DISNEYLAND!

We were some lucky duckies this week. Grammy and Papa treated us to a trip to Disneyland! We left after church on Sunday then spent 2 fun filled days at the happiest place on earth. It is a good thing Rusty and Lane have such nice grandparents because if it was up left to us, they wouldn't have seen that place for a good 5 more years!

I don't get sick on rides but holy hanna this ride is motion sick city!

(maybe it was because I was turned backwards taking pictures?)

 The kids loved spending time with aunt Val!

Thanks lady for the 1,2,3 say cheese warning

Lane was fearless. Half the time I felt like he was going to go flying off the rides. Hence why

my hands are not up in the air in below pic. I was holding onto Lanes arm for dear life!

He also wanted nothing to do with us. Just wanted to hang out with his Papa.

At dinner an amazing balloon guy came around and made all of these for the kids. They were in heaven.

On the Jungle Cruise. The boat drivers always crack me up. You could tell ours was almost done with a looong night shift:)

Story time: We were in line at the Tower of Terror, which happens to be my favorite ride. We were the last group in line waiting to board the ride with a couple right behind us. I look behind only to see Alexis and her husband Jim from the Real Housewives of Orange County! I peed my pants and was in disbelief. I love that show! I caught my cool then turned around and said, you are on the Real Housewives. She said yes then her and her husband Jim talked to Casey and I for like 5 minutes while we waited in line! It was awesome! They are super nice. She offered us gum. They had really bad garlic breathe. They whole time I was thinking what are the chances of this happening?! After awhile a worker called for a party of 2 so they went ahead of us. They first thing Casey said was wow her ring was huge (which it was) and her husband is old (which he is). And of cooourse I didn't have my camera. Stink Stink, I am still mad as of this moment about it.

 However, Casey can testify to this "celebrity" sighting:) It was legit.

I am happy to say Alexis and I are tight now:)

The World of Color is A-MAZING!

Before heading home on Wednesday we ate at Tiffy's (remember Tiffy's?!) then drove to Huntington and let the boys play on the beach for a bit.

Lanes favorite ride was the scary house, aka the Haunted Mansion. After doing California Adventure all day on Tuesday he was begging to do that ride again. So at 10:30 we trekked it back into Disneyland to do just that. Remember, it's a place where kids dreams come true:)

We are blessed to be Goodmans. We love each and everyone so much. Thanks again Grammy and Papa for the memories. We love you!

Fixy Fix

Last post I mentioned we painted the house. Here are the pictures of our proof:)

BEFORE:



AFTER:

Since we live in one of those wonderful we run your life HOA communities, we only had 3 different paint options to choose from. The one we choose had the most drastic light and dark contrasts. It looks better in person. I need to throw some colorful flowers in the pots to brighten the place up. That nappy tree will be a goner soon too!

I should have figured that painting the house would lead into some more projects, because it did. When we get going we sure do now how to catch the DIY bug.
One fine day (last week) Casey brought home some cabinets off a job that the owners were going to junk. Off the subject, I have scored some pretty good things from jobs Casey has done.  A huge shelf that is now in Lanes room, a jogging stroller, anywho, it's like Christmas when he does. So he pulls up with the cabinets and we instantly knew where they were going to be put.

I have always had partial feelings to my laundry room. I have never loved it or hated it. It was just the laundry room, nothing special.  I am always looking for more storage space and we have pretty much maxed out every room in the house except that one. So that very day our laundry room got an exciting makeover. It was kind of fun doing it spur of the moment and not really knowing what I wanted and to just go with the flow. I really like how it turned out and of course wish we had done it years ago!

BEFORE:

                

AFTER:



Choosing the cabinet color was the hardest part. I couldn't decide if i wanted cream cupboards with a brown glaze and paint the walls a fun bright color or going bold with the cupboards and having neutral walls. My inspiration finally came from a purse at Junky Trunk! You better believe I went straight to Home Depot for paint samples then back to the store to match the purse. The cute girl that worked there was hilarious. She had the purse and samples out by the window holding it up to the light to try and see which samples matched best. I was grateful for her help. I always doubt myself. I also really like the handles from Hobby Lobby.

It's amazing what a little TLC can do.  I need to go get some Cheer laundry detergent because cheers to having more storage space!!

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Welcome Summer

A whole lotta nothing happening over here.

