For his 40th...

So, I really tried to make Will's birthday a little special.  After all, you only turn 40 once and four decades of life is a pretty big deal.  He was such a super husband taking over all of my duties while I was in New York City and packing two kids up for camp on top of it (not to mention working his full time job and being a great dad all the time too).  

Last night, I took Will to see Flight of the Conchords in concert.  We were first introduced to the band by our friends when we went to visit them years ago.  We had to send away for the DVDs of the show through Netflix.  FOTC is hilarious and their concert did not disappoint in anyway.  Their opening acts were also super funny.  It was a great night (even if a little chilly).  

Happy 40th Birthday Babe!  I love you.  Next year, on June 17th we are really going to party.  

Mountain View Amphitheater 

Saying goodbye to dear friends

We found out earlier this spring that our dear friends, the Pereas, would be moving to Florida as soon as school was out.  We were sad.  They have kids that line up with ours and we love them all.  Colter will be especially sad, their son, Eli, is his age and they have been in home-preschool together this year.  

Debbie and I took Karina out for dinner one night to say our goodbyes.  Later in the week we had a park play date to say goodbye to everyone.  Good luck in Florida Perea Family!  We will miss you!

Karina and her coconut drink

Lorien's 4th year at girls camp...or her 3rd...

Because we had Lorien skip a grade she also skipped a year of girls camp.  Will had to pack and prepare Lorien for her trip while I was away in NYC too.  Lorien did call me a couple of times panicked because she couldn't find one thing or another.  She needed to be packed for two days of regular girls camp and three days of an over night, back country hiking trip.  It was a lot of work.  I am so proud of Will for taking both Lorien and Wyatt's camp packing on!  He did a great job and the kids had a blast.  

Lorien left for camp before I came home from NYC.  I got home late Monday night.  Will and I got to see each other for a few hours.  He left to head up to Lorien's camp the next morning (early in the morning).  He was one of the male chaperones for Lorien's level 4 hike.  So, he had to pack two kids and himself!  Crazy...crazy awesome.  

I should get Lorien and Will to write up this part of the blog.  I am not going to be able to do the hike justice.  But if I wait any longer nothing will get posted so I'll do my best.  

The first cool thing was that because of the rain we got this winter there was snow up on the hike for the first time in years.  The only problem was that the usual route the girls took for the level 4 hike had not been taken yet this year.  The organizers were not confident that the girls could make the trip with the trails being unchecked.  The organizers had planned a simpler hike, more of an easy there-and-back.  This was only disappointing because in the original hike the girls get to hike back into the main part of girls camp.  They are cheered into camp, bells are run, chants shouted out.  It is quite triumphant.  With the alternate route the girls would leave from cars and hike back to cars with no cool return to camp.  After much deliberation between the adults of the group Will and the other leaders were confident they could guide the girls through the original route and get them back to camp for a triumphant teturn.  So they headed off into the wilderness.  

The first stop was at a lake high in the mountains.  The girls and leaders all jumped off a 30 foot cliff into the freezing water.  

The hike was hard and unifying.  I hope Lorien wrote some of it down in her journal.  

Daddy daughter time.

Will was able to get lots of Daddy daughter time with Lorien.  She worked hard to help and encourage the girls on the hike.  Will gave a great devotional about standing on the shoulders of giants.  He also led a group of extra brave girls up an even higher slope for a fantastic view.

They found snow and bonded over the trial of a three day hike.  

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I don't remember most of the details (i am actually writing all of this a few months later...).  But I know it was amazing.  I know Lorien grew and learned.  I know Will was reminded of how much he loves backpacking.  It was a cool trip.  

The best part of the hike was their triumphant return into camp.  The other campers were not expecting 4th years to come back that way.  It was very awesome (so I am told).  

I am so proud of this girl!

