The Winds of Change: November 2012

Summer FUN

We spent most of our summer in Logan because that is where Derek's job was... it was fun going back to our old parks, restaurants, my gym, good friends and family!

Nyah takes such good care of her little sis... sometimes I even get to sit down! :)

Grandma Poulsen makes the best homemade bread in the whole wide world... this day she let Nyah and Ali get their hands dirty making their very own mini loaf... and they LOVED it! I LOVED scarfing it when it was hot out of the oven with her homemade raspberry jam. :)

We took a last minute trip to California... we couldn't decide if we were going to go so we packed for it when headed to my mom's... we booked a hotel at midnight and rolled out at 4 am and headed straight for the beach!

Heaven on earth!

We spent the whole next day at the beach! It was pretty windy but we had a fabulous time anyway... that is why there are a thousand pictures. ;)

Nyah trying her hand at "surfing" aka boogie boarding :)

Mostly our boards acted as a wind block!

Ali's one true love is playing with a shovel and pale in the sand and so endless beaches was her Ali dream come true and with Nyah on her digging crew made it even sweeter!

Pink frosted cookies with sprinkles for lunch...

and a sandcastle for dessert! :)

Despite the windy air and frigid water... I hit the waves solo...

Boogie boarding tops my list of fav's

Look at this handsome guy surrounded by a mountain of pink! Derek's life is pinkalicious for sure... Lucky guy ;)

Nyah turned into a mermaid and we had to drag her from the water when it was time to leave.

Ali was more afraid of being swept out to sea.

After we hit the pool for a cool down...

and a shower.

Next stop was Disneyland!

The girls were ridiculously excited the night before... I was busy printing off ten different itineraries to maximize our FUN and minimize the lines.

We started off on the right foot with our first sighting being sleeping beauty... my personal favorite! Nyah had a Nyah heart attack and was bursting with joy! Warm weather, overcast skies, and real life princesses it was destined to be a great day!

Nyah has been Alice in Wonderland for Halloween the last two years running so it was fun to meet her in the flesh.

(I had a bunch of videos of our vacation that I can't get to upload :'( try back soon and maybe I will have it figured out.)

This was the HIGHLIGHT of the day. My itinerary took us to toon town at opening we were in front and center of the MOB! The gates opened and Mickey and Minnie came around the corner and the crowd went crazy! Minnine danced right up to NYAH took her by the hand and...

Led Nyah at the front of the parade all the way through the streets of toon town to...

Minnie's house! Dreams do come true! It's funny because in Nyah's mind I'm sure she was thinking... of course she picked me... who else is there? HA! :) I love feeding the fantasies! :)

I rode our first roller coaster ALONE! Nyah went insane and refused to ride... Ali was willing but was too short... (we should have given her a higher pony tail." So then there was one... me right up front.

What could be better than Disneyland? Oh I don't know how about bumping into your fabulously fun cousins! Two wonderful worlds collided as we spontaneously bumped into them for a ride or character here and there throughout the day!

The roller coaster was a no go... look at the fearless attitude Nyah displayed while heading into... it's a small world! :)

Riding Dumbo... I was worried that Ali would be too small to ride the rides but she rode everything that Nyah did... and had a ball!

Goofy.

Pluto.

Riding Dad's tired shoulders with tired feet through main street.

Meeting Tinker bell.

Flying in a rocket.

I was surprised how much I liked the parade it was super entertaining... the girls were mesmerized!

Learning a princess dance... then later dancing the maypole with the princesses... while Dad waited in an insane line to meet three princesses... isn't that ever 32 year old man's dream come true? :)

Meeting Ariel.

Belle.

And Tiana.

Having dinner.

It was a super magical for the girls to have all their princesses come to life before their eyes and see their homes.

The teacups were a little bit cray and made me a lot sick!

Ali crashed right before the fireworks... her tiny Ali-kins body couldn't take anymore fun.

Nyah made it through half of them...

But then passed out on Dad's shoulder.

By the end of the day we were CRIPPLED! We staggered toward the tram terminal waited in line... and when it was our turn to board we were told that they were shutting the tram down for a medical emergency! WE were the medical emergency! We collapsed on the sidewalk holding bags and girls and I asked the attendant "what if we physically can't walk to the parking terrace?" She shrugged her shoulders and I prepared to bed down for the night where I was sitting. A group of angry people started walking toward the terrace. We really physically could not move so we stayed put. 10 min later the tram started up again... we boarded and passed the very angry walkers while people on the tram yelled at them and taunted them as we sped by. HA! :)

We had a cousin beach day where all magical stars aligned in Nyah's world!

Another one of Derek's famous sand castles. Yet again I make fun of his sandcastle from behind only to come around front and behold a masterpiece of sand art!

sand crab

cleaning up

Seaworld

Checking out some killer whales at Seaworld... not quite the same show from when I was a kid but the girls loved it! From a distance... Nyah did not want to get up close and personal! Too many graphic nature movies at the zoo I guess? :)

beluga whale

Pre-sick-stomachs on the sea star ride... There is a reason I am taking this picture and not on the ride! I was still sick from the teacup ride at Disneyland

Ali and I got totally soaked by a friendly dolphin... we were having a splendid time petting them until

one lifted it's tail... drenched us... and we headed home. :) Ali still talks about the dolphin that got her shoes "all wet"

3 worn out ladies

Before heading off we took in some pool time and Nyah got a swimming lesson from Dad! She did

really well!

Ali too.

Back Home

Nyah took a swimming lesson when we got home from the sports academy she was super brave!

At first she wouldn't put her face in the water and spent the first class on my lap with her head on my shoulder... after a teacher change she was swimming like a fish... what a great teacher!

testing out her skills in the baby pool outside.

This was my view most days in the summer from a white lounge chair... wearing a big hat, drinking diet coke, and eating wheat thins... I vowed to never live in a cold place again!

More Cousin Fun