A Week With Nana, Grumpy, Xander and Penni

 My parents arrived on Monday with my nephew Xander (5) and their vizsla, Penni.  Everyone adjusted great and we had a FABULOUS week together. 

 

Callie loved Nana and Penni immediately.  By the end of the week Callie would reach for Nana and feed Penni food from her hand.

 

 The boys were three peas in a pod.  They read, played Lego's, Wii and had a blast together.  Every night they would talk and laugh until we got really mad (although it was great to hear them bond. We had some warm days so we tried to all cool off as much as possible, even Penni.

 Most night we went on a walk to the park to give Penni, and the kids, some exercise.  It was so cool to see Penni and her long legs run back and forth between Nana and Grumpy.

 Luckily the kids never tire of this park.

 We went to Farm Country on Wednesday and everyone LOVED the animals. Callie was in heaven with all of the animals so close, but when it came time to ride a pony she was a little nervous.  She did it, but kept trying to get off.

 This picture is for Uncle Jake.  We love you!!

 Afterwards we got some yummy ice cream at the parlour.  The kids loved the HUGE small cones we got them.

 Bowling took a lot longer than we thought, but everyone had fun.  Nana even won a free soda, which she shared with everyone.  Next time we will only pay for one round at a time.

 

 While I had a lot of fun making fancy dinners and breakfasts, lunch we kept simple.  The kids loved eating outside together and I got lots of props for getting everyone a sonic slush.

 Penni is an amazing dog. SO well behaved and trained.  She put up with all the kids and loved them.

 Every year for our city we have a big Rodeo week.  Each ward puts together a float and then the kids get to march in the parade with the floats.  This was our first year all participating.  I thought Xander and Annabelle would just like to watch, but last minute they wanted to walk in the parade.  Nana and I had to go with them and while it was a long hot wait, it was fun when the parade started.  Our ward even took 2nd place.

 

 Greg and Grumpy picked us up halfway through the parade (where I had set up our blankets earlier that day so we could watch) and we headed to Pier 49 pizza.  The rocks and fountain outside provided lots of entertainment while we waited for our pizza.

 

 The kids got a long great all week.  It was fun to see them play together and laugh together.

 On Saturday we went to the city celebration where Annie was going to dance.  She did AWESOME and while the boys were worried about being bored, we had to drag them away.

 Greg let the kids each pick a treat.  We had 3 cotton candies and 1 smoothie.  Callie LOVED the candy.

 Ryan did, too.  Not sure how it got all over his face.

 Xander is the cutest kid!  I loved hearing him talk and getting to know him better.

 I guess this is how it gets all over your face! 

 Nathan was great at sharing his smoothie.  Callie wasn't that great at getting the straw in her mouth.

 Cousins came over on Sunday and Grumpy had fun playing Beyblades with the boys.  Later he showed them his YouTube video of him playing wheelchair basketball,

 Nathan made an amazing game that we all had a lot of fun playing together.  I will have to do a post all about it another time.  It is complex, but amazing.

 

While it is sad that we don't get to see my parents that much, I love these week vacations that we get to have with them.  Making jam with my mom, talking late into the night with them, making new dishes and having more people appreciate it.  So many things that I don't get all year long.  It may all be smashed into one week, but I CHERISH these one weekers.  I love my family and will take all I can get.

Father's Day

 

I am surrounded by amazing men in my life.  First there is my own dad, who I still call Daddy when he is around.  I love him SO much and love all that he has done for me in my life.  He is always there to talk to about things from finances to sick kids.   I just got to spend a week with him (and my mom, but more on that later), and I LOVED having him around and being able to talk with him into the night.  Next is my father-in-law who I try to call Dad as often as I can.  He is amazing.  He comes to so many events and activities for my kids and always shares his love and support for our family.  I am so grateful that we have a great relationship since my dad lives so far away.  Finally there is my handsome husband and the father of my four children.  Greg is amazing!  When the kids say things like, "You are the best dad I ever had" Greg always laughs.  But, I hope he knows how lucky those kids are to have him around.  Greg cares about his kids SO much.  He spends SO much time with them and loves teaching them new things.  For Father's Day he had them all playing, "In the manner of the adverb."  It is a game where one person goes out of the room and comes up with a scenario.  The remaining people think of an adverb.  The person comes back and tells the group to act out his scenario "in the manner of the adverb".  Our kids, even Annabelle, did AWESOME.  The came up with great skits and then acted the adverbs hilariously.  It was so fun to play a game like that with the kids.  I am so lucky that Greg is ready and willing to "babysit" our kids for the many things I want or need to do away from the home.  He NEVER complains and is always supportive of the things I do.  He tells amazing stories and has the best singing voice--both things help immensely at bedtime.  I love these men in my life and am so grateful to each one for their time, their love and their always being there in my life.

Princess Festival

Annabelle went to Disneyland when she was 18 months.  She doesn't remember anything, but loves to look at the pictures.  She keeps asking us to go, but I don't really want to go until Callie is at least 2.  When I heard about this Princess Festival nearby I know this was the answer.  I got a babysitter for the boys AND Callie and with some friends we had a blast at the festival.

 The carriage was so beautiful and the girls probably could have stayed there longer but it was outside of the festival and we wanted to get started on the real fun.

