A GREAT Weekend

We're going to try and pack as much into our last month as possible. We have so many incredible friends that are really irreplacable so we are leeching onto them as much as we can!
Last Friday night we headed to the drive-in. Just so much fun and so cheap! We all loved it.
On Saturday we headed to Golfland to use our passes from Grandma and Grandpa. We all were totally spoiled by Parker's birthday present. We spent over 5 hours golfing, riding go-karts and bumper boats and playing video and carnival games. Thanks grammy and granpa...wish you could have been there!

(He was smiling at first, but then got stuck in a corner and couldn't get out and ended the experience crying! Poor kid.)

Dad was the best driver...my kids told me that over and over and no one wanted to ride with me!

They also had a really cool and fun playground that everyone loved.

Saturday night we headed out with Corbin and Melissa, my cousins who we are just crazy about to go to a Locavore Dinner at Superstition Farm. It was awesome! Each month they have local chefs come cook at the farm with all local ingredients and serve a 4 course meal. The food was great, the hayride was fun and the company was the best! We will miss you guys SOOO much. I have been so grateful to have them close by for the last 1 1/2 years!!

We Are Moving To....

Ann Arbor, Michigan!!!!
Mike is headed back to grad school at the University of Michigan. This deserves a much longer post, and I'll get to the details, but wanted to let you all know. We are SO excited and feel the Lord has opened a path for us we never thought we would take. We drive away May 29th since we sold our house and that's when they want to move in. I like to use the avoidance technique so I don't feel sad about leaving the only place that really feels like home to us and our incredible friends that truly deserve the title of "family." I fell teary, so I'm stopping now. Look forward to lots of, "Our last time in Arizona posts..." for the rest of the month, or maybe hardly any blogging at all since I should be packing and cleaning...boo!

It Sounds Bad

Jace LOVES hip hop music. I mean, loves it more than any 7 year old should. He sings that Replay song about 30 times a day. He catches on to tunes and words faster than I do, so we have to be very careful; but I took heart at our recent conversation.

Some hip hop song was playing at Golfland and he turns to me and says:

Jace: Mom, this is a bad song
Me: (Listening and not catching any "bad" words he knows (stupid, shut up, etc.) Really? I thought you liked hip hop. Why is this one bad?
Jace: Because I can just tell. The singer sounds angry and mean and mad, like he is about to say a bad word.
Me: Oh, you're right. It does sound like that.
Jace: Yeah, the hip hop songs I like don't sound bad like that one. The singers sound nice.

Now, if he can just remember this forever and ever and ever! I love the sweetness of my boys at these ages. I wish I could just freeze them all...old enough to be independent, out of diapers, walk on their own, get dressed on their own, but young enough to still be my babies...they love me to wrap them in their towels, find their clothes for them, come on field trips, introduce me to their friends, sing to them, do silly dances, snuggle, kiss, and read with me, and look at me with that awesome look that only a mom knows, you know, that look that tells you they think you are the coolest, most beautiful thing ever? I tell myself everyday, "Remember this."

Not to be out done by 2 big brothers

James made his two-wheel riding debut a few weeks ago and he is now an absolute maniac on the bike, pedaling faster than his little legs should be able to for not quite 3 1/2. It is so great to have a 3rd boy and see how fast he catches on to things for the sheer purpose of not being left behind. This morning he fell off his bike, looks up at me and says, "I'm okay, boo-yah! That's what Jace says when he isn't hurt." He cracks me up. He also had another funny episode at the mall playground the other day.

James (climbing to the top of a plastic flower, shouting to the place where I'm sitting) Hey Mom!

Me: Yeah?

James: Never mind! (a few seconds) Actually I was going to say B-U-T-T, but I know I'm not supposed to, so I said never mind.

Awesome that James can spell both but and butt and knows the difference in usage well enough to say, "But I was saying the good but, you know like, 'but mom!'" He kills me. I now know how to get him to learn to read...start with inappropriate and potty words first.

A Great Deal

Thank you Walmart customers for being more than willing to purchase multiple pairs of Crocs at full price but not even see these babies. Because of you, I got both pair on clearance for $5. They are comfortable, flat, springy and cheap. I like them so much, I was tempted to buy all 5 colors...but I resisted my mom's voice in my head saying, "Well, if you really like them and they are a great deal, I'd get them in every color." Thanks Kate for the heads up; you know I love a great deal!

A Laid Back Easter

Easter was pretty low key this year...there were a few egg hunts that my kids thoroughly enjoyed...

Dressy clothes the week before which they did not enjoy (Mike was out of town)...

(yes, Jace really needed a hair cut)

And a small visit from the Easter Bunny delivered in sand pails...

And WAY TOO MUCH CANDY, which I've been battling with my kids for a week and finally threw away. Why do I do this to myself every single holiday? James does not do moderation and I'd find him with candy all the time. He can scale the pantry like nobody's business and can sniff out junk food anywhere in the house. Not to mention, I'm crazy about all candy, but especially about Easter candy. I had a stomachache for 6 days and every night ate whopper eggs until I lost count. Hmmm, wonder where James gets it.

Disneyland and California Again

I love blogging because it reminds me how blessed my life is. One great thing about living in Arizona is that we are only 5 1/2 hours from San Diego and Mike's parents, so we get to visit often. We are so glad that Chris and Cassy are always willing to interrupt their life to come see us too.

Our family was lucky enough to do the "Give a Day, Get a Day," Disneyland promotion so we headed down for spring break with 3 free tickets. It was our best trip yet! The weather was perfect, we got there early, the lines were pretty short, we rode every ride we wanted to, the dads had a good attitude, I ran our day like a sargent to maximize our fun, my boys were tall enough for most rides and brave enough for them all. It really was a magical trip!

Jace and Chaz even got picked for Jedi training!

Parker adored Uncle Chris and Chris was so good to him. They even snuggled for The Princess and the Frog.

We of course had to hit the beach. It was warm, sunny and the kids even played in the water. James could spend hours and hours alone at the beach. The dad's played bocce ball, football and built sandcastles while the moms enjoyed a little chatting time. We all left with tired smiles and a bit of a suntan.

James really wanted to try boogie boarding

Jace, after a cool swim in the freezing ocean...

Thanks Mimi and Papa for another perfect weekend. We love you!

A few other things we've been up to...

The Zoo
There are a lot of great things about the Phoenix area and the zoo is not near the top of the list, but we had a great time anyway! Not too hot or too cold and we had great company with Melissa and her cute kiddos!

American Idol

We have fun as a family watching the show and watching our kids put on their own show. Jace has been a little dissappointed that more contestants are not singing hip hop songs. I think he sings that iPod Replay song 400 times a day.

Celebrating 10 years!

I can't believe I forgot to blog this, but with our anniversary on December 22, it often doesn't get enough attention. We had a fun and indulgent lunch out while we were in Utah for the wedding and reflected on what a great 10 years it has been. We try to celebrate our marriage more than just once a year but love taking a minute to be really grateful for our amazing union. I got plenty sappy on my Haiti post, so I'll spare you and just say I'm happier than I ever imagined I'd be.

New Haircut

With no big weddings, family pictures, etc. on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to take the plunge and go short again...oh, and cover the annoying grey that I now have. I love change, so it's fun to have something new again. As a side note, it kills my husband that I take pictures of myself. That's on his list of, "Weird things girls do that I still don't understand."