I flew in to Dallas at 4:00 pm to get the kids. They got to the airport at 8:30 pm and we played UNO, paper-rock-scissors, and looked to the night time airport lights while we waited for the plane to take off. The plane was scheduled to take off at 11:05 pm but we didn't end up taking off until 11:30 pm. Shelby and Lizi were able to sleep for most of the flight despite some overly inebriated, loud passengers two rows in front of me, but Trey only was able to sleep for about an hour and then stayed up with me.
We got into Las Vegas at 1:30am the next day and started our 2.5 hour drive home. I gave the kids a snack and then they all fell asleep in their car seats on the way home. We got home and the kids all crawled into bed. As I went in to tuck them in, I noticed Trey peering down over the edge of the top bunk of his bunk bed with a huge smile on his face. As I looked down to see what he was staring at, I noticed Chewy, our dog, sleeping on the little beanbag chair at the base of the bunk bed. It was the cutest scene.
Quote of the day: While dealing the UNO cards at the airport, Lizi squealed with excitement as she picked up one of her cards to place it in her hand. Then she said, "Daddy, you always give me a special card (wild) like you just did."
9 Jun 2013
The kids didn't wake up until about 9:00 which is really late for them even considering they didn't get in bed until about 4:45am that morning. Trey had all of his "treasures" displayed sprawled out on his bedroom floor showing them to Alley and Jenna while Lizi was playing with princesses. Shelby soon got out of her bed and joined the fray and by the time I got to Trey's room, all the treasures were put away and Jenna and Alley were playing Polly pocket's with Shelby and Lizi while Trey was putting together some Lego stuff.
As breakfast was cooking I noticed Shelby slip outside and check out her hand print on swing set that we painted last time they were here in March. We had pancakes and eggs for breakfast - I'm always completely blown away by how much Lizi eats for breakfast - and we got ready for church quickly and afterwards came home and the kids had a short webchat with their mom (they were too excited about rediscovering their toys). Trey and I played foosball when he was done chatting with his mom and then we all went into my room where I gave Trey his birthday presents and Shelby and Lizi their summer presents. I got Trey a bunch of Star Wars stuff and we played with it for a while, while Shelby played with her Cinderella Carriage and Lizi with her Ariel bath toys.
We then ate an early dinner of mashed potatoes, chicken, salad, corn, and rolls. Durring dinner, Will and Gracie Nielsen brought over presents for Shelby, Trey, and Lizi. After dinner we went outside to hit golf balls, ride bikes and play on the slip and slide. The kids also played in the toy kitchen. About 7:00 we came in and got ready for bed.
Quote of the day: While talking about Disneyland at dinner time, Lizi said, "If I eat a lot, I won't be able to fit in the stroller."
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| Shelby checking out her hand print. |
10 Jun 2013
Shelby came into my bed room about 6:45am. She left a short time later and she and Lizi colored while Trey played with his Star Wars toys with Jenna. All three kids wet out to ride bikes with Liz and Jenna. Then I got out of bed and went to ride bikes with everyone. Lizi, Jenna and Trey also broke out the plastic bowling set and bowled for a while. We then went to the back yard and Shelby and I played ladder ball. Trey asked to play golf next so he and I hit some balls in the yard while Shelby and Lizi played in the sand box. Shelby came over and hit a couple balls too. Then Trey and I switched to baseball and Lizi and Jenna helped field the balls. Then Shelby and Jenna both hit some balls too. We came inside and had cereal for breakfast. Lizi then hopped in the bath tub, I went in to get ready for the day, and Shelby and Trey watched a Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Then we all watched Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. After the movie we had tuna and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. Then Jenna and Trey played Star Wars on the Wii while Shelby, Lizi and I wrestled around. Shelby, Jenna and I played with cars while Trey and Lizi went in on Trey's bed and had a little quiet time. Then everybody played foosball and UNO. Trey, Lizi and I played with Trey's marbles while Shelby and Liz made cupcakes. We all then went over to the Arscotts to swim, came home and Shelby and Trey had baths. I got Lizi in bed and then the rest of us, including Matthew Arscott played Settlers (Trey watched).
Quote of the day: Whie watching Darth Vader use the force to choke one of his generals who had just failed at an assignment, Shelby said, "If I was with Darth Vader, and he didn't do that to me (choke), I'd kick him."
11 Jun 2013
I was awoken this morning by Lizi crawling into bed next me. Shortly after that, Trey came crawling in bed. Trey, Lizi and I then played Pac-man while Shelby kept sleeping. Once Shelby woke up, I played polly pockets with her and Lizi while Trey kept playing Pac-Man and Pole Position. I then put on a Jake and the Neverland Pirates for them so I could get ready for the day. We then went to Walmart for some groceries and came home and ate cereal for breakfast. After breakfast, Jenna, Shelby, Trey and I rode our bikes to see "Small One," the donkey that lives near by. Lizi played outside in the sand box while we were gone. I came home and helped Lizi build some of the Disneyland rides in the sand box - the Tiki Room, and the ice cream shop on main street - that she specifically asked me to help her with. I came inside and played Wii Star Wars with Trey and Shelby. Lizi was playing with the polly pockets in her room. I went in to play with her for a little while when Shelby took over for me on the Wii. Trey then wanted to play baseball so we went outside and played baseball. Then we came in to have lunch. We had watermelon, and a chicken and broccoli casserole. After lunch we got our swim suits on and headed over to the Arscotts to go swimming. CaroLee bought each of the kids some fun gifts. When we got back home after a few hours of swimming, Shelby and Lizi colored in the coloring books that CaroLee got for them while Trey, Jenna and I played a baseball game in the backyard with the bases that CaroLee bought for Trey. I also worked with Trey on catching the ball a little and he did really good! We then had some left overs for dinner and played a marble game where we raced marbles down a split open water floating tube that CaroLee gave the kids. Shelby and Trey grabbed a Volleyball and went out side to play by them selves before I knew where they had gone. When I realized they were out there, I went out to play with them, and Liz came out too. We came back in to find Lizi asleep in her bed. Trey, Shelby and I then played a quick game of Settlers and then went to bed.
Quote of the day: While driving home talking about tickets from police officers, Lizi said, "I know what a ticket is. It's little pieces of paper." Shelby: No, it's a paper so you can remember to not do that again. If you do it again you go to jail."
