Disneyland...the Merriest Place on Earth!

Disneyland.  I love Disneyland.  I love the atmosphere, the shows, the rides, the treats.  Everything.  I love that we could go together as a family.  We have so many great memories there, memories that I know our family will have forever.  We love Disneyland at Christmas time.  It is even more magical with the lights, trees, decorations, and ride changes.  We got there early each morning, and actually walked on to most rides until early afternoon.  Especially Splash Mountain.  Seems like those silly locals think 60 degrees is freezing and didn't want to get wet.  There were times when there were 0 people in line so we stayed in the log and went again:)  We even got Trevor to ride.  Small Miracle! We got to canoe and explore the island, visit Pooh, Tigger, and Yellow Rabbit.  We savored Pirates and Haunted Mansion, rode Indiana Jones, laughed at the "hilarious" jokes on the Jungle Cruise, and climbed the tree house (okay, some of us climbed the tree house).  We LOVED watching Billy Hill and the Hillbillies and enjoyed reindeer games with Mrs. Claus.  We met the Three Caballeros and enjoyed Three Kings Day, petted the animals, met Jesse and Woody, reindeer Pluto, and the Bear Jamboree bears, and took on Big Thunder Mountain (okay, some of us took on the mountain).  We left our mark on ToonTown, got to see Mickey and Minnie, rode the train around the park.  Fantasyland rides were enjoyed over and over, and we sang along during Small World Holiday.  (Have you ever noticed that Small World is totally a spiritual experience?  You ride through all the lands - there's laughter and fear, wishing for peace, making friends, loving one another and then you get to the end and everyone is mixed together, dressed in white.  Everyone.  I seriously get teary eyed when I ride.)  Tea cups were spun and we hung out with Alice and the Mad Hatter.  Tomorrow Land was conquered, (along with Zurg), Innoventions helped the gaming withdrawls, and Space Mountain was enjoyed.  Fireworks and Fantasmic are always a must, as are the churros we eat whilst watching them.  So many rides, so little time. 

California Adventure

I think California Adventure has some of the best rides and entertainment.  Soarin' and Screamin', Tower of Terror, Grizzly River Run, Toy Story Mania, the Aladdin show...all our favorites.  Of course, the frozen lemonade and sour dough bread can't be missed, either!  We only spent one day there, but we packed it all in.  Cars Land was pretty cool, especially at night all lit up.  It was by far the busiest place of the entire trip.  The kids burned off some energy in the Redwood Challenge Trail.  We lucked out that Kyall was 40 inches (and only with her rubberbands did she make it).  We all got to fly over California.  The rides we didn't think she'd enjoy were "luckily" the rides that Trevor and Ben refuse to ride.  They got a lot of kiddie rides in while we were enjoying the "thrill" rides.  Of course, Heimlich is a favorite:) 

New Year's Eve at Disneyland...along with 71,991 other people!

Waiting for 2013

New Year's Eve at Disneyland was totally insane...and totally worth it (once)!  The morning wasn't bad at all...we walked on to most rides.  We didn't really feel the crowds until late afternoon.  Unfortunately, Ben got sick and the little girls were never going to make it, so Wade took them back to the hotel.  The rest of us stayed to ring in 2013.  Of course, with the park maxed out at 72,000 people, the ride lines were long so we headed to Innoventions.  Trevor's favorite place EVER!  After a couple hours upstairs playing games, we discovered the "Michael Jackson Experience."  Best. Entertainment. Ever.  Seriously.  We spent forever there.  Let it be known to all the world that Tucker is the ultimate champ! After Innoventions closed, we made our way to Main Street, parading right in front of the Castle/stage and smiling for the tv cameras.  There was not a square inch available until we were almost to the train station.  We found a spot and played Disney Headbanz without the headbands.  Best waiting ever.  We also restarted the wave of tens of thousands of people.  Everyone around us was saying "that's so cool!"  Yes, we are trend wave setters.  The countdown on Main Street, USA was a once in a lifetime experience.  So cool, yet don't think we are insane enough to do it again. 

