Pieces of Us

Disneyland

    I never did get around to posting about Disneyland! Mike and I went to Disneyland for our 15th anniversary.  I still can't believe it's been  (now over) 15 years since we got married.  This marked the first time the two of us had ever gone to Disneyland by ourselves. Not even when we were dating did we go just the two of us.

    Originally we had planned to leeave on Monday morning and stay overnight on Tuesday, then come home Tuesday evening. Sunday morning before church Mike came to me and said, 'Hey, Why don't we just drive down tonight after church and stay an extra night?"  He didn't have to ask me twice! We called the hotel and booked an extra day and left around 3pm.  We got to our hotel around 4:30 (in record time! No traffic on Sunday afternoon.) This is where we stayed.  I would recommend the hotel to anyone.  It was clean and sophisticated.  We were upgraded for free to a suite that had two rooms.  This was nice because when Mike wanted to nap or I wanted to get up earlier I was able to go in the second room and not make too much noise while he slept.  I could make phone calls or read my bible in the there.

    On Sunday night after we checked in we took the shuttle to Disneyland and of course the first thing we did was eat one of Disney's amazing corn dogs.  I don't normally eat corn dogs but Disneyland ones are special. I don't know what kind of Hakuna Matata they perform on them but they are so good! The park was not busy at all and in three hours we were able to ride almost everything.  It was so much fun. The park closed at midnight and we chose to walk the 1.5 miles back to our hotel so it was well after 1am when we got back there. We're not used to being out so late but it was a lot of fun.

    We decided to spend Monday at California Adventure.  The last time we went to that park I was 8 months pregnant with Caleb. So of course I had not ridden any of the rides there and Mike had chosen not to ride them that visit either (solidarity!)  So this was a very new 'adventure' for us.  We discovered that we love this park!  The Tower of Terror was so much fun I think that I could have ridden it at least 20 times. Twilight Zone buffs that we are it was right up our alley.  We also loved the amazing Soaring Over California ride which was akin to rising in a giant hang glider.  We also ate some delicious soup from a bakery and Mike at a lot of snacks.  Mike ate quite a bit on this trip, it was fun to see him let loose.

It's Mater and Me!

Even Mike got a picture with Mater.

Me standing by the fountain outside our hotel.

Look Laura!  I thought this was really cool. (Peek-A-Boo to my reflection.)

The two of us being silly in Innoventions. This house was a mock up of a house filled with new technology.  This mirror was in a bedroom and was sort of a hybrid mirror/computer monitor.  Amazing!

We had to get a picture outside the lego store for AJ.

 

    Tuesday we went back to Disneyland to ride a few more rides.  It was not crowded at all again so we went on everything in a couple hours.  By then we were really missing our kids so after a lunch at Rainforest Cafe we went home early to surprise them.  It was so good to be back and to give everyone hugs and love. Mike and I both have annual passes so we plan to take the kids back throughout the year one or two at a time. Jillian does not even know Disney exists so I look forward to introducing her.  When I called Caleb from the hotel one night I said, "Caleb, I can't wait to bring you here!"  He replied, "Mama, considering I have never been there in my whole yife....I can't wait either!"

Nobody Knows Where They Might End Up

  

 

     I was very fortunate to find my path in life very early. It's interesting how for some the path they are meant to follow appears very quickly and early on and for others it takes a great while to become evident.  I met the person whom God selected for me at the tender age of 16.  This, only 4 years older than my eldest girls are now. Even looking back  from the perspective of an adult and a mother that is amazing... and a little scary.  I knew then, as I know now, that Mike was the man I was meant to be with.  It wasn't ever just a puppy love sort of thing.  We spent time in a long distance relationship surviving on letters and occasional phone calls. Truly, I believe the lack of internet- it was the dinosaur ages back then-was a boon to our relationship. 

    I think about the relationships I see play out now out in front of everyone.  Facebook makes everything an open book if you let it. Although I choose to use facebook there are some aspects of my life that I keep to myself or within my family.  There are aspects of myself that I keep from posting on this blog.  This is not because I am not being real.  It's because I AM being real.  An element of privacy is healthful.  Over those years that Mike and I were living apart (but still very much together as a couple) we learned what the human heart can endure, we learned what our relationship with one another could endure and in truth, we endured a lot.

