Emery's 9!

This weekend Emersyn turned 9 years old and she couldn't have been more excited. She had a small party with two of her friends on Friday. It made me realize how not girly I was growing up and how girly she is. I think it also made Brad glad we only have one girl, although 3 boys bring a whole other set of 'fun', so it could be a toss up. 

For her party they made box cars. I remember whenever my parents (or my friends parents) got a new appliance we could play with the boxes for weeks. Making cars or houses or anything else we could. We have done this a few times with the kids and they have loved it, so Emery was excited to do it for her birthday. It was a good project to keep them busy for an hour or so making them. They ate dinner in them, and used them to open presents too. She wanted clothes from us. She said she really wanted a shirt that said birthday girl on it, so we went the cheap way, since she'll wear it once, and made one. She loved it and wore it to her party. 

 After dinner and presents we set the projector up for them to go to the drive-in with their cars. They only watched about half of the movie then played school and family and texting on a white board. I'm not sure how long they stayed up, but Emery was tired the next day. 

On her actual birthday we had a girls night with Grandma Arrington to watch Women's Conference. We went to dinner at Red Robin where they sang to her, then watched some conference and after went and saw the play "Beauty and the Beast." It was a really fun night and a good birthday for her. I think a small part of her is hoping we go on a trip for her 10th like we did with the boys....

Emery is such a fun girl. In a house full of boys, shes a breath of fresh air. While I wasn't ever as girls as she is, I love having a shopping partner and someone to paint nails with. Someday when she's older we'll be able to shop for makeup and other fun girly things. Emery and Jacks are the best of friends and they play pretend together really well. One thing she is really good at is being upset. By that I mean when she is upset in anyway she is stone faced and quiet just looking forward. She doesn't break for anything, which is kind of impressive. She will be a fun pre teen girl. I love the little ways that she is how I was when you grow up with just brothers. I told a teacher when I was around her age that my brothers taught me how to burp and fart really well, and she is just the same. Emery loves clothes. Like I said that's what she wanted for her birthday and it was very specific things. I no longer just get her things, she has to be there when I shop and even then it takes forever for her to pick something out. She does really well in school and her teacher loves her. She loves to read and loves the social part of school. Emery has Brad wrapped around her finger, but I think he loves that. Emery loves to draw with chalk and play babies or family and school. She uses her easel all of the time. Her favorite food is fried chicken (like nuggets that you would get at Chick Fil A). Her favorite subject is reading and her favorite toy or game is to play babies with stuffed animals or dolls. 

Football Season

Beck decided to do football again this year since last year was so much fun. The only sad part is he isn't on the same team, but I think he's still having fun. They have yet to win a game, but there are still a few games left. This year he is playing center and has done a really good job doing that. We'll see if he likes it enough to continue onto school team football. 

 The other day he was taking a bath and I kept hearing him say something. Finally when I went in he told me he wanted a picture taken. He may be growing up, but he still does random things like this.  

Universal Studios

Our last day was spent at Universal Studios Hollywood. We loved going with the boys last year and they wanted to show it to Emery and Jacks. Jacks couldn't ride the big Harry Potter ride so we did a parent switch with this one. I went with Emery and she hated it. First there was a glitch just as it started and the first screen went off. Then I forgot about the spiders and dementors on it, which you get pretty close to and she got scared. Needless to say, we only did that one once. The walk up to the ride is still one of the best there is. You literally walk though Hogwarts and see different sets from the movie. 

All of the kids loved Simpson's Land. The ride was a lot of fun and all of the characters and props made it seem like you were there. Krusty was a family favorite. 

I think Disney made them excited to meet characters and there were a lot out today. 

Next to the Despicable Me ride was a splash pad where the kids got wet, and Cam got soaked. It was nice for them though since it was pretty hot outside. 

We read online that you can ring all of the doorbells next to Gru's house, so Camden gave them all a try. Different characters said things after you did it. 

They had a Walking Dead haunted house that you could walk through. Beck went with me through it and got pretty freaked out. He just kept yelling "don't touch me" and he gripped onto my arm. 

(I know it's sideways, I can't get it to fix) We had to try Voodoo Doughnuts and all the kids agreed they did not disappoint. 

When we left Salt Lake Jacks saw this plane set and wanted it. Since it was the start of the trip we didn't let him get something at the airport when we had the whole vacation still in front of us. By the end of the trip he had just enough left over of his money to get it. He was so excited that he got the same plane we were on. 

We made each kid these book that they were able to put autographs and pictures in. They ended up really full with so many pictures. This trips was a lot of work but so worth it. The memories we all made will be something we can all remember together. We can't wait to go back again... but in a few years. 

