It's Always Fun When Rachel Comes

At the very end of June, Rachel and her kids came to town. It's always a big party when family is in town. Responsibility goes out the window and every day is filled with fun.  Here's what we were too busy doing to worry about everyday responsibilities...

Lucas and Emma spent a few nights here and my girls loved having a few extra people to sleep on the floor with them. Hazel didn't last one night on the floor. She kept bothering everyone and ended up having to go to her bed. The kids also took advantage of our tile floors and drug each other around. Then Emma was a queen and got pushed around in our big brown chair by Clara and Lucas.

Lilly did a summer camp and we attended most of the sessions. Here is the magic show one, followed by magic rice krispy treat wands.

We went to the river and played at Phon D Sutton while the older kids tubed down the river with Rachel. It ended up being a lot more fun than I thought it would be. The kids had a great time and there was a perfect little spot for Hazel to sit and play in the water. She played by herself for about an hour with her sand toys in the water.

We didn't think to bring floaties so when the people next to us started to leave, I suggested we buy their tubes from them and Kathryn went and did it. We probably paid twice what they cost, but the older girls loved them so it was worth it.

We went to Sunsplash. It was Clara and Hazel's first time there and it's been years since I've been. I think like 10 years. It was nice to have older kids, Rachel and my mom to help. I went back and forth from hanging out with Clara to hanging out with Hazel. 

On the 4th of July, Angela, Rachel, Ryan and I went to lunch at Windsor. I like that place. They have a perfectly balanced menu, in my opinion. 

After lunch, we met up with my parents and Kathryn to watch The Lone Ranger. I don't think I've ever gone to the movies with my dad. Where were all our kids? Well, at our house, with Jason. He watched our two, Ryan's four and Rachel's youngest two so I could spend time with my siblings. He's great. I'd heard the movie wasn't great, but I enjoyed it. Not sure what that says about me. After that, we went to my parent's for dinner, fireworks and all around quality family time.

5/6 on their cell phones. Good thing Casey Anne was there to pay attention to Margo. 

 

Lucas loves to play the iPad and Hazel loved to sit next to Lucas and watch him. He's very sweet with her.

We went to Bahama Bucks on more than one occasion. One time, Hazel wouldn't stop feeding Margo and it was really funny. Like a little mother bird.

We went to Joyride Tacos for lunch (delicious).

We swam a lot.

We played at Kathryn's. (Bottom left: Jason cleaned up without me asking after all the kids while we were visiting/playing.)

We had an extra big Sunday dinner at Ryan and Kathryn's, where my mom sat on the couch with lots of little girls like a mother hen, Hazel fed Margo ice cream, Kathryn handed out nerds like a mother bird and the world bid farewell to a great day with a beautiful sunset.

 

We ended the evening with a group picture, trying to be serious and trying to be silly. They're much better with silly. 

And then just like that, they were back in Utah and we were trying to get back to reality. 

June 2013

Here's what we were up to the rest of the month of June...

In the beginning of June, the first day of June to reach 100* to be exact, Hazel decided she wanted to wear a beanie when we went for an oil change. She kept it on the entire time, even when she was outside looking at the turtles.

A big highlight in June was going to Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale. It was expensive, but worth it, in my opinion. Had I had a few more people to pay for, I don't know if it would've been worth it. :) But we enjoyed it. On the way there, Hazel started freaking out that she had to go the bathroom. I told her to hold it and she was screaming and crying that she couldn't. She's never done this, but will sometimes say, "I have to go so really bad!" just to get out of doing something. She said it felt like she already went but when I asked her if she peed in her pants she said no. Angela gave her some food, so she stopped screaming and I pulled off on Indian Bend to take her to the McDonald's. I went to get her out and, too late, she'd peed. Grrr. Luckily, we were right by a Target. I ran in for a pair of shorts and undies and when I got back out, she said she needed to go again. I took her in and sure enough, she went a TON more. We had been at KS just before that, so I am assuming she just drank and drank and drank from the water dispenser while I did my work. Lesson learned.