12 Jun 2013
I had to go to work today so I got up before the kids were up to get ready. Just as I was about to go to the kitchen to eat some breakfast, Lizi came wondering through the door, blankets in hand. I asked if she wanted to have breakfast with me. So I ate some cereal while Lizi colored at the kitchen table. Then Trey got up and started coloring with Lizi. Before I left for work, I went to check on Shelby. When it was time to go to work, Lizi started to cry because she didn't want me to go. Liz, Lizi, and Shelby worked on Father's Day presents while Trey and Jenna went outside to play volleyball. When they came back inside, they realized that they hadn't taken a chain off of our Disneyland Countdown chain, so they all gathered around the chain, counted the number of days left (represented by the number of links on the chain) and Lizi took a link off. Then Trey wanted to ride bikes so he and Liz went out to ride while Shelby and Lizi stayed in to color. After about 15 minutes Shelby came out to ride and our neighbor Chloe came out to ride too and they all rode for another 15 minutes. Lizi then came out to ride too, but the kids decided that they were hungry and went inside for pancakes. After breakfast the kids all got dressed in their play clothes and Jenna and Trey raced marbles while Lizi and Shelby colored. Liz then put on a Jake and the Neverland Pirates while she got ready for the day. Trey and Jenna went outside to play baseball and Liz, Lizi and Shelby planted flowers. Trey and Jenna then went inside to play Star Wars on the Wii and Liz, Lizi and Shelby build a fort in the living room and played polly pockets in the fort. Trey asked to play baseball so he, Lizi, Liz and Jenna went out to play baseball and Shelby rode a tricycle. The kids then had a webchat with their mom. Trey talked most of the time while Jenna and Shelby played foosball and Lizi played on the piano. After the webchat, Jenna and the kids all made melty beads - Trey made a turtle, Shelby a square, Lizi made a circle, and Jenna a smiley face. After the beads, Jenna and the kids played with the marble ramp and raced marbles. Liz made mac and cheese for lunch with watermelon, and after lunch Trey went outside to play in the sand box and Shelby and Lizi swept and cleaned the kitchen center. Then the kids all went to St George to run some errands with Liz and came to see me at Dick's just as I was getting off work. We went to the fish store to replace Trey and Jenna's fish that died and then stopped to get a snow cone. We came home, ate leftovers for dinner and went to bed.
Quote of the day - Trey, while getting his newly washed clothes out of his closet: "My favorite shirt! ...mmmm, now it smells like Utah."
Liz: "Oh is that a good smell or bad smell?"
Trey: "It's a good smell."
13 Jun 2013
Lizi came into the bedroom to crawl into bed with me in the morning and after laying there for a little bit, we got up and decided to go pull weeds in the garden. As we were getting ready, Shelby came out of her room and decided to join us. When we got outside, Liz was already out there pulling weeds so we got on our gloves and started helping her out. About 10 minutes later, Trey came outside to help also. After about an hour of weeding, I put a Jake and the Neverland Pirates on for the kids while I went to take a shower and get ready for the day. We watched another Jake while Liz cooked some scrambled eggs and potatoes for breakfast, even though Trey and Lizi eventually decided that they wanted cereal instead. While we were eating, we watched outside on our lawn as Smokey had caught and was playing with a mouse. The kids loved seeing that. After breakfast, Lizi wanted to color and Trey ran outside and started playing in the kitchen center out there. When Trey came back in, I looked at a Star Wars characters book with him and Shelby joined Lizi at the kitchen table to color. After looking at the Star Wars book for a while, I turned on the US Open golf tournament and Trey watched that a little with me. Then Trey decided he wanted to hit some golf balls in the back yard, so he grabbed his clubs out of his closet and we went to the back yard. Shelby and Lizi came outside too and started playing in the kitchen area. Trey and I came in and Trey and Jenna played Star Wars on the Wii while Shelby and Lizi stayed outside and kept playing in the kitchen. I went out side to see that Shelby and Lizi had got buckets of sand from the sand box and poured it all over the kitchen area, so I asked them to clean it all up. When they were done cleaning it up they came in and watched Trey play on the Wii. We then had lunch, which was chicken alfredo and carrots, which the kids loved! After lunch, I turned the US Open back on and Trey watched more of it with me before he abruptly got up with out saying anything to me and before I knew it, he had his golf clubs in his hands again and was heading back outside to hit more balls. By this time, Shelby had come in with a splinter in her foot so I was in the middle of trying to get it out so I told Trey I'd be right out to watch him. He asked Liz if she'd come watch him, so Liz went outside with him. As I was still with Shelby as she was trying to get the splinter out of her foot, Trey came running in the house to excitedly tell me that he had just hit a golf ball over our fence into the neighbors yard. He actually ended up hitting 3 over the fence in total. He hit the ball really good! After she got the splinter out of her foot, Shelby went outside with Lizi and I and the girls had Alley push them on the swings while Trey hit balls. Shelby ended up hitting a few golf balls too. We came back inside and Shelby and Lizi colored again while Trey sat down to watch the US Open again, which was still on the tv. I sat down to watch it with him when again, he got up by himself with out saying anything and went to his room to grab his golf clubs out of his closet and headed outside with them to hit more balls! I was so excited to see him want to go out and practice on his own like that! Lizi and Shelby went out to play in the sand box and Lizi wanted to rebuild Disneyland in the Sand box. We didn't have time, as it was time to go swimming and have dinner at the Arscotts. We had Navajo Tacos for dinner and then swam for about an hour before we came back home and got ready for bed.
Quote of the day - Shelby while weeding in the garden: "Can you hear all those birds chirping? Smokey (our cat that loves to chase birds) is about to ruin their fun."
14 Jun 2013
I woke up to Trey crawling into bed with me...then Lizi a short time later. Trey asked if he could play pacman so I put it on for him and he played it and pole position as Lizi watched. I went in and woke Shelby up and we had pancakes for breakfast. Then the kids took a link off the Disneyland chain and got excited that it was getting shorter. Shelby found her binky that she used as a baby and a couple of others as well that she let Trey and Lizi borrow and they all pretended to be babies for a bit as they walked around the house with binkies in their mouths. We then went out side to play in the sand box and ride bikes. Jenna rode bikes with us when she got home from swim. Trey got his golf clubs out and we hit some balls while Lizi and Shelby went back to the sandbox again. We came inside because it stated getting hot and Alley and Shelby started putting together puzzles, Jenna and Lizi played with polly pockets, and Trey and I put together a spiderman puzzle while watching the US Open. Shelby and Lizi ended up putting 3 puzzles together and then played checkers. All the kids started making iron-on beads while I started getting lunch ready for them. I heated up some leftovers (mac and cheese, chicken noodle soup, etc). After lunch, Trey wanted to play checkers so I played with him while Shelby started doing the iron on beads again and Lizi went out to play in the sand box. It was just about time for me to go to work, so I put on The Sword in the Stone for them as I got ready. After the movie, the kids played outside and had popsicles. Shelby and Trey swung on the swings while Lizi played with polly pockets. Trey and Jenna then played Star Wars on the Wii while Shelby and Lizi ate some apples. Liz then loaded up all the kids and took them to the splash pad and playground in Hurricane. When they got home, they had some dinner and then went to bed.
Quote of the day - (dinner time...) Me: "Want more, Trey?" Trey: "No. I'm full. All those pancakes are so big, I'm overflowing!"
15 Jun 2013
I had to work in the morning so I woke up early and said bye to Shelby, who was just waking up as I was leaving, and went to work. Shelby got out of bed and had breakfast with Liz, Alley, and Jenna. Trey was next to wake up and he and Shelby watched a Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Then the kids all went to a yard sale that Lindsay was involved with. All the kids then went to Alley and Jenna's swim meet. Avery Wright came with them. Then they ran to Walmart and back to the swim meet to pick up the girls. They came home, had lunch and worked on Father's Day gifts. Trey played the Wii and Shelby and Lizi played in the Kitchen center. I got home from work and played with Shelby and Lizi in the kitchen center while Trey played Pacman. Then Trey and I went outside and played catch with the baseball. Trey got hit in the fingers with the ball and cried a little so he went in side to rest his injury and Shelby and I looked at the garden. She picked and ate a strawberry. We then got ready for the ward party. We ate dinner and watched a Polynesian type show. The kids enjoyed it. We came home, had baths and got ready for bed.
Quote of the day - Lizi: "Double drats!"
