Fun at the Beach - Part I

We arrived to a Memorial Weekend party in LA at Matt and Kay's on Saturday. The kids had a blast watching Matt do the slip n' slide and we had fun watching Owen go for it with all of his little might. He slid about 4 feet trying as hard as he could - with a head start - but kept trying and trying - little sport. Holden cautiously watched and enjoyed it. We headed to Newps and went to NB1 ward on the Sabbath. We had a fun dinner. Monday we played at the new and awesome Irvine Terrace park while Momma and Maama walked the island. Then we headed to Big for a fun and full 3 hours at the beach. We headed home to nap and then to Maama and Baampa's pool. Dad left Tuesday morning and the boys and I headed to p/u a wagon at Target and off to Main Beach, Laguna. We had a good time and no temper tantrums (key!). Owen was finally ready for a long nap. The late afternoon and early evening was spent at Fashion Island doing some of the fun things - Merry-Go Round (Or Miracle Round, as Owen says), drip fountain, Russo's pet store, Big Fountain and of course, Wahoo's. We went home and walked to the island to get their reward of the day at the candy store. Today we are up in LA. We went to the LA Zoo with Rachel and Mia and Maama, In n' out on the way home in Hollywood and are now resting at Rachel and Ryan's. We may go to La Brea Tar Pits this afternoon, but my kids aren't resting so well, so we'll see. I am so glad we have two weeks here because between days at the beach and all of the other fun things - there is too much fun to be had. Oh yeah, and Holden and I are going to really start bugging Dad to move here - he is loving it!

Taylor Hicks - And the not-so secret A.I. fan

I have heard his first "single" on the radio (yesterday, in the am at the salon) and I searched for it the rest of the day...I got it stuck in my head for a minute. I really got into the last 7-8 weeks of the AI. I was never like this before. I liked Elliott Yamin and the best thing I have ever seen is the t-shirt/sticker that said "Sing it like YAMIN it!". I hinted to AK that I wanted one, but he didn't take me seriously. I loved seeing Prince in the finale - that was amazing! Where was Kelly? And I love how everyone still acts like they don't see the show - I mean 200 million or so people. Even Steph (Ced's friend from XO) who lives in Romania watches it! I guess if I were in Romania, I would watch anything! We are packing up for the beach. The kids want to be there yesterday, like me, and packing is so hard for them. They have such tough lives!
The History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson book club was last night. Great food, excellent atmosphere (Hill's backyard), and fabulous friends. I read about 20 pages, am fascinated, and will read on my vacate (when the kids are sleeping?). The book scares you to death at how infinitesimal we are and how suddenly the Earth could react and annihilate us, but the lesson learned from Spencer W. Kimball in the book Peace via E. Brooks was that we cannot fear death, terror, the sun, or anything put in our way. And to be friends and try to help all around, because everyone has troubles and trials and we cannot judge or compare. Heavy. Toods. Lates.

Scooters & Hikes & Locksmith

Three scooters later, and Owen is set to go! He really likes his friend Drew's scooter, which is most skateboard like, which he leans to turn, rather than turn the handle. He is a little disappointed he can't olie yet, like he does on the snowboard (when he is not moving and on a flat, carpeted surface, mind you). My little totally self potty-trained rock star rules my world. Well, except for the punching, hitting, and ear piercing screams, he's alright with me.
Holden had circus day at school yesterday and painted a beard on himself which was hilarious! Especially when he put on his favorite Marx brothers mustache disguise or clown nose. He cracks me up too and is very funny. He had a PJ party at school today, and wore the most awesome non-matching, but both striped GAP/Old Navy long johns that were actually more capri. He insisted and loved the ensemble.
This morning as Owen and I were doing the semi-annual Odyssey clean-up, he locked and closed all of the doors, leaving my spare set and every day set in the car (the spare was in my purse, also in the car, who knows why). AK was not too thrilled since just a few months ago I locked myself out of the house, he was out of town and $150 I got back inside. This time the damage was considerably less at $55. If we had gotten out and about earlier, I would've spent that much on misc. at Costco, Barnes & Noble, or Target anyway! Anyhoo, we did get the car cleaned - we cleaned the outside ourselves while waiting for the locksmith - and it looks great - for the minute. I quickly showed Kate, as to have a witness that I have cleaned my car this year!
On the hike - we did the 2nd family hike of the year. We had seen this paved path from our rock climbing adventure last week, and we hit it Saturday morning. It went to a few great waterfalls, and we took another path on the way down towards Lake Blanche, that had an ever better waterfall. The water in Big Cottonwood was so fast, it freaked my out the whole time. The boys weren't allowed remotely near it - and thank goodness since a seventeen year old girl later drowned in it, and more were swept in, but remarkably saved. Andy and I were both so freaked out since there is no way we would have lasted 5 seconds in the raging river - it was faster and bigger than I have ever seen!