    While I am not  an advocate of courtship alone, I think that the idea has merit. There is something to be said about wooing from afar.  Something to be said about getting to know a person through letters and conversation.  Ok, there is a LOT to be said for it. I think Mike and I are an example of that.  Today marks our 15th anniversary.  It does not seem tired, nor does it seem like it has been a long exhaustive road to get here.  Instead, despite everything we have been through, being apart while Mike was in the navy and the academy, having 6 kids, having multiples (which in and of itself raises the divorce rate, compound that with Mike's career and the divorce rate is even higher), moving 7 times, parenting a child with a serious illness- despite all of that it feels as if the time has flown by.  

    If you had asked me right after highschool (17 years ago!) what I would be doing in the year 2011 I am not sure what I would have told you.  Nobody knows where they might end up.  I can honestly say that aside from getting married, nothing...not one thing that we had planned for ourselves has worked out the way we originally planned it.  Not a thing.  Interestingly though, the way things DID work out was far superior than anything we could have devised. I LOVE God's plan! It's more than I ever would have hoped or asked for.  Sometimes when we want something but it doesn't work out, the first reaction is disappointment and sadness.  It has taken years for me to look forward to my plans not working out, it is then that I get to watch God's plans for my family unfold.  I am always amazed at the result.

    So to end this I want to say Happy Anniversary to my amazing, patient, loving, joking, husband. There is no one on earth I would rather be with. I can't wait to see what the next 15 years bring. Perhaps when I come on here to blog about my 30th anniversary I will be talking about my grandchildren...now there is a scary thought!

The deerslayer

(For some reason this pic will NOT rotate. LOL)
 

    My deerslayer came home this afternoon with a much larger deer than two years ago.  I am pleased that my freezer will be well stocked for winter!

Rite of Passage

    The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine

    There is one thing I can say for certain and that is that Mike and I are both dreamers.  In most aspects of our lives we are very, very different. We react differently to stress, I like little sleep, he likes a lot.  He likes to shoot deer, I like to leave them alone... But we both love to dream. Over the years our dreams have changed but that is, I guess, what separates them from realities.

    For a time we dreamed of moving somewhere more rural- yes more so than here-but we realized our ties to family were just too close and so land and property sort of faded from our dreamscape.  We contemplated moving to a bigger house but that gave me a bit of hyperventilation.  Selling a house or renting it out is scary!  Besides, I LOVE our house.  It's tiny, homey and ours.  I love that we designed our schoolroom just how we wanted it and we have a huge kitchen. We plotted out the idea of adding on to our house again, another room for our girls. That was looking very viable for awhile until I really started counting the cost. Did we really want to spend the next few years saving to add on a room that we would likely only 'need' for a few more years?

    Recently Mike and I began discussing another dream surrounding a love we both share.  Travel. We chose to have a large family and I will be the first to admit that having a large family has limitations in some areas.  It's simply too expensive to travel abroad with a brood this large and in addition to that it's impossible to rent a vehicle large enough in many countries. While it may be controversial to some to take trips with part of the family, to us, it's not such a big deal. Of course we can go on our family camping trips, and we do, but for more intensive travelling we have decided on a rite of passage.

    I have always wanted to take the kids on trips abroad in their early teens.  There is something special about seeing another country before you have the worries of the world saddled upon your back or before you have gained any political or other bias. I wanted for them to experience travelling from a very innocent perspective. I want them to feel the awe with no baggage.

    So Mike and I have talked about instituting the 'Rite of Passage' in our home. This rite being that once the child turns 13 they may select a destination and Mike or I (or both) will accompany them on this trip. Of course, whether both mom and dad go, or just one will go entirely depends on the financial aspect.  Also of course, the bottom line is that the trip comes sometime after age 13.  It may not be exactly that year.  We can give some leeway there. Also whether they want to choose a sightseeing trip or a missions type trip would totally be up to them.  

    I sat the girls down and talked to them about this new dream, since they would be the first to hit the rite of passage.  I asked them if they would rather us have another room, or new furniture, or a rebuilt kitchen that is essentially all for vanity (as everything we have is functional) or if they would rather travel.  It was a no brainer.  They both said Travel.  I think they are making a wise choice.  I will admit that I hope something about their travel abroad will spark an interest to someday study there or trek the globe a bit more. There is so very much to see.  Not to mention for the cost to build on one small room we could travel to Europe 2 or 3 times. (Or pay for a couple years of college. :)) It's exciting to think of a special trip with just one child at a time (OK, so it will be two for Maddy and Gabby- they want to travel together and we can't do two trips.)

