Les Miserables

Todd and I grew up knowing the music to Les Miserables and I went to the Broadway show in SLC when I was a teenager.  However I knew the music, but even when I saw the show I didn't understand it.  When the new movie came out this year we saw it and holy cow, it just all came together.  It was awesome.  A few weeks later we were having a conversation with Ryan and Christa Hart about how much we loved the movie.  Then the idea came that we should look up which cities the Broadway show would be showing in this year.  The closest to us were Denver and Sacramento.  The planning started and it all fell into place.  We drove to SLC on Friday ate at The Cheesecake Factory.  Yummy!  That night we played games at the hotel.

Saturday morning we flew to Denver.

Todd, Ryan and Christa racing with a word search!

Saturday afternoon we walked around Denver watching all the crazy people and taking crazy pictures!

These sidewalk chalk artists were awesome.

We found the theatre which was only about 1/2 mile from our hotel!
We also had lunch at the Corner Bakery.

Posing like the statues.

Saturday night was the show.  It was amazing.  It was so fun to watch it knowing what was going on this time.  It was very enjoyable and fun to be with the Hart's for their first "Broadway" experience!

We were up early on Sunday to fly back to SLC.  Short and sweet.  Thanks for going with us Ryan and Christa.  Can't wait to take you to NYC!!

TaVaci

TaVaci. . . . How our children love you!!

The spring concert was last week and it was a good one!  We have taken the fall semester off the last couple years and that is working very good for our family.  Terri (the instructor) is awesome and really teaches these kids to perform.  I love to watch how animated all the kids are, but of coarse mine are the best!!!

Carson with his 8 year graduation trophy.

Ashlynn-  She smiles the whole time she is on stage.  

Analee- chocolate on her face for the "chocolate song"

Carson- Boys only number performing Newsies

                                     
     Carson also had a solo.  All the older classes were performing a "Through the years" number.  He did such a good job!

Girls Weekend in California

For Christmas the girls got a trip to California to American Girl Place! We got a great flight on Allegiant from Idaho Falls to Los Angeles.  Flight time 1:45 and everything went great!

I booked the LAX Marriott Hotel because it was close and had a free shuttle the the hotel from the airport.  I wasn't too interested in driving in LA by myself!

We were on the 15th floor and this was the view from our room!

We spent several hours at the pool.  The girls met a new friend named Shania who was 10 years old (same age as Ashlynn) and she was from England.  They had a great time together.

We took nail polish and did our nails while we were there!

Analee in bed with her doll in the new pajamas grandma Pincock made for her to take on the trip!

So when I went to arrange transportation to American Girl Place (I was planning to take a taxi) the Concierge told me it would cost $70 each way to take the taxi and it would be best for me to just rent a car.  I was nervous but went to Hertz in the hotel to get a quote.  The total price to rent the car for the day was $31 so that's what we did!  It was so much easier to get there than I expected everything just went smooth as could be.  

We were there right when the doors opened at 10:00 a.m.  The girls just ran around the whole store looking at everything giggling and loving the whole thing.  We had the whole store to ourselves!

I had made our Cafe reservation for 2:30 thinking it would take that long to get everything done and to enjoy our time there.  But after being there for and hour we had been to the Photo Shop to get their pictures for the magazines and they had been around the store several times to pick out what they wanted to buy.  I asked if we could move our reservation up to the 11:15 time and that was no problem!!

Ashlynn's dolls name is Ella.

Analee's dolls name is Ellie.

So there were three tables filled in the whole restaurant (9 people total)  It was so great to not have to be there with the crowds.  That place would be crazy if a lot of people were there.

Ashlynn's magazine cover

Analee's magazine cover

                                                                                 

Ashlynn ended up picking a sleeping bag for herself and the slumber party pack for her doll which included drinks, popcorn, a sleepover magazine and an apples to apples game!

Analee picked out a school desk for her doll (which they had to ship to us because they didn't have any in the store) and this backpack for her doll which included the water bottle, notebook, science book and 3 pens!  It was a great day for the girls.  All day they kept saying Thank you to me for taking them there!  I love when my kids are grateful.

Ok so we took this bus from our hotel down to the beach.  Analee was holding the $1 to give to the driver for her tip, but she accidentally dropped it and it fell down by this door! Can you see it there?  Well we were driving and it was flapping in the wind from the crack in the door so we snapped this picture and shortly after it slid out the door! She thought she was going to be in trouble, but it sure was funny and a great memory.

The beach was as fun as always.  We were there at night so we didn't go expecting to get wet, just walk on the beach and look for shells.

That did last for a little bit.

But they started jumping in the waves and I am glad they did.  This picture just brings me so much joy.
Look at them, they were soooo happy.

After jumping the waves Analee decided it would be great to bury herself in the sand, clothes and all.  We just laughed and laughed and took pictures to remember such happy moments. 

We enjoyed a perfect sunset together on the beach.

Just beautiful.

About 5 days before our trip we made a last minute decision to go to Disneyland for a day!  It was perfect.
 We took the hotel shuttle to the airport, then got on the Super Shuttle to Anaheim. 

First ride was Radiator Springs.  One of the big rides in Cars land.  We got fast passes right when the park opened so we went through the regular line once and then used our fast passes to ride it again!

We packed these shoes with us to get Analee about 2 inches taller so she could go on Screamin!
It worked and she loved it.

Picture from Screamin!!!

Eating a cookie sandwich for dad (his favorite treat at Disneyland) since he wasn't with us!!

Such precious moments with my girls.

We loved this ride in Cars land too!  We rode it 4 times laughing the whole time!

 We rode every ride in the park, went to Disney Jr Live on Stage, watched the parade and watched the World of Color show!  It was a very fun day.  Sunday morning we slept in, then enjoyed a buffet breakfast at the Hotel Restaurant before our flight to come home!  The girls were so amazing this trip, they are growing up and were so fun to be with and were truly grateful for their weekend with mom!

Our Baby turned 6?!!!!!

Where does the time go?  Analee turned 6 today.  She had her first birthday party and loved every minute of it.  The theme was Dots and Dolls (or stuffed animals!)  It was so much fun and very inexpensive.  She picked Arby's for lunch and took rice crispy treats to her class today.

We started the day off with family gifts.  Playing Heavy heavy hang over thy poor head!

On this last gift she requested that Ashlynn video, Braeden take pictures and the rest of us all hold the gift :-)

All her friends brought a doll or stuffed animal and they participated in all the activities!  First game: children and dolls were all blind folded ready to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey!

This game they all had paddles made out of paper plates with paint sticks for the handle and a polka dotted balloon.  They had to try to not let the balloon touch the ground!

All the dolls had their own paddles with balloons, they watched the kids play!!!

Dinner time!!! Menu was polka dotted pizza (pepperoni), Cheeto balls and water.

Dolls menu: Pizza, cheeto balls, water and polka dotted cake for dessert to match Analee's cake!

What a cute table!

Blowing out her candles, it only took one breath.

Polka Dots on the inside to match the outside!  This was my first time making a layered cake, using fondant and adding polka dots to a cake!  Good thing it was for a 6 year old, because the flaws are plentiful.  However in the process I did decide I would like to take a cake decorating class :-)  HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANALEE.  We love you and no matter how old you get yes you will always be our baby!!!