Road trip adventure (18 days of fun)

As a mom, I am always thinking of ways to help my kids make good choices. One theme that has been on my mind all year is that the Lord will support you in having righteous adventures. Meaning, just because you try your best to keep the commandments doesn't mean you can't have a great time.

So, one night in August the kids and I started talking about going on a road trip to Utah and a few other states. (Nevada, maybe California). When I woke up the next morning they had packed their own suitcases and were literally waiting in the van. It was my sign they were ready for an adventure. I packed my stuff and within a couple hours we had said goodbye to Kyle and were on our way.

18 days later we had packed in enough fun to last the whole year. Here are a few memories the kids said we should remember. Feel free to skip to pictures.

• Chanting "Utah! Utah!" all through Idaho
• Ashley wins the award for best baby traveler ever
• We (meaning I) drove 15 hours straight and arrived just after 1:00 a.m.
• Grandpa Dug, Grandma Anne and Shelby were waiting for us like always
• Cafe Rio every day 
• 2 baseball games with Grandpa (thanks for the treats, Julie!)
• Blaring "Paradise City" in Grandpa's truck
• Boating with Uncle Jake and cousins
• Watched lots of Olympics with Grandma Anne
• Grandma Janie had a backwards/opposite party that was lots of fun!
• Shelby got a fancy haircut!
• Scera Pool with Kate's BFF molly
• Races with the cousins in the backyard
• Splash pad with Grandma Janie
• Fancy restaurants for lunch with Grandmpa (Chuck-O-Rama) LoL
• Everyone sleeps in the same bed
• 7 or so days in Utah
• Drove another 10 hours to Reno
• Surprise welcoming party at Kelly Couture's 
• Ella's quote: "We have the BEST friends! They are waiting for us!"
• 3 days with Kelly Couture (Swimming, children's museum, park at the river)
• Sushi with the girls (thank you husbands for watching all the kids)
• 3 days with Courtney
• Stole John's jeep for late night In-and-Out
• Roasted tomato soup
• Sleepovers at Ashlyn's house ("Mom, Mrs. Sandra let us stay up all night and eat all the candy we wanted!)
• Awesome run along the Truckee
• Kyle arrived and 4 more days at Squaw Valley
• Celebrated anniversary and awesome date
• Swam to the buoy 
• French Crepes
• Tram
• And so much more

We were so glad Kyle arrived to drive us home. We had the best time and the kids were awesome. Thanks, everyone, for all the fun!!!

Keeping baby occupied

Mud war

"Our parents didn't think it was appropriate to send little children to war, so instead we had a mud war." --Ella Gillespie 

Remind me when i'm old...

Things I can't forget. Feel free to skip to the pictures . . . 

-How having a new baby fills the house up with love . . . 

-How Kyle said we can have another baby if they are as good as Ashes...

-How a kid's tiny moments can be packed with so much courage . . . 

-How a handful of quarters at the pool concession stand can equal pure joy . . . 

-How sunshine and water make us feel so darn happy . . . 

-How training for a marathon has helped return mental grit to my mushy brain . . . 

-How our twenties were great but our thirties are so much better . . . 

-How cousins make the kind of friendships that last forever . . .

-How when your parents both get surgery in the same day, you can't do anything about it but pray for them and hope things turn out well . . . 

-How dealing with city government reminds me why government should never be involved in health care

-How it feels when my kids forgo TV for an outside adventure 

-How I haven't been in to work for months and guess what? Work is doing just fine

-How homeschooling can be a gift

-How sending your kids to school can be a gift

-How Dash tells me every morning, "Mom, I love you."

-How Kate sneaks into my bed every night, changes outfits 4 times a day and has only one speed: full throttle. 

-How Kate is also the snack broker at the pool and says, "2 qworters" in a perfect, boston accent

-How Ella told me she started a club: "I'm the vice-president. All we do is talk about boys."

-How my kids told their babysitters, "We are having a babysitting competition. We want to see who is the best."And the fact that it worked.

