March

In case anyone has been wondering what has happened to us the last month, I'll try to give you the short version.

The day we left for Disneyland Vern had completed and passed the ground part of his Stage 2 check. The Stage 2 check is a two part test, one part is ground where Vern teaches a lesson, answers questions, etc... the second part is flying where he instructs in the helicopter and performs maneuvers. He was nervous before the stage 2 check. After we got back from California he did the flying part of his stage 2 check, which he passed. Now it was on to the check ride with the FAA to try to obtain his CFII license. In order for Vern to get a job with the school his is at now, he not only had to have his CFI rating but his CFII as well. The lady that is basically in charge at Quantum (his school) would be performing his FAA check ride. So not only did he need to pass the first time (it costs $500 every time you take it) but he needed to do it according to her standards/liking so he would look good for hiring. I can't even tell you how stressed he was before the check ride.

The FAA check ride is like the stage 2, broken down into two parts. Vern completed and passed his ground part. Whew, he could kind of breath a sigh of relief but not quite yet he still had his flight part to pass. To get to the point, he couldn't do his flight part the first time because of too much fuel in the helicopter and then a few days later he took it again and passed everything except for one GPS approach. At this point, Missy (the chief flight instructor) said he could just redo that part of the test in a few days and asked him to come in for an interview on Monday. Well, then the pressure was really on because if he didn't pass the next time, would he still get the interview? Vern did pass, bless his heart. And HE GOT THE JOB!!!!! He is now officially a flight instructor at Quantum!!!!!! Can you believe it? He's worked so hard the past five years and now everything he's worked so hard for is here. Neither of us can believe it. It doesn't seem real yet.

So for the month of March, Vern has been studying, stressing and taking tests. The kids and me have been doing our normal stuff and trying to give him some space to study. Riley started T-ball March 12th and loves it! Riley also had a birthday April 4 and turned 5. I can't believe he is 5. We also found out that he got accepted to Ben Franklin for kindergarten next year. We are so excited! Last Saturday was Riley's first T-ball game and birthday party.

Riley running to get the ball- he ran to get every ball even balls that were across the field. Some of the other kids did to. It was really cute.

Riley running to base after he hit the ball

Mattie at the T-ball game

Riley on base

He had the best birthday party! He had so many friends come and they all had a good time. We played a wild game of duck duck goose and the limbo. Then, the kids had snow cones (Grandma and Grandpa Perry brought their snow cone machine)!

I don't know if you can tell but the piñata is Darth Vadar's head. It looked awesome and we kept it since it was still in one piece.

Children scrambling for candy

Riley's cake/cup cakes. The cup cakes had light sabers or clone trooper rings on them

Grandam in one of the Darth Vadar masks we had for the kids

Disneycation

It's almost been a week since we've been back from Disneyland and I have not blogged about it! We had a lot of catching up to do at home and Mattie had a birthday. I kept putting off blogging about our trip to Disneyland because I knew it was going to take awhile and can't decide on pictures and what should go on here. At last these are the pictures/stories that have made the cut.

We flew to California Thursday night. Both Riley and Mattie wanted to sit by my mom so she ended up sitting with both kids. Lucky her. Mattie did okay. She wanted her own seat and wanted to do what she wanted to do. After we landed Riley said, "That was a crazy ride. I felt like I was jacking out of my seat!" We did have some turbulence.

Vern's parents drove out to California and met us there. This was really nice because they drove out some of our stuff like our stroller, jackets, pack n' play etc... The weather report said it was supposed to be rainy most of Friday which was the next day. We prepared for the worst the next day (the weather report also said that Los Angeles was expecting snow and it was the first time in like over 40 years). We took warm jackets, umbrellas, and ponchos.

The only ride that Mattie talked about before our trip to Disneyland was the Nemo ride. We decided to do that one first since it was early in the morning and the park was just open. We only had to wait about 15 minutes. Mattie and Riley both loved it! We of course did all our other favorites that were open like Buzz Lightyear, Pirates, Small World, Autotopia and Toontown.

