Lagoon!!

Scott, Shelbi and Jensen on the Tilt-a-whirl

Anja took a quick 20 minute catnap around 9 p.m. then woke up and asked for more rides.

The boys on yet another roller coaster of some sort (they all started to blend together after the first hour or two)

Nadia getting ready to do some crashing.

Jensen getting ready to hit Nadia and Mom (although he could barely see over the steering wheel).

Anja and aunt Kristin.

Anja's favorite ride.. around and around and around and around and around and around...

Jensen felt vindicated after spinning his car to the point that he made uncle Scott and aunt Shelbi nearly sick...

Some were not happy we made them ride...

Nikki talked the boys into riding everything.

Family nights and flutes

Sometimes I just throw out tradition and embrace the chaos. Monday we tossed out a traditional family night and worked on one of Carter's projects for school: making a flute. We used PVC pipe, instructions from the Internet (thank you Google) and had so much fun we didn't stop at one flute. In 45 minutes we had two flutes and a piccolo piercing ears all over the neighborhood.

Who needs the Utah Symphony?

Spring Break

I read this article about a woman who was committing herself to being a happy and fun mom. It really hit me-- happy as a mom, I guess so. If that means happy as a person, yes, I would consider myself usually happy. Fun mom, sometimes. But, I have issues when things are not organized, categorized and compartmentalized.. type A personality?? So I committed to do at least one thing a week that my KIDS would classify as fun, not necessarily me. Spring break we turned over to them and we let them choose the schedule. We ended up doing a lot of kid stuff and eating a lot of kid food. Rich and I had a blast watching them suck it all in...

We went to the star show at Clark Planetarium with our friends, Joey and Linzey

We walked on the moon...

We found out Anja isn't afraid of anything, including the rides at Jungle Jims...

Or the roller coaster...
...and she thought the Farris Wheel was a bit boring after riding the roller coaster.

Fun? I think so.

Valentine's Day! or Day of Sugar!

It's tradition. Before lunch the doorbell rings and to the kids surprise there are goodies waiting on the porch from grandma and grandpa. This year was no different even with several inches of fresh snow on the ground. I had some happy kids! Anja disappeared for a while and after some searching, we found her under the piano bench with all of the chocolates from her heart in her mouth and hands. Yum, chocolate!

Draper Temple

I have to admit, this was not something I really wanted to do. Standing in the cold, in a dress with my kids to see the inside of the temple was not high on my list of fun things to do this winter. But, being obedient, I did it because I was told to. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. It took under an hour to park, watch the movie, tour the temple and get back to our car. The mounds of treats/bribes I stashed in my purse for the kids remained untouched. The kids had a blast seeing the inside of the temple and were full of questions. Even Anja enjoyed the adventure. The walk to the temple doors was covered by a massive tent that kept much of the cold and snow out. That was nice. Then, true to Mormon culture, there were cookies at the end. Even the missionaries were well behaved (way to go Elder Coombs) not one asked for a referral! Because it was snowing and the tents were up, we could only get a picture of the family standing at the doors-- and my camera was cold and fogged up so none of the pictures turned out well.. Regardless, it is a beautiful building and was worth the trek to see my entire family in the Celestial Room together-- hopefully not for the last time.

Family bonding

I'm not one who minds change. I really do okay with it unless it involves me giving up control for extended periods of time. That's what happened Sunday. A week ago we got a call and yesterday Rich was made the new Elders Quorum president. He's served in EQ presidencies more times than I can count and for the majority of our married life, but never as president. We live in a huge ward with a lot to do. I know he is up for the challenge and I know we will adapt to the phone ringing, dad in a suit and the best part of all--- a clean shaved dad twice a week (a very positive thing as far as I am concerned). But it is still a change and one that blindsided me a week ago.
Maybe the hardest part is sharing Rich with others. He makes our life fun and happy. He can calm a situation and break the tension quickly. He's smart, he's humble and he's my best friend. He also likes to surprise those who least expect it (like the Mamma Mia! party over Christmas break). Guess it was about time I shared him.

Rich's parents came to support him.

As well as the Bywater clan (great-grandpa Kresser, Kristin & Nadia, Shelbi & Scott, mom and dad)

Our Group-- it was Carter's birthday on Sunday so he was ready to go home and celebrate.

Their First Ballet

It is something Rich and I do nearly every year but this year we did it with a twist. We took Carter and Jensen with us to see the Nutcracker ballet at Capital Theater. We weren't sure what their reaction would be but decided this was the year to make the leap from small community productions to the real thing. Luck for us, they loved it. They spent the first 20 minutes we were there exploring the theater with all of its little nooks and crannies. Once the show began, they were mesmerized. We sat in the middle on the front row of the first balcony. They were amazing seats. We could see the entire stage and all the musicians below. Can't wait to take them to Hale Theater this week for A Christmas Carol. That should be just as fun. I consider this as yet another step down the path of raising up cultured, polite and educated boys (not an easy task when you are competing against the Wii).

Legoland Coombs Style

My kids love Lego's. When we told the boys we were going to California this past August for Kristin's wedding they wanted to know which day we would be at Legoland. They love it!! They tolerate Disneyland and all that "princess stuff" but Legoland is the amusement gods gift to them. It's been almost TWO years since we were there last and they are missing it, so they created their own. Guess it is time for a vacation.

Halloween

It feels like it has been too long. I really need this outlet to vent my writing juice. Halloween was so much fun with Anja. The boys were fun too, but they are always Star Wars characters whose names I can't say or spell. It was nice to have a pink ballerina wondering around all day long. Anja sucked it up! Rich took the day off work so he got to experience the joy of school parties-- both in the kindergarten and 3rd grade. He survived. We went to the neighborhood trunk or treat at the park and loved that. Then onto the Coombs where the boys and Nikki did a little door to door trick or treating while Anja and Tiffani answered grandma's door. The highlight was playing in the leaves grandpa raked and put on his front steps.

We started a new tradition: pumpkin smashing. The day after Halloween we spread a huge tarp over the ground on the road in front of our house and let the boys go at it. They loved it! Anja used a little hammer and thought that was a blast. Hopefully this will keep them from trolling the neighborhood late at night looking for smashing opportunities.

Pizza Pie!

Once and while I let the kids do the pizza making. It's fun but very messy. This time, Anja was old enough to knead the dough. Very messy. I had to take these pictures because it was like I was watching my grandma Kresser cook. I remember very vividly her tongue sticking out while she concentrated on the work at hand. Sometimes I even catch myself doing it. Looks like a bit of the Kresser's made its way into Anja as well. I couldn't be happier--Grandma was a wonderful cook and a fine woman.

The beginning of the end

It's August... It's the beginning of the end of summer. I worry all year that the summer will be a bust, then I realize it has been a blast! One week from today we will get on an airplane and head to California for one last vacation before we buckle down for school. The boys and I spent yesterday online looking at Universal Studios and designing our plan of attack. I think we will fun and get plenty wet. Can't wait.