Easter Weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Downen's house

After the funeral we headed back to Valencia for more family time with the Widdisons, Banners, Dust & family, Grandma and Grandpa and Heidi and Alexis. Even Blake and Amy Ambridge stopped by and spent the night. It was a house full of people and fun!
Some highlights: Grandpa and I took the kids out to In-n-out for lunch, Easter Egg hunt planned by Ashley, the party girl, Water play time in the backyard, Down to the pool for a cold dip and then the hot tub, lots of time holding baby Kylie (especially Logan) egg dying and decorating, and Easter morning and then yummy easter dinner followed by opening the 12 Resurrection story eggs and Grandma sharing a very sweet story. Nice trip...that ends our Spring break. Back home to clean and do laundry. :-)

San Diego for Grandpa's Funeral

Grandpa Ambridge passed away on Sunday, March 24. So happy for him to have finished this life and go see Grandma in the spirit world. Hope they are having fun together. On the other hand, sad that Joan will be left alone. She is such a great woman and was so good for Grandpa. It was nice to see lots of cousins and extended family that we don't get to see very often. It was also great to see so much immediate family and the kids had so much fun with their cousins. Kortney was kind enough to let us come and stay with her for Thursday. We spent the day playing at the park, eating ice cream and playing in their fun backyard. The kids loved running around back there. And Kolby loved riding Kade's motorcycle around, even though it ended with a split lip as he flipped over the handle bars. He almost did one of his fainting spells that he loves to do at the sight of blood, but resisted and just fell into a very tired lethargic state. The kids were so great together. 

 The funeral was so sweet and there lay Grandpa's body, spirit definitely gone on to the Spirit world.

 After the funeral we all went over to Ponto beach, the one we would always walk to from Grandpa's house. Even though it was a bit chilly, that didn't stop the boys from getting in the water and having such a great time. I even got to catch up with my friend Jill Wilson who stopped by for a bit with her cute boys. Kids played baseball, crab hunting, running in the water, rock collecting, sand digging and had such a blast.

Start of Spring Break 2013

Start of Spring Break: Saturday Geoff ran the Visalia 10k (see Logan all decked out with Eliza's sunglasses and pink wallet and sunglass case), Monday - Big Easter Egg hunt and play time at the sports park with lots of ward friends, Tuesday - Zoo fun over Spring Break with the Lops and Abbots. We had a great time running around seeing the animals and especially love the bird show. Great way to start off our Spring Break (3/23/13-3/25/13). Eliza had strep throat but was still a good sport tagging along with us. And looks especially beautiful next to my favorite spring tree!

Funny Sayings

Just so I don't forget a few funny things my boys have said in the past week...

Logan, who is now 21 months old, is such a talker that he cracks us up. He spurts out 3 syllable words all the time like it's no problem and is always surprising us with what comes out of his month. His normal bedtime routine is me singing him "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "You are My Sunshine" while I hold him and tickle his back. Last week I was just going through the normal routine and as I was singing "Twinkle, Twinkle" he lifted his head off my shoulder and looked right into my eyes and said, "I don't like that song!" Well, that really surprised me since he goes around the house singing it all the time and it has made him famous at the dentist office (cuz he sang it for the staff and they were so impressed).  So I asked him what song he wanted me to sing instead and he said, "I am a child of God." Ok...that was easy. So I started to sing that and he just put his head back down on my shoulder and relaxed and listened to the song. It was funny. He definitely uses his words to voice his opinions and he is one very opinionated little dude!

The other funny thing that happened was that Carson, who is almost 5, was listening to Geoff talk to me. Geoff was commenting that Carson had recently grown and that he wasn't the tallest kid around but that he seemed to be taller than average. Carson immediately responded, "Who's average?" Kids are always listening and learning. We chuckled and tried to explain "average" the best we could.

