Happy Birthday Skip...40th!

Yesterday was Skip's 40th birthday. I struggled with what to do for Skip on this milestone in his life. Unfortunately Skip is a little difficult to buy for, as he usually gets what he wants or wants to research it to death before we buy.{ This is good , but I do not possess this talent}

I decided it would be fun to go and surprise him at work with balloons that said 40th on them. This way the people he spends a majority of his time with could share in this big day. Plus it would be embarrassing.

The kids and I went to the front desk to figure how to get in. Jack kept asking me over and over again all morning how I was going to attain this feat. Security is pretty tight. I thought I would just tell the front desk to call one of Skip's peers and they could get us up. Of course at the time I needed to remember last names I could not. Luckily for me Trent{ A guy from our ward, whom I kept calling Troy....I was a little stressed} came in from lunch and he with about three other guys helped us in.

We went up to where Skip's desk was and no Skip. These guys were on their phones trying to locate him and the other men that were with him. Mean while Skip was on the same floor , only on the opposite side of the building. He was in his bosses office. We went there only to find they had left to go to another office. Off we went, missing them again we doubled back hoping to run into them , nothing. It was like a strange chase scene in a comedic movie, but my kids were not laughing. Finally, one of the guys that was in our parade of people{ we had about eight more people by now. Every person that we ran into saw the balloons and would say who's 40? Skip, and they would join the chase}.... Anyway, this guy found out that skip and three other guys had left the building to go to lunch. Great, we missed him. I told him to find out where they were going and we would surprise him there. He began the conversation and everything was going fine till he found out he was on speaker phone and Skip was sitting right there listening. BUSTED! The kids where really disappointed and Blake didn't even want to continue the chase. Before this it had been such fun roaming thru small halls, around numerous cubicles, perfect for people under five foot to hide behind and get ready to pounce out and yell, Surprise!

So off we went to the Deli. It was anti climatic. The kids were not as into it and barely belted out Happy Birthday to You! We tried. !

While we were sitting there talking and laughing with Skip about the adventure we had endured; a lady, total stranger, that was probably in her eighties came up to our family and said that she had been watching us. This always makes you a little worried. She told us that she had three boys and two girls in their sixties and enjoyed her family very much. She said to Skip and I,"You have a lovely family, love them and enjoy every minute with them, because it goes by so fast." To me this is like God talking to me thru one of his angels. It keeps me in check and helps me to appreciate my family more.

After eating with Skip we took him back to the office and made him carry the balloons inside, which he did not want to do, TOO BAD! That is part of the fun.

Skip met me for dinner around 6:00. I asked the kids to decorate the place for a party, wrap presents and eat some chips and cheese for dinner. We had dinner at a new hibachi and sushi place that Skip loves. The kids would despise it so they were not invited.

While we were eating Sam did a great job wrapping the presents , Jack did a great job decorating and they did something that I did not ask them to do. They filled up water balloons to bomb bard Skip's car with when he drove up{ I missed this little event ,as I was getting the mail in my car and was about two minutes behind Skip. Dang!} When I {because you know I couldn't resist talking to them about the dangers of throwing water balloons at cars} Talked to them about this they pulled out this big red sign that they had used when Skip drove up and it said, in huge black letters," Dad Stop! And on the flip side of the sign "These are your other Birthday Balloons. HA! HA!..... Do you think they knew I might lecture them....mmmmmm.
After I fed them dinner. Which didn't seem to happen the way I asked them {to busy with water balloons.}We had cake and sang again to Skip. They painted pictures on canvas for him to decorate his office. We had a good time. The celebrations lasted into the night. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!!!!

A fun Weekend

Claire broke out with huge hives on her legs and arms. I wasn't sure what it was {of course I go right to bed bugs... I start obsessing on fumigation and if we will need to move, what will happen to all are stuff, and are we infested or what...Yes, I am crazy} We went to the doctor on Thursday afternoon, the whole bunch, the doctors office is used to it. This was our first visit when Claire did not weep. She told me on the way into the office," I am happy. I have hives. I will not cry, because I am a big girl. Then I will get a sucker." Yea, My big girl is progressing. She also slept in her bed three nights in a row till 7:00 am. All I have to say is, Whoo Hooo!!!!! A small disclaimer: I did give her Benadryl the first night FOR HIVES! I do not drug my kids so I can get much needed rest, although it has crossed my mind over 730 times.
Jack had his second Boy Scout camp out. We collected all these different items{ not explosive} For him to throw into the fire to make the flames change color; ie salt, alum, borax, and Epsom salt. He thought that was pretty cool. He also hiked five miles, which he did not think was pretty cool. He took some beautiful pictures on the hike. I was not losing sleep this time. It was a little weird without him, but I managed. In fact there was a stress that was missing.

