Disneyland!

Chip or Dale?

Star Tours. The boys favorite this time around-how fitting for Jedi warriors!


Brother Bear

Being silly at Thunder Mt. Railroad
Just getting there

Woody!

Broc, Addie, Grandma Jo and Hayes on the Teacups

Dax and the Mouse

Sea World

Hayes and Grandma Jo petting the stingrays. This was Haysies alltime favorite thing we did. He even brought home a pet stingray he named SkullRay :)

We were lucky enough to go on vacation during an absolutely gorgous week in California. The temp was around 85 degrees and we didn't really have to fight any major crowds. We literally walked right onto all the rides, met a lot of characters and even got picked to be in some of the shows. So if I try and not think about all of the hold-my-hand-hurry-up-watch-where-you're-going-don't-EVER-walk-where-I-can't-see-you-STOP-whining-hold-still-you're-kicking-the-person-in-front-of-you stress of taking kids somewhere like Disneyland, it was the best week ever:) That and I would really like to forget about the fact that after arriving in California first Hayes then Dax developed PINK EYE IN DISNEYLAND for pete's sake and then promptly passed it on to Camille and then Addie Jo. But really, in spite of disease and the occasional attitude, we really did have an awesome time together. (Is 'awesome' still an acceptable adjective? ) Thank you so much to Grandma Jo for getting us all there on a plane, which was waaaay better than driving.

And a seriously big Thank You to LeeAnn, who not only watched Asher for 6 days and 5 nights- which is a really long time to have someone elses's two-year-old in the first place- but who watched Ash even after he developed pink eye AND a raging case of the flu, which we didn't know about until we got home because LeeAnn is the nicest person on the planet and didn't want to tell us and ruin our vacation. Thank You Thank You Thank You. I can't say it enough. Thank You for taking care of my baby:) And thank you to the rest of the Rupps for watching Kung Fu Panda with Ash approx. 38 times over the course of the week. After about 8 times it gets pretty rough. You guys are the best. Really.

While we were at Sea World, the adorable Addie Jo was asked to participate in the dolphin show, but she really didn't want to. So Camille told the guy we had two more kids with us and he said send down the five-year-old. Hayes refused to go also. So, by process of elimination, Dax and Tyler were in the dolphin show! It was pretty cool. Take a peek:

As you may all remember, we like Star Wars just a little bit at our house. Disneyland now has a Jedi Training Academy, where a lucky few can learn the secrets of the Force. You can imagine the importance of the Geldmachers attending a training session while there. Yay for us, it wasn't a very busy day and both Dax and Hayes got picked for the same session:

And again, a BIG THANKS to everyone who helped watch kids, dogs and work so that we could go. We had a blast:)

Going Private

I admit it: I am a totally naive person who gives everyone (execpt, Tyler would argue, him) the benefit of the doubt and I generally don't like to believe there are "bad guys" with bad intentions out there. But lately, in the interest of protecting my family, I've been considering blocking our blog from the world at large. I know that this is going to cause extreme anxeity to most of you, as you are all dying to read the next thrilling post containing a slice of life as a Geldmacher. I will send out invitations to everyone I think is interested-lucky, lucky you! And if someone accidentally falls through the cracks, well then too bad so sad for you. You are now outside the circle. Just kidding! Send me an email and I will happily invite you back into our super-cool super-exciting life:) Plus, we all know I couldn't really block anyone out- I get all my self-validation from the number of comments I recieve. So who knows, maybe going private will send me into a spiral of depression. I guess I'll have to wait and see:) Now I just need about a month or two to actually do what I just committed to.

Lagoon

Max, Hayes and Dax on the Kontiki at Lagoon. I've been a picture slacker lately, so we don't have many from that day, but I found this still shot from the video camera and thought it was cute. Those boys sure have a good time together. I always love nighttime at places like Lagoon -the dark and the lights make it seem even more fun. Tyler's family always tries to go in October for Frightmares and if the weather is good I highly recommend it. The weather that day was beautiful, although I think everyone in the state (and possibly the surrounding states) realized it was a great Lagoon day because it was pretty busy. But the good company and the rides made up for the crowdedness (is that right?) and we had fun. Thanks everyone for going with us:)

Dax Is No Longer Six-and-Three-Quarters

Friday was Daxon's 7th birthday-he's so big I can't believe it! And of course he had a big friend party of which I have not one picture. Not one. I got so caught up in managing the party that I didn't take any. And it was cute! A non-scary haunted house with everyone in costume. Tyler filmed some video, but it's mostly my VERY loud voice trying to be heard over all those boys and some disturbing shots of my muffin top revealing that my t-shirt was a lot cuter 5 (or 10) lbs ago. Not good for public viewing. Anywhooo, back to Dax. As he likes to say, lately "I'm really into Pokemon and Star Wars". And he received a lot of both, but a whole whole lot of Pokemon. So he's very happy and I have just several thousand more cards to read from and hear about. And thank you to my sister who gave him a hideous Clone Wars poster for above his bed. And now here comes the part where I brag about how amazing Dax is. He is so stinkin' smart I'm a little afraid. I love to hear him as he is learning to read, he's nearly on a second grade level. He spouts random facts that are usually accurate. He loves school. He has always had a great imagination. He's a good friend, a great big brother, and he is (almost) always willing to happily do what he is asked-pick up his stuff, do his homework, put on his seat belt, whatever. And he is blessed with that natural boy ability to make varying gun/fighting noises surprisingly realistically. Oh yeah, and I love that he still has that little kid confidence to draw whatever he wants-usually dinosaurs-and think that his drawing is sooo good. Dax is a happy, good-natured kid who makes me happy to be a mom:) I love you buddy-Happy Birthday!!!

Two Years Old!

Asher turned two yesterday and my sweet baby isn't a baby anymore-although he is still pretty sweet, just with some stinker mixed in. He makes me smile and laugh out loud and I just can't get past the dimples. And I hope that I never forget how he talks right now. Its just so him:)Happy Birthday Ash, we love you so much!

Happy Birthday JoEll!

Happy Birthday(yesterday) Mom! I know you didn't want any obnoxious "nifty to be fifty" announcements, so I'm making this a "50 and Super Hot" announcement instead:) I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you for being my mom. You have always, unfailingly been there for me. You are beautiful and smart and kind and fun. Way fun. And I can't remember you ever telling us to get out of your sight:) So Happy Birthday-I love you. And my offer for a REAL 50th Birthday party still stands.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race-Right?

If that's true, then our yard may be in Gold Medal standing. The word "steady" might be a bit of a stretch here, but "slow" definitly applies! It's finally coming along and we keep trying to believe that it's very cool that we have done everything with our own two hands. But in reality lets just face it-digging in the dirt sucks. And other people want to be paid to do it :) Now the sprinklers are in-thanks to Tyler, the top soil is spread-thanks to me, and the million and one rocks are piled in a very cool rock tower -thanks to the kids. In the intrest of saving money, we spread grass seed today so EVERYBODY PLEASE, cross your fingers for our grass to grow! And maybe someday there might actually be plants and trees and sand under the playground. Slowly.