this and that

Although we had perfect weather the whole time we were in Ohio it rained the whole drive there and the whole drive back.  Despite the weather we had a pleasant drive back.  The kids travel well now, which is such a wonderful wonderful blessing.  Love it!  We got home kind of late, near 10, and quickly got the car unloaded and the kids into bed. 

Monday morning I got a call to sub.  I said yes, I normally do even if it's not convenient. I was in special ed all day, it's kind of tough in there.  All the students are little and autistic and it's even though they are so cute it's sad to see them struggle.  I am going back there tomorrow.  It is definitely not a place I would want to work every day, but from time to time it's fine.  When we all got home the Martines kids came over.  They are going to spend a couple of days with us, baby Alexis finally joined the family this last weekend so we get the big kids.  They are great, all the kids get along and play well together.  My kids actually like it better than not having them here...it's like one long slumber party.  The only hard part is when the kids don't want to go to bed, which honestly is a regular occurrence here now I have 7 kids not wanting to sleep instead of 3 :)

Today I unpacked, did some Christmas shopping, took the girls to paino, and made a yummy yummy dinner coconut rice and pork tacos with chili verde.

Now the children are upstairs jumping around, trying to sleep... sleeping.... nope, still jumping around.

the Green

Vacation days always go by too quickly.  This morning we got up and went out to breakfast, always a favorite.  Then we went to a play land.  Lu won a stuffed penguins out of one of those machines that never give away prizes, the claw.  She had a secret weapon...Abba :)  E spent a lot of time at the batting cages with R and H tried the batting cages and the inside games.  It was noisy and crazy, as those places typically are.  The kids enjoyed our time there though and thought it was great.

After that we went to the Green and enjoyed some lovely shopping.

We came home and the menfolk all watched the OSU v Michigan game.  Michigan won.

Lastly we went to Bravo for dinner then came home and packed.  We are ready to leave in the morning, although sad to leave our family.  It's always fun to spend time together.

11pm

T

Too bad they never want to read...

Boonshoft Discovery Museum

We went to lunch today at Rausch's with Great Grandpa Tom, UB and Becky and Harriet.  After we went to GGpa's house for a bit then headed over to the museum.  Unfortunately Nana got sick last night and still doesn't feel well so she missed most of the fun.

The museum was super fun.  We enjoyed watching the otters get feed, running on the play structure, learning about water and playing with the animal robots.  The kids went in a  hurricane simulator, a turtle shell and a bear cave.  It's a fun little museum.

R and I were going to go to the mall and do some Christmas shopping on the way home but changed our mind enroute and came home for dinner and "the Green Lantern". 

turkey trot 2012

Hannah and Lu

greatgrandpa and E playing chess

abba and bubba finished first in our family

culinary knight

R and Abba went on a bike ride this morning, then they went to pick up our turkey trot tee-shirts for tomorrows big race.  The rest of us headed out to do some shopping.  E got bored and started playing with the kitchen tools.  He became a warrior :)

We also went to the book store,  heavenly, and out to lunch.  Very fun.

the road to Ohio

We made it,
what should have been a nice days drive turned out to be more of an ordeal.  On Monday we took the suburban to be checked out.  R had a list of things he wanted to be checked.  At the end of the day we got it back with an oil change.  We spent the day packing and cleaning and then the evening at a very fun pie party at the Marshes. 
Tuesday morning we woke up early and got everything in the car by 8.  We were on time.  The car didn't start.  We did get it going, then headed back over to Mr Tire, with a packed car and all the kids.  They fixed it, although we got to enjoy 3 hours in their lobby to do it.  I did walk over to Food Lion for a few things we "needed" for the trip, in the rain.  Our start was not  promising.
The rest of the trip was okay. The kids did well.  It rained the whole time, and the visibility was poor so we added a lot of travel time. 
We had a pleasant dinner stop at Cracker Barrel and pulled in the driveway a little after 10.  14 hours, should have been 9. 

strangely tired...and worst night sleep ever.

We've been busy, staying up late, doing things, working.  Yesterday I had  to get up early for ward council  and the children fell asleep during sacrament meeting, well Hannah did and Ethan almost did.  Lu was too busy sticking candy cane stickers on her face.  Tired was catching up with us.