-How I can't potty train Dash and I just give up

-How I don't regret plantation shutters one bit

-How I love fresh produce but can't seem to fall in love with gardening

-How there is waaaay to much sugar in freezer jam. Use the low sugar pectin

-How sometimes when you think you are going to die, a friend totally bails you out!

-How I am so excited to visit Tahoe and soak in that deep blue happiness

-How being a full-time mom is about the greatest, most rewarding thing in the whole world

Sidenote: Last weekend was pretty great. Woke up early. Ran 14 miles. Fed baby. Threw kids in truck. Drove to Cle Elm. Hoofed it with 4 kids and the cooler and tent and camping chair. Fed baby some more. Watched Kyle come out of retirement in blazing hot weather. Passed water bottles while kids cheered for their awesome dad. Bribed the kids into missing their race in exchange for an ice cream cone. (A girl can only take so much heat!) Anyway, most days aren't spent indulging in exactly what you want to do so they are worth remembering!

Baby Ash in her car seat

She has her own bouffant!

Every girl should feel like a princess

Cousins make the best friends

You know someone is awesome when they let you stand on their head

Swim competition sleepy heads . . . Darren H on baby duty

The many faces of Baby Ashley

 Baby Ashes loves you all this much!

Don't let her cheeks fool you! I think she is going to be a tiny one. She is cooing, rolling over and currently smiling at anyone and everyone. I officially give her the best baby ever award, along with the rest of them.

Ella has taught her how to watch TV and is a great help if I ever need someone to hold her or get her dressed. Kate makes her laugh and uses the word "adorable" a lot when Ashes is around. Dash likes to play cars by her while I'm doing laundry and say, "I'm the big brother." We are so glad she is ours.

Tummy time!

She loves her toes. And nice hair!

My friend made her this dress. I wish you could see it better, it is darling!

Birth announcement picture that may never get sent

Anything with polka dots is cuter

Best dad in the world. He loves his sweeties!

This is the sweetest stage! I love every minute!

Most perfect memories involve water

I have a theory that most perfect days involve water, sunshine and dirt one way or the other. Ella has been working so hard to learn her strokes . . . tryouts were this morning and she jumped in the freezing water and did her thing! Hard work (and adrenaline) pays off and we are so proud of "little diver", daughter of "little climber."

So for the next 6 weeks the kiddos and I will be at the pool hanging out at 8:00 a.m. so Ella can practice. I know there are a few younger kids on the team but I think Ella may have been the littlest.

Are all kids hippies like mine?

 There's something about having the kids play outside that makes me feel like a good mother. Bikes, sandbox, forts, the works...

 Kate is usually waiting by my bed at 6:30 am so she can tell me her plans for the day, which typically include catching frogs. At least for now I would prefer a frog over a dog or a cat. 

Lucky for me, the amazing Susan L. adopted a cat so we didn't have to. I am all about friends with pets. I imagine it's like having grandkids. Love 'em to pieces and send them home with their parents!

It's funny how there are things the wind and dirt can teach your kids that they probably won't learn anywhere else. Something about what it's like to create, to love, to be free . . .

Raising kids is holy work. Glad we signed up for the job.

How to judge a friend

Hmmm. I don't know what to say about this girl so instead I will tell you how I feel when I am around her.

1. Inspired 

2. Motivated

3. Grateful

4. Happy

5. Content

6. Full of Joy

Courtney left her family to come visit us last weekend and run the Wenatchee 1/2 marathon. Although she had her race to think about, somehow she still managed to do my laundry and bake us orange rolls. 

We ate some dang yummy food and laid low with our two new babies.

We laughed and then she organized my dysfunctional kitchen.

All I can say is there are friends and then there are friends. 

Courtney is one of those friends for me. Someone you trust enough to lay your dirt out in front of them and say, "Okay, here it is. Tell me the truth about this situation and what I should do to fix it." She is smart. She is real. And I am one lucky girl to have her in my life.

Thanks, Court, for the awesome visit. Baby and I felt totally spoiled and we are looking to return the favor soon.