Rock Climbing

Yesterday Andy and I went rock climbing - finally! Its been a good ten years since I have been. It was hard, hot, but so fun and exhilerating! Michael and Heather Johnson took us and I am stoked because Heather rocks and wants me to be her climbing partner! He was one of AK's mission companions in Argentina, and they are a great, adventurous, fun couple! Andy was very, very nervous, but he charged up and did great! It was his first time rappeling and everything. He's not quite sure he wants to do it again, but I hope he does. I got to go twice and the second time the sun had set and it was much cooler and easier than the very shaky first time in 10 years! We went above the S curves in Big Cottonwood, and there were a few other groups of two climbing around us as well. It was a 5.9, which I am writing just to remember. It was great!
Today we hit the park early and about 9:30 for an hour, but it started getting really hot and Owen was unbelievably red and sweaty. They are both napping since Holden went to be at about 10 and woke up at 6! That sounds like a lot of sleep to me, but he is beat.

By the way, the photo is not me. This lady is on like a 5.13 in New Hampshire. But my goal by the end of the summer is to lead a climb.

Grey's/Summer

Sweet Owen! Last week at Sugarhouse Park with Maama.

Holden & Weston last week at Sugarhouse Park.

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This weekend's hike along the middle Provo.



Grey's was so stressful! Its weird to only like Burke & Alex on that show! I almost gave up, but then I guess I don't have to get fired up for it until September. It is really quite hot - its like high 80's, which freaks me out because we get regular 90 degree days in summer. Andy got the swamp cooler up and running and it's working great - I love our little house. The basement is still nice and chill.
Owen is driving me crazy. He is cute alright, but he is so nasty to other kids. This kid at the park was kind of going after him, but Owen was trying to full on punch the poor kid. And this doll faced little girl was trying to talk to him and he nearly attacked. And poor Samuel gets it every time! They go at it together - I mean no one is innocent, but Owen has definitely been holding his own! He did play very well with a sweet girl at Laird Park named Savannah yesterday - he is quite the flirt! We love the parks around here - I tried Liberty Park today, a little afraid and I think I know why. That is where 'Savannah Smiles' was "kidnapped" and we were obsessed with that movie as kids!

cinco de mayo

I am very blue today, but it is Cinco de Mayo and we are firing up the bbq, even if it does rain! On the bra stuff - I got measured and I think they are full of it because they said I was a 34-C! Are you kidding me, I am overweight and my boobs are abnormally huge! That leads me to the next topic! I can't find any cute, wearable, cute shirts! I am tired of shade and I can't wear them alone anyway. I am coming out of my (well, originally Kate's) jean jacket season and I can't bare it! I know this is boring, but I thought I would write...

Okay, but I did realize this week how great my life really is. I mean which profession of women or someone else I may be green with envy over their life goes swimming, to the zoo, to a museum, to a park, on a bike ride, on a long leisurely walk, at least once a day and sometimes we do two things in a day. Usually I try to do one fun activity like a museum or the zoo once a week, but lately we've been going a little crazy with the fun stuff. Which is probably why I am burnt out and bored when its rainy and gloomy like today! Swimming has been hilarious, yesterday we went to the outdoor pool at Steiner for the second time this week (its been open since Monday!) and it started raining on us. We are all jonesing for summer. Lates.