Halloween

I kept threatening the kids to have their rooms cleaned by 6 or they would not go trick or treating. The girls did a great job, the boys fought. I'm at my wits end as to how to keep these guys' rooms clean! Anyway - by 6 everything was clean, so they got dressed & went out. They got a pile of candy, this picture was taken at the midway point...it's hard to understand how much junk there really is there, but there are several "full size" candy bars there, too. Anyway - I sort them into categories, not sure if it's because I'm anal or if I just want to separate the chocolate out? Anyway - I ended up with 3 rubbermaid shoe boxes full of chocolate and one of suckers, one of what I call chewables (which would consist of things like licorice, skittles or taffy) one of tootsie rolls, - WHO EATS THOSE? no one, they're not real chocolate and they're a sad attempt at candy...one of straight sugar (smarties, pixie stix) and one of hard candy. That usually lasts until the next halloween (giving the kids their choice of junk when they are good or for a special treat) - I let the kids fill up a ziplock baggie of whatever they wanted as long as they could zip it.

Okay - so it's "trick *OR* treat", right? So I handed out tricks - toothbrushes! Everyone got one and I ended up w/ 4 toothbrushes left - so 68 kids got tooth brushes last night. One kid got a little bugged that I didn't give him candy - he was a cocky 10 year old, maybe? and he stepped into the house & saw the pile of candy on the floor and asked "what about that candy" I caught myself before I told him it was my kids' and instead told him that was the candy I took from greedy little kids who didn't appreciate tooth brushes.... then I heard his dad reprimand him on the way out - okay honestly - is halloween a night to "teach" children maners? Seriously...they're begging door to door for candy...and when they don't get it....I'm not sure they would normally know how to act. There were a few older kids that were really excited about it....then I went to get the mail....after the trick or treating was over....and there was a TOOTHBRUSH on the top of the box - sheesh....maybe they already had one?

Church day.

Went to church today. Rossi stayed home sick. About 5 minutes into sacrament meeting Kiersten decided she was sick, as well, so I brought her home. We finished up church and then came back home to find the kids out cold sleeping, turns out they weren't faking it! They both have fevers and "fought" over bath time! As one got out, the other got in and they kept it going like that!

Kiersten blew chunks in her bed so I am washing her bedding now. Ross said he'd fold laundry as long as I kept the baskets full, so I'm working in a frenzy. I hate to do it on Sunday, but I didn't do it all week, it was a "catch up" week and laundry just didn't need to be caught apparently! So I took advantage of all the help I could get, did 8 loads! (and counting, haven't done Kiersten's bedding yet)

Everyone's in bed now. Brynn's awake, Ross is talking with his parents. He does every sunday. I don't talk to mine much, unless I make it a point to call them, and at that dad's watching TV and mom's always going "somewhere" so I don't share too much of anything with either of them. I do get to talk to my in-laws and that gives me the "parental supervision" I crave from time to time.

We did get to read BOM tonight - we missed out on Friday night (up late with Halloween party & my headache) and last night just got busy - I hate missing it, we read quite a bit tonight. Just getting to more of the exciting story parts of the Book of Mormon. Hopefully Kiersten will start to get more excited about it, too!

Still trying to catch up...

Well, today I got up & made breakfast - SHOWERED, got all fixed up while Ross & Rossi mowed lawns & "pertied" up the exterior house, then we went to go see the new Work and the Glory movie. It sure brings appreciation to Joseph Smith and the early saints and the sacrafices they made for strengthening the church.

We went to Home depot & Ross got a new lawn mower. Kali thinks he got a new one cause the old one was dirty - truth be told...it's just falling apart!

Kiersten went to a Halloween party, she quite enjoyed that. Ross went and test drove some cars - found out he didn't fit into the newer Honda Accord, and is in love with a Mercedes Compresser. It's a pretty nice car, except it's a little spendy for a CAR.

Church Halloween Party

So tonight was the ward halloween party - it's a busy day getting everything ready and make sure the kids aren't neglected w/ their costumes. I got some 1/2 price costumes at JoAnns this evening - here's a cute little picture of the nippers. Rossi was the devil, Kiersten was an angel w/ a wand, Kali was Cinderella, Howie is a pirate and Ross is the "pig" daddy.