After church Maggie and Daniel came over, Miss  H went to the McCombs.  I fixed lunch then sat down on the couch and fell asleep.  When I went to sleep the four kids were playing beyblades...when I woke up 3 hours later they were playing hide and seek.  Somehow they survived my negligent care.  I am not normally a napper and was very surprised.  In the meantime R had gone upstairs and also took a long nap. 

Around 4 he left to go visit his friend Clint, who recently got out of the hospital and I went to meet with KT about her personal progress and to trade kids back.  We got home and made dinner (chicken taco salad) put Lu to bed (she was playing at Maggie's house until 10 the night before while R and I went to see Breaking Dawn and was grouchy) and then Pete and Joey came over to HT us.  When they left we cleaned up the kitchen and put in HP7 to watch.  R went upstairs to bed around 8.  Very very unusual.  Before 9 we turned it off and went up as well.  I turned off all the lights and neither H nor E switched them back on to read...very very unusual.  We were all in bed by 9 ready to sleep.

I fell asleep pretty quickly but had the most interrupted sleep.  I kept waking up.  I kept having strange dreams.  At one point I dreamt that I wanted to take the kids to DisneyWorld and was trying to convince R and he was saying no it's too expensive.  Then he suggested we go camping in Orlando instead, that would be just as fun (he doesn't do camping) and I agreed (what?? clearly not the same thing), once we got there our friends the Harts were there and said they had 2 extra tickets so R said "great, I will take Lu" and I was so  mad and thought that was so unfair...he doesn't even like Disney!  Then in real life he moved toward or touched me or something and I went flying out of bed.  Landed on Millie and hit my eye on the metal frame, cutting it.  Strange.  I have not fallen out of bed since forever. 
I continued to sleep fitfully and was happy when my alarm went off (never happens). 

So I feel rested...but what a weird night.

tournaments

 We had a soccer weekend.  Friday night Big played in a charity soccer tournament dubbed "Claire's Cup".  A little girl in our community is battling leukemia and she is a soccer player from a soccer family.  E went with him  ostensibly to watch, however he and the other sons all spent the three hours playing soccer in empty fields, getting muddy and running in the woods. 
The girls and I went to the ward service project so we didn't get to watch but I heard everything went well.

 Saturday was the Kohl's Cup.  Our team split into 3 teams of 4 to play against each other and the other teams in short field, fast paced, jungle ball style soccer.  E's team won 5 games and ended up the champions in their age bracket.  E himself scored 5 goals.  The boys had a "best day of my life" kind of great time.  E came home as dirty as I have ever seen him, and sporting a new trophy for his collection.

The weather really was lovely and we all had a nice day.

Breaking Dawn

Yesterday I got called in to work, I wasn't going to go because I  wanted to clean the house and get everything done for the busy weekend ahead...but then I did.  5th grade.  It was a good day.  When I got home we went to piano lessons and home to try and do all the chores that were being neglected. 

Then I met up with Johnna, Paige, Cristianna, Lexi, Robin, Michelle, Sarah, Carolee, Heather, Liz, Debbie and Dari, Christian, Christian and Alex for some midnight movie fun. We had a great time waiting in the theater for 2 hours, eating popcorn, laughing. 

Then the main event:  Edward.  Even though the movie is so cheesy, with a rated B horror movie style birth scene, silly talking wolves and vampires I love it.  I loved the wedding, so beautiful.  I love Edward's tender care, unconditional love and total acceptance of Bella.  I loved their honeymoon get away and really the whole thing.  So next week I will go back with R and see it again. 

We got home at 3:30 and I was in bed by 4ish.  But couldn't sleep for awhile.  At 5:45 my alarm went off.  groan, yawn.  I had intended to go back to bed and after I got everyone out the door I went back to bed but only slept an hour, I felt like I was wasting time so I got up, went shopping, did some clean up, and now I am making 100 cupcakes for tonight's ward service project.

count down is on

9:30 pm.  It's raining.  Hopefully it will pass quickly because in 23 1/2 hours I will be leaving with 15 fabulous friends to see Breaking Dawn!!  Midnight show tomorrow baby! Yeah!! Can't wait!

