Surviving The Chaos: April 2014

Game Ball

Logan has been wanting and patiently waiting to earn the game ball that coach gives out at the end of each game and he finally got it last Saturday. Somehow we lost his glove during the week so Logan did his best with brother's right handed glove but it didn't work well so he decided the second inning to field the ball without a glove. He chased nearly every ball down in an attempt to do his best and earn the game ball. It's something so little but he had been talking about it for weeks and it meant a lot to him. He lit up light a light when they called his name and he wasted no time in retrieving the special ball with his name on it. Great job, Logan!

Happy Easter

With everything going on this year Easter definitely crept up on my fast. The Easter bunny came and left the usual chocolate trail to the boys goodie filled baskets. We spent the morning at church and later in the day we colored eggs and had an egg hunt in the backyard. The afternoon was also spent napping, Skyping with family and watching Hop. It was a nice relaxing and mostly peaceful day.

Logan was first up and found his basket.

Lincoln with all his treats.

The both got bouncy balloons in their basket and played with them for quite some time.

We did almost find ourselves on the way to the ER. Logan decided to run down the hallway and his face met with our bedroom door frame. This picture doesn't do it justice but I would venture to say that besides the stitches in his finer when he was two, this is the worst injury he's had. It's still black and blue and healing, over a week later.

Spontaneous Disneyland Trip

The last couple of weeks at work for me have been emotionally hard. I have a recruiter on my team who lost her 11 year old son in a freak baseball accident. It's one of those things that you never think you or someone you know will have to go through and as her manager, it hit close to home. My heart was aching for her and her family. I had many co-workers reaching out to me to ask questions, share their concern for her, offer support, etc. I was just a very draining week that put life into perspective.

With all that going on, I realized on Wednesday of last week that the boys didn't have school on Friday. I wanted to ensure that I got to spend the day with them and I wanted to do something that would create great memories. On Thursday I decided we would leave that night and go to Disneyland. I called Grammy and told her we were on our way for a quick trip. Ricky originally planned to stay home and get some work and relaxing in but about 30 minutes before we decided to leave he through a change of clothes and some toiletries into the bag and headed out the door with us. He was going to skip Disneyland (he visited with the Rizzo's instead) but he wanted to spend the drive time with us. It worked out wonderfully and we had such an awesome trip.

This visit to the resort was by far our best visit yet. The boys lasted the entire day...from 9:30 am to midnight and even then they didn't want to go home. Logan is finally tall enough to go on almost everything and despite a couple grumpy hours during what would've been his nap time, he got through the day. Grammy was very helpful and it was perfect for the four of us to go on the rides together.
Attractions we experienced in DCA: The Tractor Whip (twice), Racers, Sun Wheel, Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, Soarin Over CA, Pixar Parade, Monster's Inc, Disney Jr. Live on Stage, Phineas and Ferb Show, Bug's Land and the Bakery Tour.
Attractions we experienced in Disneyland: Carousel, Steam Train, Pirate's, Haunted Mansion, The Pirate Island, Big Thunder Mountain, Honey Pooh Pots, The Shooting Gallery, Autopia, Star Tours, Small World, Fireworks, Fantasmic and the Monorail.
Considering is was Easter weekend, I think we accomplished a lot! It was definitely a success and memories that I will forever cherish.

Lincoln and Grammy on the Tractor Whip

Meeting Sophia The First

Lincoln was brave and danced with the Fireside Girls. Logan did limbo but then he was done being in the spotlight.

Riding Golden Zephyr

Logan's favorite thing every time is riding the train.

The boys experiencing Pirate Island. Lincoln was on the island when he was younger but they've never been through the caves, through the tunnels and over the bridges so this was a fun adventure for them.

Logan trying to shoot a gun that's bigger than he is.

Riding the Jumpin Jellyfish

Grammy and Logan on Jumpin Jellyfish which is a great feat for Logan considering his fear of heights.

Mommy and Lincoln on the Sun Wheel

Logan riding the Racers. He was so excited and even trashed talked the other team when we won. He told them, "see, I told you you were going down." He was very invested in winning the race so I'm so glad we did.

Mommy with the boys upfront and Grammy with her arms up in the back.

My cute boys in Radiator Springs, Car's Land.

Logan's first time on Star Tours

It's always a special treat for the boys to ride in the front of the monorail. They just love it.

You can see from the pictures how excited they were and this was just before midnight.

Flat Stella's Visit

Our friend Emma from Utah sent Flat Stella to visit us for a week. We took her everywhere with us...even on a road trip to CA! Sometimes the boys were excited to take pictures with her and other times, not so much. (Lincoln was embarrassed to take a picture with her in front of his friends on the mat.) It was fun to have her here but hopefully Emma is happy to have her back home with her.

This is the day Stella arrived.

We took Flat Stella to Mexican dinner the first night.

She also went to karate with Lincoln.

She at at Five Guys.

She was even a trooper and made the trek with us to through AZ to CA.

Logan took Flat Stella to meet Minnie Mouse.

Flat Stella's first time in Disneyland!

This is Flat Stella's journal that we kept so she could tell Emma all about her visit with us.

Per Emma's request, we sent Flat Stella home in some new attire, including some souvenirs that she picked up from our trip!

CA Beach Trip

The week after we got home from London, Ricky and Logan got to have a special father/son time together on a trip the the CA coast. They spent the week with much of the Phillips gang near San Diego in a beach house. Logan loves being outside, rain or shine, dirt or grass, it doesn't matter to him. He had a great time playing with his cousins and daddy got to take some amazing pictures.

Unfortunately, Lincoln had testing that week at school and I couldn't get out of work so he and I got to spend some great mommy/son time here at home. He got to pick each night where to go for dinner and we even snuck in a date to the movies to see Captain America. We sure missed dad and brother but it was so great to spend some one on one time with Lincoln.

Here is what Ricky captured on their trip. You can see more on his website at http://rcphillipsphotography.com/blog.