Asparagus anyone?

We went to the Stockton Asparagus festival for the first time. Brent and I tried the famous fried asparagus (not bad, but a little too breaded for my taste), while the kids had corn dogs and lemonade. It was really spread out with lots of grass to sit on and lots of shade. We went early and were lucky to avoid most of the crowds.

Ben's first corn dog!

California kids!

Princess Hannah with her new parasol that Grammy got for her and Dani.

We want this one Mommy!

Walking with Papa Reich

Daddy wants one of these!

Carnival Rides! We promised the kids that if they were good they could go on a few rides. Since we are going to Disney World next month, we were interested just what they would ride. They loved them all!

Star gazing

Brent is an avid camper and has wanted the family to go camping since February. I myself wasn't raised like he was, (half of his life in a tent) and have stricter standards as to when it is ok to sleep outside in a tent with three kids 5 and under. He has been talking it up though and the girls have been so excited. We bought them these $10 sleeping bags at Target and they are prepped for 40 degrees. It was a warm day today (up to about 80) so we decided that they could sleep under the stars. We had a family movie night and Daddy picked Harry Potter (which scared Dani almost to tears) and then decided to go outside. Hannah (my ridiculously brave 3 year old) was all about it, but Dani needed a little prompting. After being outside for about 15 minutes, Dani saw a shooting star and that was all it took. They are out there now fast asleep cuddled together and I, I get to sleep in my nice warm bed. Who said I wasn't up for camping? This is the kind of camping I can handle!

Books I've read

Within the last few months I have discovered my love of reading again! I use to be an avid reader in my youth, but once I had kids, a job, a husband, etc, I never found time. Well a friend of mine let me borrow Twilight by Stephanie Myer back in November and I just sort of held onto it. Well mid January I decided to just read it and give it back. I then continued to read 1 book a day for a week and finished all three books. I loved them and was able to purchase them with some birthday money. I have also pre-ordered the fourth, due out in August and am also so excited for the movie due out in December. I highly recommend them and know many friends have already read them. I was so excited though to own my own copies I had to write about it!

After finishing the Twilight series, I then read another book about the Mormon Handcart companies that walked the plains. I lent it to a friend so couldn't include the picture (and have totally spaced on the name!), but I absolutely loved it! It is one of those that makes you so grateful for every thing you have. I then read this series called Children of the Promise. Again it is about an LDS family dealing with the change during the 60's and 70's. I really enjoyed it and really learned a lot about an era I knew nothing about.

With Beauty comes the Beast

Every spring I know it's coming. The beautiful trees, everything green, the best weather, and then Allergies!!!! I hate allergies. For two weeks I've been stuffy, sore throat, massive pressure behind the eyes, itchy, swollen, and just about ready to dig my eyes out with my own finger nail. I'm taking medication, but it makes me feel loopy and tired. I don't have much patience (which I hate because I lose my temper and yell and I really feel awful when I yell at my kids. It's not their fault that they are 5,3, and 20 months and don't understand Mommy just wants to sleep and she wishes that they would just stop arguing and get along.) I just keep plugging along and the worst part is that I wish I could just stay tucked away in my house and never go outside. But then I'm missing the best weather! Oh well, every rose has it's thorn right? Or something like that?

Love my kids

Sunday afternoons are spent sort of lazy for us right now. We get home from church and all take naps and then the kids play outside a little before we try to play a game or watch a movie as a family. This is the kids outside Sunday afternoon enjoying a swing together. I thought it was pretty cute!

You brush your teeth, ChChChCh, Chchchch

Benjamin loves brushing his teeth. I often find him in the bathroom trying to reach for his toothbrush during the day and once found him attempting to eat an entire tube of toothpaste. I love the fact that he likes to do it, but Mommies need to help sometimes, which is where the struggle begins. I just hope he keeps up this routine of good hygiene when he is a pre-teen!

Our first warm day!

With Spring upon us and Summer about to bear down, we had one unexpected really warm Sunday. We decided to have a summer treat early, Ice Cream Sandwiches. This is the first time Ben has tried one. I think he liked it!