16 Jun 2013
Lizi crawled into bed with me this morning, shortly followed by Trey. We slept for a while and then Trey wanted to see last years Disneyland souvenirs so we brought those out and looked at them. Then Trey and I went outside to play in the sand box while Lizi kept sleeping. Trey wanted to build more of Disneyland so we built the carousel, the sword in the stone, space mountain, and more of the Disneyland railroad. Soon, Lizi wandered outside and started to help too. After a while we came back in and I woke Shelby up to take a link off of the Disneyland chain. We then ate pancakes, potatoes, and pineapple for breakfast and got ready for church. After church, I came home and watched the US Open. The kids watched a little with me and played around the house until lunch was ready. We had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and corn for dinner. After dinner I watched more of the US Open and the kids played outside on the swings and looked at the garden. Then they had a webchat with their mom. Trey wanted to show her the Disneyland chain and show her how he could hit golf balls. Shelby watched the US Open with me while Trey was doing the webchat. Trey and Jenna hit some golf balls after the webchat. Then we went over to the Arscotts house for a surprise party for Carolee. We had cake and ice cream over there and the kids played on the pool cover for a while and Matthew played football with them. When we got home, I got the kids ready for bed and Trey, Shelby and I watched a little more of the US Open. Then I put Trey to bed and Shelby stayed up with Matthew, Liz, Jenna and I to play settlers.
Quote of the day - Shelby, while playing settlers: "I'm really not tired, my eyes just keep closing." Then, holding her eyes open with her fingers, "Stay open, eyelids!"
17 Jun 2013
Lizi woke up first and came in to the bed room, followed by Trey. Trey and I went out side and built Disneyland and Lizi came out too and played in the sand box. Then Trey, Lizi and I started to pull weeds. Shelby woke up and came out to help too. After weeding, we came in and watched A Bug's Life and I got ready for the day. After the movie, we got our swimsuits on and got ready to go on our hike down to the river. We had pizza for lunch first, then went on our way. As we were heading out, we saw Matthew walking across the street so we picked him up and he came with Alley, Jenna, Shelby, Trey and I. After swimming in the river for a long time and having fun with a rope swing that had been left there, we went to SnowCaps for a snow cone. I had rainbow, along with Shelby and Lizi and it reminded me of the flavor I used to have as a kid at Sea World with my mom. After the snow cone, we came home to get changed and then went to Walmart to get some things for our dinner at the Arscotts. After Walmart, we went to the Arscotts for dinner and to swim for CaroLee's birthday. We got home, did our bedtime routine and went to bed. As I was tucking the kids in, Lizi asked me, as she always does now what we were going to do in the morning and I said, "whatever you want to" to which she responded, "build Disneyland." I ended up falling to sleep in Trey's bed.
Quote of the day - Trey, while pulling weeds, holding up a big weed: "Daddy, these weeds grow extra tall because they have long roots." (then turning to look at the weed) "But not you! You're going in my bucket."
18 Jun 2013
Lizi Crawled into bed about 4:30am. Trey came in about 7:00 and wanted to hit some golf balls so we went out and hit balls until he wanted to ride bikes. So we rode bikes down to the end of the street and back. After riding bikes, we trimmed our palm trees in the front and found a big wasp nest. Lizi was up by this time and Trey was so excited about the wasps nest that he ran in to tell Lizi about it. So Lizi came out and I sprayed the wasps. I then mowed the lawns while the kids ate breakfast. After breakfast, the kids got into their bathing suits and went with Liz to swim at the Arscotts while I helped Gus lay sod in his front yard. When we were done laying the sod, I put Peter Pan in for the kids to watch while I took a shower. After my shower, I went outside and played catch with Trey and Shelby and Lizi and Jenna built Disneyland in the sandbox. We came inside and started playing with Trey's Star Wars toys and then watched a little bit of Return of the Jedi while we waited for Grandpa Hubert to arrive. We ended the movie early so we could clean up and then we played foosball until we saw him drive by down the street into our driveway. Shelby and Trey ran out excitedly to see him. Immediately when we got inside Trey asked Grandpa Hubert if he wanted to watch him hit golf balls. So we went outside and Jenna and Trey hit golf balls and after a while, Shelby wanted to also. After 2 rounds of hitting balls, dinner was ready so we came inside and ate lasagna and squash from our garden. Trey wanted to sit by Grandpa Hubert and when asked Trey to say the prayer, he didn't want to which I found funny since the kids always fight over wanting to say the prayer. So then I asked Shelby to say it and she didn't want to. And then she said that she wanted Grandpa Hubert to say it and Trey agreed. So Grandpa Hubert said the prayer. After dinner, the kids showed us a secret room that they made with beds and food. So we came in our bedroom and ate pretend food with them. Then Trey really wanted to show Grandpa Hubert the Star Wars Wii game that he plays so he and Grandpa Hubert played Star Wars Wii for a while. I then told them it was time to get ready for bed. So they got changed into their pajamas and I gave them Galapagos Turtle and piggy back rides around the house before we read scriptures and said prayers.
Quote of the day - Trey while finishing his dinner: "Daddy, I'm almost overflowing with food."
19 Jun 2013
Lizi and Trey woke up and played in the sand box while I got ready for work. They came out front with Liz to wave goodbye and Lizi was brought to tears again as I left. They watched a Jake and the Neverland Pirates while Liz got ready for the day. Lizi and Shelby had a bath and Trey got dressed. They went to walmart to get a few things in between dropping off and picking up Jenna for swim. When they got home, they ate breakfast. After breakfast, Shelby and Lizi did melty beads while Trey played on the Wii. Grandpa Hubert then came over and Trey, Shelby and Jenna hit golf balls while Lizi played in the sand box. They went down to the clubhouse for a while and then played on the slip and slide. After the slip and slide, they came in for lunch, and then went back outside to swing. Grandpa Hubert and Trey then worked on putting together and painting a little car and the girls did races on the grass. Buggie Wheeler came over and they all came inside and watched the Little Mermaid 2. After the movie, Trey and Grandpa Hubert went outside to play baseball and the girls were inside playing with dolls and horses when I got home. I went out and played catch with Trey, Grandpa Hubert, and Jenna, then Shelby took Grandpa Hubert's spot. Lizi was playing in the sand box. We came in and had a chicken/rice casserole for dinner. After dinner, the kids raced their marbles down the slides and then Trey wanted to hit golf balls. Grandpa Hubert gave him the advice to keep his left arm straight. All the kids then played in the sand box for a short time before I had them go inside and take baths to get cleaned up. After baths, Grandpa Hubert left and we got ready for bed. I put Lizi to sleep and Trey, Shelby and I stayed up a little to play settlers.
Quote of the day - Trey: "Daddy, when is Friday?"
Me: "It's in 2 days. Why, Trey?
Trey: "Cuz I don't want Grandpa Hubert to leave." (the kids know he leaves on Friday). "I want him to go to Disneyland with us."
