Monson Family Trip (DAY 1)

Disneyland 

(Day 1)

 We started the day nice and early.  We were out the door by 7:15 to get our breakfast by 7:30 and be in the park by 8:00.  We made it just in time, and ran straight for Fantasy land with almost everyone.  We made it on all the rides in fantasy land in the first day, and kids loved being with their cousins.  By 10:00 we split up. The girls went to see the fairies, and some of the boys went to the Star wars program.  Preston and one of his cousins were chosen to go up to help fight Darth Vader again.  He was so excited. Dean got it all on video, but I had the camera so no pictures. He did defeat Darth Mal, and did awesome, he got a certificate to be a Jedi now. Yes!!  The girls waited to see Tink and they loved getting there pictures with all the fairies.  We then made it over to it's a small world and a couple rides in tomorrow land.  We then headed out of the park and got McDonald's.  Our hotel was right across the street from Disneyland so it was so nice to just run back if we needed something or take a short break...which we never did.  Ha Ha.  We then made it back to the park, while everyone else went and napped we did splash mountain, canoe ride, haunted mansion, and pirates.  We then meet back up with the Hansen's for star tours, and toon town to see mickey. I decided I don't do 3 D movies, and definitely not ones that move. I had my glasses off in .2 seconds after we took off, and was so sick, the rest of the day.  We got subway that night, and hurried back over to save spots for Fantasmic.  It was a great, but long day.  We enjoyed every minute of it, and couldn't wait to go back the next morning.

 

Monson Family Trip

The Surprise

A few years ago the Monson's decided that in 2012 everyone was going to plan a trip to Disneyland together. Well It finally happened.  Plans had been in the works for over a year...(you need to start that far ahead when you have 6 different families involved).  Grandma and Grandpa Monson where the masterminds behind it all.  They found the places to stay and the deals.  We (Dean and I) decided we were going to wait and not tell our kids and surprise them.  We just didn't know how.  Well the plans were to leave Sunday June 3rd-9th.  Dean had to finals he had to finish before we could go Sunday morning.  Dean kept the kids kinda busy Saturday so I could get all the packing done.  When the kids went to bed Dean loaded the car.  We woke up Sunday morning, and Preston was already dressed and ready for church.  He also let us know we couldn't eat because it was fast Sunday. We told all the kids we were going to go on an adventure that day.  Dean before hand had got the address of where we would be staying from Dad so we knew the numbers.  We told the kids they were going to choose where we went.  We asked Preston what number was on his baseball jersey 1, we asked Shaylee how old she was 6, then we asked Addison what the numbers where on dad's Hockey Jersey 00. So we types in 1600 and headed off on our adventure.  The navigation system said we would arrive at our destination in 6 hours and 30 minutes.  The kids thought we were heading up to Bear Lake.  They had now idea.  When were were getting close to our exit I turned around and had them guess.  Finally Preston saw Angel stadium.  So he yelled out California.  I told him he was right.  I told the kids we were heading to Disneyland for 3 days.  It was funny, they were all yelling and excited then Shayless goes "REALLY"?  We also surprised them with all the cousins and Grandpa and Grandma Monson being there.  We pulled up to the hotel and Dean got out.  As we were waiting the kids saw Grandma Monson and yelled "That lady looks like grandma Monson".  We then got out and they saw everyone.  They were so excited.  I'm so glad we were able to go on this trip with everyone.  Overall it was an amazing time, and great memories were made.  

So we arrived Sunday evening, and we went to dinner. Everyone went where they wanted too.  We ended up at the Cheesecake Factory with the majority of the family.  So good.  We then went back to the motel to  watch the Diseyland park fireworks from our hotel roof top.  Then we went to bed get a goods night rest for the next 3 days of fun.

 

Oh the Beauty!

Zion's Day!!

(May 26, 2012)

Oh, how we love Zion's.  It's so peaceful, and beautiful.  Every year we usually always go on a Free Day, but those have been ,far, and in between.  So this year we went up on a Saturday and paid the 25$ to get in.  As we were leaving I saw that for 25$ more we could have a year pass.  So we traded in our week pass and paid the extra and now we are good for the year.  Yea!!!  We are excited to use it all the time whenever we want.  This time around my sister Stephanie and her friend came down to play.  So we bummed up with them and they went on a hike with us. We did the upper emerald pools with the kids, then hiked back the Grato way.  We had a great time.  The weather was a little on the cool side for the end of May, 70's, plus the winds were horrible that day, but we still had fun and enjoyed the company and scenery.  On a side note, we finally made it to our destination, and one of my children decided they have to go to the bathroom...well we found ourselves a spot, which by the way everyone else it seems uses that spot as well, and tried to do the best we could with what we had to work with.  (nothing).  My child apparently didn't know how to squat and I ended up lifting her, well she then preceded to shoot high, and got her legs all in it and it was going everywhere.  I couldn't stop laughing even though I know how gross the situation was.  I don't think she was to excited about wearing some wet pants, but she didn't complain.  I think she had to go so bad she didn't care where or how she did it.  Oh great memories.  Addison was our little energizer bunny on this trip.  She would take off running and was always at the head of the pack.  Then about .1 mile to the finish she just plops down and says she cant move one more step she is so tired, so Dean carries her on his shoulders the rest of the way.  Preston did great he loves Zion's and always does well on the hikes.  We then went to get lunch, and decided we would rather have a big ice cream cone instead.  The kids loved that that would be their lunch.  What a great day, doesn't get much better then that.

 

School's Out For The Summer!!!

 Summer is Here!!

May 24, 2012

 The kids woke up nice and late 8:35 (Which is sleeping in for us around here). They woke up to their annual Summer basket.  They get this every year on the last day of school.  Well we had a big Summer Swim party on the last day of school with all their friends, so I decided to wait and give this to them the next morning.  They were so excited, because they didn't think I remembered.  They were so excited to start to do anything and everything in that basket all in one day.  It did feel like we did everything you could do in a summer in one day, but I think the kids had a blast.  I know I did. We started the day off by doing a little side walk art.  Then we moved onto racing leaves in the gutter down our street. Loved this because I used to do this when I was little. Addison had to win every time so of course she would cheat:) Then we colored some pictures, went to the park. Ate a picnic out on the patio.  Went on a hike to see some of the places the fire had burned up on our mountain. We then came home and read some books, blew some bubbles, checked on our garden, washed the car, and ate a bunch of otter pops.  We then ended the night with a family movie night.  It's funny how much you miss, setting in front of a computer.  We had no T.V.  that day, or computer, so it was nice to be together as a family.