The Happiest Place on Earth

If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be in Walt's private apartment, located above the firehouse on Main Street in Disneyland. Seriously. I love everything about Disneyland. So without further ado, in snippets and snapshots, here's our trip:

I really enjoyed the drive to California. Partly because I'd never driven there from Utah (first time seeing the red rocks, Vegas, etc...) and partly because I didn't have to entertain a toddler for 12 hours. Score!! My mom and brother came to Utah and spent the week with Landon. He had a blast, and was definitely more sad when they left than when we did.

 Arrival! The castle! The flowers! The giant mickey head on the lawn! Bah! Love it, love it, love it!

This time around we made sure to get all the "must have" Disney eats, many of which we had never tried before. It's tradition to grab a churro at some point, and the ribs and milkshake from Taste Pilot's Grill in California Adventure is an old favorite. But this time, we went to Blue Bayou (so cool!) and ordered the famous Monte Cristo. Oh. My. Heavens. Layers of turkey, ham and swiss, battered, then deep fried, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with blackberry dipping sauce. I've never had anything that more closely remembers a heart attack on a plate. Thank goodness we split it. Scott and I couldn't even finish the whole thing.

We also indulged in the Mickey Mouse Beinets. Mmmm MMM. They are sold at the Mint Julep Bar and come in a bag with powdered sugar. Shake. Eat. Repeat. Again and again. Also fell in love with the Dole whip. How have I never had that?! Find them outside the Tiki Room. Oh, and the sourdough bread bowls from Paradise Pier, filled with broccoli cheese soup. To die for.

On to another random collage: Right next to Blue Bayou is the door for Club 33. Our goal in life is to someday be cool enough to get in.

I've never been one to search for hidden Mickeys but while we were there I became obsessed with finding them. On the sign by the entrance to Splash Mountain is the smallest Mickey in the park. Looks like a little knot in the wood. Cute! And speaking of cute, how cute is this duck family?!

California Adventure: Fun, Fun Fun! Where else can you sit on a bench made of giant Popsicle sticks? 

We decided to go at the end of May to experience the Park at one of it's least busy times. I've only ever been during summer and am used to two hour wait times. It was so nice being able to just walk on all the rides, and realize it's only 2:00 and you've already been on everything. Although, going in May meant being there before Cars Land opened. (A perfectly adequate excuse to go again!) We did get to see tons of info about the making of Cars Land. Can't wait to go back and experience it!

I love color! The new World of Color show was amazing! Because of Scott's back problems, we go a front row, bench seat. Awesome.

And there you have it. After three days, we were done at Disneyland, but definitely not done with the vaca. When we first arrive in Cali, Scott had the thought to email his friend Gordon, who is the Director of Photography for Bones. Some of you might remember Scott was able to visit set a couple years ago. There are literally 100 factors that go into being able to visit that set. They are super strict about it. We thought for sure, we wouldn't be able to, but why not let him know we were in town?

Well, low and behold, it actually happened. We stayed an extra day and drove to the Fox Studios in Beverly Hills. When we got there, everyone had just broke for lunch so Gordon showed us to the craft services table and told us to help ourselves. Uh-maz-ing food. We had some time left before filming started up, so after lunch we wandered around the studios. Hello Royal Diner. Pretty dang surreal.

Then it was time to hit the sound stage where the lab was. CRAZY!! People, this is like my favorite show, and I was freaking at the lab. They were rehearsing, lighting, etc... and Gordon got us set up with some Bones Crew chairs, right behind his and the director's chairs at the monitors. We were introduced to the creator, Hart Hanson, who was hanging out since it was the last day of filming for the season, and he wrote that episode.

Nothing much was happening so Scott and I got up to look around the lab. Just as we did, the cast were getting in their spots for the take and we literally turned a corner and were face to face with Brennan, Angela, and Cyndi Lauper. I pretty much crapped my pants.

Originally Gordon said we would only be able to stay for an hour, but the producer who has issues with visitors on set ended up not being there so we stayed until they wrapped at 8. It just so happened that they were filming a scene that included all the major characters, (Minus David Boreanaz who was out shooting on location.) We talked with TJ Thyne for a while, and Michaela Conlin, who is hands down the nicest person ever. She introduced herself to us, was totally down to earth, and made sure to say bye, as we were leaving. It all feels like a dream.

After an incredible week, it was time to head home. 

One of My Favorite Places

Let the Christmas Festivities Begin!

I love love LOVE Christmastime! I'm one of those people who proudly plays Christmas music the day after Halloween. We got our tree the week before Thanksgiving. Why not make the most magical time of the year last a little longer?

The Perfect Tree
Since we were seriously the first people at Lowes to get a tree, we scored on a really nice one. There was one tree in the 3 - 5 foot section ($20) that was taller than Scott. (Obviously incorrectly marked.) Nice! While we were waiting for them to cut the bottom, Landon occupied us by putting his hands in his pockets then pulling them out. Over and over and over. He thought it was hilarious.

