We had the boys sleep over on Friday. Mick texted me about the time I was getting off work and asked if all the kids could sleep over...I thought she was kidding! But she wasn't and I actually told her no, that I wasn't up to that. Preslie and Hayden still don't sleep through the night. I was soooo ready for a good night sleep and the sleep in without an alarm! The boys slept til 9am..thanks boys! That was awesome! We didn't do much...weather still too cold. They brought their ramp and they played outside with the bikes, scooter and skateboards till it was just too plain cold. Then we had rootbeer floats and watched Dennis the Menace. Talan didn't like it...the scarry man "creeps me out gramma!"....like he's going to jump right out of the movie! Saturday they went to Shawn and Chris soccer game with Grampa while I spend some time with Karen & Dale. Shawn & Ang came over for dinner and to watch 4 hours of soccer....but no luck with the Real game being on TV, so just 2 hours. Ang played the beautician she is and braided Payson's hair into cornrolls....he was tough, cause that hurts. And of course Talan couldn't be left out. Ang did him a due too! Ang will be a great Mom someday, but today's she's an awesome Aunt! She's always doing fun things to Kallie's hair! It wasn't a real exciting weekend, just a quiet one spent with family. That's the best though isn't it! I treasure all those times, whether it's a sleep over or just a few hours of chillaxin as the kids call it!

Visit from Sis...

Karen & Dale came into town to work on getting a business off the ground. Saturday they stopped by so we could go see Mom together. Mom's continuing to deteriorate....Dale, the daytime nurse at Crossland told Linda on Friday that he gives Mom about 3 weeks.... why 3...I don't know....don't know what to think about any of it, but I do know that each time I see her, there's a change. Since Christmas she has lost the ability to feed herself. It's as if she doesn't understand the concept of taking the food to her mouth. If handed the cup, she will basically just throw it all over you, or swat you with it, so we're sure to keep it out of her reach as we feed her. They feed her pureed food from a cup and have to remind her to swallow. Honestly...this makes me crazy. Why do we do this...is it really humane...or is it the body trying to say, enough already...I'm done! They don't force feed her, she will open her mouth and partake...I guess when she doesn't do that we'll stop...I guess! There will be no feeding tubes. They have had to suction her 3 times this past week. Dale says it's because she forgets to swallow and allows her own saliva to build up, then she chokes on it, kind of like drowning. EEWWEE! I stopped by on Friday on my way home from work. The hospice aide just arrived to sponge bathe her. I told her to go ahead with her duty and I watched. Something I could have done without! I saw her bare feet for the first time in a long while...her toe nails were like long fingernails, and yellow and her feet are discolored...the best way to describe them...like they were dead! The nurse says this is another sign of end of life, the body's blood circulation works toward the center of the body instead of the extremities. She has two open sores on her bottom that the aide showed me as well...another sight I could have down without. I asked for it....but man...the way the body deteriorates...another EWEEE! Mom doesn't look at us much, and when she does, she really isn't looking at us...seeing right past us. Wish I could see what she sees! I ask myself daily...what am I learning from this besides the fact that I'm not in charge and it's all about the Lord's time, not mine! It's not fair and it makes me so sad to see her locked in this shell that only resembles a little bit of who she was! I try to show her that I love her, in spite of the fact that she's gone.....but honestly...this disease makes me mad! Why does she hang on so and Nathan has to go!

I hope Cancer gets Cancer and dies!

Update of Nathan...

Cancer has spread too far to remove...family has asked for privacy as they each try to adjust and swallow one of their most loved ones mortality. SIGH! My heart is so sad today! He is too strong and too young for this!

friends...

I've been looking for a specific picture that was taken of our good friends at one of our kids wedding. I can't find it...urrr! makes me so mad. I can picture exactly the one I'm thinking about and it's no where to be found!