I still have a headache, so after running around all day long picking up donuts (Ross' donut on a string "booth" for EQ) and making carmel apples for the winner of the donut competition and getting costumes, food, etc, Brynn & I layed low on the dressing up part of the night! Ross gave me a massage & helped the headache go away for a little while anyway! He's a good husband. I sure lucked out in that department.

All better....so far?

Well, when I got up yesterday, I was feeding Brynn and flipping channels, saw a Denise Austin work out show on - and was kind of glad, cause then I could have a little variety in my working-out (not that I am currently working out or anything - but just in case I eventually decide that's something I might want to possibly consider in the distant future some time?) Anyway - this morning I actually put a dvd in to record it and recorded it! How exciting for me? Wore me right out, so I went back to bed.

Brynn slept all night - straight through - that was SO good for me, I had such a migrane going to bed last night, I still have a little hum of a headache, but I feel good enough to move around at least. Although I really do want to get my heart pumping a little bit, I'm afraid the way I've been feeling lately, I'd get another migrane in the works. So for now, I'm just going to continue to catch up.

What is catching up? I am not sure I ever was where I wanted to be so I have a goal or a place to feel "caught up" one of these days - maybe I'll be pushing up daisy's - but one of these days I'm totally going to have a completely clean house, dishes, laundry, mopping, everything so that I can sit down and say - gosh - I have nothing to do - and MEAN it!

Sick Day?

Just got back from getting Brynn's shots - break the heart. She just cried for a second, then konked right out.

BUT I'm a little miffed...Howie fell asleep last night at about 7 - which is HIGHLY unusual and didn't wake up until 10:30 today when I woke him up to go to the doctor's for Brynn. Okay - he wet - which is also not normal for him - and so I put him in the bath - which is also not normal for him (hahah - just kidding, sounded like it fit, though) and then I came back in here to get Brynn ready - went back in there and he was laying down in the bath trying to sleep EEEEEK - so I got him out, got him dressed and had to carry him to the car, he doesn't have a fever at this point. But I'm thinking something's wrong - last time he acted like this - he had pnemonia.

SOOOO - get to the doctor's check Brynn in - ask if there's another openeing, nope, can't see Howie. Whatever, so I went back w/ Brynn, Howie climbed up on the exam table and fell asleep. - oh - rewind - he COULD NOT walk from the car to the doctor's office - he had NO energy - I had to carry him. - okay - so nurse comes in - measures Brynn, takes her temp, asks about Howie, I said he wasn't feeling well, this is highly unlike him and I think he may have pnemonia, do they have a pulse ox machine? no they don't (what kind of dr's office doesn't?????) anyway - she sort of shrugged and left (didn't even offer to take his temp) SO then the doctor comes in - same thing - looks at the table, "what's wrong w/ him" I said he was sick, he has absolutely no energy and can't keep his eyes open, I don't know what's wrong with him...she sort of ignored it and then did Brynn's check up - UH - HELLOOOO?? I swear if I was a doctor, I wouldn't care WHAT other snotty nosed kids were in the other waiting room, obviously there's something wrong w /the boy - and how hard is it to listen to his lungs? What? Afraid of liable? Fine, check his butt in & THEN listen to his lungs - I totally can't believe they had no COMPASSION on a dead, lifeless looking kid! So I had to wake him up after Brynn got her shots & carry him to the car because he COULD NOT EVEN STAND UP! On my way out, the nurse sort of looked at me & chuckled the "my, your hands are full" chuckle - uh - WTH?

Anyway - so I came straight home - I wanted to feed brynn, but she's out cold in her car seat - so Howie climbed on to the couch, started to drift out then told me he wanted Eggo's. I'm thinking that he's feeling better - but NO, I make his eggo's he sits down to eat them and pukes in his plate. I cleaned up the mess and then he asked for more eggo's! UH - so I made him more - I figger if he's got the appetite, let him eat, right? So far he's wide awake and ate two eggo's and a handful of chips....what do I make of that? I'm keeping him home from school today, JUST IN CASE!

And nice to know that today is my "make dinner for everyone" day in the co-op thingy - hopefully everything will go smooth from here on out. (I'm moving, but I'm not going anywhere!)

