Flying the Friendly Skies

A few weeks ago, Grant missed out on a church primary activity because of a stomach bug. My sister helped me prepare for the activity, as it was a mock flight around the world on an airplane. She provided genuine flight attendant apparel, etc so our activity was a success. But, she also knew Grant would have loved it. So, because she is just so nice, she planned a little flight for Grant at our house. Here we are learning about oxygen safety measures:
Here we are en route to Africa, Disneyland and Salt Lake City (as designated by Captain Grant). We were also lucky to have family members on our same flight! The kids had a great time exploring the regions of our world...via the insulated basement.What a nice aunt to arrange it and thanks to Paige for joining our journey as well. Some people have been asking for photos of our house, hope you enjoy the cement floors!

We are also so proud of Dave, who with a three day notice and a one day training, signed up and completed his first half marathon! Way to go! Just imagine how great that pic would be if the man in front of the camera didn't stand up...just know this is Dave in action!

Breaking Bones and Breaking the Law

Our poor little pretty fell down the stairs last week. It was right before bedtime, so I put her to bed afterwards and the morning after we could tell she needed to be seen. We zipped on up to the hospital and found that her little clavicle snapped in two during the trip down the stairs. She has been a great trooper, although the sling lasted only for about 46 seconds. Katelee is not a lover of the tylenol/motrin regime she has been prescribed and has detected it in her apple juice and chocolate milk and then refuses to drink. She told me she will take it on her own and the little sneak gets the cup up to her chin and then slowly tips it down her shirt or will take a small sip only to spit it out the side. Good thing the projected recovery time is only three weeks!
Later that week, Grant decided that a pack of gum calling his name at Kinkos did not need to be paid for and he swiped it right into his pocket. He later confessed to Dave...the gum was returned...no charges have been filed at this time! Grant has been teaching us after the infamous gum theft, about "sins," and other things that are "un-assesstable" (I believe unacceptable is the proper word he was going for here.) We receive these lessons as he teaches us when we play "church" or "primary." Last time he conducted a meeting, he taught me a soul saving lesson, all about AMERICAN EXPRESS! Like father, like son I suppose!

New Adventures

Well, we have made it to our new place and are mostly put together! Our move was not the smoothest transition, but really, who's is? On top of not getting the keys when expected, Dave and I both came down with influenza. I now understand why people get the flu shot every year...that is some nasty stuff. We are excited for the new home and while we look forward to getting accustomed to the new area, we will miss our awesome neighbors/friends from townhome. Good thing we are only five minutes away! Our yard should get started next week so we are ready for visitors really soon!

We have lots of work to do and lots of items on our "wish list!" I tried to take a picture of it happening, to prove to those of you who know us well, but Dave has even been seen with a hammer and a drill working away. Yes, my brother was there talking him through it, but hey, he is learning!

Here are a couple Easter shots:
Coloring Easter eggs...a carrot shaped baseball bat...new Easter clothes...egg hunts...what more could a kid ask for?!


Side note on the new adventures theme: I promise when Katelee starts really potty training, I won't go into the details or take photos of her accomplishments, but I have to say I am a bit concerned how it is going to go! She likes to sit on the throne, the little princess that she is, then yells at me: "Need privacy Mommy! PRIVACY" Hmmm....not exactly how I pictured the training to go. Aren't the privacy demands supposed to begin in the teenage years?!

St Patty's Party

St. Patrick's Day is extra special at our house because it is also Katelee's birthday! We celebrated with the little green fellow below, and other family members, by enjoying cake and ice cream and a dance party! Katelee got a little dance mat as a gift and it was a big hit! Katelee is such a cute little stinker! She loves to do everything herself (famous phrase: 'I dude it.') She loves chocolate syrup, with a touch of ice cream in the bowl, and especially loves to be without clothes on. She runs around the house yelling NAKED NAKED until we have to wrestle her down and force her to be clothed. Happy birthday little one!


Kate's special rainbow cake witha pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! What a lucky gal.
We have been busily preparing for our upcoming move. I try to pack a few boxes at a time, only to have them unpacked by my little helpers! We are looking forward to a new adventure, sad to leave our great friends and neighbors, of course. Grant, whose jobs around the house consist of making his bed, taking his dishes to the table, etc has decided that he is "sick and tired of doing everything around here." He informed me this morning that he would be moving out without me, to a place where there are no mommies. I don't think he'd last very long ;). Just a day ago, the little guy was scratching my back and said, "Mommy, when I scratch your back, all your worries go away." He is down for one of his bi-weekly naps now. I am hoping the back scratcher is the kid that wakes up and not the mommy-less wonder!

Wonderful World of Disney

I have returned to report that the happiest place on earth (aka Disneyland) lives up to its claim as such, even in monsoon like weather! We arrived in California for our Disney adventure last week and we were able to enjoy both sunny weather and torrential rains. Did we enjoy the wet climate? Actually, yes...the lines were few and the waiting only minutes, if that. We got to go on nearly everything...and truthfully, it is a toss up as to who got the most giddy of group. It may have been me, you will have to ask Dave on that one. Grant, obviously thrilled for just the plane ride, announced loudly in the cabin: "Pilot? PILOT, I am ready for blast off!!"

As you can see here, I got a little excited. Dave offered to take Katelee back to the hotel one day for a nap and Grant and I hit the Buzz Lightyear ride about 10 times. The other day, Grant wanted a nap and while the three of them returned to the room, I literally ran from attraction to attraction with a smile on my face. The last night the three of them were so worn out, they fell asleep in the ice cream shop and I told them I had just a couple more rides to hit before I was ready to go. It was a great trip!

We celebrated Grant's birthday at Goofy's Kitchen and here he is displaying his chocolate mickey figurine. He was going to town on that. We loved the character breakfasts and Katelee warmed up to the characters by the end of the trip, but at first a quick high five and then a cry was about all she could bring herself to do. Most of the time, she just gave all of us and the delightful Disney playmates, dirty looks...it is her specialty!Grant, on the other hand, dished out hug after hug. He would stretch his arms out 100 feet away and slowly approach his furry friends: More than half of our time, we were wearing our rain gear. We have always joked that Katelee reminds us of ET (just the way she walks back and forth and sideways waddles a bit), this little poncho confirmed that as she tried to walk around in it: Grant refused to wear his rain jacket, so we just covered him in the stroller...yes, he is inside. We stayed nice and dry except for my feet, which after 14 hours of rain walking were completely white and pruney...next time rain boots, I know.

We can't wait to go back...well I can't. Who knew I would be a maniac at the park, next time I may need some intervention!