Some Summer Sanity

I've really been looking forward to summertime. I have not, however, been looking forward to children getting bored and getting into trouble--sometimes constantly! So, I decided to brave Toys 'r Us (bad idea with Ezra) and buy something else for Abby, Will, and Ezra to enjoy. Turns out this relatively inexpensive pool has been doing the "trick" this week. After Ezzie's nap, we head out to the backyard, fill up the pool with icy cold water, and let the kids go wild. I sit in the shade and watch their fun slowly over time turn into whining and complaining just as it's time for dinner! Before their behavior takes a turn for a hungry worse, I snap tons of colorful pictures. Here are a few. The one of Will in the chair, so forlorn looking, is what a timeout looks like!

First Family Bees Game

On Monday we spent Family Night together at our first Bees game. I was a little apprehensive about how I was going to keep the kids happy, but I have to say they were pretty good (and it was fun to watch the Bees play the Sacramento Rivercats)! We sat WAY out in left field, in the first row, in front of some clean-mouthed college guys who got a kick out of Ezra and his excitement with the Bees shuttle that looks like a yellow train. It also helped that we bought popcorn and snowcones to keep everyone quiet and happy! A humorous moment for Eric and me (not Ezra) was when the Bees mascot eventually drove on his bright yellow four-wheeler over to where we were sitting. The Bee gave Will a high five and gave Ezra quite the fright (see picture)! We left at the start of the 7th inning and promised to come back again!

Red Butte Garden Pictures

Something Funny

I found these pictures on someone's blog, and they made me chuckle.

Happy Birthday Chad!

Will shares his birthday with his Uncle Chad. We hope Chad had a great birthday in Iraq, and we can't wait to see him in July at the Paullin reunion!

Will Turns Five!

Will has had a great time turning five! Last Saturday he had a friend party that included "Pin the Tail on the Triceratops," a pinata (no injuries!), pizza, and a wonderful dino caked designed by Eric. (It's such a fun tradition in our family that Eric decorates the kids' cakes!) Also, thank you to Sophie for helping at the party!

Before the family party last night, the kids and I went to the library so Will could get his own library card. He quickly chose his allowed five books--three of which were science books! At the family dinner and in his honor and by his request, we dined on tri trip and watermelon plus Funeral Potatoes and salad. For dessert we all stuffed ourselves on Costco cheesecake and fresh berries. Yum! Will enjoyed opening his presents and spending time with Kerri, Kurt and Ashleigh, Blake, and his cousins.

Perhaps his best birthday gift was learning today at Dr. Cox's office that he would not need to get any shots this year. We also learned that Will is 50th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height. It's fun having such a string bean! Love that kid! I also love his current interests: cars, dinosaurs, books, Transformers, facts, sea creatures, and Legos.

Monkey Business

After posting for Will and Abby, I came across these photos of Ezra (taken right before we moved) with his beloved Monkey that Aunt Kerri gave to him when he was a newborn, and I had to add these pics as well. I LOVE how he adores Monkey. Ezra carries him all over the house and constantly chews on him and kisses him. I also love his love of the book Five Little Monkeys. And for a while, he was my little monkey (think Curious George) as he would grunt and chatter for what he needed.

Abby's Dance Recital

I'm embarassed to say that I'm glad dance is finally done for the summer! I think the rehearsal and performance nights (a total of five hours for me with the boys) just about did me in. Of course it was well worth it watching Abby dance with her jazz class. (The girls wore referee themed costumes for their ESPN inspired dance that went along with the "AED T.V." theme.) All the girls were darling, the costumes were fun, and the night was perfect. (Her recital was held at the Sandy Amphitheatre. I loved the waterfalls and landscaping there.) Also, I have really liked her dance studio, AED (American Expression of Dance), and both Abby and I will miss it and her teacher, Miss Charae, as we look for a studio closer to our new home. For now, I will revel in the fact that summer is coming and we can slow down and enjoy not being in the car driving to and from Sandy each day!

Will's Preschool Graduation

Last Thursday was a big day for Will as he graduated from preschool. It was an emotional day for me as my little boy is getting so big and as this would be my last child to go through Super Kid Preschool. We have loved Chris Wixom who is the teacher at this preschool. Abby and Will both learned wonderful social skills in her loving environment. I just love wonderful teachers!

Will had a big smile on during his patriotic-themed peformance. He did a great job--especially leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, and I am very proud of him. Now on to Kindergarten with cousin Kate!