I'm sure there have been lots of daily funny happenings but these are the two that keep sticking out in my mind. Life is good. We are so busy so my record keeping really stinks!  Kolby and Eliza started 3rd and 2nd grades this week at the new neighborhood elementary school. they love their teachers and their classes so we are looking forward to a great school year! Carson begins school tomorrow at Stepping Stones for the Pre-K program which I think will be really great for him. And me and Logan are going to try and get this house in order, since we moved at the end of June and still have some boxes sitting around, no pictures hung and projects galore awaiting us!

A New Beginning - Funny Kids

I know it has been a really really long time since I have posted anything but since I am trying to use this as our family journal and I am feeling a little extra energetic today I figured I will sit down and just write a couple of things that are funny and/or just happening around here.

Kolby- in the midst of ortho treatment. Has had an expander in for 2 weeks and just found out that in 3 weeks they are going to put brackets on his top four front teeth to now push them back together. He has been a good sport, learning how to turn the key on the expander all by himself. Most excited about getting to choose different colored rubber bands on his braces. How is this happening so soon??? Also, in serious pain in his achilles. The kids is growing so fast and has been having feet problem. Got him some orthotics that have helped a lot and now his achilles is killing him. Pretty sure it is because he never stops moving...always chasing after something or someone or playing some sort of ball. His poor feet! But he just has the hardest time resting them which is what they need most of all. Other than that, he's doing awesome in school and baseball and going through the adventure of making his first pinewood derby car with Dad. Hopefully I'll still be posting in a week when they are finished so I can showcase it in picture form. Of course he has chosen a BYU theme. :-)

Eliza - sweet and fun and a big helper when she is feeling up to it. We had twin babies over here yesterday and she was such a big helper and loved playing with them and holding them. It was so sweet. Loves school and learning and playing more school when she gets home from school. Awesome on the bars and jumping rope. Super excited to start swim team this year. She inspired my post today when I walked into her room and saw a spiral notebook opened to a page she must have written a while ago (judging by the writing and spelling) that says "Im sitnig on the pote", or in other words, "I'm sitting on the pot." Cracks me up that she took a notebook into the bathroom with her and actually wrote that. I hope this doesn't embarrass her in the future. I had to capture it because it makes me chuckle. Maybe I'll even scan the page and show her actual writing.

Carson - He too inspired this post when we were playing catch yesterday in the front yard. I noticed something very interesting about him. He could only catch the football when his tongue was sticking out. We got to 82 passes without either one of us dropping it, which I think is pretty impressive. On the 83rd, his tongue was in his mouth instead of out! He has also become Mr. Monkey Bars and loves to show off his skill. He wants to go to any park that has monkey bars and has decided that I need to buy him a $900 swing set for his birthday because it has monkey bars. Today we had some time before we had to pick Kolby up from school to go to his appt so we stopped at the park and Mr. Monkey Bars showed off. Once again, though, the tongue must be out for him to have success. As soon as the tongue goes back in his mouth, he falls off the bars. It's very cute and funny! He is turning into such a little character as he begins to articulate his words much better and can express himself. He still has a very tender heart that gets his feelings hurt very easily. Breaks into almost tears several times a day. Not sure if it is lack of sleep or just extra sensitive. Loves preschool and all of his friends there. It is so fun to see him have his "thing". Has tried to convince me that he needs to go to kindergarten next year because all of his friends are going, but with his October birthday, he is going to do another year of preschool and that will end up being just perfect for him. I am sure of that! Has his first tball game this Saturday. We'll see if it lives up to his expectations!

Logan - couldn't ask for a better little guy to be our caboose. He is so cute and funny and good natured. Hoping that he stays that way! He is almost 17 months and talking up a storm. He wants to be a big kid since he idolizes his big brothers and sister. He and Carson seem to have a special relationship, maybe cuz Carson is closest to his size. It is good for both of them. He climbs on everything! He gets his own food out of the pantry. He loves his DAD!!! I am pretty sure that comes from him waking up to Dad at home every morning while I am off teaching seminary. I love that he loves his dad so much. Some of his favorite words to say are happy, cuckoo (cookie), candy, apple, eat, hungry, mama, dad, play, yay, book, water, dog, neigh, moo, and i'm sure i am forgetting lots...He says a ton of words which we love! He love his blankey and his binky. He hates teething and so do we cuz it turns him into a horrible sleeper. He walks down the stairs like a big boy, not wanting to hold onto the wall. That has only led to a few falls. :-) Loves bubbles and being a little busy body. Loves to sing songs...favorites are "Popcorn popping", "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Bedtime songs are "Twinkle Twinkle" and "You are My Sunshine". Has started saying his prayers this week, instead of just listening to me say them for him. So cute. And now he is really done with me being at the computer and wants my attention so this blog post is ending!