Yesterday, I received a text from Mick...Mom- Natalie Pili has posted on facebook that her Dad, Nathan has pancreatic cancer...oh how my stomach just fell! That can't be! We're all young and kipper...you know...untouchable! That only happens to those that we don't know! I tried to call Julie when I got home and all I got was her voice mail. She was either busy..or just overwhelmed with what life had just dealt her. After I finished dinner, I told Rick, we need to go over there. Just the past couple of weeks I had really been thinking about them...not a worry or anything like that...just hey, I wonder how our friends the Pili's are doing, haven't seen them in awhile! Now I know why, and now I know that I need to listen to even those little whisperings!

Rick & I were nervous to head over there...really what do you say, other than hey, we love ya! Be tough and we're right here for you! That's enough isn't it, just to know your friends and loved one's are rallying around to pray and hope for you during one of the toughest battles you will ever fight! I'm so glad we did. Nathan was by himself while Julie was with Taylor for a bit. It gave Rick & Nathan more of a chance to visit and bond again as the close friends they have always been. He was his usual tough guy at first, I'm fine, he said, and showed us his manual of what is happening to his body. Rick asked him how Julie was holding up....he bowed his head and cried, couldn't speak..said, she's struggling! Can you imagine! We all cried! We said, hey..it's okay to cry cause Cancer sucks..this sucks! But we're here! Please please please call on us to help you fight this fight! Whatever it takes! So pray for our friends! For Nathan to beat this, for Julie to hold up the fort while they all fight this. For their adult kids, who have a hard time imagining their big tough dad, who is untouchable and so strong, be beaten down by such a wicked and mean disease. He is having surgery on Thursday...the odds look good for him..best Dr in the nation is his!

Makes you look at your own mortality...reminds us of how easy and fast life can take a turn for a direction you did not plan. Makes you really stop and look at your own inner circle of family and blessings! How I fear facing these types of things...this is too close to home!~

Mom

this is Mom from Sunday to Sunday this past week. She's slowing deteriorating, but strong as ever and we don't know why.Lyndsey says her last weight was 88 lbs. Some how she feels a need to stick around. I took her to church at their little branch on Sunday. She was not quiet by any means...not even close to being reverent. I don't expect her to really, but this week, well it was almost embarrassing...she was loud and was full of mumbles and attitude! I did make out (very clearly I might add) "I'm going to slap you silly!" I know Mom...go ahead if you need to! I would just rub her hand and her arm in hopes she would relax a bit and quiet down. Guess what the speaker spoke on....Patience! I'm pretty sure it wasn't a lesson meant for Mom! Alright already...I get it...just don't want to! Today, Lyndsey called me to tell me she had tried to wake her to visit and exam her. Mom would not even wake up for her. 2nd time she has done that! She feels like this is another sign of the decline, one day real strong, the next day she needs more sleep. Her vitals remain strong..I just don't get it! Linda asks me about a funeral...do we have to do the whole funeral thing, or maybe just a family gathering. All either of us can come up with is our famous phrase of "I don't know!" She asked me to work on a obituary...just can't put my heart into it...I work better under pressure...like a dead line for the paper! UGH! Many have commented how beautiful Dad's was....we had to cut and edit it so much because of what I had was over $1000....I hate all this! What really are we suppose to be learning here...what and who's lesson is this!

