Gordon family Vacation 2014....Disney Cruise

Day 1: SLC to Denver to Orlando  

Day 1 was a huge success! It's getting so much easier traveling with these girls. Usually the airport is the hardest of the whole trip because of the luggage. But this time we hired skycaps on both sides and it was AWESOME! The worker in Orlando was the best. He helped get our luggage of the carousel, get our rental car, and then loaded our bags in the car!!! His help was worth every penny!

The flights were quick and easy. The 3 oldest sat in their own row and entertained themselves. Alana watched a couple movies, ate some snacks and then took a nap!

We met up with Grandma and Grandpa Gordon in the Denver airport and they were on our flight to Orlando. 

After we arrived at our hotel in Port Canaveral we ate a Italian family restaurant called Kelsey's kitchen. It was great and the kids were hungry because it was 7 pm ET and it was our first real meal for the day.

Then it was on to Eric's favorite store...Ron Jon's surf shop. We did a little shopping and then back to the hotel for bed!

Mackenzie turns 7

I can't believe this little beauty is 7! We had such a great day celebrating her. The day started with opening presents, breakfast with the family, a home mani/pedi, lunch at Zupas, a trip to Target, making loom bands, a visit to the  aquarium, dinner at Tepanyaki and finally an ice cream cake from Baskin Robins.

Mackenzie has such a sweet disposition. She loves to sing and dance, play with friends, paint and create, laugh, shop for shoes and spend time with the family. She is developing her talents on the piano, learning Mandarin Chinese, and dancing.

Mackenzie is such a kind girl. She thanks us often, gives lots of hugs and kisses and is quick to forgive. She has such an honest heart and we are so thankful she is in our family!

Happy birthday Mackenzie!!!

Mothers Day 2014

Mother's Day is always a fun day for me. I have a great husband who makes the meals and takes care of all the dishes! I love the sweet cards from the kids, the flowers and this year I got exactly what I wanted...a fancy new toaster that toasts 4 items all at once! I know, I've turned into my own Mother by getting excited over the simple things! We've been in toast heaven ever since!!!

Motherhood is the best thing that has ever happened to me but it is also the most challenging and the most rewarding! I have 4 daughters that I love unconditionally. They make me laugh, cry, smile, hope, worry, and I think I have experienced every single possible emotion because of them.

I also have a wonderful Mother who taught me well and a mother-in-law who I  adore. I'm thankful for the influence they both have on me as we'll as on my family.

I have been terrible about taking pictures but Alana and I spent the day together and thankfully she insisted on a few selfies! We danced, laughed and even got a quick nap. 

We had my favorite breakfast (Raisin Bran), my favorite dinner(cafe rio pork nachos) and the girls made some brownies and ice cream. Eric cut the brownies up when they came out of the oven and hid them. There were a lot of tears and Alana even ran and hid in her room because Eric told them he had eaten all the brownies. Needless to say they were not amused! But I sure did get a kick out of it!!!

I'm so thankful to be a Mother!

Dance competition season is over....

What a great compeition season Mackenzie has had! There were many 1st place finishes and a couple of 2nd. I love watching her dance on stage. She has this sweet confidence about her and a sparkle in her eyes when she performs. I marvel that this little beauty is just 6 and has already found something that she loves.

She loves Miss Kris and Miss Kris has been her coach since she was just 3. Miss Kris has this sweet way about her and I love that she loves and cares for each of her little dancers, Mackenzie included. 

This picture shows just how tired Mackenzie was in between dances today. Some competition days are very long.

 

Good job Mackenzie! We love you and are very proud of you!!!

Easter 2014

Easter week was so full of family and great memories. We had the privilege of having Gma/pa Gordon staying with us for 4 days, which meant lots of baking time with Grandma! Then we headed to Boise to spend some time with the family.

We read from the scriptures each morning and sang a song that went along with our reading. It was great to spend the week focusing our reading on the Savior and his life, as well as the resurrection.

We had Easter egg hunts with neighbors (our first in the dark hunt...it was great!), and both sides of the family. Had fun yard games thanks to Robyn and a wonderful Easter dinner with the Rees family.

The girls and I also stayed a night in Burley where we relaxed, slept in, ate a great breakfast and swam in the morning for a couple of hours! It was great having the pool to our selves and not being in a rush to go anywhere.

We spent a lot of time with cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and brothers and sisters.

Best of all, we came back home together as a family after a little scare from Alana "running away," as she puts it. We are just thankful for Heavenly angels and Robyn's good neighbors.