    I do not know if this plan will be God's plan for us but I hope it is. We never really know where we will be a year from now.  Until then, we can dream.

Birthday Weekend

    This weekend we celebrate two birthdays, mine and A.J.'s.  9 years ago I was due on my birthday but AJ waited two more days to come into the world. This year my birthday landed on Friday and I woke up to cards on the table from my sweet husband and kids. Mike was already at work but he was nice enough to leave things out for me to find. As each kid woke up they ran right to me to say Happy Birthday and give me hugs and kisses.  I loved that they remembered immediately upon waking.  My favorite Father-In-Law had invited us all to breakfast to celebrate so off we went to IHOP.

    Gabby and I shared a huge plate of crepes and cheesey-bacon potatoes and eggs.  It was delicious and lots of fun.  With breakfast over we went back home and I decided to clean out my van (hey, we don't do school on birthdays so I had an opportunity and I seized it.)  For some reason cleaning out the van is therapeutic for me. Plus the sun was shining and it was gorgeous outside!  G.G. (kids great-grandma) stopped by with a card and a fabulous $50 GC for Barnes and Noble for me and we played with Ivan a bit.

    Jillian and I tucked in for some naps.  Ahhh.  At 4pm Mike and I left to go see Alice in Wonderland at Muvico. If I have never mentioned this theater I should now.  It is fantastic!  We go to the 21 and over theater which has huge rocking 'love seat' style couches, a restaurant right outside and best of all..no youngsters!  (See, how that old age is creeping into my vocabulary?)

    When we arrived we were told that it was a BOGO day for the VIP theater so we only had to pay for one ticket!  SCORE! It was a little early and we were hungry so we stopped at Bogart's-which is located right outside of the screening room.  We ordered the most delicious caesar salad and steak sliders. YUM!

    The movie was fantastic.  I admit I was skeptical of a bastardized version of Alice.  I tend to be an Alice purist.  But I was comfortable with this as it wasn't an adaptation of the original works but rather a sequel of sorts. There was really only one scene I felt did not 'fit' with the movie, aside from that it was very well done. One thing I noted that was quite funny was that the mouse was a composite character of both the dormouse and mouse from the original story.  They took elements of both those characters and merged them into one.  I found this funny since these are the characters the girls are each playing in our performance next month.

    Today I am headed out to P.F. Chang's with my mom, sister, and her lovely mother-in-law.  I am looking forward to visiting with her again and also hanging out with Mom and Laura.

    Tomorrow is AJ's birthday party which will be an old style family picnic type party at the ranch.  We will have three-legged races, egg and spoon, water bucket brigade etc..  And for dessert a cupcake decoratng contest to be judged by the adults.  I know it will be a fun day.  Ginny is suck with a sore throat today so my hope is that she will feel better tomorrow.  We have had such a terrible time with sickness this year but if facebook is any indication it seems to be the case for a lot of people this year. :(

People Watching Magic Mountain Style

    For Christmas this year Mike and I decided not to buy each other material gifts.  Instead we bought season passes to Magic Mountain so that we could have some fun dates throughout the year at minimal expense. I had not been to Magic Mountain in probably 10 years so I was very excited to go again.  Of course it took us until now (February) to find time to use them for the first time. I don't have any pictures to share because honestly, when I have a whole day to spend with my sweetheart i'd rather do it without distractions! 

    One of my favorite parts of going to amusement parks is people- watching.  There are some interesting people in this world and they do strange things. I thought I'd mentally record my observations and then post them here.

* There were maybe 10 people in the entire park who were older than us.

* Girls need to wear a LOT more clothes.

* False eyleashes are back in fashion, so is deodorant but apparently some people were not wearing it.

* Body odor can reach fatal levels in long lines at the end of the day.

*You can pierce nearly any part of your body...or face.

*Contrary to popular belief you can ride insane rollercoasters in a tube dress that barely covers your rear end.