Today was Gramma day for the little ones! Mick & Brandyn went to Brandyn's Grandpa's funeral and took Payson & Talan, but they figured the little ones would be too hard. I was happy to help. We just had a chillaxin day as the kids call it. Just hung at home cause the weather was kind of crappy. Spring is trying to come, but not fast enough! We have a zoo pass to put to use, come on with it already! Kallie and Preslie play pretty well together, but at the stage they have to have what the other one has. They are learning how to share, especially how to share Gramma. Hayden is growing so fast. He's rolling all over the place now. That in itself has made him so much happier. He would just roll from one side of the family room to the other today, over the top of legos, just looking at me, like umm...that doesn't feel very good, but wouldn't cry unless the couch was in his way. When he smiles, his whole body smiles-just can't seem to catch it on camera, the little stink! Preslie was pretty much attached to my leg the whole day. Kallie & Hayden took a long nap and Preslie had me all to her self for a while. She was a happy camper about that and would not let me do any chore around the house, only if she was part of it! Tried to get her to nap with Beauty & the Beast, but no go...but we had fun playing blocks, combing my hair, feeding her baby and reading books. She LOVES the photo books that Mick has given us for the past two Christmas. Mick & Brandyn came by later after they were all done with Brandyn's family stuff. All the kids played outside with Grandma for a few. Pays beat me at basketball by 2, we played duck duck goose on the tramp with the little ones, and then it was time to go! It felt good to be outside in the sunshine even if it was for a short time. I love playing with all the kids! Feel especially blessed to have one of them right here under our roof. I've even become special to her now...for a while, I was just not cool to her! But now we're buddies!

Mom continues to be strong and remains the same...other than I believe she gets smaller by the month. Last weigh in she was 93 lbs. I'm willing to bet she's below that now. I had not seen her for quite some time. Right after my surgery I became sick with such a cough that I did not want to take that to her. Even though the Dr. stated I wasn't contagious, it seemed as if the whole valley had this cough and I did not want to be the one to bring it to her. Besides, for the most part I just didn't feel well! It's hard enough going there, let alone when your not feeling good! So anyways...when Rick & I went to see her a week ago, for the first time in several weeks, I was surprised at how skinny she had become. Each time wondering how on earth she can loose more weight. When she lying down, it's the worst. You wonder how on earth there are even any organs inside her. You can see her skin just wrap around her skeleton! She mumbles alot, some words are words, but none of them are put together in any kind of a sentence, but then she'll bust out a sentence, like "George, where are you, I've been calling you.....and then ramble some more like she's talking to someone. Or she'll sing. It's mostly a mixture of different hymns. That Friday, we went after we had dinner at a nearby restaurant, so it was about 7ish... I was hating it more than ever. Makes me so sad that she is how she is, so unlike my Mom. But when I started to leave, she patted my hand and told me she was okay. "I'm okay, I'm okay..." just like she knew that my heart was breaking inside to watch her decay like this!

Thursday, on my way home from work I received a call from Dale, her daytime nurse to tell my that Mom had asperated. Okay..what does that mean really? He explained that he had gone in to check on her in bed and found that she has aperated and had to suction her out. She was now resting comfortably with oxygen and he had notified hospice. After I picked up Kallie I decided to stop by and check on her. She was sound asleep in bed, propped up at a 30 degree angle, which is basically sitting straight up, her head just kind of bobbling down. Looked so uncomfortable. I asked if that was necessary and they explained it will help her to breath and get the junk out of her system. I held her hand and tried to get her to wake up a little, but no going....pretty normal for her naps. I didn't stay long. I did go to the head nurse Shawn and asked him to explain in normal terms what all this means and he just said that she basically choked on her own fluids, that you can hear that in their lungs immediately and now we would watch for the phenomia. He then said you will need to make the decision if we will treat it with antibiotics and I stopped him right there stating we have already made that decision and will not. Then he reassured me that it would be a peaceful way to go...really...Dad's wasn't so peaceful-but probably because he had so many other ailments! But anyway...that's the plan if it happens. Lyndsey, our hospice nurse called me on Friday and explained to me that Mom was doing great, her oxygen was over 95% and she is same as ever. She never ceases to amaze any of us! Mom is just not ready to go! I asked if the phenomia would hit that quickly and she said mostly yes, but it could take a few days and that she would watch her closely over the weekend. She left instructions to check her lungs daily. I went in on Sunday and asked the nurse if she had checked her lungs and she had no idea of what I was talking about. Yea, that's a surprise....not! I expected to hear from Dale today, but I didn't. I probably should have called, but I had the kids today and just didn't think about it until his shift was over. I'll call tomorrow. Yesterday, I found her in her room about 1030 am. I tried to get there in time for church, but I was too late. Could have made it a little bit late, but she still had breakfast all over her and needed to be cleaned up so I just took care of that for her. They have a big bib made out of a large towel that goes over her head that was covered in juice and egg. Aide no where around...Rick just laughs and says they saw me coming! I didn't even get mad this time, doesn't do any good. I just cleaned her up myself. I believe I'm the only one who cleans her wheel chair. She's a messy eater, so I just don't get why they don't make it part of the duty as they take care of her, it would be so simple...but apparently not! She gets so mad when you try to change her, clean her up or make any changes. She really fights you. She's real strong! When she grabs you, she holds on for dear life. I had the nurse come in and check her lungs because she was coughing and sounds congested. She could hear the congestion in her upper bronchial, but not in her lungs. We'll see how that goes. I can't get Mom to smile very often, especially when I pull the camera out. She looks at it as such a foreign object. Probably hates the flash! But I kissed her on the cheek and she just laughed and that's how I got this giggle! She thought I was pretty funny! I miss my Mom!

