What's Wrong With This Picture?

Courtney is our little bookworm. She LOVES to read. I walked in our room this morning, and she was chillin' on the pillows, reading her book like this. {Yes, those are her FEET.}

Park Play

Downtown Disney

Sometimes in the evening or for FHE we will go walk around Downtown Disney. It's tradition to get their delish, warm kettle corn for a treat.
Lego Woody {do you see any resemblance?}
LegoDarth has his grip on XanderMan!
C is for Courtney--our new little California girl!
A for Alexander--loving everything here so far!

Fashion Island

My new favorite shopping place. A fabulous, beautiful outdoor mall that overlooks the ocean. The kids were fascinated by the koi ponds.

The Hunt for All-Star Mickey

Anaheim is hosting the 2010 All-Star Game @ Angels Stadium.

In preparation for the game, 36 of these awesome Mickey statues were placed all over Southern California.

After watching a movie one night, we saw this Arizona Diamondbacks Mickey Mouse.

Having just moved from Arizona, we were intrigued.

We went online and found the locations of the other Mickeys.
We dedicated an entire weekend to drive all around Orange County, looking for the statues.

It was lots of fun--like a treasure hunt!

We went to some really great places & it was wonderful to explore our new area.

Padres, All-Star 4, A's

Mets, Rockies, Blue Jays & Twins

American League, All-Star 3, All-Star 2, Angels

Braves, Marlins, Cardinals & National League

Giants, Rangers, Orioles, Tigers

Final count found: 20!

Cannonball!

Irvine is famous for it's Schools and Pools. Our neighborhood has 3 private pools for residents to use, so we are taking full advantage of them.

Alexander looks like an elf when he wears goggles.

{A cone-headed, happy elf} :)

Love these lazy summer days.

New Home

I fell in love with this house several months ago, knowing it would never be on the market by the time we moved to California.

I think it was waiting for us. The owners put in all new tile, carpet, paint, a bay window & outdoor grill. It was ready the exact date we needed to move in.

Being on a street called Tiara, how could I NOT love it?
This home has a similar feel and layout as our last home.
The kiddos keep insisting it's cold enough to use the fireplace. Not quite yet:)
Those are banana plants in the middle! Darren loves the grill {and I love that I get a night off cooking every once in awhile}! To the left are some of the roses.
Pink--you know I love that!

We are so grateful to live here. We're still unpacking, but are settling in nicely.

Father's Day--Take 2

For some reason, I thought Father's Day was last Sunday. I didn't have a calendar or a clear head {going for days without sleep because of the move}.

I even called my dad to wish him a Happy Father's Day a week early.

I'm glad we got to celebrate it right this week! We love you tons, hon! Happy Father's Day!
A few Sunday night ball games in the backyard--the boys stomped the girls.Brownie artwork by the kiddos. XOXO's!

Sand, Surf & Sunshine

On the agenda every few days is a beach day.
We love it. A lot.

I rarely bring my camera because I'm too busy... lounging in my comfy chair, breathing in salt air, and devouring a good book.

I know. I'm a bum.

Kitchen Helper

If you want to get a huge smile out of your kiddos, let them help in the kitchen, then brag them up at the dinner table.

If they've helped make it, you bet they're gonna eat it!

It might take twice as long, {and I have to let go of my inner perfectionist}, but it is well worth keeping them busy and happy during the pre-dinner-whine-time.

The best part of helping--eating the leftovers!

How do we like it here?

We LOVE it.

The Newport Beach temple is literally a few miles away.

We came to the grounds for FHE--it is so pretty!

Moving Nightmare

Soooooo... we packed our suitcases and headed to California.
We didn't pack up our house, because our mover said he could have his packer do it for $200. Score!
The packer showed up the weekend before we left, and brought her teenage daughter with her.
The daughter picked up one of my tiaras and asked if it was real.
I told her it wasn't real diamonds, just something from my pageant days.

The packer told us a few hours later that she ran out of tape, so we gave her our door opener, paid her $300 cash, and let her know she had a week to finish packing before the movers came.

As we were driving back to AZ the next week, Darren said, What if we get home and things aren't packed?
I told him to stop being so negative.

Um. Well. We opened the garage door.
Our stuff wasn't packed.
We walked in the house.
Our stuff wasn't packed.
It's 11:00 pm and the movers are coming @ 8 am the next morning.
Next was the most random thing ever. I walked into my scrapbook room, and THIS was written in black crayon on the wall. Wieeeerd.

The teenage daughter had written a note for us and left it on the counter.
The handwriting matched the graffiti on the wall.
Should I be flattered or disturbed? {besides being ticked?!}

We ran to Walmart and bought out all their moving boxes.
We called our moving guy and freaked out on him a little.
That wasn't the end of the headache & hassle, but I'll spare you the details.

Affordable Movers will no longer have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, that's all I'm sayin.'

General George S. Patton Memorial Museum

Every time we make the trek to Orange County from Phoenix, Alexander begs to stop and see "the tanks." This time we did. Its in Indio, CA & there's a pretty cool museum inside

{if you're into military artifacts}.

Darren was, of course, most excited about the Jeep.
I was thinking so much about my Grandpa Adams while walking through the museum, and then I stumbled across this old typewriter. He used to have one just like it.

{Maybe he still does--I'll have to ask him}
There is a big sign to "beware of rattlesnakes" as you go out to see the tanks.

Courtney didn't want to go after reading that.

Thankfully, we didn't come across any critters.

Peace out.

P.S. Oh! I forgot a funny detail. Darren pointed to the typewriter and asked the kids what it was.

Their answer: That's a computer.

No More of This

The goodbye scene has been a big part of our family this year.
I know SO many people have it a lot worse off than we did, so I can't complain.
Since last fall, Darren's company has had him work in Flagstaff every week.
It was really hard on all of us, especially the kids.
He was so unhappy where he was, and we all missed each other.

{I didn't post about this since I didn't want any weirdies knowing I was home alone} We feel so blessed that this new company sought Darren out. They recognized him as one of the nation's best at Virtual Design & Construction, and offered him the Western States division to manage.

{they call him the new BIM ninja}

He moved to California on MOTHER'S DAY--I know! I stayed behind with the kiddos to finish school.
So HAPPY to be together again!

Annie Jr.

Grade School Musical!
Courtney was so excited to try out for the school's 1st ever musical.
For tryouts, she memorized an entire page of orphan's lines.
She memorized the song, and we sang it until we were all sick of it.
She walked into tryouts.
{I witnessed it, since I was the pianist}

Director: Hi, is your name is Courtney?
Courtney: {Stares at her feet}
D: You're Courtney, right?
C: {Tries to make her head and shoulders disappear into her neck}
D: Did you memorize your lines?
C: {Shakes head no}
D: Well, then did you bring your paper?
C: {Shakes head no}
You get the gist.

She was scared to death, poor thing.
She did NOT want to be in the play.
After a few days of coaxing from her teacher and classmates, she relented, and became an orphan.

Here is a video clip of her debut.

The show turned out great. The kids were so cute, the scenery was a-mazing {done by the Jr. High Art department}, and Courtney overcame her fear.

She LOVED being on stage.

Seriously, isn't she stunning? {even as a heavily makeup-ed, ratty orphan}?
Getting ready to rehearse "Its a Hard-Knock Life"
At the end, she got to change from rags to riches for the celebration & finale at the Warbucks mansion.Sweet girl, we are SO proud of you! You lit up that stage!

Besties! Courtney has so many friends--she is truly going to be sad to leave all her "BFFs."
I told her she'll have lots of pen pals.