Sunday, April 15, 2012

Spring Break...good times...

So it's over. You know how you kind of don't look forward to going back to school and 'normal' life, that's where I am. I don't mind doing things with my kids or having them around. I see the importance of their education both at school and the other activities: piano, sports, work etc. It's just nice to have a break from that for a week!

Monday Timo had to work since he missed Friday for a scout camp out and didn't have time Saturday either. Once he and Tim got home we were going to go to Salt Lake City to see the new City Creek Mall across from Temple Square--stores like Tiffany's and H & M and Godiva Chocolates and of course the Disney Store, Maceys, Nordstrom as well. I am not sure how many stores we only went to a few. Anyway, as we were leaving we noticed the engine temperature going up. So I warned my sister whom we were picking up that we were going to need to put water in it when we got there. We had forgotten to do it earlier--I knew that it needed it. After filling it extensively we set off. It was still weird so Tim decided to not drive it. Teresa offered to drive her truck and we drove Tim's car. We had exactly enough seats. Emily had been hanging with her friend Kassie and she came along--Taran was in school still. So Teresa took her riders and headed up then we went home and traded cars. We parked at the lot north of Energy Solutions Arena since we were planning on going to the Jazz game that night. She headed over to the ticket office as soon as she got there. She had got a TWEET for tickets for $10 each! With all the fees they ended up $15 each but we got a hot dog with that so pretty cool! We arrived just after she got them so we met at the TRAX station and headed up to the mall. It's huge as you can imagine. I think it's somewhat modeled after Denver's big mall with a bridge that links it. We split up and had a meeting place and time. Some headed to Footlocker and Fannz, Teresa and I went to J Jill and then all but Em and Kassie at the Disney Store, then a toy store not sure of it's name then back. Teresa headed into Macey's then she caught up with me at H & M. I found this store nicer than the one in NYC. It had some cute inexpensive clothes for Em and Gwen that I got. I didn't have time to get to the boys section! Another day. At that point Tim had had it with Izak and Micah for not listening to him and playing on the escalator--like they have never seen one! It was a beautiful day and the mall was so fun since it's open and outdoors--parts have a retractable roof that can be used during inclement weather. We headed back to the arena to get in and get our dinner before the game started. We were 3 separate sections for better seating possibilities. I took all the girls for the 4 ticket group. I knew Tim would be frustrated if he had to take Gwen to the bathroom or whatever during the game. We left about every 4 minutes to do something. She was great, really but I knew she wouldn't sit through a whole game without moving--it was the price I was willing to pay to go to the game! I hadn't been to one in years. This was Gwen, Zane and Micah's first Jazz game. It was an exciting game and the Jazz won so we were all super happy! I almost lost my voice. All the kids in our car fell asleep on the way home. I had brought Gwen's pjs knowing it was going to be late getting home.

