Crushes

Last night as the kids were in bed but not yet asleep I heard a little bit of a conversation going on. The first part I tuned into was Spencer jokingly saying, "I have a crush on girls." Then Kaybree said, "I have a crush on boys." Then Chase said, "I have a crush on Mom." Spencer and Kaybree then quickly took the opportunity to tell him he shouldn't have a crush on his mom... but before they could get very far I decided to join the conversation. I called to them (from my bedroom), "It's okay, cuz I have a crush on him too."
{{{Giggles}}} I'm sure they hadn't realized I was listening, but they liked my response. Chase especially liked it. =)
I remember similar conversations with Blake and Spencer when they were little--and even my own little brother, who's now in his 30's. It seems to be a normal occurrence for little boys to have crushes on their moms/sisters/aunts/cousins, and for little girls to also love their daddies/brothers/uncles/cousins when they're young and innocent. I don't remember hearing of too many who don't eventually outgrow it. ;-)
So, while it lasts, I'll choose to be flattered and honored to be the "current crush" in my little boy's life. I know the day will come all too soon when he'll find it's time for an "upgrade"!

What a Way to Start the Day

A friend of mine mentioned this video awhile back. She said she watches it first-thing in the morning, almost daily. After watching it myself, I understand why. It's so full of good stuff; reminders of all that is truly important.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2AibapAJfE

Enjoy!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

I don't believe in trying to improve upon perfection. In fact, my sis-in-law Shari is so on-the-ball I went this whole trip and didn't take a single picture myself... I knew I could just wait and steal hers (and they'd be better anyway)! She's already written a post about our trip, so she has once again made my life very easy. Click here to read about the FUN!!!:

http://seanandsharitate.blogspot.com/2010/02/girls-only-prescott-trip.html

I'll include last year's trip here too--(again, courtesy of Shari):

http://seanandsharitate.blogspot.com/2009/01/girls-prescott-scrapbooking-trip.html

Thanks, Shari! =)

Mr. Tough Guy

This is how Blake went to school today. It was Crazy Hair Day, and he decided to go ALL OUT. (For this picture he also had the face to match--man, if I didn't know him I'd be terrified! He looks like the kind of kid I tell mine to stay far away from!)

Rob buzzed the sides of Blake's head last night, leaving the mohawk for him. I don't know how many times I looked at Blake and thanked him for not really choosing to look like this on a regular basis!

As we drove to the bus stop this morning Blake was slowly sinking lower and lower in the seat, hiding himself behind the dash. As the bus came closer and I told him to have a good day, he looked at me and said, "Do I have to get out yet?" He was definitely questioning himself at that point. He reluctantly walked over and got on. The bus driver had a pretty good smile on her face as they drove away. I was also smiling with relief at the fact that this look is not a comfortable one for him.

After school he'll get the mohawk buzzed, and of course, wash out his red, green & blue. And out of this we're getting him a much-needed haircut. (Yay!) I'll have my normal kid back by tomorrow--Hallelujah!!!

Bowling, Anyone???

For our Family Night activity we headed out this afternoon to find the Coke Ovens, down past Florence. Rob wanted to check out the area as a possible place to take his scouts anyway, so we set out to make a hike out of it.

Long story short, the amount of hiking we did ended up being about zero, but we definitely weren't lacking adventure. As we drove through a canyon, trying to wind our way through, we came to a spot that looked impossible to drive through. Unfortunately, Rob saw it as a challenge.

As we started driving over the boulders (not exaggerating--they were BOULDERS!), we soon found ourselves high-centered and in a dilemma. Rob started to get out to evaluate our situation and Ashlee commented, "You know, some families go bowling and stuff..." This was her way of letting us know that she apparently finds our family activities to be out-of-the-ordinary. Strange.

Well, we made it through and got to go about another 1/4 mile before we were truly at a dead end. Which of course meant... we got to go BACK over the part we had just come through. This time, knowing what we were in for, I got out to help guide from the outside (and snap pictures!), Ashlee stayed in the front to guide from there, and we let the other kids out to play around while Rob worked through it.

Here they go over the boulders...

Rob would drive a few inches, get out and strategically place rocks as needed, get in and drive over those rocks, get out and place some more rocks...

This went on for quite awhile...

I cringed watching them as they finally got through. That big rock behind them was stuck underneath the car as they came down off the boulders. The scraping and grinding before it finally worked its way out was physically painful to watch (and hear)!!! =/

This is what the other kiddos did while Rob & Ashlee were having their fun:

After we got out of that mess, we drove another way and found some railroad tracks to play around. We never made it to the Coke Ovens, since it was getting dark, but had a good time nonetheless.

Of course no family outing would be complete without Rob terrorizing the kids...

Chase loves having big brothers to swing him... 1... 2... 3!

Rob told Kaybree to see if she could hear a train coming...

Just hangin' out...

We thought this place looked like something out of a movie. It even looked misty back in there. It was really cool.

Had to snap a couple pictures of the scenery as the sun went down.


The night was complete after stopping to find a quick geocache on the way home:

Ashlee would still have preferred bowling... ;-)

Riding Like the Big Boys

With school out for President's Day today, the kids enjoyed playing outside and riding bikes. Chase experienced a great accomplishment, thanks to some pointers and help from his big brother, Blake. He learned to jump his bike!!! He's always watched Blake and Spencer do this, so he was very excited today to learn to ride like the big boys!

