Longwood Gardens

Our first adventure of my trip to visit my sister was to Longwood Gardens. I had no idea that this beautiful garden was located in Pennsylvania. But what ev. The drive was easy, the views spectacular and the time spent talking with my sister was priceless.

Maryland!!

To get to Penn. we had to drive through Maryland.

The huge Barge Ships

I took most of these photos while my sister was driving on the freeway.

It was so fascinating to me to see the docks.

After our long drive we stopped to get some lunch.  Pizza.  Which I love.  After lunch we were off to Longwood.  It was bitterly cold outside this day.  We didn't get to spend much time on the grounds.  We spent the majority of our time in the 4 acre green house.

BLUE oriental poppies!

Longwood gardens was spectacular and didn't disappoint.  The colors and textures were a treat for the eyes.  We took our time meandering through the many different gardens and just enjoying being with each other.  The kids had a ball at the children's garden.  You could tell they were frequent visitors and knew just what to do and how to do it.  They owned their time there. 

Getting to Know You

The first day at my sisters was a day spent getting to know my nephews and niece. I'm sure they've heard Jessica talk about me. But I'm pretty sure they don't remember me, too much. I spent the morning talking with, playing with, and showing them my favorite Disney movies. We played hide and seek, successfully scaring one another. Basically, getting to know one another. I wanted them to feel comfortable with me, allowing me to help them as much as I could while I was there. After all, that was my intended roll.

Fuzzy Self Portrait

Maeve Penelope

This gal has a personality bigger then the state of Utah.  

I found that I wanted her to love me as quickly as I loved her. 

 

Soren!

This little man is concerned with other's happiness. 

Always willing to share and give compliments.  

This guy loves foxes and has an imiganiary friend named Ghost Monkey.

 

Asher!

This kid is obsessed with all things Macabre.

Zombies, Skeletons, Graveyards, you name it.

  Nothing scares this kid.  Except maybe pooping in the potty.

 

This little gal loves her Mom above everyone else.

She is just following in her brothers footsteps.  

Jessica must have some kind of voodoo power over her children. 

For the longest time they don't want anyone but MOM!

I remember Jessica visiting one summer before she had children.  Brent and I left for the night( I can't remember why), but Jessica was in charge of baby Beckham.  I distinctly remember her telling me how much she loved getting up with him the one time he woke up in the night.  I was like, ya, that's because you don't have to do it every night.  And then she became a Mom.  Jessica loved those quiet moments at night with her babies and she had a lot of them.  I thought she was nuts.  I love the quiet nights without interruption.   I so admire the immense love that she has for her children.  That is probably the voodoo power.  I know she gets exhausted.  But the amount of energy and excitement she has for her children and dragging them along on so many adventures makes me want to take a nap.  Jessica is an amazing mother.  She is a great example to me.  I love her and her children.

More Fun Than You Think

While sitting in the hallway Sunday after Sunday we Primary Secretaries got to know each other pretty good. We realized that we had a lot in common. We love food. Love to cook it, love to eat it, love to eat out. In addition to that we discovered that we both have an extreme love for Disneyland. We talked about it constantly.  We entertained the idea of one day going together, just as couples, without the kids.  She has some pretty sweet hook ups.  Well, that idea became a reality.  Those of you who know us, also know that Brent loves Disneyland as well.  He probably loves it even more then I do.  I planted the seed into his head, I only had to water it a little bit and a date was set.   Of course Fall is my favorite time to visit Disneyland, but I was willing to compromise and agreed on early Spring.

Flowers outside of California Adventure

Danniey and I waiting just outside

 

 We had to wait for her friend to let us in. 

Waiting that first day was the longest of my Disneyland life. 

Waiting to go on Soaring

I know I'm getting old when this ride gave me vertigo.  

I had to quickly take some dramamine so I could enjoy the rest of the day.

  

On the Little Mermaid Ride

We rode it just once just for Grace

We Watched a fun 4-D preview of Oz, The Great and Powerful

The second day we started out at Disneyland.  As we entered the park there was the horse drawn carriage waiting for passengers.  Danniey asked if we wanted to hop on.  I'd never ridden it and so I quickly agreed.  We were meeting Brent in front of Tomorrowland.   Don't make fun of the next photo.  I'd never seen Disneyland from this perspective and I just had to capture it.  It was so fun to see Sleeping Beauty's Castle over the lovely horse.