Friday was our ward picnic. The kids had a blast playing with their friends and catching frogs. Our Primary President was leading the fun on the big teeter-tauter. We have a great ward. Saturday morning I received a call that a dear lady, Ruby had too many grapes and tons of apples that needed picking. Off we went to pick. Claire loved cutting the grapes off the vine and Blake and Sam did a great job getting some apples for us to can. I get to do the canning. Thank you Ruby you an awesome women. I hope I am this spry when I am her age.

Later that night I made everyone pick the grapes off the vine. I thought we could sit around the table and talk. You know bond, Family time. Well, Skip thought we should move into the family room and watch the Olympics while we pick. So much for bonding. The grapes got done, there was allot of talking and you could barely hear the commentary on the event that was taking place. The marathon. Skip kept telling the kids to stop talking and watch, but really,... the marathon. While it is a great feat of strength and endurance, my children's attention was not held by any reach of the imagination. {Except Jack} Try gymnastics, swimming, volley ball, rowing even badminton and they will watch and be amazed.

OBX...The Beach

We left yesterday for our drive to the beach. Leaving at 2 pm we planned on a 3-4 hour trip. Traffic was terrible at all points north of the tide water bridge and our drive turned into a 6 hour trip. I was not prepared. No snacks. No extra games. No toys. NO CHOCOLATE!!! {I did however, have Motrin and I needed it.} We were almost to our destination and Claire was extremely cranky. Claire needed her fix and so did I. I remembered Jack packed the DVDs and yes BLUES CLUES was in the mix. Thank you Jack.



We made it to the beach house and we were all very happy. Sad also, because Aunt Maryann and family were not there. Would it be the same with out them?

The first day the water was calm, really calm, lake like. The weather was warm and muggy slight breeze from the land not the sea. The flys and jelly fish were biting. Never the less, we made the best of the day. All my boys went into the water. Claire did not want to at all. She played in the baby pool and was quite content.

Now the adults are playing "Loot". Me, I am blogging, anti social that is me.I need to join in the pirate fun.

1.Ocean

2.lighting

3. sunscreen

The Doctor Is In

Two days ago Sam stepped on something in the hall way upstairs. We were not sure what it was, but it hurt and his big toe was bleeding. It looked like a small pin prick. I really had no idea what it was, so I cleaned it and put a band aid on it.{I tend not to be an alarmist as my children can be dramatic} Well, the complaints kept coming. Last night after a day of not being able to walk too far and allot of limping, I decided to take the tweezers to it. I had flash light and a magnifying glass. I looked just like Skip in these pictures. I was not so successful though. Sam just cried. He kept pretty still and asked for breaks, but he did cry big crocodile tears and some of the crying was the silent kind. After 15 minutes I said we would stop and try again later. I couldn't take the pain I was causing him, especially when we were getting no where.

Tonight as Skip was putting Sam to bed, he thought he would take a STAB at it. For some reason Sam did not cry as much. In fact mostly just complaining and no tears. Skip joked with him to take his mind off of the procedure. After about 5-7 minutes he had the first of two big chards of glass out.{they weren't big compared to a thumb tack, but big enough to cause Sam pain} Sam said," Good we are done." and Skip said," No I think there is something else in there."

Skip poked around a little more and tugged at something else and finally pulled another chard out. It looks like jagged dagger. I said it must be the 'Littles'{from the book} you must have almost stepped on one and they were protecting themselves. Blake looked at me in fear and disbelief, "Are you kidding Mom?" Sam just smiled.

Afterword Sam gave his Dad a big hug. Sometimes you just need a Dad do the dirty work. Thank you Skip I love you. So does Sam!

Fathers and Sons Outing

I think the boys had a great time at the camp out . Blake said this was the best Father and Sons camp out he has ever been on.{ I think this is his third year.} Even though he ran full on into a tree. He was chasing around in the woods, with other kids, they had their flash lights. He had a headlight on and a flash light in hand and he still managed to run into tree. He scratched his upper cheek pretty good. The funny thing is that he didn't even tell Skip and by the way Skip had no idea that he hurt himself. I asked him if it hurt and did he cry. He said he did, but his friend Ethan saw him crying and came and comforted him. I LOVE ETHAN! After that he said I felt better.





Jack has had a little more experience with fishing, so he was teaching Blake how to cast. I thought this was great.Sam said he loved the camp fire and burning plates in the fire. He loved the way they curled as they burned. He also told me this is the first time he had a smore and liked it. Hooray!...Progress.

