First Day in July??

Ethan and Sophia's first day came way too early!  July 31st just seems so much early than August 1st!  I hated that it started so early.  I cherish my summers with the kids, and I felt like I got robbed of precious summer days with them.  The school they go to, Candeo, is excellent.  So the sacrifice was worth the early start.  Luckily Boston and Aubrie don't start for another week, so that made the transition much easier.  First it was nice having the older two home, because I was dreading Sophia going full day.  I knew I was going to be lonely without her.  So having them here eased that pain.  Sophia and Ethan had a great day.  They love their teachers.  Sophia has Ms. Symchak.  She said she is nice, and has a daughter, Sophia, who is also a first grader.  Ethan has his first male teacher, Mr. Moeller.  He was excited when he found out he had him.   This year the Hawkins are going to Candeo as well.   I will be taking to school and Tirza will be picking them up.  It's fun to see all those kids get out of the car and walk to the playground together.  Hoping this is a great year for them.

20 years? Can't be!

This past weekend I attended my 20 year reunion.  I can't believe it came up so fast.  The ten year seemed to take forever, and the 20 year came in a flash.  At first I was excited to go, when events started to be planned.  Then I wasn't sure if I wanted to go.   Ben decided to go with me, and to make a fun trip out of it.  The first night was a mingle at the Prime Bar.  At first it was a little weird, since Ben didn't know anyone, and also for the fact that I hadn't seen these people, outside of facebook for 10 to 20 years (depending if they came to the 10 or not).   Ben and I hadn't eaten dinner, we basically landed, went to the hotel, and got ready to go.  So we left around 10 for dinner.  The music was way too loud to talk to anyone, anyway.  So we took off.  After dinner, we stopped at Braums and continued my summer ice cream addiction.  Mmmmm I forgot how yummy Braums was.  Oh how I miss you Braums!  Unfortunately, my stomach caused me to miss out on some fun.  Fun I'm not sure Ben would have been up for anyway.  A group of people went to Beverly's pancake house later that night, and had a blast.  Oh well.   I needed sleep for the following day, as we were taking a trip up to Tulsa.
        Before I left Phoenix, I contacted Courtney's husband and we arranged a surprise lunch.   They were in Tulsa for her sons, Reid, birthday.   So they were seeing a movie and getting lunch afterward.  We waited at the Abuelo's for them. When she walked in, I walked up behind her and covered her eyes.  When she turned around, she seemed more stunned than excited.  It was a weird delayed reaction.  She kept saying later that it wasn't registering with her at first, because she saw all my posts in Oklahoma City.   Luckily, her Uncle Brian, who we use to run around with all the time, happen to come out for the day, not even knowing we would be there.  So it was a nice surprise to have the old gang back together.  It really felt like old times, and like we hadn't missed a day....except for our age, and kids, etc..   It was so nice seeing them, and made me a bit home sick.   After lunch, we went to Braums (shocker), and caught up some more, before we headed back to OKC.  Of course, on the way back we made a stop at Eskimo Joes.  We picked up a few shirts.  Can't believe the anniversary shirt is 38 years!  I remember when it was 16!
       That night the reunion was a dinner and drinks at Pearl's Crabtown down in Bricktown.   The food wasn't very good, but it was fun to mingle in an environment where we could sit, relax, and actually hear on another.  They also had a photo booth, which was a great idea!   I volunteered to work Registration that night, so that was a good excuse for me to park it for an hour, and let people come talk to me.  Am I getting old or what?   Ben was a good sport, sitting around listening to me talk to people he didn't know.  He was clever with his name tags, being "Rachel's Sex Slave" the second night.  My friends thought that was clever and funny.  He only wishes.   The dinner was over at 11:00. By the time we got back to the hotel, Braums was closed:(   Oh well.   Our flight left at 10:30 so we didn't have time for one last Braums stop in the moring. haha  The flight was uneventful, which is good.  I'm glad I went.  I knew I would regret not going, and glad that Ben got me to go.
    These past couple of days I have been very nostalgic, going through my Yearbooks, and such.  I realized how much I missed those years, and I have been melancholy.   So weird, right?  Aubrie found this and put it on.  Talk about weird...and the life circle!

Our Old House on 99th St. 

Last Day of  7th Grade at Hefner

Senior Prom

Aubrie in my old uniform!