Mattie and Riley in line for the Finding Nemo Submarines

Mattie inside the Nemo ride

Riley had been dying to do the Jedi Training. So Riley and I got first in line so that he could be picked. When the people came out and started picking and I realized by the way of picking methods, Riley probably wasn't going to be picked. But the man doing the choosing was looking directly at me or so I thought and describing a sweatshirt (which Riley had one on) so I sent him out there. After I pushed him out there, he said plaid sweatshirt. I said, no Riley it was someone else and made him come back. The man saw this and saw how upset Riley was (you can imagine if you know Riley). The man said if the boy turns around he can come up. Riley turned around and got to go up. He was on stage and so cute! He got to fight Darth Vader on stage. It was awesome! I don't think any of us will ever forget it.

It's kind of small, but Riley is the little one on stage with the orange and red on

Riley preparing to fight Darth Vader~ look at how much bigger Darth Vader is! Scary

Riley battling Darth Vader- its awesome!

By about 6:00 we had had it. We met Vern's parents for dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp. That night Vern and I went back to Disneyland in the poring rain and rode Souring Over California, Indian Jones and Pirates. It was fun to have a date with my husband. That so rarely happens I can't even remember the last time just the two of us went out so it was really nice. Even if we were running around from ride to ride, sloshing in the rain.

I don't want to bore everyone with ALL the details of the vacation so I'll just mention a few more:

My mom lost her purse on the Indiana Jones ride and they had to shut it down while they looked for it!

Riley and Mattie got to meet Woody and Jessie

My dad got the kids bubble guns and Mattie was obsessed. When ever we were at the hotel room she had to have her bubble gun going. Sometimes she even had two going at once.

Grandpa Vernon wanted to take Riley to Tom Sawyer's Island. Riley didn't really want to go, but once he got there he didn't want to leave! He loved it!

We got to eat at the character breakfast and it was awesome! Mattie loved Minnie Mouse but when she got close she was afraid. But when Minnie would leave, Mattie kept wanting her back.

Mattie loved the Buzz Lightyear ride and got a higher score than my mom and me!

Riley rode Thunder Mountain Railroad for the first time and loved it!

Us on Small World

Mattie driving on Autotopia

Riley waiting in line for Peter Pan

The castle all lit up, on me and Vern's journey back to Disneyland the first night

Riley and Captain Hook

Shaking hooks

Riley and Grandma on Toy Story Mania

Mattie in her own seat on Toy Story Mania

Mattie and Riley in their Woody and Jessie hats

Us with Woody and Jessie

As you can see, we had the best time at the happiest place on Earth! We loved our Disneycation!!

Happy Birthday Mattie!

Today is Mattie's birthday. She is two years old and I cannot believe it.

I still remember when I had Mattie, every little detail. That day, my parents and I had gone to Freestone Park with Riley. We also went to Costco and I remember that Riley threw a huge fit and I had to carry him out of the store. Mattie was due March 21 and I was scheduled for a c-section March 17. Mattie didn't want to wait and came March 1. I had been laying in Riley's bed with him and was having contractions (I had braxton hicks contractions through out both my pregnancies) so I didn't think it was anything. Then, I felt myself get wet like a had peed (I know gross and tmi) but I knew that I hadn't peed. I got up and told Vern that I thought my water had broken and then we rushed out to the car to go to the hospital. Poor Riley didn't even have shoes on. Mattie was born at 7:20 a.m. She wanted to eat all the time, seriously there was no stopping. She still loves to eat all the time.

Mattie's Favorites

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Babies (real or dolls)

Her binkies and blankets

Pickles

Looking at books

Playing with Riley

Ranch dressing

Mattie is such a strong, independent little girl. Vern and I always joke about her being 1 going on 13. She thinks she can do whatever she wants to do, without any help or interference. I can't imagine our lives without her. It seems like she has always been here even though she is just turning two. Happy Birthday Mattie!

Disneyland or bust

We are preparing for our trip to Disneyland. Riley has completed his food chart. We are flying to California Thursday night and are going to Disneyland Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We are so excited but it seems like there is so much to do to prepare! I am sure I will have tons to post when we get back :)

Yesterday I sprayed on my new perfume. I really like it. I don't usually wear perfume but I made an exception for this perfume. I sprayed it on and then right after that Riley walked into my bedroom. He goes, "Mom what is that smell? Is it poop?" Thanks Riley. So much for my new perfume.