20 Jun 2013
Lizi and then Trey crawled into bed with me this morning to wake me up. After laying there for a few minutes we decided to go outside and pull weeds, but when we got out there we ended up building more of Disneyland Shelby and Jenna came out to join us. After building Disneyland for quite a while, we came in and had cereal for breakfast and then finished watching Return of the Jedi, that we had started watching yesterday. Grandpa Hubert got to the house just as the movie was ending and we got dressed in our swimming suits and went swimming at the Arscott's. After swimming we came home and had pancakes for lunch. After lunch, Jenna and Trey went outside and played Frisbee and Lizi and Shelby played in the sandbox. After cleaning up from lunch, I went outside and Trey and I swung on the swings for a while. Then Trey disappeared for a little while and came back outside with his gardening gloves on, shovel in hand, ready to pull weeds. Soon, Lizi, Shelby, and Jenna were all helping s well. After weeding I went inside to divvy up the jelly beans, which is the fun reward the kids get for pulling weeds. The kids really wanted to watch a movie but before I put one on for them, I told Trey that he had to read me a book and Shelby had to read Grandpa Hubert a book. Trey read me a Star Wars book and Shelby actually read Grandpa Hubert 3 books, and during the last one, "Goofy's Big Race," Trey and Lizi ended up sitting on the couch next to Shelby and Grandpa Hubert and listened to the rest of the story. After the books, I put on Alice in Wonderland for the kids. After the movie, I went outside to play catch with Trey. Shelby and Jenna wanted to play too, and Lizi came outside with us and swung on the swings and watched us. Grandpa Hubert made reservations to take us all out to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. The kids all got macaroni and cheese and Liz and I got ribs. When we got home, I put the kids to sleep.
Quote of the day - Lizi, while pulling weeds: "You're not going anywhere, big plant! You're going in my trash can!"
21 Jun 2013
I had to get up a little early to go to work. Trey and Lizi walked outside with Liz to wave goodbye to me. After I left, Trey and Jenna rode bikes and Lizi and Shelby played with potato bugs. Trey and Shelby then played Star Wars on the Wii while Lizi continued to play with the potato bugs. After they took Jenna to swim, they came home and had breakfast, and got ready for the day. They then went out to run errands and pick up Jenna from swim and came back home and watched Earnest Goes to Camp. After the movie, they went to the splash pad and had lunch there - sandwiches. After the splash pad, they went home and got changed and then came to meet me at walmart to do some last minute Disneyland shopping. After Walmart we came home and got our swimsuits on to go swimming at the Arscotts. We came home and went right to bed.
Quote of the day - Shelby, randomly as I was tucking her into bed: "Daddy, when you die, I want to die with you."
22 Jun 2013
For the first time on a non-work day, I got up before the kids! When I got up, we found Lizi asleep on the living room floor, so apparently she had gotten out of bed and started playing but her body decided she was still tired! Trey also was up and he, Jenna and Lizi came into my room to play Pacman. After Pacman, Shelby got up and we all ate cereal for breakfast. After breakfast, Shelby saw Buggy in her front yard and both she and Trey went over to say hi, while Lizi stayed and played in the sandbox. When they got back, I decided that I would put some more water on the lawn so Trey and Lizi got their swimsuits on and ran through the sprinklers while Shelby was out side working on a story about crickets roasting marshmallows. Trey then wanted to build more of Disneyland and so Shelby and he worked on it while Lizi played beside them in the sandbox. Trey and I then played a little catch and lizi played with the writing toy. Trey and Shelby played on the Wii while Lizi ate an apple with peanut butter. I then decided it was time to give the kids their backpacks that getawaytoday (travel agency) sends us when we book our Disneyland vacation. They immediately started packing them with toys to bring to Disneyland. I then got the strollers ready and the kids wanted to see if they still fit in them and play in them. I came in and heated up mac and cheese for Lizi and spaghetti for Shelby and Trey. After lunch, Buggy came over and Lizi, Trey and I watched a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while Buggy and Shelby worked on melty beads. It was fun to see buggy look over at Trey and repeat what he just said in question form as Trey was watching the tv. We also watched a Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Trey, Buggy and Shelby played on the swing before Buggy went home. Shelby came in and we practiced her talk for primary. She has her first ever talk she is giving on baptism. After practicing the talk, the kids played with marbles and I cooked hotdogs for Trey (the girls don't like them). While Trey ate his hotdogs, the girls kept racing the marbles down the track. The girls then painted their nails - Alley painted Shelby's and Jenna painted Lizi's. As the nails were getting painted, I cooked some pasta roni for Shelby and Lizi. They ate dinner and Trey went outside to play in the sandbox. After the girls were done eating, I put them in the bathtub while Trey and I played ladder ball outside. He was so excited hen he got the balls roped around the top rung. After the girls were done with their baths, it was Trey's turn and the girls played with cars out in the living room. After baths, the kids cleaned up all their toys and we went to bed.
Quote of the day - Shelby, while carefully getting out of the bathtub after Lizi had just splashed a little on the floor when she got out: "I tried to get out, not splashidy."
23 June 2013
We woke up and the kids were excited to go to Disneyland later in the day. I went into Trey's room where the kids were playing with cars. They were making a long "train" of cars to go to Disneyland. We all took the last link off the Disneyland chain and then had a webchat. Shelby then played the piano, Lizi ate, and Trey kept playing with his cars. Shelby then played with her horse track, and Trey and Lizi played in the sandbox. We went to church, came home and warmed up some pizza, loaded up the cars and got on our way at 3:45. The kids did really good on the car ride down. We listened to Disney music, watched an Ernest movie and finally arrived there at about 10:45 because we had to pick up Holli's lost luggage at the Las Vegas Airport on the way down. Once to our hotel, we unloaded our things and Alley, Jenna, the little kids and I went to pick up our tickets. We got back to the hotel and went to bed.
Quote of the day - Shelby, while she and Holli were looking at the fish in the fish tank: "Fish are so lucky, Holli!"
Holli: "Why?"
Shelby: "Cuz they get to go to the bathroom where ever they want."
June 24-June27 2013 Disneyland
Quotes: Trey and Lizi were having a discussion about all the drops on Pirates of the Caribbean. Trey: "Maybe when you're 5 (years old) you'll understand."
While on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride Trey noticed a piano playing music with no one sitting down at it. Trey: "Who's playing the piano?"
Me: "Maybe a ghost!"
Trey: "No, there's no such thing as ghosts, daddy...maybe it was an invisible person."
June 27 2013 Huntington Beach
June 28 -June 29 2013 Sea World
Quote: Trey wanted to go on the new roller coaster, Manta, with the big girls and Shelby, but after getting in line decided that he didn't want to go any more so Liz went and got him. When he got back, I asked him about it. Me: "Trey, what made you decided not to go on Manta?"
Trey: "Well, I thought for a moment, and then I thought it might be too fast so I didn't go."
30 June 2013
The day started off early in the morning as we didn't get back to our home in Utah until about 3:00am because the van blew a tire just south of Las Vegas. But the kids slept a lot in the car and were up by about 8:30am. Lizi and Shelby were in Trey's room playing with their new polly pockets that they got from Disneyland. Trey wanted to play lightsabers with Shelby, but she wanted to play with her toys instead. Lizi took a bath, I got the kids all ready for church and we ate cereal for breakfast. After church, we came home and did a webchat and had spaghetti for lunch. After lunch, the kids went outside and played on the swings and in the sandbox while I looked at the garden and picked some squash, peppers, and cherry tomatoes. Trey mentioned on the way home from church that he wanted to go on a hike so he came up to me outside and told me that he was ready to go. He was in such a cute mood today! So I took Trey on a hike up the canyon by Molli's Nipple while the girls came in and made beds in the living room. When we got home, the kids and I watched 2 church videos. After the videos, Lizi and Shelby colored while Trey played in the sandbox. Then Trey and Shelby took baths and we went to bed. I ended up falling to sleep in Shelby's bed.
Quote for the day - Trey, while on our hike: "Nice and cold water...for a hot day...perfect!"
