Spring Break 2008

Monday March 24: As we were scrambling around trying to get ready, it was suggested that we only go halfway since we had so much to do. If we left at noon, we could be in LeGrande by 6 and even if we left at 3 we would be there by 9. I am sure it will come to no surprise, that after helping the house recover from the Easter festivities and packing we were pulling out of the driveway at 6. We had hours and hours of this. Not sure if this was coming or going. Does it really matter???

We have several of Abby like this.

We pulled into LeGrande at around midnight and it wasn't too difficult to settle down and get to sleep. It is very exciting to sleep in a hotel, you know.

Tuesday March 25th:

We got up and ate breakfast. I am seriously considering investing in some cereal and juice dispensers. Apparently it tastes better if it comes that way. It was the best breakfast ever!

We were on the road just after 9:30--be very impressed. We pulled into Pocatello just after 4 and the kids were very happy to see their grandparents. We had a nice relaxing evening of dinner and conversation. Since we had last been there, Joan had converted Russ to the late side and he stayed with us into the night.

Wednesday March 26th:

We had a quiet day (if that is even a possibility with 4 children) at Grandma and Grandpa's. The kids made cookies with Joan. In fact this ended up being lunch. You gotta love vacation diets!

That night Kevin and I went on a date while the kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. It was our first in almost 2 years. It was fun.

Thursday March 27th:

We were heading to Utah so we had to pack everything up again. We also went and visited Kevin's cousin Earl on our way out. I forgot to take pictures--I am so sad. They just welcomed their 5th on March 13th, so I got to hold a brand new baby for a bit while we chatted and the kids played. Our kids adore Earl and his family. It is always a highlight of the trip to see them.

We headed to Robert and Kerri's around 7 and stopped for a yucky dinner in Brigham City at the Sonic. Everything I ordered, they were out of: ice cream, chili, chicken tenders, tater tots, corn dogs. It took forever and was cold. We won't be going back.


Friday March 28th:

We got up and got ready to go to the sealing. We dropped the kids off at Uncle Neal's (they were lucky and got to spend some alone time with their Aunt Regina and her kids) and tried to find the directions to the temple according to Mapquest. Even though we got turned around, we managed to be the first ones from our side of the family to be there--very noteworthy for us!!! The sealing was wonderful and that little Bo looked like a perfect little angel and was so good.

After the sealing Neal and Stacy had a luncheon. Bo was so well behaved, he got passed around and no nap, but was still a happy sweet boy. Here are some random pictures from the luncheon.

Bo with Uncle Mike (Kevin's sister Shelley''s husband)

Me with baby Aubrey. Such a tiny sweet little thing.

Isaac and Aubrey

Anna with Aubrey

Outside the temple. The men of the family with Bo and Stacy--where's Grandpa?

Bo with Grandma and Grandpa

Sometimes you just need a little of space. Unfortunately, with my kids that's rare!

Abby outside playing with Shelby.

Everyone gathered at Robert and Kerri's that night. Kylie had some drama with her first loose tooth. After many attempts, lots of freaking out....the tooth was still there when we left for home yesterday. I do have to say that in Kylie's defense, her daddy needs to hone his tooth pulling skills.

Mark and Regina's Ella and Blythe with Aubrey. So cute!!!

After the luncheon Kevin and I took the kids to Cabella's. We explored and had fun seeing all the animals.

We did have a meltdown--Isaac was so disappointed that 1. the animals weren't real and 2. he couldn't eat there. It was a proud moment.

Kevin enjoyed himself too.

After that we met Rachel (Goodwin)Williams for dinner. This is Kevin and Lucy. She is sooo cute.

It was a lot of fun to see Rachel and catch up on life. It had been too many years since I have seen her and although I get updates from her mom via my mom it was nice to see her face for reals.

Rachel and I go way back. It makes me feel so old when I say this, but I babysat for her parents for years growing up. I started at 11 (what were they thinking????) and Rachel was 5, her sister Julie was 3, Jonathan was brand new and David was a few years younger than me.

If I were better at this I would have edited out the reserved parking sign.

The kids adored Lucy and played ring-around-the-rosy with her as we said our goodbyes.