Heartbeat

This morning the whole family went with me to my doctor's office in hopes of hearing a heartbeat for the first time. Since I'm only 13 weeks, the doctor said there was still a good chance that we wouldn't be able to hear it. But, luckily for us, he was able to pickup the heartbeat almost right away! What a blessing to hear that strong heartbeat!

Count My Blessings

Okay, so I was sweeping my floor this morning and thought of a really fun surprise that happened to me when I turned 16. Then I started thinking about other nice things that have been done for me and I realized I need to be especially aware of counting my blessings during this hard time. So, each day I think I will try to post something I have been thankful for in hopes that I can see more of the positive in my life than all the negative I seem to see and feel right now.

#1: For my sixteenth birthday, my parents and Uncle John surprised me with a trip to San Diego. I remember going with my family in our station wagon to the Sacramento Airport to pick up my uncle from San Diego for a visit with our family in NorCal (so I thought). While waiting at the gate, I remember the anticipation of greeting him as he stepped off the plane. Instead of a plane arriving from San Diego, the announcer said US Airways would begin boarding to San Diego. At that moment, my mom and dad handed me a boarding pass and envelope. I was so confused. They were all smiles and explained that I would be going to San Diego to meet Uncle John for my sweet 16 for a week of fun. I was definitely shocked! Mom and Dad had packed my suitcase and checked it in for me. In the envelope had been letters from my friends who had been in on the secret, a letter from Mom and Dad, and also flyers of the fun places Uncle John and I would do together (Sea World, Tijuana, Disneyland, Raging Waters, etc.). So, thank you again to my parents and Uncle John for suprising me with a trip that I'll remember always and for a fun memory that is helping me to be happy at this moment.

#2: The other day I came across my note pad. On it was written in Abby's handwriting, "I love you Mom." I love you, too!

#3 I'm thankful for little hugs at the knee and hip.

#4 I'm thankful that I didn't have thyroid cancer three years ago.

#5 I'm thankful for a husband who really loves me.

Upsizing and Downsizing

I realized I haven't blogged in a while. Probably because I'm eight weeks pregnant and experiencing the worst morning sickness of all four! Even though I feel so yucky, I'm thankful that I will be entrusted with another little one, but I'm not looking forward to the UPSIZING of my body that is ahead!

As if morning sickness wasn't enough, we are in the process of packing and moving in the next three weeks! I'm really sad to be moving from my great neighborhood, ward, and house, but I'm happy that moving up to Sugarhouse will make for a seven minute commute for Eric and that we'll only be 1/4 mile from Kerri and her family. Will and Kate could quite possibly be in Kindergarten together. So cute!

Eric and I are also looking forward to DOWNSIZING. (I know--we're considered weird--especially in this day and age of supersizing and "I need this" and "I need that" syndrome.) Turns out 4000 square feet is a lot of space, and we don't need or use that much. Hopefully 2400 square feet will suit us just fine! We're also excited about the neighborhood and ward we're moving into. We know a lot about it already because we're buying our house from Kerri's friends. Sounds like LOTS of kids and neighborhood fun with a strong ward!

The next few weeks (as well as the past couple) will be (have been) a rollercoaster of emotions for me (times 100 due to the pregnancy hormones). I'm so thankful to ERIC for his help and understanding thus far and hope he can survive the next couple of weeks! (Poor guy.)

The Civil War at Hale Centre Theatre

Last night Eric and I had such a fun time together--thanks to sweet Ashleigh! She watched our little munchkins for us last night so we could celebrate Eric's birthday two days early. THANK YOU, Ashleigh!

We were able to have a delicious dinner at Johnny Carino's followed by a wonderful production of "The Civil War" at the Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City http://www.halecentretheatre.org/. Talk about off, off, off, off Broadway! The theatre seats approx 532 people in only eight rows. It is a theatre in the round, so there is not a bad seat in the house. The stage was very dynamic as it could move up and down and split into different sections. Very cool. The singing was great, too. I think the slave ensemble stole the show each time. I was very proud of the talent here in Utah! (Thanks to my fabulous AMM teacher, Tamara for suggesting this place to me. Also, I got these two images from her blog. Thanks!) We got home after 10 last night, and the children were sleeping peacefully and the house was so clean. Ashleigh's the best!