Tuesday I went to the temple and it was not busy I did 10 names instead of 5 in an hour! When I got out my mom had called and we figured out would be our best chance at good weather at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens Tulip Festival. It was Taran's birthday so we had to go during the day. I met Teresa, my sister-in-law Katie and her kids and my mom. We brought our neighbor Spencer. We had a picnic part way through. It was beautiful and a great outing too bad I forgot to sunscreen myself! Double burn on my forehead! This definitely the earliest I have seen the tulips up and trees and bushes without blossoms yet! Usually it's the other way around. It was still beautiful. We got home around 2 PM. Timo almost came with but did home work and went to a friends not long after we got home. Zane had gotten car sick on our way home and threw up right when we got home. So after I got that cleaned up and him in a nap and Gwen I went and got the stuff for Taran's birthday. He wanted Papa Murphy's Pizza, strawberries and watermelon...all things I had to get NOT at our little Walmart. I got home around 5:30 PM, the kids helped me decorate, and set the table etc. So we were ready when Tim got home with him. Tim had dropped off some cold cereal and PopTarts the day before for his breakfast. His gift was money and a big box of mini-chicken tacos and beef taquitos--easy food for finals week! We also let him take the leftover pizza and watermelon and cookies. He had chocolate chip pan cookies with ice cream and toppings. After dinner he wanted to shoot hoops with the family before eating dessert. His friend Breton came over and joined our little gathering, then Timo's friend Tyler also joined in. We also got a visit from a group of Timo's friends in the green sweatsuits from the 70s--classic eh? Two of the boys are brothers and were at their Grandpa's and they found them and he told them he had more that they could have if they found them, and they did! Funny! Breton has a cool app that reverses stuff and so Tim filmed them doing stuff and then they would put it in reverse, pretty cool! He posted them on Facebook and tagged Taran, Timo and Tim if you want to see them. Then we did the cookie and ice cream stuff. Then Taran's other friend in the neighborhood who is still around, Andrew, came over and they jammed. Breton joined in too, he was in the original band. It was fun but late and Tim drove him back to Provo that night. He got home at midnight! Luckily he was taking Wednesday off. Taran's roommates stormed his room at midnight Monday night to tickle him and celebrate--a tradition I guess. He got some scars in the process of trying to prevent it! Owell. He that when he got home on his birthday night so around 11:30 PM they watched a movie! To be a crazy college student...

Wednesday we tried to sleep in a little. We had decided to do a hike. I wanted to try a new hike I heard about last year but we didn't end up going there ever. But Tim was nervous about the van so we went to Battlecreek Falls. Micah had his friend Luke and the other kids didn't get anyone home--a lot of people were in St. George from our neighborhood. The hike was nice and easy. The kids had fun. It was another beautiful day. As we were returning home it started to get overcast and we had decided to go swimming at an indoor pool for the afternoon. I was beat. So I didn't get in but I was there to take Gwen to the bathroom. Emily and Timo ditched us for friends. Which is fine! Swimming was crowded but about half the people left when they made everyone get out so they could check the pool. They do that every 1-1/2 hours so we left just before the next time. The kids were tired so Timo watched them while we went to BYU to watch Taran in his choir concert--he took University Chorale a non-audition choir class. Emily went to a movie with friends. We enjoyed the concert and my aunt Leslie who taught Taran preschool came too! It was fun to visit with her. Taran came up here after because his friend Travis was getting his mission call--he had to work so he didn't open it until 10:30 PM. He is going to Capetown South Africa, and to the MTC there! He has my same birthday so I have a sweet spot in my heart for him!

Thursday was stormy so we had a stay home movie day. I had checked the dollar movies and nothing was too appealing so I rented Mr. Popper's Penguins and HUGO. I also had offered to take the youngest kids to Orange Leaf a frozen yogurt place since I 'owed' them for doing their swimming so well during their lessons. Well, Emily had a bunch of her buddies over they were planning their Hunger Games for the next day so they didn't want to miss out so I took Gwen and her friend Sophie. We had a nice time, aren't they cute?
Then we went home to watch movies. We saved HUGO for when Tim was home. We ended up feeding a few of Emily's friends for dinner. I don't mind if I know and since they were around most of the day I figured there would be some staying over for dinner. I enjoyed HUGO it was a touching story, not so much heart wrenching but tender. I did cry but that means nothing I cry when the Jazz win. Mr. Popper's Penguins was cute. Mind you we watched them on Clearplay so if there was something inappropriate it was edited. Timo spent most the day getting ready for his Foreign Language Fair at BYU the next day. They decorate shirts they wear and practice their skits...

