Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Spring Break 2014

We had a fun, busy and event filled Spring Break.  I have to keep the kids busy or I'd lose my mind!  Here is a review of our week:

On Monday, we met friends at a very new and fun park.
On Tuesday, we went out to breakfast, saw the Lego Movie, spent a little time in the Lego store and a lot of time in the bookstore with each child spending allowance on a book.
On Wednesday, all the kids played at a friends house in the morning.  In the afternoon, we went to the zoo where C and H attended the Wild Science Academy and little C and I played at the zoo and took the train around the zoo.


On Thursday, we met friends at South Mountain and went for a hike.  Cameron took a friend and they were impatient with our slow speed.  Without discussing it with me first, they took off and completed the trail by themselves.  I wasn't sure they knew the way, so when we got back to the start/end, and they weren't there, I assumed they were lost.  I left the younger kids with my friend and ran around looking for the older boys.  After searching possible trails they could be on for about 1/2 an hour, I called the park ranger and started to run toward the car to look there as well as in the other direction.  And there they were at the car, patiently waiting.  I had thought to go to the car first, but in my head it did not make sense they would not meet me at the start/end of the trial.  C said they waited at the start/end for 10 minutes then walked to the car where they had been waiting for 56 minutes.  Neither boy could understand that what they did was wrong.  After the hike, we went to tour the Mystery Castle.



On Friday, we drove to Tucson.  We camped while Chuck competed in a three day stage race.  We settled into camp, got some wind and rain while doing so, but it didn't last long.  Friday's race was the time trial.  Chuck's buddy and teammate also went with his family who has kids close to the same age as ours.  The kids played around the campsite, occasionally getting in a fight with a cactus but never fighting with each other.  We went to dinner and called it a day.
On Saturday, Chuck left for his road race and we went to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum.  Christian complained a lot about being tired and wanted me to carry him.  Cameron, once again, was frustrated by our slower pace and often charged on ahead.  Thankfully, some bribing with ice cream got us through the day.  For dinner, we went to our favorite restaurant in Tucson, Beyond Bread.







Chuck and I got dessert at Beyond Bread and saved it for after the kids were in bed.  We sat outside under the clear skies and full moon.  But once we settled in for the night, the wind started to blow and blow and blow.  Chuck said he was not worried, but at one point in the night, I asked if there was a tornado outside.  It was totally ridiculous and I did not sleep at all until it finally stopped around 3 or 4am.  Chuck got up early to head to his circuit race.  Once he got back, we packed up and drove home.  For the exception of an attitude here or there, the weekend was pretty successful.  As well as the week.  But I sure am glad they are back in school!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Some recent events...

Cameron playing Ultimate Frisbee


Touring the Gilbert AZ LDS Temple



Norte's Annual Sock Hop


Playing Ninja Turtle


Holding Baby Cousin Melody


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Happy 4th Birthday Christian!

Christian turned 4 on the 13th of January.  The night before his birthday we had a family dinner that included Charity, Emily, Ricky, Lily, Emma, John Robert, Angela, Emma Jane and Owen.  Christian requested macaroni and cheese, corn, pears (we didn't get to have pears because they weren't ripe) and of course, cake and ice cream.  He got some fun presents and seemed to enjoy all the attention.  For breakfast on the morning of his birthday, his daddy made him pancakes.  I took him out for pizza (one of his favorite foods) for lunch with his two best friends, Knox and Davis joined us.  We, of course, had to have another cake.  Christian has a huge sweet tooth!
Christian is really a joy to have around.  I have loved the time we have spent together the last year and a half while C and H have been in school.  He is very easy going and rarely throws fits.  Of course, he is spoiled rotten, so maybe that's why.  He loves to play cars, trucks, legos...all the typical boy things.  But he also likes to play with Barbie Dolls and he does have his own Ken.  Christian loves to be on the go and we are on the go a lot.  But he is also content to be at home.  Some days he plays for hours on his own and others he prefers I play with him and I get absolutely nothing done.  He still asks for me to carry him everywhere and loves to sit on my lap during meal time.  He tells me I am the best all the time.  And if he happens to be mad at me and say something like, "I never asked for a mom like you!"  I'll say, "I'm sorry you never asked for a mom like me."  And he will cave and say, "You're the best Mom."  And one of my favorite things about Christian is that sometimes he will ask to go to bed or sometimes he will even put himself to bed.  At his 4 year check up, C weighed 38 pounds and was 3 feet 2 inches tall.