A Very Windy Thanksgiving Point

You know you're desperate for sunny weather and fresh air when you decide low 40s and icy wind are doable for a nice family outing! On Saturday we went to Thanksgiving Point Gardens to see the bulbs put on their show. They were beautfiul! The rest of the foliage was still pretty drab, but the waterfalls were as magnificent as ever. We let the kids runs amok (without any interference from other guests as there were no other people there as brave/desperate as us) until our ears and hands had no more feeling. We then practically ran to the toasty car and drove to Astro Burger in Draper for a yummy lunch.

P. S. I took lots of pictures of flowers in honor of our friend, Kathy Willis, who had a nasty fall while skiing Deer Valley on Friday. We are going to visit her at the U of U hospital tonight, and I think I will take her a card that is reminiscent of her wonderful cards she is so well-known for.

Easter Weekend!

I've been tagged.

Thanks Sandy for the "tag."

Where I was 10 years ago: I was teaching my second year of school at Fairmont Elementary (third grade--crazy class that year) in Yorba Linda, CA. We were living in an apartment in Placentia, and we only had our parrot, Riley.

Things on my to do list: Of course, I'd like to be more organized. I'd like to declutter and simplify my life. I'd like to lose at least 20 lbs, I'd like to scrapbook more and learn how to take better pictures with my digital SLR and learn how to alter them in Photoshop.

If I became a billionaire: After paying tithing, of course :-), I'd buy my dad a classic corvette, I'd retire Eric early, I would buy Kurt a new car, I'd possibly hire a cook, I'd hire a chauffeur for my mom, I'd buy Kerri a grand piano, I'd retire Dave early, I'd travel with my family, I'd invest and save, I'd donate to a charity helping children, and I wouldn't feel guilty anymore each time I bought scrapbooking supplies!

Three bad habits: I have a hurry button that gets me feeling impatient too much, I eat too much candy, and I have a hard time under pressure.

Five places I've lived: Citrus Heights, CA; Auburn, CA; San Diego, CA, Placentia/Yorba Linda, CA; Sandy, UT

Five jobs I've had: telemarketer for Alcoa Vinyl Siding, receptionist for Northwestern Mutual Life, data entry for Audio Editions, English Education Secretary at BYU, elementary school teacher

Something most people don't know about me: I can turn my tongue upside-down.

I now tag ERIC and KERRI!

Photo Mosaic Link

Here is the website that will help you make cool photo mosaics like the one I did for the aquarium:

http://www.bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php

Monterey Bay Aquarium

On Saturday, March 1st, the Youngberg gang, my mom and dad, and Jen, Sammy, and Maddy took a long car trip down to Monterey to explore the aquarium. So glad we did! Monterey is a beatiful seacoast town just off Hwy 1 in Central California. The aquarium is housed in what used to be a sardine factory on Cannery Row. The architecture of the aquarium was so cool, but the fish were even more amazing. The highlights for me were the shorebird exhibit (so up close and personal with little birds that are normally hard to watch on shore), seeing a duck swim on top of a leopard shark, watching a new ray wriggle in it's mermaid purse, the gigantic one million gallon tank that held the peculiar sun fish, hammerhead sharks, and 300 lb tuna, the flat flounder swimming like a mermaid, the gigantic sturgeon, sea otters, and the three-story kelp forest tank. I was in heaven with all the beautiful colors and interesting fish. I'm pretty sure Will's favorite part was touching the decorator crab and asking the woman there a million questions!

California Dreamin'

Two weekends ago our family took a little break from the dreary winter weather and enjoyed a pleasant trip to Nor Cal. The weather was wonderful--68 degrees and sunny--and the company was fabulous, too! I love going home to Auburn. My mom always has the house spotless. The guest room night tables have plenty of bottled water, magazines, and candy just for us. She loads up the other guest room with fun things for the kids to do. I also love the five acres they live on. It's so peaceful there. I can let the kids run wild and free and not worry about them getting hit by a car! This trip I especially loved the croaking frogs underneath my parents' kitchen window, the bulbs already up and blooming, and the bright stars at night. Ahhh. . . there's no place like home. I'm already dreamin' about going back!

While visiting we enjoyed a trip to the park in Auburn. We brought In 'n Out, of course, and let the kids play. The kids loved the tall slides, sandbox, the squirrel, and a large gazebo they climbed all over. I'm so glad my mom was able to come and that her feet are doing better. We missed my dad, but he stayed home having "things to do." (aka NASCAR has begun!)

We also enjoyed driving to Monterey with my parents for a fun outing. I'll tell about that trip in the next post.