Disneyland!!!

I have been to Disneyland many times, but I believe that this was the longest day I have ever spent in the happiest place on earth; 16 1/2 hours. We went on a lot of rides, ate at the Blue Bayou, shopped, I ate my chocolate covered frozen banana, I spent time with Mike alone, enjoyed being with my siblings, but....I think what I enjoyed the very most was the time spent with my children and grandchildren.

Dad, Mom, and Caitlin; the day was just getting started at 8 am

Jeremy, Emily, and Mason; Mason was very observant on the Jungle Cruise

Jeff, Melissa, and Avery; Miss Avery smiled all day long

Andy and Adam embarking on a Thunder Mountain Railway trip

Andy, Kristin, Adam, Zach, and William; in line for It's A Small World

Taking a train ride around Disneyland; isn't Miss Avery beautiful!!!

Mason meeting his daddy's old friend Winnie the Pooh

Waiting for our turn in the Haunted Mansion; I love this picture of William and Grandpa Bear

Here is Zach on the train; he and I had a date for the Haunted Mansion ride, he assured me all through the ride that I didn't need to be scared because it was fake (whew!)

Zach, Aunt Caitlin, and Adam going on Small World

Jeremy and Jeff going on the Thunder Mountain Railroad

We didn't see a lot of characters at Disneyland; but here are a bunch of "Goofy's"

Our family at the happiest place on earth

Sibling Splash!!!

Over the past several years I have had the opportunity to be in Disneyland with most of my siblings there together (there are 6 of us) on many different trips. This is the first time in 37 years that all 6 of us were in Disneyland together. This is how we celebrated.

I have always loved my place as the "oldest child" in my family. This was one of those times that it paid off. Being seated from oldest to youngest (the oldy in the back) I hardly got a drop of water on me. David however, was soaked.

Lilian (#5), Timothy (#3), Alan (#4), Lesley (#1), Archie (#2), David (#6)

Granpa's Recording A CD

Thirty-two years ago my Dad recorded a record album. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a flat-round-black-disc about the size of a large pizza; when placed on a record player that has been plugged in and has a needle on it that isn't broken....it plays music. Occasionally you see them now used as decorations for oldies parties and dances. As a family we decided that Granpa needed to record a flat-round-silver-disc about the size of a....CD. Tonight I went to the final recording session and took a few pictures of the participants.

My nephew Taylor preparing to record his clarinet solo

Michael in tune with his guitar

Michael and Doug; they've been performing together for over 30 years

Andy enjoying the moment before he starts to play

Granpa in the recording studio

Singing to a captivated audience in the control room

Taylor, Andy, Merrilee Webb, Doug Vandegrift, Michael, and Granpa

It's A Small World

Today I returned from my vacation (I'll post about it later). Since I've arrived home I've been busy doing laundry, grocery shopping, going to a wedding reception, leaving the house for 2 hours so that it could be seen by a potential buyer, going to the movies (we had to do something for 2 hours), squeezing in a half hour before I had to leave so that another potential buyer could come see my table, making sure my "new home" hadn't been sold (it hasn't).

I also spent some time catching up on my friends blogs....I hope Hayden had a wonderful birthday, I'm excited for Aimees's new baby Samantha, I loved reading about Bonnie's trip (yay for the new car!), I'm sad I missed Drew's blessing, I hope Adrienne wins a new dress 'cause I think she'll look darling in it, I checked for news on Charity's blog, I love Kathryn's playhouse, I read Teresa's story about SIT out loud to Mike and we both laughed, I loved reading about the accomplishments and seeing the pictures of Heather's cute kiddos, and seeing how cute baby Colton is.

But I just gotta share one story. While at the beach house I introduced myself to my "neighbor". I had noticed that one of her boys wore a Viewmont t-shirt and sure enough they were from Bountiful (they live behind Dicks Market). We visited for a few minutes. We talked about schools. We both went to Viewmont. I was a few years ahead of her, but her sister graduated the same year as my sister. She told me that her sister married her math teacher (eeeeoooowwww!! Lilian remembered that girl). As we were all leaving yesterday morning I jokingly said to my neighbor, "see you at Dicks".

So today I'm walking through the dairy department in a crowded Dick's Market and who do you think I saw? Yep. My "Neighbor". I said, "hello neighbor". She looked at me, and I watched as recognition dawned and then we laughed. I said, "I knew I'd see you at Dick's but I didn't think it would be this soon". Hmmmm....it's a small world, after all.

