Summer Remix

Still going backwards here. That statement is true in soooooooooooooo many ways. More cell phone pix from our summer vacay. Geesh, I am glad I got those offa there! Anyway, we had the most amazing trip to the zoo this summer! It was almost like some mystical thing had happened and the animals came alive for us!

The Gorilla came face to face with Wade. There were SEVERAL other kids with their faces pressed to the glass, but the Gorilla decided to "face off" with Wade. I know it is hard to tell, but they were literally inches away from each other's face. What was more surprising is that Wade didn't run off screaming like a little girl when the Gorilla approached. Part of me thinks that maybe he thought he was watching a movie . . . just really up close. I was just grateful that glass was there, because that Gorilla could have had Wade for LUNCH!

Then we visited the Tigers. They were ACTUALLY playing! I mean, COME ON! How many times have you gone to the zoo and the tigers aren't there, or they are sleeping. I can tell you that happens to me EVERY time, except this one. (Go early in the morning) The tigers (they are brothers, and their mom was watching in complete disgust) were all over each other jumping, biting, growling, and jumping in and out of the water. JUST LIKE two brothers at play. I could have watched them all day. It was fascinating.







Then we got to see Zuri. The cute new baby elephant. I think the only thing cuter that watching a baby elephant run around, is watching a baby Rhino run around, which I have seen once . There is something so stinkin' cute about a smallish animal that will one day be huge running around and acting like a little kid. Truly cute.

The thing about Zuri is that her handler, as you see here, was telling us all about how she was conceived, which fell on deaf ears for everyone but ABBY.
Who curiously asked, "So, mom, what is a menstrual cycle?"

The zoo was VERY exciting that day, AND VERY educational.





And the zoo without the train would be like. . . .
Cereal without milk?
Insert your own comparison here. ____________.





Overall, a pretty fantastic day, even with no eyes.

Miracles Do Happen

I ACTUALLY downloaded the pictures off my cell phone today. Yup. I did. Like just now, and it is a big deal people, because it was seriously hard to figure out. And if you are like me, 1/2 the pictures that you take of your family are on your cell phone and what good are they to you if you can't get them off.

I ask you.

What good are they?

Screen saver on your phone good, and that is about it.

Now, I know this is old news, but since I now have new pix, I might have to back track a little in my life. Not because I am making a "blog book" cuz, I am not, but rather, because sometimes, the most fabulous pictures are taken on your cell phone, where there is no other hope to capture the moment, and thus, it is.

This is Kaylin, playing on the shores of the Spokane River where we spent a couple of weeks this summer. . Isn't it a great pic? Circa 1978? I don't know what it is, but the coloring and lighting make it look like just about every picture I have of myself when I was a kid.

This is my study on trees. I wanted the tops, and I wanted the bottoms, and I wanted the flowers on the ground in the shot too. Not quite there in this one.

Better in this one,

And this is best. Although my camera doesn't do those flowers justice, they were beautiful beyond measure.

And this is an iridescent picture of one of the weirdest nights of my life. Kaylie and kids were playing on the couch one minute, the last night of our visit to Washington and I was juuuuuuuuuust getting ready to leave the house to watch the Bachelorette with some other die hard watchers.

When suddenly, Kaylie fell off the couch hit her head, and started to seize. I have seen a lot of kids bump their heads, but this had to be the most unnerving experience of my life. Eyes open, no response, hands, fingers and toes curled. Yelling, calling her name, shaking. . . nothing. It doesn't come to someone as a "calm" feeling. Panic set in, and I remember yelling to my mother-in-law, CALL 911! She is not responding! I called her name again and again with no response. Eyes open. Hands and fingers curled. Body convulsing. I pleaded for my mother-in-law to ask 911 what to do, WHAT DO I DO?????

By the time the paramedics got there, Kaylie was crying, and back to being responsive, although completely inconsolable. They decided that I should take her to the ER to make sure there was no hemorrhaging. (Great news, thank you) I did, but felt calm. Feeling like that probably wasn't the case, but definitely wanting to make sure. The ride in the ambulance was not enjoyable. Kaylin was strapped to a board, and let's just say, she is NOT a good patient. She screamed for the next two hours until they could rule out a neck injury or hemorrhaging. When they took her off the board, the only thing I could do was let her play with my wallet, where she repeatedly took out all the cards, and put them in. Out, In, Out, In, Out, In. At least she was being still.

