The happiest place on earth!

We made it! We made it to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!
Four airplane tickets
Four airplane rides
3 night hotel stay
2 long days at Disneyland!!

Brenden was headed to the PMA (Produce Marketing Association) and it happened to be at the Anaheim Convention Center (one block away from Disneyland), so we decided to tag along! The last time the convention was in Anaheim was five years ago and I was pregnant with Cooper. I have been dying to take the kids to Disneyland and a few years ago Brenden said when the PMA went back to Anaheim we could go. Well that came a little too soon and he didn't know if what he agreed upon was really such a great idea. He kept telling me I don't know if I am even going to go this year since the PMA was a few weeks early and he thought they would still be in harvest. I was so desperate to go that I said ,"TWO DAYS, that's great were going with ya!"

During the day on Friday Brenden was able to go with us. We tried to pack in as much as possible knowing that was the only time he could come with us. We had a blast! Even though Brenden was practically at the office. His phone rang non stop! Too many people eating too many ONIONS! lol. The weather that morning was great, but a little too great it was sooo hot by the afternoon!

First Character greeting. We practically ran up to them. No line, it was Awesome!

Brotherly lovin after they got their hats.

They were so excited with their mickey ears. Do you know how long I have waited to buy mickey ears for my kids???

Case handing his book to Minnie. The boys loooved having the characters sign their autograph books!

Mickey is usually back in the back of his house, but we caught him early in the morning on his front step. We lucked out big time with very short lines for Mickey and Minnie!

On Matterhorn. Cason face was priceless on that ride! Doesn't Cason look like his dad in this picture? I think he is going to be a mini Brenden.

Disney was all decorated for Halloween. I loved these pumpkins at the entrance.

Case Man's BIG day

CASEY, turned 3 today! It's hard for me to believe my big little baby is 3! He was excited for his big day and whenever I would sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him he would sing with me and say "DEAR GRANDMA." And then he would tell me "It's not my birthday, it's Grandmas!" Okay whatever makes you HAPPY!

Here are a few things about Casey:
-He has the most kissable cheeks ever! I am going to cry some day real hard when I go to kiss those cheeks and they are gone!
-His bum is just as chubby :)
-He loves to eat! He is always the last at the table.
-Only screams half as much as he did a year ago. (hey this is a BIG improvement!)
-Only holds his breath and turns himself blue ready to pass out occasionally.(BIG improvement!)
-Loves Dogies
-Loves to dig in the dirt
-Loves his cousins
-Loves four wheeler and snowmobile rides
-Very mischievous (especially when I'm in the shower!)
-Hates to take naps, but once he's asleep he could sleep forever
-Favorite phrase, "Back away! Back away mom, back away!"
Yes, my once cuddly little baby has turned into a three year old tyrant who middle name is independent! Hello THREE here we come!






Give the kid a pick up with a trailer and he is good to go!



In our family it's Cooper's birthday too!

We headed to Red Robin for dinner. We were so excited because at the last minute Grandma and Grandpa Kent joined us! The boys were elated!

Cheese sticks! For some reason they were not as good as they were in high school.

Case didn't know what to think when they sang to him. He was a little embarrassed at first

And then 0oohed to Grandma!

We sure love Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks for coming and making Cason's night so special!

We came home and had CUPCAKES!

So excited with his #3!

Cooper blowing out his 4 Candles! We lit candles over and over and over again!!

Getting ready to blow it out!

We are so grateful Casey is in our family. I don't know what I would do if Cooper didn't have Casey! They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies, but in the end always the best of friends!

Interruption from regular scheduled blogging...

Okay, I must admit I have a lot of other catch up blog that I will get to someday, but it seems a little too overwhelming to sort through pictures.

My nephew Jake told me my blog was boring and that I needed to post some more naughty things that Cooper and Cason have done, because he thinks it's funny. This one is for you Jake. Most of the time I don't take pictures of all the "naughty" things they do, because I am usually in too big of a hurry to clean it up and discipline. That is where I totally get confused discipline first or clean it up. I know you are thinking discipline, but sometimes they are soooo bad that it is something that has to be cleaned up now! They need to be disciplined at the same time though. That is when I really wish I could clone myself!

My poor chocolate cake. Yes, this happened while I was in the shower.


And you never saw the floor. Covered in cake crumbs! He picked all the frosting off and crumbled the cake! This kid is such a destroyer!


Mom and dad this is for you I wanted to introduce you to your new pet



The kids just love her.

Taden and Carson named her Sara and Cooper named her Kody. You pick the name they won't mind.

