By the sweat of your brow....

Shannon and I are back at it again....just like the good old days--plus 4 more kids. Shannon and I used to clean model homes in Utah and her two little kids would come with us. Audrey would just sit in the car seat and watch us clean for like 2 hours without a peep. Well, those days are gone.Now we have 6 kids total...and they don't just sit without a peep. Now, Shannon and I got a new little job cleaning model homes in Palm Dessert. A friend of hers had invited her to visit them at the Marriott there with this cool little water slide so instead of leaving the kids behind, we decided to take them along and do some cleaning and swimming...so after a VERY long, winding drive, and squealing coming from Cole the whole way (what's new), making Madison's head hurt in addition to the car sickness... we arrived. But the gates were closed and there was no power for them to open. So we went through this side gate and entered the first model only to discover that there was no air--no power--no electricity. We proceeded to clean--inhaling 409, Windex, and Pledge fumes in the densely humid, HOT air and just dripped with sweat. The kids ran rampant all about as we struggled to figure things out with the air. We brought a portable movie player and a fan for the kids--neither of which would work with no working plugs, and neither would our vacuum. So, after dying from fumes, and dripping with sweat through 4 of 8 units. We decided that for the children's sake--Gavin was as red as a tomato and about as sweaty as it gets....Drew looked like someone had dumped a bucket of water on his head he was so wet and sweaty...we needed to leave. And the text picture we took of us in the car after trying to cool our sweaty bodies just didn't do it justice. So we left and got some lunch and headed over to the pool to cool off!
We had a great time over there and the kids loved running in the spraying water. It was nice to cool down but we still had another set of 3 models left to clean--and we weren't sure if there was air in those or not.

Finally we were off. (Picture it-feeding sweaty kids, (6 of them) getting them out of the car--swimsuits on, lotion on, go swim, swimsuits off, clothes on, drive more....more cleaning.) They were sure troopers but Shannon and I looked at each other and were like--never again are we bringing the kids!
At the other set of models there was air! PHEW! And the plugs worked--well some of them--so we set up the movie. But of course it couldn't be that easy--"I can't see it"--"you're head's in the way." It was nap time. Great. So we ran around the house, cleaning, attending the kids, cleaning some more. Thankfully the houses were already VERY clean so it didn't take too much effort. Audrey had to use the bathroom at one point and we said we'd just be in the next model over. When we hadn't seen her in a little while, Madison went to go find out what she was doing. She came back with a blotchy-eyed Audrey. She got confused on which model we went into and was lost so she crouched down crying and told us she said a little prayer that someone would come find her. Then came Madison looking for her. So cute-- and sad! Phew, ok, got all the kids, keep cleaning. A little later, after moving to the next model, we set up the movie again and told everyone to just lay on the bed and watch. That didn't work either and when I came back in the room a little later, Allison had the strangest look on her face. It almost looked like she was pooping! Of course that was my first frantic question---"Are you pooping??????" Of course she wasn't--she knows better than that. Well, the most I could gather from her was that she fell off the bed. And it was a big drop too. I think she got the wind knocked out of her which I've never had happen to me, but she looked pretty frightened which frightened me. I kept checking her back to see if she was ok. No marks, no nothing. But that was it for me. I looked at Shannon and pretty much said. I'm done, I'll come back another day and finish--WITHOUT the kids. I think by the look on my face she didn't question me one bit and we got the kids gathered up--but while we were doing that, we were taking turns storming though the last house to clean it before we left. We FINALLY headed out with some EXHAUSTED children...and moms!!! We got dinner...Cole conked on the way there, we took a quick potty break, and Cole woke up--and stayed up the rest of the trip home! The rest of them pretty much crashed and we made the dark winding drive home. Hey, at least we got paid-right?

I'm a bridesmaid!