Last night we were driving home and Riley said he had to go to the bathroom right away. He couldn't wait until we got home. So we pulled over and got him out. Mattie started to flip out and kept saying pee pee and was pulling at her buckles. She wanted to get out and pee too. She still wears a diaper though so that really wouldn't work. Vern ended up getting her out for just a second, but not to pee.

Zoo

It has been crazy busy the past few weeks for some reason. We had two baby blessings last Sunday and this is my sharing time month. Also, I've been working on our business taxes which aren't so fun and time consuming. Needless to say the blog takes a backseat to everything else going on here.

My birthday is tomorrow :) Yes I am a Valentines baby. What I really wanted for my birthday was to go to the Wildlife Zoo in Phoenix. So, on Saturday we went to the Wildlife Zoo. It was so much fun. The kids loved it. First we went to the aquarium part. Mattie loved this fish and kept saying fish. We also went to the petting zoo and pet/fed some goats, llamas and deer. The deer kept trying to eat Riley's and my shirt. It kind of freaked Riley out. It was great and I am so glad we finally got to go!

Me, Mattie and Riley in front of some fish

Riley and me in the petting zoo

Mattie did not want to touch any animal

Riley petting a deer

Riley and a tortoise

Mattie not wanting to touch it

Me feeding a giraffe, no one else would do it!

Vern, Riley and Mattie

Vern has a big test on Tuesday and Wednesday so he will be studying tomorrow (since he was so nice and gave me his ENTIRE Saturday). I am hoping we can celebrate for Valentines/my birthday Thursday night.

I just want to say, I have the most considerate, sweet husband in the whole world! He is always thinking about other people (mostly me and the kids) but always about what others need. This morning I asked him if he could cut out my sharing time stuff while I showered. I came back downstairs and everything was cut out and he had put magnets on everything so that I wouldn't be scrambling for magnets when it was time. He always does stuff like this for me. Always thinking ahead about what I might need. I love him so much and am so thankful he's mine :) Me and the kids are so lucky we have him.

Kids Say Silly Things

We were eating at a Mexican food place with my parents. Mattie was standing up in the booth and playing with the menus and salt shaker. Riley said, "Maybe Mattie's brain tells her to do bad stuff. My brain tells me to do good stuff."

When we were driving to Vern's parents house Riley was really upset that his cousins, Verlynne's boys weren't going to be there. They had gone to their other Grandma's house, their Hincha grandma. I guess it was the first time Riley realized that Verlynne's boys had a different last name. He flipped out. Granted, he was tired and needed a nap, he was beside himself that they were not his cousins anymore because they were "Hincha's". He was yelling and screaming. We explained to him that most of his cousins have different last names but are still related. Vern and I were trying not to laugh or have him see us laughing. Vern looked at me and said where did that come from? Who knows. I sure don't know. Luckily Riley got over it and the Hincha's are still his cousins and his buddies.

Mattie is saying so many words now. It's hard to keep track of all the words she can say. Tonight I heard her saying "Butt"and I thought oh no, now I have to be careful what I say with her too! I keep trying to tell her we say bottom, but she points to her bottom and says "butt". She can aslo say candy and pocket. Its really cute to hear her say pocket.

Tonight Vern was eating an ice cream and both the kids wanted some. Mattie said bite but she wanted to hold the cone herself and Vern didn't let her. She ran off stomping her feet and got on the coaster (its a little coaster with a car the kids got for Christmas), we were all sitting kind of at the foot of the coaster and it looked like she wanted to ram us. We all scrambled out of the way. Don't mess with Mattie and her food.

Dog

We have a dog in our house now. Well, not an actual dog, but my little girl who likes to play like she's a dog. My mom watched Riley and Mattie on Sunday because they both had cold/coughs and Vern and I both had to be in church. When we got home from church Mattie was crawling around the floor panting. And then she said "bone" and my mom put a bowl of animal crackers on the floor and she ate them like a dog. At first it was pretty cute to see her pretended to be a dog and hearing her say bone. But then the rest of the day at meal times she didn't want to eat at the table with us, she wanted to eat on the floor like a dog. I think she's kind of forgotten about it now thank goodness. My mom said that Riley was the one who started it, and he wanted Mattie to be a mouse and him to be a dog. But Mattie didn't want to be a mouse and acted like a dog. My kids sure are entertaining :)