Lucy is such a doll and so well behaved. She didn't complain once and it was a long dinner.

That night we visited with a fe of the brothers and their wives and then stayed up until almost 3:30 talking to Robert and Kerri. It was fun. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. I am pretty sure it has been almost 2 years.

Saturday March 29th:

Because of the lateness of our getting to bed and the fact it didn't look as though Robert and Kerri's family was going to be able to join us, we chose to stay home so the kids could play and we could spend more time with them. Kevin and Robert took the kids geocaching for a bit and then it was time to get ready for Paul and Misti's dinner. Because I spaced and didn't take pictures, you will have to imagine the events of this day.

Sunday March 30th:

A day both highly anticipated and dreaded. We woke up to snow. I hate snow. We were going to Aubrey's blessing first. We had directions, but I hadn't thought to read them before everyone left us. They started from a road I wasn't sure how to get to. So after a long detour through BYU, we got to the building and I dropped Kevin at the door and told him to run in. The kids and I quickly followed, but missed the blessing. I was disappointed. As nice as the testimonies were, I did not drive 14 hours to listen to those.

Right after that ward was over--time to scoot to Neal and Stacy's building for Bo's blessing. We sat in the back as to not disturb anyone as we did the bless and ditch. We had 14 hours on the road ahead of us.


A random picture between Paul and Misti's building and Neal and Stacy's

We made good time and since it was vacation, took the kids to Chuck-a-Rama. It was in memory of Kevin's childhood when his grandparent's took them sometimes. In my head right after Chuck-a Rama, I think of Barf-a-Rama from Stand by Me. So I always laugh at the name.

As buffets go (and we know--the kids LOVE them), this wasn't so bad. They had 10 million drink options and a nice salad bar. Abby and I ate turkey, which was actually really good. I just think the name is so funny!!!

That added some time to our drive home and when we hit the Blue Mountains and were greeted with heavy snow and ice, it was such a treat. It took us about an hour to get through. I was very grateful for the mile markers since they were my visual to staying on the road. We rolled into the driveway about 3:15. I could have cried I was so glad to see home.

It was good times had by all. We were very grateful to have been able to make the trip and see the new babies in the family. The next time we see them, they will undoubtably be no longer babies and walking. We have to watch them grow up through pictures, so to be able to participate in something for real was nice for a change.

Now it's off to unpack, clean out the car, get real food in the house and get ready for school. tomorrow

Over the river and through the woods....

We are in the throes of getting ready to go. It has brought many questions and memories from the kids about family and cousins and all that. My favorite conversation was with Abby and went like this:

Abby: " I like those big girlies that were at Grandma and Grandpa Stoddards"
Me: "You mean, Janae, Shaelyn and Tiana?"
Abby: "Yep. And I also really like the Nerd"
Me" "The Nerd?"
Abby: "Yeah, you know the guy who played hide and seek with me and played the marble game with me."
Big light bulb over my head: "Oh, you mean Leonard, Aunt LeeAnn's husband."
Abby got really excited and said: "Yes, him."

We got a huge laugh over that one and hope that Leonard can enjoy it as much as we did. We love you!

OK--we are off for a week of adventures with family and friends. I will update if I can, but it might be a while. Here's hoping you all have a wonderful week. Love to all!

Easter Celebrations

We had some good friends over for an evening of coloring eggs and dinner. I made pizza dough and the kids had individual pizzas, while the grown ups had the good pizza. We had about 7 dozen eggs and a crowded table. Here's Noah showing off his art work. This is my friend Lark and her daughter Kara, along with Abby and Isaac. Lark is one of my lifesavers here in Eugene. She is my lunch date to yucky pizza, but great conversation. She is one of the readons I have managed to survive without Kevin being here during the week.

A view from the other end of the table. Egg coloring is serious business. And just in case you were wondering, Monday kicks off National Egg Salad week. Although with so many eggs, most end up in the garbage.

Bragging moment, because it's just so darn cute!!! I made a cake for dessert.

The kids loved it.

