A Little Slice of Heaven

We spent most of our California Vacation playing at the Beach in Oceanside. 

Practicing our Poses!

Sienna wasn't so sure about the whole ocean thing our first day.  But by the end of the week, she was splashing away! 

Gracie was trying to be the lifeguard here and save Sienna from the wave.  It wasn't exactly Baywatch...more like "accidentally knock your sister over into the sand."  She had great intentions.  

   

Gracie had the time of her life!

It was such a treasure to watch the girls playing together in the sand and waves.  I was in heaven seeing them discover the beach.  They were both so cute! We just soaked up the sun and enjoyed the beautiful view. 

Days after we got back to Utah, I was still finding sand in Gracie's ears when I would swab them out.  It's safe to say she brought some of Oceanside home with her! 

 

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

We sprinkled on some pixie dust and flew off to the most magical place on Earth. 

The weather was unusually warm for September.  Main Street was already decorated for Halloween.  I had never been to Disneyland during the fall season.  It was soooo darling! 

We had Breakfast with Minnie at the Plaza on Main Street.  What a perfect way to start off our day!! An all-you-can-eat-buffet with Mouskersized Themed food, and the Disney Characters come to YOU.  So no waiting in lines to see some of our favorite stars.  The food was delicious, and most of us enjoyed seeing our Disney Friends. 

Sienna wasn't a huge fan.  Poor doll. She's perfected the bottom lip.

Next we headed over to Pixie Hollow where two Tinks compared the dandelion puffs on their fairy shoes. 

Then we met Tinker Bell's Sister, Periwinkle.  

While at Disney, we spent one day at California Adventure.  I had never been there.  CARS LAND was so fun.  Sienna slept in the stroller for her nap.  She *loved* 'Mater's Junkyard Jamboree' ride.  She was giggling the whole time! 

 

Gracie said her favorite rides at Disneyland were Dumbo, Radiator Springs Racers, King Triton's Carousel Of The Sea, and NOT Tower of Terror.   Yes.  She went on Tower of Terror.  She was barely tall enough to make it on the ride.  She was so excited she made the height requirement...she was pumped.  So as a parent, I'm debating on what to do.  Do I tell her, "it's too scary for you...so you can't do it."  I don't ever want her to feel like she can't do difficult things.  So I explained how it would be dark.  I pointed out the TALL tower and told her the elevator was going to fall and it would tickle her tummy.  She kept saying she was 100% in.  I was positive once we made it through the Twilight Zone Movie -- she would opt out.  (I remember running away from my parents while we were in line for a ride not nearly as scary at Disney...and I was six. -- not four.)  But she pressed on.  While we loaded the elevator, she told me she was most afraid that she would get the hiccups during the ride.  Oh boy.  She has no idea what's coming...I was thinking.  I was so nervous for her. 

I sat next to Gracie.  Michael sat in the middle of my dad and Jody, so that they could brace him and hold him up.  (Yes! Michael rode the ride.  And he loved it!)

The ride started.   (I love this ride.  It's one of my favorites.)  I screamed like a crazy person...like I do every time I ride it.  Gracie didn't make a peep.  She didn't move or squeeze my hand.  She was SO brave. 

We walked outside and met my mom and Sienna.  Gracie, who hadn't said a word despite me asking her how she was doing and if she was okay, finally turned to me and said in a matter-of-a-fact voice,

"Mom, I didn't like the ride.  You made a bad choice for me!"

I felt like the mother of the year.  Not really.  I felt terrible.  
Gracie has since forgiven me.  In fact, she brings up the experience ALL the time:  At the dentist, before getting a shot at the doctor, if it's dark in our house.  If anyone asks her if she's nervous -- she replies by saying, 

"No, I'm really brave.  I went on Tower of Terror."

And no one can disagree with that!   

*Go * Fight * Win*

Gracie chose to take Summer Cheer Classes at the Legacy Center.  No parents were allowed to watch the practices, so every time after her class I would ask her what she learned.  She always responded by telling me she didn't remember.  Hmmm...for all I knew the instructors were having 30 minute nap-times. 

(Rallying onto the Floor.  She's not afraid to be Front and Center -- that's for sure!)

When it came time for the Cheer Performance, we got a treat!  Gracie's class performed a number of cheers and dances.  Grandma, Papa Wiscombe & Michael came to watch.  Michael was so delighted to be watching Gracie -- he was grinning from ear to ear.  Michael started laughing when she would hit her poses.  Gracie totally played off of Michael's laughing.  She started trying to make him laugh. 

Turns out -- Miss Grace is really good at improv. 

At times (like most of the time) she was just doing her own freestyle routine.  Her eyes were completely fixed on Uncle Michael -- trying to get him to chuckle.  They sure have a special connection.

*Bear Lake*

The first weekend of August - means Raspberry Days; Star filled Skies, Pickleville Playhouse and Bear Lake's unmistakable crystal blue water!  Bear Lake is beautiful.  The annual Tait Family Reunion 2012 provided some great times & memories. The girls didn't hesitate getting into the lake water, which is saying something...because even in August...it can be a bit chilly.  You can see, though, Sienna's love for the lake water was short lived...in and out...and she was done!  

