{ Happiest Place On Earth }

DISNEYLAND

This was the funnest family vacation we have ever taken.... in case you care to know why here are the reasons:

1. Our kids were at THE PERFECT AGES.... Dirk and Coby are both 40" tall so they could go on every single ride {Space mountain, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain} Dirk only got denied at Indiana Jones..... They were old enough to ride the rides but young enough that the Character experience was still Magical... I know that sounds cliche but there is no other way to describe the excitment your kids are having.....

2. We have not been to any theme parks {besides our city carnival last year} so the roller coasters and all the rides were SOOO FUN.... something the kids don't get to do much of so it made it that much funner.

3. NO LINES..... the longest we ever waited was maybe 10 minutes....But we usually just walked right up or got to stay on the ride and go multiple times in a row... We went in the off season so unfortunately it rained ALL DAY on the 2nd day... but it wasn't cold... just rainy... but worth it because like I said no lines.....

4. The kids were in Heaven. And I jave learned that the thing that makes me most happy as a parent is seeing our kids happy. And they were Happy the Entire time. It was SOOO MUCH Fun!!!!!

Here are a few of our favorite...{picture overload}

The Classic Enterance Picture
Liv and Mommy in front of Princess Castle

Goofy

Pooh {we saw Tigger and Eeyore too but no picture}

Bugs Life 3D Movie.... um... LOVED.... I was laughing so hard I almost peed my pants

Livy with her Toy Story glasses on

Meeting Mickey

Splash Mountain {that is Chris with Dirk and Coby in front of him}

Livy and Mommy on "da pink" dumbo

Minny.... She was so CUTE.... without being able to talk the characters have such personalities!

Magic Mickey

Coby in Toon Town

Watching the Jedi Training... the boys were sooo worried that that was the REAL Darth Vader and he was going to hurt them

Woody and Jesse

The hugs

Chris and all the boys took their Buzz Light Year shooting very seriously

Waiting at the parade

I wish we had a video camera.... Coby was SOOOO cute I could have DIED

Dirk at the parade

Best Seats in the house

Tyson and Coby got picked to come out and dance

FAVORITE DISNEYLAND MOMENTS:

Dirk: So we had been looking for Woody since day 1 and on the last day we finally got confirmation of a place and time where Woody would be...

So we camped out for lunch on a bench and waited... Just as we were finishing our sandwiches Dirk jumps up and yells

"LOOK MOM IT'S JESSE AND WOODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" {in the most excited voice you can imagine}

Jesse and Woody heard Dirk and they turn and start waving like crazy...... I could have died at how cute it was!!!!

Then we got to get hug and talk and take pictures with them... Magical

COBY: Coby is our chill boy. Not tons of animation and excitment from that little guy.... but we got front row seats to the parade and all the characters were literally 2 feet away from us. You would have thought Coby was a Mousekateer himself. He was dancing like I have never seen before.... Dancing clapping cheering singing smiling.

Chris and I couldn't stop smiling at how cute he was. It was Magical to see him.

OLIVIA: On the last day we were on our way to It's a Small World {for the third time} and we walked passed the Dumbo ride and Livy started bouncing up and down saying

"Dumbo Ride Dumbo Ride... I want da Pink Dumbo Mommy..." Really that was the most excited she got all over the Pink Dumbo.... again Magical

FAMILY MOMENT: On our last night we sat on the bed in the hotel and pulled out our disneyland map and Chris got out a pen and paper and told the kids to pick anything they wanted to do on our last day....

So we mapped out our plan and the kids circled all the rides they wanted to go on again and again and again...

And then they listed all of the toys they had been drooling over all week because they finally got to purchase one on the last day. So they each made their list and we folded it up for the next day.

I realize this didn't even happen in Disneyland but it was just so cute to see how animated and excited our kids were and just made me realize just how much I love my family and how special it was to be there making such fun memories with them.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

DIRK:about halfway through the first day:

"Mom, you were right.... Disneyland is the happiest place on earth!!!!!"

