Weekend Update

This has been one of the longest weeks ever. At least it's felt that way. Not in a bad way or anything, but it feels like we've been here a lot longer than a week. We've established a daily routine,  park/errands in the morning, lunch/naps, then off to the rec center for swimming and water slides in the afternoon. It's a tough life we lead. We've also been introducing the kids to movies from our childhood in the evenings. So far Jumanji and Hook have been big hits.

 This weekend we drove up to Telluride for the day and it was lovely.  I rolled the window down to snap some pictures of the scenery and the kids did not know what to do with the cold air that came in. "Why is it cold!?!?!"  Being from Bako, if the sun is shinning it's hot. They could not understand why the mountain air was so chilly. It was cool enough for us Californians to wear sweat jackets all day, which was worth the drive in itself.

 So we parked at Mountain Village and rode the gondola in to Telluride. It covered several miles and the kids thought that was the reason for the drive. Peter doesn't care for posing for pictures.

 Once we got in to town we walked to the museum where the kids got to pan for "gemstones" and "fossils". They loved finding treasures. There was a cool mining exhibit that we played in for a while.

Then we hit the park for some lunch and playground time.

It was such a pretty little town. We rode the gondola back and stopped midway at the nature center, which was a total bust, but the kids were wiped out anyway so we headed home.
Sunday we went to church in a ward that was 90% old people. They had a tiny little primary, and I think it was the outlier ward. Like full of people who live 20-30 minutes out of town. So next week we'll try a different building and hopefully find some kids to play with and teenagers to babysit for us.
Week one down, weekend adventure accomplished!

Let the Adventure Begin

Life got crazy around our house about two weeks ago when Thad came home saying that he would be working on Cortez Colorado for the summer, and we could go with him if we wanted. Um, of course we wanted to. Not that I had any burning desire to see Cortez, but more that I didn't want to spend the entire summer as a single parent. His company offered to rent us a place to stay(including furniture) so we didn't have to move an entire house for the summer. So Thad left for Cortez while I packed up the things we would be bringing and a couple weeks later we are here. As we were deciding if/when the family should go I was torn between a new summer adventure, and leaving our callings and friends and summer traditions at home. It was a harder decision than I thought. So far it's been great. The kids did amazing on the 12.5 hour drive, no meltdowns or fighting or anything. That might be in part to the bigger car the company rented for us, and a little to do with the tablet we bought so they could watch a few shows on the drive. But they really only watched for 2 hours of the 12, and I'm still amazed at how smoothly it went.

Peter chewed on his toes a good portion of the trip, which was weird.

Andi and the Utah (where she was born) sign at four corners.

Cortez is tiny, like 8,500 people tiny, and our little townhouse has no yard. But, there is a huge park and rec center across the street with an indoor water park. We've been everyday. The air here is clear, like you can see through it all the way to the mountains 50 miles away, and the kids haven't coughed or sniffled since we got here. If you live in Bakersfield, you know both of those things are completely novel. The weather is lovely, and we are looking forward to touristy weekend adventures instead of house projects.Adventures and pictures to follow.

The night before we left I was able to dance in one last recital. I know that sounds crazy. Andi didn't dance this year, but the studio put on a tribute for Cathy Correa, and I have been going to dance class for the last couple months learning a couple "secret" dances for the show. It was so much fun to be backstage with the dance girls again, and to actually be on stage with Cathy. Cathy even planned her own surprise dance that we were learning backstage during the show. It was perfect! I have missed that more than I thought, and dancing and Cathy will always hold a special place in my heart. I was having so much fun I didn't think to take pictures, so I stole  these from facebook.

Rap-Tap - originally done in 2002

One singular sensation- Cathy's signature song.

Camping & Memorial Day

Thad & Sammy went on their annual Father & Sons camp-out a few weekends ago with our ward and Sammy had a blast. He was packed and ready to go at 8:30 am, and when he realized Thad had gone to work was ticked. He was not happy that he had to wait till Daddy got home to go camping. Here he is with a few of his buddies.

And the salamander he caught. The first thing he said when he got home was "Mom, there were lot's of salamanders and Aaron caught 15! I only caught one." (grumpy face)

They even got to explore a cave or two on their hike.

Sammy looks forward to this campout every year. I kind of feel guilty that we don't take the kids camping, but then I watch Peter in the backyard for 5 minutes and remember why we don't. When he's a little older and aware of danger/hazards we'll give it a try.
Last weekend we had our usual memorial day festivities. Sammy has finally outgrown his need to take all the flags from the headstones, but he has passed that need down to Peter.