1 July 2013
Lizi woke up first and played with her polly pockets. Shelby then got up and I put a Jake and the Neverland Pirates on for them. Trey must have heard the show because he was in watching it also when I got back. We had pancakes for breakfast and the loaded up to pick up Jenna from swim practice. The kids started playing with farm animal toys and there was a Scooby doo in there so I asked them if they wanted to watch a Scooby doo while they played with him. After Scooby, Shelby and Lizi played with their polly pockets while Trey and I played with his cars play sets. Soon the girls were playing with us. I made some mac and cheese for lunch and then Shelby colored, and Trey and Lizi went to play outside on the swings and in the sandbox. We still hadn't put away all the laundry from our Disneyland trip so Shelby helped me sort all the laundry and then all the kids helped me by putting their laundry away. It was cute to see how excited they were to help clean. We then got our swim suits on and went swimming over at the Arscott's house. Liz's brother Carl and his family came over and Shelby and Lizi played polly pockets in Lizi's room while Trey and Rycker played basketball on the little hoop attached to Trey's closet. Then Shelby, Lizi and Rycker played on the couches while Trey played with his cars. It was then time for bed, so the kids cleaned up the house, Lizi finished putting away her laundry and was once again so excited to be cleaning up. I then warmed up some leftovers for dinner and then the kids talked me into letting them pull a few weeds outside before we went to bed.
Quote of the day: While swimming at the Arscott's, Trey would throw in a bunch of diving sticks for me to go dive and get. Me: "I'll try to get all of them with one breath."
Trey: "But daddy! You might die!"
2 July 2013
When I woke up, I went in to the kids rooms to check on them and I saw Lizi starting to wake up. Before too long, she saw me too and came and gave me hugs. Soon all the kids were up and I hung up some pictures in Shelby's room while Trey and Lizi played with cars around the Cars play sets. After we hung all the pictures, Shelby joined the rest of the kids and played with the cars. We then had some cereal for breakfast before going swimming at the Arscott's. After swimming, Shelby started making a treasure map to hide her music box and the "gold dabloons" from Disneyland's Disney Jr: Live on Stage. Lizi played with her polly pockets and Trey was playing with his marbles in a bucket. Gracie came over to play with Jenna and Shelby and Lizi colored with them and Trey played with his Cars' set. Liz made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch - the kids specifically asked for it the day before. After lunch, Trey built his marble ramp in my bedroom and Shelby and Lizi played polly pockets. It was time for me to go to work and all the kids came outside to wave goodbye. Lizi cried again when I went to work. Buggy came over and the kids watched Star Wars: Episode I. Uncle Carl and Aunt Britney came over during Star Wars. Ryckar and Trey played on the swing and Shelby, Lizi, and Buggy played pony's. Then Trey and Ryckar came in and played with the Cars' set and the girls played polly pockets. All five kids went out side and played in the kitchen center and the sand box, but they only stayed out there for about 15 minutes because it has been about 110 degrees the past few days. Ryckar and Trey came in and played the marble game and the girls played with the doll house. "Happy Feet" was put on and the kids sort of watched it while playing. Liz made some Mac and cheese and chicken nuggets for dinner and Lizi and Shelby had baths before they went to bed. When I got home from work, Shelby was still in bed doing work books, waiting up for me.
Quote of the day - When Buggy came over the kids wanted to watch Star Wars but Buggy hadn't seen it before so she had some questions and Shelby had some answers: Buggy: "So are there real people in the movie?"
Shelby: "Well, they're real people but in the movie they're not real. You will love it so much!"
3 July 2013
All the kids were awake by the time I woke up. Gracie had a sleep over with Jenna and when I woke up, She was playing polly pockets with Shelby and Lizi, and Trey was playing with his Star Wars figures. I went in and played with Trey. I went in to shower and get ready for the day and Gracie, Shelby, and Lizi played dress up while Trey kept playing with his Star Wars toys and ate cereal. Then Shelby and Lizi ate cereal and Trey went outside and swept off the porch. I played foosball with Shelby and then with Trey and then Trey asked if we could go on our hike down to the river. So Gracie, Emily, Alley, Jenna, Shelby, and Trey all went to the River while Liz and Lizi stayed home. We had so much fun at the river, swinging from a rope swing and swimming. While we were out there, Lizi watched a Jake and the Neverland Pirates, colored, and played with polly pockets. We stopped at Snow Caps on the way home for a snow cone. The Little Mermaid was on when we got home from our hike so Shelby and Lizi watched while I took Trey out for a frozen yogurt at Nummys because the name Hubert was on the board - whenever your name appears on the board, you get a free frozen yogurt. We came home and had lunch - grilled cheese for Trey and I and Mac and Cheese for the girls. Then we watched Star Wars: Episode II. I went outside to play catch with Shelby while Trey watched and then played with Trey. I really worked on mechanics of throwing with them today. Trey had a stretch of 4 consecutive catches and even more good throws and we played with a real baseball. Shelby did really good too. While Trey and I played catch, Shelby and Lizi colored. The kids then all put on their capes that Alley made them for Christmas and ran and jumped over their chairs and onto the couch. I then gave them their Disney presents - an airplane for Trey and princess pens for the girls. After that we all went swimming over at the Arscott's for just a few minutes. Then we came home and I told some silly stories to Lizi and Trey because Lizi kept asking me "then what?" when I would tell her what we were going to do tomorrow, while putting them to bed.
Quote of the Day - while tucking Trey into bed, "Daddy, can you spend a little more time with me?"
4 July 2013
Shelby came to our room about 4am with a cough and so told her she could crawl into bed with us. About 6:30, Lizi came in too. This morning, the one morning that I needed the kids to get up early so we could go watch the parade, they wanted to sleep in! :-) But after some persuasion, they got up and ready fast and we went to watch the Hurricane 4th of July parade. Shelby road in a truck in the parade with Jenna and Alley, and threw out candy. After the parade we walked around and looked at all of the booths and cakes for the cake decorating contest that Matthew Arscott won. We got home from the parade and I mowed the lawns as the kids colored inside. A couple of times I saw Trey run outside to "check on me." After I got the lawn mowed, Trey, Jenna and I harvested the Jerusalem Artichoke plants and ran through the sprinklers. Shelby and Lizi were coloring inside. After we finished outside, we went into Trey and Lizi's room and played with the polly pockets and Star Wars figures. I then took the kids in to my bed room to show them my Star Wars cards and some new figures. Lizi went to take a nap, and Liz made sandwiches for everybody - tuna for Shelby, peanut butter and jelly for Trey, and peanut butter and honey for Lizi, who ate later after her nap. After eating lunch, Trey wanted to play kickball so Trey, Shelby, Jenna, Alley and I played kickball for as long as we could stand the heat. After kickball, Shelby wanted Jenna to do her hair like Princess Lea's hair. Lizi woke up from her nap and after doing hair, the kids all came and Tigger pounced me and then all 5 of them dog pilled on me. Shelby and Lizi then hid easter eggs around the house for Trey, Jenna and me to find. After the easter egg hunt, Trey, Shelby, Jenna and I played balloon volleyball and Lizi played with horses. The kids then had a webchat with their mom and then we went to the Arscott's for a 4th of July bbq and swim. After the Arscott's we got changed, and the kids colored at the table before we went to watch fireworks at Stout Park. After the fireworks, we came home and went to bed.
