Monday, I took the kids to Spring Mountain Ranch, to meet with a friend, Jane, and her boys. I really loved meeting with her. I met her at the bereavement group I go to. She wanted to talk to me about having a baby after, losing Ellie, and that was a perfect place for us to do it. It was beautiful. I had never been there before. There was a huge, open field for the kids to run in, climb trees, play with sticks......pretty much whatever they wanted to do. It was so fun for them, and good conversation for me. The funnest part, was when Jane showed us where the resevoir was. It was so pretty. Her kids immediately took their socks and shoes off and started wading in the water. Sarah soon followed, taking her socks and shoes off, and rolling up her pants. The highlight of the day is when Luke said he had to go potty, and I had to teach him how to go pee outside like a big boy. He was SO proud of himself.
Tuesday, I took the kids to Ethel M Chocolate Factory & Cactus Gardens. We have never been there when it wasn't Christmas. It sounds stupid that we haven't been there, except for that time, but it really makes sense. During Christmas time, they decorate the cactus gardens with lights. And I don't mean they are sprinkled over the lights. They are COVERED in lights. It's so beautiful there. The kids were disappointed that there weren't going to be any Christmas lights, but once they got there, I told them to find their favorite cactus' and I would take their picture with them. They thought that was a fun game, except when they saw the fly's, bees and ants. Of course, Sarah was the ring leader, in this chaos. She got the kids all worked up and scared of anything that looked like an insect, including butterflies. But they still had fun.
After the cactus', we went inside and watched them make chocolate treats. Since we had only been at night, before, for the lights, there are also few workers in the factory, so they've never actually seen any chocolates being made, only where they were made. This time, since it was during the day, they got to see everyone doing their fun jobs. They thought that was amazing!! What was even more special was, all of the workers stopped whatever they were doing, and waved and smiled at the kids. Some interracted with them for a while even. The kids felt like rockstars!
After the small, short tour, the kids got to get their complimentary piece of chocolate.....or 2. Since I didn't get a piece, because I'm not really a chocolate fan, the sweet man gave each of the kids an extra piece. After that, we went to the M&M store and I let the kids pick out a small candy filled toy. Luke got a M&M filled stick toy, that had a fan on it, and behind the fan was an M&M guy dressed up as Darth Vador. Taylor got the same thing, but his was a guy dressed up as Yoda. Sarah went for the light saber version.....of course the boys wanted the light saber version once they saw hers in the car, lit up. All the way home, the kids kept saying, "Thank you, Mommy!! We had so much fun!". Which made me so happy.
After the chocolate factory extravaganza, we went to watch the airplanes take off and land. I know it sounds lame, but we have actually always wanted to take the kids. We used to live over there, right down the street, actually, but we never made time to go. The kids were so excited when we got there. They spent most of the time running up and down the sidewalk, racing the airplanes. They especially loved sitting in the back of the van, listening to the air traffic controllers, over the radio. They thought that was pretty cool.
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| I love this one |
Wednesday, I met another friend, Ashley, that I met at the bereavement group, also. She had lost her baby the same time as me, and then became pregnant the same time as me. We met her there for a couple of hours, and had nice conversation and a bit of junk food, before heading off to meet my other friend, Amy, and her boys, at the Natural History Museum. Their family had never been there before, and I was nervous that her boys (her youngest being 11 or 12, and the oldest is serving a mission) would think it would be boring, or too young for them. Actually, I was really impressed by her boys! They took the time to read every plaque, try out every hands on exhibit, that they could. Most kids their age could care less about this stuff. They don't give it any time, they are always bored, and usually, they are sulking in the corner, on their cell phones. They really seemed to have a good time!
My kids, however, were not so amazing. They have been to the Natural History Museum about 80 times, since they've been born, and always had a blast. But, the one time that I take all 4 of them, alone, they are scared of EVERYTHING!! Sarah couldn't wait to get to the Egypt exhibit, and as soon as we do, she is trying to get through it as fast as she can, because she swears there are mummies there. Ugh. Taylor, all he wanted to see were the sharks. We get to the sharks (where you can even see real sharks swimmin around) and he started bawling and screaming. Luke, he wanted to see the dinosaurs.......ugh, don't get me started on the dinosaurs. OK! So, Luke is crying HARD! He's so scared of the robotic dinosaurs, because of something Sarah said, and got him and Taylor all worked up. After 30 minutes of standing there, trying to convince them it's fine, I grab Luke, and stick him in the stroller (Elliott was with Amy), Sarah grabs Taylor's hand tightly, and I grab her hand, and I run like a crazy lady through the dinosaur exhibit, with 3 screaming kids. Finally, we got to kids play area, right on the other side of the dinosaur exhibit. They played for about 20 minutes there, before I dropped the bomb on them that we had to go back through the dinosaur exhibit, to get to the elevator. This time, however, they were better prepared, and a TON calmer. Thank heavens.