Hello Again!

Hello to my blog! It has been a really long time but I felt like writing a few things down and this is the place to do it so...

• Tonight we went and played volleyball at the church with the Burkes, Leges and Hawkes. It was so much fun. The kids were up on the stage with a movie and Kolby played with us (cuz of course there was no way he was going to miss out on playing a sport). He did great! I haven't touched a volleyball in years, so I was definitely very rusty, but it was still so fun to play a little bit. When we got home I asked Kolby what he thought of volleyball and he said it was fun. Then I asked him what he thought about seeing his mom and dad out there playing and he shrugged his shoulders. So then I asked, "Were you impressed with your mom diving for balls and hitting the ball." And then he got a big smile and sheepishly said, "Yes." That's what I wanted to hear! :-)
• This week one of Eliza's big front teeth was ready to be pulled out. We could have easily done it at home on Tuesday night but she consciously chose to wait until school on Wednesday to pull it out because she wanted to be able to get her name on the tooth chart in class and go to the office to get her own little treasure box to put her tooth in. She came home on Wednesday not opening her mouth, but I didn't let too much time pass before asking for her to open her mouth. She was so proud. I guess she waited until maybe one minute after school started to pull it out. And she got her purple treasure box. They must have been all out of pink.
• Finally, the magic age in our house seems to be 4. When the kids turn 4, they become much easier almost overnight. Well, I am still waiting for that magic day to come with Carson. He likes to throw tantrums over everything! Cuz I wouldn't buy him a soda at Target, cuz he had to put his clean clothes away (with my or Kolby's help) before watching a show, cuz his brother and sister ran through the rain before he could get his shoes on and get out of the car, cuz his older brother won't let him play basketball with the other big kids at church (when Kolby 90% of the time does let him play), and a few other times that I can't remember cuz I am emotionally drained from dealing with all of his emotions today. I know he will grow out of it. I am just trying to help him feel loved. He just wants to be such a big boy so quickly and do everything they do. If only he would be such a big boy emotionally things might not be so dramatic around here. I really need to start videoing him so someday he can say really, i did those things to you, mom. Yes, son, here is the proof!
• And I guess I should say something about Logan since I said something about the other 3. Logan is almost 1, loves to stand but not walk, loves playing in the kitchen cupboards and must have a spatula constantly. He's had a rough week with sinus and ear infection but is staying sturdy at 25 pounds 4 ounces. No wonder my back is killing me! Sweet little guy that is also beginning to show some attitude...my way or i am gonna make your life miserable is the message he is starting to send. Hmmm...Is doted on by everyone and he loves it most of the time. Love getting him out of the bed in the morning cuz he is so darn excited to see me and just silly as can be rolling around in his bed just giddy. It is so cute!

Conversations with Carson

Carson is always thinking about something. tonight he was contemplating death for some reason. Goes perfectly with my lesson on the plan of salvation for seminary tomorrow. If I can teach a 3 year old about it, hopefully I'll be able to teach the high school students too. My favorite quote from him was, "Big grandma and Big Papa were people before they were big grandma and big papa." He's totally trying to understand how they could have been just a mom and dad like I am his mom and Geoff is his dad and then they turned into grandparents somehow. It is cute that he is so thoughtful and lays there trying to piece the puzzle together in his head and through words. He is a very curious boy. So glad that he is mine! Can't wait to see what he starts coming up with next week when he goes off to preschool. :-)