Summer Vacation

The last fun of the summer is now over. School starts Monday. Yeah! Oh..um...I mean..bummer! =) lol So, our last fun of the summer was spent at Huntington Beach, Angels' Stadium and Knotts Berry Farm. We really had so much fun that I wish it could've been a longer vacation. The kids, of course, LOVED the beach. Bella was a little timid of the water but enjoyed running and digging. The boys and Hailey loved having the waves knock them over! They didn't get the idea of "body surfing" ! It was so fun for Steve and I to watch them giggle and have fun. The day was really great too because it was a litte overcast and so the sun wasn't so flammin hot! I had to give you a glimpse of my fun... the camera isn't working so great lately so ignore the poor picture.




So after the beach we went and checked into the hotel. Have you ever used Hotwire? I did for the first time and it was such a surprise. We got a killer deal on a HUGE room. The hotel was called Candlewood Suites and it was perfect for us. There was a full kitchen - including a full fridge, and a seperate bedroom for Steve and I. The kids slept on the fold out couch and recliner chair.
It was really nice and I would HIGHLY recommend them!

Anyway, from there we went to the Angels game.


The family section is our favorite because you are right behind the bull pen and can see all the pitchers warm up. If there is a homerun to left field then there is a good chance for catching a ball. The game was going great...Angels were winning... we were having a great time... till an error was made and then another...and another... they lost. *sigh* Bummer...12 innings ... and they still lost!















The kids had a blast though!




















It was late...and the hotel wasn't too far so that was great. We woke up the next morning and headed out to Knott's Berry Farm. Steve and I remember going there when we were little and were excited for them to experience it.




I took Hailey and Jeremiah when they were tiny...4 and 2 so they pretty much didn't remember a thing. It took them a while to get excited but once we went on a couple of rides they were bouncing around. Annabelle was funny because she really wanted to try every ride! I'd tell her that she was too little and she'd come back with "I'm not too little". Knotts has a great kids area call Camp Snoopy and they had quite a few rides that she could do. Some of them, though, parents couldn't ride on...so I was a little nervous about letting her go alone. Hailey took her on the airplanes and she seriously had a blast!!! The race cars too.

It was one of those proud moments as a parent when you can sit back and watch your children be a child and have fun. Hailey is such a great help and a wonderful big sister. Bella adores her. Jeremiah and William are buds too and it was so sweet watching Jeremiah help Will. They went on this mailbox ride and Will was a little to small to get up on the seat by himself so Jeremiah - without me asking - went over and picked him up and got him in the seat. Then he sat next to him and they just laughed.

I felt like a little kid again because we took advantage of the fact that the park wasn't packed so I got to ride some rides! =) It's been a LONG time since I've been on a roller coaster and it was so much fun. There were no lines... so I practically just walked on. I think the longest I waited was for 10 minutes. Steve took the kids on the Log ride (big drop and lots of water!) and they HATED it. He said his ears were hurting from their screams! lol We did manage to get Hailey to ride with me on Sidewinder. It was so fun. She was scared but did so good. I told her I was so proud of her. She ended up going again with Steve and then on Jaguar twice and Montezuma's revenge (her first upsidedown roller coaster)!

We will cherish these memories.

The kids have already asked us when we can go back! =) I love it!

Procrastination....

So, I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now. Actually, it's due tonight so I should have been writing it a while ago... but I haven't. School is getting monotonous.

*Sigh*

I'm schedualed to be done in April... so lets hope that the time will fly by.
What else should I be doing?... unpacking more boxes, mopping the kitchen floor, getting stuff ready for dinner tonight, organizing the playroom, finding a place for everything that has been unpacked but not put away. I remember now why I don't like moving.

Oh... we got our first electric bill. YIKES! I hate paying bills. Just when you think you've gotten ahead, you realize you're still sitting in the same spot.

Do you ever feel like your life is boring? I read some blogs from my friends and wonder how their lives stay so full. Even with 4 kids I feel like we are bored. I think the kids have enjoyed the park down the street and playing outside since it isn't 120 degrees like it was back in Arizona. But, seriously.... we're boring people.

Steve is taking some days off next week and we've decided to take the kids to Knotts Berry Farm for the day. We're going to see and Angels game too... the boys are excited about that. We didn't get to one last season so it'll be fun. I'm sure when school starts life will pick up...or when I find a job...but for now... we are enjoying the leisure of summer.

Camping in the backyard!

So, Steve took the kids camping in the backyard. They set up the tent and are all sleeping with their sleeping bags and glow sticks! Mommy, of course, is sleeping on her queen sized bed with the full thickness astronaut foam bed thingy, you know the one that forms to your body!, yes that one.... whew... am I a bad mom? NOPE... They need daddy time, right?!? lol

















We visited with my little nephew last week and of course the kids LOVED holding him... and swimming. Jeremiah is getting pretty good at dives and flips and boy energy causing him to cannon ball and jump off of everything....including my brother in law's shoulders.