Disneyland was a blast! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tradition. Each grandchild that turns 5 gets to go with Gramma and Grammpa...if their parent's want to come, they can...but the trip is for the 5 year old and gramps and gramma! Talan was so excited and SOOOOO patient to wait for Gramma to feel better after surgery! Mick & Brandyn really couldn't swing it with the little ones. They could have, but the trip would have been so hard with babies, they didn't come. We missed them, but the weather was so that they would have been MISERABLE, so it's good they stayed home.

We left right after work on Wednesday, Feb 16. Of course the weather had started up and we had quite a head wind to fight all the way through! In fact, the weather was not a favorite part of the trip, but we still had fun! We drove to Buffalo Bills, in Primm Nevada, just outside of Vegas. We arrived about 11 pm...dead tired! We got to our room, got jammies on and we were out! All of us real tired. The boys were so good, but asking about Fillmore, when are we going to be there??? Thank heavens for DVD players! My favorite part of this stop...Talan first thing in the morning about 6 am...."cock a doodle doo....cockle a doodle doo....! I just started to giggle and he said, "what?" that wasn't me....it's time to get up, didn't you hear that!" Do you think he was excited!

After breakfast at Denny's, we headed on our way. Disneyland here we come! I had purchased little toys to pass the time. Every hour or so, I would pop out with a new toy for them to play with. They had coloring books with markers, legos, a car that flashed that they could decorate with stickers, play dough. Those surprises were fun! Poor Payson was complaining of his ears hurting...the feeling of they won't pop like when your in the Mountains. We all had colds and I kept telling him I know, mine hurt too, just keep stretching your mouth in a yawn! By the time we arrived, he was really hurting and trying not to complain. We bought him some Advil and that seemed to help. We arrived at the Castle Inn about 2 PM. I had originally planned on having a low key day, swim, just relax and hit Disneyland the next 3 days, but the weather report was ugly so we decided to start right away while the sun shined! First ride was the Matterhorn. Payson had told Talan that was one of his favorite rides, so they decided that would be our first ride. Good choice, the line wasn't long at all-the rest of the week it was! We had a dinner reservation at Goofy's kitchen for Talan's birthday dinner at 5 PM so we had some time to get a few rides in. After that, we headed to Toone town and took on Roger Rabbit's ride, cause no line out the door. Very misleading though...line there was probably one of our longest of the weekend, but the kids had fun playing on the props! Soon it was time to head to Disneyland Hotel for dinner...on the OTHER side of Disneyland of course. We jumped on the Monorail where it drops you almost to the front door of the hotel. That was awesome! Have to remember that for next time! Saved us from some tired legs! The dinner was fun, not as many characters as before. Wonder if that is part of the economy, or just the time of year we went. When we took Payson, so many characters were part of that dinner, but this time only a few. Talan still at the age where he LOVES them, but is particular of who he likes. He was polite when the Princess's came by, but really didn't care if they signed his book or not. Would really rather they not! But he LOVES Pluto and Goofy & Mickey! He whispers to me..."Pluto's legs kind of feel like human legs!" And another time, asks me why they don't talk, cause they do on TV! Would love to get in the head of a child again! Wonder what all those little thoughts are! Payson loves some of the characters as well, but being 8, well, he's even more specific of who he likes and has to remain cool when having them sign and pose for pictures. My favorite is when he's with one of the chipmunks and he's making a silly sign with his hand to make it look like he has a beard. He thought that was pretty funny! Each of the boys had money to spend. Their parent's sent $200 to help with food and spending. The ONLY thing Payson really wanted was the Chipmunk hat and to be sure to take something home for Preslie and Hayden. I thought that was cute! Talan had his heart set on a shirt