Trying...
Gearing up for another attempt...

Getting some help a few times...

And finally... The great moment... WOOHOO!!!

Good times!!!

The Best Guy in the World

Today as we were driving in the car Chase said, "Dad is the best guy in the world!" The other kids and I just had to agree.

I met this guy over 21 years ago, at a Family New Year's Eve party I tagged along to with my BFF, his cousin Wendi. (He & I would both later say that our first impressions of each other would never have led us to believe we'd end up married!)

A few months later, in a moment of desparation, he called me for a date. He had a Priests mutual activity that he had to bring a date to, so he called up his BCF Wendi to get the number for that girl who came to the family party. (She would have to do.) =)

The mutual activity was a beach cookout at Val Vista Lakes, and it was fun. Apparently he had enough fun that he decided to ask the girl out again, a few months later, for his (Gilbert HS) Homecoming.

I remember that night was the the beginnings of a connection with this guy. Homecoming was held at Burke Elementary School, and when we had had enough dancing, we went out and sat on the playground swings and chatted. I remember him talking about his Grandpa Tate, who was suffering from Alzheimer's. I remember how tough he tried to be as he talked about it all, but I caught some glimpses of how it was really tearing his heart out. He had a special relationship with his Grandpa. We talked about some funny things too, and I got to see what a fun sense of humor he had.

From there we started spending more time together... dating more... (This is one of my favorite pictures from that time in our lives.) One thing we often did was go together and donate blood (hence the bandage on his arm). Soooo romantic, I know! Stephenie Meyer would have a hayday with that one! I know it was really more one of my favorite things to do than his, but he obliged me... (because he's the best guy in the world).

I look at this picture and the memories come flooding back. That smile... those puppy-dog eyes... his Chevy Blazer... that smile... the parking lot of the Goodwill downtown (why the heck were we stopped there???)... that trim, fit, muscular tennis player he was (Oh, BABY!!!)... that smile... (did I already say that???) Man, those were some good times!!!

And here we are, 17 years of marriage & 6 kiddos later... and the best guy in the world is still mine. And will be for eternity. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Thanks, Honey, from all of us, for being the best guy in the world. For loving us, providing for us, teasing us, teaching us, and giving us a wonderful example to follow.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO THE BEST GUY IN THE WORLD!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

Driving Mr. Chase

This morning Chase was very anxious to deliver his Toy Story Valentines to his friends. He carefully wrote his name on each one, inserted the pencils they came with, and off we went. We drove around to his friends' homes, I stayed in the car so as not to detract from his sense of independence (and with hopes that I might not be seen in my frumpy sweats state), and he was on top of the world by the time we finished.

As this magic transformation came over him I started writing down his comments. After giving out his 4th Valentine he came running back to the car and exclaimed, "And I bet I'm not even being shy today, cuz, they're saying 'Thank you' and I'm saying 'You're welcome'!!!" He was also thrilled beyond belief at the fact that several friends had Valentines with treats for him! He said, "Mom, I can't believe they're giving us treats back!" (Especially when the valentines we're giving only come with a pencil! Heckuva deal, I must say!!!)

One of his friends gave him a Fruit by the Foot, and as he opened it to eat while we drove to the next house he was amazed at how long it was. He still pointed out, though, that, "This is deftalently NOT bigger than me!" (I'm so glad he hasn't lost the deftalently quite yet!)

After he finished the FBTF he stated matter-of-factly, "We're gonna have to go home." His hands were sticky and he can't stand being sticky. Before I even had the chance to offer an easier solution (like a wipee), he said, "I know just the thing, actually... Licking my hands off!" He was delighted with his discovery. (I loved the "just the thing"--and I love his occasional "actually" he throws in! Wonder where he'd get that...?) =)

One friend wasn't home, so he stuck the Valentine in the door, turned around to head back to the car, and said with a smile, "I give up!"

As we headed back home he said, "Mom, I think Jesus is thankful for me giving these to people."

Doesn't that just sum it all up right there? The whole point of every little thing we do--from giving out simple Valentines to performing major acts of service. Sign me up to chauffeur any day. It was time well spent.

Mary Poppins

Ashlee's choir class had an evening field trip to see Mary Poppins at Gammage. Since it was a "provide your own transportation" event, we were able to bring Grandma Nelson along. We picked her up early and took her to Costa Vida for dinner (she had never been there), and then we headed for Tempe.
We had low-budget seats (which we were thankful for, so we could afford to go)--but they were way up high. Ashlee was so funny walking along our row to her seat--she was terrified, but laughing!!! She walked slowly, holding on to the back of the seats, freaking out every time she turned around to look back at us. We were all pretty nervous--it was so steep! But we made it! And we were glad we had brought binoculars along. =)
The show was about 3 hours long--and it was GREAT! I actually cried at the end--I'm such a ridiculous baby!!! I don't know what it is--sometimes I'm just so amazed by people's incredible talents!
It was a really fun evening. Great memories, Great times!

Ashlee, Lexy, Haylee, & Ashley

This was the last picture I got before the ushers came and told us NO PICTURES!!!

Awesome show!!!