Family Weekend

Some things couldn't go better if they were planned.

We told the kids we had gift cards to Cafe Rio so we were all going to go out to eat. When we got to the area, Jeremy parked near the movie theater and got out to "see where the restaurant was." Oh, it was within walking distance so the kids and I got out and started walking with him. As we were walking, I saw the movie poster outside for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I just "happened" to be wearing my Mario shirt that day, so I made everyone get in a picture with me with the poster. Isn't that fun?

As we walked past the doors to the theater, Jeremy went inside briefly and told everyone there was a bigger poster right inside so I made everyone go inside for another picture because I was wearing my Mario shirt and it would be fun.

Then Jeremy spotted an even bigger poster by the podium where they check tickets, so I convinced the kids who were already outside again that we just had to get another picture together with that one. I was wearing my Mario shirt after all.

Then Jeremy continued on to the podium and we all followed, where he showed our tickets for... you guessed it... The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. We kept following him to the auditorium and our seats. 

Once we were inside, Jet kept asking if we were getting our food. The kids knew about the restaurant but not the movie. This was Jet's first time watching a movie at a movie theater so I had to explain that we were going to watch a movie first. We figured this would be a good one since he likes The Super Mario Bros. Movie and he's getting better at events. He used to try to wander around during orchestra concerts. He's been learning, though, and he did well watching Lucky's play. He did well with this movie and there were enough other little kids making noises that it was fine if he made noises or asked questions, too.

We all enjoyed it. It was a fun movie. It was a good one to watch as a family since we all like the first movie and Mario video games. It was a good surprise for the kids.

Jeremy and I didn't know about all the posters so that just added to the surprise because the kids really didn't know what was going on until that last poster. We've been known to take pictures with posters without going to see the movie before.

 

Afterward, we did go to Cafe Rio to eat and that was fun, too.

We went home for bathroom breaks then since we still had time in the day, most of us went to the library for a bit. People had movies and books to get and Jet got to do a library activity and earn a sticker. 

Then we went to a park because it was off and on kite flying weather. Nichole brought her kite she made in high school.

 

I got a walk around the park. Jet (and kids) played on the playground. It was a lovely evening. 

 

The next morning we got up early to drive to Idaho because our newest niece was getting blessed by her daddy, Jeremy's brother, so we wanted to go to support them. 

Jet was happy to shout out, "Road Trip!" every time I got a picture of us in the van.

We made good time and it was so nice to see family again. Jeremy's parents were also visiting for the baby blessing, so I made (asked nicely) my father-in-law take pictures of us since we don't have any family pictures yet this year (besides selfies- as you see from this post). Jet learned from someone at school I think to do the peace symbol in pictures, so that's what he was doing in all the pictures this weekend, until we made him stop briefly to get a nice family picture. I didn't think it counted if your fingers are in front of your face for all of the pictures. He's such a ham. I love it.

On the drive home, we went through a dust storm. Low visibility. Before we even got to the low visibility point, it was windy enough that tumbleweeds were tumbling across the road. So when it was low visibility and high wind...

Some of the kids were playing video games in the back and I commented how I was playing my own video game- dodging tumbleweeds. I got to the point where I slowed way down and put on my hazard lights so I could adjust my driving based on the tumbleweeds. Apparently I didn't dodge them all because I found this the next day.

We did make it home safely. The dust storm we were driving through only lasted a little while. I could see the headlights of the vehicle behind me so I knew they could see my hazard lights. I couldn't see the vehicle in front of me even though I knew it was there, but if they didn't slow down as much as me, then there was even more space between us. It was crazy but not too scary. We've been in scarier driving situations. I think it wasn't as scary because the traction on the road was fine- different than icy/snowy roads. We did comment how if we saw flying cows (get that reference?), then it would be more of a problem. I didn't want things flying at our van, though there were a few tumbleweeds that flew across the road instead of rolling. It turned out all right.

  

It was a wonderful family weekend.

Lucky showing his balancing talents in a moving vehicle.

Last Two Days of March

March 30 was Take a Walk in a Park Day. I did and it was lovely.

March 31 was Tater Day. I made fries. Lucky made pasta. I scrambled up some eggs to go with it. I also went around saying, "What's taters, precious?" I can't not say that on that holiday.

Galentines

Party time!

Nichole and I went to a Galentines celebration with friends. We had a potluck dinner and did some getting to know you activities.

Our friend, Stephanie, shared some things with us to remind us that our best Valentine, the one who loves us most, is the Savior.

After those activities, a few of us stayed to watch a movie. 

It was another great night with friends. 

 

P.S. That morning I got out for probably my last walk at the park before the lights are turned off.

You're As Nice As Peanut Butter

Saturday, January 24, I got out for my morning walk at the park. 

