Just Dance!!

So I got a call from Kara today saying she had a new Wii game that she wanted me to come play with her.  She wouldn't tell me what it was, and since I hate suspense I headed over to her house.  That is where I discovered... JUST DANCE!  A few rounds into it and I was hooked - (that's not true)- I was hooked when I heard the name.  Lindsy was there working on a bow project and was immediately draw in as well!  So as rolling events always seem to go... we ended up at our house eating pizza and playing Just Dance with 4 remotes.  I really can't say anymore about it... I think the pictures and video speak for themselves.  But just so you know you are never to old to "JUST DANCE"

Discovery Gateway

Caution... Kids at Work!

 What would a trip to UT be without a trip to Discovery Gateway. The kids love it there and we are always able to spend almost a whole day there. We ate lunch before we went in and stayed for about 5 hours until closing time. The kids love it and they can play for hours on end… obviously. I think they played just in the little store for a least a couple hours. They didn’t check out the scientific things upstairs, but they spent the majority of their time in the Birds Eye View town where they have everything that you would have in an adult world, but in miniature size. Jayleen, Janell and I found a bench that we watched from most the time. I think I saw Jade play just about every role in town, from the mail person to the store butcher. By the time we left Colby was almost asleep in the little truck he had been driving around. As I pulled him out of the truck with his eyes half mast all he could say was “And I drive the black truck when I get back, right Mom?” - “Of course buddy” I replied. I guess we will have to come again! We love Discovery Gateway!

My little construction man!

Dax and Colby we riding the rocking horses down the baby slide.

Colby for some reason kept wanting to go down the part you use to climb up. He has always had a thing for riding on the bumps!

Hailey loved the Birds Eye View Town store. Every year she spents a ton of time just working in it.

Anywhere that kids can dig is cool. This was a Utah Rock art exhibit.  The kids could dig for different puzzle pieces of old pottery artifacts.

Jade- my creative builder!

The Baker?

So Proud! Honey helped him build it with all the square magnets, he was so excited that it was taller than him!

This is the car he drove around FOREVER!

Kaydin wanted to ride with Colby, but it's a one man car... she figured out a way.

Cowabunga Bay

Hello... Doesn't this just scream fun!

Our Boys

 We told the kids that we were going to go swimming today, but didn’t exactly tell them where. What made the surprise of today fun was that when we were driving down to Janell and Ryan’s house the kids saw Cowabunga Bay off to the side. When Hailey saw it, her comment was “Oh my gosh Mom, do you see that?... I can tell just by looking at it, that would be a really fun place to go to.” So when we pulled up to Cowabunga Bay, the kids were ecstatic. It is a great place to for younger kids- if Colby hadn’t been so wimpy, he would have loved it too. It seemed like we didn’t even see the girls half the time. They were all over the water park. They loved all the slides and even my little Hailey who just last year was afraid of water slides loved it too. She when down every slide in the park enclosed and open alike. We spent quite a bit of time in the lazy river as well. Uncle Clint met up with us at lunch and the kids had a blast hanging and playing with him around the river. Colby did enjoy hanging out in little wading pool that leads up to the lazy river. He liked pushing around the random floating tubes and splashing in the water when it was on his terms. I did get him down a few slides with me, but I literally had to pry his has off the railing when it was our turn. After going on a few slides, he finally said he liked the “purple slide” (one of the smallest and slowest slides) but he still didn’t want to do it again. Poor little Kaydin loved all of it, but was so tired that she crashed in one of the beach chairs after falling asleep while eating her ice cream. Since Janell was sitting with Kaydin, Colby huddled up by her so he wouldn’t have to go down any more slides with me. So I took Dax and Hailey on a few more slides and when we came back down, Colby was out cold on one of the beach chairs as well. It seemed like a great day to be at a water park, quite warm but not too hot. In proper preparation we had all applied sunscreen when we got there and again after lunch. Apparently the sun is stronger at water parks, because everyone got at least a little sunburn. Honey’s back got fried. The rest of us had a little all over. I hate sunburns! I don’t want any more freckles, and I really don’t want to peel!!! It was a fun time though and definitely something we don’t do every day!

I think this was Colby's favortie part of the day!

Poor Kaydin wore herself out!

