{Shutterfly Savings}

I have always heard good things about Shutterfly and I had looked at their Christmas cards and picked some cute ones out, when I ran across a promotion they are running if you blog about Shutterfly and their Holiday Cards, you can recieve 50 free cards.... SCORE! What could be better than free cards? If you want to check out the details and try it for yourself go HERE. I've been playing with different combinations of our families photos on Christmas cards and now I have too many choices and don't know what I want to choose as my final product? I love that the cards are printed on quality paper and there are so many designs to choose from. Plus, they offer all kinds of other products from blog books to photo calendars to custom cards, and of course it's a great place to order your prints. The possibilities really are endless!

As much hassle as sending out Cristmas cards are, it is one of my favorite traditions. I love recieveing all your cards in the mail and seeing how much things have changed for you over the year!

{Surprise Vacation- Day 6}

Since day 5 ended with all 3 kiddos crashing in the car, we decided we'd enjoy the peace and quiet and get a big chunk of the driving home done.

We made it to Primm, NV at around midnight. Slept in the next morning, got breakfast and wandered around and checked out the outlet stores there. The kids had one last stop that they really wanted to make as we went through Vegas.....

we HAD to stop at the PAWN STARS pawn shop! The boys love the show (ok, we all like it), and couldn't wait to check it out.
The boys were so funny. They kept picking out things from the displays that they had seen on the show and telling us all about them.

Of course, there were a few things I would have loved to bring home. That Coke machine would be fantastic in my basement... too bad the price tag said $5,000!!!

The store is pretty small, and was VERY crowded and to the boys dismay, we didn't see Rick or the Old Man or Big Hoss, or ChumLee. But they were still excited to say they'd been there!

{Surprise Vacation- Day 5}

Day 5- Once again at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Chip, or is it Dale? One of the Chipmunks anyway!

Thank you Mr. Walt Disney, for years of entertainment and
a fantastic Vacation. Love- The Dearden Family

My Goofy Boy

One of the longest lines we waited in was for Carlie to see the Princesses. Definitely worth every minute! She was blissfully happy- for sure one of the highlights of the entire trip!

and even the boys were happy to meet Ariel, not that they'd admit it!

Those smiles just melt my heart!

Mr. Mouse again!

One of the things my kids, ok we all enjoyed, was the Animation Academy in California Adventure. I honestly thought it was going to be awful, I may be crafty, but I can't draw. The instructor walks you step by step through drawing a character. The kids all did pretty good, even Carlie (I feel bad, they threw their papers away before I got pictures). Brock was super impressed with my Donald Duck, honestly, I thought it turned out pretty good for my lack of artistic abilities. He wouldn't let mine get thrown away...he carried it for the rest of the day, because he really wanted to bring it home!

Monsters Inc.

Kaleb is my little thrill seeker. He LOVED both Tower of Terror and California Screamer!

I had to laugh at my face as they counted down and got to ONE!

Rockin' the 3D glasses for Toy Story Carnival Games... one of our favorite rides!

$3.00 Coke? Totally worth it!

(told ya I got sunburned...my neck kinda matches my shirt?)

Carlie LOVED the Nemo Jellyfish ride!

Aren't they just the cutest kiddos?

Mickey Ferris Wheel.....

least favorite ride, but very favorite pictures!

We told each of the kids that right before we left they got to pick one souvenir to take home and to be deciding what they wanted. Kaleb made his decision as soon as he saw the Tigger pillow pet and never changed his mind. Carlie picked a princess Minnie. And, as usual, Brock had a horrible time deciding. After much deliberation, he settled on a Mickey Mouse hat!

Brock's Favorite- Tower of Terror

Kaleb's Favorite- California Screamer

Carlie's Favorite- Dumbo or Peter Pan

{Surprise Vacation- Day 4}

Day 4- DISNEYLAND!!! Yippie! We started off the day at Pirates of the Caribbean, then Slash Mountain (not Carlie's favorite, but she didn't hate it!)

Even waiting in line at Disneyland is fun!

Everything was all decked out for Halloween/fall!

Carlie loved the carousel.... the boys, not as much!

They go for "manly" things such as pulling the sword from the stone!
Dumbo.... who doesn't love Dumbo? 8 out of 10 times, Carlie will tell you Dumbo was her favorite!
Even the boys were happy on Dumbo? Funny thing, while we were waiting in line I turned around and there was our dentist, Dr. Stephenson and his family? Behind them our friends, the Ropers? 600 miles from home, and we're still running into friends!
Isn't she a cutie?
and Mr. Handsome! (gotta represent the Eagles, even at Disneyland!)
The Queen of Hearts! Brock refused to kiss her hand... she wasn't too happy until Derrick kissed her cheek! (look how disgusted Brock looks at that, hehe)

Carlie's quite the little poser!


And the Highlight of the day??? JEDI TRAINING ACADEMY!!! The boys had been looking forward to this, since their friend Christian told them all about it! It was their lucky day.... they both got picked to participate!

Jedi Brock



After a bit of instruction they were ready to fight.....


DARTH VADER & DARTH MAUL!


I only have a video of Brock fighting Darth Vader, and for the life of me I can't get it to post. Just take my word for it, he rocked and his Karate skills came in handy!

Jedi Kaleb
and Darth Maul
And we present to you the 2010 graduates of the Jedi Training Academy!
Bye Bye Bad Guys!
Every line we waited in the kids made the chains into swings! We could have done that at home!
Tinker belle and the Fairy's!
LONGEST line ever!!
It's a Small World was CLOSED! Bummer, it's just not the same without Small World adventures :( Guess we need to go back?!?

PLUTO!

Miss Carlie and Miss Minnie

Carlie and MICKEY MOUSE!

Awww... what a great lookin' bunch!
So, it had been a few years since Derrick and I had been to Disneyland (ok, lots of years) we couldn't exactly remember the details of Space Mountain. I thought we needed to rider trade for Carlie, Derrick was sure she'd be fine. He told her that it was dark, but there was a space princess, but she had to find her.

BAD IDEA! The ride stopped, the lights came on, (we both know she's going to be unhappy) she's sitting there with the most blank stare on her face. Derrick- "Did you see the space princess, baby?" Carlie- (screams at him) "There was NO FREAKIN' SPACE PRINCESS!" and promptly burst into tears. Derrick and I begin laughing hysterically.... until we are crying! Yea, we got some pretty dirty looks. Our daughter is sobbing, and we are laughing until we cry... but really it was hilarious! Every single ride after that- Carlie walks up to the Disney employee, "Is this ride dark?" When they answered no, she moved on to, "Is it fast?" If any of us tried to answer, she's shoot us a dirty look and ask again. I think Space Mountain may forever be on her NEVER ride again list!

Disneyland closed at 6:00 both days we were there, so we ventured over to California Adventure. We decided to hit Grizzly River Rapids and then head back.... MISTAKE! I got SOAKED.... this picture doesn't even begin to show how wet I was- Sloppy, Squishy, WET and cold! The kids had to stop at the Adventure Tire Run, and loved it. I think each of them went at least 20 times, while I sat and shivered and dripped. Stay tuned for Days 5 & 6.