September 16th, 2012

• This week we were given a FREE trip to Disneyland. Life really doesn't get better than this! The company Todd works for paid for all the employees and their families to enjoy a few days in the beautiful California sun. We had a blast! Although we went to Disneyland a year and a half ago this time Bodee was with us and we did SO MUCH more on this trip since we didn't spend hours and hours waiting to see princesses:)
• We flew out late Wednesday afternoon and drove to the hotel (after getting lost a little on the way;) just in time to have a quick dinner and head to bed since we knew we'd be busy the next few days.
• Thursday we work up early and headed to Disneyland. We thought we'd get in early with a Magic Morning pass but they have changed the rules since we were there last. It was a good thing we were early because the line for California Adventure Park to enter the new Cars Land was already forming. The kids were not excited about waiting but as soon as we got on the coolest Cars ride, Radiator Springs, it was fun from then on out.
• Bodee loved all the rides he could on and really liked meeting Mator and Lightning McQueen. Cars Land really was cool and by 1pm we were done there and spent the rest of the day riding all the rides in California Adventure Park. It was super hot, with temperatures over 100 degrees with humidity while we were there so we drank A LOT all the time.

• For dinner on Thursday we took the kids to "Goofy's Kitchen" one of the character dining restaurants. The food was great...a huge buffet so all the kids were able to find plenty that they liked. The kids met Goofy, The Mad Hatter, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Aladdin, and Pluto. It was a success for the girls as least. Bodee was scared of all the characters and did not want to be near them. (So sad since he loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!) After a little while he would wave, give them a high five, and say hello. I had to be holding him if we were close to any of the characters though.

• After dinner we heading over to watch The World of Color. We got seats right next the water so we all got soaking wet during the show but it was so hot we it felt really good! The show was just as amazing as last time we saw it and this time the girls stayed awake for the whole thing and loved it so much. Bodee crashed after the first 15 minutes.
• The next morning Addy and I awoke early and headed for Disneyland while Todd let the other two kids sleep a little longer. Addy and I ran to Space Mountain got fast passes for Todd and Brynn to use later and went on the ride. We did this for a few hours until Todd met up with us. It worked out really well and we hit a lot of rides on Friday.

•  Addy and I went on Autopia. Addy drove the car and had the best time. We just kept giggling together and laughing at how bad Addy was at driving. I loved spending some one on one time with her Friday morning.

• Friday night we stayed late at the park to watch Fantasmic. This was the first time we saw this show and it was seriously awesome. So fun to watch and enjoy. After Fantasmic we were able to watch the Disneyland fireworks show on our way out too.
• Disneyland was decorated for Halloween. Very cool! 

• Bodee loved Toon Town and all we 

• This trip we were determined to see Mickey Mouse. We never got to meet him on our first trip and since Bodee loves Mickey Mouse it was a definite must. We saw him our last day at his house in Toon Town. (Bodee was still scared of him:) 

• The only princess we got in line to see this time was Merida. The girl from the movie Brave. We actually haven't watched the movie yet (I was hoping it would reach the dollar theater before we left but it never did) but I know the girls will be happy to have met her once we watch the movie. Luckily the line was only 15 minutes long. 

• Saturday we left Disneyland around 3pm and headed for the beach. It was so hot everybody was ready for the nice cool water. Someone recommended visiting Salt Creek beach by Dana Point and it was beautiful. We didn't have a very long time to spend at the beach but we had a really good time. All the kids loved playing in the sand and water and looking for seashells.  

• Both Todd and I kept on commenting on how fun it was to spend time with our sweet kids. They were so well behaved and were so grateful for this fun trip. We are so blessed to have everything we need and be able to do a few fun things...like Disneyland.

September 9th, 2012

• There is only one thing that happened this week...MOVING! Ahhhh! It really is that bad! Since I went to Wisconsin last minute I hadn't packed very much. That being said I had to pack and then move, load after load. Ugh! 
• I am grateful for my wonderful brother-in-laws Bryan and Trent that helped us move as well as Todd's parents. We couldn't have done it without them:)
• Brynn had her first day of preschool this week. Wahoo! She loved every second of it and wants to go back every day.

• Friday night we stopped at Chris and Cathy's house and they offered to watch the kids while Todd and I grabbed a quick bite to eat. We hadn't spent much alone time together in the past couple of weeks so we really appreciated having a hour to ourselves.
• Saturday was filled with soccer games, unpacking, and Todd took the kids swimming Saturday evening after the long day. Todd so kindly let me sit by the pool and read:)
• After a long week packing this is how the Bassetts roll on a Sunday evening. Playing in the backyard and cooking s'mores. This is what it's all about.

• Such goof-troops!

September 2nd, 2012

• This week my family was gathering in Wisconsin. Late in July we had decided we wouldn't meet up with my family on this trip. All month long I was really sad and finally on Monday I found some well priced airplane tickets and I couldn't take it anymore, I booked them! Todd stayed to work but the kids and I left on Tuesday afternoon for Wisconsin.
• On Wednesday, the kids and I spent most of the day with Great-Grandma Pinch. We helped clean her porch and then she took us out to lunch to Culvers. We really enjoyed spending a quiet day at Grandma's house. 
• On Thursday, Addy made a request to tour the Jelly Belly Factory. We drove over to Pleasant Prairie and took a tour. Fun, fun! We then got to sample lots of different kinds of Jelly Bellies.

•  After the factory tour we drove up to Milwaukee to pick up Grandma and Grandpa Mosley and Uncle Dane from the airport. Wahoo! We stopped for lunch and enjoyed the rest of the day talking with family.
• On Friday, Grandma and Grandpa took us to the Walworth County Fair. I had not been to the fair in years and it was definitely a highlight of the trip:) The kids enjoyed the rides, the Butterfly House, farmland, and lots and lots of animals. I enjoyed eating a funnel cake and cream puff:)

• We also stopped to watch the pig races. It was actually really entertaining because the announcer was absolutely hilarious! Go Piggies Go! 