Christmas Trip - Knott's "Merry" Farm

The first day at Knott's was...interesting.  First of all, we were missing Wade.  He should have been there by early afternoon, but decided that sitting in the airport was way more fun.  Not.  About 10 minutes after we got there it started to rain.  Not little misty precipitation but real rain.  No problem...we went and had our old time photo done INSIDE.  The kids dressed up as cow-people, outlaws, and a bartender.  So fun!  Of course Kyall was adorable.  The photographer told them to look serious.  Okay, what 3 year old knows how to pose serious.  Trevor told her to be angry.  First try made me and the workers laugh out loud, but then she had a perfect "serious" face!  We spent time in the shops in Ghost Town and rode the train.  Pretty much looked like drowned rats at that point.  Of course, when the train robbers came and asked who had the money, we all yelled "Tucker" and they tried to shake him down.  We went to Mystery Lodge and It's Christmas, Snoopy! on ice.  By then the rain had stopped and Kyall needed a nap so Trevor and Ben took Ryanne and Kyall back to the hotel while I took the "Ride Warriors" on some rollercoasters.  Please children, remind me if we come back to NOT ride Ghost  Rider.  My kidneys still hurt.  After a rocky start the day ended great...except we were still missing Wade.  The second day brought Wade, better weather, and more fun.  We sure got our money's worth from the season passes we got for spring break!

Christmas trip - Getting there

For Christmas this year, Wade and I decided we needed one last family vacation before Trevor leaves for two years.  The fact that this would be his last Christmas at home was super sad for me, so where else would we go than the "Happiest Place on Earth."  We were all excited to leave the freezing cold snow for warmer weather in California.  Our journey there, however, was on both ends of the spectrum.  The kids and I loaded up and left Friday evening.  After filling our tires with air (not 80, not 80!!!), we headed for the airport.  We got parked, cleared security and got to the gate with no issues...thank goodness.  The plane ride was a first for all the kids (except Kyall).  Some were excited, some scared, some in between.  I had to laugh because they were fighting over who HAD to sit by the window, not who GOT to sit by the window.  They did all love the fact that it only took 1 1/2 hours to get there!  When we got to Long Beach, we walked out of the airport to see a limo parked at the curb.  I could hear the kids behind me saying "hey our ride's here" and laughing when they said "I wish."  The look on their faces when the driver called our name was priceless.  Total shock, then pure excitement.  Thanks to my wonderful cousin, we started our trip in some serious style.  We got checked in to our poolside suite, thrilled to be on vacation.

Then there's Wade.  Poor guy.  Wade had to work until 4am on Saturday, so we had him scheduled for a noon flight.  He got a few hours sleep before the airport shuttle picked him up.  He was so excited to see that Robin was on the shuttle.  They had the same flight here.  That was about as long as his joy lasted.  Their flight was delayed and eventually cancelled due to some navigation problem.  Whilst I'm glad that nothing happened while they were in the air, we were already missing him and now he'd be even longer.  Because of my big hearted cousin, Wade got the last seat out on the last flight of they day, otherwise he would have been stuck at the SLC airport until the next day.  There were a lot of people at Knott's staring at me sobbing into the phone when I found out what she had done.  I love my family...all of it!

We're sending our son to Siberia!

After what seems like an eternal wait, Trevor's mission call finally came.  Let's just say that his portion of paperwork was done September 1st and his call came November 27th.  I guess the Lord is still trying to teach me patience.  But I digress.  Elder Trevor Wade Jewkes will labor in the Russia Vladivostok Mission, reporting on January 30th.  It is perfect for him.  He's excited to get a real Russian accent, and he loves to fix things the "Russian" way.  The things that we have learned about his mission area are mind boggling.  Serious, mind boggling.  His mission boundaries are the size of the United States, the biggest geographical mission in the church.  It is one of the three smallest in terms of church members.  His mission borders Mongolia, China, North Korea, Alaska and is just across the sea from Japan.  Siberia is literally in his mission boundary as well as the Arctic circle.  He will be 1,000 miles closer to Logan, Utah than to St. Petersburg, Russia.  I will save the rest for his mission blog that we'll start in January...except for the fact that it gets to between 40 and 60 degrees BELOW zero.  Poor kid.

Benjamin Coy

Ben is 16!!!!  Ben was born weighing 8lbs 15oz (but had they weighted him seconds earlier, before he "relieved" himself he would have been over 9lbs).  Big boy.  Of all our kids he is the one that takes after his dad.  It is nice having someone reach those top shelves for you.  A lot of people don't know that Ben didn't say his first word until he was 4 years old.  When he was little, he had so many ear infections that his hearing was affected.  We just thought he was a perfect little guy that would play by himself for hours and rarely cry.  When he was 2 1/2 we discovered the problem and started him in a special preschool.  His brain is wired a little different than most.  He is very literal.  He is always very intelligent.  I think a lot of people under estimate Ben.  He's quiet, but when he speaks we love to hear his vocabulary.  He uses the best words ever!  Things that people his age don't usually say (all in a good way, though).  I think his passion is headed in the direction of track...he's a thrower.  His goal is to break some records, and I have no doubt that if sets his mind to it and really wants it, he can accomplish it.  Ben's bond with Kyall has always been super strong.  She adores him, as do all of us.  Happy Birthday, Ben, love you tons!