Busy

Life is messing with my ability to blog much. So to recap:
Rachel had a week of birthday festivities that included me buying her too much stuff. For her party we took 8 of her BFF's to see Letters to Juliet.

Everyone graduated from their respective classes with high marks. Paul and I did the rounds at dance festivals and graduation ceremonies...

Jake refused to be in the pic., but he did a great job dancing.

Rachel with her awesome 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Leinwebber, and Kiera (BFF) at graduation.

Eliza sandwich

Look how well we all get along, it only cost me a dollar a piece to get them to pose! Bargain.

Great summer recital, thanks Melanie! Gavin and Rachel did really well individually and on their duet.
Paul had a week long meeting in Chicago and I got to fly out and join him for the weekend. I know my hair looks great--Windy City. Paul had to go to meetings during the day so I got to go to the Art Institute of Chicago and see some of my all time favorite paintings in real life. I almost started crying in the Degas room--it was amazing.

Thanks to Bonnie and Grandma K. for the wonderful childcare.

Jake turned 6 on the 14th and had his first friend b-day party. I know, poor kid, but we tried to make up for 5 years of slacking with this "uber party." 12 friends, tons of presents and a huge waterslide--we hope this lasts him for the next 6 years!
I warned you that this was a long post, but if anyone is still reading here is the last bit of news: After 7 years we bid a fond farewell to the minivan
and hello Tahoe! We are all really excited to have a new car. All of the kids have their own individual chair, so no icky touching, Yeah! Don't tell my mom but Paul and I skipped Sunday School today to go joy riding--since the kids were all in their classes it really was a joy. If you think this was a long post, just imagine how long it would have been if I had remembered my camera for swimming lessons, coach pitch, and Cowabunga Bay!

The Best Day of My Life

12 years ago today I was in St. Joseph's Hospital in Stockton, California watching The Price is Right (with Bob Barker) and waiting for the arrival of my very first baby. I had been waiting for her for 40 weeks and two days, well, seven years, 40 weeks and 2 days, and I was just about to meet the sweetest, most beautiful girl, I would ever know. Needless to say I was pretty excited, and she didn't disappoint. In fact, she was much MORE wonderful than I had ever imagined. Eight pounds and five ounces of pure joy. I don't think I slept a wink that night looking at this amazing little person. I was completely smitten. My whole world revolved around this curly-headed, blue eyed, princess (her dad felt the same way, but this is my story). The last twelve years have gone much too fast, and even though I told her not to get any bigger when she was four, it's one of the few times that she has disobeyed. Sunday was the last Mother's Day that she will sing to me with the Primary. Even though she isn't my tiny baby anymore she gets more wonderful with every passing year. I love you Rachie Pickens and hope you have a great birthday!!










P.S. Happy Anniversary Kip and Lindsay! That was a good day too!

Renaissance Fair

The sixth grade at Barratt Elementary put on a great Renaissance Fair. Rachel and her friends Courtney, Kiera, and ??????? (her name escapes me at the moment) were in charge of the Apothacary Shop. They were really excited to make 400 items to sell. Rachel wanted us to make cake pops on tongue depressors. She wrote, "Say Ahh...", and "open wide" on all the sticks and they turned out really cute, and tasty :) Luckily she was able to borrow a dress from her friend Natalie so we didn't have to buy or rent one, and she looked really cute. She has a part in The Tempest next month with her class so she will be able to wear the same costume. I love it when I don't have to sew. Thanks to my awesome neighbor Shannon for the pics.

A Looong Spring Break

Ben and Brig turned 7 on April 2nd to kick off our Spring Break festivities.
Paul had appointments in Arizona on the 6th and 7th so we all decided to go along and enjoy the great weather and the great pools at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort.

