Magical World of Disney: Part 1

A deep love for Disney was instilled in me very young.

From Disney Paris, to Disneyworld, to Disneyland

I love them all.

My sweet dad is where I get it from.

Every time we visit the wonderful world of Disney...

we have a very thought out and specific plan.

Courtesy of Ranger Dan of course.

 

Josh, on the other hand, likes it...but doesn't not share the Hink family love.

Well this trip, my goal was to change Josh's very thinking.

 

-------------------

 

Oh but wait, I need to take a step back and tell why we went to this magical place.

I haven't been to Disneyland since I was 17.

I have been BEGGING my parents...recently, Josh, to take me there.

Like I've been talking about it for a solid 2 years-often-no joke.

In addition, I have always wanted to go during Christmas time.

 

Welllllllll

 

Come Christmas morning

Josh handed me a box that he was too excited to have me open.

When I unwrapped it, a Disneyland sweatshirt was staring at my.

I looked at Josh, confused, and he said,

"look in the pocket"

Well guess what was in the pocket?

DISNEYLAND TICKETS!!!!!!!

 

Oh my gosh I was ecstatic.

Then to top it off he told me my parents are coming too.

It was the cherry on top.

My favorite people

in my favortie place.

How sweet is he to think of this grand surprise?

AND invite my parentals.

Super amazingly sweet is the answer.

 

I got a good one

 

 

Always a party with Cherie.

Always. 

My guys.

Swoooooon you guys. 

 

There is just something about Main street.

It is my all time favorite thing about Disneyland.

This Kid.

When I went on my first date with Josh, he told me the ages of his siblings.

I immediately focused on the, "11 yr old sister and 8 yr old brother".

I thought it was the cutest thing.

When we were getting married I was ECSTATIC to know I'd gain every type of sibling I didnt have:

older sister, younger sister, 2 younger brothers.

The younger sibling thing is what got me...

I mean I literally begged my mom to have more kids when I was still 16.

Denial.

 

Anywho, I love having this new found extra family.

I LOVE them.

And I love knowing I get to watch Carley and Colten grow up.

So this post is dedicated to this kid.

THE cutest 9 year old around.

 

 

Look at that brace-face smile.

This kid is the sweetest

kindest

funniest

most active

most loyal little guy.

And oh how he loves his sports.

 

This particular Saturday we headed to Maricopa for Colt's big game

and boy was it fun.

This kid has talent people.

(and yes he's quarterback ;)

S.T.U.D.

 

 

 

 

  Lindz and Rico...inseperable.

 

 

Love this family of ours.

Hello 2013

2012 was one for the books.

It was the year I started my happily ever after and got married.

Along with that came lots of changes and lots of adventures.

All good and happy.

 

We rang in the New Year in Maricopa with the Figs

and some Heywood cousins.

It was a BLAST.

We bowled our little hearts out

ate our little hearts out

wii danced our little hearts

and partyyyyyy'd our little hearts out.

 

 

So love her. Glad I gained her as my sister.

 

 

 

Oh the kiddos, always a party with these ones...especially the tu-tu wearing one ;)

(mind you there are like 50 more of these littles in Josh's fam)

 

 

 

 

The Fig boys.

Minus Big Josh.

Is Colt not the cutest? He was loving his food if you couldn't tell.

 

 

Welcome to our family get-togethers.

Everyone talking in different directions over eachother.

hahahaha

but honest to goodness it is the best and I love it.

 

After bowling we left to party at my in-laws.

Im surprised Josh and I actually made it to midnight.

We are usually out by 9:30 every night

so lets just say by 10 I was sure I was going to pass out.

Struggle.

#oldmarriedcouple

 



 

 

 

 

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR YA'LLLLLLLL

 

First Married Christmas

Just when I feel like I am getting quite good/aware of this whole married thing...

something happens that makes me say,

"Oh my gosh, Im married!"

Don't get me wrong, its a great feeling.

It reminds me to be grateful and not take one moment for granted.

 

Christmas was one of those moments.

We spent Christmas Eve doing our thing.

Went to breakfast, went shopping, walked around, ate lunch

and did just whatever we wanted..it was amazing.

That night we went to Josh's cousin for a little bit then headed to my parents.

It was a party I tell ya, always interesting!

 

Christmas morning we woke up and did our christmas together.

Oh my it was so fun!

The excitement of the surprises we got eachother, in our own home, just us,

was amazing.

Josh and I put eachother on a strict budget for Chrismtas.

I went over. naturally.

But Josh...well I was spoiled ROTTEN.

Above all he got me the most amazing surprise...

DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!

(more on that later)

 

 

(struggle of a pic but had to)

 

After our Christmas, we headed to my parents to have Christmas morning with them.

I was lucky because just like every single year of my life, I got to open gifts with them like usual.

 

 

 

 

After time with my family we headed to Maricopa to Josh's family and spent the whole rest of the day

Sleeping

Talking

Playing

Eating

Hanging out

Having a blast

and staying in our PJs.

 

It was a Christmas for the books.

Two amazing families

new traditions

a new husband.

 

Driving home was the moment where I was like,

"I AM MARRIED...what????"