Sending Wyatt off

I'm not kidding, we started summer off in the craziest way.  While I was in New York, Will had to pack and prepare Lorien and Wyatt for their camp trips.  Wyatt left first Monday morning at 3:00 am.  Thankfully, Uncle David agreed to have Wyatt sleep over Sunday night and take him to the meet up point with his cousin, Evan.  I didn't see Wyatt for almost a week after I got back home.  One of the Boys Scout leaders put up an Instagram account with pictures of what the boys were up to.  I loved getting a peak of Wyatt through Instagram.  He had a great week.  He learned a lot and got to make weapons, play card games with his friends...oh and learn how to shoot guns.  It was a very eventful week for Wyatt.

Weapons Master

Best part of NYC...recommendations

When we weren't discussing our personal lives, comforting each other and offering advice or hugs we were giving each other product suggestions.  Little stuff we had bought or done that made life easier...or more fun.  Mostly, we suggested books to read or listen to.  Anne introduced Ashley and me to Snapchat.  It is hilarious to take pictures of ourselves with wacky filters.  My kids love it.  I only send stuff to Anne and Ashley.  It is my favorite recommendation...and it was free.

Snap Chat!

High class...high tea

The three of us went to church with Ashley Sunday morning.  Her ex-husband met us there with their four kids.  It was Father's Day and the kids were going to sing to their Dad.  It had been a stressful exchange to get everyone to church and Ashley was not feeling great...emotionally.  Anne decided the best pick-me-up would be a trip to the Plaza Hotel for High Tea.  I had never heard of such a thing but was totally up for it.

We took a classic New York City cab ride across town to the Plaza.  I'm sure it wasn't the craziest cab ride in history but it was crazy enough for me.  We all got car sick.  We did arrive safely at the Plaza.  It was beautiful!  We were excited for our Tea Party.

While we waited for our table we had some fancy nonalcoholic drinks at the bar.  We all shared and so got to taste everything.  

The actual tea was too fun!  I wish I coul dhave taken my girls.  I guess I'll have to find a hotel in California that has High Tea, it would be fun to take my kids to.  We ate piles of little food and sipped on tea.  It was relaxing and adorable.  

Anne had to head home Sunday night.  We spent the rest of our time together talking and giving each other support.  It was such a great trip.  I wish we could get together every weekend.  It would be the best therapy.  I admire and love these two women so much.  I cannot say how grateful I am for their strength and love.  I love them!

More, more, more NYC

Saturday was the day to see as much of the city as we could squeeze into our waking ours.  We made all kinds of plans.  We woke up, stayed in our pajamas, and talked the whole day away.  We aren't sure how it happened...yes we are...we just couldn't stop talking.  At last, we got showered and dressed and went out for dinner.  We had tickets for an 8 o'clock show...we had to get dressed.  

Anne had hurt her back the day before our trip.  She still came out on the trip, but because of her back we ended up taking Taxis around town most of the time.  

We had dinner at this great Thai place near Times Square.  The food was pretty good.  I thought I had eaten better Thai food out here in California but it was still yummy.  The best part for me was this crane out front of the restaurant.  I knew Colter would have loved seeing this crane...so I had to get a few pictures for him.  

On our walk to the theater district we passed the theater where Hamilton is on.  It was thrilling!  Our theater was just across the street from Hamilton so we took a picture and stared jealously at the people in line for Hamilton.  

We watched Fiddler on the Roof.  I loved the movie as a kid and had most of the songs memorized.  It was great to watch live on the stage.  Just before our show started, I got a call from my oldest sister.  Another sister is going through some family troubles and we had to chat about it for a few minutes.  I already knew the play was going to make me emotional...knowing a dear family member was going through difficult times did not make me cry less.  I cried for the whole opening...the whole first act...I couldn't keep it together.  Sweet Ashley kept holding my hand and giving me side hugs.  She is going through troubles of her own but she reached out with comfort for me.  I am unbelievably thankful for her and Anne.  They are lovely friends.  

The second act was just as fantastic as the first and I cried just about as much...it was such a great show!

