It doesn't matter how old he is...

...he's still my baby!! But just for the record...he is officially FOUR--where does time go?! I love my little boy. I feel so lucky to be his mom..sniff, sniff.

For his birthday, I suffered through an afternoon of Chuck E Cheese. It actually turned out quite fun: it wasn't busy and Chuck E Cheese himself was there--Tyson got a big kick out of that!

Hey, I'm No Chef

I had the realization recently that I have been married for almost 10 years and I still can't cook...at least nowhere near as well as I thought I would at this stage of my life.

My Cooking History

Living at home Anita
-Mom cooked
-I learned how to bake plum pie and make cookies
-I could heat up a Pizza Pop or Eggo Waffle

College Anita
-Made mostly things from a box or soup or sandwiches
-Occasionally I would make a big fancy meal with my roommates
-OR my date/boyfriend would feed me:)

Newly Married Anita
-I seriously knew how to make 3 things: Spanish Chicken, Chicken and Rice Bake, and Spaghetti

Okay, so my list of "dinners" that I make is significantly longer than it was when I first got married, but now that I have the urge to really learn how to make more things, hopefully I will become a better cook too. Wish me luck...

(Tonight was my first attempt at Potato Soup...turned out pretty yummy)

Mission Accomplished

I had the great idea of taking the family to Disneyland yesterday with the single mission of seeing the fireworks. I had no idea what I was getting myself into...Friday night at Disneyland is absolute craziness. But after seeing the looks on my kids faces during the fireworks (they have never seen good fireworks, since I am a mean mom and never let them stay up that late), it was definitely worth it (well, except Tyson who thought the "Halloween" fireworks were WAY too scary for a little boy).

It was worth...standing in line for an hour for our food.

It was worth...the extra half hour tacked onto our drive because of traffic.

It was worth...waiting in another line for the bathroom.

It was worth...sitting on the cement listening to the kids complain about being uncomfortable.

It was worth...standing in extra long lines for the rides.

It was worth...getting my fingers stepped on by the little boy behind us.

It was worth...almost getting trampled by the crowds trying to get out of the park right after the fireworks were over.

Oh and did I mention I have a new favorite ride: Toy Story!!

Halloween Here We Come

We are ready for Halloween--finally!!

Our house has been taken over by spider webs.

Our kids all have costumes.

And I think I know what Mike and I are going to be:)

Our Hot Spots

We didn't get to do everything we wanted to in Utah (ie.eat at Brick Oven), but we got pretty darn close. Here's a few of our "spots":

The new indoor football field

Jordan's first home (Union Square)

My first BYU apartment (that Mike claimed was torn down)

Mike's apartment when we met

At the top of the Y--Yah!!

The engagement spot:)

The Cougareat

Creamery on 9th

Salt Lake Temple (where we got married)

Utah = Fun

We just got back last night from a much anticipated trip to Utah! I hadn't been back for EIGHT years!!! We had a fabulous time visiting BYU campus, hiking the Y, visiting old friends, taking pictures of all our memorable spots, seeing the hospital where Jordan was born, and hanging out at temple square. I forgot how beautiful it is up there...and how cheap the houses are...grrr! Anyways, we had a fabulous trip together as a family. As soon as I transfer pictures, I will post them. Oh, and as wonderful as Utah is, it's nice to be back to the sunshine and warm weather:)

All she wants to do is DANCE!!!

Jordan started ballet when she was five and quit by the time she was seven. Kya on the other hand, has never had a chance to try it...and she wants to. So I thought now would be the time (since she's already 6). Anyways, there are two dance studios just down the street from me, so I thought I'd check them out.

Here's how my comparison went:

Studio One

Really small

Reasonably priced

Kinda old and junky

Nice teachers

Studio Two

Incredible website

A little bigger studio

Still reasonably priced

Teacher with incredible credentials

Both studios were the same price, so I opted for Studio 2. I called and talked to the owner/teacher and she was really helpful and nice. She told me the time for Kya's class and we planned our schedule around it. A couple days before class was going to start I called the studio with a question and left a message...no call back. I stopped by the studio during one of their scheduled classes...it was closed. I began to worry. Finally on the day of Kya's class I called and someone answered. The teacher told me that most of the kids from the studio were moving to the new building and that if Kya wanted other kids in the class she should move to the other studio too...thanks for the heads up (seriously...lamo)! Anyways, the first day of class finally arrived and I took Kya to the new studio in her brand new ballet clothes...she was the only kid in her class...grrr!

If that wasn't bad enough, today (one week later) we went to class again and still NO classmates (the teacher assured me that there would be more kids signing up). Anyways, the teacher wasn't even dressed to teach, so I asked if there was another class with kids in it that she could go in...she said come back in an hour. So, we come back in one hour and she is in a ballet/tap combo with two 4-year-olds who are best friends and don't even talk to her. Oh and I forgot the best part...because she moved to the new studio, she upped the prices to $78/month--are you kidding me?! Holy cow...we are DONE there:(

So now, how do I find a ballet school that is right for us? I think were going to try Studio 1 and see how that goes...

(I would have put a picture of Kya in her ballet clothes, but my camera is having some serious issues!)

Family History

I know it's kind of hard to see, but this is what Jordan brought home from Primary on Sunday. It got me thinking...we should really teach our kids more about their Ancestors! I had some amazing grandparents (as do my kids) and I don't want their legacy to die with me--I want my kids to know them and learn from them too, even though they have already passed away.