Spring Break 2016- Day 1&2

We have been so excited for Spring Break this year!! We planned a fun trip to The Happiest Place on Earth and our little family couldn't have been more excited! Ma and Pa came with us, which made it even more fun!

We left late Sunday afternoon (after General Conference) and drove to Mesquite for the night. Adam and Tessa got to ride with Ma and Pa, and Gwen and Caleb got to ride with Mommy and Daddy. We didn't even make it to Santaquin before we had already stopped a couple of times. The hood on our car wasn't attached securely and of course, Tessa threw up. We thought at that point, it was going to be a very long trip! Gwen decided 10 minutes into our trip that she was starving and helped herself to pretzels that needed to last the entire week. 

 We stopped at Cove Fort to stretch our legs and have a picnic dinner. The kids loved running around and climbing the trees. 

 After we started eating, Gwen informed us that we were not having a real picnic, because our coolers looked nothing like real picnic baskets. We all had a good laugh over that one. Considering our rough start, we made good time and had a good night's sleep in Mesquite. Gwen decided that she loves sleeping in hotels and Adam told us that his favorite part of going on a trip is the hotels. 

 Caleb was so happy to have pancakes the next morning for breakfast!

 We are lucky to have such good travelers. Gwen complains about everything, but overall, they do really well in the car. Caleb did especially good on the trip. He loved looking at his Star Wars book. Adam and Tessa had fun in Ma and Pa's car, listening to stories from the Timpanogas Story Telling Festival. Every time we took a break from the car, they were anxious to tell us about all the stories they had heard. 

 On Monday, after a very long drive, with lots of California traffic, we made it to the beach! The kids have been dying to play at the beach! We got there just in time for the tide to start coming in. And it came in fast, so we didn't get much water time, but we still had a blast! We pulled up and the kids couldn't get to the water fast enough. Especially Caleb!

Kathleen and Michael were so nice and met us at the beach with a hot dog dinner. Kathleen helped the kids with their sand castles. 

 Poor Gwennie lost one of her shoes in the ocean. We told her maybe Ariel found it and took it to her Grotto. It took a little convincing, but after a few minutes, Gwen decided that that was ok with her. 

These kids loved the water! 

 Caleb just wanted to run and run into the water. I think we found his happy place!

 Mommy couldn't keep her dress out of the water and chase kids. Ma said I looked like Ursula when the bottom of my dress filled with water. 

 Pa and Gwennie

 One of their main goals was to build a sand castle. They started on one and then got distracted with finding seashells. 

 I forgot how much I love the beach. It was beautiful!

 Pa chased Caleb around for a few minutes. 

 Footprints in the sand.....I suddenly felt like composing a poem. 

 There isn't anything better than roasting hot dogs at the beach. This was my childhood all over again! It was so fun and so nice of Michael and Kathleen to do! We had a lovely evening together!

Uncle David and Aunt Alex drove all the way out to the beach to see us that night too! It was so good to see them and the kids were so happy to see David! He played tag with them in the dark and the kids were in heaven! At on point Adam ran past me and I heard him say, "I love Uncle David!!" I'm so glad they got some play time with one of their favorite people!

 It was a long day and we stayed at the beach pretty late. We put on a show for the kids to fall asleep to while Mommy and Daddy got things cleaned up and ready for the next day. Caleb and Gwen  crashed. Snacks in hand, and all.

March Memories

 Ever since we saw "Joseph" in February, we have listened to the soundtrack constantly. One afternoon while we waited for Adam at piano lessons, I caught Tessa hanging out the car window "acting out" and singing "Close Every Door". It was pretty entertaining. I wish I had taken a picture when she had her arms raised to the sky. She was very into her scene!

 I had an afternoon with no babysitting kids and Caleb and Gwen were sitting happily and quietly in front of a show. I decided to take advantage of that and got some much needed work done down in our basement. When I came up a bit later to check on everyone, Caleb was gone. I searched the house, calling him frantically, and couldn't find him anywhere. I was checking closets and showers and under beds. He was no where. I began to freak out! Then I checked Adam's closet one more time. This is what I found behind the closet door.  A sleeping boy, surrounded by his favorite dinosaurs. After my heart slowed down a bit, I took a picture to document the cute and frantic occasion. 

 Tessa had a Show What You Know in March. Her class sang a poem they learned about Geology. 

 Caleb knows that going to the grocery store means treats. He got a cookie and a doughnut from the bakery. Then he couldn't decided which one to eat first. He had a death grip on both!

 You can't see the toys all around him and the car, but we don't leave home without some kind of Star Wars paraphernalia with us. Including movie cases. 

 Adam has been leaving us messages in the bathroom after his showers. They are usually something that has to do with BYU, but occasionally we get a funny one like this. They are funny because Adam is too nice to actually say this to anyone. 

 Gwen gets so frustrated at bedtime when we send the kids to bed to read, because she can't read. So Daddy decided to help her with that and in a matter of minutes, she was reading Bob Books all by herself! She was so proud and excited! She wanted to tell everyone that she could read.

 Every year for Easter, we have a special FHE on Easter and the Atonement. We always end it by watching The Lamb of God. Gwen hates this movie and literally freaks out watching it. If her eyes weren't covered, she was sobbing. She doesn't like seeing the bad guys hurt Jesus and she doesn't like seeing when Jesus is hurt. It makes us all laugh, but really, it's sweet to see her respond this way to the Savior and his suffering. 

 Caleb got promoted to Big Boy status at the dinner table. He got a booster chair and he loves it!

 Gwen was so happy to get a package in the mail just for her!! Mamma sent her some new books to read. (And Gwen insists that her hair is in 2 braids daily.)

 We got to go to the spring scrimmage and watch some football!!

 I always love finding the kids when they are this age, playing with their toys. It is so fun to see their personalities and imaginations start to grow. 

 Mommy and Daddy occasionally help grade papers for Adam and Tessa's teachers. This is what a Friday night date looks like sometimes. 

 Adam had his first research paper assignment. He had a lot to do and he did most of the work himself. Mom spent one afternoon helping him. He did a great job on the research part and typing his paper. He also had to prepare a presentation board and a 1 minute presentation. He worked hard and had everything prepared and ready to go a whole week before the assignment was even due. He's a hard worker!