Family Tradition

One of my favorite traditions that we have started with the kids is spending Sundays at Grandpa’s house.  Each Sunday after church we take the kids and a ton of luggage to my dad’s.  Sometimes it feels like a lot of work for me, taking a bunch of bags with special Sunday treats, clothes, toys, and anything else we might need to make it through the day.  But in the end it’s always worth it.  The kids love to spend time with Grandpa and we love the awesome dinners!

Here are some pictures from yesterday…

 

Thomas singing in church next to my mom.  I wouldn’t normally take a picture during sacrament but he looked so cute and we were in the back row.

 

Thomas covered Michele up with a blanket while she took her traditional Sunday nap.

 

 

 

 

 

Noelle eating popcorn while we played outside.

 

 

 

 

Michele, Thomas, and I playing hopscotch while Indy tried to bite our ankles.

 

 

Dad getting ready to cook a Stockton favorite fried asparagus.

 

 

 

 

The end our our night, the kids are clean and in their pajamas, we eat dessert and watch America’s Funniest Home Videos.

I love Sundays!!!

Lets Go Fly a Kite

While Dave and Noelle slept in late this morning Thomas and I made pancakes from scratch for breakfast.  It was my first time without help from Bisquick.  Julie would be so proud! 

They were very good especially topped with my homemade strawberry freezer jam.  I had only had the cooked kind and then several years ago Sister Welton gave me some of her freezer jam and my life was transformed.  It’s the only way to go.  It tastes so fresh and sweet, I love it!  My mom is going to laugh and say that I am finally becoming domestic after so many years of refusing to do so, but I think I just needed to find the right place to blossom in.  I think I’m finally here.

The weather here has changed dramatically in the past few days.  The temperature today was about 25 degrees less than it was on Tuesday and it was totally windy!  Not good for Thomas’ allergies but great for flying a kite.  So that’s what we did.

 

Dave spent more time flying the kite than the kids did.

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas taking a turn.

 

 

 

 

 

Noelle had to take a turn as well but to be honest she was much more interested in the dogs at the dog park down the way.

Spring?

We have decided to embrace California’s idea of Spring at our house!  So, this still being April mind you, yesterday when it was 94° in Stockton and we were  just getting over the flu, we headed outside to play in the water!  The kids had a great time and I enjoyed at least one hour without anyone crying!

I was getting excited to go to the farmer’s market this Thursday evening to feast in the bounty of the central valley but apparently they don’t open until June!  I guess we will feast from Raley’s until then…

Pretty Baby

Noelle found a Sharpie on Tuesday.  Enough said.

Fort Mertz

Dave has been so anxious for me to share these pictures so here they are.  Several months ago Dave’s mom bought a new house and it came with a huge play structure in the backyard.  At first, she and Lynn were excited to have it for the grandkids to use but the excitement soon fizzled and the decision was made that it had to go to make way for a new gazebo and a koi pond.  So last weekend Dave, Lynn, and Lynn’s friend Bill disassembled it and drove it from Elk Grove to Stockton.Dave then spent the next TWO full days putting it together.   Then, he spent the next whole day building a perimeter around it and hauling 6 1/2 yards of playground bark to fill it with.  After all of his hard work the kids  have a really cool place to play!

As Dave was working on the fort we had some landscapers come and lay new sod in the backyard.I’m so excited to have grass in the backyard after over a year of dirt at the old house and the kids are already loving the fort!!  Too bad it’s going to rain all week!

I can’t believe I’m 30….

So, I turned 30 on Thursday and I had almost a month long celebration.  It started out with Dinner with my dad, Michele, Dave, and the kids at BJ’s almost 3 weeks ago, since Thomas and Michele were going to be gone on my actual birthday.  The service was less than great but the food was good.  When we got home I was shocked by the awesome presents.  Be still my soul…. Dave got me this beautiful Cuisinart!!  Oh, tomato bisque here I come!!!!