I've only been a bridesmaid once and that was for my sister's wedding. I was the maid of honor (her only sister) and there were no other bridesmaids. Dan's brother Nick who was recently engaged, is getting married next July and his sweet bride-to-be, Kendra, invited me, Shannon, and Kari (Shannon's mom), to lunch with her and her mom. When we arrived to the most tasty restaurant we might have ever been to, there were envelopes on the plates with our names on them. Shannon and I opened them to find a personal invitation to be Kendra's bridesmaids! So sweet! It was completely unexpected but such a cool surprise. I feel so so lucky to have such amazing sisters-in-law and Kendra is no exception to that. We're actually only a couple weeks apart in age. I just wish we were a little closer to hang out more.

After lunch we took a walk in these surrounding gardens and then drove over the the place where Nick and Kendra will have their wedding and reception. It was so sweet for her to include us in the excitement of her wedding plans!

Hey ya'll

My brother, Chad, and his wife, Tricia, just had number 3! I had the opportunity to go visit them in Austin, Texas and meet up with the rest of my family (minus Kacy's husband Doug and Dan and Allison) It was such a great visit and all the kids did amazing! I was only able to bring Cole with me since he was free as a lap child on the plane and Dan stayed behind to work and stay with Alli. Cole did surprisingly well on the flights...I say flights not only because I flew there and back but I had two flights each day with a 2+ hour layover in SLC on the way there. Luckily, Cole fell asleep during my layover (not for very long but long enough) and my sister, Kacy met up with me and rode with us on the flight to Austin! It was nice to have the girls keeping Cole entertained.
Plus I had a mini me sitting next to me. Seriously, she kida looked like me when I was her age (19) she was from Logan, UT and she brought her journal (totally something I would have done) and she brought a book by Steven Covey-- She was even visiting her sister in Austin. Cole had a crush on her too.

Anyway, after renting a car and getting lost even while using our navigation system--totally not user error---ok maybe.... we arrived late at night. Cole was WIRED. He gets super hyper before bedtime..and it was LATE. We had the BEST accommodations....Cole got a crib to sleep in and I slept in the bottom bunk of my nephew's bed. Cole slept in GREAT that first morning...with the time change he didn't wake up until nearly 11am! Tricia--even with a nursing baby and no sleep---whipped up some fantastic breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

We headed out to a play place for the kids called Raddy Jazz--yes it was one of those germ infested, don't think too hard about it the kids are having so much fun places. I usually just don't let myself think about it so I don't will myself to get sick....the REST of the family on the other hand...got sick by the last day of the trip! Bummer. At least we remained unscathed. Then we met at a Texas BBQ restaurant....very tasty--spicy food. I especially liked the atmosphere with the Texan accents surrounding us. Then it was on the the bats....they live under these bridges and at dusk they come out in thousands! Cole loved it.
We weren't sure we'd be back much before bedtime so I bought Cole some PJs at this second hand store...he LOVED them and he looked so darn cute--turns out his cousin, William, had superman Pjs too! Here they are pretending to fly like Superman!

On Sunday was Asher's blessing day. My mom made him his blessing outfit--same pattern I used for Drew's and Gavin's. He looked so handsome in white. He's such a big boy it's fun to see him all filled out with obvious facial features.
Cole gave me a run for my money all during sacrament meeting...we were sitting next to Kacy---Savannah had fallen asleep on the bench, and behind us, Lynnzie fell asleep on her bench. Holly was trying to out do Cole...I think she maybe succeeded. I actually got to go to Relief Society (usually I'm with the young women that hour) and Cole stayed entertained in nursery with grandpa and aunt Leah, and then Uncle James--yay!
When we got home...the little kids were POOOOPED and crashed for a while. We then had a delicious dinner with tasty salad, Rhodes rolls--Texas has them in abundance-- and Roast. And to top it of--we dipped the most beautifully perfect strawberries I've ever seen, along with creme puffs and marshmallows into the chocolate fountain. It was messy and delicious! You'd think the parents could have gotten away without a drip but I'm pretty sure my brother Chad was the messiest of them all.

We had a good time hanging out together...the boys got after it in a game of light sabers---Cole thought he was such a big boy.


That night, me, Tricia, and Kacy stayed up LATE --3am Texas time-- chat chat chatting. That was probably my favorite part of the whole trip--I love my sisters!