Quote of the day - Lizi, when asking what we're going to do the next day when tuck her in repeatedly says "then what?" after every thing you tell her.
5 July 2013
I had to go into work today, but after I left, Lizi crawled into bed with Liz at 8:00. Once they got up, Shelby and Lizi started coloring. Trey finally woke up and they ate breakfast and then watched Star Wars: A New Hope. After the movie, they all played with the doll house and then made animal tents for their stuffed animals to have a camp out in. Then they had lunch. After lunch, Shelby and Trey went out to play on the swing and Lizi played inside with her polly pockets. Lizi joined Shelby and Trey outside and they started playing with rolly polley bugs that they found. They made cages for them with a toy cone that Trey has. They came inside and Trey read a book to Shelby and Lizi. They then pretended that they were kitties and ate cups of ice. Shelby and Jenna then played balloon volleyball and then all 4 kids played with the glow sticks they got last night from our new neighbors at the fireworks celebration. Liz, Shelby, and Trey then played UNO and Lizi ate a bowl of cereal before it was time to come and meet me at work. Once the kids got to work, Trey looked immediately for the putting green so he could putt and Shelby and Lizi were excited to as well. They, along with Jenna, putted for about 10 minutes while I clocked out and did some last minute things at work. We then went to the fish store and got a few more fish. We brought the fish home and after putting them in the fish tank, we went to get a snow cone. As the kids were loading up in the car, they saw Buggy and the new neighbor kids riding bikes in the cul-de-sac so they joined them for a minute or two. After snow cones, we came home and had dinner and went out side and played catch. First I played with Trey and Shelby played with Jenna, then I played with Shelby and Trey played with Jenna. After catch, we went out front to light smoke bombs that let off pretty colors of smoke. Then we came in to play Settlers. After Settlers we went out back and lit off sparklers and then came inside and went to bed.
Quote of the day - A conversation on our ride home from the fish store:
Me: "Did Mrs Liz tell you that we are all going camping on Monday?"
Trey: "No. What day is it today?"
Me: "Friday."
Lizi: "How many more weeks till it's Monday?"
Me: "3 days."
Lizi: "Is that a lot?"
6 July 2013
I woke up to Shelby crawling into bed this morning. She and Lizi took baths this morning while Trey played Pole Position. After baths, we had cereal for breakfast - Shelby asked for a banana in her cereal this morning - and then went to the church to help the Arscott's clean it. The kids were so cute helping with dust mops dusting everything in sight, brooms and dust pans, sweeping on the already vacuumed carpet, and paper towels to wipe down the pews in the chapel. After cleaning, we played basketball and volleyball in the church gym. We came home from the church to have lunch. Alley and Lindsay fixed Mac and Cheese. Matthew Arscott came over to eat with us and all the kids wanted to sit by him. After lunch we watched Song of the South, the classic Disney movie that Shelby's favorite ride - Splash Mountain - was based off of. After the movie, we went to the fish store to buy some more fish that were on sale. W got home from the fish store, put the fish in the tank and put our swimming suits on to go swimming at the Arscott's. Before we left to swim, we had spaghetti for dinner. We swam for an hour and a half with Alley, Jenna, and Matthew, and then came home and had watermelon for a snack before bed. Shelby and Lizi came in the bedroom to sit by Mrs Liz, who was in bed sick, and they gave her lots of hugs, while Ally, Jenna, Trey and I went outside and played football. After football, we saved a sparkler for Lizi to do since we did them after she went to bed the night before. After we finished with the sparkler, we did our bedtime routine and went to bed.
Quote of the day - Shelby: "Daddy, once I saw a van that was driving so slow - like the speed limit."
7 July 2013
We all slept in for quite a while this morning. When we got up, I put on a church video for Lizi and Trey while I finished preparing a primary lesson for my class. Then Trey had a bath, we ate cereal for breakfast and got ready for church. After church, the kids had a webchat with their mom and then we had Chicken and mashed potatoes for lunch. After lunch, Matthew Arscott came over and we played in the backyard - colors and football. An afternoon thunderstorm came through and it was fun to play out in the rain. The kids tried to fill up whatever they could find with water coming out of our rain gutters and then fill up the lady bug in their sand box. After we played outside, Matthew went home and Jenna, Liz, the kids and I played settlers. During settlers, Trey had another webchat with his mom, at her request. After Settlers, the kids all went out side to play since the rain had really cooled things down out there. Even though it was well past their bedtime, I decided to let them stay up a little longer since it was so nice outside and since they go back to Texas in a week. So I played catch with Shelby while Trey and Lizi played on the swings, singing Zip-a-dee-dooh-dah at the top of their lungs. Then Trey and Shelby switched and Trey and I played catch. After we played catch, we played with a led lighted toy we got at Disneyland. We came in and did our bedtime routine and went to bed.
Quote of the day - While playing settlers tonight Liz, who is pregnant, was eating Ice and Shelby asked, "What are you eating, Mrs Liz?"
Liz: "Just ice, I like eating ice."
Shelby, with a puzzled look on her face: "Oh. When it goes down to your tummy is it like air conditioning for the baby?"
8 July 2013
I was woken up by Lizi coming in to lay down with us. We slept for a while, then got up and I put on a Jake and the Neverland Pirates for the kids while I got ready for the day. We had cereal for breakfast and then Trey, Jenna and I went outside to play with the LED copter that we bought at Disneyland. Shelby and Lizi were swinging on the swings singing Zip-a-dee-dooh-dah. Trey and Jenna took an LED copter to Cody's house for a birthday present, and then also took one to Will Nielsen. Shelby and Lizi played with the outdoor kitchen set. When Jenna and Trey came back, I turned on the sprinklers and we all decided to run through them while they were going. The kids then played with their big lady bug pool that they keep in the sand box. It had filled with water from the sprinklers and they were trying their hardest to fill it even more with water. They got pretty muddy so I took them in for baths, and then put on Hercules for them to watch while I packed for our camp out. Jenna made mac and cheese for lunch and after lunch, Jenna and all the kids went out and played on the swings. We then loaded up the van for our camp out and went on our way. The kids were very excited about camping since they said they don't get to go a lot when they are in Texas. I decided to take them to Navajo lake since that's where the Virgin River starts. The kids LOVE hiking down to the Virgin River and playing by it near our house, so it has extra importance to them. Also, I figured we could swing by Bryce Canyon as well and show them the inspiration for Thunder Mountain, since that is one of Shelby and Trey's favorite Disneyland rides. We got to the Spruce campground, right on the shores of Navajo Lake at about 6:00. We stayed in campsite #11, paid the $15 fee, and while Jenna, Liz and I got our camp set up, the kids were picking flowers "for Daddy" then "for Jenna" then for "Mrs Liz." The kids wanted to go down and check out the lake so we went down there and the kids had a great time catching grasshoppers and skipping rocks. We also gathered firewood for our campfire. We went back to camp and had sandwiches for dinner, then roasted marshmallows and made hot chocolate around the campfire and told the "never ending story" and went to bed.
Quote of the day - While playing at the lake, I asked each of the kids if they wanted a hoagie sandwich or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner and Trey's response was, "I think both."