After the show it was a quick trip through Times Square and picking up some souvenirs for my kiddos.  The people show in Times Square was almost as entertaining as Fiddler...almost.  

Anne did my make up before going out...I cried plenty of it away but the eyebrows remained. 

Chalk art on the sidewalk.  Turns out they draw on a canvas that can be rolled up and moved.  Interesting.

Little ole me in NYC

For Will's 10 year reunion for business school two of my dearest friends were not able to come out to California for the gathering.  We decided then to make plans to get together on the east coast since they both live out there.  We picked Father's Day weekend in New York City.  Ashley lives there with her four darling children.  Anne came down from Boston and we made a weekend of it!  

I had been looking forward to this weekend as soon as we planned it.  I don't schedule a lot of time away from my family.  It is hard to leave my kids and even harder to ask some one else to do all of the running around for five kids while I go.  Will has a demanding job and it is hard for me to get away.  Anyway, he helped me make this trip a priority, giving up Father's Day and his birthday so I could go.  

I arrived late Thursday night.  Ashley and I got to visit together for a few hours while we waited for Anne to get down to the city.  We caught up on our life and times from the last ten years.  When Ashley left California, she was pregnant with her first baby...now she has four kids!  

Good friends and wifi

Anne arrived on a bus from Boston and we were so happy to be together!  We visited for a while and went to bed.  

Our first day together was Friday and Ashley had a few "real life" things to take care of while playing hostess.  We tried to help her out.

First, Ashley is Super Woman.  Just look at her hauling her kid (stroller and all) down the subway steps.  She wins parenthood!

Super Woman

We did a super quick tour of the MET with Ashley as our guide.  She showed us her favorite view of the city sky line from the roof top of the MET.

We had a scream at the Psycho house (or a scale model from the movie set)?

AND we saw this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G fashion as art installation.  It was room after room of designer gowns, creative materials, and interesting themes.  It was wild!

I could pull this off...right?

Part of Ashley's real world responsiblities for the day included decorating and helping to host the end of the year party for the 4th and 5th graders at school.  We spent the afternoon meeting her friends and decorating the cafeteria for the party.  Then we danced and chatted while the kids partied.  It was great.

As we were walking through Harlem to Ashley's apartment I looked in the window of a barber shop.  I saw a guy shaving a design into the side of a customer's head.  I thought: "That guy could probably give me a great undercut."  Then I thought, "Hey, I can get my hair cut here!"  So I turned around and walked inside.  The whole place was full of dudes.  I asked the guy I had seen in the window if he could clean up my hair.  He called out to another guy in the back in Spanish.  After a little exchange the guy in the back motioned be down the isle of chairs.  I think I got plenty of strange looks from the other guys in the their chairs and waiting on the benches.  Anne and Ashley came in with me and while we waited we scrolled through pinterest for undercut ideas.  

When it was my turn in the chair I showed the guy two choices.  He said "very pretty" to both and I picked the two triangle/lines design.  He went straight to work buzzing down my undercut and cleaning it up.  Then, he pulled out a straight-Sweeny-Todd style razor.  I'm not going to lie, it freaked me out.  He used the razor to cut the lines in my design in really cleanly...and he did not slit my throat.  I am certain this is the best looking undercut I've ever had.  I love it!  It looks so good!  It was fun to walk into a barber shop and come out with a great cut...for 13 dollars.  Worth every penny!

Sweet!

Home for a birthday...almost...

Keeping up with our "go-go-go" start to summer we had to squeeze in a celebration for Will's birthday.  This poor guy turns 40 on June 20th but I'll be in New York City and then he leaves for the girls camp hike so there isn't really a lot of time to honor him...and he deserves a wild, gigantic party.  

Instead, we had a little family dinner with presents tonight.  I had to take the little kids to the grocery store to shop for the special dinner food.  Adell and Colter were fighting in the cart.  I told them, if they were good...they could pick out a treat.  They instantly started giving each other kisses.  Mission bribery accomplished.