with a skeleton pirate on it..."you know Gramma, the one with X's on it" as he crosses his tummy to describe what it should look like. He bought a hat, a shirt and they both picked out a keychain for Mickie and they were good. They didn't hound us or beg and cry to shop for anything else. They were so good and pleasant to be with. Such a fun memory. Both so happy all the time, even though they weren't feeling the best! Talan had a sinus infection before we left and was on medicine for that and Payson was slowly coming down with it while there, but never complained! ANYWHays... the dinner was fun! They sang happy birthday to Talan with a cupcake and it was a buffet with little and big people food. Even peanut butter and jelly pizza, and all the sea food that Grampa could want! The characters all come around to your table and they dance and goof off in the isles with the kids throughout dinner! We had our picture taken with Goofy upon arrival, they take a professional one and also take one with your camera. I stayed with our camera and denied the upscale pricey picture they offered us. Kind of wish I would have bought it...it was way cute and not blurry like my camera! Wonder if they did that on purpose! One day, I would like to be rich enough to stay at that hotel...man is it ever nice, but ours was just fine as well. Right across the street from Disneyland and about 1 block from the entrance. Had an outdoor pool that Payson swam in once, but the rest of us said NO WAY...to cold for us whimps! I think we can take the kids to a hotel in Salt Lake City and swim and they would think they had died and gone to heaven!

After dinner at Goofy's kitchen, we headed over to California Adventure and rode the Toy Story ride. That is one of our family favorites. You ride as two and it's set up like a carnival where you shoot at different targets. It's addicting really! The score is something you try to beat each time. At the end of the ride it gives your score, the highest for the year, the day and that specific ride. It's crazy fun! Brandyn told the boys to ride it twice, once for him and once for them. When we got off that ride, we could see that it was about time for the new Color Water show and we were on the back side. All the tickets had been given away when we arrived that afternoon, but people were gathered here on the back side of it, so we thought we would give it a try. It's a water fountain show, like the one at the Balgeio in Vegas, but they show characters and song's projected through the water. Mick's friend Brooke told me, "it's a must see" so we waited and watched from behind. It was cool, but you could tell the other side would be SOOOO MUCH better, so the next day we thought we would give it a try. Disneyland and California Adventure land close at 8 during the week, so all the rides were done for the night and well...we were too! It's amazing how a long drive will wear you out! So we headed back to our hotel. The walk wasn't really too bad, but the weather made it a little rough. The boys were troopers and walked the whole way. Found out later that Mick & Brandyn had drilled the boys that they were walking on their own, that we were NOT to carry them! They didn't even ask. Talan would say he was tired and we would rest for a minute, then he would be okay to go! What a big boy he has become! The wind and rain had kicked up, so it was a little cold and wet going back, but it wasn't bad! We snuggled all in with some warm dry jammies and it was off to dream land until the next day of fun! The boys slept in, even Mr early bird Talan. We just let them sleep as long as they wanted. Rick had decided to go for a walk....a much longer walk than he intended! He thought he would venture around the outside of Disneyland, not realizing just how big that place really is. I bet it was a good 7 or 8 mile walk he took that morning, if not longer! He was tired before we even began! We told the boys that we needed to be a little bit organized so we could have time to ride everything that day..start at one end and work to the other. Payson said, "can we go to the Castle?" Well, yes Pays...that's just the entrance into all the magic...For some reason, he thought it was a ride, and even told his Mom that we didn't let him ride the Castle ride. Not sure what he thought he missed, cause we pretty much hit it all. (Except for the girly princess stuff!).