This was the pool leading into the lazy river

Daxton was so calm while Colby tried to "tube" him.  I am not really sure what Colby was thinking, but Daxton was dazed enough to not even really care.- Yes... it was a long day.

Uncle Clint and the Boys

Jade just barely escaping the dumping bucket

Honey and Hailey at the top of one of the slides. Hailey was so brave!

This kids and I!- Proof I was there!

Farewell Cowabunga Bay

New Years Eve - Food - Fun - Games & Surprises!

So for this New Years not only did we have awesome company, (Brett & Sherri), but we actually had plans as well! We had played with the idea of going out to dinner, but figured out that would be a long time to have a babysitter so we decided to order in Chinese! My kids had been begging for it ever since Brett & Sherri came into town. They must have my taste in food, because Chinese is my favorite too, so I was all for it! Earlier in the day, Karen asked what we were doing for dinner saying that they might BBQ. When I mentioned Chinese, she said "ooh, that's sounds even better". Later I talked to Kara and mentioned that we were ordering "Lucky House" and then she was in on the game as well. One thing led to another and we all ended up a G-Y's house for a "Chinese New Year Feast" ha/ha. (By the way thanks Karen for hosting at a last minutes notice)

It was great food as always, and the kids had a blast playing, dressing up and being creative as they always do.


After that we took the kids home and left them in great hands with Andrea, Kara's sister, and headed over to Pace's house for hangin' and games. This is the first time in a long time we were not with our kids for New Years. It was a lot of fun, but a little weird. I felt a little better when I heard what a good time they had with Andrea playing games, drinking Martinellis, etc.


We had a fun time at the Pace's. It is always fun hanging with friends and playing games and it was even more special to have Brett and Sherri with us. They fit in perfectly and everyone really enjoyed them. We broke Sherri into her second game of Ticket to Ride. There were two games going on- with lots of laughter going, catching the intrigue of all. Brian, Brett and a few of the other guys mostly mingled (i think- we were playing a game so I am not totally sure). I know there was a little friendly tapping going on as well. I swear sometimes they act like they are 12...what can you do? When it came time for the count down we all gathered in the family room with our Martinellis and popping cranberries.- Happy New Year! What an opportunity to celebrate the coming of what it going to be a great year (I decided) with family and friends!

Now this next part is not something that I am extremely proud of, but I want you to hear it from me first, because I know sometimes when other people tell stories they can be a little over exaggerated.... So after the ball drops there is always music and bands playing. Well, Black Eyed Peas happened to be on playing Boom Boom Pow. I really enjoy that song, especially the good beat. So I was just kind of swaying around to the beat. Everyone was still kind of standing around so I went to put my arm around Brian and sort of "Boogie Woogie" behind him (his back was to me)- I did out of precautionary measure look over and see that Brett was standing by his wife Sherri, because I have on occasion accidentally mistaken Brett for Brian (they are twins after all). Anyway, seeing that I was safe it wasn't Brett, I started to wrap my arm around Brian and dance up behind him. I was watching the tv as I did this and then as I looked up toward Brian... I realized the person I started wrapping my arm around to "boogie" with was not in fact Brian, but our friend Alex. I was so startled that I screamed and jumped back (which unfortunately drew everyone's attention) I'm not sure if it was all the soda I drank, the jumping back or the nerves, but I had to run to the bathroom. I was laughing so hard out of pure humiliation that I thought I might pee my pants (fyi- I made it to the bathroom!) As I came back in the room, needless to say the laughter had not stopped. The problem was if I hadn't screamed, not very many people would have realized what happened, but I was so shocked that it was just my reaction. I cam back to find Alex was quite proud and sure that it was just his pure animal magnetism. (O.K. ?!?- j/k Alex) Come to find out Brian had been sitting on the couch and was nowhere near me at the time. Not only that but my friend Karen, Alex's wife, was standing slightly behind me watching the whole thing wondering what in the world I was doing. If nothing else- it made for a truly memorable night. One of Brett's final comments was "It was kind of nice to see it happen to someone besides me" - Thanks Brett. Happy New Year to you all and may your New Year be full of surprises too!

Poor Uncle Brett- Nobody Likes You!

