Father's Day 2011

Any holiday, celebrated on a Sunday, when you have church at 9 am is difficult. But we did manage to fit in breakfast and presents before leaving.

The plethora of homemade cards and banners from the kids.

Eric loved each and every one.

I could not come up with anything to get Eric, but luckily on Saturday it came to me! Something he actually needed: A case for his cell phone. I was pretty proud of myself.

A Foot Ahead

 Um....Megan showed up at church last week wearing a pair of my shoes (Eric and I had to go early for a meeting, so she dressed herself and the other two). And then I noticed her wearing another pair of my shoes as we were leaving for downtown. I figured they must be big for her, but I was wrong. We now apparently wear the same size. A 5 1/2.

But I don't think she will be borrowing my shoes for long. She is sure to pass me in the next few months.

FYI: Did you happen to know that a kids 3 or 4 at Target and Payless is often bigger than a women's size 5 or 5 1/2? Strange phenomenon.

Summer - Week 1

Our first week at home has been somewhat of an adjustment. For Sadie that is. She is used to being Queen Bee around the house, and does not appreciate anyone else but her making decisions. Needless to say there has been an lot of high pitched 3 year old girl screaming. But we managed to sneak in a little fun.

We have kept up bike riding. One night when Eric was working late, the kids and I rode down to the Sev for Slurpee's.

On the way home we stopped at one of the picnic tables on the wash trail to drink/eat them. Then came the real excitement. While biking home (it was almost dark at this point), Sadie's bike carrier had a malfunction. It fell off my bike 8 times! Eric thinks it was user error, since it only happens while I am towing it, but I am sure it is NOT. We did FINALLY make it home, relatively unscathed.

We took an adventure downtown to watch the Volcano erupt at the Mirage.

A bit lackluster if I'm being honest.

We also went to the Venetian to watch the Gondolas.

And made wishes in this enormous fountain.

Sadie will say, "Dad make me your purse." And this is what happens:

We also did a bit of swimming:

Not pictured things to note:

I spent one awesome afternoon and evening at Girls Camp with my favorite teenagers.

Megan had her first PAID babysitting job at Eric's soccer game watching the children of some parents that play. And Erics team won!

Plus: MY LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER! Now that Megan is old enough to babysit it has meant freedom for me. Just this last week I went to the grocery store, the bank, and the post office ALL BY MYSELF. Like I said, life changing.

Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} what color best describes you + why?

I recently took a personality test, and my personality color was white. I was about 60% white, while Eric was about 95% white. Here is info. on a white personality. It describes Eric and I completely:

You are a WHITE personality. The Core Motivation that guides you through life is "Peace." This is not referring to a political agenda or the absence of war. It is, however, an absence of inner conflict, much closer to the idea of serenity, and an acceptance of oneself and others. You have a strong and compelling need to keep things in balance in your life so as to maintain an internal feeling of tranquility and comfort.

As a WHITE, you seek independence and require kindness, especially from those with whom you are in a relationship. You resist confrontation at all costs. (To you, feeling good internally is even more important than being good.) You are quiet by nature, process things very deeply and objectively with great clarity. Of all the colors, WHITES are the best listeners. You respect people who are direct but recoil from perceived hostility or verbal battle.

You need your "alone time" and refuse to be controlled by others. WHITES want to do things their own way and in their own time. They ask little of others and resent others demanding much of them. You are probably much stronger than people think, but are not often seen for your strength because you don't easily reveal your feelings.

{two} how have you changed in the past year?

I am more compassionate and although I have always lived by the mantra, "Never Say Never", it has become even stronger for me this past year.

{three} have you ever had any surgeries?

Yes. Tonsils, D & C, and breast lump removal.

{four} why did you start your blog?

To remember my kids early years. I so wish I had this type of documentation when Megan and Jackson were babies.

{five} what are you looking forward to this summer?

Having fun! We have a few trips planned that I am excited about.

{six} do you have any family traditions for the 4th of July?

None. This year I would love to go somewhere out of town, but am not sure that will happen.

{seven} what’s something new that you’ve tried in the past few months?

I have taken up Diet Coke with Lime in an effort to give up Dr. Pepper, and it has worked! Not only that but I have lost weight.

{eight} what is the perfect a/c temperature?

I like it at about 79 degrees.

{nine} what was the last movie you saw in the theater?

Kung Fu Panda 2. I found it a bit boring, and sometimes found my thoughts drifting.

{ten} what song do you think everyone should hear at least once?

I have no idea. Music is such a personal choice. Right now the songs I can listen to over and over are "Twenty-One"  by Phil Vassar, and "I Wanna Learn A Love Song", by Harry Chapin.

12 X 12 - June 2011

My Sunday morning started off very early by my standards. 6 am! I really dislike getting up early, but both Eric and I had to be at a meeting at 7:30, so I had little choice in the matter.

I always sit on the floor and read while blow-drying my hair in the mornings. FYI: I also read while brushing my teeth.

All ready to go.

After church Eric had another meeting! And since his truck was in the shop again!, we were down to one car and had to wait for him.

Sade's giving me a kiss.

Eric made lunch and then had to run out for a job. Incidentally he made 4 different kinds of sandwiches. Eric and I had tuna, Megan had ham & cheese, Sadie had bologna & cheese, and Jackson had peanut butter  jelly. He's a good man. 