9 July 2013
We woke up about 8:00. The night got cold - especially for what we are used to so we stayed in bed until it warmed up a bit. Trey and I got up first. we walked down to the bathroom. He was in such a cute mood. On the way back from the bathroom, we heard a little chatter coming from our tent and knew that everyone else must be up too. Shortly, Liz, Jenna and Shelby came out, but Lizi slept in a little longer. She woke up a few times in the night, a couple of times crying because she was cold, and one time just asking politely for some one to cover her up. I got all the food out of the car and Liz started on breakfast. Lizi finally got up, and I started taking down camp. We ate pancakes and then the kids picked more flowers and then wanted to take one more trip down to the lake. So the kids caught more grasshoppers and skipped more rocks and then we took off to hike the nearby Cascade Falls. I wanted to do this because Cascade Falls is where the Virging River starts so I knew besides the beauty of the hike, the kids would love it that much more. We made the 1.2 mile hike with no major incidents - although Lizi fell one time and scraped her arm a little. One funny comment that I believe Trey made was that the hike smelled like the Casey Jr Circus Train ride at Disneyland. We met Liz back at the car and started off to see Bryce Canyon. We got to Bryce and went to sunset point and Shelby, Trey and I did the Navajo Loop trail while Liz, Jenna, and Lizi stayed back at the car. The kids loved the rock formations and remarked several times how it looked so much like Thunder Mountain. After the hike, we found a nearby picnic table and had hoagies and cantaloupe for lunch. We then stopped by the visitors center on the way out to have our passports stamped. We took hwy 89 south to the 9 to go through Zion on the way back because the kids love going through the tunnel there. We stopped at Snow Caps on the way home for a snow cone and then went swimming at Sister Arscott's house. When we got home, we played Settlers while Lizi watched, and had ice cream and cookies, and then went to bed.
Quote of the day - While talking about Pirates of the Caribbean, Trey says to Lizi, "Lizi, you'll get used to the drops when you get older.
Lizi: "Yeah! I can go like this (she holds her arms up in the air) when I'm 5 years old."
10 July 2013
Lizi came in our room this morning and laid down with us, and then fell asleep again. I got up to check on the other kids and Trey was sitting up in his bed. It wasn't long before Shelby heard Trey and I talking and she came in Trey's room. The three of us rode our bikes to check the mail. on the way back, we saw Gus Arscott in his front yard and he invited us to go swimming. So we went back home and got in our swim suits. Lizi was up and playing with the doll house in the living room. We headed over to the Arscott's with Jenna and swam for about an hour. Then we came home and had breakfast. After breakfast, Trey and I worked on reading and spelling while Jenna, Shelby, and Lizi were outside playing with sidewalk chalk. Trey then went to play Star Wars on the Wii and I worked with Shelby on her Spelling words. Lizi and Jenna were still playing outside. Then we all played on the Wii and I got ready for work. Soon after I left, the kids got out the lego building blocks and built a fort with them. While they were building the fort, Matthew Arscott brought over some cookies. They then watched Little Mermaid II. Shelby and Lizi then played polly pockets and Trey and Jenna played with the lego blocks. All the kids then went outside to play in the sandbox. Trey and Shelby then went over to the swing set to swing while Lizi stayed in the sand box. They all came inside and played with the lego blocks again. They then went outside to ride bikes with Jenna. After riding bikes, they came in and played in Trey's room - checkers, polly pockets, legos, etc. Then they opened the letters that their mom had sent them, and Trey started playing with his cars and Shelby and Lizi played polly pockets. They then had pizza for dinner and Matthew and Carolee came over and Matthew helped with their bed time routine.
Quote of the day - While looking at the bin full of lego blocks wit which he planned to build a fort, Trey says, "Mrs Liz, we're gonna need to use a ladder to get to the top of our fort when we're done!"
11 July 2013
Shelby crawled into bed this morning and laid down with us for a while. We got up and soon the other kids were up as well. I put on a Jake and the Neverland Pirates while I got ready for the day. We had cereal for breakfast and then noticed how overcast it looked outside, so we went outside just in time for it to start pouring. The water started gushing out of the pipe from the road and into our easement. The kids loved seeing the water coming out of the pipe and the easement filling up. They then tried catching the water in buckets as it came out of the rain gutters and filling up their lady bug pool that is now more used as a toy catcher in the sand box. Once the lady bug was full, we built a trench around "It's a Small World" in our and box where the water is on the actual ride and then poured out the water in the lady bug and watched the river fill up. The kids loved using toys as the boats in the ride. We then got changed after being soaking wet and went with Matthew Arscott to the movie, "Monsters University," which the kids said they liked with a little reservation (I think it was a little scary for them). After the movie, Trey went back outside to play with the water and sand box (it had rained more while we were at the movie) and Shelby played with polly pockets while Lizi was brushing her hair. We then had Pizza leftovers for lunch before we went swimming at the Arscott"s. After swimming, Trey and Lizi played with the lego blocks while Shelby and I worked on spelling. Then Trey and I worked on spelling while Shelby and Lizi played with blocks. After we finished with schoolwork, Trey went back outside to play with the rain water and sandbox and Lizi and I did her exercises to get her to stop walking on her tip toes and Shelby kept playing with the lego blocks. We had chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots for dinner after which lizi colored and Trey and Shelby went outside to play. When Trey and Shelby came back in, all the kids started rebuilding a fort that they built earlier with Jenna's help. I told the kids that I was going to go outside to pick some cherry tomatoes from our garden if anyone wanted to help and Lizi jumped up and excitedly exclaimed, "I'll help you, Daddy!" So cute! So we went out side and I picked the tomatoes and handed them to Lizi who put them in a bowl for me. We then came inside and cleaned up the living room before we had ice cream and cookies while playing "Sorry!" After Sorry, we did our bedtime routine and went to bed. It's funny how the songs they want me to sing to them have changed over the 5 weeks they have been here. At first the 2 songs they would pick were, "The Stars Are Out" and "Child's Prayer" but here lately it's been "Daddy Tell Me The Stories" and "I Often Go Walking" or the "Splash Mountain Songs" (from Song of the South - Zip-a-dee-dooh-dah and How Do You Do?)
Quote of the day - While swimming, Shelby came out of the water right in front of me, which really surprised me because of the glare on the water, I couldn't see her coming. When she came out of the water, I jumped and said, "Shelby, you scared the begeebies out of me!" Later while swimming she recounted the story and said, "Daddy, I scared the genies out of your head!"
12 July 2013
Lizi came in to our room to lay down with us in the morning. We slept a little longer an then got up and went to check on the other kids. Trey was just waking up and I saw him just open his eyes through the bed railing and then smile when he saw me. I put on a Jake and the Neverland Pirates for the two of them while I got ready for the day. When I came back out, Shelby was up too watching it with them. We ate pancakes for breakfast and then everyone was given some jobs to do to clean the house/yard. Shelby and Lizi swept the back porch while Trey cleaned the windows. After that, we all went out side to pull weeds. Shelby and Trey especially were good helpers, getting their gloves on and pulling lots of weeds. Lizi helped for a little while and then played in the and box. We came inside and played Sorry! which Shelby won. After Sorry!, I took Trey and Shelby to Sky Mountain Golf Course and we practiced putting and chipping for a little while. Even though it wasn't as hot as it had been, Shelby was ready to go soon after we got there but Trey wanted to stay longer. Lizi stayed home and played in the sandbox. When we got home, Gracie and a couple of the neighborhood kids were over planning a "special room" (they dress up and act and dance to songs played on the computer) with Jenna for the little kids. We watched a Jake while they finished getting ready. After the special room, we had lunch and then Trey and I went out to swing on the swings while Shelby and Lizi watched. Lizi wanted to swing too so I let her take my swing and I went and sat next to Shelby on the porch and we talked. I took the kids inside and we ready a scripture about how important it is to work hard and not be lazy and I told them I was proud of them for working hard getting the house clean and so I thought I should reward them by taking them to get a snow cone. After snow cones, we went swimming at the Arscott's, then came home and the girls played with their polly pockets while Trey went outside to play with the buckets he had placed under the water spouts to gather water in case it rained, which it had while we were swimming. After laying for a bit, we came in and had dinner. I then talked with Shelby about something I became aware about that her mother had told her about the divorce, while Trey and Lizi played outside with the water buckets and the sandbox. We came in to play Sorry! again, which Shelby won, once again. We got ready for bed and decided to have a movie night camp out in the living room. So we built a fort, watched Star Wars, episode 4, and went to bed.