I drove to SLC the next day. 12 hour car ride. Alone. With 4 kids.

PS- I would like to thank Violingirl321 on youtube for her tutorial on downloading videos, which did not exactly help me with downloading my pictures, but got me close enough to actually do so. Thank you for making this post possible.

Trying to Remember

Right now, I am trying to remember that we spent THREE WEEKS in cooler weather this summer. It is REALLY hard to believe because my garage door is still broken and I am still parking outside in 106+degree weather. We haven't seen two digits in weeks, and it is starting to get to me.

I swear at some point I was cool this summer. I swear. But right now I don't seem to remember the feeling of cool air.

I am dreaming of escaping, but, the kids are in school now and although I would love to take off for some cooler weather, it seems as if we are tied down for now. Until fall break that is. In the mean time, I have decided to finally down load my summer pix and think it is time to share. Maybe looking at them will make me feel cooler.

When I look back, I cannot believe I spent 48 hours driving from state to state to state to state largely on my own this summer. I did have Lisa with me for a couple of legs, and I think we cured her from any kind of driving travel for the rest of her LIFE! Most people call me crazy and for the record, I think I am crazy to. But I can either be crazy, or stay in Arizona for 7 weeks without a pool during the summer. Sounds about even doesn't it?

I didn't think I had posted any pix of the summer, but then I found this post. Seriously one of my favorite days from the summer. If you didn't read it because YOU were enjoying YOUR summer vacation, you can READ IT HERE. That last picture is priceless no?

I would be NUTS if I didn't go spend as much time as I could possibly muster at my in-laws house. I guess I should say, as much time as THEY can muster. Who wouldn't want to wake up to this every day.

I just swung open the door, and there I was. I can almost feel it now, if I close my eyes, lay under an air conditioning vent and put Kaylie in the bathtub so I can listen to water lapping. Can you feel it now too? Thought so.

Life with the In-laws is NEVER dull. We were sent an "agenda" before we even walked out the front door. One of the items was the Pirates of Couer d'Alene Cruise. It was a LOVELY adventure.

There was an on board sword fight, a damsel in distress, and pirates run amuck of course.

Leave it to Abby to be feeling the DRAMA.

I think it is safe to say everyone had a great time.
If you didn't get a chance to check it out this year, be sure to put it on the list for next.



If you knew how hard it is to get a picture of this guy, you would really appreciate this picture. Thanks Grrpa. We had a fantastic time.

It was the best of times

It was the worst of times. You know when you think you have a REALLY great idea, and that it totally ends up being the worst idea EVER? Okay, it was still a really great idea, and would have been PERFECT if my youngest child was 3, and would have even been MORE perfect if I would have been more prepared, but whatevs.

I am stringing my vacation out longer, and longer and longer because my little sis Hillary (private blog) is JUST ABOUT ready to have her baby and I wanna see it! I left for cooler weather on June 25th, and I am STILL living out of my suitcase.

I have to admit, it is getting long in the tooth. More threats are being issued. EVERYONE had quite time IN THEIR OWN ROOMS today, but I am determined to see this new little addition to the family before I leave. But, if she doesn't show the whites of her eyes by Sunday, I guess it will be time to GIVE UP. I gotta get back to the real world of 116 degree weather and kids going back to school. (YIPPEE! Yeah, I am one of those mom's that gets excited about that) I think my kids will be happier too. Abby won't be up until all hours of the night. Wade will be back on a schedule, Jaxon needs the structure of school to keep me from wanting to tie him up and Kaylie. . . well. . . Yes, . . .let's talk about Kaylie for a moment.




I decided it would be LOTS of fun to head up the Snowbird Tram. You know, cool weather, mountains, SNOW. We packed up a lunch and headed up the mountain. I have to admit, I could have been a little more prepared. The mountain air makes you THIRSTY. One juice box per kid was NOT enough.

