Vacation--Part 3, The End

I know that the last part of our vacation pictures and fun has been a long time coming. (We just moved into our first home!)

The reason why we chose to go to Utah when we did was because there was a Science Fiction/Fantasy Symposium going on at BYU, in Provo, UT. I call it the nerd convention! But while I was there rubbing elbows with famous and not so famous nerds I realized that I am a nerd too! But don't tell anyone, it's our little secret!

The girls and I went to a bunch of different lectures and panels, Erik and Austin attended a bunch more than we did. We attended a class about making jewelry, Science Fiction and Fantasy books for kids and how to incorporate them in the classroom, supporting your creative partner, and a few others. Erik and Austin attended classes on writing believable characters, intriguing plots, and other such writing classes, since that is what Erik wants to do when he grows up. Austin also attended a class about video games, since that is what he would like to do when he grows up.

The girls and I also got the job/privilege of standing in lines to get books signed while the others attended classes. We got a bunch of cool books, I know just what we need more books--just be glad you didn't have to move them all and try to find a place for them all to go.

We got to talk with a bunch of really neat people like, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Jake Black, Howard Taylor, John D. Brown, some of their wives as well as many others. And while they won't remember me from the next crazy person, they will be remembered by us! Jake Black in particular gave way more time than he needed to to answer Erik's questions and concerns about writing and supporting a family on a writer's pay.

One day Erik will be there as a guest speaker/panelist and I will still be the crazy wife but this time I'll be the crazy wife of the famous author!

After our days in Utah we then drove straight through to San Diego so Erik could attend a work meeting there the next day. While he was hard at work Austin, the girls, and I went and played at Balboa Park.

Austin, Mia, and Emma at Temple Square in front of the Salt Lake Temple. Families Are Forever!

Emma and Mia at the Paleontology Museum on the BYU campus in Provo, UT.

On the BYU Campus

Petting the snake at a live animal show at the Bean Museum at BYU

Butterfly Mural made with butterflies at the Bean Museum at BYU

Stuffed African Animal display at the Bean Museum

Mia and Emma by Shasta a female liger. Shasta was born and lived her life at the Hogle Zoo in Utah. A liger is a cross breed between a male lion and a female tiger. A tigon would be a male tiger and a female lion

Austin, Emma, and Mia at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA

Emma and Mia at the Natural History Museum in San Diego, CA

Mia and Emma at the playground in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Emma, Mia, and Austin at the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego, CA

Mia and Emma in the Botanical Garden in San Diego.

Beach Trip In June

Okay, I fought with the computer enough! And now it is listening to me, somebody should have told the computer it was fighting a losing battle! ;)

Anyway, back at the beginning of June we were graced by a visit from one of my brothers, Kent!

While he was visiting we took a trip to Huntington Beach with Erik's family and had some fun just hanging out with each other, the sand, and the water!

I am going to have Erik put together one of his famous videos when he gets a free minute but for right now here are a few pictures to whet your appetite for the video!

Kent and Mia riding the waves!

Erik and Emma flying a kite

Some of the cousins hard at work

PS If you want a quick, cheap, and easy trick to get sand out of all crevices without hurting use baby powder! That's my tip of the day. And the bonus is that you end up smelling baby powder fresh and your skin feels really soft!

Jam-Packed Fun-Filled Day

Today was Erik's last day of vacation. It has been so fun having him home! So, we woke up this morning wondering what we were going to do with ourselves today.

If any of you know us, we are not that good at making decisions. We joke that we should start deciding what we want to eat for dinner as soon as we finish breakfast, because it will take us that long to decide!

Anyway, we decided to take the girls to the park to play. By the way today was the perfect day to be outside, not too hot and not too cold. We live in California so not too cold is never a problem, but the too hot usually is!

There is a neat little park that was just built not too far from our house that Erik took the girls to one day when I was gone at a meeting and the girls wanted me to go and see it too. So, that's where we went.

We all ran around and played like we were kids again, okay so 2 out of the 4 of us are kids but you know what I mean!

Mia on the monkey bars. She has been practicing and practicing and now

she can go all the way across on the monkey bars! Way to go, Mia!

Emma on the swings. The girls can both pump by

themselves and boy does she go high!

Mia climbing the rock wall. We all had to climb it,

even Erik and I scaled the wall!

Here's Emma on this rope pyramid climbing structure.

It was also very fun, just ask any of us!

Mia hanging upside down. The girls love to pretend they are sloths!

Emma on the slide with her "spacecat."

We play space explorers at this park.

After the park we still didn't have any idea what else to do but we knew we needed gas. So, we made a stop at the gas station. The girls love to help pump the gas!