Christmas Lights
One night we had dinner over at the Riverwoods, and got to check out their sweet lights. Seriously, that outdoor mall is just covered. They are beautiful, but my phone pictures didn't do them justice so here's what you get...

The Grand America Hotel
Last year we had so much fun looking at all the gingerbread houses at the Grand America in Salt Lake. Naturally, I was stoked to go again. What did we find? One. ONE gingerbread house. Yes, it was huge. (We're talking the size of a small walk-in closet. But that's it?! It was basically just four walls with a stained candy door. Apparently all the bakers who normally contribute decided not to this year. How rude. Thankfully they had a piano and a new toy store that kept us entertained.

A few words about the pictures below...

• The top right picture is looking up at a chandelier. (I was having a blast playing with Instagram on my phone.)
• The framed monsters were moving. They looked so real - it was a total Harry Potter moment.
• They had THE CUTEST pillows ever at the toy store.
• Landon loves to stack, or line up anything.
• After the hotel we went to the Gateway (outdoor mall in Salt Lake) and I found an Olympia Beer shirt at Urban Outfitters. I couldn't believe it!

The Halloween Party

For Halloween weekend, Scott and I actually went to a party. Without Landon. This sort of thing happens once in a blue moon. It. Was. Awesome. The party was at the Ken's house. (The investor for Dr. Fubalous.) His home is AMAZING. Then factor in all the decorations, and you feel like you are in a little corner of Disneyland. You can see a little of the place from the picts, but they in no way do it justice. We had a blast eating food, dancing, and hanging out with friends. And before we left, we headed across the street to check out Ken's private park. There we found an uber nice fire pit stocked with marshmallows and roasting sticks. What a perfect end to the night!

Random side note: Flavor Flav is the one with the mask, in the picture on the bottom left.

Our Latest Adventures

I have been looking forward to the Utah State Farm for quite a while now. For one reason or another, each year we're never able to go. And come to think of it, I haven't been to a decent fair since I was probably 10. And at that age, the fair is the happenin' place. So obviously, expectations were high. A couple weeks ago, when we attempted to drive to the fair, traffic was so horrendous that the GPS asked if we wanted to switch to pedestrian mode. Needless to say, we didn't make it to the fair that day.

So, this past Friday was the day. Yay!
Used up half our stash of cash on parking. Of course.
Greeted by the overpowering stench of livestock. Yummy.
Gave into pressure and wasted 5 bucks on a stupid game. Trickery.
Took Landon through the "Little Hands on the Farm" Exhibit. Tantrums.
Counted every penny in my purse to pay for the big slide ride for Landon and me. $0.10 short.
Searched the park for a dime. Nothing.
Finally got up the courage to look like an idiot, and ask someone for one. Score!
Walked to the slide thinking, at least this will be fun. Rain falls.
Find the slide closed due to moisture. Eff.
Treked back to the car. Soaked.

The day after the fair fiasco, we went to our very first college football game. (We're not sports peeps, ok?) We scored free tickets from a friend. It wasn't just any game either, it was the "Holy War" against the two state rivals. Great fun, until Landon was done, then it was time to go. At least were able to see half of it.

Side note: In the middle right picture below, Landon is signing more.
Side note #2: We got to see Jimmer talking to President Uchtdorf before the game. Hence the red arrow.

Lately, Landon's been getting really cuddly and I just love it. He's also been giving kisses on the cheek and lips when I ask for them. Sometimes he even surprises me and turns my face toward him to plant a kiss on it, all on his own accord. And when he gives hugs, he'll pats my back now too. Gosh, I love him.

Watermelons, Dinos, and Stamps! Oh My!

As I've mentioned before, Landon just loves to help out. He tried with all his might to pick up this watermelon and carry it into the kitchen for me. No success. At least it made for a good seat.

Last weekend when we were racking our brains for a fun indoor activity, we decided on the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. I was a little hesitant (having never been before) and thought Landon might not enjoy the exhibits because everything was already dead. (Our other option was the zoo.) Boy, was I wrong! There were so many cool things he could touch and play with. Scott and I loved reading all the fascinating information (and could have definitely stayed longer than two hours, but by then Landon was pooped).

They had a sweet Physics of Motion exhibit as well. After a little coxing, this ended up being Landon's favorite part. Such a fun outing!

One of my secret obsessions is stamps. If you're going to mail something, it deserves a cute stamp, right? I've been waiting all month for the post office to get these in, and finally they arrived! I get giddy just thinking about using them. I know, I'm a nerd.