You never knew someone who has never met you would like you so much that they decided to take residence at your home! Come home soon the dog told me the shop food is not cutting it and she would like some of your good ol scraps!

Harper's Ferry, Cookout, and Good bye's

Saturday was mom and dad's P-day, so they took us down to Harper's Ferry. Harper's Ferry is where John Brown tried to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859. Brown's raid was defeated by a detachment of U.S. Marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee. We had a great time. The weather was pouring down rain the whole way there and for about the first half hour. We were pretty much drenched and then a few minutes later we were dying of heat it was so hot and humid! Crazy weather. I am officially grateful for the dry heat we have out west and won't complain about it being too hot!


Black smith shop


Crossing the Potomac River. Tricia and I swear we crossed that river on our way to W. Virginia, but on our way back to the airport we went a different way. Same thing happened in the fall when Hayley and I went back there. We went two different ways too. There are way too many highways and freeways back there, I don't know how people get anywhere with out GPS. Mom says they don't! She says the people don't know how to get to Baltimore, or D.C. back there in W. Virgina, and it is only 2 1/2 hours away! They never go anywhere!


This is Jefferson's Rock. Thomas Jefferson said when he came to this rock that the view from here was worth the trek across the Atlantic.

This is the view from here. I can imagine in the fall it would be beautiful!

Dad stayed down below. He had already been here and it is a little hike to get up there. So much fun to go with mom and dad, whenever a member of the church recognizes them, they stop and talk to them. That day they talked to two women from Utah, a girl who had just returned home from a mission to Brazil, and a scout group.

Monday night we had a cookout with all of mom and dad's neighbors. It turned out to be a great success and they were able to get to know some of their neighbors better. They kids all had a great time playing with all the other kids.

Evie and a cute little girl. I forgot her name

Tuesday we woke up bright and early so we could leave to head back to the airport. Mom wouldn't get in the picture since she didn't have her hair done yet!



But, I caught some of her...

I love this picture with Cooper and Chase trying to give her a hug too.

Mom is going to kill me, but I love it! Tricia and mom Boohooing!

We cried when we arrived and we cried when we left. Luckily they don't have any pictures of me! We are so grateful for mom and dad's sacrifice to serve the Lord and the people of W. Virginia. They are the being great missionaries! We were not surprised to hear from everyone back there how much they love mom and dad. They think they are the best! It doesn't surprise anyone back home, everyone knew they would be great missionaries.

Relay for Life

While we were in W.V. we were able to participate in the local Relay for Life.


Dad wore a purple survivor shirt.







Dad talking to a friend. Everywhere we turned mom and dad knew someone. They are making the rounds around the community.





There was a purse auction. I convinced mom to bid and she won two! After that I had to glue mom's hand to her pocket. She was getting a little too quick with the wave motion! I know mom hasn't been purse shopping in a while and I think the excitement of a new purse or purses was getting to her! The purses were filled with all sorts of stuff. That was the high light for the night. Evie and Allie loooved all the treasures inside the purses.




We had such a fun night supporting a great cause. My dad is a two time cancer survivor! Go dad!

Mission Field

The middle of June Cooper and I headed on a jet plane out to the mission field to see Grandma and Grandpa. Coop had been asking for months and months when he was going to see Grandma and Papa on their mission. He was soooo excited to finally go. Tricia and her kids decided to go with us. We had blast with all of them. Thank heavens they came because little Coop would have been really bored with all us old people. Tricia has most of the good pics, so I am waiting for her to post...

All the kids at the Cookie Tin, a yummy, yummy cookie place. That was first on my list of things to do!

Grandma and the kids walking.

The kids had so much fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa and seeing what they do everyday. Everyday was packed with things to do and people to visit.

They loved finding bugs. Grandma may be on her mission, but she still has stuff stowed away in the back closet, thanks to having a dollar store on every corner.

And at the end of the day, somehow the kids all eventually ended up looking like this!

It's back!

Hayley has been telling me for awhile now that wall paper is back. How could wall paper be back? I mean, it finally left and now it is back? That dreaded stuff everyone would rather kill over than take off. I put my dues in taking that stuff down with Tricia, and it was brutal! Finally I asked her to tell me what website she was looking at and I took a look for myself. I was smitten the moment I laid my eyes on it and could not stop thinking about all the places it could go in my house! I finally ordered some for my office. That was the first room I wanted to do. When it came in the mail I was very disappointed because I thought it was more gold than green. I decided to put it in my powder room instead. And now I kinda wish I would have put it in the office I love the print so much!


I really wish the "wall paper queen" (my mom) would have been here to help me out. I needed some expert help!

Stayed tuned for more wall paper adventures to come...