10. A Start.

After a day of whiney, whiney kids {well, mostly a whiney 3 year old} I needed a break. Thankfully Heather & I had plans for a bike ride. My first ride on a nice bike that was light and easy to ride... and it didn't have 100 lbs of kids & trailer behind it.

We rode 10 miles and it felt great! The last little bit was all uphill, it was tough and I could feel my calves burning, but I made it.

Can't wait to go again!!

{just so you know... my camera isn't working. what am i going to do?!?!?! figures something i can't live without would break just after we spent mass cash on something we didn't really need. go figure.}

Beach Bums

Gram went with us to Channel Islands Harbor today. We took the 126 through Fillmore and Santa Paula. I absolutely love that drive. It's gorgeous and it smells so good.

{Charlotte, Georgie, Norah, Jake & Kyle}

Dear Gramma,

Thanks for the new Princess panties. I love them. Today I wanted to wear them, all 7 pair, at the same time.

I think I'm pretty cute.
Pretty sure you do too.

I love you,
Georgie girl

{I think she might be ready to potty train soon. Here's hopin....}

The Tonight Show

Today John and I went to the 19th taping of the new Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. We had a lot of fun just spending time together. The show wasn't one we would've watched, Bruno was the guest and Cirque de Soleil Zumanity were the entertainers so it was a really risque show, but we had a good time anyway. The studio is beautiful, Conan was pretty funny and Andy Ritcher stole the show!!

After the taping we took the Red Line back to our car and then headed up Mullhuland Drive to check out the views of the city. The marine layer was starting to roll in so you couldn't see all the way to the ocean, but the city looked so beautiful.

We stopped on both sides of the mountain and enjoyed a moment of tranqulity with just the two of us.

Once the sun started to set we drove into the Valley and had dinner at La Fogata. They had a little Mariachi band playing. It was the perfect ending to a great day.

Then it was back to Gramm's to pick up our little ones.

This Little Girl...

...might be cute and funny and sweet and helpful, but she also has the most earth-shattering, ear-piercing, rage-inducing scream in the whole wide world. And she was awake from 1:40 to 4:45 this morning screaming. for no reason.

well, there was a reason. but i'm trying to ween her from her mid-night feedings. it's time the girl (& her parents) started sleeping through the night.

i felt awful not giving in.
she's obviously not ready.
and i'm not really sure i am either.
but last night i held my ground
{& amazingly kept my cool}.
can't guarantee i can do it again.

either one.
hold my ground or keep my cool.

{avoiding} The Pool

While Georgie & I enjoyed chatting with friends at Mom's at the Pool

{please ignore my girth}

Jake {& Kyle} avoided the pool by doing this

I think it's safe to say we all had a good time!!

If you're happy & you know it...

These two played together so well today.
And most of the day they were holding hands.
It's adorable.
And makes me really, really, really happy.

{this was taken as we were leaving our weekly G'Gma visit}

Happy Father's Day

Dear John,
You are the best Daddy in the whole wide world. Jake & Georgie are so lucky to have you.
So am I.
I love you.

Happy Father's Day!

{& birthday.

& anniversary.

& possibly Merry Christmas}

Water Fight!

We went over to Gramma's today to help her put up the new Hummingbird feeder. That was done lickety-split and then the water fight broke out! We all had such a fun time, although I think Jake & Gram might have had the most fun!!

After the water fight the kids went fishing. Georgie had more fun just putting the fish through the circle in the chair over & over again.

We sure love being at Gramma's!!

Clean Cut

It was time.
Doesn't he look handsome!?

{you should've seen the before. total chaos.}

Beach Time!!

Today {after some convincing} we headed to the beach with a group of ward friends. It started off terribly, with Jake crying to go home, but ended with fun memories and a desire to go again. We had a blast!

The kids played in the sand, ran with their friends, enjoyed lollipops in the tent, and soaked in some sunshine.

Maybe next time we'll actually make it down to the water!

Speaking of water... I love Heather & Kiersten. They are so fun. Being with them is so fun and makes me miss the girls I grew up with terribly. Kiersten had never been boogie boarding and asked Heather if she knew how. She said yep and off they went. I watched the kids while they played. Next time, it's my turn!! :)


It was a really fun day!
On the way home we stopped and got ice cream cones, is there anything more 'summer' than the beach & ice cream cones? I'm not sure!

Enriching...

This morning was the monthly cooking class our Relief Society hosts. This afternoon was 'Mom's at the Pool'. Last Wednesday was our quarterly Enrichment meeting. The week before that was the financial class.

Next month we do it all again... and then some.

This enriching business takes a lot of time.
But it's wonderful to be with the friends/sisters from the ward.
They are amazing women.

Not a Bruise

amazingly we woke up and not one of them is bruised.

