The last few things...spring break style...

         

 On the first morning of spring break--while I slept in--Wyatt, Clare and Adell brought every, single Lego in the house and dumped them on the living room floor.  They spent the whole day building and creating.  It was great.  Thankfully, they knew to put down a few big sheets before getting the Legos out so it was a pretty easy clean up.                               

                                         

Colter spent some time perfecting his "spike hair" over spring break.  

                                         

I got the worst cold sore I've ever had in my entire life.  It was a full on swollen face, headache, sore neck, painful in every way kind of thing.  Not cool.  Not cool.

                                          

Lorien orchestrated a ribbon dancing fight--er--party.  Most of the time was spent dancing...some of the time was spent trying to poke a siblings eye out.  

                                          

                                          

And...we finally made "art lessons with Mom" a thing.  We've tried this over and over again with limited success.  Over spring break we did find time for a little art lesson almost every day.  I loved it!  I hope we can duplicate the lessons/activities in the summer.

                                          

Back to the beach...

I love the coast and Will loves the mountains.  It is a little bit of a running joke between us that California is the only place we could ever live and be married because we live with in comfortable driving distance of the beach and grand mountains.  Lucky us!

The kids and I did take one day to go to the beach with Aunt Angela and Aunt Heather and all of our cousins.  As always, it was an awesome beach day.  We went down to New Brighton.  I hadn't taken our kids there for a while.  Unfortunately, the park department was doing some renovation work.  The bathrooms were closed and half the parking lot was torn up.  Still, we had a pretty great time.  The last couple of times we've gone down to the beach we've brought along Lorien's friend, Ava.  She always comes with a few boogie boards so it is a great deal.  I think we are going to have to get some boogie boards of our own...the kids love them.

                                          

    

                                           

Waves were splashed in, mud was slung, sand castles were built, and sandy snacks were consumed.  Beach day success!

Kicking off Spring Break with a hike!

Oh were we ever ready for spring break this year!?  Between early morning seminary, Clare's dance classes in Walnut Creek and every other activity the kids do our lives are pretty busy.  I know "being busy" can be a self inflicted disease and I try to not partake...but with five kids it is almost impossible to not get caught up in the spinning.  

As usual, we had zero travel plans for the break.  We were all going to rest!  Until Sunday morning when Will decided we should take a family hike.  He spent some time checking out local (and well traveled) trails but ended up picking a new place.  We spent the morning watching General Conference then loaded up into the van for a nearly two hour drive south.  Will had heard about Pinnacles National Park from a family friend/co-worker and was excited to check it out.  

We were all excited for a new adventure.  We got a later start than we hoped but still had time to enjoy the park before sun set and all the gates were closed. 

Will picked out a trail that took us through a few caves and around some magnificent bluffs.  It was wild to see the changing scenery.  Parts of the park were very similar to Zions in Southern Utah.

                                          

Adell was pretty nervous about the caves.  Even holding on to my hand and having her own flashlight didn't help calm her fears.  I'm not sure what she was worried most about: spiders or tripping in the dark?  Poor girl.  

                                          

Wyatt was excited to tell us that his Boy Scout Troop would be spending an overnight at Pinnacles in a few weeks.  He took the opportunity to familiarize himself with the trails so he could be an expert when the Troop came down.

                                        

Will was all to happy to show off his wall climbing skills.  Skills he developed in the hallowed halls of his childhood trailer home.  

                                          

                                         

I recently learned that taking selfies with each member of my family is going to be the only way I'll ever get into any photos at our outings.  I'm not camera shy at all but I am always the one taking the pictures and documenting events so...no one ever sees that I am actually there too.  Selfies to the rescue!  

Lorien and Wyatt showed all the kids how to decorate their faces with "sticky monkey" leaves.  I have no idea what the plant is actually called but Lorien and Wyatt learned about them in outdoor ed in the 5th grade.  I am assuming Clare will learn all about it next year.