We sure are thankful for this guy.  He is a great Dad and husband.  I know I couldn't keep this family going without him.  He is devoted to his children and knows how to have a great time.  

Happy 40th birthday William James.  We love you!

Viva Las Vegas family style

We had to drive through Vegas on our way home.  Will and I had talked about stopping for a quick look-see the night before.  But, getting out of Charity's house a few hours later than expected made us second guess the idea.  We we ended up going for it.  Showing the kids the City of Sin seemed important...

We parked and walked up the strip.  We figured it would be safe and easy going on a Monday afternoon but we didn't consider all of the leaflets that would be littering the ground from the weekend before.  Those little pieces of paper let to a few questions and weird feelings.  Anyway, we walked down the strip, heading towards the Circus Circus hotel.  We stopped to see a few cool hotel sights and walked through one hotel trying to find a tiger exhibit that wasn't there...or wasn't free?   We stopped for some of the most expensive frozen yogurt I've ever paid for and kept walking. Finally, I sent Will and the kids on their own to Circus Circus and I went to get the van.  We were running out of time if we were ever going to get home at a reasonable hour.

I got to the hotel where we parked (Cosmopolitan) and wandered around the parking lots for about 30 minutes.  I could not find the car!  We had scored a sweet parking spot right beside the elevator but there were four or five sets of elevators!?  I couldn't find the car.  I gave up and went up a floor thinking to find help from the valet on the next floor up.  I came out of the elevator and...there was the van...lucky me.

I drove up to Circus Circus and found Will and the kids playing games and watching the circus act in the Midway.  It was a fun pit stop...even if it ended up being longer than we expected.

Then we were back on the road for home.  Colter was in charge of hanging out bubble gum and selected times to perk up our passengers.  We ended up rolling into home after midnight.  It was a stinky situation for Lorien.  She had been invited to a sleep over birthday party and had to miss it because we were so late.  She was not happy with us.  She would have skipped Las Vegas.  

Goodbye Davises, Hello Smiths

Sunday morning it was time to pack up and head out.  Grandpa Davis and Uncle Chris were heading up to Salt Lake and Aunt Colleen and Uncle Richard were heading back to Southern California.  We had two more days of vacation and planned to spend a night with Will's sister, Charity, and her family in Saint George.  

We headed up to meet them at church. It was sad to say goodbye to my side of the family but it was so nice to have had the time with them.

After church, we wanted to take a hike in the hills behind Aunt Charity's house.  I realized I had left all of my clothes in the dresser at Uncle Chris's house.  I left Will and the kids and drove back to his house.  With the garage code I was able to let myself back in and retrieve my clothes.  Having the house all to myself for a few minutes was kind of amazing.  It is a great house and if I ever get to build a house of my own, the floor plan and design of this house is high on my imaginary list of options.  

Back at Aunt Charity's house we suited up and headed out for out hike.  

Grandma Judy, Aunt Emily and Uncle Kenny were visiting Aunt Charity then too.  We got to see so much of our family on this trip!  Aunt Charity and her family just moved into a new house.  

This hike was a doozie.  We didn't go for very many miles...maybe one...but we went straight up!  It was cool and scary.  Wyatt and a few of his cousins scrambled up ahead of the most of the pack.  We couldn't see them for most of the hike, which was nerve wracking for me.

Grandma Judy and Clare stopped about 2/3rds of the way up.  It was hard to hike so much straight up.  The rest of us went for a ways up and stopped while Will and Uncle Ben and a few other kids explored even higher vistas.

It was a great hike. We all appreciated seeing another different part of this beautiful Earth we live on.

Back at Aunt Charity's house we snuggled babies and visited with family before falling asleep for the night.  Aunt Charity has a theater room in her house and we slept in there.  It was very dark and very quiet...maybe a little too dark and quiet.  We ended up sleeping through our alarm and getting up several hours later than we intended.  It made for a scramble in the morning but we had to get going.