Disneyland offers the photopass as you enter Disneyland. They have photographers all over the place. You begin with the little pass with your # on it and keep it throughout your trip. When your with the characters, and of course the entrance, they take your pictures and then at the end of your trip, you take it to the photo center and purchase the pictures you like. I end up buying the CD with all of them, cause you just can't decide. It's really worth it I think! Those memories just are not ever going to be the same and it's nice to have them captured on a professional camera as well. AND....You don't have to bug some stranger to take your group photo so everyone is in it!

Friday morning, the first thing we did was head right to the Main street office. It was time to announce why we were celebrating at Disneyland. And.....Goofy had a sweet message just for Talan, so they called him on the phone so he could talk to him personally! Talan LOVED it. Then he was given a special birthday button to wear all day long! The day started out partly sunny, with just an overcast. About lunch time, we were at the Jedi Training area at just the right time. A new training for Jedi's was about to begin. We ran right over and got the boys a spot, front and center and reminded them how to act to get picked to go up front! Payson was pro from the prior trip! We bought lunch right there and ate while we waited . Soon it was time to act like a Jedi...scream and shout and jump up & down so you will be picked. First they picked Payson, and I was excited, but my heart was sad cause it's Talan's birthday...didn't they know that! He needed to be up there too! And soon, yes the boy with the Birthday button was chosen to join his big bro! It was fun to watch them enjoy this interaction with the Jedi Team! We rode the Autorama, teacups, Peter Pan ride, Pirates of the Carribean, the Jungle ride, Tarzan's tree house...and Rick & Payson rode Indiana Jones. We were in line but were quickly instructed that Talan was not tall enough! That's gay! So we rode Buzz light year and shopped in the stores while they took their ride. As the afternoon wore on, about 4ish, the rain really started to come down. I saw that the stores were offering Ponchos so I bought me and the kids one. Rick said he was fine...(.next time hon, your getting one!) The ponchos kept us dry most of the afternoon...and it was still fun. But about 530 Payson looked at me and said he wanted to go back. You could tell he didn't feel good! He hadn't eaten ANYTHING all day either. He just wasn't himself. So, he and Rick went back to the hotel and Talan and I continued on with our play. It was fun. We enjoyed Toone Town almost to ourselves. The only bad thing is, the cool playground wasn't so cool all wet and puddles! But we walked right in to see Mickey Mouse and walked on pretty much any ride Talan wanted to go on. Talan was all about Donald Duck and wanted to see his house. Of course it's a boat...and we checked that out as well. Buzz Lightyear had been broken all day, and was now running....sort of. It kept stopping with the apology of delay...but it was still fun! We even did the It's a small world ride...not that cool...kind of boring after a few chorus of the song! We were hungry and headed down Main street to the little cafe for a sandwich...unfortunately, they were closed so the only thing I could find us was hot chocolate and cookies. Talan said he wanted the hot chocolate and it sounded so good for my tired throat from coughing so that's what we ordered. Gramma, I don't like this, it's hot! Hmmm....thank goodness for the Capri Sun in your back pack! It was getting to be about time for the water show and Talan really wanted to see it so I said, let's give it a try, even if we DON't have tickets. We went over and found ourselves a perfect little bench to sit on. People were standing on it and they kept telling them that they could stay there, but they would have to sit down. They were all Asian and didn't seem to understand English. Talan got a good laugh at listening to them, and I pretended to talk like them too. "Gramma, how do you know how to talk like them?" GIGGLE GIGGLE! ...Then a power hungry teen worker came by and told us that we couldn't sit there at all. I said, well two of your other co-workers have just told us that we can, as long as we stay sitting down and we're sitting so we would like to stay. The two workers discussed some and then told us to stay but sit. Yes, Sir...urrr... a little annoying as we were all sitting! Then the show began. Of course EVERYONE stood so they could see, so Talan & I moved forward. They asked me for my tickets, and I said, I'm sorry, I don't have any and he smiled and said, I'm not suppose to, but you can move up here...NICE! The show began, but the bad thing, you have to stand to watch this show...late and tired legs not so good, but it would have been okay. The show began and so did the wind and the characters were all distorted, so they soon came on the loud speaker and announced the show would be cancelled due to the weather. UGH! So we headed back to the hotel. The rain and wind had really began to come down. By the time we were back...soaked to the bone! Talan was sooo so big and walked the whole way. We would rest cause his legs hurt, but not for long and he was brave! Payson had pretty much been in bed the whole time. He really didn't feel good and Rick said he was pretty sure he had a fever. Gave him meds and he slept most of the time.

