just in case...

just in case you didn't get the last post, I'm posting on a new blog now.

californiawildthings{dot}blogspot{dot}com

believe it or not I maxed out space on both blogger and flickr and I'm too cheap to pay for the services right now, so I just started a whole new blog under a new e-mail address. Sneaky, sneaky.

We're Moving.

Here.
(click to find out where...)

Ranch

I am on a quest. I need to find a good homemade ranch dressing recipe. For those of you from Utah, I'm looking for something that tastes similar to Robintino's ranch dressing.

help me. please.

12 of 12 April

*Aaron didn't have class this morning, which was a welcome break for me. I was able to go to aerobics AND grocery shopping without the boys.

*Driving home from the grocery store the rain was pouring, I had the radio turned up to a station of my choice (never happens when Bear is in the car) and I was thoroughly enjoying myself on a gloomy California day.

*Moose had discovered how fun it is to play on the couch when all the cushions are taken off. I really wonder when I'll get to use the couch as a couch instead of everything else it is these days.

*Went Visiting Teaching to one the sisters in the ward. One down, Two to go.

*Laundry, laundry and more laundry. It's amazing how much laundry piles up when you've been on vacation.

*Moose had a rough afternoon and needed extra love. He just wanted to sit and be held. It's a rare occurrence and I didn't mind one bit.

*the Toy Story Mania app on the iPod is addicting. I waste way too much time playing it.

*Bear did not want to take his nap today, but after he laid still on his bed for 2 seconds he was out.

*Aaron picked up a bike box to ship Eric's bike back to Utah. I can't believe it'll cost over $150. He hasn't ridden it once since we moved-kinda bummed that we even moved it and now have to pay to ship it back.

*We had our good friends over for FHE tonight to plan a summer camping trip to Yosemite. April made homemade ice cream sandwiches that were so yummy. Definitely excited to spend a week in the mountains away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

*Started reading the Hunger Games. I've heard it's good, we'll see.

*Moose loves playing with the toilet paper. If I can't find him, the bathroom is the first place to look and chances are he's got the whole roll undone.

Whew.

I did it. I got all caught up on blogging about the chaos of the past 2 weeks. I wanted to keep everything in chronological order, so if you want to see what we've been doing, scroll down. If not, then just ignore that I ever wrote this.

Left Out.

I can still remember being a little girl and having to come inside on school nights to go to bed when it was still light outside (thank you daylight savings). Unfortunately for me, many of the other neighborhood parents weren't as "mean" as mine; so while I sat and sulked in my bedroom instead of getting ready for bed I could often hear my friends still outside playing. I hated being left out.


This weekend was like my childhood and I was left out. My immediate family was all together in Utah and I stayed in California. It was the first time since we have moved that I truly felt left out and wanted so very badly to be there with everybody else. 


Yes, I was just in Utah; but that didn't seem to take the sting away. Aaron even got out of clinical early on Friday and I had envisioned us driving to Utah and arriving in the middle of the night. We'd sleep at Aaron's parents and then drive over the next morning and surprise my family. Doesn't that sound fun? Instead, reality hit and I knew I'd been traveling with my boys for two weeks. Moose wants nothing more than to not be strapped into a car seat or stroller again. Bear needs to be able to run off all of his energy and sitting in a car for 23-24 hours over a 3 day period would have been horrible for the boys. And yet, it would have been worth it to make the drive. I think I'll feel bad about my decision not to go for the rest of my life. Ugh.


So, for those of you that have lived away from your family and are experienced and this missing stuff, how do you do it? 

Whirlwind

The past two weeks have been an absolute whirlwind.

I flew to Utah with the boys to welcome home uncle E-Rock from his mission.

We loved every minute we got to spend with Eric. The two years he was gone seemed to fly by and drag on at the same time.

The week we were there was over in the blink of an eye.

Bear didn't make it to bed before midnight once, except the very last night we were there, then he was in bed at 11.

Moose slept terribly the whole time and his hacking cough came back.

I was a very sleep deprived, missing my other half mom.

But, seeing Eric at the airport was all worth it.

The boys played with Grandma Jo and cousins.

Bear idolized Uncle Jordan and talked his ear off the whole week.

It was so great catching up with the family in person instead of through blogs, phone calls and email.

California greeted us with springtime warmth, sunshine and a house full of family.

Nana, Heather, Jaxson and Olivia came to spend a week with us.

We went to hiking, celebrated Easter, listened to General Conference,

walked Venice Beach (gross) and then headed south to San Diego for a couple days.

Basically things have been non-stop for two weeks.

Now the house is quiet except for the washing machine and dishwasher each running a load.

Both boys are napping and I don't know what to do with myself.

I hate to waste the quiet time with a nap.

It feels good to be in my house again, as a little family of four.

But, it also feels lonesome at the same time.

San Diego Zoo

Today we found ourselves at the San Diego Zoo. We got there right when it opened, which was nice since the crowds didn't start coming until later on in the day, not to mention the temperature was perfect. In the several hours we were at the zoo we didn't even see all the exhibits. The place is huge. No wonder the animals on Madagascar thought they were at the San Diego Zoo when they landed on the island.

Bear loved seeing all the animals and would say, "let's go see what else we can find" once he had enough of an exhibit. Jaxson and Olivia had been collecting the pressed pennies from all the different places they had been on their vacation, which also meant that Bear came home with his own collection of pressed pennies.

