The dream vacation and a Merry Christmas

We started dreaming of this vacation when my daughter was 3.  She wore her princess dresses not only for Halloween, but for making her bed, jumping on the neighbor's trampoline, and even during naps.  After speaking with neighbors and getting tips on what to do with little ones we decided to wait until it was cooler.  Long lines and a little one in 100 degree heat sounded terrible to me.  Well before our hemisphere cool sufficiently I was pregnant with Coleton and so so so very sick.  And then after having him a month early, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Treatment took a year. Follow up took 5.

Bumble Bee at Universal Studios

I honestly thought this vacation would never ever happen. Like Ever.  Especially when the doctor bills started piling up. Just a fact I've learned - the average out of pocket cost for cancer patients with insurance is over $15,000 a year.  Did I mention we were in the middle of building a house during all of this? ya... I was just happy keeping my house. Especially when we hadn't any idea of how expensive it would be for Follow Up care, surgeries, and tests every few months every year for the next 5 years.  

We went on the Transformers Ride 3 times with no wait what so ever. We walked up to the gates inside the building and they ushered us into our "car".  This ride is seriously impressive and so fun! If you go here and it's cold, get the closer parking.  You'll be glad you did.

The Who's of Whoville  - Universal Studios

 The Who's were my favorite of all the characters.  They were so fun and so interactive.  In fact the front Who in the photo above with the dark red outfit and gold band on his hat came to talk to us later while we were in line to see the Grinch show around the tree.  He looked right at my daughter and said, "Why you look just like a little Cindy Lou Who, don't you?"  I think he made her day.  It made mine!

More cute Who's of Whoville

We spent 5 days visiting parks with the Southern California City Pass  

Day 1 - Sea World 

Day 2 - Disneyland Park/ California Adventure

Day 3 - Universal Studios Hollywood

Day 4 - Disneyland Park/ California Adventure

Day 5 - Disneyland Park/ California Adventure

Day 6 - sleep in and relax and make cars at RideMakerz

Don't you just love this Snow Mobile from Cars Land.  So cute! So clever.

Snow Mobile at Cars Land

Get snacks at the Cozy Cone Motel - there was a lady selling cinnamon churro bites who was so much fun to talk to.  She quizzed our kids on the Cars 1 and Cars 2 movies and gave them cool button/pins to wear with cars from CarsLand.

Sleeping Beauties Castle at about 7:30 a.m. It was pretty and quiet.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle - Disneyland

 We were standing in line for Mater when McQueen drove up. We rode on the Radiator Springs Racers ride all three days.  Using the fast pass, it took us about 15 minutes in line instead of the 2-3 hours it took in the Stand-By line or single riders line.

Lightening McQueen in Cars Land California Adventure Disneyland

 The entire town was decorated with filters in the garland and tires for wreaths and hub caps and street signs for decoration. Cars Land was my favorite place.  It was like walking into the movie.  In fact it's even better at night with the neon aglow.  

Radiator Springs Town Hall Christmas Tree

 If you get anything at the Lucky Fortune Cookery, ask for the sauce on the side or children may toss it after 3 mouthfuls. The Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe in Disneyland had exceptional sandwiches AND the best part was they even had gluten free buns so I left there feeling happy and full from one of the best turkey sandwiches I've ever eaten.

Red in Cars Land in California Adventure

And Flo's V8 Cafe was so impressive, even inside.  I can't even describe it.  The oil cans everywhere reminded me of Mater and The Ghost Light.  And the nice thing is that all those Disney photographers will take a photo with their camera for your Photo Pass but they'll also take photos with your camera.  I think we had the same camera (Nikon D7000) or close so it was easy for them to photograph us with it. 

Flo's V8 Cafe Cars Land in California Adventure

 On our way out one afternoon we stopped to get a photo with the visionary, Walt Disney. Bring lunch with you.  Eat dinner back at your place or where ever.  It gets busy the second the local kids are out of school for the day.  The earlier you get into the park, the better and don't leave for a lunch break. Dinner break is better (unless it's hot).

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue in California Adventure 

And of course, no trip to Disneyland is complete without a photo of a Princess.  My daughter loves Rapunzel.  She was even Rapunzel for Halloween one year.  

Rapunzel from Tangled in Fantasy Land in Disneyland

We had a wonderful vacation.  We walked about 7 miles a day for 5 days.  On the last day there we packed and then walked over to Downtown Disney to the shops and went to Ride Makers to make some Christmas gifts.  Our experience there was perfect.  And we love our Cars cars.  

If you want a sit down meal, get reservations or you'll wait 2 hours. Our last evening we ate here. Even with reservations we still had to wait 40 minutes.  The food was good.  And the cowboy could really sing and yodel.  The cowgirl was trying too hard and came across kinda pushy.  

THE COOLEST THING ever was the ride back to Downtown Disney on the MonoRail.  Mandy Monorail - painted up by Ramone from Cars.  We got to sit in the nose of the monorail with the Captain.  We just had to ask.  I was smiling from ear to ear!

Well, that's a quick summary of our dream vacation.  It's the kind of vacation you come home from and need a nap or a day to sleep in at least.  It was go, go, go.  But it was fun.  My daughter said to me as we stood in line for the last ride - This is the best week of my life! And I'd have to agree.  We had fun and we enjoyed each other's company and we had more fun.

Seasonal - 18" Christmas throw pillows

So this first photo is so that you can get an idea of where the new throw pillows are going and the color of my couches.  You can see the old throw pillow covers on the couch - that was when they were new. 

This is what happens to linen after about 7 and a half years of wear with small children in the home. I bought the 18" pillows and the linen covers at Pottery Barn.  

