Spring Break..Day 4

So for the past 3 days Talmage has been talking about having pizza and going to Chuck E. Cheese to have it. Over and over again. On and on. Now part of the problem was Nana told Talmage about hot dogs rolled up in cheese pizza. Oh the obsession on that. So finally, I had the energy to do Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. We've learned that the lunch time pizza is better than dinner. We think it's the cook.
So, Papa said that all the kids running around and climbing on things was just too stressful for him, so Nana came with us. Ammon & Garrett went in her car and Talmage & Spencer came with me. They were very excited. We had lots of fun. Spencer kept running off but we always found him. I feel safe there because we are all stamped with the same number that they check when we leave so I know no one could walk out with one of the boys. Always nice. They've gotten new games and ride on toys since we were last there, so that made everyone happy.

Especially Spencer. He found some ride in cars that he didn't want to get out of. We just kept plunking in tokens to keep him happy.
Talmge took pretty good care of Spencer but keeping an eye on him and by putting his tokens in the rides for Spencer to make him happy. He's a good big brother to Spencer!
Ammon was very proud of himself. He had gotten all these tickets off of one game!

Then the 3 youngest & I went to Toys R Us just to look around, because Papa was taking Ammon to a magic store with our friend Chris. We were watching a magic show on TV the other night and Ammon has really liked watching magic, so Chris is really into magic and knew a good store to get some starter tricks. Ammon was pretty jazzed when he came home.
For the other boys and I we ended our trip out with a mini van screaming past us in the middle lane on Brown Road between Lindsay & Gilbert only to be followed by 3 police cars. The mini van pulled up on the sidewalk at the corner of Gilbert & Brown and somebody jumped out the side door. I had started to REALLY SLOW DOWN because I'm thinking guns, someone jumping in my car and I have my 3 beautiful sleeping sons with me. I had to make sure that they were safe. The police had come up Gilbert too and blocked the bad guy. In fact, I found out later that a friend of mine from junior high was in the intersection too. The police threw the bad guy on the hood of her car to try and handcuff him. Small world. Glad they got the bad guy and we were all just fine. The boys never woke up. I was a bit shaken but otherwise fine. I was glad to finally go to bed at 11, after the boys were all FINALLY SLEEPING. now on to Friday fun!

Spring Break day 3

This would have been the perfect day to go to lunch with one of MY friends. But I didn't think of it in time and I hadn't heard back from anyone I've called and left messages for. Poor me.
Today the boys, Garrett, Talmage & Ammon went with Papa & Nana to see "Race to Witch Mountain". Talmage, Ammon & Michael went on Saturday, but Daddy couldn't do 3 boys by himself. It's hard for me, especially when they have to go potty. It's always nice to have 2 people for that time. Garrett really liked the movie too. And I had just some peace & quiet because Spencer & I went for a drive to Franklin Covey and on the way he fell asleep. So in and out he kept sleeping on the way home and out of the car, he kept sleeping. Yeah...got some lunch for me and more quite time. The boys got home around 1:30 and we desided to go out back and play on the trampoline and play a little baseball. Talmage did really well hitting the ball that I threw to him. If you look closly you can see the yellow ball in the air.
Garrett just enjoyed wearing the swim goggles while jumping on the trampoline. We got some water ballons for tomorrow that should be fun. Hope everyone is having a great spring break or just a great allergy season!!! I know Michael is!

Spring Break Day 2 in Mesa...

Today was a stay at home and just not do much. The morning was filled with Cartoon Network and the playhouse Disney. I got to work on my blog...see yesterday's and then lunch. After lunch Ammon and Talmage went outside and came back in with squirt guns. They were like, Mom can we play with these? Now the guns were already filled with water and I know they thought I was going to tell them no, but low I said change into your swim trunks AND HAVE AT IT. It was funny because Garrett comes running into the house crying "Ammon squirted me". Hello, Squirt guns. They all had lot of fun. I missed the truly great picture of Talmage when he put on 2 life vests to run around the back yard. Silly boy! I need to get some real water balloons...that would be fun.