This and That

A while ago we were super pumped to go to a demolition derby at a local fair. What we didn't realize was that everyone else in a 50 mile radius was super pumped too - and bought their tickets ahead of time. So of course, it was already sold out when we got there. The ticket lady told us we could have just as much fun in the barn looking at the produce displays, lego train, and crafts made by 5 year-olds. Not true. We did have fun trying to see the show through the stands though.

Since this blog is where I record everything, I thought I should jot down what Landon can do at this age. (14.5 months) He has been learning so much lately and I just can't believe how quickly he picks things up. So right now, here's what he knows...

Words He Can Say:
Mama
Dada
Jesus (Yes, this was his first word after mama and dada. He has a book about Jesus that he just loves and while I was reading it to him about a month ago, he just blurted out, "Jesus!" He says it ALL the time now.)
Uh oh (Which was "uh uh" in the correct singsong way until just recently, now he makes a very round ooooh.)
yes
no

Body Parts: When I ask him, "Where is your ______?" he will identify the following:
Head
Nose
Mouth
Tongue
Belly
Toes
Ears
Eyes

Animal Sounds: When asked, he can tell me what sound each of these animals make.
Cow
Lion
Sheep
Bird

Signs: He is getting so good at signing! He will sign things that he wants now and it's so fun!
Milk
Water
Drink
Eat
Pear
More
All done
Wash hands
Brush teeth
Bath
Diaper change
Sleep
Mama
Dada
Baby
Bird
Ball
Book
Up
"Sh"
Help (He's recently started using this one a ton which is wonderful because instead of getting frustrated and throwing a fit when he can't get something to work, he will get me and sign help.)

So, on to other happenings... And yes, I know what you're thinking, not more garden pictures! Don't worry, I have some of Landon to spice it up a little. :) It's just that I can't resist taking pictures of those little baby veggies growing! Landon's got the whole routine down pat: Run to the hose, eat some dirt, turn the water on, eat more dirt, find the end of the hose the water is coming out of, take a quick bite of dirt, then water for mama. He is just so helpful.

One of Landon's favorite snacks these days is a nice juicy pear. He also likes to hang out with dad (even if Scott's working). This is a pict of him in the office, watching Scott. He finds the weirdest positions comfortable.

All of a sudden Landon has decided he LOVES TV. He'll go and turn the TV on and get really mad when I don't come help him get the dvd playing. I've tried showing him a variety of shows to see what he's most interested in but he will only watch two: Sesame Street (specifically, the 25th anniversary DVD we have that is full of songs) and Signing Time. I've tried sitting him on the couch (or the tp that happened to be there after a shopping trip) but he always ends up just standing and leaning on the ottoman.

A Weekend Away and a Favorite Lunch

Last weekend we got to visit our old stomping grounds. Such fun! I gotta tell ya, I was really nervous about how Landon would do on the drive, sleeping at the hotel, getting babysat while Scott and I saw HARRY POTTER, etc... but he did so well! We got to hang out with all of Scott's fam while we were there, who also came down for the weekend.

We loved touring campus. Amazing how fast everything is changing and growing there. The Rexburg Temple is my favorite! Here's the little dude having a grand ol' time exploring it:

Landon loved jumping around (or more correctly diving headfirst) onto the bed and pillows at the hotel. He also enjoyed playing peekaboo under the covers. But, by far his favorite part of the new place was the powdered donuts for breakfast. :)

I so wish we had a fun (and free!) splash pad like this one! It took him a while to get used to it, but eventually Landon did have fun playing in the water.

Random collage picture #1: Have I even mentioned that sometimes I wish Landon was a girl? Ok ok, don't worry, I'm glad he's a boy but sometimes I just can't resist putting his hair in a ponytail or adding a headband. If I don't have a girl eventually, I will be so sad.

#2: The day after we got home from Rexburg, I sat Landon down for lunch and he was eating a little, but then his movements got slower and slower until... zzzzz. So funny. He NEVER falls asleep like that. Guess he was so used to sleeping like that in the car.

#3: The last picture in this random collage is of my favorite fast lunch.  

Taco salad
Ingredients

• Chicken
• Black beans
• Corn
• Cilantro
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Avocado
• Cheese
• Chips
• Mango peach salsa from Costco

Our Fourth and A Very Berry Cheesecake

We had a blast over the Fourth of July weekend. Scott's sisters came down from BYU-I to join in the fun. We hit up Seven Peaks on Saturday. Landon had a ball in the kid zones and floating down the lazy river. Scott and I even got to go on some rides together! Although, when we did, we had a few issues... At the spit-out of one slide, Scott and I were going so fast that our tube went flying off onto the pavement. Ummm, I don't think that's supposed to happen. We also flipped upside down coming out of another slide. And, I just about died when we went on the crazy half-pipe thingy.

On Monday we went to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade (for the first time). Our favorite was the undertaker. What on earth? Of course we hit up all the booths afterward and enjoyed a delish funnel cake.