Then I measured them to get an idea of what I needed in the new pillow cases.  Of course I am making Christmas covers and they will not remain on the pillows all year - at least until I can find some heavy duty cotton that is made to look like linen.

I decided on making them 17.5 inches because I want them to look a little more fluffy. And can you see why I picked this fabric - the green looks lovely on my couch.

I cut all 4 pieces.  The back is an envelope style so they overlap.  That means that I cut a 22" piece (wish it were longer but I was working with fat quarters here - I found them at Pine Needles - Yikes - new fave store)

Then I finished all the edges that would be showing. 

And left all the edges that will be finished later.   

I placed the band that would cover the envelope "seam" on the back. 

 Line up the first piece of the back.

Then line up the last piece.

Here is what it should look like. If you have a bigger piece of fabric make sure you make it overlap more.  It'll look better.

Pin it all together starting with the banded area and work to the right and then the left.

As you can see I used a regular sewing machine for this. 

I did a zigzag and then a regular straight stitch to finish it off.

Stitch length

Turn it inside out.

Iron it if needed.

Stuff it with the pillow.

And throw it on your couch.

Front and back.

Close up of the cute band. Don't you love it? 

Love this! 

And this too. Isn't this fabric delicious?  It's by Moda I think.

Just having fun with the depth of field on my camera.  Then my son told me I needed to cover the big leather pillows.  So we went to the local quilting store and they happened to carry the same line.  I bought enough for pillows and an adorable Christmas apron for me.  

My daughter picked out two fat quarters to make a blanket for her 18" American Girl doll.  I love that she loves to sew too. And guess what???

She asked me to teach her to IRON.  

Christmas 2011

We spent the night of the 23rd at my parent's house.  Our old military friends - Amy and Allen H* visited us and brought us the cutest books.  It was so good to see them.  We enjoyed Ham and cheesy potatoes, etc that night. The next morning, Christmas Eve, we put together a breakfast casserole and then opened presents. My daughter received an American Girl baking set from Grandma and some cute clothes.

Here you can see my mom opening the gift I made - scrapbook pages.  They are a tradition but no one knows what information or photos I have tracked down until Christmas Day.  This year I had some wonderful help from my cousin in Denmark.  I love a mystery but more especially a family history mystery. I tracked down even more info and already have a start on next year's pages!

My Dad and sister went on to say how much they enjoy the pages and how they think they are the best Christmas present ever.  I am really glad to know.  It's difficult to work that hard and be the only person who appreciates it.  My mom said that she brought her book to church and shared a story from it with those she was teaching. My sister says she uses hers all the time.  Her kids have taken them to school for assignments.  She has taken it to church. They all laugh and cry as they read through it. Because of their encouragement I will continue on. It would be so much easier to buy them a set of ugly slippers.

I've been struggling with food for, oh about 4 years, because of my food allergies.  The dietician that met with me after my surgery encouraged me to eat more carbs and have more snacks around. I get so tired making it all from scratch. So my mom decided to help me out.  She gave me this nice rice cooker that also steams. Tomorrow I am making quinao (use the white rice setting) with asparagus, tomato, fresh mushrooms, and lots of spices. I can hardly wait!

And on Christmas Eve we ate snow crab.  It's my family's tradition. It's a lot of work but fun.  I have a great photo of my sister but I need to ask her permission to show you.  My sis and her family and then my mom's neighbor whose husband was just transferred to England and she is staying behind to pack oh and we can't forget the R family.  Anyway, the house was packed and people sat and ate for 2 straight hours.   It was the best company anyone could ask for with great food too!

My mom's decorations in her formal dining room. 

And the cheese ball made just for me.  My mom rolled it in minced green onions. It was the hit of the party and I finally hid it so I could take some home.  My parent's enjoyed the one rolled in walnuts.  I made sure that my mom's friend's didn't use the same knife on mine.  

We drove home late Christmas Eve.  Then the kids got up at 6:40 am.  What happened?  Seriously, last year it was 8:45 am! Santa brought my daughter the American Girl kitchen table.  Perfect companion to the baking set from Grandma P. And Grandma V and I split the cost of Lanie.  You can't just have one - they need a friend apparently.  I was such a tomboy - I have so much to learn about dolls.

And my son got church clothes from Santa, this pirate ship from Grandparents P, and the battleship from Santa.

So can you see the cute apron on his monkey? OR the matching aprons below for my daughter.  I made one for each doll to match the apron she made for the county fair and won 1st prize. I almost forgot them.  At the last minute I stuffed them in their stockings.  

Oh and cute matching pajama pants.  I found an 18" doll pattern at Hobby Lobby and it was on sale for 99 cents. She loves the matching pajamas and I had fun making them.

Just a cute close up detail of the table - storage for all the fun stuff.  I love the cupcake holder.  So cute!

 And here they are trying to figure out all the in's and out's of this fisher price toy.

And I purchased fingernail polish for my daughter.  I don't know if you can see the glitter I went with this time.  Her colors almost match mine exactly.  

I hope you had a Merry Christmas.  I hope that you were surrounded by family and friends.  Of course, I've experience Christmas time in the mission field with companions I'd been with a whole 2 days and not a family member anywhere.  This Christmas I struggled with my health after surgery but I felt pretty good considering. I've experienced Christmas time where we couldn't afford a single gift and were blessed only because of the generosity of others for necessities we badly needed.  So I hope that if you were lonely, poor, and in bad health that next year might find you better.  That the Savior will wrap you in his arms and you might feel of his redeeming love.  That you might always have a friend in him when there is no one else.  That others will follow his example and provide for your needs the way he would if he were here.  I am truly grateful for his blessings this year. I hope you can reflect on your blessings too.