Opening Day...

GO CUBS GO!!!

Support Our School...

Logan's school dance, drama, and choral groups are putting on a Spring show. This is an annual event. The kids and teachers all work really hard and it pays off--the show is great! Logan is selling ads for the program to help finance the performing arts department. If anyone is interested in purchasing an ad to support her and her school, please send us an email! Thanks!!!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Sunday. We had a great day. The girls were very excited to see what was in their Easter baskets (the Easter Bunny went a little crazy this year--they received way too much!)

Carsyn, Logan, & Maren on Easter morning checking out their goodies...

After opening one toy from their baskets, we ate breakfast and got ready for mass. We knew church would be crowded, so we tried to leave pretty early. Luckily we did get seats for all six of us together.

Mommy's three favorite girls...

Logan

Carsyn

Maren

Afterward we went home and hid eggs out front for the girls to hunt for. Logan and Carsyn had so much fun with this. Maren wasn't really into it. But, she changed her mind once she found out what was in the eggs...more toys and candy!

Carsyn on the hunt...

How many did you find, Carsyn?

What did you find, Logan?

Let's see...

What's in those eggs, Maren?

Oooh, Candy!

Three happy girls...

Then we went across the street for Easter dinner with our friends. The kids had a terrific time. And it was really nice to have Daddy home this year!

Happy Easter, everyone!

San Gabriel...

On the way home from Disneyland, we decided to check out the mission in San Gabriel. Who knows why we hadn't gone before since it's just south of Pasadena, and we've been to Pasadena a few times. It was kind of crowded. Because it's Good Friday, they were having live Stations of the Cross. We didn't stay for all of that--the girls were already tired from Disney and we still had about three hours to drive home. But, we did sneak in a few pictures...

Carsyn, Maren, & Logan under the arbor at San Gabriel...

Logan

Carsyn


Maren

the Mission bells...

Spring Break, Part 2...

Six hours after leaving Mesa, we arrived in Anaheim! We drove all the way to Arizona to see the Cubs at Spring training, and all the girls could talk about was, "When do we get to go to Disneyland?" They love anything Disney! This was probably one of their favorite Disneyland visits because we had planned to meet our neighbors there.

Shortly after we checked into our hotel room on Wednesday, we walked over to Downtown Disney to have dinner at the Rainforest Cafe with our friends. The girls always enjoy eating there, but this time was even more exciting. Although, Maren was a little frightened by the "thunder storms."

Grace and Logan at Rainforest Cafe...

Carsyn, Maren, Logan, & Grace finished eating way before the adults--thank goodness for the tropical fish tank...

Afterward we all went to Disneyland for a few rides. The kids had fun driving the cars at Autopia. Well, actually Daddy had fun driving Maren and Carsyn around. Mommy and Logan let Grace drive--look out!

Logan and her chauffeur, Grace...

Then we went on the Nemo submarine ride. That was super-fun. Thanks for standing in line for us, Nana! It was getting pretty late, so we all decided to head back to the hotel. Luckily for us, we could see the fireworks right from the living room in our hotel room!

Our family on our way out for the night...

Thursday morning we went to the park early. With it being Spring Break and "It's a Small World" being closed, the lines were already pretty long. We spent some time in Fantasyland--a must for our girls.

Daddy and Logan on Dumbo...

Logan had been dying to go on Thunder Mountain, so we went there first. Poor Carsyn had not grown the full inch and a half since the last time we were there, so she was not able to ride. She was really disappointed. Hopefully, next time!

Daddy and Carsyn looking at Big Thunder Mountain...

Then we just happened to be in the right place at the right time, because we were given "Dream Fastpasses!" For part of Disneyland's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, they give out a few of these passes to random people every day. It is one fastpass for each ride that takes fastpasses for that day! We were so excited. After going on Pirates and the Indiana Jones ride (with our fastpasses), we walked over to California Adventure to ride Nana's favorite ride--Soarin'! Carsyn wasn't able to go on this one yet either: ( But, she did get to go on the Sea Carousel and all the Bug's Life rides. We also saw Minnie Mouse! Maren was so excited, but she still wouldn't go near her without Mommy.

Carsyn on the sea carousel...

Maren on the sea carousel...

Logan on the sea carousel...

Maren on Paradise Pier...

Maren, Mommy, Minnie, Carsyn, & Logan @ C.A...

