Sunny day = Beach

Once there was a beautiful day, so we packed up 3 adults, 3 teenagers, and 3 kids, and went to the east coast to enjoy the sun and surf. first we had to endure a 3.5 hour drive to get there. {I am so looking forward to being 3 miles from the beach!!}

The water was really warm!!! so at once we were all in the water. Tommy on the other hand found an "X" in the sand so he wanted to dig for buried treasure first. With a little convincing and the promise that he wouldn't have to get his head wet {remember when we were in California in March?} So since I mentioned California.... Yes, we have been from Sea to shining Sea this year... Coast to coast.... touched the Pacific and the Atlantic... Ok think it's kinda cool, and thought I would indulge. Anyway, with a little convincing Tommy I was able to get Tommy in the water. After he was confident that he would not melt in the water... he had a really good time.

We did find a lot of treasures, unfortunately none of it was gold.

Tim enjoyed the water but I think he liked the sand more. He liked digging in it and rubbing toes in the water. The waves were a little much for him but he like sitting back far enough just to get the edge of the surf coming in.

James is a total fish. This boy LOVES the water. It was hard to get him out of the water. Jumping in the waves, playing on the boogie boards, trying to catch the fish between the waves.

It was a really fun day. In the end we came home with three adults, three sleeping teenagers, and three sleeping kids.

And all three of the kids have the Coppertone tans!

Off to the Zoo

As many of you know we are a family that LOVES the Zoo. Our kids are a great age for it, and I think it's just a great way to spend a day. We went to the North Carolina in Asheboro. This zoo is really cool because they have it set up in real habitats. So instead of a small cage for the animal they get a really big place to walk around.. There were two sections to the zoo, the North America side and the Africa side. We went to the latter.

We thought about just having the bays walk but we decided that we would rent a stroller and push them around. It ended up being a really good idea.

We went by the lions and they were up and walking around. this is sad but I have never seen an active lion in a zoo before. Most of the time they are in the shade sleeping {not that I blame them}

The funniest thing was watching one of the elephants. He was splashing water all over himself, and then he got into his pond for a swim. It was great.

The boys both were hatched and

Tim had a nap.... see, the stroller was a good idea. Tim is 36lbs of dead weight when he is asleep.{yes people, I said 36 pounds!}

The humidity was not so bad here. And walking around wasn't really all that bad. There were so many trees to shade the path.

So this Zoo definitely gets 10 thumbs up. {even from the sleeping one}

Children's Museum

I took the boys to The Children's Museum, it was so fun! I haven't been to ALL the children's museums, but I have been to many. This was the best one so far!! It was clean {which is really big plus!} well organized and really interesting to the boys. Even with all the fun things don't you love that you bring you kids places and then they want to play with the most common toy.... The toy that you just got rid because nobody played with it...

It was kinda busy so going outside was a nice change. James was really involved in looking at everything through the magnifying glass. The museum had a little garden so we were able to see lots of things growing.

Here is Tommy planting some wood chips... hoping to grow a tree. {I think we need to go back to basics on how we get plant....}

Tim is learning to perfect this look. Aunt Michelle is almost willing to give him what ever he wants with this look.

Tommy is loving using the real tools. He loved sawing and screwing in things.... but alas, we lost James and had to go find him.


Here is a classic James picture... I'm not sure how I always end up getting his bug-eyed look. Maybe he is over whelmed by all the excitement, or maybe....

it's the fact that he got to play hockey. His hand eye coordination is getting better {ie:he didn't hit anyone} ... maybe he'll play hockey.. oh wait, we are going to be in Florida...


Ok, hands off girls, Tim has already found his queen....

James decided that he wants to be a hockey player or a mail man. I was told many times by Tommy that he was NOT calling China on the play pay phone. {at least he listens}. I thought we did pretty well. I only lost James once and Tim twice. The boys only ended up a little wet {waist on up} from the water area, and they all got to play pirates.

If anyone is in the Raleigh, North Carolina area you should definitely go to the children's museum.

Oh the places we've been

We are finally settled.... for a month at least. We are in North Carolina staying with the husband's sister. {THANK YOU} More on the reason we are here later.

Our life packed up.... the boys really had a great time with the truck. They each got to take turns riding in the truck with dad.

Anyway. We started in Sierra Vista, Arizona last Wednesday. After saying goodbye to some wonderful friends we jumped on I-10 for the long 2,000 mile drive!!