After the museum, Amy said she wanted to go to the Pinball Hall of Fame. As always, we were down. By this time, Allan was off work, and was able to meet up with us, there. The kids had a blast! Sarah and Luke's favorite thing to do there was the photo booth and the air hockey table. I have to admit, I loved the air hockey table, mostly because I was able to kick Allan's butt at it. HA! That always makes for a happy day. Not to mention my high score on one of the tables. WOO HOO! Another favorite of the family was the mustache vending machine. Of course we got a mustache for our little "Algernon Danger Rogers", the name that our friends, and my young women came up with. Algernon means "with mustache". HA! Taylors favorite thing was the "Kit Car", from Night Rider. I swear, if I hear that song again, or hear that stupid car's voice, I might rip my ears off. You can hear that thing from across the building. Taylor played in that stinkin car the whole time we were there.
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| Elliott, formally known as "Algernon Danger Rogers" |
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| That stupid car! |
After the Pinball Hall of Fame, Amy said she wanted to take her boys to get Pho. So, Allan suggested going to Pho King Do.....yea. Anyways, it was super fun. Jared, one of her sons, was super interested in the spoons. And man, those boys can sure pack down the soup. It was kind of amazing the amount of soup that they can pack down. My kids, however, could care less. In fact, they didn't care for it at all, except Sarah. She's like her mama. She LOVES soup, and LOVED this soup too! I love that she is so adventurous. But, it didn't matter if the boys didn't like the soup. I was so happy that the Bryan's loved the food so much. I know they'd never had it before, and it is super different, but they rolled with it, and loved it!
It was a really fun, full day. I loved sharing the day with the Bryan family, and I loved it even more that Allan was able to join us on one of our adventures.
Thursday: Thursday we decided to take it a bit easier. I took the boys to the mall, and let them play around a little bit at the children's area. After they were done playing, I took them to Johnny Rockets, at the mall. They had so much fun sitting at the bar, and picking out music on the juke box. They especially loved the waiters and waitresses dancing to a few songs, and then their milk shakes.
After lunch, we went to a few stores, looking for the boys' Easter outfits. I couldn't get Sarah's dress because she had stayed the night at Allan's mom's house the night before, and was still there, playin with her cousins.
It was a kick back day, but still, I had so much fun with my little men. They are such good boys.
Friday: On Friday, we were meeting my friend, and Allan's cousin, Michelle, and her boys at Old Navy, for some girl shopping time (with 5 little boys, and Sarah), and then off to Joann's, and finally to McDonalds to let the kids play.
Old Navy was so fun. Sarah really loved being one of the girls. She had picked out some clothes she liked, and I let her go into a dressing room, by herself, and try on clothes. She felt like she was one of the big girls. Michelle and I got some new dresses, and it was much needed. I really don't think I had been shopping with another woman, in at least a year or so. So, I guess I kinda had to remember how to just have fun, and be silly.......while still being a pulled together mommy. HA! It was funny. But I know I can't wait to have some more girl time soon. It's been a while......too long.
After the shopping trip, we went to Mcdonalds and let the kids run and scream and be silly. I swear, their favorite thing that day was being able to sit at their own table, away from us. They love feeling like they are big people.
After leaving Michelle, I took the kids to Kohls, to finish their Easter clothes shopping. The boys picked out their outfits. They each picked out the same thing. HA! Allan swears I dress them alike, but honestly, they always like what the other has, so they have a lot of the same things. Sarah had so much fun this time around, because I just sat back and let her pick out dresses that she likes. Sarah knows the rules though. Must go down to the knee, and needs to have capped sleeves, or be able to wear a jacket with it. I picked out a few, here and there, and she agreed to try them on. We went to the dressing room, ALL OF US. The boys were restless, but they tried so hard to be good.
One of the best moments of Sarah trying clothes on, was me watching her. I knew that girl had a definite style, but I wanted her to like what I thought was cute. I wanted her to be a soft, sweet girly girl. And really, that day, I finally got it......I got her, and I appreciated her. She tried on some frilly, fluffy, flowery dresses that I liked, and I immediately looked at her, and said, "That's not you." She said, "No, it's not" and took it off. She looked so relieved that I wasn't trying to make her like it, or talk her into it. She put on a yellow, sparkly dress and we both knew, that was it. She was so excited that I liked it too, and couldn't wait to wear it for Easter.
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| Taylor, with some red sunglasses he wore the whole time we were at Old Navy. This is his pose. I LOVE it. |
So, spring break, was...........incredible. I had so much fun watching my kids, be themselves, loving life, loving me, and loving each other. They are amazing kids. They are so full of personality. They love life, and appreciate it. My kids are busy, and loud, and cannot hold still, to save their lives. They tend to drive me crazy, and make me feel overwhelmed, or feel like I am a bad mother, because I'm just yelling all day long. But this week, I learned, my kids are good kids. They are busy, but they aren't bad kids. They have manners, and obedience, but more importantly, they have so much love for everyone around them. I love that Allan and I have taught them those things. I can't wait to see what they each do with their lives.
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