* Teenagers today cannot go even half a day without checking facebook.  If they do not have a smartphone (which most do)  they will be in the cybercafe in the park checking their facebook. I mistakenly made a comment to Mike that "There are probable teenagers in there checking facebook." only to look in and see that they were.

*Waiting in lines for rides is MUCH quieter than when we were teens, this is because the teens now are all busy sending text messages and posting status updates so they don't talk.

*Normally the lack of actual communication between people would irritate me and cause me to go on a diatribe about the generation BUT I was much relieved because this quietness meant said teens were not all cursing every other word.

*Even if a line is really crammed with people, a girl in front of you will actually lean forward and flip her hair back in your face and NOT notice.

*Someone has forgotten to teach young people (now that makes me feel old) to stand in reverence during the National Anthem.  Instead they continue being loud, obnoxious and type madly with their thumbs.

All in all it was a great day together.  We actually were hardly ever in line because it was such a quiet day there. We were able to go on almost every roller coaster twice. I am not generally a person who is afraid of roller coasters at all but there was one I had never been on that looked so terrifying.  I absolutely will not let my fears determine what I accomplish so of course I went on it anyway. 

Tatsu.

It means 'dragon' or 'the flying beast'. And that is really what it is.  Imagine sitting  strapped into a seat and then before it leaves to ascend the incline the entire coaster car tilts and locks you into the position where you are facing the ground.  As if lying prone.  Yes really. You face the ground the entire time just hanging there from your restraints.

Like Superman.

It truly felt like flying.  I thought I'd be scared but it was too thrilling.

The hills were all lush and green so it was beautiful to see everything from the heights of the coasters.  Usually the hills are scrubby brown but since we've had some great rain it was all beautiful.

Can't wait to go back again. :)

The Middles

   
 

  "The Middles"  That is what I call the trio that is AJ, Ginny and Caleb. They are all that is noisy, rambunctious and silly in this family.  Which is not to say the others are not but these threes are even more so. Recently and sadly Mike's Aunt Terry passed away and so he drove to Nevada to attend the services. He decided to take The Middles with him and his mom, they could not have been more excited to go on an unexpected trip. None of them had met Mike's Aunt so they were not as affected by having to attend a funeral as they would have been had they known her.  To them this was just for fun.  This left me home alone with 3 girls. Ok, I guess that means I wasn't home alone but let me assure you, it was QUIET around here.  Almost eerie.  The older girls are very self sufficient and happy to be reading or writing. Jillian is great at hanging around with me, playing toys or singing to herself.  We happened to have a busy weekend so that is why we did not all go on the trip.  The girls had swim team and a swim meet, some Dr. appointments, we had a protest to attend (more on that later) and an event at church, plus the girls had their favorite event of the year...the Sunday School All-Nighter at church.

    This meant that on Friday night I was home with JUST Jillian.  How strange that was!  I ended up hanging out and eating dinner at the Sunday School party, Jilly and I did some late evening grocery shopping and then the little stinker fell asleep on the floor at 9:30!  Which she never does.  It may sound like heaven but it was quiet, lonely and boring.  I discovered I need the happy chaos surrounding me or I get a little twitchy.

But this post is supposed to be about The Middles. I got a call the first day and I heard AJ's voice telling me that they had stopped and played in the snow.  He was overjoyed and it was a lot of snow, not just the little bit we sometimes get around here. My sweet husband, God bless him- brought his camera and took a lot of pictures (Nanny actually took the pictures so he is actually IN them.)

Ah....there's my man and my sweet baby boy! He hasn't stopped kissing me and loving on me since he got back.  Mike's been pretty happy to see me too.

 

And there is my other boy out there!
  

And there is my Ginger! Do you see her?  Look close.

 

Looks like the beginnings of a good snowball fight!

 \

That's my girl!  She's got spunk!

 

That hair is just too much.

 

The snowball fight gets sneaky.  Is Caleb ducking down there or is he totally in the dark about what is about to happen?

 

Genevieve spots the camera, she looks ready to strike!

 

She changed her mind and went for AJ instead. Looks like Caleb tried to stop her...

  

Looks like she saved some up for Daddy!

 

Who threw that?  says Daddy.

 

And there is my wild and crazy Ginge. Even in the snow she's still wearing a skirt.  That girl won't wear anything but skirts.

 

A day or two later all I heard about was the giant mammoth. They all went to the Nevada State Museum and Ginny was particularly excited to see how big it was.