Craziness, but amazingly good craziness.

I felt so good, happy, no...overjoyed for my place in life.

My heart was so full.

 

Greatest Christmas yet.

 

Connecticut

I remember vividly when I found out about the tragedy at Sandyhook.

I was at my elementary school when I walked into the office, headed towards our main secretary, and was greeted with a horrified look on Nita's face.


I quickly asked what was going on and she turned her computer to show me the breaking news...
at that point only 6 were known dead...
my heart broke and chills flew up my entire body.

I tried hard not to cry all day at work
but oh man once I got home I sat on my couch, watched the news, and let the tears run.
This tragedy hit all of us hard.
The nation's heart broke.

I found myself thinking constantly about my kids
(school and future)

and the world that they are forced to grow up in.

I hate to admit this but I leave school almost daily just mentally beat up.

My emotional self has a hard time handling the constant play of zombies, shooting eachother, "I played my video games all weekend", bullying, no remorse, and finding others hurt as funny.

Are you appalled?

You should be.

Its horrific.

 

 

Because I work in special ed-
the kind where if you glanced at the kids you wouldn't know they had special needs-
I have a first hand look at kids with all sorts of struggles and issues...
some of which are very much mental.

Have any of you read this article?
It is amazing and perfect and beautifully written.
It sheds a lot of light.
And I feel especially empathetic because it reminds me of some of my kids.
One in particular

Let me tell you a story...and brace yourself.
There is a 9 year old boy who I think about always and who constantly breaks my heart.
The first month of school he neither smiled nor laughed nor talked much.
He was quiet and withdrawn and well behaved.
My mistake was thinking he was a sweet simple well behaved boy.
There was so much more going on beneath that exterior...
and we discovered it when his medicine was changed mid semester.
All of a sudden all hell broke loose and its still running out of the gates.
He feels no remorse
constantly lies
bullies
sometimes a negative leader
sometimes a negative follower
only draws pictures of guns, grenades, bombs, blood, and shootings.
Once said to me, "Im going to laugh when Mrs. B gets hit by a bus" "It'd be really funny if she broke her leg or something" "Im violent...ya im violent!" -he said that proudly may I add.

You guys
this boy comes from a rough family life
(which plays a MAJOR role)
but he also has plenty of issues and was in a 'emotionally disturbed'
classroom before he was in ours.
He is a prime example of the article I linked earlier.
This country does need to talk about gun control.
BUT I personally believe that mental health problems are more important in these specific cases.
It is a big deal, one not to be taken lightly.
If there is any way we can shed more light and help the cause PLEASE do not hesitate to do so.
Lets try and make our kids' lives safer, as well as their futures.

~~~~~~~

On a slight brighter side I want to let you know that schools/districts are making incredible choices to work to make our schools the safest possible.
I attended a crisis/lockdown training this week and boy was I impressed.
The work orders put in and the plans made are amazing.
The new rules and policies implemented are geared toward being THE very safest...not always the most convenient...but the safest and that is what we care about.

Our schools are working hard to keep your children safe.
That is our very first priority.
Terrible things happen
but thinking about the goodness in people helps make us feel a bit better.

On another happy note:
We had a lockdown drill last week:
Lights off
In the corner
SILENT
and not opening the door for anyone.
(Not even their Prinncipal pounding on the door asking to be let in)
Our kids did not make a peep...no kinders, no special ed, no one.
They were silent.

These littles are quite remarkable you know-they really are our future.

Holidays

Well my oh my how the time flies!

Can you even believe that the holidays have come and gone...

and so has 2012?

I have plenty of things I want to document but until then here is a quick view

of what we have been up to as of late.

Our first MARRIED Christmas and the first Figureroa family tree.
I loved having our own home at Christmas all decorated and just for us.
Living in Provo I always decorated our apartment and although my roomies laughed I know they loved it
and this time it was a bit odd...decorating like I do every year...but this time for me and my husband.
Such a neat feeling.

We headed to the RV show in Glendale the first weekend in December.
We went with my soon to be retired parents and looked at RV's that cost more than our first house will.
Pathetic.
They are huge and amazing and just unreal.
Can't wait for the parentals to get one and we get to reap the benefits.

The pops turned 60 and we celebrated by seeing the Hobbit.
Naturally.
Love him!

Went to Pigglys at the Fair
twice in two weeks and ate our hearts out.
The best southern hospitality this side of the Mississippi and a riot none the less.
Everyone go...its a treat.

Then Christmas came and SURPRISE...
"We're going to DISNEYLAND!!!"
Josh spoiled me rotten.
Along with other treasures he planned a trip to Disneyland 
for us and my parents.
He knew it wouldn't be the same without them...for me anyways.
He is truly the best!

I had a bunch of reunions with friends in town for Christmas
and loved every.single.minute.
I miss each one of them so much.

Rang in the New Year with Josh's family
and it was a PARTYYYY.
I love them! I got so lucky.
Sadly I was about to pass out at 10 but no worries I made it!
Thank the heavens.

Then it was off to DISNEYLAND 

and it was an absolute blast!

We had an amazing time and more on it later.

Happy 2013 folks!

Cant wait to see what the year holds!