Puppy, Nahla and Gracie had a blast on the tube with Papa.  

Off the lake, the swing at the Cabin, is always a highlight for the kids!  Gracie looks forward to swinging here every year.

My girls LOVE bubbles.  But sometimes it's tricky for little ones to blow bubbles without turning into sticky puddles of soap.  Grandma Tait found the perfect solution to our messy, bubbly problems...these fish bubble blowers had the girls laughing and were SO fun and mess free!

It was Paddle Board time on our second day on the lake.  The water was choppy that day...so you can imagine how hard it was to keep balanced on the boards...but Jody figured it out!  

 Sweet Sienna was so tired on the boat.  She fell asleep for a bit while I held her.  Now that her scar can be fully submerged in water, Sienna has loved swimming and splashing this Summer.  

These two cousins are so cute and funny together.  They had fun at the pool.  Gracie is doing so well swimming by herself, with her arm floaties.  

There was also a parade down the street...

Everyone had an important part in the parade....

I'm not sure why Kylene was given a mop to hold.  :)  It's festive.  

The Golf Cart made quite the beautiful parade float!

The One the Only...Steel Days.

Last year, my parents, Jody and I wanted to plan a trip to California to take the girls to Disneyland.  We narrowed in on a week in July.  It was the week of Steel Days.  For all of you who aren't aware of American Fork City's Festive Town Days...well that's Steel Days.  The whole sha-bang - a parade with marching bands, beautiful floats, waving queens, CANDY being thrown...a carnival, face painting, an outdoor concert and amazing fireworks.

Gracie LOVES Steel Days.

She has been asking about the event since Christmas.  We were hesitant to run the Disneyland idea by her....and no surprise she chose Steel Days!  If they ever need a poster child for Steel Days - she's the It-Girl.  I hear her talking to people in the other pew at church about Steel Days (in February - nonetheless.)

She's obsessed.

We went.

It was fabulous.  Steel Days always falls around my birthday.  It was a wonderful birthday weekend! 

When Sienna was in the Hospital, nurses kept the glowing light monitor on her toe to check her breathing/heart-rate...well now she thinks her toe is SO funny.  She shows it to us multiple times throughout the day.  And she's showing it off in this picture!  

My parents watched the girls while Jody and I enjoyed a night out to dinner for my Birthday!

The Parade!

 Gracie was nervous to go on the Ferris Wheel.  She came with me.  And we had a blast!  She said it was her favorite ride.

Although the Cater-Thriller would definitely be a close second!  Hold on tight, Gracie.

Sienna didn't sit still during the concert.  She had so much fun running around!  But she took a moment to relax with a snow cone.  

The Usual...

Some days, at our house, are about matching outfits - big bows - and clean faces.  

But other days are what you see below:  

One Diaper Bum, Another Little Girl Sporting Jammies at Noon, Reindeer Antlers in the Summer....and Really Fancy Dancing!

The Wishing Tree

Two days after Sienna was discharged for a second time from PCMC - she was hospitalized again.  She was diagnosed with Pyelonephritis - which means her kidney's were swollen and full of infection.  Every day, the two kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine...amazing right?!  Because of that, and how sick Sienna was...doctors thought the infection may have jumped into her bloodstream - which leads to sepsis.  We are so blessed the infection did not make it into her blood...and Sienna was only in the hospital for three more days - verses what could have been a much more heartbreaking situation. 

During our third stay at Primary's - I took Sienna on a number of wagon rides down to the playroom.  This is where we found the Wishing Tree; a tree showcasing the hope and prayers coming from parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles....

I was captured by the tree.  Its messages moved me.  I couldn't stop reading the shaky handwriting from sweet little ones pleading that their brother or their sister would stop hurting, get better, win their fight over disease/cancer/illness....and even get to come home someday.  

I was overwhelmed with gratitude.  During our stays at Primary Children's I saw SO many sick children.  Children who will never have the futures their parents envisioned for them.  I was humbled.  I also saw miracles and healing happen for children staying there.  PCMC is doing incredible things for hundreds of little ones!  Jody and I attended an LDS Sacrament Meeting while Sienna was in the hospital.  

Amazing.

  

We were surrounded by IV's, catheters, breathing machines -- and so much FAITH.   

I did not have to look too far to realize we are blessed.  


In the picture below,  you can read the hope....for a brother that his tumor might go away.  And then below it, a wish for a motorcycle...well, I guess it doesn't hurt to try...right?!  

A Visit from the Therapy Cat

I have had a number of people ask me how we kept a 21-month-old in a hospital bed for nearly 2 weeks.  She was SO sick - she didn't want to move.  It wasn't until the last day in the hospital when she started showing signs that she wanted to play.  (Best Day EVER!)  In fact, the nurses showed her how to shoot the lid off of the thermometer.  That was quite the game!!

Sienna will visit Primary Children's in September for another ultrasound.  That will show doctors if her kidney's are still refluxing/dilated.  {Fingers Crossed that they aren't, and the surgery worked!}  Thank you to all who prayed, hoped and wished for Sienna's recovery.