When it comes to neighbors you really can't get better than Priscilla and her family. They will be dearly missed!!
Tommy and his little buddy Caleb. They had such a love-hate relationship!! Like you would not believe, but when it came down to it they were best friends.

We made our first stop in El Paso, Texas. We were able to visit with some other friends that had moved there. It was really weird being in El Paso, because I thought that we lived on the boarder being in Sierra Vista, but as we were driving you could see the boarder fence!

Here we are right before we left. The boys are getting out some last minute wiggles before saddling up for three days of seatbelts. It was great for James to have a chance to play with his friend. {and three cheers for trampolines!}

We made our next stop in Sonora, Texas.

The boys {all of them} enjoyed the evening in the pool. The boys are fish... almost.

The boys were exhausted...{my heavens it is hard to watch movies, reading, and looking out the windows all day.... Starting day two I took the picture right before we woke the boys up. Boy, I'm glad that i wasn't in that bed... I would have been kicked out.

We drove and drove and finally made it out of Texas and bunked down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And the best way to end the day is to play with dad, jump on the beds {and miss because they were to far apart} and smash your fingers in the doors.... in my defences, I told Tim it would happen, I warned him... twice.

The boys must have slept better... look how cute they are. Oh... the picture of perfection. Then we woke them up to start again.

After getting up bright and early we left Louisiana and trekked across 2 other states before making our way to Florida. We were in 4 states that day! I like the smaller states because it makes you feel like you really are getting there faster.

Then we made it FINALLY.... after 3 days {and 4 hours} and over 7 states! Boy we were sure happy to make it... but alas we were done yet.

We made it to the hotel in Daytona...We were happy, and I think the boys had a little bit of cabin fever from being in the car for so long.... they turned crazy....dang it... I guess I mean they got crazier.

After we made it to Florida, on Saturday night, we went to church the next day and just rested... a much needed day of rest.
Monday, came and with the help of some great young men... missionaries... the truck... our whole life was unloaded and put into a 10x30 storage shed in 2 1/2 hours!!! It's so weird to think that our life is just sitting and waiting for us.

Then we had a day's drive up to North Carolina. The boys were happy to get out and finally have a place to run. And that place to run came with extras.... 3 cousins ready and waiting to run the boys into exhaustion. The boys are loving having such great play mates, and the best thing is is that they are live in.

And yes... even super heroes get tired!

Here we go!!!

We are off on our trek. We are packed up, and loaded in. Our life is about to change drastically. I'm excited, but very nervous. I'm going to miss Sierra Vista. I'm going to miss my house, my great friends, and the familiar of the town. We have made so many memories and had so many experiences here. Tommy, and Tim learned to talk here. Tim learned to walk here. James went from a toddler to a boy. This is the longest place we've been at. In a way, I feel like I grew up here. I will miss it here.

Leaving is nothing new for us. It's what we do. We come, we conquer, we move on. One day I'll have my "white picket fence."



I have been many places... and I have to say by far nothing can beat the desert sunsets. This is what I will miss.

I'll see you all on the other side.

While I'm gone.

I know you are all going to miss me while I'm on the road. I'm not going to have a chance to blog about our adventures until we are settled for a little bit. We are going to be on the road for 3 days straight {with three kids, a dog, a van and a moving truck} yes this will be an adventure! Some say that we can't make it in 3 days {you know who you are :)} And all I have to say is... Oh, ye of little faith. {but I'll let you all know how it goes}

So to keep you entertained while I'm gone I found some fun things for you to watch. Enjoy, Enjoy!!!

There are Literal Videos. They are so funny. These are the actual videos, and the songs were changed to match the video. Really.... get ready to laugh!

Tears for Fears


Billy Idol


The Monkeys


Really, what are people thinking.... or not when they open their mouths???


For all you Twilight Fans! {I am NOT a fan, I have NOT read the book, or seen the movies nor do I want to.... but these were really funny!}


#2

I hope you all liked these, I thought they where pretty funny.

I will see you all soon, and who knows I may peek in on you now and then before I get a chance to post.

James lost something.

James lost something... at first he was really worried. He got first loose tooth!!! The husband and I were really excited! However, James was not. He was very worried that his tooth was coming out because he was not brushing his teeth well enough. He cried and promised that he was doing a really good in brushing and was taking care of his teeth. It took a lot of convincing to let him know that this was a good thing.

