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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Definitely Not on Vacation Anymore

We've been home from vacation for less than a week, and I feel like I haven't had a minute to relax although, I have barely left the house.  Here's what's been going on:

Instead of swimming, I've been scrubbing:

Coming home to a house that a man has been living in for a month without his wife and family is never a pleasant thing:)  Everything looks dirty.  While Mike did keep the general house tidy looking, the sink had a few dishes in it, the fridge was full of food I had bought 5 weeks earlier, the shower and toilets looked like they had been left unattended for months!  So my first day home was spent scrubbing the showers, disinfecting the toilets, emptying and wiping out the fridge and filling the dishwasher!!  I'd rather be swimming:)

 

Instead of picnicking, I've been painting:

 Before we went on vacation, we decided that we would switch the kids' rooms.  In order to convince Jordan to give up her very own room and go back to sharing with her sister (blog post to follow), I promised a room "make over."  So I took the kids to Home Depot, let them pick their color and painted their bedroom.  Painting takes A LOT more work than I ever anticipated!!  I would, most definitely, rather be picnicking.

 

Instead of hiking, I've been helping Mike with his exercises:

We got home from Canada Wednesday evening.  Thursday morning (6:30am) Mike went in for shoulder surgery.  It was arthroscopic surgery, to repair an 80% torn rotator cuff and a laberal tear.  When I picked him up from the hospital Thursday afternoon, we were given a list of exercises that I was to help Mike with (since he isn't allowed to lift his arm on his own).  So now, not only do I need to help Mike with everything he needs to do (did I mention it was his right arm and it is VERY painful and he's on pain meds that make him loopy and sleepy??), but I need to do exercises with him 3 or 4 times a day too.  I don't really mind doing these things for someone who works everyday doing things for me, but I'm sure he'd rather be hiking...especially in the most beautiful place on earth (Canada, in case you were wondering).

 

Instead of steeping in, I've been setting my alarm:

 One of my favorite things about being on vacation is that I don't "have" to get up at any certain time.  I love that I can stay up chatting with my parents or hanging with friends or visiting with my sisters and I don't have to worry about being too tired the next day.  Since I've been back I've had to take Mike to the hospital at 6:30am. get all my kids up and ready to go to ward counsel with me at 7:45am, go to early morning physical therapy...you get idea.  The problem is...I am still staying up late!!  I wish I was still sleeping in!


Instead of karaoke, I've been cooking: 

One of the best perks about staying with my parents is my mom's cooking.  Between my sisters' cooking, my mom's cooking and eating out, I think I only cooked maybe one or two lunches the entire time we were on vacation (and it was probably frozen pizza or hot dogs).  Instead I spent my time playing and having fun and...singing karaoke.  We had great fun embarrassing ourselves.  I'm not sure if I'd rather be singing karaoke or not:)

 

 Instead of hanging out with family, I've been having withdrawals:

 The hardest thing about my vacation coming to an end, is saying good bye to all my "Canadian" family.  I asked the kids if they wanted to go to the park the other day and just about burst into tears thinking about how much more fun it would with with my sisters and their families.  I miss them all so much already...

 
 
 
 
 

When's my next vacation??

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Braves


  
Kya with the team ball

It's no secret that I am not a big fan of softball, but watching my daughter work so hard at something and play her heart out during every single game is just the best thing in the world.  Kya has learned so much about not only softball, but what it means to be part of a team.  Sunday was the end of the season pool party (finally) where they handed out the trophies.  Kya's coach had amazing things to say about Kya.  We are so proud of our little girl.  There is no doubt in my mind that she can be anything she wants to be because she works and tries so hard at everything she does.

Coach Justin giving Kya her trophy

Kya with both her trophies and her FIRST PLACE medal...

 Did I not mention her team won FIRST PLACE?!  So Proud:)

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Palm Springs


 I love the sun.  My hubby doesn't quite share my love of the sun.  But, he loves me so much, that he let me plan a family vacation to Palm Springs...in the summer...when it's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HOT! 

We watched the temperature go up from 66 degrees when we left LA, to 113 degrees when we finally arrived.

Needless to say, we spent most of our time in the pool...


When we weren't swimming, we were cooling off watching one of the 5 tv...

(Tyson's Room)
 (Jordan and Kya's room)
 (The Living Room)
 Eating at a restaurant because it was too hot to eat at the outdoor street fair, even at 8pm it was still too hot!
 There was a giant Marilyn Manroe statue and the kids wanted their picture taken from THIS angle!
 They all took turns feeding the horse! 

We had a great vacation. 
As much as I love the sun, it was nice to come back to our 70 degree weather:) 
I would definitely not want to live in a place as hot as Palm Springs!!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Graduation Day-Thanks Goodness it's just Elementary School!


 From tiny baby....
 

...to the first day of Kindergarten...

 

...to the last day of Elementary School!!


It all happened so fast!  Congratulations JoJo...we love you!!




Sunday, June 10, 2012

Little Miss Sunshine

When Jordan declared herself "Little Miss Chatterbox"(I think she was 6yrs old), we searched for the perfect "Little Miss" character for Kya.  As soon as I saw "Little Miss Sunshine", I knew it was the perfect character for our sweet, smiley, happy, warm little Kya.  She has a Little Miss Sunshine shirt and figurine and NOW...a birthday party:)

 We celebrated Kya's birthday a little early this year, since we will be in Canada on the big day.  I used this picture for the invites, with all the details for her party printed on it:


This may have been the LOUDEST sleepover EVER!! 

They played in the (cold) hot tub...
 ...ate pizza...


...played a bunch of games (including a VERY silly mustache game)...

 
  

...opened presents...


 ...Jordan did every ones hair and make-up...


...sang "Happy Birthday" (with 9 candles, even though she's still 8 for a couple more weeks)...


 ...and of course, stayed up really, really, REALLY late...


Oh, AND the Karaoke Machine arrived just after the party was over:(
(just for the record, it was SUPPOSED to arrive in time to play AT the party...grrr)
 

Monday, June 4, 2012

JOG A THON

This past Friday was the school's annual Jog A Thon!!  The kids' classes all take turns running for 15min. straight, while parents and friends pledge money to the school.  After the classes run, school wraps up with a party filled with snow cones, popcorn, sack races, and water balloon fun.  Last year I was in no condition to help out (since I had just had my hip surgery), so this year I was determined to help out AND even run with my kids.

It was a HOT day!!  I was at school from 9am until 5pm and ran three races.  By the time we got home I was completely wiped out!! 

 I am sure there are dozens of very unflattering pictures of me running (which is why I don't need to post any!!)...

first in a yellow shirt (with Kya), 
 

then in a red one (with Tyson), 
 
and finally in a purple one (with Jordan).
 
 My kids did a fantastic job, but...surprisingly, Tyson was the winner of the most laps run (did I mention he's a little competitive?!).

This is Tys before he left for school.  I couldn't convince him to leave the headband on for the race:)  The little guy got to pick out a new Skylander for being the winner and Daddy took everyone out for ice cream, when he got home from DC.  What a great day!