COBY: He got picked to come up and dance with the HighSchool Musical Dancers during a play... and right after it was over he came running back to me and Chris and he said...

"Mom, they made me come up and dance and it was SOOO boring".... {with a huge grin on his face}... it doesn't sound funny but it was hysterical!!!

OLIVIA: She was pretty hesitant on some of the rides.. She never cried but lots of them are dark and I think they scared her a bit. But on the last day we were doing the Buzz light year Ride {where you get to shoot all the Zurgs throughout the ride} and she looked over at me and said:

"Mommy, I wanna shoot a gun!!!"

DIRK: "Mom I was so sad I couldn't go on the Midia Jones ride".... {indiana jones}

COBY: "Tower of Terror was my favorite...." while he looked to be on the verge of tears and the look in his eyes like he will never go on that thing again!!!!

OLIVIA: "Mom, sing me the Ariel song!!!!"

We have already decided to start saving for our next trip in 2 years. It was worth every penny. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of going. It is MAGICAL!!!!

{ Better Than Christmas Eve!!! }

48 hours from now our plane will have landed

We will be chillaxin at our hotel

across the street from Dinseyland!!!

Chris called me from work just to tell me how excited he is....

confession:

I already packed the kids bags.... even their backpacks for the airplane!!!

I know it's silly but I can hardly wait....

I hope I can sleep tonight... and tommorrow for that matter:))

If you think I'm kidding I'm not... I'm that excited!!!!..... and I'm even too pregnant to go on most of the rides.... but the kids will be in heaven which means We will be in heaven:)

And even better.... Chris will have no work for 4 days straight!!!

Just us and the kids and my parents and Ry's fam.

EEEKKKKK!!!!

30 weeks {sigh....}

I'm blimpy as ever

Only 30 weeks... well almost in a few days... {but remember how I roll?}

This baby cannot come soon enough

This pregnancy has been so hard

Cry me a river

Literally, I am crying myself a river. I have been back on the nasea train again for the last 2 weeks

It is so depressing

It's not to the point of throwing up

But How can I handle 9 more weeks of nasea?

I'm trying to stay positive

Disneyland in 9 days

Brian Reagan at the end of February

March will just fly by because natural that happens the last month of your pregnancy right?

And then April 6th will be here!!!!

On a Happier note:

Uncle Greg.... who just got home from his mission....

came to visit us!!!!

We had tons of fun

and tons of tears {cause he was kindly escorting Jeff and Kim back to Utah}

Thanks for coming uncle Greg!!!!!

We love you MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS!!!!

{ 14 more days...and yes we're counting }

Our kids made the comment that they would rather go to CHUCKEE CHEESE... instead of DISNEYLAND....

um really?

So, we have made it a point to make sure they know how lucky they are to go to the big D. We made a chain, we've been looking up rides and pictures on the computer. We printed our airline tickets. And now I think they are sort of getting it. And they are SUPER EXCITED...

As are we!

14 more days until we get to forget about all of our worries and cares and budgets... and we get to visit the happiest place on earth!!!!

And as an added bonus we are meeting my parents and Ryan and Katie's family!!!!! YIPEE

{ I am very blessed }

This is what I have been doing ALL DAY LONG... {and if you think this is ugly, you should see me... I'm way worse}

Because this sweet sister in law whom I LOVE to PIECES
.....and this brother..... who is awesome in every way..... Moved to UTAH.... {sigh}.......

But, even though it was a day that should be hard and scary for them..... many many people thought of me.

For EXAMPLE:

I got a text from this brother... {who reminded me I get to see him in Disneyland in 2 weeks}


And a sweet text from this sister

And a text from 2 of these sister in laws.... and a delivery of treats and a movie on my doorstep from all of them.....