Dad, Michele, Troy, and Julie went in on this Wii Fit.  Are they trying to tell me something? Just kidding, I totally asked for it.

Last but not least, Michele made me these  amazing scrapbooks filled with memories from my childhood all the way up to nursing school and the births of Thomas and Noelle.  They are beautiful.  Have I mentioned how blessed I am to have her for a sister?

My actual birthday was spent at home with Dave and Noelle.  Dave made a delicious surf and turf dinner and then we went and got frozen yogurt at Nubi. 

The next day was lunch out with friends from work.  We went to Chili’s, where I hadn’t been in forever.  Here is Noelle enjoying chips and dip..surprise!

 

Finally, yesterday Dave and I enjoyed a day in San Francisco while Noelle was staying with his mom.

We went and saw Grease at Golden Gate Theater.  It was a good show and Taylor Hicks plays Teen Angel, it was fun to see an “American Idol”.

 

 

 

After the show we headed over to Pier 39 to do some window shopping and have dinner.  We had a scrumptious seafood dinner at Neptune’s Palace and had fun just strolling around.

All in all I had a fun birthday month and turning 30 wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  With all the craziness that life brings I have been kind of down on myself lately.  This birthday has given me the opportunity to reflect on my life and I have realized that I have much to be thankful for.  If you know me than you know that I love lists, so in honor of my 30th…

Things I am Thankful for…

1.  A nice home for my family, I just wished I owned fewer homes..

2.  A good job which not only helps me provide for my family but also provides me with learning opportunities, comic relief, and friendship.

3.  A wonderful, supportive family.

4.  Two beautiful children, who make everything worth the hard work.

5.  A loving and kind boyfriend.

Goals that I have for my 30th year…

1.  Get in shape.  Notice that I didn’t say loose weight.  I have come to the conclusion that I am a terrible dieter and that will never work for me.  What will work is a change in lifestyle.  I want to be a healthier, more confident me, not the skinniest girl in the room.  I think that is very “grown up” of me.

2.  Take up running.  I have always wanted to run a marathon.  I’m not promising that but I would like to be able to run a few miles without having an asthma attack or an MI.

3.  Get married.

4.  Continue going to church each Sunday on my weekend off.  It’s good for the kids and good for my soul.

5.  Have daily prayer and read the scriptures.  This has been hard for me, since my divorce I feel a little disconnected.  When my temple marriage ended less that 3 years after it began I didn’t  loose my belief I just felt unworthy.  I am trying to gat back where I need to be with my Heavenly Father.

Bon Voyage

 

Michele and Thomas left for San Diego yesterday.  They are going to be babysitting my brother’s little boy, Tyler, while he and his wife go to Mexico for a week.  I was so nervous to let him go but he was excited to ride on the airplane and he got a new Spiderman back pack for the trip so he was excited to wear it.

I took Thomas to get a hair cut before the trip and I wanted to do something different.  So, I got him a faux hawk.  I think he looks super cute!

After dropping Thomas and Michele at the airport Dave and I took Noelle to the Sacramento Zoo.  The weather was great and Noelle had a fabulous time. The flamingos were her favorite.

Daddy and Noelle having fun in the gift shop.

Noelle’s favorite part of the trip!! Pink popcorn and a purple orangutan cup!!

These are Noelle’s new shoes. I wouldn’t normally think  new velcro shoes were newsworthy but Noelle was so excited about them that she was actually talking to strangers to tell them about her new shoes.  For Noelle, this was a big accomplishment.  She doesn’t like to talk to anyone, even Grammy and Grandpa sometimes.  I was excited to see here coming out of her shell a little.

We finished the day by having dinner at Dave mom and step dad’s (Daddy’s Nana and Papa Lynn’s) house in Elk Grove.  It was a good chance to visit and a great meal.

On a side note-  Today is my 30th birthday.  I want to thank everyone for their birthday wishes and the great gifts.  More on my birthday to come…