And what's the fourth without a BBQ and some scrumptious berry cheesecake?! It was definitely worth turning on the oven in the 100+ degree weather. THEN, (that's right, not over yet) Scott, Landon and I went up to Salt Lake to watch the Major League Soccer team play. Another first for us. (This was Landon's birthday present for Scott.) Landon did surprisingly well and slept through the second half and fireworks that followed. Exhausting, but fun day!

Very Berry Cheesecake
Ingredients

• One graham cracker pie crust
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted 
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten 
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup strawberry jelly
• 1 cup whipped topping 
• Sliced fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries  

Directions

• For filling, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in blueberries. Spoon into crust.  
• Bake at 350° for 10 minutes; cover edges with foil to prevent overbrowning. Bake 23-27 minutes longer or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate until chilled.
• In a small bowl, beat jelly until smooth; spread over filling. Spread with whipped topping. Garnish with strawberries and additional blueberries if desired.

A Visit from Grandma

This past week my mom came out to visit us (mostly Landon). So fun! Here were the adventures we had...

The Park: Thankfully, we took advantage of one of the few really nice day all week and went to the park. (Although we were so glad she brought all that Washington rain with her!) Watched some soccer and softball games. Landon enjoyed clapping and cheering for the teams.

Park City: When we found out mom had never been to Park City, we knew we had to go! Walked around downtown, checked out some art galleries (one had original sketches by Rembrandt, Picasso, and others), shopped around the outlet stores, and enjoyed some good food.

Utah Lake: Scott was scheduled to take some wedding photos at Utah Lake so we all went along for fun. (Been wanting to check it out for a while now.) Since it had been raining nonstop for days the lake was overflowing. Pretty cool. I also took mom to Tucanos since they have nothing like it back home. And, Landon did some cooking for us at the house. :)

Gardner Village: My fav!! I had never been here before but saw an ad for it and knew mom would love to check it out too. It's this super cute shopping center in West Jordan and all the stores are in old log cabins and houses. I really enjoyed reading the history of all the buildings. There were lots of unique shops, some kid-friendly, some not-so-much. My top picks were Alton's Sweet Shoppe and the Sassy Baby Store. I had so much fun snapping picts of the place, and as you can see, Landon thought he was just too cool to ride in the stroller.

Bonding Time: By the end of the week, L started warming up to Grandma. He would carry on conversations with her, "feed her" with his big wooden spoon, and even let her hold him for a few seconds. He was especially fond of her glasses.

Farm Country: I thought Landon might enjoy a visit to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. When we went, it happened to be "Sheep Days." Random. I can now say I've witnessed a sheep being sheered. Landon did pet the baby horse but was a little freaked out when it started licking his hand. Thankfully, in a few areas the smell of kettle corn overpowered the animal stench.

Car Show: While at the farm we saw a tons of tents, cars, people and heard some boppin music across the street. After further investigation we found a HUGE car show. We had a great time looking at the old, new, and unique cars, while gobbling up our kettle corn. (And I know this is a super random picture of us on the left but I really like it. Just us, being us. Makes me smile. And I guess mom thought it was more important to get the entire stroller in the picture than Scott's face. )

It was a fantastic week and we are so glad Grandma C came to visit!

Spoiled Indeed

On my 24th birthday...

Landon let me sleep in till 6:45.

I woke up to colored post-it notes all over the house with silly and random expressions of love.

Scott cooked me a big ol breakfast with thick slices of french toast on actual french bread.

Landon surprised me with a new diaper bag. It is THE BEST diaper bag! All you mamas out there looking for the perfect one - this is it. Mine is the Emma (large size) and you can visit the Etsy seller's site here to check them out. Could double as a baby carrier?

Landon and I stuck our tongues out at each other for some giggles.

We headed north for a surprise visit to.... the ZOO! I had been wanting to go to Hogle Zoo FOREVER and thankfully it was a perfect day for it. Scott knows just how to make my day. :)

Landon loved looking at the animals (but mostly the other children).

This guy was HUGE.

We went to Red Robin for lunch and got my free Bonsai Burger and Mile High Mud Pie. YUM.

We also went across the street to the "This is the Place" Monument (since it happened to be right there.)

We got a free car wash and vacuum ($10 value!) and free cookie dough from Papa Murphys because it was my birthday.

We settled down at home (after an eventful and fun afternoon) for the unwrapping of gifts. Landon occupied himself at the AC vent. He kept running his hand up and down it and laughing at himself. As you can see, one of his newest things is pointing at everything.

AAAAANNNNNNNNND, Scott surprised me with this........

OH MY OMG. Don't worry, I'll post picts of my 6 year old tank of a laptop that is way past it's retirement. Landon, this is NOT YOUR TOY.

We ate some cake and my fav coconut hazelnut ice cream before bed.

Best. Birthday. Ever.