And a thoughful phone message from this sister

And 4 phone calls from this Mother.... with talked of seeing us in 2 weeks at Disneyland, and talked of booking her plane ticket for April and lots of loves...

And a plate of treats from this sweet friend....

And a text from this brother.... {which had to have been hinted from a Mom... cause really what 17 year old would do that?}

So thank you all for thinking of me. I'm crying as we speak. I've never been sad that I don't live in Utah but today seemed extra hard.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

& Lovies,

Linny

{ growing up....} the real world is no fun....

While Chris is bathing the kids I have to document this sweet story:

Tonight at dinner the kids were complaining that they had "9" things to eat.... Like 2 peices of cheese, some crackers, pudding, cereal {yes we had cereal for dinner}... anyways, they asked why I didn't have to eat that many things and I said:


Me: "well, I'm already big so I don't need to eat as much as you"

Dirk got the saddest look on his face and his eyes filled up with water and he said:
"I don't want to get big.... I never want to grow up"

Me: "how come sweety? growing up is fun..."

Dirk: {with tears now streaming down his face}... "because if I grow up then I have to get married and then I can't live with you and Dad anymore."

Me: "oh sweety you can still live with Mom and Dad... you don't need to worry about that right now you still have a long time to grow up."

Dirk: Now in my arms and sobbing.... "but mom I think when i get big i might have to live in Utah and you and Dad live in Colorado"......


.............{I think this was brought on because my brother Jeff and his wife Kim are moving in 9 days to Utah and I have been a little...or a lot bit... hysterical about it... the kids have seen me cry multiple times over it...}


Me: "Don't worry if you move to Utah then me and Dad will too....."

Dirk: "But we have to live in the same neighborhood ok mom?...."

Me: "For sure...." and now I am all teary too....

Chris got home a bit later and I had Dirk go sit down and tell Daddy what had him worried...... so I sat on Chris' lap and started bawling again and in the highest pitched voice you can imagine said:

"Dad I don't ever want to get big because then I have to get married and I can't live with you and Mom anymore....."

Chris: of course glances at me wondering what brought this on....
I have to say it was sooooo sweet how Chris handled it... I love that Man.... He just hugged Dirky tight and put his hands on his face and said:
"You don't ever ever ever have to leave our house. You can live with Mom and Dad forever if you want... even when you get married, you and your wife can live in the basement and even until your 107 years old... ok buddy?"

Then Dirk looks up at Chris and said:

"But Dad what if I have to live in New York... then I can't be close to the Rockies"
Chris: "Well, then you'll live by the Yukee Yankees but don't worry the Met's live in New York too so we can cheer for the Mets."


And then of course the conversation turned into all baseball after that but I just thought it was so sweet how he was SOOOO CONCERNED about his adult future. sigh..

{Christmas 2009}

We had a great Christmas. The kids loved it, Chris didn't have to work, we ordered Chinese Food. You know the usual. Here are a few pictures of some memories:)

ALL OF THE BENTLEY GRANDKIDS ON CHRISTMAS EVE {doing chimes of course}

p.s. there is 16 of them.... and 2 on the way!! Go Bob & Kathy!!

The Trdaditional breaking of the Pinata.... OLIVIA taking a swing....

Coby

Dirk with power behind it

Dirk on Santa's Lap

Coby

Olivia trying really hard not to cry

Our family in there new jammies from Santa

Christmas Morn.... after we read the scriptures... and in anticipation for the big moment...

From youngest to oldest coming down the stairs....

I could have DIED!!! Olivia went straight for her kitchen from Santa and started to cook. It was so sweet.

Dirk and his Rockies blanket

Olivia in her princess getup

Coby with his Todd Helton wrist Bands and new Rockies Hat

Watching the boys with their new remote control mario cars

Our best friends the Larsons {who live in Kansas} got stuck in the airport for 12 hours so we went and picked them up for the day. It was tons of fun to see them and the kids had a blast.

Until next year, signing out.