For Sarah

So, two weeks ago I decided I needed a change of scenery. I packed up the children, gave Jeff a "honey-please-do" list, kissed him and drove to California for the week. What is it about driving 5 1/2 hours that gives you a new lease on life? As soon as we hit the toll road my spirits were renewed and I felt excited to be home again. It was a wonderful week with mom and dad and though we missed Jeff terribly (some of us more than others), we had a ton of fun.


Day one, of course was spent at Disneyland and it was a perfect Jeff Gray day at Disneyland - no crowds, no lines, no Small World (sad for us) and only 70 degrees! As you may have guessed Small World was closed and this sadend us deeply, but the fact that we walked on to Peter Pan made up for it!


Mom before the Tea Cups ride.


Mom during the Tea Cups ride.


Mom after the Tea Cups ride.
I don't think mom will go on the Tea Cups ride again!


We took the children on the roller coaster ride in Toon Town. Paige and Nathan were thrilled!
Megan and Haley screamed and cried the whole way! But 2 hours later, Megan said she wanted to go again!

Day two, hair and park day - we love the parks near home and loved running around playing hide and seek.

Day three, rain, we spent the day at the mall - lunch, shopping and eating tons of junk!

Day four, probably the best day, next to Disneyland, we went up to Los Angeles to visit Sarah and Austin. There I introduced my children to the best, cheapest ice-cream store around. Diddy Riese! Any ice-cream, and any cookie, and for $1.50 you get the best ice-cream sandwich around! YUMMY! Knowing my children I didn't order one for myself thinking that I would end up finishing theirs, but they surprised me and all I got was the last little bit of Nathan's ice-cream. Bummer for me! Then we took them to Sarah and Austin's "hotel". (See Sarah's post for more details on that.) We had so much fun playing with Duke, coloring, playing the Wii and having dinner. My girls think Sarah lives in a hotel! How fun for Sarah! Thank you for having us there for the day!

My funny children flying their coats while we were looking for a toy museum (that no longer exists).

Paige and Nathan running with the Wii fit.

Yoga master Austin teaching balancing lessons.

I just love visiting family. I love having such a large family and seeing each and every one of them often and I love, love, love the fact that they don't mind us coming to see them. And even more than that I love coming home to my husband!