The Boys First Visit to Disneyland!

With weekends left in California down to the single digits...we are madly chipping away at our "bucket list". We really wanted to go to Disneyland one last time, while we lived so close. Luckily Disney still has an amazing deal for military, so it was very do-able. This trip was extra special, because it was the boys first time!

Hunter's first Disney line ( we all know that standing in outrageous lines is part of the "Disney experience")
Jack stood in the same line, and it was his first, ever Disney line too!
It was the Buzz lightyear ride.

Cora Hanging out in Mickey's house

I think that this was the boys favorite "ride", the water fountain in Toon Town.

First meeting with Mickey

Jack is so tuckered out

On the "BIG" Ferris wheel

This was a milestone trip for the girls. Anya was brave, after a few minor roller coasters under her belt from different parks, and decided to conquer Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, and the California Screamer (which goes upside down!). Go Anya! The little girls gathered up their courage and braved the rapids of the Grizzlybear. They got soaked of course, but were in good spirits still at the end.

At the end of the ride, and our visit at Disneyland.

Soaked but feeling silly.

Disney magic!

Happy Birthday Hannah!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Hannah Elise Jeppson joined our family 9 years ago ( I can't believe you are 9 already!) on the afternoon of a stormy, spring, Ohio afternoon.

The night before you were born, Hannah, a major storm system ripped threw Ohio. There were tornadoes outside of town, and all night we listened to tornado sirens going off. By morning, it was still grey and wet, but the severe weather had stopped. Off to the hospital we went, and the Doctor was so happy because you arrived right during his lunch break so he didn't have to cancel any patient appointments. So good of you! You were born with lots of dark, dark hair...and right off we noticed the dimple in your left cheek!

We often say that you are our "little buckeye" because you were born right in sight of The Ohio State University Stadium. You are the spice in our family, you keep things real and unpredictable and we love you for it. You are so zainy, and always coming up with silly stories, games and jokes. You don't get along very well with you sisters, but I think that is because you like to be in charge...and they don't necessarily want you to be in charge of them :0 However, you are perfectly great and wonderful big sister to your brothers. You hate to hear them cry or see them upset (anyone for that matter...it really bothers you when someone is sad) and you are quick to help them and make them happy again. We love you Hannah...you are so great to have in our family. Our family wouldn't be complete without you!

We hope your special day is wonderful!

Two of the CUTEST boys EVER!

i realize that i am biased, but i think that i have some of the CUTEST boys ever living over at my house!

so G Q.

the Jack miester

the Hunt-ster

Hunt

Jack Jack

Hunter

Jack

Jack didn't want to sit on the bench, he wanted to climb it.

Jack

Hunter

A big THANK YOU out to Elizabeth Dahl on Fort Irwin for an amazing photo shoot.

It's Not April Fools...

Spring/Summer has arrived in the desert (well for this week anyway:).

My girls begged to play in the sprinkler yesterday.

It's supposed to get up into the 90's today.

We are enjoying the warm weather while we can!

All About Anya

This post, ironically, is all about Anya.

She recently finished up her season of indoor soccer. She loved, and had so much fun with her teammates! I always feel like the youth sports season isn't long enough for the kids. The finally learn and start working together as a team and the season is over. Her team did really well. They are all great players bringing their own strengths to the team. Their coach did a great job in using the individual talents to enhance the team. Awesome job Red Tarantulas!

In the middle of the end of Soccer, Anya had her 11th birthday! She chose a science theme this year and wanted a volcano cake. Her birthday fell during spring break, and then right after the soccer tournaments started. We were at a soccer game or school function every night the week after spring break. So, to save mom's sanity, we decided to wait a week until her party with her friends took place.

She had a Mad Science party.

I can't take credit for all the ideas and experiments, a lot of them I got from friends and family, but it made for an awesomely fun party!

Here they are blowing up balloons with the reaction from Baking soda and vinegar.

Making flubber or "goo" from glue and Borax

( I loved the reaction from all the kids with this one. You can imagine what a bunch of girls will do when they come in contact with something slimy and stretchy! It was hilarious!!)

We made soda "fountains" with mentos and soda.

I let each of the kids have their own, small bottle of soda and pack of Mentos to use. Each kid got to decide how many mentos to use. At the end we exploded a 2 liter bottle of soda with 7 mentos. It was so much fun, but hard to capture on film!!!

The mad scientist convention of 2011 has come to close.

I think we all left with some sanity left...I hope!

Couldn't resist.

Hunter kept trying to lay and sit on the balloons, and then would roll off.

It has been a FUN, BUSY, CRAZY month!

Farewell to Beautiful Hawaiian Shores

As with most vacations, this one too had to come to an end. It was very hard to leave the beautiful weather and scenery of Hawaii. I think we saw a lot, did a lot, and made the most of our time there. With the time difference it was easy to get up early and get a jump to the day, and we usually got back in time for bed.

We did push the daylight hours to the max, trying to fit everything in. This is typically what the boys looked like each evening as we headed back to our hotel room.

We also tried to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the sea breezes on the balcony.

This is the view of Waikiki and our resort grounds from our balcony.

Anya took this photo, I think she did a very good job!

On the plane, Heading back home

The girls plugged in to the airplanes movies, eating one last treat from Hawaii. Matt had bought them each a box of dolphin shaped macadamia nut chocolates.

Awe, beautiful Hawaii. We will miss your shores, your sunsets and your welcoming countenance. Thank you for the wonderful time you gave us!

We hope to come back someday soon.

Old Hawaiian Stomping Grounds

We got a tip from some dear friends that the Submarine tour was really cool and worth doing. The boys were to young to go, and I was feeling motion sick from an earlier boat ride, so we waited it out on the dock.

Here we are waiting for the fearless sea voyagers.



Deep, Deep under the sea.



Don't colors do weird things without the sunlight.

Matt lived on Oahu almost 20 years ago for a few years. He took us around and showed us his old hang outs and where he used to live. This is his old barracks building. It was built in 1916, and is still standing. It survived the attack of Pearl Harbor, you can still see bullet holes along the edge of the roof line from that attack that have been preserved.

We also went to Matt's old ward. The Mililani 2nd Ward. He even saw some familiar faces, and we were extended an invitation to come visit and stay in Maui anytime from an old friend he served with in the scouting program.

After Church we thought visiting Pear Harbor and the USS Arizona monument would be a Sunday appropriate thing to do. It was a very humbling experience, seeing the ship and all the names on the wall. Brave men's lives and brave sacrifices were made that day decades ago.

View from up above the USS Arizona Monument

We also took a Whale watching cruise, we got a lovely view of Waikiki, Honolulu, and Diamond Head.

WE SAW A WHALE!

We saw the hump of one whale, and then later on we saw a humpback whale hovering under the surface of the ocean. Then it arched up out of the water, we got a good view of its hump and then it's tale or fluke.

SO COOL!