Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I am not sure when time started going by so fast, but it seems the older I get the faster it goes, so it is nice to relive these memories.  Our Christmas was really wonderful and simple which was the goal of the year. After it was all over we looked at it each other and said "you know this was a really nice Christmas." And it was there was no stress and no drama and no running around like chickens with our heads cut off. We were really able to enjoy and focus on the meaning of Christmas.


We had a few friends over for Christmas Eve dinner which was so much fun. It was a little crowded with 9 adults and 4 toddlers in my apartment, but it was so much fun. I love having parties and having people in our home and having an apartment isn't going to stop me.And since babies go to sleep early almost everyone was gone by 7pm and we drove around Fullerton/Brea looking for Christmas lights to fill our Christmas Tree Lane void and finished the night by watching It's a Wonderful Life.
Christmas morning was quite and fun we opened our stocking's in bed

Lights in fancy Fullerton with snow machine

The stockings we're hung

 and then came out to the living room and opened our presents. All of our Fresno family sent stuff down to us with my brother-in-law so we had things to open. We made some breakfast and passed out while watching A Christmas Story. We talked to our parents on the phone and finished the night off by seeing Les Mis.

Passed out Christmas Morning

Santa came!

I rang in 2013 by working at Tower of Terror, at 11:59 we had no guests the building was empty so we all closed our elevators and ran out to the roof to see the 3 different fireworks show's.I missed my New Years kiss with my hubby but this was okay too.
2012 was a pretty good year, we are so blessed and are looking forward to what 2013 has in store for us. So far we have Kurtis's Law school graduation, a spring trip, and the Bar Exam to look forward too!

Happy 2013 from the Disneyland Resort

Traditions

Warning this post contains Jesus talk

Growing up my family had several Christmas traditions . We would kick off the Holiday Season by walking down Christmas Tree Lane which is a Fresno tradition, this would be followed by decorating a Christmas tree and going to my Grandma's to bake cookies and my Great Aunts yummy fudge.

Now that i am an adult and living far from home it is hard to keep some of those traditions alive. When we have been bale to make it back to Fresno Christmas Tree Lane has been to crowed or to late, and this year we are not heading home at all.

I think apart of the fun of growing up is starting your traditions. Since we have been living in Southern California we have been trying to do just that.

For the last three years we have gone to Disneyland for my work holiday party, we always watch the fireworks and get hot chocolate and try to find all of the Christmas decorations.

The giant tree at the Grand

This year we added on the tradition of seeing the Candlelight Processional, which was so beautiful and will become a family favorite for as long as we live here.

Candlelight has been happening at Disneyland since the 1950's, Walt Disney would invite local choirs to sing Christmas Carols and invite someone to read the Christmas story from the Bible. It was his way of inviting the spirit of Christmas into the park and also a way to say "Thank You" to all of the people who made Disneyland possible. This year Candlelight was expanded from two nights to twenty and I knew we just had to be there.

It was so touching to hear the massive 400 person choir process down Main Street U.S.A. singing Christmas hymns, then they joined the Orchestra and trumpeters to create a beautiful picture , which was completed by the reading of the Christmas story by Molly Ringwald, who was the celebrity guest tonight. It was defiantly worth the two hours I waited in line.

Towards the end of the program the reader, talks about how Jesus Christ was born to a poor family  never went to college, or held a political office, he never traveled to a big city or even farther then 200 miles from the place that he was born. He was hung on a cross between two thieves and his captors gambled for his clothes. But yet, this man who to the world seemed so ordinary was anything but. This child who was born on that Christmas day has inspired so many. And no army, navy, or politician has ever been able to touch anyone the way that the Savior of mankind has.

These words made me think of a few things, for one I was so surprised that in our ever growing secular world I was hearing these words in a public place, and secondly because these words were true. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not you have to admit that Jesus was a pretty good guy, he taught that we should love one another, not judge each other, and do unto others as they would to you and that is just the readers digest version.

It was a great delight to stand with hundreds of others as the Hallelujah chorus was played to honor that little baby who was born to save us all.

Things that I forgot to mention

Through out the course of any given week a thought will cross my mind or something will happen and I will think to myself "man I should really make sure I put that on the blog" or "wow that would be a good blog post" but then life as it always does gets in the way, and I forget.

With the end of the year fast approaching (can you believe that?)  I figured I could just take all of those little things and make one big giant post, well maybe two we will see how the first one goes.