We packed up the van and tried to leave after the first session of conference on Sat, but our check engine light came on and our gas gauge broke 1.5 miles from home; we went back home disappointed. Luckily a wonderful neighbor who is a mechanic came over and pronounced our car trip worthy so we finally got on the road about 5 hours later. We made it to Kanab the first night and the next day (Easter Sunday breakfast at Houston's) took this great pic right on the edge of the Grand Canyon as we entered Arizona.
We loved our three days of swimming and ordering food by the pool, but when Wednesday rolled around we decided we weren't quite ready to say sayonara to spring break. Did you know it is only 5 hours from Phoenix to Disneyland? Paul worked while I drove 5 of the most boring hours of I-10 imaginable. (There is only so much desert landscape you can look at before you want to drive the car off the road into a giant cactus.)But we pressed forward, just like pioneers,(except with a car, lots of food, dvd players, and everyones personal gaming device, but other than that just like pioneers)and made it to our hotel across the street from Disneyland about 7pm. When we got to the ticket counter the next morning we decided that no less than 3-day park hoppers would do. (Paul HAD to be home Sunday because he had an early flight to New Jersey Monday morning.) Disneyland highlights:

Jake complained about everything, but mostly the long lines at Toy Story Mania (Where I still remain the uncontested champion!)

Brig's cotton candy beard.

Ben's Richard Nixon impersonation in the Tower of Terror

Rachel's look of abject boredom having to accompany Jake on the Bug's Life bumper cars. (How can we ask so much of one so young? It's a cruel, cruel world.)

My favorite picture on Splash Mountain. We got to the park right as it opened on Friday, and got to go on the ride 3 times in a row without getting off! (We are a simple family, with simple needs.)

Paul looking ruggedly handsome in Brig's Goofy pirate hat, aargh!
By the third day at Disneyland the kids were actually begging to go back to the hotel and rest. One older couple who heard them, remarked that they had never heard children cry to leave the happiest place on earth! Paul is the undisputed master of the FastPass, and valiantly forged a path for the rest of us to follow from ride to ride and food cart to food cart. Jake was tall enough for California Screamin' this trip so we went no less than 5 times a day. Paul drove the entire way home on Sunday in 8 1/2 hours, including 4 stops. We had a great time, but we are all full up on the togetherness thing for a while. I told Jake I was going to do a dance when he went to school the next day--and I did--then I went back to bed.

Ahh, Springtime!

Do I really need to say anything? Maybe just this:
Yes, they are using teddy bears as weapons!

Forty Smorty

It's just another birthday, nothing to get too worked up about. It's not like my mind and body are doomed to immediate failure, right? On the day of my birthday I went to take my pills in the morning like I always do, and as I stood there looking at the bottles I honestly couldn't remember whether I had already taken them or not. I decided to error on the side of caution and not take (retake?) them just in case. I remember thinking, "Wow, that's so weird. I think I took them, but I'm not sure. Oh well, missing one day won't hurt." I was pretty tired that afternoon, but chalked it up to all the birthday revelry. The next morning as I went to take my pills the EXACT same thing happened. I poured the pills into my hand and then had a very strong impression that I had already taken them, AHHHGG!! It's bad enough that I'm old enough to HAVE to take PILLS everyday, but to not even remember whether you have taken them or not??? I was wrong about 40. 40 isn't just another day. 40 is churlish. 40 won't be ignored. 40 says enjoy today because pretty soon you won't be able to remember how old you are anyway. I bought myself a belated birthday gift.

DIY

So I have been reading a lot of fun blogs lately about home improvement (our home would improve vastly if I would get off the computer and do the dishes!) My kids love to do art projects. The problem we have found is displaying everyones creations in a way that doesn't interfere with my need to have a clean refrigerator or no thumbtacks in the wall. Well after gasping at how expensive the cork boards were at Pottery Barn, I came up with this solution: my own giant (7x3) bulletin board in the little boys room. All I needed were cork tiles (Target), wood moulding and corner pieces (Home Depot), and construction adhesive. I painted one wall BYU blue first to make the white trim pop, and then just stuck the rest of the pieces up. I love it, and so do the boys. I had to hurry and take a picture before they totally covered it in pictures, but we were all happy with our little art display board. I think I'll paint the Living Room next!