See? Isn't it SPECTACULAR? Who wouldn't want to take a look at this breathtaking view!

Or THIS breathtaking view! Oh la la!

Everyone LOVED the Tram Ride, except Kaylie. She made it up, but started to fuss about 3/4s of the way there. She seemed to do fine once we were up.

We had our lunch.

Played in the SNOW. Yes, I said SNOW. Wade DID NOT like that the ice made his toes COLD.

We ate cupcakes. And overall, I would say had a great time! We would have done more, because there is LOTS more to do, and had my littlest been a little older I am sure we would have maybe hiked down, gone down the alpine slide, done some "mining for gold". They have tons of activities up there, for a price of course. But over all I would say it is an excellent way to spend the day.

Our day however, was cut short because of this:

Lying on the floor. Screaming. All the way down, and for at least 5 minutes while we waited for the ride down. It is not a long ride. But it is . . . . long enough.
All the writhing and screaming on the floor of a very dirty tram leaves one . . . well, . . . dirty.

HURRAY FOR FAMILY ADVENTURES!

Dear Honeyville, Utah.

Dear Honeyville Utah,


View Larger Map

Thank you so much for having a gas station (eventhough it was older than the hills). I am soooooooooooooo glad you were open until 8:00 p.m. tonight. (Late for you folks out there). I am so glad one of your elderly citizens was outside watering his plants so I could make sure there was a gas station near by or else I would have been stranded with 4 tired kids who had been on the road for 11 hours.

NOT A GOOD SCENE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

Anyway, I am sorry that you didn't have a bathroom and so Jaxon decided to "relieve" himself around the side of your general store building, and I am sorry you had to catch him in the act. Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Think about getting a public restroom, or at least letting small children use the employee one if they really gotta go. Mkay? (Hey, that ONE customer per day might need it!)

I am sorry to the poor clerk who must have though I was from another planet because I had NO IDEA how to buy gas from a pump without a credit card. I am sorry I asked stupid questions like, "What happens if it fills up before I hit how much I paid?" "Am I supposed to just guess how much will go in?" "Do you take credit cards?" I am from the BIG CITY. I just don't get those sorta things. And I am sorry to that same clerk who had to see my son exposed.

I know I should have checked my gas gauge in Pocatello at the Arctic Circle with the playland (did you know Arctic Circle created fry sauce? Ya. They did.) But, I seriously didn't think that I would run into trouble in between Pocatello and SLC with needing a gas station. I thought there would be plenty to choose from. Turns out, I ran out at JUST the WRONG time with no exits and/or gas stations near by. (Right about Honeyville if you couldn't guess) Oh well. I am learning.

Looks like I'm battin 1,000 with the gas gauge thing. (if you have not read this story, click on the link, you WON'T REGRET IT!)

So, thanks again.

Sincerely,

Lindsey


P.S. To Bloggy Buddies: I have a LOT of stories to tell from my trip, and since one involves a trip to the ER last night with Kaylie, I think I will be telling them backwards. I want to keep track of all the "fun" we had. Geez. Sometimes I can't believe my life, so, I document it here.

HOLLY'S BACHELORETTE RECAP HERE. HILARIOUS AS ALWAYS! PS- I am going to MEET Holly in REAL LIFE tomorrow night! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Me neither. I love meeting my fake friends. Cuz, then they become REAL ones! :)

Rollin Rollin Rollin

Hey!

I am coming YOUR way this summer.

In my hot new Swagger Wagon. Yo.

I am excited to get on the open road with that thing... Wanna hear about some of my "other" single momma on the road adventures?

Click HERE

or

HERE

Those stories are worth the clicks. Promise.

Anyway, in order to KEEP my Swagger Wagon, I also have to KEEP my business rollin'. So, I am looking for people who want to host Pampered Chef Parties in Utah or Washington while I am there!

(Please, oh, please)

I will make it worth your while and get you some FREE STUFF, feed you some GOOD FOOD, and get you some AWESOME PRODUCTS FOR SUPER CHEAP! Because in July, the Ultimate Mandolin, the Chopper and the Salad Choppers are all 60% off for Hosts. Yeah, I know. Don't miss it.