It was a misty mountain morning, which was appropriate because I was listening to the soundtrack to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as I walked.

 

January 24 was National Compliment Day, the anniversary of when the California Gold Rush began, and National Peanut Butter Day. 

We had fun complimenting each other. "You're as good as gold," was an obvious one. Jeremy started getting creative with peanut butter brands. Here are some of the ones we came up with (paraphrasing): You're so helpful. I know you'll be there in a Jif. 

This tastes so good, it makes me want to Skip-py.

When I'm around you, I feel like I could fly like Peter Pan. 

I got a little silly. "You're as great as Winco Brand Peanut Butter." 

Creativity. Isn't it great?

Bonding Time: Hiking

Since it has been a mild Winter, I wanted to take my nature loving boy out hiking one day in the hills.

Jr. Jr. and I took the afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, since he didn't have school, and we hiked up to Battle Creek Falls. We took binoculars and the birding camera with us.

Just up from the parking area, we heard scritch-scratching in the underbrush, which I would have assumed was a spotted towhee but I could see robins, so not a spotted towhee (be careful about assuming). Jr. Jr. has really good eyes when it comes to spotting things so he helped me notice the bird that was not a robin. I got a look at it in the underbrush with binoculars and this is how things come out of my mouth since I'm a birder-

Me: You're right. That's not a robin. That's a thrush! Robins are actually thrushes but this one... if it has a reddish tail, it's a hermit thrush. Do you see the tail?

Jr. Jr. confirmed the reddish tail (I would use the term "rufous"). 

I love birding.

Besides the birds, we also enjoyed the hike together. We had plenty to talk about, including the ice we kept seeing in the stream and the water flowing under the ice. 

Nature's cool, man.

 

We made it all the way up to the falls and a little above the falls before turning around. I only slipped twice, once on the way up, once on the way down, both in the same location. Ha. Nothing scary. 

When we got back down to where we saw the hermit thrush on the way up, we saw it again with the robins. It decided it would be a good sport and posed in a tree so I could get some good pictures of it. I was very pleased with it sitting there for so long.

Jr. Jr. and I enjoyed that time together. I love that we have that love of nature in common.

  

I love bonding time! 

 

Earlier that day, I got out for my morning walk at the park with the Christmas lights. The city says they're going to leave them up until Valentine's Day like they did last year.

Lucky, Nichole, and I made cheese ball that day, too. Nichole shaped it into a witch's hat. It didn't last long. Mmmmm, cheese ball. 

 

January 19 was also Whisper "I Love You" Day. There was plenty of that going around. It was National Popcorn Day. The kids had popcorn. It was also Brew a Potion Day. We had hot chocolate and I told everyone to put whatever they wanted into or on it.

 

The next day, January 20, was Penguin Awareness Day. Jet and I watched "Surf's Up" together. I haven't watched that in a while. It was fun.

  

This Is What I Do

This is what I do. I do a pretty good job of blogging for a while then... stop.

Excuses? Starts out with kids won't get off the computers then when they finally do, I'm too tired. Or I'm too busy. Or I'm too far behind. Or whatever excuse.

So I use it as an excuse to put up pictures of the sky until I get around to catching up. 

So... remember all those walks I took at the park during Christmas Break? Being out at dawn/sunrise is a great time for me to see beautiful changes in the sky. It's amazing how quickly it can change.

I figure now is a good time to show a picture (that I didn't already show) of the beautiful sky from Christmas Break.

Such a pretty sky.

 

Speaking of the pretty sky. There was a night in November when the Northern Lights were showing up again. I was out running errands in town anyway so I got info from a friend and I stopped quickly by a park where I had a view of the red sky.

I didn't have time to go out of town away from the light pollution but I did see them.

I tried to get pictures with the birding camera when I got home but it didn't work out. Oh well.

Yet More Bonding Time (With a Little Alone Time Thrown In There)

Saturday, I had time to myself in the morning. I was able to go for a walk in the park with the lights. Since I don't have any audiobooks checked out right now (I have two physical books I need to read ASAP), I listened to music as I walked. It's been a while since I've done that. It was quite enjoyable. And it wasn't raining like the last time I went walking there.

That alone time didn't last long. Lucky and I had choir practice and choir brunch later that morning to get ready for our Christmas Program for church the next day. I'm glad he sings with me in choir.

Remember the blue pancakes I made the other day? There was a reason for that. Since the first few episodes of the second season of Percy Jackson came out recently, we've been planning to start watching them but things keep coming up. The day I made blue pancakes was one of the days we were going to but it didn't work out with everyone's schedules.

Saturday evening we finally watched the first episode as a family and ate blue jelly beans and gummy sharks and chocolate wrapped in blue foil.