Day's Gone By
Last night was the big Spaghetti dinner/fundraiser at our church. I marked my calendar for this one in advance and had full intentions of going. A night where I don't have to make dinner is an exciting one! I spent my dinner-making time with the kids, half watching a movie and dedicating the rest of my attention to a shutterfly book I was working on. It was wonderful spending time with them without the pressure of the dinner making job! 5:30 came around, Scott walked in the door looking miserable! HE WAS SICK ON MY, "NO MAKING DINNER NIGHT." I briefly considered taking the kids solo, but as the time to go got closer, their tempers started to flare! (We normally have dinner by 6, so they were starving).
6:28, all three children were on the ground in tears over silly things (I believe a fight broke out over coloring pages being damaged, but I am still not quite sure, as the crying was so loud I did not understand every word). Not willing to take three cranky children alone, DINNER PLANS FOILED! Not having anything ready for dinner, I quickly threw some frozen taquitos in the microwave and added some yogurt to the kids plates to make me feel like we were being a little healthy. We quickly ate our last minute meal, I ordered Scott back to bed and I headed out the door with the kids. I had an hour to kill before bed time and since we missed the dinner, I had to do something. we got on our bikes and I told Caden he could lead the way and take us wherever he wanted to go. After a long ride, we ended up at his school. We rode all around the school. we got off our bikes and Caden told me all about the playground and where he and his friends play and what they do. He took me to the field and got down on his belly and said, "mom, this is what me and Jake and Zach do when we play military, we lay down right here...." he rolled around on the ground a bit. We went over to the track and even rode around it a few times and he told me about the running program he is doing and the foot tokens he has earned. It was so fun walking around with Caden at his school, where he spends so much of his time. It made me feel like I was more a part of his day-to -day. We rode back home, the weather was beautiful, the kids were SO HAPPY. It was the perfect end to our day, a day like so many that just pass by so quickly. In the end, no regrets. I'm sure another Spaghetti dinner will come around.

Huntington Beach

The last of our California trip Pictures!

It was just so fun to soak in the sun. The girls and I painted our toes matching.....fun, fun!!!

Hannah just loved the beach.

My little water boy. Caden absolutely loves the ocean. He loves to go out into the waves and dig and dig. He even found a bunch of really neat shells.

Sarah on the other hand........Apparently she likes to spend her time in the car where it is warm, and not so dirty!

Remember this! This is a picture of Sarah on the Oregon Coast last year. I think that I am starting to notice a pattern in Sarah's personality. While she is a very fun, energetic, full of life little girl, she doesn't do cold, uncomfortable, dirty conditions. Just as on our trip to the coast last year, she found it too windy and cold, AND, "sand kept getting on her". So we went back to the car and I just kept trying to take pictures of ourselves to get a smile out of that grumpy little face.

(Oregon Coast 2008)

Huntington Beach Pier

A very popular place in Huntington each is, Ruby's on the Pier. The kids loved this place. We made the very long walk to get milk shakes and watch the sun set on the ocean. It was beautiful!

There was a guy there making fun balloon shapes for the kids. Caden got a sword and belt, the girls got butterflies.

Quick Airport Detour

Before going to the airport, we drove around til we found this really fun park overlooking the ocean. It's similar to our favorite place here in Boise, Camel's Back. It was full of hiking trails, and the view was gorgeous!

I love winter.........
Not really, but over the last few days, I've been quite thankful for winter. It has given me a greater appreciation for the beauty of spring. For some reason, this winter has been a hard one for me. Maybe it is because the weather has teased us a lot with really warm days and then cold again. Whatever it is it has totally drained all my energy and has been especially hard on my emotions/mood (my poor, poor children). These last few days have been beautiful though, and oh how I have cherished them. I have been taking Caden to school on our bikes and I have loved the extra time spent with the kids and spending that time outside. As I was riding, and the sun was shining, I realized that if it hadn't been for this dreadful winter I just endured (and my children because they had to endure me enduring it), I would not fully appreciate the beautiful weather we are having. I Love Spring!!!!

House Work is Totally Over-rated!!!!

Tuesday was one of the first days that my calendar wasn't jam packed. A FREE day. I had full intentions of using all this free time to get some very needed housework done. My upstairs looks like a tornado hit, as I have MANY unfinished Organizing "projects". We rode our bikes to pick Caden up from school and I realized that it was also one of the first really hot and beautiful days we have had in a long time. Caden's teacher mentioned to me that by the end of the week it would be cold and rainy again. COLD AGAIN!!!!! I am so sick of cold weather. The sunshine was calling to me! I bagged the housework and invited all the neighbors over to play in the water instead. Caden, Sarah, and Hannah Had their friends over throughout the day and we spent the whole day playing outside. It was simply glorious.

Zach and Caden made plans from their military bases, aka garden cages. (I missed the pic of Caden in his "base")

The Hawkes came over for round two. FUN!!! Our back yard was turned into a water park.

Who needs Roaring Springs!

The house work is still waiting for me up stairs, and always will be, but yesterday is gone. I am SO glad that I spent it all day outside having fun with my sweet little children who are also constantly changing, (and that I can not stop).


An end to a perfect day!!!!!!!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

Easter egg hunt in our backyard on Saturday (Also Hannah's birthday).


Caden invited his build-a-bear bear, John smith, to join the Easter egg hunt. He even gave him his own basket.

Hannah takes a break from hunting to eat some of her findings.

Hannah's Birthday continued

Saturday the 11th was Hannah's actual birthday. It was a very busy day with soccer and Easter activities, but we managed to squeeze in some celebrating. We started the morning off by dying Easter eggs before Caden's soccer game.

After Caden's game we went out to lunch with Gpa and Gma Smith.

Hannah loved the birthday sundae they brought her, but wasn't quite sure about the song that came with it.

Build-a-Bear: Hannah picked out a little dog of course!!!

Giving her doggy a bath.

Then she got to name and dress her. When we asked her what she wanted to name her dog she said Kelli. I have a friend named Kelli, but I still think that was totally random.

Taking Kelli home.

After the mall Hannah was ready for a nap. VERY BUSY DAY FOR HER!!!! When she got up the kids all went outside and hunted for Easter eggs. It was a beautiful day!

Hannah's Birthday

I got brave and made this Doggy cake for Hannah's birthday. I was going to just make a regular cake, but my friend sent me an email with this idea the night before so I just had to try it. The email didn't have a picture, and I wanted to use what I already had on hand, so after rummaging through my pantry, with the help of my dear husband, this is what we came up with. Hannah thought it looked like a dog and that is all that matters to me.

Fruit by the Foot from the cake (Scott did have to go to the store to purchase this. Not something I have on hand, and what else could I have used for the tongue and collar).

The Healy's stopped by to bring Hannah the cutest head band. That made the girls so happy to see them.

Caden and Sarah had SOOO much fun playing with Uncle Todd.

Hannah loved her puzzles from Gma and Gpa Smith. Thank You!!

And the little Puppy in the carrier was a big hit Gma and Gpa Waggoner. Thanks.