Family Friday: Featuring My Nephew Jacob

Several years ago the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat became a big hit with me. I'm sure that everyone is familiar with the song Jacob and Sons, so....with that tune firmly planted in your heads read (or sing) the next line. JACOB....JACOB'S THE ONE!! Jacob's the one featured on Family Friday this week.

Jacob was born on October 3, 1995. He is the only one of my sister's five sons that I wasn't at the hospital anxiously awaiting his birth, I was on my way to DISNEYLAND (Jake loves Disneyland)!! Jacob came early and I think he scared everyone a bit. But today he is a healthy, happy, and full of life 13-year-old.

One of the things that I love about Jacob is the big hug that I get from him every time I see him. I always feel like he is happy to see me. He is also very funny and makes me laugh. He recently told a story that kept me laughing for a long time after he told it. He was at a scout overnighter and had just settled in his sleeping bag for the night when something kept scratching at his head from outside of his tent. He thought that it was some of the other scouts goofing off. Well, it turns out that it was actually a wild animal (a fox) that was scratching Jacobs head. I was amazed that that had happened, when I asked Jacob what did he do when he realized that it was an animal, Jacob said that he just told it "a little to the left", as he told the story he moved his head a little to demonstrate where he wanted the fox to scratch. I laughed so hard.

Jacob loves all of his family. He and his cousin Derek are the same age and have been best buds since they were toddlers. They have always been inseparable at family gatherings and on family vacations (as you can see from this picture at the beach house). Sometimes when they were little and were together you had to look twice to be sure who was who.

Some interesting things to know about Jacob: He plays the trombone in his Jr. High band, he was born on the day of OJ Simpson's famous verdict, he likes Sponge Bob, he's popular among his peers, he likes video games and movies, he has a tender heart, he's a good son and brother, he honors the Priesthood, he's a good student, Uncle Mike says he's a GREAT kid!! Jacob is a blessing to our family and we all love him.

Jacob's family in 2006: Lilian, Alan, Jacob, Taylor, Michael, Russell, Cory

Family Friday: Featuring My Niece (by marriage) Jessica

Jessica is another one of the newer members of our family. She is married to my nephew Russell and together they are affectionately known as Russica.

I first met Jessica when she was in high school. I don't remember our "official" first meeting, but I do remember going to the 4th of July parade in Kaysville and the Davis High School marching band came marching by. Jessica was in the band; they are very disciplined as they march, no smiling or turning their heads, but occasionally during the parade they would have a "free" moment where they could do whatever they wanted. That moment happened just as they were marching past our family. Jessica ran from the band and planted a kiss right on Russell's mouth and then returned to the formation. I remember thinking, "a girl just kissed Russell, eeeeooowwwww." My little nephew being kissed.

Jessica wrote to Russell while he served his mission in Portland, Oregon. Russell returned home exactly one year ago and they were engaged shortly after that. I remember the day that Russell came home and we went over to the Nielsen's house to see him for the first time. Jessica was there with him and I don't think that I've seen them apart since. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 2, 2008.

Last summer we had a family "girly party" at Lilian's house. Jessica was newly engaged and I wondered if she was overwhelmed by the onslaught of so many women in our family all at once. That is the night that I discovered what a sweet girl she is; I was impressed with Jessica.

One Saturday afternoon a few months ago, Mike and I were in Leger's Deli when Jessica and Russell came in. They were on their way to the temple and were stopping to eat some lunch first. The four of us sat together and enjoyed a nice visit. It was fun to spend that time together.

Some things that I've observed about Jessica: She is one of the sweetest young women that I've ever met, she loves and supports Russell, they attend the temple regularly, she is a good daughter-in-law, she's happy, she's real, she's thoughtful, I'm her favorite Aunt Lesley. We're so glad that you are in our family Jessica, and we love you.

I think Jessica was happy with her "makeover" at our family girl's night last summer

Fun For You & Fun For Me

In February I played "Fun For You & Fun For Me" on Charity's blog. Today I received my fabulous gift which was handmade just for me. So, as per the instructions I am posting a picture of my gifts (two of them). Thank you Charity, I LOVE THEM!!! And I love you too! To those who played the game with me, I haven't forgotten. You will be receiving your fabulous handmade gifts from me too!!