Grand Canyon Day 1

We drove all day on Saturday (about 14 hours) to get to Flagstaff, AZ. We spend the night in a hotel there because it was significantly cheaper than our hotel right outside the park. My kids are fantastic travelers. I give full credit to their DVD players and headphones, but what ever works. My kids were getting over the stomach flu so we brought our bucket. Renée threw up several times in route and Carter threw up in our hotel room (luckily in the bathroom). We decided to skip church and our plans to get together with friends who were also vacationing at the Grand Canyon. It is an hour drive from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. After we got there were hiked on the rim and checked out the visitors’ center. We took the bus to the farthest point, Hermits Rest, and hiked until the kids got tired. We had a snow ball fight, not near the edge of course, and the kids had a great time making a shadow monster. When we got back to our van, Renée threw up, after acting fine all day. Carter and Gavin still wanted to swim in the hotel’s indoor pool so I took them while Sam stayed with Renée. When we got back I realized Sam had a fever. My first fear was more celulitis, but he didn’t have any red spots. Once everyone was asleep I called Alycia to complain that we can’t ever have a vacation without someone getting sick!

fun with shadows

Dangerous Friend

The weather has been so nice here.  Everyday I go to pick Gavin and Renée up from school they beg me to let them walk.  One day I agreed and was on the phone when Gavin came in and told me that he was swinging around his backpack and his water bottle flew out and hit Tyler in the head right between his eyes.  I was expecting to offer a boo-boo bag and some sympathy so I didn’t rush outside, but I should have.  Tyler was sitting on the curb with blood dripping out of his forehead into a one foot puddle.  I rushed inside and got some gauze and took him home.  His father is a dentist so he was able to do the stitching himself but Gavin felt really bad.  I think it might be dangerous to be Gavin’s friend.

Keeping Busy

Yard Stick Carter – I thought of this while waiting for my paint order at home depot. I used five yard sticks and cut them up with a miter saw. I used wood glue to connect the pieces. When that dried, I glued cut up paint stirrers to the back to go over the joins. Cost $3

Fabric Wreath – I loved having my valentine’s wreath on the mantel, so when February ended, I wanted something more permanent. I used four yards of decorator fabric and a straw wreath. This took forever but I love it. Cost $40

St. Patrick’s Day banner – Lindsey gave me a quick instruction of how she makes her birthday banners. I used rick rack instead of more fabric to connect it all which was more expensive, but oh so cute! Cost $8

HUGE painting project – I painted my two story entry way, formal living, formal dining, up the stairs, and gameroom in ivory invitation. It is a big change from my beige, red, and green, but I love it. I am also painting the ceilings white and the trim white. The gameroom, which is becoming my new art studio, is still a work in process but it is coming along, Anyone remember this easel. Sam made it for me after I had Renée and I am finally dusting it off.

So if you haven’t heard from me in a while, that is what I have been doing.

My mom made Carter this tool bedding.  I thought I would show it off.

close up of fabric wreath

Red Door

Sam and I went to a painting class for a date. It is at a place called Gnosh and it was a lot of fun. Sam was so sweet to do something that I love. I haven’t painted anything but walls in about four years and I want to get started again.

Renée in a Hat

Renée has the best Kindergarten teacher ever. Mrs. Logsdon has such great ideas. I adore this hat that Renée made with all of her rhyming words.

First Pack Meeting

Gavin was so excited to go to his first pack meeting. He has been going to den meetings since October when I got called to be a den leader, but he had to wait until he was eight to earn any awards. He earned his bobcat, music belt loop, chess belt loop, and a progress bead. The pack meeting happened to be the blue and gold banquet. It was mass chaos! I actually went home and counted how many more pack meetings I have to go to without Sam. What a nightmare. The things we do for our kids!

Gavin receiving his first awards.

Wolf scouts preforming their skit.

Sweet Dreams

I checked on the kids before going to bed and this is where I found them.

Oscar Party

I hosted an Oscar viewing party this year. Yummy food, great friends, and my crappy TV made for a fun evening. We made our predictions before it started. Rachel won the prize for the most correct!

Rachel, Michelle, Susan, Marci, Lindsey, and me

Sophia Bigler Memorial 10K

One of the men in my running group lost his daughter last year around this time. In honor of her memory we participated in the Cowtown 10K, which took us right past where she is buried. We sported our hot pink and I was able to PR with a time of 50:55.

Nick, Tim, Mark, Lindsey, me, and Alycia before the race.

Lee and I

Almost to the finish line (I got to hot in my hat)

After the race

P.E.

"Renee & I are in the same PE class" - Sydney.
"I pee outside" - Carter

Flower Power

He actually asked me to take his picture like this.

Talk

I spoke at church today which makes me really nervous. I always struggle to fill my allotted time so I have never experienced going over. I got going and talked so long that Sam was asked to speak another week. Alycia motioned for me to look at the time and it was so late that it startled me and I got all flustered. This is why I am a better teacher than a public speaker.

Gavin and I got to see the BYU vs. TCU basketball game. Sam was working so I got a babysitter for Carter and Renée. We aren’t huge basketball fans but we love BYU and wanted to cheer on the cougars. TCU sold out the stadium for the first time since 2004. The fans were at lease 50% cougars. Gavin got a little bored toward the end and I let him play with my itouch so I could enjoy the game. BYU dominated and won the game!

Before the game started

end of the game with the Angerbauer boys

Fake Valentines Day

Sam and I usually celebrate Valentine’s Day the weekend after the 14th. That way there is no confusion as to which gift is for my birthday and which gift is for Valentine’s Day. We also get to buy our chocolates 50% off and the restaurants are not as crowded. This year we went to Texas de Brazil. The food was incredible as always. After dinner we went to a Mixed Repertoire by the Texas Ballet Theater. The last ballet we went to was in Milan, so this didn’t compare, but we still had a great time.

On the Balcony at Bass Hall

Sam and the city

View from the balcony

Inside of Bass Hall, you can see that we opted for the cheap seats.

Bass Hall ceiling

Me and Sam before the ballet

Sam playing with the camera

Happy Birthday to Me

I had a fantastic birthday. I started the day with a 32 pancake that Sam made me. After the kids were off to school Alycia picked up Carter and I went and had a message. 75 minutes of fabulous. Alycia and I met at Panera for lunch and then went shopping at Ross. I treated myself to a pair of leopard print shoes. After Sam came home from work we enjoyed dinner at Tuscany. It is a local restaurant that wasn’t too crazy. My cake came from Tom Thumb. I was going to get cupcakes from What’s Up Cupcake, but they ran out of cupcakes. Sam helped the kids get me presents from the dollar store. They gave me two nail polishes and a hair brush. Sam got me some art supplies. I really had a wonderful birthday.

Making my special pancake.  Isn't he sweet.

me in all my morning glory.

My 32 pancake

Gifts and cards from my friends and family - THANK YOU -  Lindsey made me the adorable birthday banner

I had the baker add my name.  Doesn't everyone love to see their name on a cake?

My birthday shoes.  I probably should have painted my nails before Sam took this photo.

Lighting my candles with a torch.  It doesn't work very well.

Making my wish

Gifts from my kids.

Do I look like an artist?

Be Mine

He are my valentines eating their valentine’s day treat.

Valentines

I helped my kids make these valentines for their friends this year. Unfortunately, Jinx, our dog, ate 19 of Gavin’s the day before he had to take them to school. He ripped up the paper and ate the foil wrapped white chocolate inside. Then he threw up the foil on the carpet. I got to remake them after church and Gavin got to re-stamp. We had grilled cheese for dinner.