Then we went to G & G Richards for food and swimming. It was a pretty small gathering with no Morgan cousins in attendance, but we still had a good time. Come back from China Ben & Kir!

Peter commandeered the raft for the afternoon. 

You know it was a successful day when this happens on the way home.

Then after dinner we went swimming again at our neighbors, you know, to make sure the kids were completely exhausted. Peter loves their water fall.

We also drug the shaved ice machine around with us that day. As much as I made fun of Thad for buying it, I think it has been well worth it.

Peter has started a new game in the evenings. If Thad is sitting on the ground Peter climbs him. He's pretty sure Thad is a jungle gym.

Today is the last day of school. Hallelujah!

Almost summer fun

Oh the time is just flying by. But we've been having fun the last few weeks. Tenille & family came to visit for a few days, and though I have no pictures of the visit, I just loved how well the boys play together. Poor Sammy is usually so outnumbered by girls when the family is together that he loved having dude time. Even Peter & Everette play nicely.
Then I threw a lovely baby shower for my dear friend Callie. I was fairly certain Callie was never having children, so when I found out she was expecting I immediately called dibs on this once in a lifetime opportunity to throw her a shower. It was so fun to plan. I made a new set of pennants for the pergola.

And some table runners out of the same fabric. But my favorite part were these blocks I made for the tables. Cute quote on one side, ultrasound picture on the other. Each table has a different quote and those mini pennant banners over the blocks.

It was fun to see people I haven't in a while and eat yummy shower food. But Thad has now banned me from throwing any more showers or parties for the next two years. We'll see about that. Can't wait to meet Bentley!

Peter has been up to his usual shenanigans. We had to strap all the bar stools together so he couldn't push them around the house and get to things he isn't supposed to. Like the disposal switch, and microwave buttons. But he can still climb on to the counter.

He has also taken things up a notch outside, wheeling his car around to give himself a boost. 

He loves the pogo stick. He obviously can't make it work by himself yet, but loves to bounce when helped.

 And he likes to help with every project. Especially the painting ones.

Andi and Sammy learned a new trick as well. Thad thought if he let them get up there they'd get scarred and decide not to do it again. That might not have been the case.

Other than that it's getting hot and we are all counting down the days till schools out. Happy almost summer.

Chickens & Fun

We've been busy with new things the last couple of weeks. The biggest new things would have to be the chickens. Thad has been talking for a little while about getting chickens, and I'm never quite sure how serious he is about these things. But I finally agreed and two days later amazon delivered our chicken coup. Yes, Amazon again. And a few days later Thad found someone on craigslist selling chickens and viola, we now have chickens. The kids love them, and have named them Bellina and Henrietta. Bellina is Andi's chicken and is a bossy fat food hog, but her love of food means she will basically come sit in our lap if you have anything to share. Henriette, or Henry for short is Sammy's chicken and while she is a little more stand offish, she's very mellow.

Of course I had to paint the coup.

First egg! It was very exciting. Even more exciting when we used it and they saw that it looked like a normal egg on the inside too. Once the chickens got settled in to their new home they started laying an egg everyday, so we get two a day now.

Andi went to horse camp the first few days of spring break and absolutely loved it. She learned how to ride, how to take care of, and all about different types of horses. Of course she wants a horse now more than ever, but the chickens will have to do. I don't have many pictures from the week because they had already washed down their horses by the time I got there to pick her up. But here are the few I do have.

She was so enamored with this horse she couldn't even be bothered to look at the camera for a picture.

Peter has developed a bad habit. This really happens daily, and I think maybe I just need to leave his meals up here and he'll just help himself.

Also we've started calling him mowgli. This caveman squat is ridiculous.

And he got another hair cut. His hair grows so fast, he's been so sweaty already and it's only April. The happy before. . . 

Traumatized after.

Easter was  a lovely day. We had our egg hunt before church, and while peter didn't really get what was going on, he was super happy to be running around the backyard before breakfast or getting dressed.

 Hunting

 Spoils

What do I do with these?

Once he discovered the candy inside he was all about the eggs.
 

Then we got them all cute in matchy outfits for church and didn't take a picture. And then we went to church where I spoke, which is more intimidating on a holiday when there are all kinds of visitors or a packed room. Then we had both my family and Thad's family over for Easter dinner, an egg hunt, and birthday celebration for my mom who's birthday was Saturday. We know how to multitask. And after all the food and birthday cake and Easter candy, we topped it all off with snow cones and may have developed diabetes along the way. Also, didn't take pictures of any of that either. Awesome.