Back to the butterflies... it was neat. If you look closely at these pictures, you can spot them flying all around. They loved me and kept landing on me. I guess I have sweet blood. I'm sure that's why I get billions of mosquito bites too.

They did not like Clara and would not land on her. She was so disappointed, but eventually, one of the workers got one on her shoulder and then another landed on her back. It made everything better. Obviously.

Also in June, I made lots of good food. I didn't realize until this summer how hard it is for me to cook in the summer. Coming up with quick and easy, healthy meals that don't heat me or the house up isn't easy. Here are some of my favorites... grilled veggie sandwiches (amazing), waffles and raspberries (I started using a white flour waffle recipe and I don't care if they aren't as good for me... they are delicious. Plus, we supplement with fruit.), black bean burgers and sweet potato fries (Jason liked these enough to have two - that's a big deal), um, more waffles, bean quinoa salad, chips and watermelon (easiest, yet delicious and nutritious, summer meal) and raspberries on ice cream with chocolate = random craving.

One day, Clara was off with Lucy and Elsa so Hazel and I went shopping and out to lunch. Her facial expressions are hilarious and once she knows I think they're funny, she'll keep trying to make new ones. I love one-on-one time with my kids.

photo booth Sunday//clara//girls lunching by the fireplace//big glasses//I can't get enough of Hazel's face//Hazel took a nap in Clara's bed and looked so big!//my fuchsia tights that got more of a reaction than I ever expected//Clara reading at night//more of that cute face//Clara so happy for finishing the Boxcar Children book by herself//new punishment since the oranges aren't falling right now: clean my baseboards//happy face in my Blendtec foam//not the best day, but at least I didn't cry that time//tired and sick snuggler//morning puffy eyes on that sweet face//friends over for a water fight (some of the younger kids didn't quite realize the balloons were meant to be thrown and popped and the water guns were to spray, so we had a few tears, whoops, but we had fun, I think)

bath hair//spilled green smoothie made Hazel upset//cutie//this is how we picnic in the summer in AZ//fort time//waiting to be picked up//I actually found a rug I loved, too bad it wasn't in grays//after party at Sunday dinner//have I mentioned I love her face?//loving legos//funny face 1//funny face 2//we love story time//pretty skies//Hazel thought she was being funny by folding her hands like this for the prayer//more tights (it's how I mourn)

Hazel & Margo//Clara and her stuffed animal school//first movie of the day = empty parking lot//Hazel peeling from the beach, still getting used to having a child with skin like mine that actually burns//the day Hazel asked if my ribs were my other boo boos//who needs beds when you have closet shelves?//one night I noticed a bulge in Clara's gum (when we were at Emily's) and realized her permanent tooth was on the move, here it is popped through behind her baby tooth//Hazel loves swimming//jump!//carried away with the soap//jumping//Clara has taken a liking to hoola hooping and is actually pretty good at it//Hazel started dressing up//rock candy suckers//cutest pigtails that never last more than 10 minutes//more swimming (we did that a lot this summer)

whoops, got the pigtail picture twice//lots of little girls in swimsuits at Grandma's//watched Monster's Inc. (this was Hazel's second movie, the first was Mirror, Mirror; she was less entertained by this one, but it might be because she kept wanting to sit with me, my mom, then Lilly, repeat)//Hazel loves to dance//Clara loves to create//cookies for breakfast, why not?//I put the kids to bed a lot by myself. In the summer, they slept together on each other's floor a lot, so I'd lay between them and we'd read books, talk, laugh, sing and then go to sleep way too late//a tradition I missed this year, orange eye pictures, except for Clara

Kung-pow girls

One day the girls were playing and Hazel found this spider. My good mother taught me to be nice to spiders so after spending A LOT of time to muster up the courage, I captured this big old thing and released it outside. Go me.