Please e-mail me with dates that you are available. IT WILL BE FUN!



NEXT UP? MY GIVEAWAY!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE JULY SPECIALS!

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS

We have completed the first part of our trip and have made our round trip flight from SLC to Spokane for the 4th. In all honesty, the drive from PHX to SLC is what scares me the most. . I mean, shakin' in my boots scares me. We stopped in Las Vegas which helps tremendously when you are traveling with small kids. YES there are shorter routes to SLC, but lets be honest. . would YOU drive 12 hours with a 4 month old? Um, no. . . You wouldn't. We head back that way in a few days. . . can't wait to give it another try. Seems like I am tempting fate. But, we will see.

Our trip has been so far, FABULOUS, and we have had tons of fun with family and friends and even a few BLOGGERS! I will do more trip details later, but as promised, I wanted to post my tips for TRAVELING WITH KIDS!

There is NOTHING like the ego boost of traveling by yourself with small kids. Everyone ooohhhs and aaahhhs at your bravery. For the most part, it REALLY isn't that bad. However, I have learned some serious tricks of the trade. I will share them with you FREE OF CHARGE! You're welcome. These tips probably only work best if you are traveling with a 7, 5, 2 and 4 month old baby though. Keep that in mind and adapt to your own children's ages. But SERIOUSLY! YOU CAN DO IT!

I had one woman who sat behind me and said to her neighbor, "I am just watching this lady with her four kids and I just can't believe how well she is doing!!" (Insert ego boost). I told her it wasn't that bad and she proceeded to tell me that she has to fly to her daughter, pick her and her kids up and fly back with them just to get them to visit! You REALLY don't have to do that people. . REALLY. Here are my best tips for getting through it WITHOUT making someone come and get you!

1. FLY DURING NAP TIME. Now, this can be tricky, because your kid might fall asleep on the way TO the airport, but if you can keep them awake and you know they won't throw a fit in security because they're tired, DO IT. It worked on the way there, but not on the way back. It was still ok on the way back because I . . .

2. BUY YOUR TODDLER HIS/HER OWN SEAT. I know your kids fly free under 2 and Wade is over 2. . but I am almost THANKFUL for the day that I have to buy him a ticket because that means that. .

3. HE WILL BE IN HIS CAR SEAT! Put your toddler in their car seat on the plane. You may think you don't want to haul that buggar down the corridor. Especially if you have an infant with you like I did, but DO IT! It is TOTALLY WORTH IT.

4. One other trick I learned, is CHECK THE STROLLER AND BAGS CURB SIDE. It is worth every penny of the $2 a bag charge they give you, and if you are traveling by yourself with small kids. . IT IS WORTH IT and you DESERVE IT.

5. You might think you want that stroller but. . DON'T BRING A STROLLER IN THROUGH SECURITY. Check it as a bag if you need it, but there is NOTHING worse than having to take everything off that stroller that you stuffed into it just to take it all out at security where you THEN have to fold it up and put it on the conveyor belt. Seriously. If you have a toddler, just let him be. Hold his had until you get to the gate, and then

6. TRAVEL WITH YOUR BABY UNDER 1 YEAR IN A FRONT PACK CARRIER. Seriously. That is what I did with K and it was great because my hands were totally free and she was totally entertained, and it left a hand free to carry Wade's car seat in one had and my bag on my other shoulder or even Wade's hand if I had to. However, I usually relegated that responsibility to Abby. If you are REALLY worried about having to carry that car seat, rent a luggage carrier in the hall. It can also act as an impromptu stroller if you put the car seat on in and then put your kid IN it!

7. TRAVEL AROUND MEAL TIME. We traveled right around lunch and it is a great time kill and keeps your kids in one place if you can feed them right before you get on the plane. In the SLC airport they have little "kiddie playlands" which are great, but, if you are traveling to an airport that doesn't. Just take a lunch, or buy one there. It is worth it to keep them busy and in one place until you are ready to board. It also keeps them from wanting to get their toys out and losing them before you even get on the plane!