                                          

No surprise, it was a beautiful trip.  Lorien had a little (gigantic) scare as we were wrapping up the hike.  She doesn't like bugs at all, Lorien is as afraid of bugs as Adell is of dark caves.  As the sun set scores of crane flies started lighting off the bushes as we passed.  Crane flies are harmless--I always called them Mosquito Hawks growing up and thought they ate mosquitoes...Wikipedia tells me "no" on that one.  Anyway, Lorien couldn't stand to see all of these big mosquito things flying around.  She kind of had a melt down about it.  Even with her freak out about bugs, and Adell's freak out about the caves we had a great time.  Pinnacles is a really cool park.  We hope to go back when we have some more time to explore.

We did have to break the Sabbath to have some frosties at Wendy's on the way home.  Our ox was totally in the mire.

SURPRISE!

A week ago I decided to throw Clare a surprise party for her 10th birthday.  We only have friend birthday parties every other year.  Clare is turning 10 and it is a friend-party year.  A surprise party seemed like the very best idea.  Luckily, all of her friends could come with short notice.  Even luckier, none of her friends spilled the beans before the party.  Lots of the moms didn't tell their daughters until they dropped them off for the party.  

Will took Clare out for dinner while the girls arrived.  Well, before that, Clare got to have a play date with Andrew (her best-cousin-friend) right after school.  When I told her about it this morning she said "What could be better on my birthday than having a play date with my best friend--who I never see!"  (We see them all the time...)

So all the girls arrived on time, Clare was out to dinner (with Will texting me their arrival times).  All the girls hid behind furniture etc.  and we waited.  In walked Clare to a big "Surprise!"

It was great, she didn't suspect a thing.  We started partying (a classic dance party).  After a few minutes Clare came over to me with a gigantic grin on her face and said "Mom, thank you so much!  I've always wanted a surprise party.  I had no idea!"

The party was perfect, we borrowed a disco ball light thing from some friends and blasted Taylor Swift songs.  The girls taught Colter how to "dab" and followed him in conga lines.  Everyone ate snacks and danced the night away.  

Cake and ice cream happened, presents happened and most importantly, Clare had the best surprise birthday party a girl could ask for.  (Maybe having a pony would have been better but I doubt it)

Happy 10th birthday Clare! 

Anyone need a good hair model?

Last weekend I went back to my regular stylist after about a 8 or 9 month hiatus.  Not that I was seeing another hair stylist, or avoiding my regular gal...I've just been growing my hair out.  And at some point you have to stop getting your haircut and just wait for it to grow out.  So, I suffered in weird-haired limbo for a while...waiting.  At last I had enough hair for a cut so I scheduled an appointment.  I also scheduled an appointment for Lorien.  She had all of her hair chopped off in January by a family friend, Ericka.  Ericka did a great job and Lorien has loved her super short hair everyday.  

Lorien has ultra thick, coarse hair.  It is kind of wavy/curly and very unruly.  I've taken her into my stylist a few times and she always does a great job too...but she is expensive.  A haircut from my stylist is a treat.  Lorien was due for a "treat".  

My stylist was working on my hair when Lorien walked in for her appointment.  My stylist took one look at her and said "I have no idea what to do with her hair..."  Then she asked if Lorien could be a hair model for the salon.  The salon is a teaching salon.  They hold classes and fly in fancy hair teachers from all over the country.  They were having a class (today) with the guy who was awarded "Teacher of the Year" and they like to give their guest teachers a challenge when they come in.  Lorien was the perfect challenge.  (Also, this would be a free haircut for Lorien...I had to say "yes"!)  

Lorien was really excited for the opportunity.  I was excited for her!

So today, I pulled her out of school and took her to the salon for a haircut.  Travis, the teacher, wanted to do pre-cut before the class (to save time).  I dropped her off and ran a few errands.  I got to come back for the class and watch.  When I walked back in the salon I saw this and started crying:  

                                                   

I was so shocked!  I thought she looked so great!  I couldn't believe she went along with such a dramatic cut.  I wish I took a before picture.  She already looked so awesome and the class hadn't even started.  

                                                   

We sat and listened to the introductions and the teacher's pre-class lecture.  Then Lorien got to be the first model.