One of the mornings while Brett and Sherri were here visiting, I came downstairs... (being the last one to drag my lazy but out of bed) and saw the kids watching tv with Brett- or shall I say on Brett. Lucky for them, they have a patient and wonderful Uncle. Thanks Brett -Next time I will get up earlier (or not).

When Husbands Are Away, The Wives Will Play

Brian and his friend Ryan headed up to my Dad’s house last night to stay the night so they could go dirt biking up in Arnold today. They were meeting up with Alex this morning, who was already up in Yosemite with his family. So last night, to start off my husbandless time, I got together with my friend Kara, who’s husband was off golfing. We decided to get together to swim and BBQ at her Mom’s house. Her husband was on call for work.

We let the kids swim for awhile, and then they discovered some of Sue’s, Kara’s Mom’s toys. It started with a pink mini quad. Colby was instantly obsessed. He also had some sort of fascination with some kid size flippers. He can be really random. Anyway the kids all rode the little pink quad until it died, and I mead dead as a door nail. We knew it was shot when Colby started asking for us to push him. These spoiled kids don’t even know what it’s like to have to make toys move on their own.

We had a yummy BBQ with some nice flame broiled hamburgers and hot dogs, fruit and a great pasta salad. (by the way I want that recipe Kara) Then Kara brought out the big Barbie jeep. The kids played around in the yard on the slip and slide and the jeep until it was time to shower up.

Luckily the Winter’s have an outside bathroom with a shower. I was going to quickly throw the kids in and shower them so I could just take them home and put them in bed. It was a great idea until we were about half way done and found out that the water heater was only meant for a one man shower. Jade got a nice hot shower, Cambrie has a mostly hot shower, Hailey felt the warm water, and Colby had a pure ice bath and screamed through the whole thing. We did learn a lesson however… next time put everyone in the shower at once turn on the water, get wet, turn off the water, wash, turn the water back on and rinse everyone. That or just go inside and use the bath there! Now we know! It was a fun time and a great to have friends to share it with. After I got home and put the kids in bed, Kara came over and we watched “Bride Wars”. It was a story about best friends and it really made me grateful for the wonderful friends that I have!! We even watched a few clips from this season of “So You Think You Can Dance”! I am so excited!
Then today we wanted to have as much fun as the boys so we headed down to Evan’s house to play. We made a quick stop at Costco for lunch plus a few items, where Karen and her kids caught up with us to head to Evan’s as well. I love having friends whose husbands play with mine! When we first got there the kids headed straight for the pool. Due to the fact that I brought everything but the kitchen sink; I had to make a few trips back to my car, one of which was for Colby’s life jacket. As I came into the backyard with the life jacket in hand I can see Colby headed down the pool steps. Before I could even yell his name he was under water. I b-lined for the steps, reached in and pulled him out. His poor little eyes were peeled wide open and he was just looking up in a panic. He was kicking some but it didn’t help much. His arms were just reaching up. It was the saddest thing I have ever seen. I know this is a little sick, but I almost wish I had a picture of it. He was really only under for a couple seconds, but it was an ohhhh moment. After that he didn’t fight me to much on wearing a life vest, although he ended up wearing Abby’s suit vest which was pink with blue flowers because he liked it better. I think it was easier for him to move around in. Luckily the inside was blue, so we turned it inside out so it didn’t look quite so girly. Not that he even cared.

For the remainder of the day we basically sent the kids out to play while we caught up on our blogging. Karen brought her computer, but it never quite made it out of the bag. Liz and I were practically glued to our chairs, almost literally for Liz. She had shorts on so just about every time she got up from her chair she had a leg peel! We watched the kids play and have a good time as we did what we enjoyed doing, working/ blogging on the computers. We set out a bunch of snacks and fruit ahead of time and figured when they were hungry they could graze. (and not bother us). It worked pretty well until the afternoon started to wind down. Then we held them off for as long as we could by giving them sporadic finger fulls of chocolate chips if they would ask nicely and smile for the camera. After awhile I noticed it had been a little bit since I had been pestered by Colby. Curious where he disappeared to, I called out for him. He was quickly by my side with a big red grin on his face. Some of the kids had found a stash of Red Vines. I guess I learned that if you don't help them, they will help themselves! It really was a fun couple of days! Except for Colby almost drowning of course!