Friday, May 2, 2014

LEGOLAND

Everyone always talks about how fun LEGOLAND is.  But also, that you have to go when your kids are the right ages.  Not too young, not too old.  So, I figured 8,6 and 4 would be the perfect ages for our kids.  When I told Chuck I wanted to go to LEGOLAND, he said something to the affect of "No way.  Count me out."  As I've mentioned a time or two, Chuck believes that we have 6 kids.  The 3 devils that exists when their mom is around; that's me.  And the 3 angles that exist when their dad is around; that's Chuck.  So when he said, "No way."  I said, "Listen, we are going to have miserable family vacations just like everyone else!"  So, because Daddy always does what Mommy tells him to, as the kids would say, Chuck planned a short trip to LEGOLAND.  And to our AMAZEMENT, we had an absolutely amazing time.  For some reason, it was the three angles who decided to show up even though their mom was there.  We left on a Thursday morning and drove to Carlsbad, CA.  The kids watched movies (which included The Sound of Music which I think is weird for kids to like) in the car and did not fight one bit.  We checked into the hotel which was very nice with very nice employees.  We played in the pool and hot tub and walked to dinner.  Everyone slept great except for me.  I slept okay.  It was the occasional kangaroo kick from Hannah that kept waking me up.  After a impressive hotel breakfast, we headed to LEGOLAND.  We stayed from when the gates opened to when they closed.  We rode most everything, some more than once or twice.  The kids did not hesitate getting on anything.  They loved the rollercoasters although Christian was still a little too short for most of them.  The first 3 rides we went on, especially the third, had rather ridiculously long lines.  But after that, the lines weren't bad.  For the whole day, the kids did not ask to buy anything!  I encouraged them to play a game, but I chose one where they were guaranteed to win something.  They enjoyed that and wanted to play more games, but priced at around $6 a game, I only let them do the one.  Hannah did want to get her face painted, but at $13, I told her it wasn't the best use of her money.  The last ride of the day totally soaked us, so we headed back to the hotel and Chuck went out to get dinner.  Again, everyone slept great that night and I managed to get a bed to myself.  On Saturday, we had breakfast, packed up and headed to the Sea Life Aquarium which was incredibly cool.  We stayed about an hour and finished just in time for LEGOLAND to open.  We rode all the rides we hadn't done yet and some of the ones we had.  Then the kids insisted on going to the water park despite the clouds, low temperature and breeze.  Christian didn't make it too long before cuddling up in Chuck's lap and falling asleep.  Cameron and Hannah played for about an hour before I said it was time to go.  They did not put up in fuss.  I think they were too cold to.  We made our last stop the gift shop where I let the kids buy something.  Christian found something right away, a lego set.  Cameron took a little longer but finally settled on a lego play mat and Hannah had our only fit of the trip when I encouraged her (but did not forbid) her to buy a stuffed dog.  I told her that I imagined her buying something that would represent LEGOLAND.  Not a stuffed do when we already have so many stuffed animals.  She unhappily settled on a shirt that said LEGOLAND.  We grabbed some lunch and headed home.  Again, the kids watched movies on the way home, which included The King and I (wierdos).  We got home late, so they did fall asleep for the last hour or so.  Chuck and I never imagined we'd have such a pleasant time.  I am so glad we did it.











they weren't kidding when they said you'd get wet on this ride

this is why I don't like to sleep with H



A few Kodak moments to share

shopping at Trader Joe's - wearing a ninja turtle mask

sisters

brothers

this is what happens when someone is begging mom to play with them while she's cooking dinner
 

San Tan Racing's Newest and Youngest Member

Cameron thought he'd have to wait another year to start racing, but this year the racing age was lowered to 9, so once we found this out, he started racing.  And of course, he got a new racing bike. His bike was not ordered until Tuesday and we did not think it would be delivered by the race on Saturday.  But at 8:30pm, there was a knock on the door.  It was UPS.   So, Daddy got to stay up late to put it together and C got a surprise in the morning.  He was able to race 2 criteriums before the end of the season.
 

1st place
(there wasn't much competition)


3rd place
(as you can see the competition was a little older)

a chocolate cake for 3rd place
 

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.