Saturday again started out partly cloudy with some sunshine. Payson was DIEING to go on the Tower of Terror. He hadn't bought his special souvenier yet so we went inside Disneyland first to get that hat, then headed over to California Adventure land to hit those rides. I believe they got on the first ride of the day. Talan & I rode Monster's Inc while they were gone. Then we were off to Bug's land. They loved the little bumper ride and lady bug spin ride! While we were headed over to ride Toy Story again, we saw Woody & a green Army Man!! YES....Talan was sooo excited. We told Pays and Gramps to get in line at Toy Story and we'd join them in a few. Talan really wanted to see Woody. Bonus that the Green Army Man was there! Unfortunately, just as we were about to have our turn, the good ol Disney troops announced that Woody had another engagement and would have to leave, but Jessie would be there instead. Talan didn't say a word, but he didn't have to. Not a happy camper. Jessie isn't as cool as Woody for a 5 year old boy! Everyone KNOWS that! But he remained cool! When it was his turn, he had the Green Army Man sign his book and I believe Jessie did too, but it was obvious that Jessie was not winning him over. The photographer captured that with a few pictures that I thought were great! She really paid attention to what was important to Talan and took pictures of what he thought was cool! We caught up with Payson & Gramps at Toy Story and rode that ride again. Rick & I tried throughout the weekend to trade off with each boy. Talan wanted to be with me each time, but mostly I think he wanted to bug Payson. If Payson wanted a turn with me, Talan would put up a little stink, but we didn't play into it and it was all fine! They were so good, not perfect, just normal brothers and we all had such a good time!

We rode the HUGE HUGE ferris wheel and it was my idea to choose the side that rocked. You ride in a basket where 4-6 can fit. Payson & Gramps on one side and me & Talan on the other. It is so big that you can see the entire Disneyland and California Adventure land, including the city around it. And...the rocking...well, I thought Talan was going to fly out of his seat and I was grabbing him for dear life. It actually freaked me right out and all the boys, small and large got a kick out of that! California Adventureland is going to be HUGE when they have added all the new additions! You will need a 3 day pass just to enjoy that section and 3 days for Disneyland! Most of the rides are geared for the bigger kids, so I can see that as the family ages, we'll loose the big ones to that Adventureland and the little ones will enjoy Disneyland! Our trip with the girls will be a much different trip as well, involving more of the princess side of the resort! Can't wait for that too! Actually, I could go back now. I LOVE that place! Wish I lived closer! But mostly, I love enjoying it with those that I love! It seems crazy to me that the next trip will be with Kallie and Preslie when they are 5. Preslie will be 4...and I can't wait! We had so much fun with the boys. It was a special one on one time with them. I hope they will always LOVE to hang out with Gramma and Grammpa...cause they some of my favorite people! Thanks for going with us boys! Love you to the moon & back!