8. When you board. . You have to have your toddler in the window seat because that is where their car seat has to be. PUT YOUR TODDLER IN HIS SEAT FIRST! I was lucky to have Abby to hand the baby to when I was putting Wade's seat in, but I put him in, handed him his blankie and binkie and NO TOYS. I wanted him to get the idea there was nothing else to do and so he would just go to sleep. WORKED. :)

9. BRING A VIDEO ON YOUR IPOD. You can rent videos on itunes and it is a great way to keep ONE child (your most difficult i.e. Jaxon) busy on the plane. They have to wait until they are in the air, but, that is ok. . you can usually keep them entertained until then with looking out the windows and watching the plane takes off. NOTE TO MYSELF AND ALL YOU IPOD USERS! IF YOU RENT A VIDEO YOU MUST COMPLETE WATCHING IT IN ONE DAY OR WHEN YOU TURN IT ON AGAIN IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DELETE!!! I didn't know this and actually still don't know if I really understand it since rentals are SUPPOSED to be like 20 days long, but when I went to turn on the movie on the way back to SLC for Jaxon I couldn't. . . it deleted itself because it had not been watched all the way through. If you know what I am talking about and know a way around it, please leave a comment and TELL ME! Anyway, Ipods are WAY better than bringing a HUGE BULKY video player with you. But remember to down load the day before because sometimes it can take a while and then you have to sync! I learned the ipod trick for THIS trip.

10. oooh ooohh. I forgot one thing. GO TO THE FAMILY BATHROOM BEFORE THE FLIGHT! This is my most favorite activity because it is always mass chaos. Changing TWO diapers and washing at least 4 pairs of hands and all watching each other go is all very exciting but saves you from having to take them on the plane. . which is totally not fun. So, just do it. . it is a good time burn too.

Any other tips and tricks I missed? You can leave them in the comments! I would love to hear YOUR tricks for traveling! If you are reading this post because you googled "How to travel with kids" GOOD LUCK! Will post more vacation details later!

I NEED A VACATION. . Wanna Come?

Friday, after spending almost two hours at the DMV getting a new drivers license that was expired by 4 months even though I just got it two years ago, [I know, long run on]. I came home, furiously packed the kids up for 3 weeks, and left the house in a crazy frantic mess of boxes and move in blow-up. It seriously looks like a tornado hit my house on the inside, but no where else. Sad.

I called my husband and I told him how miserable I was. . how hard my life is and how bad I hate it. How horrible it is to have to drive 4 kids by myself to SLC and what a down trodden life I lead. I seriously did. Please tell me you, at some point in your life, have done the same thing. . . cuz, he wasn't very impressed with my attitude.

I drove to Vegas. Stayed overnight. Drove on to SLC the next day and got there by dinner on Sat. I chilled out on Sunday. Woke up Monday morning and hopped a plane with all 4 kids to Spokane to stay with my in-laws. By the time I hit SLC, I had recovered from my melt-down for the most part. I had made it. I knew I would. But that didn't take the fear from spending 12 hours in a car with a 4 month old baby. It just didn't. No confidence in the WORLD can take that fear away.

By the time I hit the SLC airport I was back to my old self. Confident. Self assured. The security guy checked my tickets and said, "Four kids, all by yourself. . .huh?" I said "Yep. It will be fine." Little did he know I had already conquered 12 hours in the car with the little angels.
It was no biggie. Seriously. It went ridiculously smoothly. I will go into more detail on that later.

Yesterday and today, I have spent time 'keeping my husband updated' with what I am doing. You know, I don't want him to worry. . . Here was my first text. . .

“Miss you, wish you were here!”


Then for some reason, I started to feel a little snarky. . and texted this.
“Neener Neener”

I am sure he replied with something extra witty, so, I sent this. . .

“So, so, suck your toe”

You’re impressed with my level of maturity. I know.
I was starting to feel so much better about my life. I mean, who could feel bad about their life when they are doing this. . .

I texted: “Geez, this is so awesome. I wish you could take a week off.”

I really wanted him to be here with me.

Then I texted: “Someone likes boat rides.”

She really did. . out like a light.

This morning I woke up so happy to be here. You know, everyone needs a vacation now and again from their regular everyday life. EVERYONE. I don’t care if you can’t get to the most beautiful lake and river in Washington. Just take a trip. Get out. See something else beside the catastrophe that is your house (read 'life').

