Thanksgiving faces

Our thanksgiving vacation started at the St. Louis zoo. Seems all trips for the past 6 years have revolved in someway around St. Louis. That's a good thing. It's so pretty and the zoo just added this cool sea lion exhibit.

 On the plane the next morning. We are headed for DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA! Scream it!

 Brad arranged for grandma Ruthie and grandpa Robert to meet us at the Salt Lake Airport. They sweet talked their way in passed security, then walked with us for our one hour layover. It was so nice to see them because we won't see them for another year and a half. They need to get some Lola Love.

 It was funny to see 4 adults and three kids trucking around the airport with all our bags.

 How should I sum this trip up? AMAZING. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Chambers for making it all possible. It was so fun to catch up with family we never see. The kids die to see cousins so it was a special bonding time for them because who knows when we'll get back. As I reminisced the trip through photos, everyone just make me smile. Love Disneyland. Love family. Love the beach. Love my little ones and my best Brad. What a great Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for.
 
Seriously Lola, you keep getting cuter!!

 The first day we went up to hollywood. Ez was more interested in the balloon swords than those celebrity starts. 

 We found Mickey some place other than Disney.

 And Shrek!

 And a cute Aunt!

 Back at the hotel. Kids passed out and then we started a new day bright and early. Two places you have to be at early...Disney and skiing.

We all had a fun Disney shirt the first day. I made mine and the others we got on sale during the year.

These two make me smile. 

Wonderful aunts and a great grandpa. 

 

 We probably tortured Lola a little bit on this trip but she was still so amazing. She slept when she needed to. Smiled all day. Ate when I could feed her. She was such a good little girl.

 and...she loved the rides.

 Only a 5 year old can embrace Disney in such a delightful way.

 I love this picture because everyone we got showed EZ blurry because he just wouldn't sit still the whole trip. He was so excited. And aren't those boys all so cute?

Just another of this shot. I love.

 We spent part of each day paling around with this fun family.

 EZ: "My favorite ride was Buzz. I did it 3 times." (actually we did it a total of 9 times but 3 in a row one day!) My other favorite ride was the baskets. I really liked the boat ride, too. (I had to clarify which boat ride and he explained the one where he sat next to grandma and they sang. Small world:)
This is a picture of him on another boat ride...jungle cruise. He loved seeing all the animals. I think he thought they were real. " I didn't like Caribbean. It was dark in there. I didn't like the flying boat. (that was PeterPan. He also loved Dumbo and the train.

 Chloe: "My favorite ride was Space Mountain. I think you know what my least favorite ride was....Tower of Terror. (She went on Tower of Terror twice. She was so brave and loved the thrill rides as much as me and Brad. She was such a good sport walking around all over the place every day.
Here she is with her Chloe smurk at the colorful jungle cruise guide.

 We spent a glorious day at the beach. I can see why people would live in California.

 EZ found it funny to cover Holli's feet.

 Let's take another look.

 For Thanksgiving lunch we went to the Blue Bayou. This is the restuarant you can see when you are on the Pirate of the Caribbean ride. It was delicious. Try the Monte Cristo.

 A chance encounter with Toy Story.

 We met some princesses.

 And yes...that Snow White is real!

Disneyland is magical with kids. The whole trip was just so fun. We got back on our plan Saturday morning at 7am and arrived in Chicago to wait for 4 hours (keep in mind Peoria is only 2 hours from Chicago) then we flew past Peoria to St. Lois then drive home for another 3.5 hours. And today...we are back to our life and we have such happy thoughts to remember. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I am ready for the Christmas season. Last week we started listening to Christmas music. The kids love Grandma got ran over by a reindeer.
Signing off with a picture of the gorgeous ocean.

The Big EZ turns 3.

Well, hello there EZ boy! Happy Happy Birthday to you.

We can't believe you are 3. 

One morning he turned in a circle and said, "this is how I turn 3" Then he followed that with pulling his arm up in his shirt so you couldn't see it, and saying, "look I only have 1 arm"

We live in Peoria Illinois, which is the Caterpillar Truck headquarters. They have a new museum so we went and checked it out. It was totally worth it. Fun for the whole family.

 This expression tells it all.

 And this expression shows the gift excitement. We gave him a fast moving firetruck and a helicopter. Chloe and Lola gave him a piggy bank and Grandma Ruthie and Grandma Robert gave him a little learning laptop computer (which is actually a win/win gift for he and Chloe!)

 I love making cakes. Part of the fun is picturing the perfect cake for the birthday person at their stage in life. This cake was 100% Ezra. Even though he requested a Caillou cake (we made Caillou pancakes that morning)  I used my mom card and intervened. He loved his cake.

 His best buddy Madeleine.

EZ you are one spunky kid. You light up with excitement all the time. You are cuddly and affectionate and daring and love your momma. You are small but mighty and have such a happy EZ going personality. You idealize your older sister and adore your little sister. You love to hold my hand and make sure you know exactly where I am at all times. You always wish "you had a phone or a camera" to be holding. You love banks and money and snacks. Happy Birthday big guy.

For the record.

I was going through our scrapbook and decided to take a few photos of photos. 

Halloween 2004.  Man I love that guy I'm with!

Halloween 2010 

 Halloween 2012. A couple of times during the night we said to each other, "stop scowling". Oh wait. That's just wrinkle makeup. Too funny. And by the way...that sweater B-rad is wearing was his grandpa's who died in his 90's. I was at old navy yesterday and they are selling a very similar sweater but in maroon and mustard yellow. B-rad is so fashion forward.

 Ahh...the little old couple.

 We had a wonderful weekend in Nauvoo. We did Rendezvous At Old Nauvoo (a cute little play put on by the senior couples which Chloe LOVED), we did the sites, the temple, and had a fun mini vacation.