Oh, thank you advent fairy (day 7)

Day 7: The advent Fairy left a note saying "Get picked up from school for a very special lunch date."

Advent Fairy had to keep a close eye on Bubba to make sure that

he would be OK for an outing and he was!!!!!

We picked the kids up early for school for a lunch date at Disneyland!

Advent Fairy knew that our lil' family was in need of a family fun day. 

 We headed over to Small world..........

to make sure their names were not on the naughty list! 

We NEEDED a day filled with SMILES!!!!

The boys went on a rollercoaster (Regan still doesn't like them)

so we headed over to say hi to Dancer. 

After our AWESOME afternoon at Disney Daddy and Regan wanted

to do some Christmas shopping at down town disney so Bubba went off on our own. 

You know Bubba's love of a good bus or train????..... 

 Well, you should add tram to the very top of that list!!!

We sat there and just watched the trams go by and he was just

as excited to see the last one as he was to see the first.

Advent Fairy hit it out of the park, she knew just what we needed.

A happy famiy day filled with SMILES, pickels, trams, lolipops, and no pain!

The not so awesome Advent Fairy.............

I thought this year I would try doing the whole Advent Fairy thing. Well, this week I have learned two things about it. 1st, you actually need to plan  these things and think ahead.. who would have thought that!?!? 2nd, I am not that good at it. Seriously, I think our Advent Fairy would get a D... ok, maybe a D+ So, I am going to have to get better at this and PLAN ahead. :) Who knows... maybe by the end of the month I can work my way up to a C+.  So, here is the break down of our Advent fun so far.

Day 1: Regan got to go and play with Nana and Pa Pa. They took her to see a movie. {Bubba had his tri annual IEP and Bubba and I were at his school until after 5pm.}

Day 2: Decorate Regan's room with Christmas decoration crafts that we made. {No pictures.... advent fairy fail.}

Day 3: go to church {ward} Christmas party {Bubba started to feel crummy 30 minutes in. Bubba and I left and Regan stayed behind with a friend. No pictures... boo.}

Day 4: Have a birthday party for Nana at our home. {Bubba was very sick and I had to give my sweet sis-in-law a SOS call for help. Luckily she came and held Bubba for me so that I could get dinner started. Yes, not pictures AGAIN!.... fail!}

Day 5: Christmas FHE {Regan was in charge of the lesson}

Regan put together a very good lesson about the birth of Jesus Christ. She insisted that Stanley be front and center since this was his first Christmas with us. 

Bubba was not up to par yet again... boo. 

Day 6: Go to the Mall for some fun! {Thank goodness Bubba was up for this one, so many of our outings depend on him. Regan was bummed that Bubba didn't get to see Santa at the party on Sat. So, we had to make up for that!}

Our first stop was to see Santa!

 Then we were off to make crafts with Mrs. Clause.

 We enjoyed the carolers! Oh, and we brought Great Grandma

Jo with us. Can you spot her? wink!

Lastly, we took a trip on our very own polar express. :) 

I LOVE this picture!!!

Are you doing an Advent Calendar? What fun things are you doing with your family. This not so awesome Advent Fairy needs some HELP!!!!







Photo Challenge | On Your Feet!

The theme this week over at

this week is On your feet!

This is a shot of my sweet Bubba and both sets of his "feet".

I will never forget get the day when Bubba's sweet BIG, little sis yelled at a child in the store..... "WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT HE'S JUST A HANDICAPER!!!!" I was embarresed and so proud all in the same moment. In our home the reality is that Bubba's feet don't work very well but as Sis would say... "He get's to drive his COOL Bumble Bee wheel chair!" and she will even request a ride if I take him out in public and will wheel herself around where ever we are and she is so PROUD. I love that "broken" feet, a bumble bee wheel chair, and his second set of feet... his wheels are normal around here. :)

Head over to I heart faces to see more fun shots!

This must be what Heaven is like............

Every day I walk into Bubba's classroom and feel blessed to be around so many sweet children.  I am always amazed to see how big their smiles are despite all of the daily challenges they each face. They truly are angels here on earth. So, I wonder .......is this what Heaven will be like?

This world would be a much better place if we could be a little bit more like these sweet children....

If we took the time to see those around us with the love of Christ.

I don't think these amazing children have once judged another person.

I am grateful to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas and the daily lessons that I learn from being around these sweet children every day.

family pictures 2011

I am grateful for a wonderful friend that was very patient with me. :) I showed up with my own things and placed everyone and then would ask her "do you see what I see...." Ce Ce did an amaing job!!! I am so grateful to have so many wonderful and talented friends! She shot and I did the editing.  Now, I can't wait to re-pay the favor and shoot her family.:)