Disneyland Vacation Day 1....Driving to Disneyland

Saturday February 8th we left for our big family Disneyland vacation!! We were all so excited.  That morning Aubrey and Dad woke up early to play her basketball game while Carter and I worked on last minute packing.  Around 10ish Nana, Papa, Titi and Gaga made it to Merced.  Before we got on the road we did Aubrey's birthday gift.  We did a group gift this year....

 We got her a new Apple iPhone 10x she was thrilled! and super surprised!!! 

It even was her favorite color, corral.  

 After her big surprise we loaded the two cars and set out for LA!!! 

 We had a nice drive down.  We stopped and had lunch in Bakersfield and then finally made it to our hotel.  We stayed at Clementine Hotel & Suites.  It was perfect for us.  We had two, two bed room suits and they each had two bathrooms it was awesome! Plus only a 10 minute walk to the park!! After checking in and resting a minute we ventured out for a breakfast dinner at iHop.  It was a great idea to go there because we met a couple of ladies that gave us the best tips ever for getting on the new Star Wars ride!

We got back to the hotel and had a nice rest to get ready for a big day in the park the next day...

Aubrey's 12!!!

Thursday February 6th was Aubrey's real birthday. I tried to have her stay home for a day of fun with me but she was excited to go to school and be with her friends. I remember being in 6th grade and loving it so much so I tried not to take it personally.

Aubrey loved her door of pictures.... 

 and all her gifts.  We had another big group gift that she didn't know about that she got on Saturday when were leaving for Disneyland.  

 Aubrey had her favorite breakfast and got to open a few of her gifts before school.

 Then we got ready for school.  She took cookies to share with the class.

 That afternoon Crater had an award ceremony that I got to go too.  

He doesn't look to happy to get his award, haha.

 Now he is smiling!

 He got an award for math, reading and he was on the honor roll! Way to go Carter!!

 After school we chilled with the birthday girl.  She then decided on Chipotle for dinner, her fav!

 After dinner we cruised the mall as a family!

Then we came home for some ice cream cake.

 Dear Miss Aubrey,

Wow you are 12!!! Your last year of being a "kid" hello teenage years here you come! You are so beautiful, smart, kind and mature.  Your teacher Mrs. Aliberto tells me all the time how mature you are and she is right.  We have to remind you a lot that you are not the adult.  You LOVE school.  You are so social and I would have to say probably one of the most popular kids at school.  I'm not just saying that to be cool.  You really are.  Everyone knows you and wants to be your friend.  You are not only so social you are brilliant! Like too smart sometimes! You get the highest score on all the tests.  Your teacher has to give you 7th and 8th grade math just to keep you busy and you even fly through that work.  You love to read and you write amazing stories!  You have me beat in spelling.  I have to ask you how to spell and as you will see when you get older and look through these blog books I have no idea how to use proper punctuation but you sure do.  I love that we can share clothes now.  You have really great style and I even share some of your clothes.  You are fun to watch chick flicks with and to talk with all about whats going on in your life.  You are still a super daddy's girl and love the time you get to spend with him.  You love basketball and have had a blast in your last season with Upward and dad as your coach.  I'm excited to see if you continue that talent in middle school next year.  You play your trumpet and you are great at it but you don't like band class very much.  It takes you away from classwork and your friends.  Dad and I try to tell you one day band will be fun and you will make such great friends that you will want to be there.  But who knows maybe that was just true for dad and I.  We will see if you continue with it next year.  I love our mother daughter shopping trips and when I talk you into taking the dogs on a walks with me.  Your stories make me laugh and I love your love for life.  Thanks for picking us to be your parents.  We love Aubrey Jane and so proud to call you are daughter!

On Friday Aubrey had her school assembly and she is on the honor roll again. 

She has had a 4.0 the entire year!!!

 That night she had her friends Mallary and Avery's birthday party.

 and I took my little man out to fro yo!

I can not believe we are leaving for Disneyland tomorrow!!!!!