Friday, December 27, 2013

Remembering 2013

Our year included...
1 night on the Queen Mary (Chuck and Cameron for his birthday), 1 baptism (Cameron), 
1 car/bike accident (Chuck) and 1 toddler potty trained (Christian)
2 scouts (Cameron and Hannah), 2 kids moving back to AZ (Lily and Emma) AND 2 big adventures (Summer backpack and Fall Break)
3 kids in school (Cameron 3rd grade, Hannah 1st and Christian preschool)
4 new bikes purchased (Lily, Emma, Cameron and a tandem trail-a-bike)
5 days a week Cameron complaining about school
6 days a week running (Rebekah) and riding (Chuck)
7 group exercise classes taught a week (Rebekah)
8 players on Cameron's volleyball team coached by mom
9 times a day the kids ask mom to play with them
10 times a day Christian says "You're the best." to mom
11 years of marriage celebrated (Rebekah and Chuck)
12 fights a day
13 days spent camping (excluding the Summer and Fall Break trip)
We are looking forward to another busy year in 2014!  
Happy New Year!

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 was a very memorable Christmas!  Christmas Eve day started out with H being flat out rude to me for some time.  So, after some time, I left for some time.  When I got home, we tried to play outside, but the whining, crying and fighting made it no fun.  Just before our annual neighborhood potluck, H fell and scraped her knees.  I got her cleaned up but she refused to walk, so I had to carry her to the potluck and sit with her on my lap while we tried to eat.  And of course, Christian wanted to be on my lap too.  On a positive note, Cameron was completely independent, getting his own food, going back for more etc.  The kids were pretty worn out, so they asked to came home and get ready for bed.  Then we tried to read the Christmas story, but after Chuck could handle to fighting over me no longer, he slammed the book and sent them off to bed.  All of them crying (as they should have been).  They eventually settled and went to sleep. Chuck said he thought we should tell Santa not to come.  Although, I agreed and was very tempted, I couldn't do it. So Santa came with a note to them that said,  "Despite your naughtiness, I am still leaving gifts.  Please try to be nice!"    Then, as I was sound asleep, I woke up to 3 kids in my bedroom and Christian shouting, "Santa came! "Santa came!".  I looked at the clock and it said 11:50pm!  Needless to say we sent the kids back to bed.   However, Christian wouldn't go, so he slept with me. And I never sleep well with kids in my bed.  Chuck slept in the living room to guard the tree.  The kids got up at 6am and when they did, I asked them what happened in the night.  As near as I could piece together, Cameron woke up for a drink and didn't have any water in his bed, so he woke up Christian so he could give him his water and Christian said, "Let's go see if Santa came."  So off they went stopping on their way to wake up Hannah.  After getting up the second time, they played with gifts from Santa, Charity came over and we had breakfast and opened the rest of our gifts.We went for a hike at South Mountain that was long and difficult, but all the kids are amazing hikers!  They played with our neighbors much of the day and Lily and Emma come over for dinner.  It ended up being a pretty nice day.




a "fur real" Kitty named Daisy
a red ukulele
Geo Trax trains



hat made by Lily and Emma

Gettin' Ready for Christmas

The Nutcracker




 Decorating "GingerBread"  Houses

Christian's House
Little C worked so hard on his house.  But it eventually collapsed do to the weight.

our friends and neighbors
Cameron's house
more friends and neighbors
Ready for church






Thursday, December 26, 2013

November Happenings

Veteran's Day Parade





The Lion King


Happy Apple Preschool Thanksgiving Performance


 Kyrene Del Norte Turkey Trot