Here's something I find very noteworthy, Lark's husband, Rob made a cake as well. It was quite yummy ( I ate it after church straight from the plate). I am just so amazed the husband made a cake.

Sunday brought on the Easter dinner. The tradional ham and cheesy potato feast. We had a great family from the ward over. They have an adorable little girl, Ellie, who is almost a year and a half. I should have taken pictures. She had so much fun, at one point she stopped in her tracks, stomped her feet and squealed in delight. My kids adored her, probably too much. Her mom and dad are really nice and the best company we have had since Saturday night. Actually in all honesty, there are a select few people here I would love to hang out with and we did that this weekend. So even though we are supposed to be on the road on our way to Idaho and Utah, it was well worth the delay.

To Do List

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love lists. I make a to do list continually throughout the day. There are few better feelings than crossing something off my list! But somedays it seems like the list is eternal and there is no way humanly possible to get it all done. Especially before a big trip. My question is, how do you know you've done enough if everything isn't crossed off the list? And can you sleep at night if it's not?

Here is an example of my To Do's:

1.Help kids get ready and off to school
2.Take medicine (I have to put it on the list otherwise I forget)
3.Exercise
4.Get Abby ready
5.Clean the diningroom/entry (my sewing room at the moment)
6.Clean the livingroom
7.Clean the eating area from breakfast (and if I am honest, some of last night's dinner--depending on the day)
8.Clean kitchen from making lunches and anything else that needs to be cleaned
9.Do a load of laundry
10. Take a few minutes to work on sewing projects while waiting for Isaac's bus
11.Fix lunch
12.Run any errands that need to be done--grocery store, Target, etc.
13.Work on sewing projects a few more minutes while kids have snack and do homework/talk about their day
14.Work on bedrooms or bathrooms--whichever is worse
15.Take Anna to soccer
16.Fix dinner, maybe relax for 5 minutes
17.Pick up Anna
18.Eat dinner--but quick, Scouts starts in 15 minutes
19.Take Noah to scouts
20.Clean up after dinner
21.Get smaller kids ready for bed
22.Pick up Noah
23.Have treat, brush teeth, and tuck kids in
24.If I have energy this is where I work on sock monkeys or read and watch t.v--and yes I do both at the same time.

Ahhhh, the life of a mother!!!!

Update

So Thursday night a whole family of frogs moved into Abby's throat. On Friday she has a fever and was happy to lounge about watching t.v. all day. Of course she couldn't, we had to get Isaac to a party and run a couple of errands. With the promise of a slurpee, whe was ready to go and was awesome. But you kow she is really sick when we are at the toy section and she doesn't want to get out of the cart.
By Saturday she was feeling better, but not well enough for us to go up to Portland and visit with Kevin since he was on call this weekend. Instead, Kevin came down Saturday night in hopes that he wouldn't get a call on Sunday. We had a pleasant few hours on Saturday and loved having him home in Sunday.


Kevin has maintained, in all the years I have known him that his foot is better looking than mine. Can you help us put this argument to rest? Mine are much prettier--DUH Kevin!

A Day in my Life

Some days are just sooo busy. Here's what I did today.

I saw these aprons in a craft store and thought they would be fun to make. I am not one who enjoys sewing. I am forever calling my mom and asking questions. But this was so cute in the store and it didn't look too hard. This one is going to be Anna's. It will have a tie at the top (I think that is where it will get hard for me). This one is Abby's. I have gotten a little further on hers than Anna's. But I do feel the need to say this has been more of an ironing project than sewing. I honestly do not know why I take on these projects. My mother is forever telling me I need a hobby. I guess this is a way to try and find one. F.Y.I.: March is National Craft Month.

This morning I dropped Abby off at preschool and then I went visiting teaching and brought fresh, warm cinnamon rolls to my sisters. I made the dough up last night after getting home from Scouts and Activity Days and tucking the kids in.

They looked pretty even without the frosting. I haven't made these in about 10 years. It was a new recipe and I think I got pretty lucky. (For anyone who knows my quirks in the kitchen, it was a huge step for me to take a new recipe, untested, to people.) F.Y.I.: March is National Bake and Take Month.