Aubrey's Party

We can't believe that we have a 12 year old!!! One more year and we have a teenager, crazy!!! With our big family Disneyland trip coming up we decided to do Aubrey's party the first Saturday in February.  She really wanted a boy/girl party.  She decided on a bowling/pizza party with both boy and girls and then to have all the girls come over after and spend the night.     

 Aubrey wanted no big decorations this year.  She said she wanted it super low key and not for me to go over board.  Which is the hardest thing for this party loving mom to do.  She did let me go and get lots of junk food for the slumber party part.

 She said it was super babyish to do party favors.  Since she loves rice krispie treats I thought making bowling pins would be so cute.  She fought me on it but sure enough I did it anyways and guess what? They were such a big hit and all the kids loved them!!

 She fought me on the cake too!!! She did not want a cake but I told her that when kids get invited to a party they expect cake! (Plus cake is my favorite part of parties!) So I ordered it anyways and it was a big hit too.

 Most of the guest met us at the bowling alley.  We did take Benny and Kayla in our car there.  When we arrived at the bowling alley they had this super cute sign!

 They were so kind and reserved us four lanes in the corner.  It was like we had the bowling alley all to ourselves. 

 Aubrey's guest:

 Kayla, Mallary, Aubrey, Avrey, Mia T., Benny and J'marion.  

Presley also came but wasn't there when I snapped the group shot.

She also invited Mia G. and her boyfriend Evan but they could not make it! Yes I said boyfriend.  Evan asked Aubrey to be his GF in January! Dad and I were a little surprised but it is super innocent. The hardly talk at school and just send very innocent texts back and forth that we monitor.  It was Evan's birthday the day before and he invited Aubrey but when we found out she was the only girl invited we said no.  I think that might have been why he didn't come to Aubrey's??  What we heard is he got in trouble for door bell ditching at his party so that is why he couldn't come so maybe that was it, who knows.  Anyways it might have been better that he wasn't there so Aubrey could have super fun with the 7 other friends that were there.  They had a blast bowling! It was fun to watch.  

 Carter picked Noah to be his friend at the party.  They are such great buds!

 After bowling we packed up both our cars and went over to Mountain Mikes to have pizza, play games and do gifts.

 I think they were having lots of fun!

 Once the boys left we headed home for the slumber party part of the party.  The girls had fun playing games, watching movies, and eating lots of candy!

 and we did her cake!

 Then they talked and laughed the night away they finally all knocked out around 3am!!!!

 It was a great party.  Sunday morning we had blue berry muffins and yogurt for breakfast.  We had all the girls picked up by 9am so we could make it to church.

I have tried to snap a picture of Aubrey and Evan while I'm subbing at the school but they are so funny and shy I can never get one.  So I saw this one at school.  I felt a little like a stoker trying to get this picture but in an effort to document memories for the kids it was worth it.  Now Aubrey can always remember what her first boyfriend looked like, haha!

After church that day it was super bowl Sunday!  We had lots of yummy food and crashed out on the couch all afternoon long.

 Macy and I watching the game.

It was such a long game and in the end the 49ers lost! So sad!!! 

What a busy weekend!! We were all so tired that night.  

January 2020

Wednesday January 1st (New Years Day) we got to celebrate Titi!! It's so fun to always have that day off of work and school so we can enjoy celebrating Titi's birthday.  We were so lucky to have the family come down to us this year.  We were pretty tried from just getting back from Vegas.  We all went to Sizzler for a late lunch early dinner....

Then us girls got to do some fun Hobby Lobby shopping.  

Then we came home for gifts and cake...

Papa ordered the cake this year and asked for big pink flowers.  

Isn't this an amazing cake?!?

It was so yummy too!!!

Happy Birthday Titi

Carter and I started on his Lego Yoda...

Aubrey had a slumber party with her friends on the 2nd.  Avery, Mallary and Mia.  I brought out my old games from the 90's.  Dream Phone and Heart Throb.  They loved them!!!