Day Trip

During the summer we decided to have each day be a different pre-determined activity. Monday craft, Tuesday Grandma's, Wednesday water, Thursday library and Friday adventure. We threw this schedule into the wind on week two when I realized we did not need to go to the library once a week. :) But, we still did so many fun things over the summer.

On this particular Friday (June 7th), we headed up to Woods Canyon Lake with Angela and Margo. We had a little picnic, walked around and just enjoyed the beautiful earth.

Margo tried to hug/strangle Hazel.

It really was spectacular. I can't look at things like this and not feel so much of God's love.

Clara found fishing line on a stick and tried to catch a fish with it.

Margo tried to eat string cheese through the plastic.

And we took lots of pictures and laughed and laughed at Margo and Hazel's faces (top left of Margo and bottom right of Hazel are the best).

I love that we can be in beautiful, cool pines in about an hour and a half from our house. It was a great little day trip. 

Fallbrook, CA June 2013

We went to California in the middle of June to celebrate Alexis' high school graduation. We stayed at Emily's. The humidity made Hazel's wings awesome.

We had a little party that night after the graduation (June 13th). We got some fun cheeses to eat with the other food. They were all good. I can't decide what my favorite was. It was a tie between the cheddar and the Hirten.

Alexis, Uncle James and boyfriend Bradley, who, if it wasn't obvious from the picture, graduated as well. 

We had some delicious food and I made candy leis for the graduates with some of their favorite candy. Originally I planned to make them for everyone at the party (20+) but ran out of time before we left town. I was so glad I ditched that idea because they were super cute, but they took a while to make. 

 

Friday we went to Oceanside beach with all my family that was in town. I love the beach. There were pelicans (I think it was the pelicans) flying in v formation all over and it looked so neat. 

Clara loved running from the waves, James held down the fort while we had lunch, Justin and Lilly dug to China, Margo was cute, my dad goes on vacation to get sleep, some adults lounging and me with my girls.

 

Pretty little mermaids.

Ryan and Kathryn were staying in a place across the street from the beach so we went there for lunch. It was nice to break up the day at the beach and not have to eat a sandy lunch on the beach.

For dinner that night we went to Smashburger. It was my first time there. I got a black bean burger and will probably never get that again. I liked the restaurant, but my black bean burgers are way better. Anyway, at least I got a super cute picture of Hazel there.

 Saturday we went to the Strawberry Fields, Balboa Park and the Mormon Batallion. 

I have been to Balboa Park a few times, but this was the first time that I really walked around and realized how many cool buildings there are at the park. 

 

The Mormon Batallion memorial thing wasn't what I expected. It was fun, but I didn't realize it was a program thing you had to stay and sit through, so I got a bit antsy because I wasn't expecting to spend a lot of time there. Had we not been in a hurry to go see Nikki, I probably would've enjoyed it more. 

After that, we hiked up the steep, steep hill we parked on the top of and headed down to Rancho Bernardo to hang out with Nikki and her family. Nikki is my longest friend ever and the fact that we can pick up after not seeing each other for so long and have a grand old time makes me think we were definitely friends in Heaven. Our girls also seem to love each other and Braun and Jason have a good time together. So good, in fact, that they got jealous of taking our picture and asked if they could have a picture together. Nerds.  

Sunday was Father's Day so we went to Sacrament Meeting and then went home and had brunch for the dads. Kind of funny that we were in CA on Mother's Day last year. I got a few pictures with just my dad and then my family with my dad. I love my dad and also Jason, who is such a good dad to our girls. 

After brunch, we visited and played for a little longer. Hazel had a love/hate relationship with Sydney, Clara loved the swing and play house (when we first arrived, she said, "Mom, look! This is the tree house Justin built for me.")