Ohio Trip

My Mom has been in Ohio almost two years now, so I decided it was time to visit her.  I have never been to Ohio, so I was not only looking forward to seeing her and where and how she lives, but also to see Ohio itself.  The girls and I flew there, and the boys stayed behind with Ben to do fun things like golf, go to the beach, and Magic Mountain.  So I didn't feel bad at all for leaving the boys behind.  There was hardly enough room for the girls and I in my Moms apartment, so there was no way I could bring all of them.  It was fun to have just a girls trip, for sure!
Before we got there, the temps were in the 70's and it rained for several weeks.  My Mom prayed it would stop, and it did.  Of course, the hot weather always follows me.  The temps were in the 90's and with humidity that is no fun!
The first day we didn't get  in until 5.  They picked us up from the airport and took us to dinner.  After dinner we took a drive through one of the cute towns close by.  The towns are so pretty.   They have old houses and buildings, and they have beautiful flowers everywhere; in planters on the ground, in planters hanging off the street lights, etc.
We spent a week there, and my Mom found things to keep us busy.  We went to beautiful parks, the zoo (which was incredibly hot), the Easton mall (where we bought a ton of American Girl doll clothes), and an Art Festivial.  We also ate A LOT of ice cream.  Graeters was our favorite.  Their chocolate chips are basically chocolate chunks.  Their Black Raspberry and Banana nut were my favorite.  So Yummy!   My favorite day was when her brother Fred drove us to Amish country.  It was a long drive, but it was worth it.  It was so beautiful!  We stopped at this one market, where they had a petting zoo.   Aubrie was in Heaven.  (Sophia too).   They got to see all kinds of chickens, pigs, bunny's goats, and horses.  Sophia had a pony ride and Aubrie got to ride a Draft horse.   We also got to enjoy the some baked goods.  I bought some rhubarb fry pies, and yummy homemade bread.   I could gain a lot of weight living next to Amish country because their stores full of baked goods!  All such yummy stuff.

Amish Country (Who Mows this??)

Big Ben

Chicken Mariachi from Donatos...YUM!

Three Generations of Feet!

This is what 90 degree humidity all day at the zoo will do to you!

Baby Gorilla..2 months old

We were so intrigued by these....Hummingbird Moth

Catching Firelies...an evening highlight!

Graeters ice cream chocolate chips!

Because of the three hour difference, we were up late for most of the trip.  The girls had fun catching fireflies, and watching TV shows they never watch, including Lets Make a Deal, in the mornings.  Since we always got a late start.
We also had an opportunity to meet Fred's daughter and her daughter.  They are great people.  It's crazy how there are so many people on my Mom's side of the family I still haven't met.   That's what happens when your Mom comes from a family of 16 kids.   I only met Fred when I was a baby, so basically I have never met him.  He is so great!  Funny, nice, outgoing, and thoughtful.   I enjoyed getting to know him, and its great knowing my Mom is in such good hands.   She has nice friends there!
It was a great trip!

July Fourth 2013

Ben flew in Tuesday night, which was the most hectic day of them all.  After I picked the kids up from soccer, I noticed that my car said something about low air in my tires.  I called Ben and he said he would check them when he flew in.  I had a lot of laundry to do so the kids would have enough soccer clothes for the next two days of soccer, so I decided to get that done, before I took them to Boondocks. When we finally got out to the car, I had a flat tire.  Luckily I called my service rep from Infiniti and he gave me the number for the Infiniti Roadside, and they sent a guy out to put on my spare.  Then my service guy, Matt, called around to find out who was by Boondocks that could replace my tire, if it needed it.  So I raced to Boondocks, and paid for the kids, and than ran over to Discount tire.  Luckily it just had to be patched.  I was out of there in an hour, and then I picked up the kids just in time to head over to the airport to get Ben.  After we picked up Ben, we headed back, since Boondocks closed at 11:00 and we had day wristbands.  The kids had fun doing more laser tag, and go carts, and then we finished up with a round of Golf.
   The next day was more soccer, and then we spent time at BYU and went and saw the Lone Ranger. The moviwe finished in barely enough time to get over the OWLZ baseball game.  Our hotel was giving out free tickets, so we got a few extra, and we invited Hans and Priscilla.  It was fun catching up with them, and seeing their daughter Bianca, who I had never seen.   Our tickets came with free meal vouchers, so it was a sweet deal!