Next morning, we headed out to the pool only to realize they didn't open until 12noon--What?! so we came home, ate lunch, did naps and THEN went back to the pool. I took a ride on the three water slides they had there--Cole wasn't allowed on them--so I let the kid in me come out and I screamed the whole way down each of them. I got lots of stares and some smiles on my way out. Who cares? I'll never see them again right?
Chad brought dinner home that night and then we started getting worried. Holly came down with a cold that day and then started tugging at her ear and was NOT happy to say the least. But after a priesthood blessing by my brother and some distant cousin (go figure--I didn't even know who he was) Holly gave in and conked out sleeping all night until Kacy had to get her up the next morning to fly home.

Tricia was a zombie that morning from Asher getting up EVERY hour that night (makes me relieved I'm not pregnant and not going to have to go through that again for a while)so I took Asher and let her sleep for a couple hours.
I watched Enchanted before I had to leave for my flight--such a cute movie! The flight went well....but we were ready to be home!!!!

The trip couldn't have been any better. It makes me sad that my brother and his family aren't closer to us so we can see them more but I was really grateful that my parents and siblings could come be together for a few days.

It actually happened!

Ok, ok, so we really thought we should have each gotten a hundred dollars because Jordan was allowed to get his license before getting his Eagle--against previous stipulation, but he did get his Eagle nonetheless! It was a great achievement and there were some really stalwart young men receiving the honor with Jordan that night--5 altogether in one night! And soon he'll be off to college!! It's hard to believe that Jordan was only 10 or 11 when I met him...he has really grown up! Congratulations Jordan!

John Mayer concert

So out of all of you I emailed about joining us for the John mayer concert in San Diego, only one of you was a taker, and what great company it was---Lauren and Dave came with us to the most entertaining concert I have ever been to. Colbie Callet (who Shannon and I saw in St. George) opened for him. The concert was worth every penny. We had really good seats but I would have forked out even more to see him even more up close. John Mayer was AMAZING in concert and sounds amazing live! He is even more talented on the guitar than I ever imagined and his solos left my jaw gaping open in awe. Plus- I was really lovin' the shaved head look on him--- watch out Michael Scofield! Ok, so when you see him close up, Michael still has one up on him, but still, he walked out and I didn't recognize him at first and then I was like, awe yeah baby! We will definitely go see him again.





This was our lovely view and few rows ahead of us...sweet.


My camera ran out of batteries! I was so bummed....but here's a short clip of a guitar solo.


For a sweeter solo view this-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byQLvYdpKd0

Parabems

That means "congrats" in Portuguese--My cousin, Parker, just went to the MTC in Brazil. He will be serving his mission in the Curitiba, Brazil mission. It's kinda cool to have him learning a language that I love...which Dan speaks... because Dan served in Brazil as well but much closer to the Equator. We were able to attend his "farewell" even though I guess they don't technically have those anymore, but it was good to see everyone, including Connor and his wife, Jody! Best of luck Parker!

Lake Powell

We had a goal at the beginning of this year to take one family vacation and one vacation without the kids. My parents pulled together a houseboat trip at Lake Powell and really cut down the costs for us to make it work (especially with our whole job situation). James' family drove down with us and the kids really did great. I was nervous to have to bring Cole the whole time but once we got there and got the whole sleeping situation all worked out, everything went great! Kacy and Savannah came the following day and joined up with us. My dad was able to get Dan up on skies and the wake board. I went water-skiing for the first time in years (I was pregnant with Allison on the last Powell trip). I even jumped off my first cliff...about 20 ft or so....I was really nervous but I finally got the courage to jump and then wished it was on camera because I didn't want to do it again.
The kids all did great and loved the boat. Allison was afraid to go on the boat at first but her daddy talked to her and got her to go along with it and she had a great time. She still talks about how fun "grandma and grandpa's boat" was. I hope she remembers this trip because we really had a great time together. Dan and I definitely felt like it could have be a couple days longer...especially with all the driving. I guess it's good to leave wanting but we felt like we wanted a little too much more. But really we had a fantastic time, great company, great weather, great entertainment--what else can you ask for?

Here are some photos and videos from the trip!