We (I) like it that way.

Lane asks on a daily basis, what day is tomorrow?

I'll say Tuesday (or whatever day it is going to be).

No, WHAT DAY??

Meaning, what the heck are we going TO DO tomorrow.

He misses preschool. So do I.

I feel like a good mom when I can report that I actually have a fun activity planned.

But that doesn't happen much.

Tomorrow I am happy to report that we will hit up the splash pad.

But I will only tell when asked .

Or else my all ears are doomed to hear about it until then.

Rusty woke up freakishly early Sunday morning.

I let him play while I layed on the floor with a blanket.

I opened my eyes to check on him.

 And long enough to register that he was playing with my wallet.

I could've cared less at the moment.

2 days later I go to get my insurance card.

Temple recommend only to be found.

I went hunting through the house.

 Found rest of wallet contents under the couch except...

credit card.

New one will be here in 7-10 business days.

I killed a big fat scorpion in the entry today.

I sent a phone pix to Casey.

His reply: Kill it.

My reply: I just did. I deserve something now.

His reply:  Tell me what you want.

My reply: I was kidding

His reply: I wasn't

My reply: I wont say it on the blog but use your imagination.

His reply: I knew it!

But remember, I was just kidding:)

Casey painted the outside of the house. All by himself. He rocks.

He said he is the best painter ever. He has total bragging rights.

I was a good tape peeler-offer. No bragging rights.

I scored big in the husband department.

Especially when painting in 100 degree heat he says, this is fun.

And being DEAD serious.

Holy best money spent of our lives.

 It really needed a makeover. It looks fab.

I ♥ our house.

If only it were 1,000 sq ft bigger...

 and on 1/4 an ancre...

 We' b set 4 life.

(pics to come)

We have already had 3 swim /pizza parties this summer season.

Jenni, Jake and gang will make it 4 tomorrow night.

This will be a common trend for us.

And we are totally fine with it.

Oh, and Craig found a turtle swimming in the pool yesterday.

We all went running to check it out. Yeppers.

There was a turtle swimming in the pool!

Other summer trends:

*fruit smoothies with coconut milk for breakfast

 *$5 dollar Walmart movies

*50 cent corn dogs during happy hour (only @ participation locals. For sure Higley and Brown)

*washing my hair once a week

*swimming lessons

*Trying out new recipes for dinner and dessert.

*Roaming Target while eating popcorn/ Icee combo-

for your info Lane chooses red. Mom, Rusty share a blue. 

And lastly a few pictures.

These are the only new ones that were on my camera since my last post.

Oddly I did not take these.

I wonder who the culprit is?

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Water Water Everywhere We're Going To Get Wet!

I had my first day of swimming lessons.

I cried (and a little bit screamed).
And swallowed watered and barfed in the pool.

Marcie bought me a popsicle.

For the report, the next day I swam like a happy fishy.
Like I hadn't just been traumatized the day before.

Oh ya,

and next Sunday I can legally go to 

NURSERY!!!!

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Berry Berry Nice

Sometimes I wonder why I deserve such a wonderful husband. I had a rather extra special week and was spoiled and I mean spoiled by my boys for mothers day. Along with it came some major guilt. You see, April 30th was our wedding anniversary. You could say I was kind of a debbie downer that day...well more like a childish brat.

I wont go into detail but let me just say Casey needs a special award for putting up with me and my crazy antics! It was not as bad as I am making it sound. Well, it probably was to Casey. I can be pretty whinny (wonder were Lane gets it from?). However, we did enjoy a nice dinner at Cheesecake Factory to celebrate our LUCKY 7th year of marriage! Talking and snuggling in bed clear up until 2:30am wasn't so bad either:) Actually that was my favorite part. We could even start to hear our stomachs rumble so we busted out  left over breakfast burritos and had ourselves a little early morning snack . I love nights like that with my stud muffin.

So moving on, you will see why I was starting to feel guilty. Monday morning I woke up to this on the kitchen counter with a note that said:

Happy Mothers week!
We wanted to try and make this week a

little extra special. Hopefully you can do a little less

cooking and a little more relaxing.