David Crowder, Mercy Me, and I'm a new auntie!!!!

Ok. So it's been a busy week. I always start out with the best intentions of blogging every day or at least a few times a week. It's been a week. Whew! Tuesday night I went to see David Crowder Band and Mercy Me in concert here. David Crowder was awesome and hilarious!!!! Mercy Me was really great too. I didn't realize I had my camera until Mercy Me was practically done so I was bummed. But here is a picture of Mercy Me. And they sang one of their favorite songs at the end so here is a clip of that. Oh and check out my playlist at the bottom of my blog. There is a few songs from both groups... I bet you have heard them before but didn't know who sang that song you LOVE!!!!!
BUT here is a link to YouTube so that you can see David Crowder... HERE





My sister in law went into labor so I drove out there to see them. It was quite the ordeal for her. But I finally have a nephew =) He was transferred to the NICU for breathing difficulties but he is doing better and they are hoping to release him tomorrow or the next day. Here is an adorable picture of him...ok well here is a few! =) My brother says that the picture on the right makes him look like Yoda! =) He's just stinkin cute!













So since we were at my parents house awaiting the baby's delivery we took the kids swimming. So here are just some fun photo's of the kids and my dad in their backyard.

Tried a new church today.

I miss my church. REALLY REALLY MISS MY CHURCH!!! Nothing compares. We tried a church this morning since it's the first Sunday since we've been here that we've actually been home. We went to the church that hosted the VBS that the kids went to this week. It was different than mine back in Arizona...(by the way...if you live in Arizona...check out CCV...I have the link on my blog...I LOVE IT!!!!) but it was good. Smaller. WAY smaller. But I'm sure most churches are smaller than CCV. I mean, CCV has 10,000 people on a given weekend. No that wasn't a typo...10,000. But it didn't feel that big. I have to say too...I miss my mom's group. *sigh* Starting over is so hard.

When we first told Hailey that we'd be moving she was very excited to get back near family but when we realized we wouldn't be in the same town she got pretty bummed. She cried and complained because she'd be leaving her friends in Arizona but not moving near her CA friends so she is going to have to make new friends. She, of course, says it's not fair and that I don't have that problem. I had to explain to her that it's NOT easy for me. I explained to her that when we moved to Arizona I left EVERYONE that I had known since I was a little girl...my parents, brother and sister, church, friends, job etc... It took me a little while to get to know people in Arizona but I did....just like she did. Now, it's hard again because just like her, we are not moving next to family... sure we're closer (2 hours instead of 6) but I still have to meet people. I don't know anyone here just like she doesn't so I do understand her tears.

Growing up can be so hard and at her age she is just way more aware of what is going on. She is 9 and going into the 4th grade. I pray for her everyday and I know that the Lord will have someone for her to become friends with...it's just a matter of getting Hailey to get over the shyness and meet someone! =) She can't wait for school to start...and for the weather to cool off so that they can play outside.
So, we'll keep trying churches till we feel like we that is where we are supposed to be.

Found my Camera!

I found the camera and so here are a few pictures of the house. We're still settling in so some rooms aren't done yet. So here is a picture of the front of the house. It's practically brand new.






Here is the kitchen on the day we moved in. It's got a huge pantry! We'll be getting a couple bar stools for the island and a kitchen table for the eat in area...eventually... =)





Here is the formal living/dining room. We just got the piano for Hailey and she loves that! So do the rest of the kids so we have to try hard to keep them off of it.





Here is some pictures of the awesome park that is 3 blocks away! The kids really really love it! Here is a video of Annabelle being silly! She likes to hit the button on the water spout and then run away when the water starts to come out!

Annabelle...and her diaper...

She hates it. I mean, wouldn't you? She just keeps taking it off and leaving it places. We have a huge house, so I am seriously searching for it. I'll ask her where it is and usually she'll tell me exactly where it is but sometimes not.

This morning was one of those mornings. The alarm went off and I just laid there for a minute. Then... Will comes in my room SCREAMING that Bella took her diaper off and threw it at him! Great. But then it gets worse. She had more than pee in the diaper. So.... good morning to me!

I spent the next 30 minutes cleaning the carpet, ripping off the sheets (because she decided to climb up on his bed) and cleaning her up. WHY? Why are kids fascinated with such things? It's gross and frustrating. She is ready to be potty trained. In fact, she's gone on her own a couple of times but the whole moving thing kinda pushed the potty training aside. But this was the last straw! Seriously!

I know that I'm not the only parent to deal with this right? You would think that since she is my 4th kid I'd have it down, but no. Maybe because she's my 4th kid I'm not surprised by anything anymore.

I hear yelling from upstairs... I guess that would be my cue to go. I think MOM and Ref are one in the same! =)