Poor James has a narrow mouth and baby teeth very close together... boy oh boy, we are in for dental work!!

Some really yummy things!!

I got these ideas from little momma and company she is a cute blogger. Her photography is amazing, and her ideas are great, and her recipes are really yummy!!! {so go peek and take a look at her blog} {oh... the recipes I got from her blog, but I made them and the pictures on this blog are mine}

Dutch Baby

3/4 C milk (I used skim)
1/2 C flour
2 large eggs
1 and 1/2 T sugar
1/2 t vanilla extract
3 T butter
...
powdered sugar
desired fruit for topping
...
15 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 450. Have a pie plate ready.Whisk together milk, flour, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Put the butter in the pie plate and place it in the oven to melt. When butter is just melted, brush the sides of the pie plate with it so the pancake will not stick.Slowly pour the batter into the hot pie plate. Bake it for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, until pancake is well browned. Remove from oven and spoon fruit into the center of the pancake. Top with powdered sugar.

Play Dough Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt assorted colors of paste food coloring {I use the gel}

DIRECTIONS
In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms. Divide dough into fourths. Tint each with a different food color. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Working with half of each color, shape dough into 3/4 inch balls and for each cookie place 1 pink, 1 green, 1 blue and 1 orange ball together to make 1 large ball. Shape into a 12 inch long roll (like a snake), starting at one end, coil roll to make a 2 3/4 inch round cookie.

Place cookies 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and store in an airtight container.

These where so fun to make!!

There is also this recipe of "Emily's Free-Form Rainbow Lollies". {My pictures didn't turn out so go there and see her pictures and the ingredients. Her pictures will make you want to do these}

Answers to your burning Questions

I know you all have questions....the kind that keep you up at night. They stress you out and make it so you can't function like a normal person. Well... I'm glad that you are here, I'm glad that you made it and that I can help you.

Q: When you can't find your shoes, where is the most logical place to look?

A: Look in the bottom of the laundry, naturally!

Q} Do shoes really have super powers? No.... sorry they do not make you run faster, or jump higher....

A: Not unless they are Transformer shoes, then of course they have super powers and really cool powers like wall clinging.

Q:Your pet dinosaur has been bugging you all day, what do you do?

A} Take him for a walk, and since they don't walk on a leash very well, it's easiest if you put them on the scooter.

***{forward....I went to Utah last March for my brother wedding, and ever where I went I saw a blue FJ Cruiser, I now see is all the time... I swear the car is stalking me.}***

Q}What do you do when you are sure you are being stalked by a car? {a blue FJ Cruiser to be exact}

A} You make them move next door so you can watch them!

Q} You have a new umbrella and no rain, what do you do?

A} Use the sprinklers

Q} You come down stairs and your stuff has been moved.... ghosts maybe.

A:{Or you can just look in the reflection.} If you are going to be sneaky, don't take a picture of yourself.

Q} What do you do when your neighbor wants her 15 minute of fame....

A} Easy... put her picture on you blog. Look Priscilla it's you!!!! {this is my totally awesome {and hot, and talented, and funny} neighbor!}

Q} What do you do if you want to fly....

A: Flap your arms really fast. {and have a super cool swing}

Q:What happens when you put dad in charge of breakfast?

A: You get German Chocolate cake and milk


Q:What happens when you give the boy what ever he wants to keep him quiet during church?

A: He breaks it.

Q: Why are boys so convenient?

A: Does this need an explanation??

Q: What do you do when you don't like the blondish, redish, orangeish color in your hair? And then.... you leave in the dark hair dye in to long,{thanks to a phone call with the neighbor that wants her 15 minutes} and then.... the husband is making fun of you because you look gothic?

A: Wash your hair and then do a hot oil treatment and then.... use dawn dish soap to draw out more color. Then you get the dark brown {NOT black} color that you wanted.

Q: People ask me all the time if I share with my kids.....

A: Of course I do!!! I eat the red and green candies, and they get the orange and yellow, the ones I don't like.

Q: What do red, yellow, green, blue, orange, and purple make?

A: A brownish, greenish, greyish color.

Q: What do you get when a permanent marker and a toddler are in the same room together?

A: You get a work of art. Just.... not where you want it.

There you have it. I hope you can sleep better now, and that your curiosity is cured... at least a little bit. If you have any other question let me know I would love to solve them for you.