We wanted to start it off right and "butter" you up

by telling you that we have "berry" big "crush" on you.
We love you and couldn't ask for a better mommy

Love,
your boys



So each morning that week I had something special to wake up to. I didn't take a picture of them all but some things were: a new shirt and jewelry. Casey made enchiladas and hid them in the freezer for a future meal I wouldn't have to make. Flowers. A slice of cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory along with my their RANCH! I love their ranch!! Whenever we eat their I order something that goes along with ranch (or sometimes not, I  don't care) and smother it with the stuff. I could probably straight up drink it! Needless to say I about peed my pants when I saw it in the fridge.

It was all seriously so thoughtful!

On Thursday Lane was acting funny getting off the bus from school. He was crouching over trying to hide this pink poster paper behind his back. I asked him what was up and he said his teacher told him to go hide it at home until mothers day...so that was what he was doing! The funny thing was, I couldn't wait to see it! He was so excited to give it to me on Sunday. I love it and it is hanging on the fridge. The flower petals are his hand prints. Later Casey was trying to track him down for breakfast and found him in his room making his bed (which he never does). He said his teacher told him to make his bed for mothers day...so that is what he did! I love his teacher, she is awesome. If only he would obey me as well as his teacher. I need to take notes from her!

And if everybody could give me a gentle reminder: no part-y the hair-y in the middle. It makes me look 10 times older!

We enjoyed dinner at my parents and then opening gifts. You can see Stephanie in the background on Skype.

I gave my mom and mother-in-law a basket full of items that went along with the primary song Mother Dear that I tweaked.

It was not as good as the gift Stephanie made. She had all of us siblings and the spouses write our testimonies then she put it together in a book. Try it next year for your moms. It guarantees tears!

 I made a berry yummy trifle for dessert. Stephs RECIPE (towards bottom of the post). I made it with her alterations plus I added fresh strawberries and it was berry good!

It is weird how being a mom can be so fun, exhausting, challenging but yet SO rewarding all at the same time. I think every night I go to bed feeling like a failure. Begging Heavenly Father for forgiveness and promising that I will do better the next day. I think what helps pull me through is looking at my mom and mother in-law and how they survived 7 kids each and doing it so well.. Not saying they never had hard moments, but they were able to push through and see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I sit and marvel at both of them, such great examples.

I also know I could never do it without Casey. How hard he works for our family and also at keeping me stream lined. I almost wish we celebrated Fathers Day twice a year. Maybe next year I will omit my mothers day to him...he has earned 1,000 in our 7 years as a family!

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Pageants, Bunnies, Hunt's & Bye Bye's

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I took Lane to the Easter Pageant last Thursday. It was his first time going. My mom is always so good to go down to the temple at 4pm to save seats for all of us. Second row, middle section isn't too shabby.

The whole time after it started Lane only cared about and kept asking when the bad guys were going to come. Nice. I felt a little better about how mesmerized he was at the end when they lifted Jesus high in the air above all the angels. He also really liked being able to pet a lamb they used in the pageant that Dana brought over for him to see.

 (don't judge his face, my camera was taking forever to take the picture and caught him in a weird pose)

Steph and I took the kids to Chandler mall to see the EASTER BUNNY! Sorry that the "no personal cameras please" sign is in the way. Seriously, who in their right minds actually buys a mall package. R-I-P O-F-F!

Saturday was the big Easter egg hunt at grammy and papas for the kids AND the adults!

Steph and Bryant got the big bucks this year.

Easter morning. I am mad I didn't get a picture of their baskets. Not like it was anything exciting. Lane got The Cat In The Hat movie, water color paints and coloring book and eggs filled with candy. Rusty got Tangled, mini baseball/basketballs and candy. They each also got these animals that made noises and pooped candy!

It was an extra special Easter Sunday because we went to my parents ward for David's missionary farewell.  He leaves on Wednesday to the MTC. I can't believe it is almost time for him to go! He will be a great missionary.

In his talk David mentioned how grateful he was to have the example of having an older brother, Christopher serve a mission and how much that strengthened him to desire to go on a mission himself.  I too am thankful for my brothers and their examples they have on my boys and for the importance it is to serve a mission.

David requested taco salad for dinner, YUM (remember, that's my fav!) and then we got everything ready for his open house later that night. My mom went above and beyond for the refreshments. A little (or a lot) of everything, just how I like it! I took a picture for Steph because I know she would appreciate the details:)

10pm after a loooong day and wishing it were me.

It was a happy Easter!
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Taking After Their Daddy...

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