So here are some things in no particular order

New Car- We got a new Car in July during a trip to Fresno. My good old Chevy was on its last legs and was fast approaching its death. The air conditioning had not been working for over a year, and the poor thing couldn't even go over 50 MPH anymore. I was a little sad to see it go, for a about a minute. Kurtis's brother Keith got us a great deal on a 2012 Ford Fusion, which I am in love with. It is safe, has working air conditioning, and gets great gas mileage. It's pretty too.

Family Trip- Right after we bought the new car we broke it in by driving up the central coast to Cambria to spend a weekend with my family. It was really wonderful spending time with my Grandma, Mom, Aunt ,Great Aunt and Cousins. The trip was much needed as it feel during the craziness following the relaunch of Disney California Adventure which Kurtis and I both put a lot of blood (from blisters) sweat (from working in the heat) and tears (crazy guests, 50 plus hour work weeks, and again those blisters.) Kurtis was even able to get some golf in with my cousin, and uncles. And we made sure we stopped by Hearst Castle!

Beautiful golf course

Hearst Castle check out that pool!

The Team and Team cheerleaders

Canoe Races- Every year for the last 50 or so years Disneyland Cast members take to the Rivers of America and in the wee small hours of the morning before all of the guests are in the park we race the canoes around Tom Sawyers Island. It is a ton of fun for all of the cast members and we all get super competitive, because it is not only Resort cast members but Studio and Imagineering as well. I did not race this year but Kurtis did! His team made up of Guest Control leads and Trainers, survived all of the semi-finals and made it to the top four and eventually won the Sprint Races, I was so proud. He had a great time and it was a wonderful way to end his time as a Disney Cast Member.

Final Sprint to victory!

up up and away

For all of the years that Kurtis and I have been married we have NEVER dressed up for Halloween. We always talk about doing it, but it just never happens.

This year I announced we would be dressing up, and then my Kurtis's brother and sister-in-law planned a trip to Disneyland with their boys for this week.The two things added up to us all going to Mickey's Halloween Party together. It was a ton of fun and I highly recommend it for all families.

For our costumes we decided to go as Carl and Ellie from the Disney Pixar film up. Up has always been one of my favorite Disney Pixar films. It is so amazing to me how simple shapes, sounds, colors and music can spin a beautiful story about love, life and loss.

So many people connect with Carl and Ellie, but I really see Kurtis and I in these characters. Their quest for adventure and travel, the heartbreak of not being able to have children, the desire to go out and experience adventure, but the practicalities of life getting in the way. So many people came up to us Monday night and told us how much they loved our costumes, (which I have to admit were pretty cute) but what I think what they really loved are the characters and their story which touches everyone.

Family Motto

Some families have cute little saying or  quotes that they hang around their front door. Like "This house runs on love and diet coke" or "Always Kiss me Goodnight" we have one too...but it comes from a more unlikely source, Barney Stinson

True Story.

I was feeling a little down today, the project that I have been working on at work is ending and while I am looking forward to heading back to Hollywood Attractions I am feeling a little discouraged. So I reminded myself of our favorite quote, and sure enough just like Barney said I would, I started to feel a little bit better.

Trying to be better

I have been trying to be better about blogging. But, it seems that when I get home from work I am either to tired, or have nothing to say.Recently Kurtis and I went to the Barristers Ball which was a ton of fun. It was at Disney's Grand California Hotel this year which was amazing.

 It's April which means that it is softball season again. The awesome people that I have been working with on the Our California Story project  formed a team. We have had two games so far, and we talk and eat more then we win. But we have a ton of fun.

Me and my girls Lauren and Megan.

 

 

 

 

                                                 I even managed to hit a ball!

California Girls

Photo Credit Etsy

I am a California girl through and through(even though I was born in Texas.) So when a posting at work went up a few months ago about a new project called "Our California Story" I jumped on that like Mormon kids jumping on a trampoline.

I auditioned back in November, and found out that I made the team in December, and now I can finally talk about it. I am so excited and proud to be a part of this team. We will be piloting a new class and presenting it to our new cast members as a part of their new hire training. There are many things that I love about my job and one of them is the time and energy that they take to train the new cast members and I am so proud that I will be teaching our new California Adventure cast members.

Speaking of Disney, if you don't know this month January is the best time to come to the park over the next month the crowds will be very light. If you are thinking about coming now is the time.

His and Her day out

Today Kurtis and I went our separate ways for a girl and boys day out.