{thank goodness!}

Rough Day

This morning in sacrament meeting Georgie was her usual self: busy, busy, busy. At one point she was trying to climb up the back of the chair in front of her. No one was sitting in it... and it didn't take long to flip that chair right up and smash it into her own face. She started crying -- well, screaming really -- she was ok as soon as Daddy took her out and gave her a little love, but now she has a black eye.

About 2 hours later, with 10 minutes left before it was time to go home, Jake was in his Moonbeams class running & playing as usual. Apparently he was chasing bubbles along with all the other boys. They were running in a line -- full speed-- and the boy in front of Jake turned... and Jake ran full-speed, face first straight into a table. Knocked him to the floor. And then came the blood. Lots & lots of it. Jake's shirt was covered. John's too. Thankfully he didn't hit his mouth. He hit his nose. We don't think it's broken, but he sure hit it hard!! I bet he has black eyes in the morning.

It's been a rough day.

Thankfully the DelHoyo's invited us over for dessert & Rock Band tonight. Thanks for the fun!!

Birthday Brunch

My sweet friend Heather {DH} arranged for a birthday brunch today at Mimi's Cafe. We had a great time visiting and eating yummy food while trying to entertain the kids ... or was it being entertained by them?... after a really long wait.

{Not a great picture of ANY of us, but here they are:
L-side: Kyle, Kiersten & Henry, me & Georgia.
R-side: Naomi, Vanessa with Andrew, Ashton, Heather DH& Miley, Ella, & Jacob
Heather K is missing, she took the picture.}

Family History Friday

The Brothers, Part 3: John's youngest

Daniel Kay was born 21 July 1977 in Murray, Utah and was the youngest son born to George & Judith. Once he was old enough to talk, Daniel had a hard time saying his own name and referred to himself as "Yah Yah" so his parents and brothers started calling him "The Little Yah". And all these years later, it's still his nickname.

Since he was the youngest, Daniel was always stuck in the middle of the back seat. Apparently "he knew his place" and never complained about being squished between his two big brothers. He was a good kid with a carefree attitude.

When Daniel was in high school Scott was in Japan on his mission and John was in Provo at BYU so he finally had the car to himself. Somehow Daniel managed to put thousands of miles on the car... living on Oahu! No one is quite sure how he did it, but it might have something to do with all the trips to Waipahu and the only Arby's in Hawaii. maybe.

Dan is also quite the storyteller and working in a bank has provided him with many-a-story to tell. It's always fun when he's had a 'day' and we get to here all about the crazy people he has to deal with. {My one question is... who actually goes into a bank anymore anyway?!?!}

Working in a bank has also made Dan keenly aware of money, well saving it more accurately. {Was it working in a bank or was he always that way and that's why he works in a bank?? I'm not sure, it's a little like which came first: the chicken or the egg?} Dan is always up for fun but makes sure he finds the least expensive way to do it. It's impressive, really. If you've got a trip to take and can be a little flexible, Dan's the guy to call.

We love Dan and Megan and their growing little family. We love when they come or when we go to play. We only wish it could happen more often. Spending time with Daniel & Megan is easy.

Delectable

My dear friend Elizabeth & her girls, Noelle & Madeleine, came over today for a visit. She brought me these darling homemade dish towels for my birthday, as well as ordered in pizza and salad from Stonefire.
I sure love that girl. She takes good care of me.

{also love that you can see how old-school our range is... nothing like being renters}

Lifelong Friends

This morning the kids & I, along with Papa, attended the funeral of Wayne Rice. It was an emotional and memory-filled day.

Wayne & Connie were our neighbors when I was a kid. Ben & I spent hours upon hours playing at their house, going on fun trips, and hanging out with their family. They always treated us like we were family and it really felt like Matt, Monica, & Mark{y} were my younger brothers and sister. I loved them. dearly.

Since I was the oldest of the bunch I became the babysitters as well. I remember loving babysitting them. They were always so fun to be around. I have lots & lots of wonderful memories of their family. And today as I listened at Wayne's funeral they all came flooding back.

I can't really explain why it's been {probably} 20 years since we've seen each other & spent time together. It actually hurts my heart a little {ok, a lot} that we didn't keep in touch with them like we should have after we moved.

It's my hope that we will now... {thank you Facebook!}.

I sure love that family and will miss Wayne. He was an incredible man.
Connie, Monica, Matt, & Mark

Monica, "Ta-tee", Matt, & Mark{y}

I was also able to visit with their aunt, who was my Mia Maid advisor, today. Oh, how I've missed Bonnie Rice.

Celebrating 34

The day started with breakfast in bed and ended with meeting The Mouse

In between was filled with lots of fun & special memories





{to spice things up a little, we did a few things different today. instead of riding the tram into the park, we took the monorail. it was a new 'train' for jake to ride and lots of fun. we made dinner reservations at big thunder ranch and watched the cowboy show, met woody & jessie, and ate lots of bbq. it was a really great day!!}

Bring on 34!!