All Done!

Healthy food! Yuck!

Brent and I have been trying to get our kids to eat healthier food. It always seems like for breakfast and lunch we make the kids something, and then we make us something. Well we decided to try to get the kids to eat what we are eating, so I made tuna cheese melts on whole wheat bread with fruit smoothies. The kids (with a little prompting) gobbled them up! We only had one incident when Dani gagged because she tried to take a bite that was too big. But all in all I was impressed that my three little ones would take a chance. Great Job Guys!!!

Inspiring Role Models

No, I'm not talking about Ghandi or Martin Luther King, but the pre-teen and teen aged girls right in my own church ward. Today, Dani really wanted to sit with M (who I believe is 11?) during Sacrament meeting. Brent has a pretty strict rule about our children sitting with family during Sacrament, so she had to sit with us. After church though she was continuously asking about M (and driving me nuts), so I walked over to her mom and asked if Dani could hang out with M for a while at her house after church. They said, "Of course!" (which I had hoped they would). So Dani spent about and hour and a half with M and then Brent picked her up after his meeting. Dani came walking in the door with a gift from M, just beaming!
I'm so grateful for my church ward. There are many girls that I call upon to babysit or that just give my kids attention at church, that I feel are such great role models for my girls. I love the fact the my girls will have young women to look up to and inspire to be like. Thanks M for being such a great friend to a much younger little girl!

It's too HOT to play softball!

Today was the strangest day ever. First of all, it is April and already almost 90 degrees. Second, we had 5 different things going on today that we needed to attend or get accomplished. I had a baby shower to go to this morning, so Brent decided to run errands with the kids. He wanted to get the Excursion cleaned at RAS downtown and thought the kids would enjoy it, so he took them along. About 10 minutes after they left, Brent gave me a call and said he wanted to get the car detailed (carpets cleaned, leather wiped down, etc). "Ok, when will it be done?" "Only about 4 hours." So I immediately started worrying about the kids and he said not to worry he would take care of it, but maybe I could come and pick them up when I was done with the shower. Alright. He should be able to keep them entertained for an hour. About an hour and a half later, he gives me a call and asks if I can come pick them up, at OSH on the other side of town! Yes, my husband and my 6,4,and 2 year old hiked it all the way across town to OSH. I looked on mapmyrun.com and it is 1.37 miles from RAS to OSH. Those who know Tracy will understand this part. My son made it all the way to Tracy BLVD before wanting up. Hannah made it Lincoln. So Brent put Hannah on his shoulders and carried Ben in his arms for another half mile to OSH. Needless to say, when I got there, they were tired and haggard. We rushed home and put them down because Dani still had a game to play. So in the heat of the day, Dani and I stood out on the field for an hour. It was REALLY hot out there. But we made it through. Dani finally said at the end, "Mom, today was just too hot to play softball!" Sweetie, I have to agree.

Ups and Downs

My birthday has come and gone and with it, so has my diet. I have started a weight loss support groups with my friend J called Fit For Eternity. We get together weekly on Thursdays, weigh in and discuss topics that will help us to look and feel better about ourselves. So tonight we are weighing in and I have already checked and have gained two pounds. Sigh....
I've been completely frustrated with my body since I was a kid. I started dieting in the 5th grade, passed out at school in the 6th grade, and always felt inadequate and awkward as young girl. I hid my emotions by playing sports. Guys back then only like that I was really good playing kickball or basketball. (One of them is my current husband!) I was finally on a role in high school when I blew out my knee playing basketball my sophomore year. Since then I have been plagued with injuries. I have had three knee surgeries, shin splints, and now tendentious in my right foot.
The hard part about all of this was is that I was doing extremely well! I was walking with J 3-4 miles three times a week, plus doing strength training videos in between. I can still do the videos, but am REALLY sore after three or four days of different weight lifting videos. I don't want to look like a man! I would love to be tone, but not RIPPED! (Not that I'm even close, but my muscles were literally screaming at me.) What's a girl to do???
I was told by my mom that I need to treat my new problem like an injury and not just a nuisance. She's right (although I hate to admit it), but that is what I need to do. I also need to remember that I am doing WAY better than I was before I started trying. I keep thinking of Dori from the movie Finding Nemo, you know, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming." I'll get there eventually (I hope!)