   The Fourth we had big plans, that DID NOT include the Provo parade. This year Grandma and Grandpa didn't go, so most of the family didn't go either.  We wouldn't have gone anyway.  I'm not a big fan of small town parades...looking at school band, after school cheer teams, followed by cloggers, and police and firetrucks.  Instead, we slept in and watched the famous hot dog eating contest on TV, until we headed to Dave and Marilyns for the 4th of July BBQ.   Within minutes of being there, Boston got stung several times by a wasp, as he was trying to get a basketball out from under a truck.  The old truck had a nest in it, and Boston was their victim.   He was pretty tough about it, and soon he was out swimming, and having fun again.  The kids had fun with their cousins in the pool, playing basketball, and the little ones had fun diving and swimming with Aunts, Uncles, etc.
After a few hours, we left to get ready for the stadium of fire and dinner.   This year the Stadium of Fire included a performance from  Circ-du-soleil, Carly Rae Jeppson, and the main performer was Kelly Clarkson.  All the performances were great.  We really loved Kelly.  She was so friendly on stage, and her voice really is amazing live!
Friday the kids had one more soccer day, and I forgot to set my alarm, so they got there an hour late.  They were over at noon, and after Ben walked out of there with a huge amount of BYU soccer clothes for the kids, we rushed back to the hotel, so Aubrie could get ready for her patriarchal blessing.   Steve and Lorriane took the other kids mini golfing, while we stayed with Aubrie for her blessing.  It was a beautiful blessing, and some of the things in there were things I had recently been telling her.  She mentioned that to me afterward, and I told her the Lord uses many venues to relay personal things to us.
After the blessing we picked up the kids from Trafalga, and headed over to get dinner where Hans is the chef. The food was really good there.  I had some delicious Salmon, and the pies there were very good!   Hans was so nice to pick up the bill.  While there, Ben recognized one of the guys from Kid History having dinner with his wife.  After he was done eating, Ben grabbed him and asked if Boston could get his picture with him.  He was super nice about it.  After dinner, we headed to the mall to try and see Despicable Me 2, but they were already sold out.  We walked the Mall for a bit, and then headed home to  pack up for our early departure the following day, but not before we got one last scoop of BYU ice cream:)   It was great trip!  I love Utah in the Summer!

BYU Sports Camps and Beyond!

This year Aubrie and Boston both signed up for a week sport camp in the dorms.  Instead of driving  back and forth from Park City every day, I decided not to sign Ethan up for a camp that week, and hold off until the next week and sign the older three for the soccer day camp.  That saved me a lot of driving, and also gave me time with just Sophia and Ethan.  I drove up with the kids on my own Sunday morning.  The drive wasn't bad, and I took a new route through the 89 Alternate, which I really enjoyed.  We stopped for lunch at a small cafe at Jacobs Lake, a camping area at the top of the mountain that 89 goes through.  The service was slow, but it was a nice break.  The rest of the  drive was nice and smooth, with no traffic, and no stops for gas until Provo.  I made it on one  tank from Flagstaff till Provo.  I couldn't believe it!   When I stopped for gas, I picked up a few groceries, and got some fast food for dinner.  We arrived in Park City around 8, and enjoyed our lavish hotel/resort.  Ben wasn't kidding when he said the place was huge!   It had 4 bedrooms, 3 kitchens and 4 bathrooms.  We only used two of the bedrooms.   Ethan enjoyed having his own area, the first night when Boston was there, but after that he slept with Sophia and I.  So basically only one room was used.  

Monday morning we headed to Provo to drop Aubrie and Boston off at the dorms.  Aubrie was in Chipman Hall this year and Boston was in Taylor.  When I was checking Boston in I hear "Rachel?"   I look over and there is Ben's cousin Jen with her son.  I haven't seen her since before Aubrie was born.   Boston and his cousin have never met, and there they were at basketball camp together.  After we got the two settled in the dorms,  I took them to get some lunch, and then dropped them off for their first workout.  I then went to buy more groceries, and then I headed back up to Park City with the kiddos.  We spent time in the pool and playing ping pong (their favorite pass time this trip) and spent some time in the arcade.  

The following morning (Tuesday) I took the two kids to Boondocks.  We got a late start into Salt Lake and I stopped off at Chick-filet for lunch.  I ran into an old college friend, and it was great to catch up while the kids played.  After lunch, we headed to Boondocks, and lucky for us, Tuesday was wristband day.  Which meant that you pay one price and everything was free, except the prize games that give tickets.  The kids had a BLAST!  Endless go carts, golf, laser tag, etc.  Laser Tag became a favorite of Sophia's.  It was funny to watch her run around getting people.  After a full day there, we headed back to Park City for more swimming and ping pong. 

Wednesday we stayed in Park City.   Amber was coming up in the afternoon with Olivia, so we took a ride on the sky tram that Sophia was begging to do since the day we arrived.  The sky tram took us over the mountain where there was a restaurant, and several hiking trails, a lake for fishing, and ziplining.  We didn't have time for the fishing, and Sophia couldn't do the ziplining, so we took a nice hike down from one of the slopes.  It took us by the fishing lake, so we could see what it was like for next time.  The lake also had paddle boats.  Definitely a lot to do up there.  The ride on the sky tram was really cool, and we also got to take a lift to the top of the hike.  

We came back and got some lunch, and then headed to the pool to meet Amber.  We swam and played ping pong (of course) and then headed back up and made dinner.  Amber stayed till about 7 and then she headed home with Olivia.   We had fun hanging out at the hotel the rest of the evening.  