TRYING

Kali is still having a hard time getting "moving" in the morning - I think it might be because Kiersten has her alarm go off at 5:00 a.m. She's trying to be like Ross or something, but he's quiet when he gets up, she sort of wakes everyone up, so I told her no more getting up before 6. I feel like I have so much to do around the house and I can't seem to get into gear. I did clear off the desk today - I'm going to try to do something about the clutter. Trying to finish the last of the thank you cards for Brynn, I don't remember who I sent them to and who I didn't...and who I forgot about alltogether. I also need to get these pictures out to family...not sure who I sent it to and who I have left to send them to. I totally feel unorganized and scattered! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?! I did take a B vitamin suppliment today and am feeling a little more energy, though.

Back into a routine.....

Kids back in school today! YIPPEE! Kali didn't want to go until I reminded her that she had a disney lunch box - that got her dressed quick. Shot them out the door and tried to lay back down, but Brynn was being so durn cute! Too bad I don't share that same sediment during the night! She WAS sleeping through the night the week before we left for DL and then all the week we were there (maybe she knew I couldn't deal w/ being tired all day long) she slept all night long, but the last two nights - NOPE not gonna play THAT game. Anyway - today she's been kind of fussy. Not sure why, she's liking the swing, though.

OH - and I'm in this dinner co-op thing - guess what's for dinner tonight - frozen macaroni and cheese with lil' smokies. Gosh, how do I tell them to step it up a notch?

Sunday again

So we figured out if we're going to catch up on our BOM reading, we have to read 7 pages a day - I hope we can get it done!

Last Day - PTL!!!

I'm SO ready to get home! Aaron wants to meet up with us & have us sleep at his place one more night, but we're so tired from the festivities all day long running from place to place that we're ready to get home - plus, I don't think he is prepared to accomodate 7 people in a normally quiet peaceful home! SO we packed up and left.

I was so tired I actually fell asleep in the car on the way home - how'd THAT happen!? We made it home & unpacked and SLEPT until 8:45 when Kiersten woke us up for church - "we're going to be late" uh - ya THINK?

California Adventure & Last day at Disneyland

We got to sleep in today - by like an HOUR. California Adventures doesn't open until 10, and closes at 6...We got there just before 10 and got a fast pass to Soaring over California (the wait was already 50 minutes and the fast pass time was an hour from then) so then we went around & jumped right on the rapid ride - did that 3 or four times - my camera battery went dead again (those stupid dollar store batteries are only good for 1/2 a picture) SO I had to buy a new battery from the highway robbery store...4 Dollar store batteries $1, plus a 45 cent debit card charge; 4 AA Energizer batteries at California Adventure park $18.36, Frustration for not buying 18 more 4 packs of AA batteries at the dollar store - PRICELESS...anyway - it says that these batteries last up to 7 times longer than "regular" batteries - so I'm hoping this will last me through the next 12 years, if so, it would be worth it - if not, I'm going back to CA Adventure park & getting a refund for false advertisement.

Okay - so just as the park was closing - we sent Ross & Kiersten to RUN to the back of the park where the loop-de-loop roller coaster was - we had 6 fast passes and wouldn't be able to use them, so they ran back there, got to the front of the line & wouldn't you know it - the ride broke down - three cars were stuck in various places on the roller coaster - Ross & Kiersten were the next ones on - and they even got FRONT ROW - but no, they got kicked off - early that day, Kali tried to get on it, but measured literally a HAIR too short, she started crying and the operator there gave her a fast pass to the front of any ride there...so that took the tears away (does she get this crying for free stuff from her mom? hmmm, I wonder) anyway - the kids came back frustrated that they didn't get to ride - so I ran by the front - "Customer SERVICE" booth and asked for free tickets - but because I didn't turn the water works on, I only got fast passes to the front of another ride- Kali used hers to get to the front of the Tower of Terror. I don't know WHY the kids think that's such a fun ride - I flew off my seat and about lost my lunch on it. Kali rode on it a second time w/ her dad.

So we took the extra fast pass back over to disneyland and went to the front of Thunder Mountain - which was real cool, because the line was wrapped around the mountain and there was a 90 minute wait with NO available fast passes for the rest of the night...well, funny story...the ride broke down - wait - did I say funny - I was lying. It wasn't funny - but while they were riding, I went to the front of the castle where the best viewing for the firework display was to be had....

So they rode on various other rides abusing the fast pass/switch pass trick - and then they returned for the firework display - which I must say was THE BEST I have ever seen. They put fireworks to various music attached to different rides - like Indiana Jones, Star Tours and Buzz lightyear, it was incredible! I got some out of focus pictures, here's one... you can't really see much of anything - oh - during the Indiana Jones display, they had these HUGE torch fire things shooting out the sides of the castle. Pretty cool if you ask me.