They are ready to get their driver's license and start doing all my errands for me!

On our way to the gas station Erik's brother Andy called and told us that The Redlands Fires Station by his work was having an open house. So, we decided to stop over there and check it out.

The girls sitting on the front of the firetruck!

Firefighter Emma

Firefighter Mia

Girls with Sparky the Firefighting Dog

After we toured the fire station and did all the fun activities there we went over to Hogi Yogi, where Andy works and had lunch there! Andy was even able to take a break and talk with us while we ate.

Andy even waited on us and made our sandwiches. Excellent sandwiches, Andy, thanks again! The girls had the turkey on white, Mia had cheese on hers while Emma didn't. Erik had the Smoky Turkey with a bunch of veggies and sprouts. I had the BBQ Chicken with lots of jalapenos, Andy is the only person who has ever given me enough jalapenos! Mmmmmm!

After we finished lunch we went to DI to try and get some ideas for Halloween costumes for Erik and I. Erik's mom already got the girls their costumes. Mia is going to be a Fairy and Emma is going to be Snow White. We finally came up with and idea for me but we still have no idea for Erik! Guess we'll have to keep our thinking caps on!

We then stopped over at Erik's parents to say hi. We had a nice time talking to Mom and Dad, the girls haven't had Mammy and Grandpa all to themselves in a long time! Thank goodness we stopped because Erik's Mom reminded us that we were celebrating Veronica's birthday tomorrow. Erik was confused and told me we were doing it Monday when we had FHE, so I was planning on getting the present Monday morning.

When we left there we had to go get Veronica's present. Talk about last minute shopping, they're trying to close up and we're trying to get a present. Hopefully, she like it!

Then home we came and put two not tired girls to bed. And the two tired ones are heading off to bed now!

Christian's Birthday Party!

Michelle and Dustin had Christian's birthday party at Jumping Jacks. It is a big place that has tons of jumping things inside! And I mean tons. There are mazes, slides, obstacle courses, and of course the big bounce houses. The adults, I mean big boys, liked the one that was set up like a big boxing ring complete with humongous boxing gloves! They had fun beating each other up.

The kids had a good time as well!

Mia having fun coming out of one of the obstacle courses!

Emma coming down the pinball slide!

Chase on the slide!

Christian on the slide!

Busy Day. . .

The girls and I had a pretty busy day today, full of lots of fun things!

We started off the day with swimming lessons. Mammy has been giving the girls swimming lessons. The girls are getting pretty good! They are like little fish in the water.

After swimming and getting cleaned up we went to the post office to mail out five books that I had sold on half.com. I will have to go back to the post office tomorrow, I sold one more book and something off of my Ebay store. (My Ebay store is http://stores.ebay.com/Books-Crafts-And-More and my half.com store is http://shops.half.ebay.com/momcrafting4fun. I just started Ebay and I have a ton more stuff to add to it)

We then went shopping for Nikki's birthday present. (Nikki is Erik's youngest brother, Andy's fiancee) I had no idea what to get her but I think that we finally found the perfect gift. You'll have to ask her tomorrow after she opens it!

We then stopped at the mall to do a secret shop ( just another way I make a little extra money.)While we were there we got a pretzel to split and clip on earrings for the girls! They can get their ears pierced when the y turn 8 if they want to. It's their choice. We figure that since they are accountable in the Lord's eyes at 8 they might as well start making choices that will affect them forever then, too.

After we got home the guy came and picked up the chicks. It was sad to see them go.

Then we went to Melody's apartment. Melody is a lady from our ward who just happens to be blind. The girls don't think anything of her being blind to them she's just Melody! We love Melody and have become really close to her in the last few months. She has three parakeets and the girls love to play with them. They got to hold and pet the birdies more tonight than they ever have. Melody actually named two of the birdies after the girly girls, the birds are named Mia and Emmy, and then there is Happy! We took over Schoolhouse Rock to watch and had pizza and brownies! Yummy!!

The girls were so exhausted when we got home. I think that they fell asleep before their heads even hit the pillow!

Mia at the mall

Emma eating the pretzel!

Licking the bowl!

Literally!

Being a Single Parent Sucks!

Okay, Erik has been in San Diego now since Sunday evening. So, for all intents and purposes I am indeed a single parent this week--doing it all myself. I know that I sometimes complain, even if it is just to myself, about Erik not always pulling his own weight and helping out. But, I know totally have a new respect for him and all that he does.

