SpRiNg BrEaK

                          

For Spring Break Spencer and I decided to take the kids to the zoo.

Before we headed for the zoo we had lunch at Chuckarama. This is still my favorite place to have lunch at specially when I am preganant and it has become the kid’s favorite place too.
They were all so fascinated to see the trains go by from the window inside the restaurant. They screamed and yelled everytime one would go by.

The weather that day was a little bit on the cold side but it was still pretty good.
When we got to the zoo all the kids could think of was riding on the train but we left that for the very last.

Walking through the zoo it felt like there were only monkeys since most of the animal habitats were under construction; there were no zebras or bears to look at this time around, but we still managed to see lots of other cute animals.
The baby elephant has grown a lot since last year and Julia and I were in front row to see this cute baby monkey. The mama came right to where we were standing

The kids loved walking hand on hand from exhibit to exhibit and finding new animals to look at. Andrew was really getting the attention of some of the monkeys.

After we saw all the animals we headed over to the playground. The kids had lots of fun going down the slides and playing with the other toys.

Their favorite toy was this big teeter-totter. It got lots of laughs from my kids who wanted to ride it over and over. Julia had to try the monkey bars the entire time we were there; Determination is something this girl does not lack.

Andrew was fearless to anything like usual. He tried the huge snake slide (Joshua has barely managed to get enough courage to go on it). It was funny to see him single out this slide and just run for it after he figured it out where to climb it from. He climbed that fort by himself and went down head first

And of course we had to try the train. They were truly excited about this, could hardly stand in line waiting for their turn. They loved going through the tunnel and I loved hearing the conductor’s comment regarding the invisible animals that were supposed to be in some of the cages (invisible because the cages were empty)

Ok I’d better get caught up with my blog before Josh’s birthday or I’ll be way behind.
Here we go back to March 18th. How could you describe the best day of your life, you simply can’t.

On Saturday we made Spencer’s favorite meal: Spaghetti and Meatballs and the kids insisted we get daddy’s favorite drink which is root beer.

Sunday, his actual birthday, we spent it with family. His mom cooked roast beef for him.

The Monday after his birthday Spencer decided to take us out for dinner for our Anniversary and his birthday. He called at 4 and asked me if I had started dinner yet which I hadn’t and 30 minutes later we were meeting him at Olive Garden.

We couldn’t have asked for a better evening. We usually talk about the kids when we are alone but it was so good to have them there with us and laugh about some of their comments. They were all so well-behaved even Andrew who was silly and friendly to all the waiters that came by him. We came home extremely happy; there is no better reward in parenting than the knowledge that perhaps you are doing a good job with your kids

The more Spencer and I reminisce at the way we met the more special it becomes. Everything was just timed perfectly. He only had 6 months left of his mission, I found the Church, My aunt willingness to invite the missionaries over and hear them.

It still blows my mind that out of all the places where he could have served his mission he was sent to NYC and to BedStuy non the less.

He says he knew who I was from the first time we met, sadly I didn’t feel the same way, although I do remember looking at his eyes and thinking to myself how cute they were.

Our best topic of conversation throughout these 9 years of marriage is recalling the night that we met in a corner in Myrtle Ave. We remember every single detail of that day even me, as if my brain knew that that day was meant to be special.

It was 7:00 pm, it was freezing cold. He had his big blue coat on and his hands were on his pocket which made him look kind of sweet and child like. (He never took them of his pockets except to give me the missionary hi-5 which I had learned from Elder Tyler Mickelsen). I was wearing my big long ugly but warm blue coat and my glasses. I had 3 minutes to catch the bus to my aunt’s house and I wanted to avoid at all cost talking to Elder Russell Tomlinson (he always talked about his sheep…only his sheep) but I had to be nice and ended up staying on that corner talking to him for 20 minutes. Spencer approached us. His cheeks and nose were bright red which drew my attention straight to his eyes. He tells me that my cheeks were red too, I am sure of it since I stood in that corner for the longest time.