The park didn't close until midnight - but we were done in for at 10:00 - so we went to take the shuttle, missed it by a hair - Howie was out cold....we were losing Kali quickly - and the stroller was full of miscellaneous things - so we opted to huff it back to the hotel instead of waiting another 1/2 hour - and the cool thing is - we totally beat the shuttle. the kids were pert-near out cold by the time we got back to the hotel. We slept in until 8:15 the next morning - Brynn was SOOO good - she likes sleeping in the stroller!

Back to Disneyland

We had an early entry pass today, got there abuot 15 minutes before we could go in - and it took us 45 minutes to get into the park - they had unusually high numbers today, so much that they decided to keep the park open an extra hour. The crowds were unreal, like summer crowds, the wait in most lines were long and the fast passes were being distributed hours ahead. So we went to the fantasy land and did dumbo, the carosel, tea pots, and others. I think I'm getting bored with this whole theme park thing. WAY too crowded for me.

Knotts Berry Farm

Went to Knotts Berry Farm today - it was a big dissapointment. The rides were good, but the lines - while hardly anyone was there, were NOT moving very fast - they only had one "car" operating for most of the rides. So w/ only a few people in front of us, it still took 10 minutes to get on the ride. Poor Howie couldn't ride on most of them, he could ride on the kiddy rides that were really "beneath" his excitement level. Kali barely was tall enough to get on the rides. The older kids enjoyed them. I got anxiety headache from getting on the 208' drop ride. Yep, pretty sure I'm just too old to like the thrill of the rides any more! Good thing the park closed at 5:30.

OH, and the cool part about today was that in one of the trinket shops, we found that wooden snake that Rossi was eye-balling on Sunday (but didn't buy because it was Sunday) it was only $2 here, so we got it for him. He told us that night he thanked Heavenly Father for "rewarding" him for keeping the sabath day holy.

We went to Red Robin for dinner - I was wanting a nice juicy burger - when we told the kids we were going there, Kali sang the song "Red Robin...baaaaaaa" It was pretty funny/cute! Then after dinner we went back to the hotel. We got to get a chapter or two in from the BOM, not sure if the kids were paying much attention to it or not, but at least we did it.

First day at Disneyland.

Can't believe it's already Tuesday. We went to Disneyland today, the crowds were not that bad, but more than we expected. We got to ride all the rides except the fantacy land rides. Space mountain wasn't that different from before, the kids really liked that one as well as Splash mountain. I sat out on most the rides with Brynn, maybe I'm turning into an old lady, but it was nice. We ate pasta for lunch - it wasn't that bad, either.

San Diego Wild Animal Park

We got up first thing (again - this time it was Brynn's alarm clock) and went to the Wild Animal Park. It was pretty foggy/overcast. We got a front row parking spot & went right in, looked at one or two animal exhibits and then took the train tour. It's an hour long, but we got to see a lot of the exhibits and animals that we wouldn't have gotten to see if we were walking.

After the train ride, we started taking the safari walk route, saw a few animals - the gorilla's, went into "south africa" part of the park, because we were going to walk our way around to the cheetah exhibit, they were feeding the cheetah at 1:30 (stopped for lunch, first, got Kiersten a "keepsake" drink w/ a cheetah lid - free refils all day long!) We got to the cheetah exhibit a little early, so we walked over to look at the giraffes. It cost $2 to feed one, but no one was there today, it was a little drizzley, and actually starting to pick up in the rain department. I went into the bathroom to feed Brynn, and could hear it pouring. When I came back out - about 20 minutes later, the rain was really coming down hard. Turns out they had cancelled the cheetah feeding - what cat wants to be out in the rain - even if it was for food?

We ran back to the front of the zoo - in the rain - stopped by to appreciate the irony of the "Austrailian Rain Forrest" and then got a rain check. Most of the animals don't like the rain and they were inside their caves & other shelter. We got a rain check and left early for Anaheim. This was kind of nice, as we were still tired and felt like we needed another few hours of nothing!