                                                   

Travis talked about her hair texture, how her hair naturally fell and then a whole bunch of hair jargon that made no sense to me: elevation, pull, scissor over comb, channeling, pointing...blah.  I just sat and watched.  Colter was with me and perfectly behaved.  He whispered and ate all the snacks set out for the students.  After her haircut I had to go pick up Adell.  We all headed back to the salon to see how Lorien was doing.  She was cut, styled and dressed for photos.

                                                   

She looked even better than the first time I walked in.  She was all smiles and glowing.  She loved being the center of attention.  Everyone wanted to touch her hair, ask questions and buzz around her.  She loved it, I loved it for her.  She is somewhere at the center of this group of people:

                                                    

They gave her a cute pompadour style for her last set of pictures.   

                                                    

It didn't last but her hair looks great styled on her own.  She loves the hair cut so much.  I think she looks so cute!  She has the confidence to pull it off (and she has killer eyeliner skills which makes her look even cuter).  It was an awesome experience for her.  The best part for me is that it was free AND they asked if she would be willing to stay on as a hair model as long as she wanted short hair, which means free haircuts as long as she has short hair!  Super awesome!

                                                    

These girls have talent...

IT'S TALENT SHOW TIME AGAIN!  Can you hear the dread in my voice?  Our kids love the talent show.  One or more of them have participated in every talent show at the school since the year after we moved here.  

Adell has patiently watched Clare and Wyatt preform, always looking forward to her turn.  Finally, as a Kindergartener at Greenbrook, Adell could participate in this year's show. 

Adell rounded up three friends and Lorien choreographed a little number to "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie (the original) for them.  

They were adorable and Adell LOVED being on the stage.

Clare has been doing the talent show since first grade.  This year we hired a friend to do all the prep work.  She choreographed the dance, cut the music, put the costumes together...everything!  And I was so thankful!  

Clare rounded up four of her pals and put on a super sweet show dancing to a "sugar" medley. 

They were perfect!  It was a great performance.  We were all proud of the girls performances.  I am happy to put this show in the books.

true love...

I have a chest cold.

It isn't terrible but I am not sleeping well at night due to all the coughing.

Last night, I took some cold medicine with a sleep aid in high hopes of skipping the hour-long coughing fit that consistently shows up at 4:00 am every morning.

It didn't work.  I still woke up coughing in the twilight hours of the night.  To add insult to injury, Adell and Colter were both up a couple of times in the night.

Luckily for me, I am married to a Champion.  Will always gets up with the kids when they stir in the middle of the night.  It is one of the nicest things.

Last night, or this morning, Colter woke up for the second time.  He was screaming and growling--apparently Colter thought he needed to throw up.  Will took him into the bathroom and calmed Colter down.  After a minute Colter said "Dad, I need to go to the bathroom."  Will responded with an "Ok buddy" and helped Colter get situated in the dark.  Minutes later Colter was back in his bed and Will was back with me.

The whole exchange lasted maybe 10 minutes but it made me fall in love all over again with my husband.  Nothing is sweeter to me than hearing my children call Will "Dad".  Nothing is sweeter than hearing him patiently care and teach them.  I love Will so much and am so thankful for the wonderful Father and Husband he is to us.  I know he likes being a Dad but sometimes (when you are waking up with a screaming three-year-old for the second time, for example) it can be difficult.  I am so thankful that Will is a loving father in the fun times AND in the difficult times.

I sure love you William James.

High school orchestra field trip...

Lorien's orchestra group went on a field trip to watch a practice session for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.  They were desperate for field trip drivers...so I volunteered.  It lead to my very first ride on BART.

And lots of hanging out with high schoolers.  (They thought I was unbelievably cool...I cannot help it.)

I kept telling Lorien to not call me "mom" but "Cindy" instead.  We snapped some selfies at the symphony.

And around town.

Lorien's highlight was seeing the posters for Hamilton.  She has been obsessing about this particular broadway show for a while now.  Hamilton isn't coming out to San Francisco on tour until March 2017.  She has high hopes of attending...

Two kids taken on field trips this year...two more to go...

Best. Valentine's Day. Ever.

Oh Silver Mini Van, you have been our faithful servant for nearly 10 years now.  You have driven us to Utah, Montana, Idaho and up and down the State of California many times (not to mention the millions of trips to school, church, the grocery store and kid's activity locations).  You've never left us stranded on the side of the road with a break down.  You've protected our family and never put us in an accident.  You have been a wonderful family car.  