Spencer introduced himself and I realized he had been the Elder hitting my cousin with a pillow a week before. We smiled at each other for the first time and then it got too cold to keep talking.

Now here We are, 10 years after that wonderful night and 9 years after we got sealed in the temple, 3 ½ kids and thousands of memories of our family and keeping them all as the biggest treasure that we will ever get.

I have loved every second of our journey together so far. The ups and downs, the hard times and good times, all the memories that our kids have bestowed upon us and that will be with us forever. I can’t wait to see what forever has in store for us.

Happy Anniversary my Sweet husband

March recap

March was such an especial  but busy month for our little family. We had so many things going on so I’d better start from the beginning.

March 2nd.

I had all three kids playing downstairs in our newly finished basement. I was not having a good morning so I was resting on the couch. Suddenly a very overwhelming smell woke me up. When I asked the kids what they were doing down there I heard Julia say: “Josh is playing with my make-up” Since she doesn’t have any make-up I ran downstairs to find no other than 3 different pink fingernail polish spilled on our CARPET!. Josh’s pajamas were all pink. Josh then said to me: Julia was trying to paint my toenails mommy. GRRRR!. Let’s just say a bottle of nail polish remover and 4 hours after I was done getting the pink out of the carpet.

Can you see the guilty face…. Yeah they knew what was going on.

                                                     

Surprisingly Andrew, the one that is always causing all the messes around our house decided not to participate in this little adventure.

U of U Gymnastics

That same night we had arranged with my friend Deanna and her daughter Audrey to go to the U to watch the gymnastics team compete. It was a nice break after that crazy.

The competition was amazing. Julia was so impressed with all the tricks that these girls could do; I was impressed to see her talking about the different tricks and hearing her calling them by their name. She committed herself to try really hard at her tumbling class to get as good as the girls that she was watching.

We left home at 5:00 and we were back by 9:30. It wasn’t that late but Julia’s bedtime is usually at 7:00 so she was fast asleep by the time we made it home.

                        

March 5th
The boys decided to have a party in Julia’s room after she left for school. I sent them back to her room to pick up the mess that they had made everywhere and what did I find?.....These. I love my boys!

                                


March 8th
We had a Doctor appointment early that day to find out the gender of our little baby and decided to wait until Julia got home to tell all the kids. As I posted before Julia’s heart was broken the second she pulled out the blue cloths out of the gift bag. Here is the picture of Daniel that we took that day and a picture of Julia after the news. They are both priceless, wouldn’t you think.

March 9th
Fieldtrip to the Syracuse fire station

We got to go to the fire station this day. Josh was really excited about this field trip. Santa brought him a big fire truck for Christmas this year.

We watch a movie before we toured the station; little did I know they thought the movie was scary. I don’t think we had ever talked about what to do in case of a fire so the whole idea was stuck in their heads. Our next Family Home Evening we made sure we talked to them about our escape plan and reminded them how safe they were.

Andrew and Julia got to join Josh on his field trip. They were all so cute holding hands and watching out for each other. Andrew was very impressed although I don’t think he trusted the fireman after he put on his gear. The kids got to blow the horn on the fire engine and see the inside of the truck.

I really think Andrew found a lost love that day because ever since his favorite book is the Big Fire engine and he fights daily with Josh over his fire truck.

March 11th

I am really not good with holidays. But in honor of St. Patrick’s Day Spencer helped the kids make some cookies and we sprinkle them with green sugar. While Julia, Josh and I were working on the cookies, Andrew decided to have some time alone with daddy.

           

March 18th

We had a beautiful day this day. It was Spencer’s birthday and our 9 year anniversary. How fast does time go? I can still remember the night before my wedding how nervous I was and the fact that I got a total of 3 hours of sleep.