While he was gone I put the kids and I to work. Megan and Jackson both thoroughly enjoy cleaning the bathroom. If only they thoroughly enjoyed cleaning their rooms!

After cleaning a bit, we headed out to the backyard to get some sun.

And play in the water.

Eli and Rachael came later that afternoon bearing gifts of hand-me-down clothes, cleaning supplies and hangers. Woot-Woot!

Luckily Eric made it home in time for dinner. Every. Single. Night. Jackson acts like we are poisoning him. Megan has finally learned to eat without complaint, and Sadie eats more that the other two combined.

After dinner we went for a bike ride. We have been going for a lot of bike rides lately, often on the trail by the wash. The other day there was a homeless, extremely drunk man, sprawled across the trail. I was worried he was post-mortem, but Eric checked him out and he was just sleeping. On our way back he was sitting up laughing hysterically to himself, and had thrown-up everywhere. It was quite the experience. What I found to be the strangest aspect of the story is that I found out my children call homeless people hobo's. Who knew?

While biking we often find Sadie like this. She doesn't really like to sit, so she stands and rides.

Summer List

Here is a list of some of the out of the house activities we have planned this summer. I am thinking of trying to do one or two a week. Some will be during the day, and some we will be taking advantage of late summer bedtimes, and will wait for Eric to get home. I have talked with a couple of people about joining us on these field trips and plan on sending out an e-mail letting everyone know what we have planned that week. Let me know if you want to be included. I am completely flexible to what days and times we go, since I don't have kids that take naps anymore. Woo-Hoo! Anyway......To the list.

Preface: If you have a 2011 Entertainment Book you can find coupons in it for a lot of things I have planned.

1. Children's Museum: Adults $9.50, Children $8.50. Coupon: $2 off/good for 4 people

2. Atomic Testing Museum; $9.00/Adult-Nevada Resident, Children $9.00 (6 and under free); Coupon: Buy one admission get one free. This means that for me and the kids to go it will only cost us $9.00.

3. Lost City Museum in Moapa; Open Thursday - Sunday. $5/Adults, Children under 18 are free. Coupon: Buy one admission get one free.

4. Clark County Heritage Museum; Adults $2.00, Children $1.00; Coupon: Buy one admission get one free.

5. CSN Planetarium; $6.00/Adult, $4.00 Kids; Shows Friday and Saturday nights; Buy one admission get one free.

6. I would like to take a trip out to Lake Mead one day and bring a picnic lunch. Lake Mead yearly pass: $30/Vehicle. Daily pass $10/Vehicle.

7. Fishing at Lake Mead.

8. The Grove at Mt. Charleston. Picnic Lunch.

9. Go to the movies. If you go on one of your kids birthdays (I have 2 in July) there is a coupon in the Entertainment Book for a free movie on your birthday. Just bring your drivers license, or your kids birth certificate.

10. Bowling: I haven't researched it yet, but I know there a few really cheap bowling places for kids.

11. Roller Skating: Crystal Palace Here We Come!

12. Ice Skating: The Legacy Longhorns discount card has an offer of buy one admission/get one free at the Fiesta Rancho Ice Arena.

13. 51's Baseball Game. At Smith's they have Kraft Cheese Singles packs that have buy one get one free Minor League Baseball tickets on them. I have purchased 3 packs! Tickets to 51's games are $10.

14. Visit the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio.

15. Watch the volcano erupt at the Mirage.

16. Go to the Drive-In movie theater.

17. Visit Primm to ride the rides. During June if you visit Primm Monday-Friday and show your Nevada I.D. everyone in your party rides for free. For my family this is a $130.00 savings!

18. Flip-n-Out

19. Legoland: FREE! (for my family due to my winning streak)

20. Camping: Probably only overnight, if we are lucky. We will have to wait and see if Eric can find the time.

21. Fremont Street: Already completed, and tons of fun.

I also have a few other things planned like tie-dyeing shirts, trips to the library, learning to sew, learning to cook, play-dates, etc.........

Let me know if you want to come with me. The more the merrier!

Summer Of Fun - Fremont Street

I have declared this to be "The Summer Of Fun." We have made a list of a bunch of places to visit, and hope to tackle most of them. Let me know if you want to join! I am hoping to do at least one excursion a week. And all of you with pools, if you would organize pool days I would be grateful. And in return you can come to my house and jump on the trampoline with the sprinklers. Ok?

So for our first excursion I chose Fremont Street. We have not been in a few years, and Jackson and Sadie couldn't remember ever going there.

First we watched the light show:

It was a little loud for Sadie at first.

After it ended I noticed that the first concert of the night was starting just a couple of minutes later, so we high-tailed it to the stage, and were able to get right up front.

The entire show was based around music from the 80's. It was great.

It took Megan and Jackson about 30 minutes to get into it. But when they did, they were dancing and singing with the rest of us.

Sade loved it from the beginning.

Black Spider Man was really feeling the music.

After the show we picked up some beads:

Eric and Sade dancing on the sidewalk:

Now prepare yourself. I have saved the best picture for last.

That's right! Bret and I finally met. Unfortunately Pee-Wee had to sneak in on the picture, and slightly defile it.