toy Story and the Mickey Mouse Christmas. He would watch Toy Story 5 times a day if we let him. haha. He also loves to read. One of his Favorite books is "My Monster Mama". He is on the move from the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep. He is a very busy boy! I have a hard time keeping up with him.

Kashe~
7 months old. He is our happy boy!! He is always smiling. In fact, when he is sleeping and if you cause him to stir he will smile in his sleep. It's soooooo cute! He is adorable! We love cuddling him and making him laugh!!! He rolls and rolls to get where he wants to go. One time Bart couldn't find him and when he finally did he was between the wall and the couch. Now how in the world did he get back there??? He laughs at Koda and loves watching his older brother. He likes to play with Koda's toys and loves it when he gets to ride on Koda's back. He eats 6-7oz of his bottles every 3 hours. He also likes to gum bread, crackers, and squash. He is getting on his hands and knees and rocking. He also turns to his side and almost sits up. He is sooooo close to crawling, but hasn't quite figured it out yet. He also likes to make sounds and baby babble. It's so cute. He also has the most high pitched screams I have ever heard. He screams sometimes just to talk. He is just now starting to like baths. He didn't really like them before. He loves slashing in the water at the pool. Koda and Kashe have been to 7 peaks several times this summer and love it. Kashe is starting to darken up and tans very well. He still has no hair, although I have now just shaved his head for the 2nd time. It was really only old man's hair, so it had to all come off. He is still a super skinny little boy and very long. He is already wearing 12 mo clothes. He is getting so big. Kashe is so sweet and has a calm about him. He is patient at times and very even tempered. We are so excited because we will be sealing and blessing him this weekend. The sealing will take place in the Draper Temple. His little spirit has been so wonderful in our family. We love him so much!!!!! Kashe also loves petting Nacho. He laughs at him sometimes. :)

That's us in a nutshell. I will try and add pictures a little bit later. I hope everything makes sense. I've had some down time at work and I am almost ready to get off. It's 7:11am. :)

While Daddy's Working

Bart hard at work. We actually rented a trencher several weeks ago. It was a waste. The ground was too wet to even dig. Bart loves manual labor!!
While Bart was out working on the sprinkler system we took some photos...

I love this picture of Kashe. It's a little blurry, but I love it! Anytime we start talking to Kashe his little face lights up with the biggest smile. Even when it's dark and we're trying to get him to sleep...if you look down at him he will just smile. This is his strategy to stay up later and not go to bed. :)

My Aunt Shareen gave us a bunch of outdoor toy trucks (they were Nathan's growing up). Koda loves them.

Shoes!!!

Koda loves shoes!!! He tries on mine and Bart's. He thought it was pretty fun walking in these healed sandals. The other day he loaded our whole laundry basket with Bart's shoes. Who thought shoes could be so intriguing and fun to play with? I love it!!!

Fun Pictures

We have been so busy trying to finish the yard we haven't had anytime to update the blog. Here are some fun random pictures of what we have been up to! Enjoy

Baby x2

My two babies! Koda usually only has a bottle in the morning and before bed. But every once in awhile he has little melt downs and wants a bottle with his brother.

Chad

Grieving is a really strange thing. The night we found out about Chad's death, time seemed to stand still for about 3 weeks. Life kind of came full circle.

On most days we all seem to be getting along just fine. But then other days grief seems to overcome us for short periods of time. I guess that's our excuse for not keeping up the blog. It just seems that it has been hard to keep doing the little things.

It still doesn't seem like he's gone. His memory is still so clear. We love him and miss him so much.

We feel so grateful for the gospel and to know that we will see Chad again. Although it doesn't replace moments of sadness, peace and comfort do come knowing that we will all be together again.
We love you Chad!