Easter

The stilts were obviously a male Easter Bunny's idea.

Ella could walk on them right away. The girl has got some skills.

I shoot bunnies.

I eat bunnies.

Had a moral debate with myself about posting a pic of Jackson in his briefs. Then I realized that if I were to have an embarrassing picture to blackmail him with, it might add some leverage to my parenting strategy. I have no shame.

Easter Egg hunting: note that it is almost impossible for any of the kids to look at the camera. Also, note that it is impossibly cruel of Mom to take a picture when there are candy-filled egg goodies to be found.

Easter Eggs Dye-ing:

We believe in cross-aproning in this family.

Intense concentration: We take our Easter Eggs seriously.

FYI- It took two days to get the green color out of his hand. Max believes the perfect Easter egg is created only with the "hands-on" approach. And who am I to question his green genius?

Why post Easter in May?

I'm behind, obviously. I feel like I've been running solid for the last 3 weeks in a hamster wheel and it doesn't matter how fast I run--I'm still not getting anywhere. So, I will at least attempt to catch up my blog posts. I'm sorry to those who casually read my blog--this is more for my family history than entertainment purposes. Fasten your seat belts, get some popcorn and a pillow and let's hope you don't fall asleep before I do...

Kate's Birthday--10 YEARS OLD!

I can't believe my baby is ten years old--double digits--as she likes to point out and two years until she can babysit (also her).  It's kind of crazy!  Luckily, this year we got to spend the whole day together since it was spring break.  I let her choose what she wanted to eat for each meal and an activity that we could do together.  We had waffles for breakfast, Arby's for lunch and taquitos for dinner.  We spent the day at Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix and had a great time.  The girls drove go-carts on the "fast" track.  It was the first time either of them had been behind the wheel and both Robert and I were worried.  The first couple of times around the tracks both Kate & Ella had looks of sheer terror but after a few passes they were grinning.  The boys had fun on their track too and Jackson was convinced he "won".   The kids rode a tame roller coaster, slid down slides and a few other rides.  They played Air Hockey and Max pretended to shoot his gun at bad guys.  We came home and opened presents and gorged ourselves on cake and ice-cream.  A great day and a Happy Birthday.  We love you Kate.  Here's to a lot more birthdays!

Jackson learns the "F" word...

It was Sunday and the weather was lovely.  Or as Ella says, "I love it when the weather is medium Mom."  And it was perfectly medium--not hot and not cold.  So we decided to take a desert appreciation walk.  Also, the kids had just sat through 3 hours of church and may have killed each other had we not left the house.  We decided to explore the desert behind our subdivision--the last frontier.  We noticed the landscape is being graded for development and wanted to enjoy the wide open space while we could.   We found desert apples, sharp cacti, and interesting rocks.  We even saw three jack rabbits!  

It was an exciting, wholesome adventure until we decided to explore the "bridge".  Jackson, who is always running ahead called back to me: "Hey, Mom what does F--- You mean?"  So thank you Punk who decided to spray paint the wall with such creative language.  I really enjoyed trying to get around explaining what that meant to my 6 year old.   I hope you have the same experience with your child some day and that your child has lots of blow-out diapers, colic and dumps honey all over your carpet and then wipes his hands on your dry-clean only couch and then finds the scissors and cuts up your favorite shirt.  The end.

Blogging Hiatus

I've been in a blogging bog.  I have not been able to motivate myself to turn on the computer, down load the photos, think of something to say, type the words and create a post.  Much more interesting and easy, I might add, to read all of yours.  Still, I claim when I need to justify my piece of cyber-world that this blog is my family journal.  I've been known to even spout in self-righteous overtones that it counts as my journal and I can cross that to-do off my list.  Still my life isn't as shiny or photographed as beautifully as other blogs--and gosh darn it those lives are attractive, interesting and distracting.  Sometimes it is just more fun to read about what YOU do or what YOU made or what tantrum YOUR kid threw.  Nevertheless, my alter-ego, Mrs. Guilt-o-maniac has intervened in my unconscious or at least unintentional blogging strike and I am ready to begin anew.  Or at least start and stop several times and be wholly inconsistent...

We had some crazy hair days.  Or a sneak peek at how my children may look in 3-10 years during a rebellious phase.

We had some crazy food for April 1st.  This is a cake or rather  Bisquick, pepperoni & sausage, red-sauce-filling with mozzarella cheese on top.

I'm afraid this is more acting than true consternation but still a good part of the fun.

Green cookies for dessert--the trick was they were actually good!

These were my own April Fool's joke.  They were suppose to be hot dog cookies.  I ask you, do they look like hot dogs to you?  Yeah, I had to improvise with the green cookies.  Kind of disappointing.  

Jello juice.  Max was the only one kind of tricked.  He couldn't figure out why his "juice" wouldn't come up the straw and he was thirsty.  And it wasn't a laughing matter.

Next year Kate, that expression is going to be real!   It's on!

Disneyland and California Adventure

Max was not at all thrilled to meet Woody.  While Woody was a hit, Buzz Lightyear remains his favorite.

Jackson refused to stand near this "fairy".

The kiddos with Jeff and Meredith.  Meredith did not swallow a bowling ball.  She is 9 months pregnant and one tough lady.

The scary thing is that in 13 years this will be REAL.  

You know, you have to see Mickey.

Jeff and Meredith can now tell their child that they have already taken him  to Disneyland and they have the picture to prove it.

Woody doesn't scare Max or green faced army guys. Nope, just fairies.




Thank you again to our fabulous hosts: Jeff and Meredith.  I couldn't have fulfilled my insane desire to take all my kids to D-land without you both.

P.S.  Interesting announcement from Jackson on the way home:

Jackson:  Sometimes I dream that I am kissing (insert girls name here)
Me: (Calmly) Oh, really.  Where are you kissing her?
Jackson:  On her forehead.
Me: Oh, okay.  You know that you really shouldn't do that in real life, right?

So soon.  Really?

Christmas time with the Reynolds

Taking a look at the Petrogyphs near Laughlin.  They were located off Christmas Tree Pass so we had to check it out because of the name.

Max & Santa.  Not sure Max was impressed.