Happy Anniversary

Shelly and I enjoyed a modest Anniversary yesterday, since we had previously spent all our money on the California vacation.  Shelly made an excellent dinner complete with baby back ribs that we enjoyed with friends and then the two of us went for a temple session.  It was nice to spend some quiet time together and reflect on how much we have grown as a couple.  Honestly eleven years have gone by quick - I think having kids speed up the process.  Next year Julianna will be old enough for us to get away on an overnighter, that we will have to budget for ahead of time.  

Earlier in the day I had taken the boys out for initially a trail walk along Logan River but we found a spot to try to catch frogs - notice I used the word try.  I definitely plan on taking the boys back with nets and will have to dig a pond/ frog hole in the backyard to line with trash bags and fill with water to keep them in (I suppose this is what you do).  

The water is really high right now - we've had a lot of rain.  There are actually rivers and streams that run all throughout Logan.  

You can barely see the frog in this picture - right across from Isaiah's hand.  

Those things are quick.  

Malachi scared quite a few away.  

Nope this is not a frog egg its a golf ball.  

Of course you have to take a bath after doing this.  Here's Isaiah mugging with his Mohawk.  

The Incidentals of Spring

Ahh, Spring is here. And so are the wasps. Isaiah finds a way to surmount the wasp threat (the Darth Vader Mask is to protect his face, not necessarily scare the wasps). Nothing as insignificant as wasps should deter him from playing on his swing that Daddy made for him. Yes, a pool noodle with a stick makes an excellent swing and an old inner tube hung at Malachi's level is perfect for spinning.

Hooray, our tulips are finally in bloom! Jim planted these beauties last Fall. Alas, these flowers are particularly fleeting, but I love them nonetheless. Figaro does too.

Please be sure to admire the blossoms on our apple tree. Thank you. 

Incidentally, I made Isaiah a snack after church today that he really liked. This has nothing to do with spring. I just felt like sharing.

Shelly

Trip to California!

Here it is, a blow by blow account of our vacation.  Remember when people did slide shows of their vacations and were infinitely more interested in it then you were?  Well relive that experience now with me.  

With the last ounce of money from our tax return, we decided it was time to take the family back to California.  Lately we had been shopping for a new mini van, a Honda Odyssey and found just the right one a few days before we left.  Let me tell you it made such a difference.  Not once did I get that tension between my shoulders reserved for finals and long car trips.  I'm not sure how the pioneers did things without a DVD player.  

In the past our california vacations have been centered around family, going to restaurants we don't have in Logan (Souplantation, El Pollo Loco and Del Taco this time), and stocking up from Trader Joes (we now have nine jars of their peanut butter in our food storage) but this time we added some more fun and was able to spend time with family while we did it.  

On our first day we went to Santa Ana Monkey and Bird Zoo with Melissa and her daughter and Mike and Stephanie with their new son.  

 

Here's Shelly, me and Julianna then the boys on the train.  

Later that day we went to the Corona Del Mar, where I didn't get any good pictures and surprisingly Julianna did not eat the sand.  

The next day we were able to go to Disneyland with my mom and sister Carrie with her two girls.  The boys experience on the rides varied from excitement... 

to overstimulation... 

My favorite part was seeing the cousins enjoy each other.  

and Grandma holding Woolies.  

The next day of our marathon vacation we went to Disney's California Adventure, where we continued to play tag team with taking Isaiah on rides the rest of the kids couldn't go on.  I loved taking Isaiah on Roaring Bigfoot Rapids  and Shelly loved taking him on Soaring Over California.  All the kids enjoyed getting wet in Bugs Life Land.  

Isaiah apparently doesn't like paparazzi parenting.  

After that you go on more rides just to dry yourself off.

So that's it.  I'll spare you the pictures of our trip to Trader Joes, but feel free to come by for peanut butter (the Gingeroos are already gone).  We loved seeing family in St. George too of course, including Mom Coombs for Mother's Day and Sand Hallow Reservoir with Joe Coombs family and Crystal Hanza family.  

To echo Julie's recent lament - I look forward to living closer to family.