During the Week

I LOVE my Cali friends. We laughed loud and often, we cried when we wanted, we were together quite a bit, we played hard, we talked until late, we worked on projects, we learned from each other, we had each others backs, we gave our hearts to each other, we served each other, we didn't gossip- it was magical.

One friend in particular was a part of my everyday life.  This beautiful gal is a much nicer loving person than I can ever be.  We watched each other's kids for date night and everything in between.  We were pregnant last together and had a joint baby shower.  I had Michael two weeks earlier because I was induced and found out a few days later we were moving. I didn't have the heart to tell her we were moving until after she had her sweet baby.  I knew it would break her heart like it broke mine.

but alas we moved when her cutie girl was just a week old.  These smiles are so fake

and we came back to visit!  In So Cal we stayed at her house all week long.  While Hero Camp was going on we had FHE at the park with lots of friends, went to the beach, went to the swimming pool, and had girls night.  It was an action packed week and I saw so many dear friends.

The last day of Hero Camp we went to the Lagoon and for the 1st time the kids went on the boats.

are they not gorgeous!!?

Also, the Sunday I went to church in my old ward, I got to see 1 of my college best friends. She lives in Washington DC but was visiting her husbands family.  Awesome timing!

On the way home, we stayed the night at my my other best friend from college in St George and then stopped in Provo overnight to see 3 families that had moved there from So Cal.  I absolutely loved seeing these precious friends.

Such wonderful times!

Hero Camp 2011

In my heart of hearts, I love Hero Camp. I love the week long fun that my friends have volunteered to organize.  I love the theme that we need a special Hero in our lives- Jesus Christ.  I love that the kids explore Scripture Heros and learn how to be like them in real life.  I love making the gospel fun.  I love seeing my kids have fun with gospel minded themes.  I love the songs they sing, I love the crafts they make, I love the fun activities, I love the shows they watch, I love the books they take home.  The books are amazing and have pics of them throughout the week.  Since I am not with them the whole time and because my pics are horrible, I mainly just have videos taken in a crowded room at the angle I get from my seat.

One of the best parts of was that I was able to see my friends for hours of each day.  I love them!!

I have had the privilege of being co in charge of a day for the 4th year and this year since I am far away I was mainly in charge of the craft since it did not take much volunteer organizing. My amazing friend in charge of the whole week deserved something awesome from the participants so I pulled a Kelly and made a quilt for the kids to put hand prints on.  The theme this year was "Its my Story"  Stephanie has been a hand in my kids story because if Hero Camp.

This song really got me all choked up. Some of oldest kids have been doing this for 6 years. I am gratiful they have that extra shove in the right direction with Hero Camp.  I really hope they let their light shine in life.

I have a link to a video of the slide show of the week.  You can see the kids a little too up close to keep other people private but if you are a friend and want to see a closer look at Hero Camp, email me and I can send you a link.

Northern Cali

Since we moved I had high hopes that I would be able to return this summer to visit and to attend hero camp.
The time was drawing near and I started wondering if it was a good idea to drive 16 + hours with 5 kids.  I asked the kids how they would feel if we skipped it and Rory said she would be "devastated".  I decided I would be too.  When my mother in law offered to keep the babies since they would need to be at our house then anyway, I hesitated.  How could I NOT bring my babies on a road trip??  When I really thought about it I wondered why I WOULD bring them.  The trip would be so so so much better without them.  I would actually be able to play with the olders!  I almost chickened out but I am so glad they were able to be in their own world with grandma, grandpa, Chad, and Roger.


Since we were driving, I decided to take the long road down and drive 10 hours to Roger's sister's home.  My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE going to their home.  It was the shortest stay with them ever.  We were there for 36 and 16 of that was sleeping.  We managed to squeeze in lots of play, piecing a quilt top, and going out on the boat

From there we drove 3 hours to San Jose to see my brothers for less than 24 hours.  We ate dinner at Aaron's house with his wife, my brother Russell and his cute squeeze.  We them drove to Russell's tree house.  Oh how my kids love staying in his tree house.

Here is the view out his back door

 In the morning we took a beautiful hike in his backyard and smelled flowers and walked on logs.

So fun!! We left after the hike for our next destination 6 hours away.

Independence

This kid of mine- oh this kid. This is scary to say because we have raised very independent brilliant kids but I think Levi may be our most independent and smartest kid yet.  Seeing how he is only 2 makes that opinion very tiring.  The other day we found him in the tree.

 

This resulted in Roger taking down the steps making it harder for everyone else to climb the tree.

 

When Lena was here she came outside where Roger and I were working and told us Levi would not stay in his crib.  What?? He had never climbed out before.  Sure enough, he was moved into a big kid bed.

He is quick to move a stool to wherever he would like something- like vitamins for example.

I have 1 kind of diaper that he can not unsnap. All others may as well be velcro he unsnaps them so fast.  He has no problem being nudy in cousin's backyard.

Unfortunately he also a terror to Michael including pushing him down the stairs when I was steps away.  That broke my heart seeing him roll down.

He loves to show affection, count and sing.  I love watching him sing.  Simeon never liked to sing and has only been doing it the last year or so.  Love him!

This one is not far behind in his ability to create havoc.

Beautiful Rory

This fantastic girl of mine is 9!!

She is a blast of energy, laughter, and beauty.  She helps with the babies and the house and is often reading 5 books quickly at one time. She is strong and rocks at soccer.  She is the 1st to raise her hand for anything.  She sings beautifully and aspires to play the harp.  She is always looking for a craft to do and is unique in her fashion choices.  She is girly and tough enough for this houseful of boys.

Looking similar to her brother is often frustrating but I think she secretly likes it.

They even got matching pallet expanders on the same day and will have matching braces too

She has another twin from church and school too.  I can tell which is which.  Do they fool you?

Awesome Gal

Cousins

After our home was done with the stomach bug, Roger's sister stayed at our home with 3 of her kids.  We hiked Table Rock.  Levi walked a good portion of it.  I liked his pace since I am out of that kind of shape and I was still feeling the residuals of the bug.  I really was fine with this view.

The rest of the group wanted to go to the top.  Lena gave me a break from carrying Levi.  Nice view huh?

Almost there. . .

We made it!

There is a big cross on the top.

Grandma helped on the way up too and Levi fell asleep on the way down

Then we went swimming! Chad met us there.  Roger wasn't all the way better. No pools on every corner here.  We have to pay :(

On Wed. we went to waste management and did hands on projects.

and took a tour. 

Yummy chocolate river :)

After that, all of our guests, grandma, and grandpa got the bug and left for home not quite recovered.  Nasty bug

Right in my Backyard

JT was DEVASTATED to move for a few reasons but much of it had to do with leaving the karate dojo he had been with for almost 5 years.  Since we came, he has been pestering  asking us when and where he could do karate.  Truth is- we are lazy and stingy.  We did not want to drive him twice a week to an expensive dojo and have been putting it off hoping that a better solution would turn up.  Folks, it showed up right in our back yard.
Can you see what is happening past past our crazy English Walnut tree, the fence, Roger, his brother, his dad, Michael and Rory?

Let me zoom in for you.

Yup. Karate twice a week for 2 hours each night for $15 a month- right in our backyard.  Awesome.