Spring Break

So I've been trying for 2 days to post my pictures, I'll have to do it when I get back I guess. The kids and I are in Tahoe for spring break - we took ski lessons - mine was a bust, but the kids had a great time! Mike had to stay behind to work and train.

We arrived Monday after having a fun Easter - the Smiths came over for our annual egg hunt, luckily Linda's pictures I see made it on the blog.

My mom arrived on Saturday and she came up here with us - which is really fun - she's been hanging out with Lucas so I can take the kids on their ski trips - but keep in mind - I'm NOT a skier. However I must say that it was a little like riding a bike, I remembered much more than I thought I would and didn't fall - tomorrow is our next day to go - on our own - I fully anticipate falling....

I have a great connection to the internet luckily but must be too slow to get the pictures downloaded - oh well. I had wanted to do the fun SPt this week as well but that's okay.

We saw Horton Hears a Who today - it was so cute! I took Tyler & Chandler ice skating as well. Luckily my mom already got to visit the casinos and I took her to a couple quilt shops. I like this location because there is a little bit for everyone. We're staying at Heavenly Village at the Marriott, I highly recommend it as it really has everything!

Well, enough ramblings for now, but I wanted to let you know I was still breathing.......

Science Fair & SPT

Need I say more?


The boys both wanted to do science projects this year...very fun, but always so time consuming. Last weekend was Chandler's Destination Imagination competition - it was FANTASTIC! We've never done it before and it was so fun, so very creative, and it amazes me how creative the kids are and what great problem solvers they all are.

Ian lost 2 teeth yesterday! One in the AM, which I was awaken by "MOM! I JUST LOST MY TOOTH" at o'dark thirty. The second one was after school when I gave my kid a so nutritious snack in the car (well a cracker, it could have been worse!) so the Tooth Fairy left $5. He looks so funny now - he has 3 spaces, 2 front teeth missing and one bottom tooth.

We had a tragedy in our ward this week as well. It's been horrible. One of the RS teachers in our ward, a super choice woman - she was a professor at Cal State Hayward - she and her husband were found brutally beaten to death in their home. They lived in a semi-reclusive area of a country club - they weren't found for a week - others have speculated, but not one person in our ward tried to guess anything, I was really impressed with that. The woman was stellar - we never met her husband because he wasn't a member, or if he was he never came - but I got the sense her daughter is, not sure about her son. She was only 57 years old. Her kids are grown with families of their own - how do you tell your kids? Their daughter lives in Utah and couldn't get hold of her parents so made phone calls and had people check on them - that's how they were found.

Kiss your babies tonight and call your parents to check on them!


SPT - "Your feet will take you to where your heart is"....



Well I think in my case today.......




it was more my stomach than my heart!

Day by Day

Just doing our thing - our weekends go very fast and don't slow down until Wednesday, then pick up again the next Friday.....that seems to be our pattern lately.

Friday my good friend Grace came over for lunch - I've blogged about her before - I always have fun when I'm with her -

Saturday I had my stamp camp - it's always so much work, but I always have a good time when I'm there. I was considering stopping, but I can't do the next one anyway so maybe that is just the break I need. We had our Chili Cook-off for the YM/YW fundraiser for camp - we spend $45 for a loaf of bread from the ward bread maker - it was very yummy I told the kids to eat EVERY CRUMB!

Sundays are Sundays - need I say more?

Monday - It's kind of a blur now, I can't even remember

Tuesday - I had Bunco at my house - it's always nice to have friends over

Today - just speech, Dr's appointment & costco - I got one of those Jabra Bluetooth speakerphones for the car....getting ready for the Handsfree Law to kick in I think in July! Yikes

I didn't get a chance to SPT, it was such an easy one too - maybe I'll still try SPT (Thursday!).....

Roller Coaster

I think I've mentioned this before - but I have one kid that would drive me to drink. In the mornings he's a pill - today it was about the waffles - I only have a toaster with 2 slots, I know very sad for a family with 4 kids - I don't wake up at dawn to make them fresh homemade waffles anymore (bad mom) so he comes down first, which is great, makes his waffles, but then proceeds to monopolize the toaster from everyone else - instead of make 2, put 2 in, let someone else eat them, put 2 more in......he usually wakes up whining, usually when he comes into the car or comes home after school he's already whining about not eating enough at lunch, "what's for dinner?" eeeeewwwww, and whines at night.

Last night I had a sitter for an hour, 1 HOUR, Tyler and I had to go to church for New Beginnings - he calls me - "I don't know if I have to used lined paper for my homework".....hellooooooo??? How in the world would I know? I wasn't in his class today! Last week during my 41 mile bike ride he called me, "When do I have practice?" - did you look at the color coded spreadsheet I left out for the babysitter??!!!

This is also the kid however who is the most loving, best manners, rule follower and very nice to people - so why does he constantly grate on my nerves?? I know it could be the middle child syndrome, he needs more attention, but helloooooo - there are 4 kids, the other "middle" isn't like that so I just need him to deal with it. I love him, but he drives me batty - I guess there is always ONE.

My girl friend suggested taking away a toy or video time when he whines, maybe I'll try that one...heaven help the girl he marries, or the companion he has as a missionary - but hopefully he'll out grow it by his next birthday (yeah right)....a mom can always wish...any other advice?

SPT - EXTRA!

This week's SPT made me stop and think - I'm kind of an open book, no surprises here - but then when I got dressed, it came to me - literally - here's something a little "Extra" about me......

I ALWAYS find cash - today it was in my pocket - yuck, I know, didn't wash my pants I guess last time! Today it was $30. Kind of a funny thing to notice about yourself - however - I always find money in pockets, drawers, the washer, in the car, and Linda will testify, I used to call her after I found cash - but it became too frequent an occurrence - but it's not normally much, $5 or $10 bucks - but hey, it sure makes my day! Guess I should just do a better job checking my pockets after I change my clothes!!

Got in a short 2.5 miles on the treadmill today - then Ian came home "sick" - I just think he's allergic to Mondays since we haven't had school on them for the last few weeks!

My Week

Just to give you an idea why I haven't been spending much blogging time....here's in a nutshell what we've been doing this week....I know I'm just writing about things you all do on a daily basis too!

Last weekend & Monday - Skiing in Tahoe, 2 ER visits (all non-ski related), 3 pharmacy visits, lots and lots of snow

Tuesday - Carpool, Preschool, ceramics, swim, Dr's appointment, cub scouts, piano, dance, basketball, tri-training (mike), yearbook project, girl scout bronze project

Wednesday - Speech, Read Across America day, babysit, carpool, baseball, dance, YW, Bunco, tri-training (mike)

Thursday - Preschool, Carpool, cleaners, Mac Class, DI, baseball, dance, meal prep group, tri training (mike)

Friday - Whew, I went swimming! Birthday shopping, Disco Bingo Night, 6th Grade dance, bday party

Saturday - 6am - 41 mile bicycle ride, Mike tri-training, 7am babysitter, 7am - Dance convention, 9am DI, 10AM baseball, 12 pm Basketball, 12pm baseball, dance convention, 4pm birthday party

Today - choir, dance convention, Lucas throws up right before going to church................

I guess my lists don't include homework, grocery shopping, cooking, laundry......I just know when we're old I'm going to be soooooo bored! :)