I worked yesterday and today. 
Tonight was a pack meeting, also the YW played glow in the dark volleyball.  Yesterday Lu had Daisys.   This afternoon I scrubbed the play doh out of the carpet.  I'd rather have J here with play doh then clean carpet without.

Mount Vernon

 Our last day together was Monday.  The kids had school so it was just Joneaux, Anna and Amadeo and myself.  We made the drive and it was a most beautiful day.  The weather was perfect and it was not crowded so it was perfect.

 I love my sister and am so glad we had this time to be together.  It was such a treat for me to have sweet baby J here and to get to know him.  I really enjoy Amadeo's company as well.  It is really special to spend time together, to enjoy each others children, to talk about life and our families and just anything.

 Cute family.

When we left we stopped at the gift shop for some East Coast souvenirs for J so he can remember us and how much we love him.

Sunday

 We went to church, played at the park, enjoyed some yummy dinner made by Hannah with Anna and Mom as sous chefs, played quirkle and that's it.

DC

 Today was a requisite DC tourist day.  Fortunately the weather was perfect and the crowds were thin.

 We started out at the National Archives were we saw the documents of freedom.  Then we wandered around the monuments and ended with a stroll by the white house.

 Anna and Amadeo's friends the Pollards met them for breakfast and joined us for some DC fun.  They couldn't stay the whole time but we had fun with them while they were there.  Lu liked Abby a lot and the kids were cute together.

 We walked a lot and the kids were real troopers.  They looked at everything, ate $11. hot dogs and ice cream and were great tour guides.

 Little Man was happy to see his Momma and Daddy this morning. 

Me and Anna in front of the white house.

calvert marine museum

We spent our afternoon at the museum.  It's small but cute and we love to watch the otters and the kids always love to get shark teeth and fossils from the exploration room.

parade

 Today is Veterans day and Lu's daisy troop was marching in the parade.  E's pack was not marching but he dressed up anyway thinking he might march with Webb's den. We bundled up and headed over to Ryken to meet with all the other marchers.

 It took forever to get going.  Someone fell off their horse and a helicopter had to come and life flight them out.  So while it was cool to see the helo come and land right in front of us, it was sad that someone got hurt, and it really slowed us down a lot.  Joneaux didn't want to wait and was getting sad, also Robert didn't want to wait so eventually I took the little boys, E and H and left Lu to march with Miss Jen and Julia. 

By the time we got to our car the little boys were happy and wanted to watch the parade, which was finally starting so we found a spot and watched the scouts, bands, horses, floats and parade fun.  We got tons of candy thrown at us and the kids all enjoyed it.

Joneaux got in the groove and started dancing on the side of the road.  It was so funny!   We made it home an hour before Lu and had some lunch and got him down for a nap.

I'm such a good aunt :)

We had the most fun day!  First thing this morning, like 6am which is a lot earlier than J is used to waking up, the kids were up and waiting for J to wake up.  As soon as he did there were squeals and book reading and bubble bath fun.  Eventually the kids had to go to school.  Joneaux waved goodbye to the school bus and then we had the day to ourselves.

First thing we did was go to the playground.  Then we came home and ate snacks and read books and built with blocks.  Then had an early lunch and he was ready for a nap.  J slept for 2 hours and woke up ready to play again.  He wanted to go to the park, so we did.  Then we came home and played legos, read some more books, threw the ball and knocked over some more blocks.

When Hannah came home she brought Allie with her to show off how cute her cousin is!  They played ball with him, took him outside for a walk and read a book.

Then E and Lu got home and we went back to the park....3x to the park in one day, sweet!!

E and Lu had so much fun playing with him!

Sadly it started to rain so we had to rush home. 

On the agenda for tonight: dinner, playdoh, books, balls, prayers and sleep.

Joneaux

 Anna and Amadeo and Joneaux flew into our neck of the woods today.  We had a fun visit this afternoon and went to Salsas for some yummy dinner.

Then they left :( and they left sweet baby J with us for a couple of days while they work.  The cousins are super excited to have him here, as is his favorite auntie :)

This evening we played ball, a lot.

 Read some stories, laughed at him laughing.

Played a little play doh.

Danced with some maracas, played some more ball, said our prayers and tucked him into bed where Lu won the "who wants to sleep with Joneaux" contest :)