• Bodee loved Gerren's dog, Brittany. He just chased her around and around. Laid on her, covered her with his blanket, etc...Luckily Brittany is a very nice dog and let Bodee bug her all day long. 

• Saturday we hung out with the family and had a cook out and Sunday, after taking my parents to the airport we went swimming at Sarah and Gary's resort. The kids had a ball and loved spending time with their cousins Kailei and Koty.
• Seeing my family was so good for my heart! It is so hard being so far from everyone all the time. I loved talking with my sisters and mom late every evening. These ladies are my best friends and hopefully someday we'll all live really close to each other...maybe in Utah?:)

August 26th, 2012

School started this week!

• On Monday evening we held our 1st Annual Back to School Celebration!
• I got some crowns from Burger King and spray painted them pink. Then during the day I let the kids decorate them however they wanted to. Dad then placed them on their heads when we began our celebratory dinner.

• I cooked spaghetti, meatballs, and bread sticks for dinner. 

• We made apple shaped Rice Krispy treats complete with stems, leaves and worms:)

• Then we rolled out the red carpet for the girls to show off their outfits for the first day of school.

• We finished the night with Father's Blessing for the school year and reading two new books. The kids all loved the evening and we are definitely making it a yearly tradition.
• Addy started first grade on Tuesday morning. She has Mrs. Helm for the English portion of the day and Mrs. Ackerson for the Chinese portion of the day. She was happy and ready for school and came home raving about how great first grade was and how nice her teachers were. Yay!

• Addy with her sunflowers to give to her new teachers.

• This one just made me laugh!

• Kids painting pictures this week. They all love craft time.

• Friday night Elizabeth and I went to go see "Wicked". It was the second time I've seen it but it was just as wonderful. It was a great evening and I loved spending time with my good friend:)

• Bodee turned two on Sunday! I can't believe my little buddy is 2! Wow...time goes by so fast. Grandma and Grandpa Bassett came for dinner and then we ate the Thomas the Train cake Bodee had picked out. Love this sweet little boy:)

August 19th, 2012

It was the last week of summer vacation 2012! I can't believe it is already over.

• On Monday Addy had a two hour orientation with her new Chinese Immersion teachers. Her English speaking teacher is Mrs. Helm and her Chinese speaking teacher is Mrs. Ackerson. She enjoyed her day, even though she wasn't feeling great and came home saying she learned lots of new words...she just couldn't remember them:)

•  On Tuesday we went to Thanksgiving Point again for $2 Tuesdays. This time we went the Children's Garden. It wasn't nearly as busy this week and the kids LOVED it. There was so much to do. Mazes, caves, climbing, music, ponds, a river to play in and race boats down, and of course, Italian Ices for a treat. It was a fun and beautiful day.

• Thursday was Addy's Birthday! She turned 6 years old! How I love this sweet, smart, responsible, funny, silly girl! I love being able to have real conversations with her and explain how things work. She work up to balloons all over her room and then we all went to IHop for breakfast. (That was her birthday meal choice). Grandpa Bassett joined us at IHop and she loved being sung Happy Birthday to and her free ice cream sundae at eight in the morning.

• Brynn and Bodee picked out the game Trouble to give to Addy for her Birthday.

• Addy invited three of her good friends (Emma, Joey, and Hailey) to the outdoor pool for a swimming party and then to McDonalds for Happy Meals and cake!

• Sea and Matai joined us for lunch at McDonalds too!

• All Addy wanted for her birthday was to get her ears pierced. (She talked us down from 8 years old to 6 years old.) Here she is at Claire's pre-pierced.

• Happy it's done after a few tears! We were glad they did both ears at the same time. She is beautiful!

• Grandma and Grandpa Bassett and Aunt Amy met us up at Fashion Place mall for dinner and cheesecake. We didn't want to splurge too much on dinner so we ate at the mall food court but had our cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. This was Addy's other birthday request. She choose red velvet cake cheesecake.

• Saturday was both Addy and Brynn's first soccer games of the season. Addy's team lost 3-0. It was super hot out, over 100 degrees in the middle of the afternoon so the girls were hot and tired. Addy was really good at turning the ball around and working with her teammates. Brynn's team won 6-0. Brynn scored four of the goals! She's get right in there, take the ball from the circle of kids and kick it right in the goal. She was super proud of herself and we were definitely proud of her too.

• After the soccer games were done Todd took the girls to go swimming since summer is almost over while Bodee and I went grocery shopping. Todd then went with Trent, Amy, and his Dad golfing and out to dinner. 
• For the last four months I've been eating pretty healthy so I haven't baked much at all. I've realized I've really missed it. This week I was dying to try to make Irish Soda Bread. I made two loaves during the week but neither one was very good. On Saturday  night I tried a different recipe and it turned out beautiful and delicious! 
• I never make chocolate chip cookies because mine never turn out very good; always flat and really crispy. I found a recipe on pinterest that claimed to be the softest and chewiest chocolate chip cookies ever. I made a batch on Saturday night. They really were the best cookies ever! I'm so glad (as well as my kids and husband) I found a rockin' chocolate chip cookie recipe. 

• Today was third Sunday dinner with the Bassett clan. Since both Addy and Bodee have August birthdays I made the dessert. For the kids I made a rainbow cake and for Cathy and Dustin's August birthdays I made a lemon delight dessert. Bodee knew exactly how to blow out his two candles! It was super cute! Love these kids!