 Annabelle wore her Rapunzel braid and the "real" Rapunzel LOVED her hair.  We also met Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Alice, Tinkerbell and other fairies, The princess and the pea, Jasmine, Snow White, Peter Pan, Ariel and many more fairy tale characters.  She loved getting their autographs and a picture with them.  Some of the princesses had plays or songs to do for or with the girls.

 I love that Annabelle loves doing things with me.  When she saw the fairy cut outs above she REALLY wanted me to be in the picture.  I hope she always wants me to be a part of her fun.

 We were there for 4.5 hours!!  The girls were having a blast but probably could have fallen asleep on this bed if we let them.  AS a side note, Annabelle swore she could feel the pea when she laid on the bed.  I guess she is a princess after all.

 We looked all through the hedge maze to fin Alice in Wonderland.  The girls were the leaders while Tomie and I trialed behind watching their excitement.  We never did find Alice in the maze, but we saw her at the end.

 The Princess Festival is all about service.  There were some cute stories about how a princess shares her stuff with others.  They had a few booths where the girls could participate in service.  Annie helped tie a quilt, made a hair bow, and drew a picture for a serviceman. 

All in all it was a fantastic day, and what made it all even better was the report from the baby sitter and the boys (sometimes the sitters fib a little to make me feel better but the kids always tell the truth) that Callie only cried once when she got hurt.  I hope this continues and I can feel more comfortable leaving her home with a sitter.

Summer Nights

We are loving the warmer weather and the outside time.  Especially in the evening with Greg.  The weather is still cool enough to really just LOVE being out there and we find ourselves even letting the kids stay up until 9. 

 

 Ryan is pretty good at throwing and catching a baseball.  While I am thankful we are not signed up for any sports right now, I think we will have to try baseball next summer.

 Nathan is great with Callie.  I love watching them play together.  Sometimes she will just go up to him and lay on his lap for no reason except she loves her big brother.

We always cool down with something.  Most of the time it is a Popsicle, but sometimes I can persuade them to have something healthier like apple sauce.  These girls are starting to play and interact a lot more together.  It is so fun for me to see and anticipate even more friendship in the future.

Rapunzel Hair

 Thanks to my friend Holly's blog we made this beautiful Rapunzel hair.  Annabelle wore it all afternoon and would have worn it out to dinner if I let her.  Now she wants the dress so she can be just like Rap.  It is super easy and helped me get rid of some yarn I had a lot of.  Check out her site, she has lots of fun ideas!

New Couches!!

 When Greg and I moved into our home almost 7 years ago we had NO nice furniture.  We bought some couches that first month for our living room but our family room has had old ugly couches ever since.  This was the last room that we painted and now the last room to get the furniture we wanted.  While I am sad that we no longer have "jumping couches" (as my kids lovingly referred to our other couches), I am happy that we are finally owners of more nice furniture.

When the movers brought the couches Wednesday night they tried getting the big couch downstairs twice before they gave up.  I was NOT happy.  We had moved 2 couches out of the room, plus a sofa bed down in the playroom.  I KNEW that the couch would fit (it just HAD to!).  They left it in our kitchen and told us to call the manager in the morning.  Greg got home from work and we removed the banister and the light and we got it down those stairs and into the family room, with the kids cheering the whole time.  We are so awesome!  While the kids are already missing the fun couches and don't love the new rules, they agree that these couches look fabulous and love sitting on them.

 

 Summer has begun and truthfully I was a little worried.  Happily, I can honestly say that things have gotten off to a great start.  I have no schedules in the morning.  I LOVE this!  I love not having anywhere I HAVE to be at a certain time.  I did sign the kids up for a craft camp a neighbor is doing but that is at 1pm once a week.  1pm I can handle.  I love my kick back and relax mornings!

We made this box right before school got out.  It has over 100 ideas of things to do this summer.  My goal was to pull out three things every Sunday and then plan when to do it.  We haven't used the box yet, but we have done a lot of things that are in the box.  I guess I am more spontaneous than I thought.

 

Thankfully the weather has really warmed up and we have had fun planting and watering our garden and playing outside as much as we can. Today Ry complained that HE didn't get to water the watermelons, and I am sure by the end of the summer I will hear all about how they don't want to water them again.  We have ran through sprinklers and gotten out the little pool.  Right now the boys have set up running races with lemonade for all those who participate. 

 Callie loves being outside.  She'd stay out there all day if I let her.  The water was a little cold so she thought it was SO funny to stick her bum in and then pop back up.

 Annabelle is timid at first, and after she warms up to the idea of getting wet she LOVES it!

 I love this picture of the four kids.  So much fun and youth and summery-ness.  Check out Callie's face!!  Ah, to have no worries and to run around all day long!

 The boys have NO fear.  They love to be running and jumping and cannon balling (yes, into our little pool) and doing all other boyish type activities.

 Daddy has 2 little girls that absolutely ADORE him.  Luckily he is a fabulous daddy and gives them lots of attention.

 We are surrounded by chickens in our neighborhood.  And Callie LOVES them.  She makes the sound, "bock, bock" and just loves to sit and watch them.

 The boys get along so well most of the time.  I am so lucky that they have built in best friends.  I love watching them play together.  My neighbor doing the craft camp said they did fabulous (they are older than most of the kids so I was worried) and they were so helpful and concerned for their sister.  I love hearing things like that.  I hope the rest of the summer will be as great as this last week have been.