After rushing home from visiting teaching to greet Isaac's bus, I picked up Abby from preschool and went to lunch with a friend ( a highlight of my day, we go to this pizza joint that has a play structure and have a nice few hours basically uninterupted. It is moments like this that help me go on). Rushed home to meet the kids from school and had a few minutes to relax(???) before having to get Anna to soccer. While Anna was at soccer, I took the rest of the kids to WalMart for a few essentials and a birthday present for a birthday party Isaac is going to tomorrow. Ran to get Anna and quickly stopped to get dinner fixings. Inhaled dinner and now it is time to tuck the kids in and get ready for another day. WOOHOO!!!

I hear you!!!

I have gotten a lot of comments as to my picture not making it on the blog. It is hard to get pictures of me when I am the only adult at home to take pictures. We are going to Utah and Idaho for Spring Break and Kevin is coming with so I promise to take pictures at that time!!!

Random Thoughts

1. I HATE doing the cans here to get our deposit back. It smells like fermented fruit, stale beer and it's sticky. It never fails that the machine is going to not work properly or you are at the wrong store for your returns. All for a nickel. But since I am a diet coke addict, it adds up to about $15-20 every 4 months or so.

2. I LOVE it when I get complimented on the kids. For example, I was at dinner with them tonight and a nice man came over for the sole purpose to tell me I was doing a good job and that the kids were very well behaved. (My mother will have a hard time believing this because we had a very horrible dining out experience. They always save it up for visits with my mom or in-laws)

3. I am so happy that Danny Noriega got voted off American Idol. He drove me absolutely bonkers!!! I could have done a happy dance I was so excited!!!

4. It is fun to go through the mail thinking it's just junk and finding a check for $26.99 as a thank you for being a customer with Qwest.

5. Soccer season is once again upon us. It's always such a treat to being doing this by myself and trying to be in 2 or 3 places at once. So far it's just Anna, but I am probably going to get Isaac involved. Noah doesn't really care for it--he is more an individual sport kind of guy, and that's OK.

Happy Birthday Kevin!!!!

This weekend we celebrated Kevin's birhtday. It was Saturday, March 8. He started his day bu going with the cub scouts and planting 50 trees along side a river. Torture for most of us, but Kevin loves this kind of activity. Anna and Noah went with and they all came home having had a blast. We actually had a pretty lazy weekend--not so much fun for the kids, but great for the adults. The kids took Kevin to Red Robin for dinner--they love to have them sing at your table. And we puttered around town and ended the day at Dairy Queen. Sunday was the church, adjusting to Daylight Savings and his birthday dinner. The kids weren't impressed at all by the lack of activities but it wasn't their birthday. Here are some fun pictures of Kevin(please note, I left all the really horrible ones out, I was very nice when I could have been mean!): Kevin and Isaac at Grandma's lake

Kevin and his mom at Anna's baptism.

In Seattle when we did a Seattle vacation.

Abby's birthday.

Pig pile on Daddy.

I loved doing this with my dad.

Red Robin Saturday.

Anna was in the bathroom at Red Robin and missed the singing, so here she is with Kevin at Chuck E. Cheese.

Happy Birthday to a wonderful man and great father!!!!!

Playing at the Park and Being Attacked by Geese

We took advantage of a crisp, clear day to go to the park and play. I used to swing with my sister like this when I was little. Big sisters are the best!!!

Posing at the little rock wall.

Isaac making the wall seem like work, but having fun doing it.

Noah the monkey.

Too cute!! She loved this twisty pole.

We thought it would be fun to feed the ducks and geese. In about 2 seconds Isaac was surrounded (see them crossing the street to get to him?).

I don't think any of the kids made it without getting bitten. Abby got so scared she froze with her hands in the air. I couldn't get many pictures because I had to rescue them.

Once again safe in the car this is the conversation that went on.

Me: "Maybe Daddy would like to come feed the ducks with us."

Abby: " I don't want to feed the ducks again."

Anna: "Daddy could put you on his shoulders and then you could feed them from up there."

Noah: " Yeah, you'd be safe."

Isaac: "No way, they can fly up and get you."

I think we are done feeding any birds for a long time.