Wednesday, May 30, 2012

School's Out for Summer!



Okay they were excited about a rainstorm a couple weeks ago, but this is also how we feel about school being out - dance party!!! We are so ready to swim, attend summer movies, go to free breakfast and lunch at the local high school, and just enjoy having lots of free time with no schedule. However, I do have them on a strict chore schedule each day before they can have fun... I still have to have some structure in this chaotic life!

In other news, we bid farewell to the chickens recently. I was so tired of their early morning clucking, all of the flies they attracted and the kids were not into them at all anymore. They went to a good home, a friend of Jeremy's with some property for them to roam on. If you ask the kids though, they went to a "farm" - slight exaggeration, but aren't we all farmers if we have chickens?!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Now and Then

In case anyone wondered, turns out Owen does look a lot like this Daddy...

 Uncle Justin and Jeremy
Owen

 Owen totally makes the face Jeremy is making too, but I couldn't get him to do it on demand for a picture.

Friday, May 18, 2012

These Boys!


Our van was in the shop the other day so I had the boys loaded up in the small car for a couple of days. I snapped this photo to remember how grateful I am each day for a spacious van - with room to separate kids who torment each other and with rear air conditioning vents for the 100+ degrees days.

It also got me to thinking how these 3 drive me absolutely insane most days, but I can't imagine life without each of them. They each have unique personalities that keep me on my toes. We have been combining rooms this week too and I can hear Kenyon and Devin in their room jumping on beds when they are supposed to go to sleep. Then I hear Owen giggling and I peek in to see him sticking his arms through his crib to pull Maya's hair or give her a high 5.

Total chaos, but I am very blessed.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Big Helpers

We start them early around here doing yard work...

Owen got to help Dad fix broken sprinklers.


Give the others a pair of scissors and they can cut down the big weeds out back.



They have to earn their keep!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Time Out

When Devin is banished outside for using that ear-piercing shriek for the 100th time that morning...


They all gather at the back window and end up shrieking with laughter instead.

To be noted, it was early in the morning and they are all dressed exactly how they love to be: Kenyon without a shirt, Owen in pjs and Devin usually requests "church clothes."

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Pool Time!

In our next home (if there ever is another one!), I would love a pool in the backyard. Until then, we use our family and friend's pools and when we are not using theirs, we cool off in our kiddie pool!


 And they love it!


Sunday, May 6, 2012

Non-Campers

This weekend was the father & sons camp out for our church. Jeremy's rule is that they have to be potty-trained to go. Since Devin decided to be potty-trained about a month ago, he was in luck! I need to get some pictures from Jeremy's phone of the campers, but us non-campers really enjoyed ourselves while they were gone.

 Maya chose Chili's for dinner.


Appetizers!


Owen was hamming it up!


And enjoyed a lollipop when he was done with his dinner.


After dinner, Maya had a music rehearsal so she went to that while Owen and I ran errands. Then we headed home for a girls night after Owen went to bed. Maya kept commenting on how I got the "easy kids." SHHHH - don't tell Jeremy! :)

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Cruise!!!

Last weekend we went on a cruise for our 10 year anniversary (which was back in February) with our friends Ryan and Courtney, who also celebrate their 10 year this year. Aunt Tiffany flew down to watch the kiddos (with some help from Grandma Bev and my good friend Brooke). It was so nice to go away and know they were in good hands. We had such a relaxing, amazing time. Haven't eaten that much food and laughed so hard in a long time!

 We drove over to California Thursday night in the small Corolla. The girls slept in the back and the boys talked and rocked out in the front.

The next morning we got pedicures:


 While they went to breakfast:


 Then we boarded the ship early afternoon.


Checked out the water-slide which we intended to go on, but never had a chance until the last day and then it was too cold.

 
Right away the boys found this machine. It cost $1 a try, but they were sure they would win an ipad or wad of cash so they kept at it day after day... and we still don't have an ipad, but they had fun!


That evening Jeremy was selected (by being one of the craziest audience members - hanging from the staircase) to be in the Game Show. He didn't win, but received an awesome medal the kids are very proud of.  I am so mad that I didn't have my camera out and ready when they asked him to dance to MC Hammer "Can't Touch This." He did some great moves and then ended with doing the worm across the stage. I laughed really hard.


  A little BINGO later on that night



 Saturday we docked in Ensenada, Mexico. We got off the ship long enough to get the kids some souvenirs and for Jeremy to try out a whip and some Viagra.



That night was formal night. After dinner we headed up to the top of the ship to try out some Titanic moves.


Then we headed to the Karaoke Lounge. The boys turned our names in to sing a Backstreet Boys song without us knowing.


So then we turned their names in for "My Humps."


Ryan got more than he expected when a hottie joined him onstage without him knowing. Lots of tears while laughing that night!



 Sunday was spent at sea all day. It was cold and gloomy so we had a friendly game of mini golf. It was supposed to be boys vs girls, but when Courtney saw my sad mini golf skills, we switched it to just husbands vs wives. Courtney was strutting her stuff when she was ahead, but sadly we both lost.




 Jeremy loved eating and eating and eating, but especially loved the Sushi Bar. At dinner one night when he couldn't decide between lobster and prime rib, they gave him both. He was in heaven!


That night we headed back to karaoke for some more tunes.


We also got our groove on with some friends we met at dinner.


Then when Courtney wouldn't go on stage with me for the song Jer turned in, he and I sang a lovely duet of "Sweet Caroline." Neither of us can sing, but we sure had fun pretending!



Other things not pictured: the people watching! It was amazing to just sit back and watch all of the crazy people and try to figure out their story. We also loved going to the comedy shows at night. We would stay up late and eat around midnight and sure got into a bad habit because we still have the late night munchies at home. We also caught up on lots of sleep. We would sleep in and then take a nap each day. I fought off the sea sickness with my wrist bands and occasional Dramamine when I was feeling nauseous. We felt like we were still on the boat rocking for a couple of days, but seem to be back to normal now.

As fun as it was, it was nice to come home and see my babies again. They have been reminding me not to leave them again soon with their naughty behaviors... but it was still worth it to have a getaway!