the Ideal Spring Break

Travel. Beautiful weather. Lazy time. Going to the movies. Disneyland. Beach time. Laying by the pool. Breakfast in bed. Yummy lunches. Your husband has the week off to spend with you. Time with your wonderful, well behaved children. Ok that last one just gave it away didn't it. So cross of some of those up there, because that is not our family. Yes we traveled...to Mesa. The weather is nice and warm. Looking forward to 92 degrees maybe sometime this week, right now the 80's are great. Michael took the boys to see Race to Witch Mountain, but that was on Saturday and there aren't any other good movies until Monsters vs. Aliens and that comes out on the 27. Rats. And my kids are bouncing off of the walls and each other. So to start off our week we found out that not only Talmage but Spencer has a really nasty ear infections. No wonder Spencer's been cranky.
Thinking that being in Mesa would give the boys more time outside to burn off energy...these boys have more energy than a power plant. Getting up at a very late 6a.m. and played a new Pokemon game with the boys after breakfast. By 11:30 it was time to get out of the house. So I loaded the suburban, knowing full well that Spencer would fall asleep and headed out for our day. By Broadway, Spencer was sleeping and we turned around to take him back to Nana's. He kept sleeping as I got him out of the car. YEAH. The boys & I then headed to McDonalds for lunch, Party City for Garrett's bday that's fast approaching and Walmart for the things I realized we needed you know like diapers for Spencer. Anyway the boys had fun a time at McDonalds, but still by 8pm bedtime didn't happend until almost 9. Hey at least I got to chat with some old friends from grade school & junior high in California on FaceBook before I went to bed. You never really realize how much you miss people until they've not been a part of your life for 25+ years. That's for you Ali, Nanette, Blake,Danny & Deanna!! hugs...

Some weeks I amaze even myself...

Last week I was like Rachael Ray in the kitchen. One night I made Spagetti & breaded chicken, Fetticini Alfredo, Mom's Crazy Meatballs and Quick Chocolate cookies. This week I've been ready to call for take out every night, but that's just not in the budget. So, we've had roast with mashed potates, rolls & gravey, Stir fry chicken, chicken & rice, bbq sauce hamburger sandwiches and tonight, most likly tacos because Ammon is at a swim party till 6. Yes I know it's March, in Flagstaff, but we have this cool indoor aquatic center that he and Michael are checking out together.
Why am I blogging about all of this? I guess I just wanted to show off my yummy M&M Cookie Brownies to all of you. See I love to cook, but it's just figuring out what my family will actually eat that gives me grief some days. But these are definatly a hit. We got the recipe when we were doing the tournaments. They were always a hit.
So I guess I'm looking for new recipes that would be liked by picky boys & man who don't all like spicy, onions, rice...any suggestions????

Two nights later...Ammon's violin concert

It's hard to believe that 2 years ago Ammon had his first concert.
He looks so little. We, my mom & I were so impressed with him that night. We thought he was great.

Over the past 2 years, unfortunatly we haven't see alot of growth in the skills of the kids. It's not Ammon's fault, but it's just the crazy way they teach. We have a friend who son can play "I am a Child of God" on the violin and he's in Ammon's class. But his mom also plays so that helps.

Still, Ammon was impressive and at least they finally are moving their fingers on the strings, which he was showing me how to do afterwards. We were really proud of him and he instists that we have to be there at Heritage Square for their final concert. I'll do my best son. It's at noontime, downtown Flagstaff, not always the easiest place to get to especially with 2 toddlers in tow. But I don't want to miss his last concert so I'll do my best to be there for him.

Ammon was showing me how he could rock the violin like the 2 guys from America's Got Talent. (and those guys really did. They should have won. They were robbed.) I told Ammon he and Talmage could do that together.

Talmage's Violin Concert

At the boys school from Kindergarden thru 2nd grade they learn some basics on how to play the violin. Now it is Talmage's time to shine in the spotlight and show what he's been learning over the past 7 months.
This is Talmage and his buddy Zane!

He did really well and was so handsome up there. I think I like the teachers a little better than the one's that Ammon has had in the past. They did the same kind of things but had added a few new things. Michael & I still wish that they were teaching them how to read music, but that's not part of the Suzuki method we guess. Here they were showing us how they keep time and beats.
Plucking at the strings.
Ammon took the majority of these because he was small enough not to get in people's way, plus I was keeping track of Spencer.

We are very proud of how well Talmage performed.