My Mothers Day

My Mothers Day was really on Saturday. We bought a new table and chairs for the kitchen on Ebay. Skip drove with Sam and Jack to pick it up. It was up past Charlottesville, about an hour away. It is used, but in great condition, except for the smell. I am the only one this bugs, but I spend the most time in the kitchen so I must get the smell out before it drives me from this house.{It's a smell of someone else, not smoke, kind of like air freshener or musty air freshener}I don't Know what it is. I just know the problem must be solved and soon. Any suggestions?

The next thing we did was to buy a matching desk and chairs to put our old computer on so the boys could do their school work at the same time. This is heaven sent. No more fighting. Well, now they will probably fight about who gets what computer. IT NEVER ENDS!

The next thing we did has more to do with Jack, Sam , and Blake. they really wanted this game called Mario Karts. I didn't want to just give it to them, they had to earn it. Jack had to do a certain amount of baby sitting. They all had to clean out the garage and clean out the cars. Blake helped me inside cleaning and watching Claire. Jack and Sam spent most of the day on Saturday cleaning. It took about six and a half hours to clean. They kept saying we're done and I would have to come back with, no your not, then I would find something that they needed to do better. They were getting very frustrated. That 's the way it goes. If your going to do something, do it right and do your best. {These words are being drilled into their heads, I am sure they are sick of it.} I just had to show them what their best was.

They were rewarded with time on the 'Wii'. They were very happy and had loads of fun.

I will post pics later when the wind and rain stop.

Check!

Last night Skip was home early {around 6:30}Sam is constantly asking anyone to play chess with him, so Skip and the boys were able to play some games of chess and checkers after dinner. Sam played against him first and then Jack. Blake played checkers with Jack. The boys are in a chess club and are trying to learn the finer points of the game.

Typical Drive!

Yesterday we had a great time in DC. I only have the pictures from yesterday, because Skip was in charge of the camera and he downloaded all the pictures on to his computer. So we are going back wards. After a great day we were driving home and we stopped at a grocery store. I bought food to eat for dinner{ it would have been cheaper to go to fast food, but you can't get hummus any where that I know of}

I got back in the car after shopping for 20 min, the kids were watching a movie in the car. We drove away, got on the freeway, I started making sandwiches and we are not on the freeway for more than three minutes when Blake starts to cry that he needs to use the bathroom.{ isn't this typical} It took us about ten more minutes to find a gas station, all the while Blake was crying. We finally find one. I take Blake in and it turns out he is sick. We spend a half an hour in the bathroom. Blake was crying and whimpering the whole time. I am sure all the ladies that came in to that bathroom wondered what is going on with this kid crying{ Skip was starting to wonder what was going on} finally I decide we will just have to take our chances in the car. Skip moves Blake's seat up closer to the front. We give him a bag and tell him a hundred times in the bag Blake in the Bag. Skip has a TUMs and we give him that, say a little prayer and we are off again. Blake goes to sleep. We get home in about a half an hour. Just shy of 11:00pm. We are all tired and put everyone to bed. Whew! Typical

Sam had the right Idea before we rode the Metro. Why didn't we have Blake try like Sam did? Typical!

Fifteen Years

When we first met is still debatable, but we obviously met. He says it was at our ward dance, I say it was in sacrament{I am sure I am right}. We really didn't talk much the first year we knew each other. The next year we ended up in the same FHE group. I dated one of the other guys in the group and didn't give Skip a second thought. Then summer came at BYU, yes the season of love. We started "hanging out" Code at BYU for dating without having to go anywhere; to be fair we were hanging out with a small group of other ward members. We began spending time in the hammock outside his apt{rumors began to fly} The Elders Quorum Pres. with the girl with the ever changing hair and bright red lips{hey if you've got an asset I say take advantage of it}, Anyway, one long talking night in the hammock after another and soon we were an item, although we fervently denied all claims. When the guy I was dating came back for fall semester I had pretty well decided to date just Skip{If you snooze you loose, Don't go home in the summer from BYU to much can happen in three months} Skip's sister Kim fixed him up with some nice, cute girl from SLC. When he came home he decided he had found the one. ME! We went home to Page AZ to meet his family for his sister's Michelle missionary farewell. The next week we decided to go to the temple to do a session, we did this quite often. After the session in the celestial room Skip proposed. I being the realist that I am or can sometimes be, responded something to the effect of " let's put the ring away for a minute and let me tell you what you're asking me: It's ten years from now, you have a highly demanding job, we have three kids, you are the early morning seminary teacher, you get home from work late after a long day, our oldest son needs his bike fixed for a cub scout activity the next day, after a frustrating time with his bike you stay up late to get your seminary lesson prepared, your kids are up all night sick, you have to go teach and go to work and do this all over again; is this what you want to do with me for the rest of your life?" Nice response right{ look it is pretty true} Anyway he said yes with a confused look on his face. So this was the begining of our fifteen years.