Thursday we had to check out of the resort and move over to the Marriot. We headed to the pool early, to get one last swim and ping pong session in.  We were able to check out late, and left around 1:30 for Provo.  

Stop at Granny's on the Way!

 I didn't realize that the Marriott had bigger rooms and ended up with a room with two Queens and two chairs (no pull out).  So once Aubrie and Boston were back, this became Sophias bed.  She actually liked it.  Anyway, once we got settled in to the hotel, I ran to get some more groceries, and then we went to the pool after dinner. 

Sophia's bed at the Marriot!  Perfect Size..and she loved it!

Friday I had to pick up Boston early.   He was actually done Thursday night, but he was allowed to stay until Friday morning.  That worked best since Aubrie was done then.   There were a few hours between the time Boston was done and Aubrie was done, so we headed up to the BYU bookstore to kill some time.  We picked Aubrie up around noon, and headed over to Fat Catz.  They had summer dollar games again, and also had dollar pizza and drinks.  So they got their pizza and I got my Costa Vida, which is connected. Such a brilliant idea, whoever that of that!  The three older kids decided to play without bumbers (especially Aubrie and Boston after they took that bowling class for school).  Ethan was getting frustrated at first, but then he ended up doing pretty well.  Boston was stoked to break 100 for the first time without bumpers!  Afterwards. we played some video games in the arcade, which included air hockey.  After, we   headed back to the hotel for some swimming, and I had to get some laundry done.  The kids had a great time at their camps.  Boston made friends right off the bat. I could tell he was having fun from the start because he never called, except to tell me one of his friends was Mitt Romney's grandson.  Aubrie struggled the first day because she didn't know anyone.  The second day I didn't hear from her, and I knew that was a good sign. She made some really good friends, and her Counselor was really cool, and took them to do fun things after their work outs.  Aubrie is hoping to see the same girls next year at camp! 

Saturday was a full day.  It started off with a hike up to Donut Falls, in Little Cottonwood.   The hike was an easy hike, but the parking was awful.  It was all backed up and very hard to get a spot.  Once we got parked, the hike  up was only about a half an hour.  The problem was hiking up to the falls.  you had to climb up wet slippery rocks to get there.  The boys took off on their own and figured their way up, but getting Sophia up there was a chore.  I told her she didn't have to go, but she kept changing her mind when she saw her siblings doing it.  Then when she would fall or get dirty or wet, she would start crying and wouldn't move.  It was about an hour of this, just to get to the top.  It was quite rewarding once we got to the top.  But then we had the hike down, which had it's own challenges.  By the time we got down, Sophia was a basket case, and we were all very dirty.  So much so, that Aubrie basically sat in the river to get the dirt off her pants, shoes, and skin.  When we got to the car, we all had to take our shoes off and throw them in the back. 

 When we got out of the canyon, we stopped at the 7 eleven there, and got some drinks!   It was a fun stop for the kids, but we also looked so disheveled.  The bad part was that we weren't going home.  Our next stop was  to Taylorsville for a Fourth of July celebration at the town park.   They had food vendors,  rides, and a huge firework show lined up.   Luckily when we dried up, we didn't look so bad.  I didn't have a lot of cash on me, (I left most of it in the car, which we parked a mile away to avoid traffic on the way out) so we had to figure out how to eat dinner and ride the rides.  The kids all got about three rides each, except for Sophia.  They did get her to go on this, and she was not happy about it!  

Sophia not loving this!

 They also got a balloon ride in, so we made our money stretch a long way!   While we were waiting for them to start the kids had fun throwing those Pop-its on the sidewalk as people walked by.  We also had fun playing games while we waited.  The fireworks show was really good.  I'm glad my friend recommended it to us!  We got home close to midnight, and we all crashed.

Sunday we met at Amber's church for sacrament, and then we headed up to the Elcocks for Dinner.  The kids had a blast, as always with there cousins.  They played spider in the basement, played basketball and volleyball outside, and we even made a trip down the street to see this huge pig one of their neighbor has.  We took him some watermelon and watched him go to town.  He ate the rinds and all. 

Time always goes fast when we are there. We left around ten.  The kids had an early 8:00 am start for soccer camp the next day!

Monday the kids had camp from 8 to noon.   They had fun for their first day, but it was hot.    I don't know why I can't remember anything else we did that day:)  Oh, we did go to Bridal Veil, and after that we went to  Brick Oven. We actually ran into the Livingstones.  Sophia thought that was so cool to see Jordan there. After dinner, we headed up to the movies to see Monster's Inc and then we got Ice cream!  The next day Ben was coming..we were all excited to see him after 10 days.