Friday Timo had to be at the school at 7 AM and since we are his alarm Tim had to get him up. Tim worked a half day. Anna and Buck brought June so they could go to the temple. She is crawling and standing really well and we've heard she can walk too! Emily's friends started coming over at 10 AM for their Hunger Games. They had a lot of fun. I would have taken pictures but she would have been MORTIFIED! When Tim got home we had lunch and then made a plan. Originally we had planned to go to the Muslim Exhibit at the BYU Art Museum but since Timo and Emily weren't going to make it we decided to go another day when everyone could go. We decided to go to the BYU Hall of Legends and see if they had Jimmer's awards there. They did and the tour guide said that they have more they haven't put in a display yet! We opted for the tour and he took us into the weight room--where the stuffed cougar photo was taken. And other places we normally wouldn't get to see. It was super fun. We grabbed a drink at BK and headed down to pick up the Espinoza cousins. We were going to go to the Creamery but the tour took longer than we had planned. We picked up 3 of the boy cousins and headed home, beating the rush! I ran to Walmart and got some food for dinner and breakfast. I had planned on some food I had in the freezer but alas we gave that to some of Emily's friends and the kids earlier that day. They played with the swords and stuff that some Emily's friends had left--see boys with weapons. They also played basketball for awhile. Once it got dark they headed in and watched Johnny English 1 which they loved! Then Emily and Maddie watched the rest of Emma and then Sherlock Holmes. Giovanni came when Shellie picked up Diego and he watched Sherlock Holmes with them.

Saturday they got up way earlier than we had hoped! They fed the chickens Micah is watching for a family out of town. Then they played basketball and watched Johnny English 2. Tim and I weeded while the sun was out. We made lots of headway! Maddie had flute lessons so she left early. Izak got invited to go to the Salt Lake City Temple and then to City Creek after with his friend Bryson and his sisters (they are triplets). He had a lot of fun. (They changed into street clothes after the temple). After all the cousins left we did chores. Emily went to Classic Skating with her friends--it was her friend Emily's birthday. Timo and friends got together to plan their Senior classes together and then whatever. Once we got the chores done we took the four little kids to IKEA. We have a couple of little projects we wanted to get some ideas about. We had dinner there and then looked around. We actually got stuff so Tim has some MORE stuff to do! We got home just in time for baths and bedtime! They actually loved trying out things at IKEA and they weren't annoying until the end. We stopped at Orange Leaf as you can see on our way home. so Gwen and I got double treats! After we got home, I ran to Walmart and get milk--always have to do it! I got some lucky purchases that I actually needed, tender mercy! I folded towels and sheets while watching the BYU Mens Volleyball game.

Today Tim had bishopric meetings 6 AM until 9 AM. Timo and I had BYC at 9 AM. The little boys had children's choir at 11 AM and Tim, Timo, Emily and Izak had choir at 12:15 PM. By then Gwen was acting like she wasn't feeling well and she was warm. I sent Micah and Zane to church on their own. Tim called me and we set up the trade off since I needed to be there for Young Womens. I am bummed I missed the choirs since it was their Easter songs. I did read some great articles in the Ensign I hadn't gotten to yet. She seemed to feel better after her nap. She was still lethargic but after dinner and her bath she was feeling much better. Izak taught our devotional from his Duty to God. It was good, it was about the importance of reading the scriptures. After that they went to bed. We are all tired and not ready for the normal week ahead with a new session of swimming, play practices, piano, soccer and homework! Taran finishes up BYU this week and will be moving back Friday. He has had a great year and enjoyed himself. We are proud of all he has accomplished this year and so glad for the experiences he's had! School will be over for the other kids in 6 weeks. He will leave on his mission in just over 7 weeks. His buddy Andrew gets his call Tuesday! Fun times. Have a great week! Happy Spring!

2 comments:

Anna Harrison said...

holy cow. BUSY WEEK

4boyzmdmom said...

It must be warmer here...our tulips bloomed weeks ago and are mostly gone now. (Same for the trees.) You did so many fun things for Spring Break! Frank doesn't start earning days off until June and our house was in a mess so we didn't do much for our spring break...maybe next year! But I know how you feel...I actually enjoy having the kids home usually and I love the break from "real life".