Fun Birthday weekend

I am sadly one year older tomorrow. Yes, I will be turning 29. It's not 30, which I really don't even care about. I almost wish it was 30 so then that big number would be behind me. (I realize that anyone older than me is rolling their eyes right about now.) Saturday I wanted to do something fun. Brent decided that he wanted to throw out the majority of my wardrobe and decided to take me shopping, just the two of us. We actually hit a huge sale at Lane Bryant (the "real Women's" store, if you know what I mean). I got 8 new shirts, a cute pair of shorts (that are actually long enough!), and two pairs of capri's (both a different tan color). I was sooo excited! I still need a new church skirt (if anyone goes to church with me, they know I wear the same jean skirt to church every week!) and a bathing suit (yuck) for our trip in June. I honestly dread that one. It was very nice to be pampered a bit. We had dinner and then went over to a friends house to play games and (to my surprise!) have pie. It was very fun.

Today I spent the day at my in-laws watching conference (which I really enjoyed and stayed awake for this year!!!). They fed us all day and really helped with the kids. I also received some very nice gifts and the Birthday song was sung at least 5 times. I also opened cards from my sister-in-laws (and their families). Thank you! Tomorrow is my actual birthday. I was really hoping to work, but don't have a sub job yet. Maybe I'll just take if off :). My family wants to have dinner somewhere that evening, which means I need to work out and make sure I count calories and gear up. I haven't been good the last few days and really don't want to gain weight this week. In 5 weeks I've lost about 10 pounds and am really excited about that. I just want to keep up the momentum so next year when I actually turn 30, I'll look better than I do now!!! (My birthday wish revealed!)

A very spirtual experience

Friday, after going back to work after almost two weeks off, was Ward Temple Night. I wanted to do anything but go. I was really tired, had to pick up my kids, make dinner, get everything ready and then attempt to look half way decent because I couldn't go in my jeans and jaguar t-shirt. On our way, we chatted with friends about this and that. Arriving to the temple, my spirit began to change and I felt the serenity of the place. It's so beautiful at night. We also arrived at the same time as two buses full of people. It was not what I was hoping for at first, but then as we approached the entrance and there was a line of about 20 or so people in front of us I thought about what a neat experience that was. Here were other members, giving up their Friday evenings to do the Lord's work, and feel connected to something greater than themselves. We chose to wait an extra half hour to do go into a much smaller session. We were finished just as the other session was finishing and when I walked into the Celestial room it was standing room only. It made me think about returning back to my heavenly home. Happy brothers and sisters looking for loved ones, family, and friends. All peaceful and calm, and radiant. I truly felt the spirit and calm of those around me, and, like always, was so glad that I had followed through.

Best of friends

Friday night fun. Camden and Sydney come over for pizza and... pumpkin muffins! We love this family and they love us. It's so nice to have friends you can rely on too!!! Friends forever? We hope so!

The Honesty of a Child

Yesterday I was getting the kids ready for bed and Dani asks me, "Mommy, why is your tummy so big?" I knew she wanted to know if I was pregnant, which I AM NOT. But it stung a little that I look as if I could be. We have many friends right now, including my sister, who is expecting and it's been on her brain lately. I let it roll off my shoulder and asked, "Why do you ask?" She then preceded to tell me, "Well, I was hoping there was a baby in there. Is there? (no) Well, why not?! We need more babies!" So I let her know that one day we may have another baby, but right now there isn't one. She went on to say that she thought we needed three more babies so we could fill up our car. I then let her know that there was no way that was ever going to happen, but that we would have a least one more if we can. Final thought, "Good mom, because I like babies A LOT."