Mini waving right at me

As we were waiting for the carriage to pull forward, Mini walked by.

I snapped this photo from inside.  

I love it when moments like this happen organically in the Park.  

So Magical and FUN!!

  

Storm Troopers!!

The only characters we got our phtos taken with.  

Another moment that just happened.

Making another magical moment.  

Yes, I am full of cheese right now.  But I don't care.

  

Star Tours

We rode Star Tours the second most times.  

We went to all the planets.  

Our last day,  there were two planets we had yet to visit.  

On our very last time riding, we visited both of them.  

AWESOME!!

    

Splash Mountain

I'd never seen splash mountain from this point before. 

It's never been busy enough for me to go up the path. 

One of my favorite moments happened at Splash Mountain.

We all tricked Tyler and stood just so in the que to make him sit in the front.

I never laughed so hard on that ride.  

Especially when the waves came up over his head and soaked his back. 

Spring was Pretty in Disneyland

The Blue Bayou

Brent and I always said that if we were ever to go to Disneyland by ourselves we would eat at the Blue Bayou.  I'd read some things online that said the food wasn't that great, but the atmosphere was worth it.  Well, they were right.  The food wasn't that great, and the atmosphere would have been grand if they actually sat us further into the seating area, closer to the Pirate's Ride. It was so disappointing to be seated right behind the check in desk.  Our server was kind and did a great job keeping my diet coke filled.  And let me tell you, the coke never tasted better! Brent and I had the Monte Cristo.  They've been serving that sandwich since 1966.  I'm not sure how's it's survived that long.  Being battered and deep fried did a number on both Brent and me.  More Brent.  Poor fellow.  It's a good thing he knew just where every single bathroom is located in the Park. Cuz he needed a lot of them.  I'm glad we ate here on our last night so Brent only missed out on the last hour of our trip.

Danniey took this great photo of us seated right inside the restaurant.

CARS LAND!

Tyler, Danniey, Moi and Brent

Danniey and Tyler were super great traveling companions.  So easy going and willing to do anything we suggested.  And at times we seperated and did our own things and then met back up together again.  They are funny and full of youthful energy.  We both had been there plenty of times that we knew how to work the park to perfection.  Never wasting anytime and just having the best time ever.  

We ended up riding Radiator Racers about 8 times.  

Danniey was a fast friend.  I teared up a few times on this trip.  Once in the car and once standing in line to get some dinner.  She told us as we were just leaving Utah that Tyler accepted a job in AZ and they would be gone by the end of April.  Even though we've only been good friends for about a year, it hurts to see her go.   She came into my life when I was quite lonely and needed someone to fill a friendship void.  I'm so glad we were able to share in some of our favorite things that brought us close together. 

Halfway through the first day Brent commented on how it's just not the same without the kids.  And I was like, "Ya it's not the same without the kids."  When asked which I prefer, with or without the kids.  I had to plead the 5th.  They are two different experiences and both are fun.  I would go back to Disneyland with just my sweetheart in an instant.  And after we left, I ached to go back with my children.  There really is no happier place on Earth.

Just the two of Us.

If you were to ask us if we were  there celebrating anything special, I'd have to say our 17th Wedding Anniversary that is coming up in a few weeks.  I still can't believe that it's been 17 years.  I know it's going to sound so silly and major cheesy, but I fall in love with this man more and more every single day.  Every day he gets better looking.  I relish these times that we get to spend with just the two of us.  It reminds me how much I love him.  His sense of humor, his common sense about almost everything, his desire to be good, his desire to care for me and our ever growing family, and his desire to have fun and make memories.  Life isn't always peaches and cream with us.  It takes a lot of hard work, love and a lot of forgiveness to keep a marriage going. I am so grateful for my marriage.  Even though we aren't perfect, we are good together and for each other.

Going to Disneyland without kids was more fun then I even imagined it to be.