Ribbons are good!

Today was our first swim meet of the 2008 swim season. Our trip to Balboa made them miss the first two meets. The kids did great! Mikensee got 2nd in the Breast Stroke for her heat and 4th in the Butterfly. In the heat prior the 1st place winner swam the 50 in 1.01. Mikensee's time was .57. Wyatt and Walker both did great. Wyatt can't stop smiling which explains why his brother got 1st and he got 3rd. He stops swimming to come up and smile after every few strokes. He was in a clear lead half way through the 25, but I guess all the cheering was just too much and he had to smile for all of his adoring fans. Walker gloated (a lot) about winning that heat. It's just too funny because they are the absolute youngest and smallest on our team and from what I hear the other teams youngest are almost 6. Jessica didn't fare as well in the ribbon department, although she did get 2nd in one heat. She did receive many comments on how fast she is. She was in a couple of losing medley's, but she really made up a lot of time for her team both times she swam. It was long. . . 4-9PM, but we had a great time. All in all I want the kids to race against their personal best and if you get a ribbon, that's good. Hopefully they will collect one in every color. :)

Souvenirs From the Beach

Today was haircut day. Wyatt and Walker have grown into allowing haircuts, but they are still not in love with the idea. Perhaps it's because it hurts to shave such a thick coat that held in at least 1/4th of the beach sand collected on our vacation. (Yes, it was still in there and I've got the pictures to prove it -- we washed the same head at least 15 times since then AND it's been swimming EVERY day since we came home!) I also think that they are so ticklish that the ticklishness hurts them. Either way, today's cuts were bribed by the promise of swimming pool time with mom (which explains the strange polka-dot outfit I'm wearing in these photos!)

Catching Up

Still not caught up, but getting there. . . I ordered new cell phones today, worked on my desk and paid bills. Tuesday's are always laundry day and of course we had swim team practice as well. Mike started a diet on Monday so I've been meaning to mention that I've grilled EVERY DAY this week. . . The kids LOVED my Terryiaki Chicken and the Hamburgers were okay too. If Mike loses 50 lbs (which he definitely needs to lose that and more) his boss is going to pay him $5000. Heaven knows we could use it and he needs to lose it!

The Backyard Pool

is finally not too cold (at least for the kids) for some fun! Let the swimming begin!

Such a Silly Boy

Sunday again and we're home, but not quite back into the swing of things. We did manage to make it to church relatively on time considering we were in the building that is 15 minutes farther away this week! Wyatt asked me oh so nicely if he might have a "spot of tea." He even thanked me as if I were the queen. Fortunately the only "tea" I drink is peppermint, cranberry, and a few other herbal varities in the winter when I'm cold. The tea today was Diet Coke. . . my vice.

Saturday is a Special Day

It's the day we get ready for Sunday. . . unless you've been gone for a week and got home at about 3AM. . . then it's the day you slept until 9, unpacked all day and then frantically prepared a dish for the potluck at 6PM. . .which you arrived to promptly at 6:35. We did snap a couple of pictures of the fur babies. . .

Maybe we should stay. . .

Today was spent killing time while mom washed all the sheets and towels and cleaned house so we could go home. It's hard to leave such a pristine life to go back home! We spent the day walking the island where the boys watched someone catch some fish off a public dock and we discovered several snails around the house. Mom almost decided to stay when the tank of gas she pumped to drive us home cost $99. Yes, that is the most expensive tank of gas she has ever purchased. We still put another $75 in when we hit Buckeye. And to think last week she wouldn't even buy a $64 dress!

It's a Boob! No, It's a Jelly Fish?!!?

Today we hit the beach for some more California sunshine and fun. Day before yesterday we were lucky enough to spy some Sea Lions both out on the boat and at the pier where we had dinner at Ruby's Diner. Today we saw at least a dozen dolphins playing at the closest break up and down the beach AND we discovered some strange looking UFO which mom thought was someone's silicone breast implant (seriously!) After a few minutes of contemplation and the discovery of several others we figured out that these were Jelly Fish. Yikes! Thankfully we were spared of any stings, but it does make for a fun story to tell.