I went with some of my closest girl friends to the Ellen show it was so much fun and I danced my heart out! After the show the girls and I went out to this yummy place and got some great bratwurst.This is us waiting in line to go in I am the only one not holding up my number!

Kurtis on the other hand met up with two of his mission companions and spent the day at Disneyland. In between all of the rides there was lots of talking about the mission, the ladies in their lives and future jobs. A good time was had by all let's do it again soon ladies and gents!

Y.E.S.!!!

A few weeks ago I interviewed for a new position at Disney as a Y.E.S facilitator and today I got the call and was offered a position! I am so excited and a little shocked.

The YES program is apart of the youth education system at the Disneyland resort, I will get to take groups of students around the park and teach them! I will be working in the Leadership in Excellence program teaching students how to be leaders, work outside of their comfort zones and how leadership played a difference in Walt Disney's life.

Am I excited? Yes! I totally screamed when they called me. I knew that they wanted to hire about 20 people but about 200 applied so I wasn't expecting it at all. I know that it is going to be a lot of hard work. I start training in December and best of all I still get to work at my attractions. What a great end to kind of a crappy week.

Snow White's Secrets

Okay People here it is everything you ever wanted to know about Disneyland that I can tell you.

This blog will have information about The Disneyland Resort and will answer all of the questions that you have about when the best time is to come, what the best food is, how to get the best deals on tickets, how to work those fast passes and finally answer that life time question "what is World Of Color all about."

So people here is where I need your help! Tell me what you want to know about the park ! Help me help you. The Resort offers so many amazing things to help their guests make the most of their stay, let me shed some light on those things for you.

Awesome not Awesome

Awesome

1. Kurtis made Law Review which is a pretty big stinkin deal and should probably get its on post, but I'm way to lazy.
2.Pop Pilates, really you should check it out, I am pretty much in lurve.
3.Sonic drinks. There food pretty much sucks but I would walk 100 miles for Ocean Water.

Not Awesome.
1. Tower went down last night at about 7:30, all 3 shafts and guess who was sitting at control for 2 hours with one of the park big wigs behind them... This gal right here.
2. Seriously the power flickered then died and started killing off the other attractions in DCA and then power outages in Downtown Disney made for a really not awesome night. Cranky guests +power outages = snarky Whit

Sports Weekend

I'm back from a little blogging break.

We had a lot of sports going on in out house last weekend.

Friday was golf and then over the weekend we had work softball.

Kurtis took me to the driving range on Friday afternoon, it was a lot of fun. We worked on my "athletic stance." which is "Just like a chair pose" We also worked a little of my swing, but I mostly just sat back and watched Kurtis go at it, hitting things makes him so happy.


"Give me a T- Gimme a E- gimme a A- gimme a M what does that spell TEAM"
Disney co-ed soft ball started a few weeks ago. We haven't won any games but it is a ton of fun. And so is going to TGI Fridays afterward.

I have learned a few things from my recent dive into sports
1) Softballs are not soft
2)slow pitch is very slow
3)Everything seems better if you yell at the umpire
4)It's even better if you can get the umpire to play on your team because most of the time they are really good.
5) I know what you are thinking and "No that is not cheating."

Its a good thing that I have two weeks off from softball so I can work on my batting skills.

A little excitement for your day

I fainted today at work, that was fun.

I was working at Turtle talk and started to feel a little warm, the a little dizzy, and then I woke up on the floor.

Really folks and you thought you came to Disneyland for the rides, lucky for me our cast nurses are awesome, and they had me wheeled over to the nurses station in my wheelchair right away. The verdict? Low blood pressure.

Kurtis came to the rescue, and brought me home. Fed me In-n-Out and now I am comfortably on the couch watching Jeopardy!
Thanks to cast health and my hubby, and that security girl who pushed me for like 10 minutes in that wheelchair.

Sometimes you just need a day off

I'm giving myself one today. It is 8am and I am supposed to be in my writing class. But I'm not. I'm at Starbucks on State Collage eating a chocolate croissant and drinking a hazelnut steamer (like a latte but just steamed milk and flavor. So yummy) I'm reading about confidentiality for my legal ethics class which is actually really interesting to me.

Work has been so busy and I am looking forward to the end of "spring break" in a few weeks. I might need two or three days of sleep to recover.

This weekend we are going to the Barristers Ball I got this hot little number to wear. It is basically like Law school prom and I am expecting to see a lot of Kurtis's class mates get trashed while I dance my butt off and eat a yummy dinner. I can't believe that his first year is almost over, there is about 2 more weeks of normal classes then they start finals prep, reading week, and then the week of torture where I become a widow. It will all be over by May 18.