Poor Moose was stuck in his stroller for the 3rd straight day. He did really well, especially when he was being fed soft frozen lemonade.

After the seal show around 2 in the afternoon we asked the kids what else they wanted to see. They said they just wanted to go back to the apartment and swim. So we drove back to Rancho exhausted from a week and half of going non-stop.

Because of the good deal for So. California residents we got season passes to the zoo. If anyones ever up for going, let us know, we'd love to go see more of the zoo.

Wild Animal Park

We spent the day a the wild animal park in Escondido. 

One of the trams on the Journey into Africa tour broke down, so what was supposed to be a 25 minute tram ride turned into a 1 hour 15 minute tram ride. My boys were so done by the time we finished.

We were able to see the butterfly jungle exhibit, which was pretty cool. I never knew there were so many crazy looking butterflies. 

Bear wanted to ride the animals, and was disappointed when he had to settle for just sitting on the metal rhino.

Venice Beach

We had to go pick up Nana in Playa Del Ray and thought it would be fun to walk the boardwalk at Venice Beach. Unfortunately it was really windy, smelly and crowded. (Question: When is it not crowded in California? Answer: Never. Especially when it's spring break.) Maybe I was just in a bad mood, but I wasn't all that amused with Venice beach. Too many people smoking cigarets, medical marijuana shops, scantily dressed people, vagrants, and disgusting t-shirts and bongs for sell.

Because of the wind blowing sand everywhere I didn't get my camera out with the exception of in the ice cream shop and back at the car. Aaron and I went back to the car early while Nana, Heather and the kids did some shopping. Bear and Moose thought it was pretty great to have free reign of the car and not have to be stuck in a car seat.

Easter

It was so fun to have family in town to celebrate Easter with.  Bear woke up bright and early and had to wait for Jaxson and Olivia to wake up before he could find the eggs and jelly beans. It was torture for a 3 year old; although not as torturous as sharing new toys with your little brother.

After the excitement of the Easter Baskets were over we ate yummy cinnamon rolls and tried to watch General Conference. Tried, being the key word.

That afternoon the kids needed to get out and run off some energy so Heather took them out to blow bubbles and run around the apartment complex. I had to laugh when Aaron suggested they wear capes and the 2 older kids agreed.

The highlight of our Easter came just after we ate dinner when the house started rocking. Heather commented that our couch was moving just as I was realizing my chair and the table were rocking. There was  7.2 earthquake in Mexico and we felt it! It was such a strange feeling, not at all what I thought an earthquake would feel like.

Easter Bunny

{Aaron 1983}

Wishing you a Happy Easter!

Mount Baldy

The boys and I came home to a house full of visitors. Luckily for us Nana, Heather and the kids played at Disneyland on Thursday and Friday while our passes were blacked out and we were in Utah.

After General Conference we headed up to Mount Baldy. The plan was to hike to the waterfall and then play at the visitors center. We were did make it to the waterfall (with a very grouchy 3 year old) but by the time we got to the visitors center it was closed. 

I think the hike will be added to our fun to do activity list when company comes to town. It was close, easy and free-can't beat that!

I did find it kind of funny that they left Utah for some warmth and sun, and we ended up hiking in the snow. At least we got to stay in our shorts and t-shirts for it.

Egg Hunting Round 2

The sister missionaries from our ward put on an Easter Egg hunt at the Stake Center. 

Bear got more candy than he needed.

I confiscated it all, and have been eating more candy than I need.

After the egg hunt we went inside and watched a movie about the Saviors life.

It was so neat to watch Bear understand who the movie was about and that the Savior was resurrected after he died.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

We made it back to California. Barely.

I packed the suitcases the night before. Double checked everything.

Except for the diaper bag.

When we were about five minutes away from the airport (and already running late) I realized my wallet was no where to be found. Mom called the neighbor who went over and checked. Sure enough my wallet was there. He was nice enough to drive it out to the airport so we didn't have to turn around and drive back out. 

Since it was the start of spring break the line for security was so stinkin' long.

And of course, being on a Delta connection flight our terminal was as far away from security as it possibly could have been.

We made it just in time to go to have one last potty break and board our flight. 

I don't know if the California sun has ever felt so good. 

Except at Christmas.

I don't think I was meant to live in a state where snows in April.

California is so nice in the spring.

The end.

Easter Eggs & Souvenirs

We were able to do an Easter Egg hunt in Utah with the cousins. Melanie and Jordan hid the eggs and the kids loved it. I'm pretty sure they liked finding the hidden egg with the name on it that they turned in a for a prize the most. 

After the egg hunt Eric gave us souvenirs from Greece. All the adult couples got a spartan helmet and the kids got a keychain and bracelet. 

April Fools

Meanest April Fools joke ever. 

Brought to you by Mother Nature.

Upside Down Smackdown

Bear loved playing "upside down smackdown" on the air mattress with Eric. Basically Eric would grab bear by the ankles and flip him around until he landed on his back while yelling "upside down smackdown!"

After that they made Bear sandwiches by hiding Bear under all the pillows and blankets. I had to laugh when Eric asked me if I'm always tired with a headache. I guess we need to break him back in to being an uncle.

Brrrr

The boys and I are in Utah right now.

My little younger brother returned home from his mission on Monday night.

It was so good to see him and we are loving every minute of our time spent with him.

But.

It's snowing. Big chunky snow flakes.

I really miss California.

Not to mention the fact that we left Aaron behind.

I wonder if I can convince my family to move to California...