But...

It is time for an upgrade.  Sadly, you have been bumped, thumped and dinged by other cars in countless parking lots.  We've never replaced your timing belt.  Your front bumper has been held on with black duct tape almost since day one.  You need a fair amount of work (and money) to keep you road worthy.  We decided to send you off to pasture instead.  You have been a wonderful family car and we have been thankful.

                                          

So, last weekend Will said it was time.  Time to trade our old mini van in for a brand-spanking-new one.  

                                          

I spent Saturday cleaning out the old van.  It was a little sad.  I remembered that this van had safely brought two children home from the hospital.  I remembered trips to the beach and to the snow.  I remembered all of the little "fixes" I invented to make the van more comfortable.  Like my "custom" center console (a plastic tub with plastic cups screwed into it--plenty of space for all of the crap I like to have in the car).

                                          

I remembered all of the things that I loved about this van and all of the memories made in the van.  I've been wanting a new van for a while.  But when it came down to it, I was sad to see it go.  

One hundred and thirty thousand miles--not to shabby.

I was sad to say good bye to the memories made in this van but I was not sad to see all of the embarrassing dents and dings go.  Did you know our drivers side mirror is held in place by bathtub caulking and twigs? Our rear fender was smashed twice in a parking lot by two hit-and-runs.  One side was ground along a parking barrier when Will was driving and tried (successfully) to avoid a car that had wandered into his lane in a parking garage.  Oh and the tail gate doesn't close properly ever since I left it open while taking groceries in one day and it got clipped by the mail truck.  The peeled up front licence plate--I cannot remember how that happened.  We never had head rests for the back row of seats.  The sliding side doors never gave out (although Will swore they would be the first thing to break) but they were starting to creak and bang when we opened them. 

Honestly, there were a lot of cosmetic problems with the van but it was a great car.  I don't want to come off as complaining.  Sometimes I even felt good about our humble looking van.  Just last week, at Kindergarten carpool a couple of Adell's classmates came over to the van to walk all around it and ask me where each and every ding came from.  They were a little astonished at how crappy our car looked...and that it still ran.  

Whatever sadness I felt at saying good bye to our old mini van--evaporated as soon as I saw the new mini van.  It is so LOVELY!  It has enough bells and whistles to be fun but isn't overwhelming.  The ride is smooth and it doesn't smell like feet (win!).  

We all fit inside the new van very comfortably.  There is a built in DVD player (what!).  There is an extra seat in the middle row so the back row kids aren't so squished.  There is dual climate control!  I could go on and on.  

Good bye old reliable, hello black beauty.

                     

Birthing a baby...

No, not in our immediate family but in the extended family.  

Last week I sent a text to my sister-in-law, Heather, she is due with their third child this month and I wanted to offer to help.  I said something to the effect of: can I pick up some groceries for you, or come clean up your house, or take the kids for a weekend so you can get some rest?  Heather responded that one of those options would be nice and she would get back tome.  Wednesday last week I got a new text from Heather, she had a check up and needed a long follow up scheduled for Friday.  Could I take her kids for the weekend so she didn't have to juggle them during and after the appointment.  I agreed and made plans with Will to bring her kids home after work.  

Fast forward to Friday morning.  I got a text from Heather, her water had broken and she and Alan were headed to the hospital to have a baby!  So our weekend plan was sped up a little bit.  I made arrangements for my kids at home and headed over to Alan and Heather's house to collect their older children.

We packed their weekend bags, picked Luke up from TK and had lunch with Will before heading back to our house.

We had a lovely weekend with Luke and Hazel, building lego creations, playing games and having cousin sleepovers.  

                                          

The biggest perk, I got to take Luke and Hazel into the hospital to meet their new baby sister!  

                                         

It was a fun weekend.  It was nice to be on the helping end of bringing a child into the world--instead of being on the birthing side.  

This was the scrap paper where I jotted down all the notes and plans in the scramble to make arrangements Friday morning.  It was a little crazy--but mostly fun!