Spring Break Trip

During the week of Spring break we decided to throw the kids in the car and drive somewhere they have never been. We didn't tell them where we were going, just that we were headed north. We ended up in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We were just going for the night so Lewis called and got a couple of rooms in one of the nicer hotels. When we got there we went straight to the springs.

The water was H.O.T. Wow. Two of the pools were untouchable. Everyone had a good time. There was no stinky smell or dirty feel. After a while we got out and walked to dinner. The whole town is 3 blocks so walking was easy. We ate pizza and then went to the grocery store for nighttime snacks.

We decided to go back and sit in the springs again for a while once it was dark and cold. The Springs are much more comfortable at night. After our swim we walked back to the hotel and settled in for the night. The boys played Catan and the girls watched a movie on Disney.

The next morning as we were leaving I realized the wallpaper in our ghetto fabulous 1980 hotel room was the exact same paper as my parents have in their front room. I needed proof so here is Abi with the wallpaper:

Here is a close up of the hotel paper:

Nothing personal but I have been saying for 12 years that my parents need to redo that front room wallpaper. Now I know it needs to be done...STAT!!!!!

Eggs

Luckily I still have little girls so we get to dye eggs. The boys are too old and too cool to do the fun holiday activities now so the girls and I get to do all of the fun stuff alone. This year we got stickers and made silly faced eggs. The girls had a good time and again, it kept us busy for an afternoon so no being bored or fighting!!

Mojito was very confused at the fuss and the egg smell. He kept hiding his nose under his paws and his blanket.

Cookie Decorating

Since Easter was early this year our Spring break was early too. The kids all got the week before Easter off for break. I tried to have some activities to keep us busy so that the fighting would keep to a minimum. I bought these cute cookies at Costco and the boys put frosting all over them and just ate them but the girls decided to take some time and make them cute.

It kept them busy and they got a treat. Success.

First Day of Spring

The Groundhog lied.

Happy first day of Spring! We didn't get a snow day (we never do in Utah) but it was very pretty. It all melted within 24 hours and we never even shoveled the driveway but we got 8 inches when it was all said and done. It was unwanted, but at least it was here and gone in a day.

Finally Fixed!

Do you remember my post about the mold last month? Well it is finally gone! New tiles were put in and a door to the shower to fix the problem permanently  The boys can shower downstairs again. this is making life so much easier for all of us! We need more than two showers in our house.

Jazz Reading

This year our school won a Jazz Reading contest within the state of Utah. We were one of the top 10 schools in the state for minutes read by the students in a month. This is our first year winning. If you win a Jazz player comes to the school, reads a couple of books to the kids and answers questions. The kids had a great time.

Do You Want To See Something Nasty?

When we were getting ready to leave for Disneyland I noticed a nasty little something in Adam's closet. Mold.

Long story short the brand new bathroom that was put in the basement was not done right and the shower is leaking through the wall and into the bedroom on one side and into the unfinished space on the other.

Needless to say I was less than happy. Since these pictures were taken we no longer live in these rooms. Adam has moved into the bonus room above the garage and settled in nicely. He has no intentions of moving out, but he is going to be moving soon! The contractor is coming tomorrow! Hopefully (fingers crossed) the walls come down and a new bathroom goes in very quickly!!! Well when I say very quickly I know I am looking at a few weeks.

So anyway for your enjoyment and disgust:

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I know we jumped a head a little but I didn't really take pictures for about 3 weeks because everyone was sick and we did nothing. So the next thing was Valentines Day! Lewis and I always get them a little something for Love Day. I put their little piles on the counter at their seats so when they get up for breakfast they have a little surprise. This year I did a t-shirt and a candy and the girls also got headbands.

Here is Abi still sleepy checking out her goodies. Her hair was in curlers because she wanted to look beautiful for her boyfriend on Valentines Day. How sweet!

This is Haley and Jason's piles before they came down.

Adam's pile was already taken away because he got fruit snacks and "locker treats" so he wanted to take them to school.

Lewis and I don't really do Valentines Day because our anniversary is the 13th. We just celebrate them together on the Sunday after the actual dates because here in Utah nobody goes out on Sunday so we can go out to eat and a movie or go shopping and nothing is crowded.

Sick Birthday and Family

All he wanted for his birthday was to go to the "meat restaurant", the Brazilian Buffet where they bring around spears with meat and grilled pineapple on them. He didn't even want a gift. But when his birthday came he was sicker than a dog. Poor guy. His 12th birthday was ruined.

Instead of meat he got this:

And this:

And this:

(We did end up getting him a gift card for his favorite game website and we went to the Brazilian Restaurant 2 weeks later. So don't feel too bad for the guy.)

Then as a gift to all of us for his birthday he gave us his sickness. It wasn't the flu or strep. It was just a nasty virus that stayed around for about 2 weeks. Each of the kids missed a week of school, Lewis missed a week of work, and I pushed through and worked the whole time. Even when I got a sinus infection and went through some antibiotics. It was miserable. I would go to work and then come home and climb into bed. The things we do for our families. The day I was the worst was a Friday and I was feeling so bad that I don't remember driving home from the school. I remember being there and then being home in bed. Scary.

Luckily, we are all got better. I still stand behind no flu shots for our family as we have not gotten the flu. And as half of the school had strep I know the hand washing that I force them do helps. 

Christmas Cards

This year I did not do a picture card. Something had to give and I decided that this was the least important item on the list, so it went. Next year I will do better and I will get pictures done and sent out. I did do hand written cards to everyone that sent a card to us.

Just know that even though we didn't do cards we appreciated your card and kept them up until January :)