I love having older nieces and nephews that help with my kids and love them. It's sweet. Lucy, Elsa and Clara in this picture are playing "who can be the best..." with Uncle Clint, and he said spider web. So these three girls teamed up and Clara was the web and Lucy and Elsa together made a complete 8-legged spider. Then there is Hazel who was a bit infatuated with Uncle Mick's yellow pool table.

We didn't want to get home too late, so we headed home a few hours after brunch. Hazel was exhausted and between the comfort of her thumb in her mouth and my hand in her other hand, she was out in about 4 minutes. We stopped at Taco Bell in Blythe, so that's what Jason got for lunch/dinner on Father's day. Don't worry, I made up for it the next night.

And finally, Hazel sang us a few rounds of "Itsy, bitsy spider". I hope I got some of it on video. Both of my girls are pretty awesome travelers. It sure makes road trips that much more fun. 

It was a fun trip and I'm glad that we don't live that far away from family that is out of state so we can still be there to celebrate with them.

Regrets

I was supposed to wake up at 4am and work. I didn't. Instead, I woke up at 7am and read my scriptures. I was supposed to work all day. I didn't. I am further behind than ever. The miscarriage, visitors and vacations this summer have sent me to an all new low of over-committing my time. All day I thought, I'm going to regret this. I spent my day making breakfast for Clara, Jordyn and Hazel. Just as soon as I'd satisfy one request, another would surface. Hazel didn't really eat her bagel and when she saw me with my green smoothie, she requested one of her own. Then we cleaned a little.

Eventually we made it to my mom's where we swam for hours with Lilly. I sat and watched Clara and Jordyn dive into the pool, play "Monkey in the Middle" with a giant, colorful beach ball, go down the slide over and over and over, jump off Lilly's shoulders and do watermelon dives. I listened to them laugh continuously. I watched Hazel play in the little swimming pool that my mom has for the little kids. I watched her go down the little roller coaster, over and over and over, lifting her hands high in the air. At first, with my help, then, on her own. I watched her smile over and over and over. I heard both of my girls giggle when they went #1 outside. I documented Lilly climbing onto the roof and jumping into the pool while the little kids stared in amazement. We all tasted warm, homemade cookies with cold milk, compliments my mother.

I helped the girls bake cupcakes as I made dinner for Jordyn's family. I watched them enjoy licking the batter bowl... and the frosting beaters. I saw them create their masterpieces and laughed with Clara when half a bottle of sprinkles fell onto her cupcake. I watched Hazel spend the entire hour decorating one single cupcake with more sprinkles than frosting.

At Landry and Keirsten's, I melted when I saw the way my girls adored baby Avery (and I might've cried a little inside, hoping they get their own baby sibling someday soon). I laughed when Hazel said, "Her has a puple swim suit on" about Avery's purple onesie. I heard them giggle and screech with Ethan and watched them give hugs. I watched their eyes light up as they interacted with cousins.

I carried Hazel into Sam's Club and held Clara's hand as we walked through the parking lot. We looked at glasses and laughed at the goofy ones. Hazel asked me if we could buy something as we walked out the door empty-handed. In the car, I listened to Hazel "read" a book and Clara play with a toy.

We came home and I looked into two tiny sets of eyes as I brushed teeth. I gave kiss after kiss. Their warm, soft cheeks are something I will miss when they grow up. We held hands, prayed together and read scriptures. I laid in a twin bed with both girls and told them about riding down the stairs in our first Snowflake house on cardboard boxes. They love stories about when I was little. We laughed and then said our goodnights and our I love you's multiple times. Walking into my room to work, I noticed Hazel's door open, which meant she had snuck into my bed. Again. I turned a light on in my dark room to find my tiny little girl snuggled under my big, white fluffy blanket, just a blink or two away from sleep. I carried her into her room and laid her in bed and watched as she practically fell asleep before I completely let go.

I came into my room, eager to document my happy day. I should be working and I will work, but today was great. I'm pretty sure in the days to come (or tonight when I'm up until the middle of the night?), I'll regret not working today. However, that will pass and never will I regret not working today.