Carter and I worked more on Yoda!

I am loving my new pressure cooker Spencer got me for Christmas.  It's amazing how fast I can make things.  We have been trying so many fun new recipes.

Our favorite has been the Indian Butter Chicken, so so so good!

Friday the 3rd Carter had Wesley over for a slumber party.

Saturday the 4th we met up with our aunties to exchange Christmas gifts, have lunch and go sledding at the farm in Manteca. It was a lot of fun to see them.... 

Holidays on the farm is so cool.  We did a train ride....

Carter got to a race....

Yummy hot chocolate....

and tubing.....

It was a fun day.

Sunday the 5th we had church.  Then we did spaghetti and meat balls in the instant pot and it was awesome and so easy!  

We enjoyed our dinner up in the movie room...

Monday January 6th was back to school! The kids were excited to see their friends...

I missed them when they were gone all day so I got them a fun art project to do when they got home...

That night was the first day of basketball practice.  Dad is so amazing! He coached both teams again this year.  He puts in so much time and love into his team it's great to watch.  The kids are so blessed to have such an involved dad!

Since we went with the trip as our big gift this year Carter didn't get what he had on top of his list, a hoover board.  He mainly didn't get it because I was worried about safety and the fact that all the hoover boards say 12+ but he REALLY wanted one.  Carter and I did more research and he decided to use his Christmas money on a hoover board.  We read a million reviews and decided he could get one so he ordered it online and waited very patiently for it to finally arrive.  It came on Wednesday January 8th and can you see how thrilled he is....

and like Carter is with everything he tries he picked up on how to do it instantly! 

Friday January 10th I got to sub in Carter's class.  We went to lunch together.

Another fun new instant pot dinner...

Aubrey loves basketball season!

Tuesday January 14th was the first church activity day boys.  

They made kites...

I got to sub in Aubrey's class so I had them do an art project for Valentine's Day

They came out so cute!

Kids at Peterson made me the cutest thank you cards for making the lunch buckets... 

One day that I was subbing and I got to go to the magic science assembly...

Cute Millie!

Friday January 17th Aubrey went to her friend Kayla's paint birthday party. 

Titi and Lucy came to town on Saturday January 19th for a couple nights.  We went to the Dr. Dolittle  movie which was really cute.  

We also did some shopping...

Carter fell in love with a new pet he wants.

Valentine crafts.....

Such cuties!

More Yoda building....

Carter had a cold so I got to have him at home for a couple days.  We took the time to work on his art boy scout badge.  One of the requirements was to paint a portrait.  I was blown away by his art talents! I knew he was talented but this was amazing!!!!!  

We did more art when Aubrey got home...

Saturday January 25th was our first basketball games!  They did great.  We lost both games but it was still so fun to watch and neat to see the stuff both teams need to work on.  

It's going to be a great season!

That night we took the kids to a UC Merced women's basketball game.  It was a lot of fun!

Carter even won a shirt!

The kids looked so cute in their Sunday's best!

Tuesday January 28th was the 100th day of school.  I'm back on the PTC board.  I'm the new secretary.  We had to meet up to sign some stuff so we went to Frozen World and had a treat..

Carter also had to draw a self portrait and that was amazing too! We have a true artist on our hands!

Wednesday 1/29 was jersey day at school....

 That day we had Mallary over for a play date and I dyed their ends purple. 

(With her moms approval of course)

 Spencer found this cute old picture! Doesn't he look like Carter?

 That night we went out to dinner to celebrate Spencer's 14 years with his company.

 It was also Carter's pack meeting at the Nickle Arcade. 

 We had a great time! 

 The 49ers are going to the super bowl! 

I made a shirt to wear for the big game!

 Aubrey loves sweat shirts and is loving wearing all my old ones.  It was cute seeing her in my track and field one with my old last name on it!

 I thought this was so cute I'm sad its blurry! 

Best Friends!

 When I was at the school I got to see their super cool volcano they made for science.

January you were a fun month!