Sunday in San Diego

Today we went to Glenita's ward. The talks were on reaping what we sow. Pretty good, considering it hit me like a brick wall why Rossi was being so smart alecky lately. Man, being an example is hard. After church, we went to the San Diego temple, Glenita took pictures of us. One of my favorite pictures is this one of the kids walking the straight and narrow path along the outside of the temple. I couldn't resist taking this picture, they all look so angelic - lined up, quietly balancing along the curbing while they walked one behind the other, all in order of height! It was a perfect peaceful moment for me, until my battery in my camera went dead, then I made them all pose exactly how they were walking - they had to stand there for like 5 minutes while I figured out the dead battery problem. Man, that was annoying! But still, it was a candid moment, if not for the dead batteries. After the temple, Ross & I took a "nap" while the kids watched the Lion King on DVD in the common area of the community apartment...it was a quick one, and a much needed one. Afterwords, we went to Old Town and visited the Mormon Batalion, watched a historical film on it, that was very informative and touching. We then walked around old town a bit more. We came to a vendor selling various trinkets, Rossi really wanted a "lifelike" wooden snake from there, it was $7, we told him we'd rather not buy it because it was Sunday, and we wanted to just enjoy our little walk and not "go shopping" it was so beautiful out there! Almost beautiful enough to convince me to want to move there, but alas, reality hit when I realized what it would cost to house a family of 7 in San Diego, so I decided we're happy in Phoenix!

We did get a few chapters of the BOM in tonight. Glenita came over later & we talked for a little while, and said our goodbyes, we were going to pack & leave from the zoo tomorrow. It was awesome for her to let us stay there!

Sea World

We got up "early" this morning - it wasn't Brynn who woke us up - but Howie & Kali (who slept in the car the entire drive & was well rested) woke up & started plotting the events that were expected to come to life today, very nice, WHISPERED - in their loud breathy whisper and it woke everyone up. So we took inventory of what we had, showered, got "settled" picked up the air mattresses and bedding, etc and left for breakfast. We found a McDonalds - (see how much we love the kids - Ross & I can't STAND eating there, but the kids love the viddles) spent about $25 on 4 breakfast sandwich meals & a few breakfast burrito's - then we drove on in to Sea World.

We went straight to the new ride "Atlantis" The kids loved it - and went on it a few times. We saw a few of the exhibits. The highlight of the day was the dolphin show. Howie was selected out of the audience to be part of the program. Ross went with him and they joined up w/ Amber who played the "mom." Both Ross & Howie got to interact with the dolphins and a whale - or a shark or something - I dont remember, but it was a black & white fish of sorts. Howie was given a waterproof camera from Fuji and they took a bunch of pictures from the "front row" Ross got to pet & feed the black & white fish thingy.

Then Amber got to hold a rope up for Dolly to jump over....Howie got to pet the dolphin. He compared it's feel to a hot dog. The workers thought that was pretty funny, most kids think it feels like Rubber. I don't know that Howie has spent a lot of time feeling rubber, but he does know what a hot dog feels like!

Anyway - while Howie was interacting with the dolphin, his "mom" was taking pictures and lost her balance and fell in the dolphin tank - a dolphin went up to her and she held on to the dolphin as he took her around the tank. It was such a fun experience for Ross & Howie. Kiersten would have LOVED to be a part of that, she really likes dolphins, but they were looking for a child between the ages of 4 & 7....I sent them Howie, because I figured Kali would chicken out when she had to actually GO up to the dolphin.

We also saw the Shamu show and a pet show, among others. I think the kids really liked the shark exhibit! Kiersten enjoyed taking pictures with her camera. Now she just has to earn the money to develop the film that she used!

Anxiety

We left today for our family vacation to use up the Southern California City Pass - $165 for an adult and $114 for a child ticket. We bought 3 of each. $850 or so. We left at 6p.m. and drove straight to San Diego, to a studio apartment about 3 miles from the beach and 5 miles from Sea World! It's in a retired community apartment, but hey, it's free, thanks to Ross' cousin Glenita Lolita. We got in around 1 a.m. and went straight to sleep.

I had a little anxiety about going on vacation while Brynn is still so young. But we have gone every year and I didn't want to be the reason for not going. The kids are on a 2 week intersession from school, the first week at home, they were driving me crazy - how can a kid have so much energy - so I was glad to have Ross take the week off work - which really gave me a week off.

We downloaded the audio scriptures (BOM) on Ross' laptop so we could try to keep up on our reading to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year - I hope we have enough energy to read each night after we get in from our day's activities.