Here are the kids memories and thoughts about the trips typed out by them. 

Camden

I really liked riding the new Guardians of the Galaxy Breakout, Cars, and California Screaming'. I also liked visiting the magic shop, I hope to impress kids at school with my magic. It was fun going everywhere, except the big lines. The food there was really good. I really liked The Penny Arcade, all the shops, rides, and walk thru. My favorite ride at Universal is The Mummy, California Adventure is California Screaming', San Diego Zoo is the red panda resort(they're my favorite animal), and Disney Land is Splash Mountain. I liked Holiday Inn and Best Western. I didn't like Home Wood Suites. These are my opinions about our trip. 

Emersyn

At San Diego Zoo I like the red pandas, at Disney I liked the Buzz Lightyear ride and Splash mountain,at California Adventure I liked Guardian's of the the Galaxy ride,and at Universal studios I liked  meeting Krusty the clown. My favorite hotel was Home Wood Suites I did also liked Holiday Inn and Best Western, so I liked almost every hotel and I also liked flying, flying was my favorite part it had YUMMY snacks and pop,but also every thing else was my favorite. These are my opinions about my and my family trip.

Beckham

On the first day we went to the San Diego zoo. My favorite animal was the monkey's and the polar bears. the second day we went to the  beach. I liked the waves at the beach and playing  at the arcade  at the hotel. The third day we went to Disneyland. I had a delicious Mickey s'more .  My favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear ride and the Star Tours. The fourth day we went to California adventure. My favorite rides were California Screaming, Toy Story ride, and the Guardians of the galaxy mission Break out . On the last day we drove to L.A. and went to Universal Studios. My favorite rides are the Harry Potter ride and the Simpsons ride. That is what we did on our trip to California.

Jackson

I liked staying in our hotel because it had a bunk-bed. I saw the meerkats. At Disneyland I liked seeing the characters. I liked Mickey's Toon Town and the Guardian's of the Galaxy ride. I liked seeing Spider Man and Black Widow. Universal I like seeing the minion and going on minion ride and Jurassic park ride. 

Disney Day 2

The second day at Disney we spent at California Adventure. One of the reasons we went the time we did is because it was their summer of heroes, so there was a lot of super hero themed activities around for the kids to do and see. Jacks loves super heroes so this was perfect for him. They were able to take a small quiz and see what super hero characteristic they had, they got their faces painted (or arms for the boys), met a few super heroes and did avenger training. 

This park had Cars land, which had one of our favorite rides in it. It was fun how much this land was like the Cars movie.

There was Bugs Life Land as well. This was most fun for Emery and Jacks, but the boys liked it too, they just may not say. Emery said it made her feel like she shrunk down to a tiny bug size. 

I think we all agreed that our favorite ride was he Guardians of the Galaxy ride. It used to be tower of terror but was changed to this. The first time on it we didn't know what to expect but once it started we all loved it. We used another fast past and went on it again later in the day. We could have stayed here for a while. 

This was the avenger training. Emery didn't do the Jedi one and so she had to try this one. They fought with Hawk-eye and Black Widow. 

Emery doing her Hulk roar. 

One of the building had a short class that taught you how to draw different Disney characters. Brad loved this a lot and probably could have done them all day. I was surprised how well they all turned out when we followed the instructions. We drew Goofy. 

The older boys and I went on California screaming, but we all decided that the Ferris wheel was not for us. 

By the end of the second day we were all tired from walking but it was so worth it. We all also loved Soarin' ride here. It was weird when we started to smell the grass of Africa and lavender of Thailand and beaches of Hawaii. On our way out of the park we hit all of the shops so the kids could get what they wanted. Along with the quarters for the video games they also did he smashed penny machines throughout both parks. They all could have easily done $20 in quarters for this. This is only some of them. Although next time I would go to the bank and get new clean pennies to smash

 Emery is the only one who got some ears. She really wanted some but didn't want to pay the amount, so she and I split them and paid half and half. 

  Before we came they bought pins on Ebay to trade while at the parks. A lot of the stores trade with you and Beck loved this. Most of his money was spent on buying cool pins. Camden got one I loved, he got the grape soda pin from Up. 

Beckham is already thinking about next time we go to Disneyland (or world, he can't decide). I may need a few weeks to rest up before thinking about next time. These two days were so busy and tiring but also the best time. It seemed everywhere you turned and looked there was something else to look at and see. Something else magical or another character that you love. It really was the best time at Disneyland.