 

Caleb sure loved the agility course In Mark and Kim's backyard...oh and the dogs too...they all talked about the dogs.

 

I am so glad they had a good time and I even more glad that are all back home.  We are complete again.
 
 

Looking Forward

    I was inspired by my good friend Anissa's recent blog post where she gave a short summary of things that were coming up throughout 2010. I began to ponder on what things I would have to look forward to this year. I don't think I have mentioned that Jillian passed the 20 month mark 2 months ago and so this is officially the longest I have been 'not pregnant'. This is a strange feeling for me as any other year I would be posting that I was looking forward to the arrival of a new baby. Instead I have other things to  anticipate this year.

* The first thing is a big order from Amazon. I am not a binge shopper anymore and in fact I have been the complete anti-shopper since we dedicated ourselves to being debt free and to bulking up several months worth of living expenses.  We now live on a cash only system, I do not use debit except for gas and we do not use credit cards anymore.  We have learned that something saved for, means more, and is appreciated more...at least around here.  Plus it's a great feeling to always know exactly how much cash you have left for the month at a quick glance.  Holy digression! All of that merely to say this.  Have you ever jokingly said to someone, "Well maybe we have some  long lost relative who will leave us money?"  I've said it.  Completely joking of course. Well, it actually happened to our family.  We really had a long lost relative in France who passed away (and brief tangent, I am sad that I did not know her or know of her and I would love to hear any stories regarding her if any family is reading this that may have such information) and left a small sum of money to the family.

After about a year of entanglements with the French and American Governments we now have the inheritance...minus about 80% in fees. (Robbery if you ask me.. another digression) Tonight we had a wonderful family dinner at Musashi with all Four of us married couples (Been dying to say that!) and my kiddos. Mom and Dad presented each of us with an envelope containing touching handwritten notes from mom and some cash for us all...you haven't lived until you have seen a 4 year old open a card with a $50 bill inside of it.  Too cute! So long story getting LONGER.  We have these terrible, flaking calphalon cooking pans. We are probably dying as I type this from ingesting the little flakes and the kids are starting to think that Mac n Cheese is supposed to have little black specks. 

Kidding. 

Sort of.

So after a bit of discussion we decided to spend half of the inheritance to restock the kitchen. Out go the nasty pans and in comes the new pans.  This is definitely a worthwhile investment here as I cook from scratch a whole lot, they will be used daily.  I have been building a stash of cast iron pans as I have found they are definitely my cookware of choice and they will last long enough to be passed down to my grandkids.  Today I ordered several enameled cast iron dutch ovens and pots.  Also an electric (and why didn't spellcheck notice I spelled that electirc at first?)  teakettle for my little girlie teadrinkers, a steamer insert, a marble rolling pin, biscuit cutters and some fiestaware pieces.  I will take pictures of our Christmas in January when it all arrives.  It was very exciting to get to do it.

Phew!  Moving On!

*Softball season!  Part looking forward to, part dreading.  Gabby will play in 12 and unders and Ginny has decided to continue playing mini-sox.  Should be fun, or harrowing...or both.

*Marriage Retreat! I don't have a nursling (well I do but she can go two or three days without doing it so I don't count it as a needy nursling) this year so we can go to Pismo for the annual marriage retreat.  I am SO looking forward to that time and also hoping that we can share the trip with Chad and Laura this year since Laura is a married lady now .  ( Teehee!  I said it again!) I am really looking forward to some special time with my man and some fun in the sun and fellowship with friends.

*Seattle with Anissa.  TBD.  Not sure when we will go this year but the 2nd annual Seattle trip WILL happen  at some point because Anissa and I need to eat a lot more seafood.

*AJ's 9th birthday and the remodel of the boys room.  Space/StarWars theme.  And possible the moving out of Jillian later in the year.

*Camping in Yosemite!  In the works is a camping trip to Yosemite.  Hopefully Jeff and Kelli will be going with us and Mom and Dad if they want to (but I haven't invited them yet so Mom if you are reading this, you are invited to go along too.)  We plan to do some cave exploration, hiking, fishing, squirrel following, campire singing, game-playing and whatever else we decide to do.  Cooking with cast iron pans probably. ;)  Cornbread anyone?