This year this special date landed on a Sunday so there was not much that we could do, but luckily we had my niece’s birthday party schedule for the same day. Spencer’s mom made roast beef especially for Spencer that Sunday. I could keep going but I am going to have to do a separate blog about this special day

                                            

March 24th

The Tinkerbelle’s soccer season started again on Saturday. Julia was so excited to get out to the field and start scoring some goals. That was until all the girls realized what a long winter they had had. After 30 minutes of practice they were pretty much done running. Julia gave it her best though. Even though it looked like her heart was going to come out of her chest at any minute she managed to score two goals that day.

We called one the Super goal because she scored it right from the middle field. Spencer and I watch the ball as it went slowly but surely into the net. I was so happy that I took a picture of her kick right as she hit the ball.

She was so proud of herself and the great effort she put on that day. Hooray for the soccer season!, now we have something fun to do besides chores on Saturdays.

March 27th

Yet another field trip for the kiddos this month. This time the destination was the TREEHOUSE in Ogden.

Josh was excited for it and Julia had early out that entire week so it was just me and the boys.

I was kind of nervous at first about chasing after Andrew with my 5 month pregnant belly since they don’t allow strollers in this place but I had nothing to worry about, the kid was so good. I was very proud of the boys. They played with each other and they follow one another from place to place. They played together nicely. I must admit though that we spent the majority of our time at their train station. Thank goodness they had 4 train tables there enough for all the kids to share.

These are my favorite pictures:

                                            

They had a puppet show and the lady needed some helpers. I love Andrew’s hand raised up next to Joshes’ even though I am sure he has no idea what he was volunteering for.

My Andrew has the sweetest smile ever I am glad the camera was fast enough to capture it right here while he was playing peek-a-boo with me

This one just makes me smile. In the play kitchen Josh asked me to sit down at the table because he was going to bake me some cookies (takes after his daddy). He didn’t know Andrew would be the one tasting everything after he prepared it.

                                        

My cute firefighter, he put the hat on and rode that fire truck for a minute before Andrew decided it was time to move on

Josh was determined to bring this horse home. He kept saying:  ”Mommy Julia would love this daddy horsy”. He is always thinking about his sister.

 The boys were so good that after the Tree house I decided to go to Costa Vida for lunch. I just ordered one big burrito and we all shared it. I discovered that Josh doesn’t like Horchata; after two zips he told me mommy I really don’t like your drink and decided to have water instead.

On our way back to the car we stopped by Fat Cats and played on their playground trying to kill some time until it was time to pick Julia up from school. The kids had tons of fun mainly because we were the only ones there.

As we approached my car I discovered a little yellow note stuck to my windshield. First I thought it was a flyer but after closer inspection I realized that I had been given a ticket. My first ticket ever!  I was so mad if I had only decided to drive my car to Costa Vida instead of being a good sports and make the kids walk.  Such is life I guess.

March 31st

We went to Grandma James’s home for an Easter egg hunt. Even though we started getting ready with plenty of time somehow we managed to get there 5 minutes late. By the time we made it into the house the hunt was already over. They had so many eggs it would have been great for the kids to try to get some. As we were walking in one cute little girl notice that my kids had not gotten any eggs so she gave up hers and gave it to my kids. This was the sweetest thing ever. All my kids were excited to open each and every one of the eggs.

 After that we went to the cafeteria to greet the Easter bunny and to get some free doughnuts.  I don’t think Andrew like the Bunny but at least he didn’t scream like he did with Santa.

that same Saturday we had a soccer game and after we watched the Prpphet speak to us in Conference. The kids were such good listeners mainly because i had promised them a piece of candy if they could tell me what the President Monson talked about.

We were reminded by him in this conference the reason why we came to the earth and our purpose in life.

When I asked Julia she told me all this and then some, but when I asked Josh the same questions he said: “Mommy I told Heavenly Father that I missed my toys so much and that I wanted to come to this house to play so I came to your belly”.

There you have it folks great ending for a great month.