Maren & Carsyn love the caterpillar ride...

We then met up with our friends again for a couple more rides before they left for home. We had such a great time hanging out with them!

Maren & Sophie taking a break...

Sophie, Carsyn, Logan, & Grace just hangin' out...

Sarah, Josh, Daddy, Nana, Baby Lucy, Sophie, Grace,

Logan, Maren, Mommy, Leo, and Carsyn = what a crew...

When we were finished doing all the things we wanted to do at C.A., we went back to Disneyland. We ate dinner, took Logan on Space Mountain, and tried to break our records on Buzz Lightyear!

The next morning was unbelievably crowded. It was Good Friday, so there was an overlap of Spring Breaks. We did run into several people that we know from home, though. We also got to see Mickey and Minnie!

Minnie, Mommy, Maren, Carsyn, & Logan on Main Street...

Who doesn't love a good castle?

Logan and Carsyn had been begging to go on the Toontown roller coaster, so we did that. But, we didn't get to ride much more because of the lines. Each girl got to pick a ride and then it was time to hit the road. It was a pretty short trip, but certainly a memorable one.

Daddy and Maren leaving Disney...

Spring Break...

So, right after school and our squadron's change of command, we took off for our road trip to Arizona. We have all been spoiled the last year and a half only having to drive three to five hours for a nice vacation. None of us was looking forward to the almost nine hour drive to Mesa. But, everyone did well. We stopped in Palm Springs for dinner and made to our hotel before mid-night. This was Daddy's and Maren's first time visiting the Phoenix area. They were warned before hand though, that we ALWAYS have terrible weather when we go there. (Two years ago we went for Cubs Spring training and a friend's wedding. We actually ended a 142 day drought on the wedding day--sorry, and one of the games we had tickets to was rained out.) This trip was just as expected. Prior to our arrival temps. had been in the low 80's. When we got there--about 59 degrees! At least it didn't rain this time...

We actually did have a couple of nice days. On Saturday we went to the pool after breakfast. The girls loved playing in the pool with Dad while Mom tried to get a little sun and a few pictures.

Carsyn swimming--with Daddy's help...

Logan...

Carsyn...

Maren...

After a fun day of swimming and partial sun, we got cleaned up and got ready for dinner. We asked the girls where they wanted to eat...one guess what they chose? Luckily for us, and ironically for them--there are California Pizza Kitchen's outside the state of California.

Poor Carsyn fell asleep during dinner...

Logan and Carsyn went with Mom and Dad to the game on Sunday. (Maren stayed at the hotel with Nana and took a nap.) We were so excited because we got to see Carlos pitch--he's our favorite! The girls were really good, especially after we bought them cotton candy. Daddy was smart and bought pretty good seats in the shade. It was very sunny, but pretty chilly that day.

Carsyn and Logan right before the first pitch...Go Big Z!

Carsyn wanted to get a closer look...

After the game we hung around to try and get autographs and pictures. We saw most of the team, but they all play the "sorry, I'm on the phone" trick. oh, well.

Come on, Carlos. We're your biggest fans...

After the game we went to mass for Palm Sunday...it was not your typical Catholic church--yikes!

On Monday the weather was sort of nice again, so we spent some time at the pool.

Maren is a real water baby...

Time to dry off...

Later that afternoon we went to Scottsdale for a little shopping at Fashion Square and to meet Nana's friend, Debbie. Afterward we ate dinner at Buca's in Old Town Scottsdale.

What sweet girls...

We also had tickets to the game on Tuesday. Before the game we were able to see a lot of the players and finally got a few things signed and some pictures.

Carsyn and Logan with Sean Marshall...

Maren wasn't too sure about Carlos (Marmol, not Zambrano)...

Since all six of us went to that game, we tried to sit out in the outfield for a while. But, it got pretty hot and very sunny that day--Daddy should have worn sunscreen!

To keep the girls entertained, Nana took them to a shady spot to play for few innings. This was the highlight of the game for them.

Monkey Logan...

Monkey Carsyn...

Monkey Maren...

Our family in front of Hohokam Park, Spring home of the Chicago Cubs...

It was a great trip. Every Cub fan should go to Spring training at least once! They went 2 and 0 while we were there--hopefully that's a little foreshadowing for regular season! We checked out early in the morning on Wednesday and headed back to California.