Our Last Day at Disney 12/28

The weather was amazing, almost 70. We made it to the park at openning. I made it to every ride that I wanted to go on except the Nemo submarine. Used to be the 20,000 leagues under the sea ride. We ate breakfast with the characters and Lexi loved it.

We went to Pixie Hollow where the girls met and got autographs from Tinkerbell and a couple of other fairies.

Mike and Hansen got pictures with Mickey and the whole family did the shots by the castle. It was great to be there, sad to leave, but glad to be home.

Lexi talked Amanda onto the tea cups. Better her than me!!!

We left our hotel around 10 am, got gas and made it to the freeway by 10:30 am. We arrived at our house at 3:30am. 17 hours on the way back. No snow on the passes and the drive was mostly driven around 70mpg. Mike and Matt had to go in to work today. Hansen has today to rest, thank goodness.

Love to all, ~Di

Universal was a disappointment 12/27

Even the sign wasn't lit all the way. We tried to take Lexi on the Shrek 4d attraction and she was excited until the donkey sneezed on her and then she was out of there. There is not very much for little ones there at all. She was scared of the Grinch so the Grinchmas was not so fun either.

Having snow in the park was kinda cool. Here is Matt, Lexi and Amanda for those who have not met Matt. Mike, Jen, Sam, Nik, and Troy went off to do attractions. Hansen and I got to go on the Mummy and Jurrasic Park is all the lines were worse than Disney and we waited almost 2hours to go on the Simpsons (a simulator ride). UGH! My crew went on to the Hard Rock for dinner, while Amanda, Matt Lexi and I went back to the hotel and did laundry and just chilled. The big kids had fun.

~Di

We made it!

After 26 hours in the car we made it to Buena Park, 6 miles from Disneyland where our hotel is. SNOW from Portland to Redding, CA was the reason it took so long. Our hotel is nice-Thanks to Jesse and Denise for the Marriott hook-up. We went to Disneyland yesterday and all day today! Lexi is back at the hotel with Hansen and I. It's 8:49 and the others are still going. Lexi had been at the park since 10:00 this morning. Hansen and I took for a few hours this morning so Amanda could enjoy the experience herself. Then we traded and kept going. We stayed for the Christmas parade tonight and by then I was cold and tired and Hansen's foot couldn't take much more so we stole Lexi and headed back to get some rest. The little one fell asleep about 1/2 and hour ago and is zonked out hard.

Mike and Sam and Jen in front-Hansen, myself and Troy were in the back on Splash Mtn. We all got soaked!
Amanda and Jenni took Lexi to Ariel's Grotto for lunch and got pics with most of the Princesses. Here's a few shots.

Lexi and Sleeping Beauty

Snow White and Lexi

Grampa and Lexi on the Dumbo ride. She always wants to ride with him not me :)

Here is a shot of Lexi with a "lady in waiting" we met her right before the story time with Cinderella. She was so cute and the girl amazingly cool to Lexi.

Tomorrow we head to Universal Studios. Hope it's fun we've never been there.

~Di

Frozen Rain Hit!

He pulled sheets of ice off Amanda's car. Under the ice is about 4 to 6 inches of snow.

Hansen's truck is covered in a sheet of ice at least 1/4 to 1/2 inches thick.

The snow under my ice was almost 7 inches deep. I'm not going anywhere!!

Mike went out to clear off the truck and take Hansen to Urgent Care, his cold won't go away. Then they have to take Addie home as the kids made it back here as the freezing rain hit. I wasn't letting him drive anywhere at that point! We're hoping it melts off by Tuesday.

Love, ~Di

OREGONIANS CANT TAKE THE SNOW!

I did actually brush all of the snow off of my van about three hours ago! This is not like normal Oregon weather. It sort of reminds me of Utah. They just refuse to Salt the roads here so it goes on and on and on! Snow, melt a bit, ice, snow on top and then melt a bit off again, ice again and if we're really lucky FREEZING RAIN TO TOP IT ALL OFF! That's supposed to hit late tonight or tomorrow morning.

Amanda and Jenni's Toyota Corolla's have NOT MOVED!! Too light and no chains! or snow tires!

It's been 8 days since I went to work! I'm going stir crazy. The snow that arrived last weekend has not only NOT melted but been added to over and over again. We have not made it above freezing here for 8 long days. We are getting blasted again today. We have at least 3+ new inches today and the storm is supposed to really blast us this evening. They are calling it the Arctic Blast! It's so funny to hear the weather guys try to figure this one out!

The schools were shut down all week! So I have been home with the crazies since then. Lexi got in one day at school (daycare) for a break for her and me, other than that Sam, Nik, Lexi and I have been stuck here. Winter break is supposed to begin on Monday the 22nd!

Mike, Amanda, Hansen and Jen all had to work. The mall NEVER closes or Target for that matter. Hansen just left to pick up Jen. Manda's still working!

Mike and Hansen have been playing chauffeur to the girls as their (Manda and Jen's) cars are not safe to drive anywhere. Our Toyota Tundra and the 4runner have done great so far! WOW I'm the only non-Toyota at our house. Maybe that's why I'm stuck here :) Gotta find me a Sequoia I'm guessing.

The America's tire store that Mike's working at probably made more in the last week selling snow tires and chains, than the past three months. He had 17 hours of overtime, in a week! He is however off to dinner and the ballet (Nutcracker) downtown with his new girlfriend Addie tonight. She is the sweetest little thing! They met at OSU, she lives in Forest Grove, when not at school. I won't be sleeping until they are both home and safe.

Manda's been working 12 to 13 hour shifts every day! Due to the weather and leaving next week. Lexi headed to her Daddy's for the weekend and I had to drive here there as Tony's car couldn't get out either.

I made it to the grocery store and that's only because I have Hansen's truck to drive, when he's home. I drove Amanda in at 6:30 this morning and it wasn't too bad. By 7:30 when Jen had to go in it was already icy and a little scary! By 11:00 when I took Lexi out people were off the road all along Hall Blvd. spinning out this way and that. I did just fine!!!!!!!

We are supposed to be leaving on Tuesday for Disneyland and Universal Studios. I can't believe we are driving there, at this point. Christmas at Disney was such a grand idea three months ago. At least they are still projecting decent weather in Anaheim the 5 days we'll be there. 60 degrees and higher here we come!!!

Love to all! Stay safe and warm wherever you are! Merry Christmas to All!

~Di

SNOW!!!!!

So it finally hit! They have been predicting it for days. We all know how Oregonians LOVE SNOW! NOT! We are at 28 degrees right now and even if it doesn't stick too long the commute tomorrow will be a beast! We are supposed to be in the 20's tomorrow and stay under 32 through next Thurdsay or Friday. Lots of work for Hansen! LOL Not that he wants to be buried in wrecked cars but hey it pays the bills right? Love to all and hope you're all warm and with family as the Christmas break begins in your neck of the woods. We'll be hoping for a bit of a thaw on the 22 as we leave for Disneyland on the 23 and will enjoy a bit of warmth (hopefully) and fun at the "Greatest Place on Earth" First time with all of our kids! Amanda and Lexi have never been.

Love, ~Di

Amanda and Lexi