It's a Small World After All

So at only 22 minutes away on a rather cold CA day, we headed for Disneyland. While this was not on our itinerary, Buzz remodeled the house and lets just say it isn't particularly kid/family friendly. It's mostly designed for the "adult set." As a result sitting in the house and doing nothing (like playing games or watching movies--which we were prepare for) was out of the question. We made the most of our day arriving at about 10AM and leaving the parking garage at a respectful 12:10 AM. The kids did amazingly well and lets just say it was the real let your hair down fun we've had as a family since Jessica was born. All the kids walked and rode and laughed and we had an amazing time! Before you think how can I say this is the only "real fun" we've had since Jessica was born I need to qualify the statement with this: Having little kids/babies is fun, but it is also very hard. When you're the mom all the responsibility and sacrifice rests squarely on your shoulders. Before Jessica, Mikensee was almost 6 and was an amazingly mature child. We traveled together a lot and she was an only. We went from that to having a hard baby (Jessica) and then to losing Lillie and on to having 2 preemie twins. I have not really had the ability to let my hair down and just have fun for quite some time. At Disneyland today we were just a family having fun, no strings attached. Did we have moments of tantrum? Yes. Did I have to carry more than my fair share of the load? Yes. But comparing the whole of the last almost 6 years, it was a cake walk. We all just hung together. No strollers, diaper changes or carrying kids. Thank heaven for a great day at Disneyland!




P.S. We never hit main street, saw the parade, any shows or many characters. We didn't do "Fantasy land" where all the kiddie rides are. Jessica, Wyatt, Walker and Dad all went on Splash Mountain together (which was Jessica's favorite ride.) We rode Thunder Mountain 3 times (Mikensee, Wyatt and Walker's favorite ride.) We hit Space Mountain (Mom and Dad's favorite ride), The Haunted Mansion, Toon Town, Pirates of the Caribbean (twice) and just about everything in between. We didn't make Finding Nemo (2 hour wait) or the Matterhorn (we just never made it), but we did make the best of the entire day!

Look out Ocean. . . Here we come!

Yesterday Julie came with us on the boat and the water was a bit choppy so we turned back from heading into the ocean (from the bay). Today we were extra brave! (I didn't even wear make-up and I'm showing the pictures!) Our venture was worth it as we were able to see the sea lions up close and personal and we really enjoyed our time out! After boating we hit the beach. I'll share some beach pictures later!

Balboa Island . . . Here We Are!

For today's post I decided to put a photo of me and Mike. Mike is not often in the picture (pun intended) because he works, a lot. For this I am thankful because although I do work and add to the income stream of our family, without his dedication and commitment I would most likely not be able to be home and in the kids' lives quite the way I am now. It is also due to his dedication and work ethic we have the use of Buzz's house on Balboa this week. Thanks hon!

May 30-June 1st

May 30th was my first class of the 2008-2009 registration year. Frankly I cleaned like a mad woman, finished up the class prep and dropped into bed about 1AM (this after sleeping from about 4-8AM.) Some friends asked to use our pool so the kids were entertained, but nonetheless with the exception of my Card Box Project, no photos were snapped today!

May 31st I organized my closet and the entire media/school room plus washed all the sheets and laundry in the house. I also cleaned the patio and the picture windows and french doors. I showered about 11 PM. . . no photos were snapped today!

June 1st we went to church where Wyatt and Walker gave the primary scripture and said the prayer. Walker quoted the First Article of Faith, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father and in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." Jessica gave this talk:

We’ve all heard and often say these things:

What would Jesus do?

If the Savior stood beside me?

CTR or Choose The Right!

Do unto others as you would have others do to you.

Kindness begins with me.

We all say these things, but do we stop to think about them when we choose to do the things we do?

Your mom asks you to do your chores. Do you gladly say, okay Mom? Like you would if the Savior stood beside you?

Your sister accidentally knocks you over. Do you push her back and say “Watch it, big dummy?” or do you think what would I want her to do to me?

You see a child at the playground being picked on. Do you pick on him too or do you stop to think “Kindness begins with me?”

You find some money on the floor. Do you immediately CTR and find out who the owner is?

You just finished a great pop-sickle. Do you find a trash and throw it away. Or you see someone else throw their gum wrapper on the floor in the chapel, do you just walk by it or pick it up to keep our Father’s house and world clean and neat?

I know that I want to do what Jesus would do, but I have to stop just thinking about these things and start doing them. I know that I will be happier if I make good choices each day. I will be a better example to my friends and help others come unto Christ if I live the gospel that I believe.

I pray that we will all think more about how we act and the choices we make. I want to live each day like the Savior stands beside me because he does. John 8:12 says “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

We frantically packed and drove to California. We arrived at the house on Balboa Island about 1AM. What a day!