* Swim team.  We like it.  We love it.  We want more of it.

* Diabetes Camp.  I am hoping to get Gabby accepted into a sleepaway diabetes camp this year.  I am so excited to give her the opportunity to meet other kids who live day to day in the way that she does. And also send her to a place where I do not have to worry about her getting the best possible care she can while she has a load of fun.

*Ginny turns 7,  7!!

*Maddy and Gabby turn 12.  My hands are shaking.  Did I type that? 12?  Last year before I have two teenagers in the house.  It feels like they already are teenagers though.  They act like them.  Hmpf.

* Being debt free!!!  We will have all debt except the mortgage paid off this year.  And let the freedom ring!

My fingers hurt now so I'll give it a rest and you can wait for updates as the year progresses. Carpal tunnel.  Ack.  Fingers cramping......

Spreading the Workload Around

    One fun thing about the kids getting older is that everyone wants a share in the workload of Thanksgiving Dinner. I am sure this has my mom doing a little happy dance. So many years she prepared the large majority of the meal herself. This year I am responsible for the mashed potatoes, green beans, pies, cranberry sauce and cornbread. I won't be preparing all of that myself either because now I am actually old enough to have kids who want to share in MY workload. HEAVENLY! Maddy is making an apple pie, Gabby is making pumpkin pies, Ginny is making the cornbread and the boys will be assisting me in making the cranberry sauce.  It's going to be a great meal because so much love and togetherness goes in the making.

The History of Blogging

    I have been blogging for a long time. I've always been a writing/journaling type girl so blogging always sort of fell in line with my way of expressing myself. I didn't have a computer from the time I could breathe like a lot of people- shh..I am a little bit old, I remember when no one had a computer and they were huge, clunky and cost about $15,000. We got our first computer when AJ was born, roughly 8 1/2 years ago.  There were no 'blogs' per se back then.  Or if there were they were probably a bunch of techno jargon written by programmers. So me, wanting to share my experiences and pictures of my family, started a website at the now defunct geocities. This before it was Yahoo! Geocities. Before Google. Does anyone remember when Yahoo was new?  They were going to take over the world until a little engine that could called Google started picking up steam and crawled over the hill chugging , 'I think I can! I think I can!" Yahoo is still there of course, but it stands in the shadow of Google, and Geocities is no more. I didn't even realize it was gone until I tried in vain to seek out my old site.   

    After awhile I abandoned the geocities website and for a millisecond tried my hand at coding on Angelfire. Being a mom to three little ones I  just did not have time to learn it all and so I quit blogging for awhile. About a year later I found a site called Diaryland and it was my first introduction to the actual 'blogging' format.  It was actually called a weblog and not just a personal family website. There was nothing fancy about Diaryland.  You could customize your font, give the blog a title and choose a background a font color. Life got busier and busier for me and I only posted on it for a short while.

    In 2004 blogging had taken over the web.  Not to the extent it has today but the Mommy blog certainly existed. I decided to give it a shot.  I still enjoyed writing, pouring out my thoughts and feeling, sharing my daily adventures with the blog reading public. A month or so before Ginny, my 4th child turned 1 I started Pieces Of Us. I don't remember why I chose Typepad, other than that I was confused by Blogger and not a fan of the style.  There weren't a lot of bloghosting sites at that time, at least not for the amateur blogger, so Typepad it was.  And so began years of blogging. Since I began blogging has exploded, it's morphed into microblogging- enter Twitter. I guess I am just old school because I tried to tweet but just haven't' been able to love it like I do blogging.  I like to sit down, ponder and write it all out.  Snippets are not my way, I am long winded! I need more than 300 words.

    Blogging has not only been a way for me to share with others, it has so many other benefits. I have used it as a cross reference of my life. When I can't remember a specific date, event, cute kid quote...I have probably blogged about it and I can find it. Mommy Blogs are the best friend of those with Mommy BRAIN. No more of the "Which kid was it that used to..." It's like a scrapbook without the mess of glue dots and deckle scissors. I can't imagine not blogging.  It's a peek in the windows for the outside world, and a peek back through time for me.

    Just for fun I am linking a smattering of old posts, sort of a patchwork quilt of words.

Caleb at his best

I am missing rain about now.

Happy Baby wearing

Ballerina 

Busy Days

Fun Times