I loved General Conference and I'll be posting about that soon.

3000 cheerleaders and me

(Image from google)

Friday night I had the chance to work a special event at work. A little extra money to work until 2:00 am with some cheerleaders. I thought it would be a piece of cake, boy was I wrong.

This group of cheerleaders was made up of 3000 high school kids most of them were around 14 and 15. It was a long night of "no you can't ride California screaming" and "I don't know why your leader is so lame." I made me remember what I was like when I was 15...Not like them. Honestly the best part of the night was after everyone had left and we all sat around and ate left overs, gotta love my Disney family.

In other news we just started watching the Amazing Race and it is awesome.

It is also pretty awesome to talk to my little buddy Kaden on the phone

Peace out party people!

Surprise!

This Saturday we woke up to a surprise from my Brother and Sister-in-law! They were in town for a quick trip to Disneyland. So we met up with Kevin and Crystal and the super nieces for a fun evening at California Adventure.

I actually had to cross train at Flix Fun Fair earlier in the rain but these two adorable faces made the day a lot better
I think we went on Toy Story Midway Mania about 5 times, but it was still a ton of fun. I am so glad I have such cute sweet nieces!

Disneyland With the Girls

Last week my friend Nicole came to visit from Fresno, she brought her friend Annika who is from Germany, and her friend Ashley. We had a great time doing all of the things that friends do and it was fun to introduce Annika to Disneyland. Her favorite ride was Indiana Jones. We also had a lot of fun on Splash Mountain... She got really wet, we told her a little white lie and said it was best to sit in the front.

It's Halloween

Happy Halloween one day late!

Kurtis and I had a blast at the ward Halloween party. We eat chili and corn bread and baked potatoes, we also hung out with some really cool people. We even saw Elin Woods, Tiger and some garden gnomes. I wish I had more pictures, but I don't. So I just stole this one from Stephanie a.k.a Elin Woods. I went as Rosie the Riveter complete with the "We can do it" tattoo on my bicep. Kurtis went as himself.

I had to work Halloween night (boo) but it was a celebrity filled night, Adam Sandler ran into my friend Katie with a stroller and some people spotted Kobe Bryant while I was on my break. I always seem to just miss them.

Weekend Round up-CHOC walk+lazy eye

This last weekend actually ended up being pretty busy

Saturday we took advantage of my main gate pass and spent the day together at DCA and Disneyland. It was so crowded we only ended up going on a few rides. But we did manage to go see World Of Color, which is amazing. Kurtis also got to meet a few of my work buds which was fun for him. Kurtis snapped this great pic featuring my lazy photo eye!

Sunday morning started bright and early at 4:30 am. By 6 am I was at work cheering on the the amazing people who took part in the Children's Hospital Orange County or CHOC walk. It was a very moving experience and even though I was super tired I felt very blessed to be there doing what little I could to support those inspiring children who have battled against cancer and other chronic illness, and the parent's and friends who have loved and lost their precious children.

I know that it sounds super cheesy, but it made me so thankful for my Heavenly Father who provided away for all of those beautiful children to be with their families forever. Disneyland and California adventure hosted 14,000 walkers who raised over 2 million dollars for the hospital ! Isn't that awesome!

A wonderful Sacrament meeting was next, but I was so tired (from getting up at 4:30 am) that Kurtis made me go home to cuddle with this lovely lady, who apparently was having a lot of fun with my shoe's and purse.

Team Disney

Well I had my first day of attraction training on Friday, and so far so good. I am working in the Disney Animation building in California Adventure, but I will also be working World of Color and probably will learn some other rides in the next few months.

Things that I am loving: All of the cute kids, and they are so sweet. I love that I get to call the little girls "Princess" . I love that I will be able to watch World of Color a lot, that show is just amaze balls. However, it would be even better if Kurtis was with me because that show just ends better with a Kiss. One of my managers likes to pass the time by teaching us magic tricks which I think is pretty cool.

Things that I'm not lovin- Well its really just one. My "costume" I don't know if I can post pictures because I could get fired or sued by some Disney Lawyer for copyright infringement. Folks, really this girl does not look good in "Mom Pants." I know that there are some people who can pull off that look but people with "Child Bearin' hips" like yours truly really look awful in them. So I am counting down the days when I can start wearing my World Of Color outfit (3 work days) which is much more flattering.

Peace Out
Whit