So, this morning, I wanted him to know, I was still ok. . and getting better. So I sent this. .

“I am so, so, sorry.”

Then I wrote. . .

“Holy CRAP. This is the LIFE!”

(Yes, I am in my pajamas and had not showered yet in this picture. . that is right. . I am on VACATION!)

I am doing much better now. Personal crisis meltdown averted. Thanks for asking. If you would like to join me on my personal vacay, please check facebook next weeks for days and times that I will be hostessing visits to my personal vacay. I would LOVE to see you, and wouldn't you LOVE to come sit at the lake with me?

Mkay, see you there.

MINI PERSONAL VACAY

I just spent the last hour looking for and scanning pictures so that you could laugh at my frizzy hair from 15 years ago. YOU'RE WELCOME. My mini-personal vacay started just 12 hours from when I walked in the door from Utah. Just enough time to get my kids unpacked and give a few care instructions to Peter... then I was OUT THE DOOR.

I headed to John Wayne airport in Cali to be picked up by my friend of 17 years. We met at UVSC when we were assigned to live with each other as first year Volleyball players. We went to BYU Jerusalem in the winter of '92 and there we met Nicole. I had met Nicole before Jerusalem because she had just moved into my parents neighborhood back in SLC. Jen? Well, I am not sure... so I think that means that she met Claire and became a roommate of ours after our stint in Jerusalem. Here we are in our fabulous apartment in 1993. I wish I could remember the name of the complex.. but it was off of BYU campus. (We were rebels)

Here we are in our little apartment. (You can click on the pix to see them bigger)Here we are all dolled up for a night out on the town. I have NO IDEA where we were going!

Here is Nicole, Jen and I leaving Provo to go to San Diego where we went to the open house for the San Diego Temple. It was our FIRST MINI PERSONAL VACAY.

We stopped at one of my favorite places in Newport...Namely, the CRAB COOKER. It was Nicole's first time eating crab...Um, she is from Hawaii.

Here we are at Claire's wedding. Sorry, I was trying to scan a scrapbook page. Darn those scrapbooks (Don't laugh at the page.. I am NOT a scrapbooker, and this was one of my first attempts about 10 years ago)... Needless to say, we are tight friends... and although we don't stay in touch regularly... when we DO get in touch we always have a GREAT time...

Here we are 17 YEARS later!!!!

We went to the ELLEN SHOW! And believe it or not, it is pretty much a full day activity. We left Claire's house in Yorba Linda at about 10:00 and got to the show and parked. You are then corralled into a number of different lines to "check in" and to "check ID" and then you wait... Our waiting became much more enjoyable when we were selected by the audience department to participate in the "GAME" for the show. After interviews, it was decided that Claire and I were the best "suited" for live TV. (Meaning, we were the craziest, and most willing to humiliate ourselves... pretty much same as it has always been). Alas, once in the show, we were not the ones chosen. You can see who was if you click on this. (Look at Wednesday's show)

As much as I would LOVE to show you pix of the studio, cameras were not allowed inside. If you set your tivo for Ellen, we were on Wednesday's show and Claire and Nicole were shown TWICE in FULL VIEW. (Good job girls, you were showing GREAT enthusiasm)

We had a great time, and of course spent most of our time just catching up with each other. After the show we headed to Jen's request.. THE CRAB COOKER!!! (like we would say no) Here we are 17 years LATER!I probably have 50 pictures of Jen doing this back in the day, things haven't changed much:

But I SHOULD have taken a picture of Nicole eating crab for what I think she said was... the SECOND time. I am honored Nic.. I can't believe I have been with you BOTH times you have eaten Crab.

After our dinner, we had to get a sweet treat and Jen used her Iphone (LOVE THAT THING) and found us a Sprinkles... YUM. You KNOW they are my fav! They were closed but there was someone still in the store. Jen hopped out of the car and knocked on the window and got us a FREE BOX! We had such a great time. Thanks girls for all of the fun. I needed a little break. I am sooooooooo grateful for our friendship and LOVE that we can get together after so many years and still have so much fun!