Quote of the day - Lizi: "More pancakes, at 10:00!"
13 July 2013
When I woke up, all the kids were still asleep so I went to get ready for the day. By the time I went back out to the living room where we slept, they were nowhere to be found, but the back door was left open so I had a pretty good idea that they were all playing in the back yard. They were on the porch and in the sand box playing. Trey said that he wanted to play a game. So Trey, Jenna and I came in and played UNO, while Shelby and Lizi stayed outside. I had Shelby and Lizi come in and take baths and Trey ate breakfast. After that, we all played with the lego block fort and with Star Wars figures. Then we went swimming over at the Arscott's. Lizi swam almost the whole time today with out floaties. We came home and had lunch, and then Trey and I played foosball while Shelby and Lizi played with polly pockets. Trey then wanted to play Star Wars on the Wii so we played for just a few minutes before I went to work. All the kids came outside to wave bye. Liz said that today was the first time that Lizi didn't just ball after I left. They came in and Trey played with his cars and Lizi and Shelby played polly pockets. Then Trey played with his marbles and Shelby and Lizi played with the doll house. All 3 kids were hungry again so they had mac and cheese and sandwiches. Liz combed the girls hair and Trey played the Wii again and then Keri came to pick them up. They went to a play at Tuacahan. After, Lizi wanted to sleep over here, Trey wanted to sleep at the hotel with his mom, and Shelby decided to sleep at the hotel too.
Quote of the day - Shelby: "But daddy, you're leaving too early!" When I went to work since I told them I had to go to work at 2:00, but I have to leave at 1:30 to make it there on time.
14 July 2013
Lizi came in to our room about 4:30 am to sleep. I laid down in her bed last night and, as is customary, after she went to bed I came back in my room. From talking to her later, she thought I was going to stay in her bed the whole night, which is why she came in so early in the morning. I got up to take a shower and by the time I got out, she was already out of bed and playing with her polly pockets in the living room. I got her in the bath tub and while she was in the tub, Trey and Shelby came over from the hotel. Shelby jumped in the tub with Lizi in our bathroom and Trey jumped in the kids bathtub. After baths, the kids got in their church clothes and Lizi and I ate breakfast (Shelby and Trey ate cereal and waffles at the hotel). After breakfast, Liz did the girls hair and Trey and watched a church video. After that we headed off to church where we met the kid's mom and her husband and his 2 boys. Trey sat with them and Lizi and Shelby sat with us. After church we came home and got ready for a picnic at Stout Park. We got to the park and the kids immediately headed for the playground. Shelby went right to the rock wall that I used to help her climb and she climbed up and over it by herself with no problem. Trey started climbing, but got scared and came down - but he did have me help him later, and did it. Lizi followed suit and had me and Jenna help her climb over the wall. The kid's mom showed up about this time and we started getting the food ready. We ate and then the kids went back to the playground and Trey asked if we could play catch and then Frisbee and football. Shelby came over to play football with us and she threw the football so good! After that, it was time to clean up and get home. The kid's mom came over to the house and Trey showed her Disneyland that we built outside in the sandbox while I played polly pockets with the girls. We played Sorry!, and after Sorry! the girls played polly pockets with their mom and Trey and I watched a church movie - though before it ended, all 3 kids were watching it with me and Jenna. The girls then painted their nails and Trey and I went out side to play ladder ball. Lizi came out and played too. We also played on the swings. By this time, it was about bed time so the kids all got dressed in their pj's and we did our bed time routine. Tonight, as I did one time previous, I told them silly stories about Mr Broccoli and Mr Carrot, as well as using the stuffed animals in their bed.
Quote of the day - The following was a conversation with Shelby at the park during our picnic when I had just sat down next to her to eat after getting a sub sandwich and some pineapple.
Shelby: "Daddy, are you going to eat all that?"
Me: "I think so, why?"
Shelby: "I don't want to eat too much and get fat."
15 July 2013
Lizi came into my bed sometime in the middle of the night. I woke up at about 3:30 am and found her there, so I brought her back into her bed. Shelby came in about 7:30 and we got up and I put a Jake on for her nd Lizi while I got ready for the day. We then started looking through Shelby's baby pictures and for a picture frame to hang some pictures on her wall in her bedroom. We went outside and rode bikes for a while and then came in and had cereal for breakfast. After we ate, we decided to go to the Fiesta Fun center in St George to play "pirate putt putt" which was the episode they saw on Jake and the Neverland Pirates this morning. We got there and had so much fun playing. After miniature golf, we did bumper boats and tried to squirt each other with water. Then we went in and played some games in the building to win tickets to buy fun stuff. Lizi loved to shoot rubber duckies with water to get them through a door. Trey and Shelby both really liked a ball toss. When we came home, we ate some sandwiches for lunch and got changed into our swimsuits to go swimming at the Arscott's house. The kid's mom and Steve came over to swim too. After that, the kid's mom wanted to take them for the rest of the night so all the kids went with her and Shelby came back to sleep at my house. When she got back, she finished watching a show with Jenna and I and then we all played sorry with Liz. After sorry, we did our bed time routine and both Jenna and I told Shelby silly stories in her bed.
Quote of the day - Shelby: "I hope there's no room on the airplane so I can stay one more day."
16 July 2013
The day the kids go back to Texas...I woke up Shelby about 7:15 and she got dressed and we had cereal. Trey and Lizi were dropped off at the house about 7:45. We got everything together and got loaded up in the car. I sat in the back row, between Shelby and Trey. I read a few books to them, at Trey's request and we had fun listening to Disney songs - their favorites on the CD being Zip-a-dee-dooh-dah and Talk like a Pirate from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Trey learned how to whistle while he was out here this summer - while we were playing settlers, he informed me. The drive to Las Vegas went way too fast, but the kids had fun looking for "our river" (the Virgin River) on the way down and looking at the "space needle" (Stratosphere) and the "diamond sparkle hotel" (Excalibur). We got to the airport and waited for the kid's mom and Steve and his boys to arrive from returning their rental car. We didn't give ourselves much time so the good byes were rushed. Trey was his normal self, taking the separation in stride. Lizi, who cried everytime I left for work was sad, but a little caught up in the chaos of trying to get through security in a hurry. Shelby cried and was very sad, hiding behind her mom and peering at me with tears in her eyes and running down her cheeks. And with that they were gone.
Quote of the day - A conversation with Shelby while we were waiting in line at the airport.
Me: "When we get to security, you're gonna have to hurry so I'm going to tell you goodbye now."
Shelby: "Why hurry?"
Me: "So you don't miss your plane."
Shelby: "I wish we did miss our plane."