I will say that during the day is the easiest for us, after all Erik is gone during the day at work anyway! But in the evenings the girls start to get more whinny and clingy and bedtimes is the worst! The girls go to bed much better when Erik is here, or at least when they know he will be back that night.

Trying to keep the girls busy and their minds off Daddy being gone we have been doing lots of things. I don't know if it wore the girls out but it sure wore me out!

Yesterday we went grocery shopping and took Melody, a blind lady from our church with us. When we dropped her back off at her place the girls invited her over for dinner and Family Home Evening. Having Family Home Evening without Erik was odd for us, whenever Erik is gone for work he's only gone a couple days so we usually have FHE before he leaves or when he gets back, this week we had to do it by ourselves.

Today Mommy had a doctor's appointment, just a quick prick of the finger to test how thick my blood is and then we were out of there! We then went to the Edwards in Ontario to see the free movie Care Bears 2--the girls really like that movie! Then we came home and ate and cleaned up the house because we had a family coming over to see the chicks and pick up the book and materials from our Eggs and Chicks class that we held last week. Oh, and Mommy had a nap! Of course the girls weren't tired or worn out, just Mommy.

Fun Day Playing With Cousins

Erik's sister's kids have been staying with his parents this last week while Kristin and her husband Monty were in Cancun. I know, we're all a little jealous of them!

Today the girls, my brother Isaac and I went over to play. Veronica, Greg's wife (Greg's one of Erik's brothers) called and asked me to bring over some board games when we came over. Yes, we have a lot of games but we love playing games at our house.

So we took over a bunch for the kids to play. The two biggest hits seemed to be Hullabaloo and Disney Bingo. They all seemed to have a good time playing those two. Another hit was Apples to Apples for kids, the only drawback was that the kids were taking a little bit longer to pick their card to play causing other kids to get bored. We tried to play Zooreka but there were too many kids to really play the game and not everyone was understanding how to play.

The kids all loved seeing each other and being able to play with one another. I also made them all a indoor picnic lunch while they watched Muppet's Treasure Island. I made the mistake of asking them what kind of sandwiches they wanted and ended up being a short order cook--at least they all got something that they wanted to eat!

All in all it was a fun filled but long day!

The cousins all playing Disney Bingo

Kory, Kyle and Tyler playing Bingo

Mia, Emma and Chase playing Bingo

Cousins enjoying a game of Zooreka

Our Big Splurge!

We never buy the newest thing, when it's the newest thing. Our budget conscious and frugal sides just can't seem to be able to part with a huge amount of hard earned money for something that we know in a year or two will be much cheaper. That being said we finally splurged on something while it is still new! We bought a Nintendo Wii!

With part of the money from the stimulus check from Uncle Sam we went ahead and got a Wii and the Wii Fit. (The rest of the money is going towards Erik's Writing Boot Camp he will be attending the last week of July. Did we mention how proud we are of him?)

Yes, we could have spent that money on reducing our debt or some other worthwhile cause but we decided for once to spend a little on us. We will have had our Wii for a week tomorrow! And let's just say we are glad that we spent the money on it!

Not only is it more interactive than most video games but with the Wii Fit we can track our weight loss goals. We have been exercising everyday a little more diligently now that we know that our weight and BMI is going to be taken everyday and our progress charted.

For those of you who are worried about everyone seeing your weight and such on the Wii Fit, you needn't worry. You can password protect all your info so no one else can see it. None of us opted for that. The girls, well they just don't need to worry. I don't know Erik's reasons. And me? I figure that if you can't tell just by looking at me that I have ballooned up this last year, you won't be able to see the numbers on the screen anyway!

Mia playing the Wii Fit!

Emma playing the Wii Fit!

Mia playing her favorite game, bowling!

Emma playing her favorite game, boxing!

So, if anyone is wondering about the Wii come on over and give our Wii a test drive!

Swimming!

We are so lucky to have a swimming pool at our apartment complex! It is a lifesaver during these unbearably hot summer months we have ahead of us!

I also love the pool because my girls have been in the water since they were babies. They do not fear the water or swimming like I use to. Okay, I admit, I still have some fear, but I have overcome a lot of the fear while taking the girls swimming.

Mammy has agreed to come and teach swimming lessons to the girls! Maybe she can teach me as well! We start next week!

The girls are doing great with what little I was able to teach them but it is definitely time for them to get some formal teaching! They don't even use their floaties at all anymore! Go girls!

Here are some pictures of them swimming yesterday!

The girls getting ready to jump in! They really have no fear!
Mid-jump
Emma swimming
Mia swimming

Emma doing the dead man's float, her favorite float!

Mia floating on her back

Emma touching the bottom

Mia touching the bottom