Spring Break Trip to AZ Rasmussens

Ethan and Luke had Spring Break April 5-9th so we took off on the 7th and drove to Scottsdale, AZ to visit the AZ Rasmussens. I drove the kiddos by myself. It was a big moment for me. I was terrified but the kids were fantastic! We didn't have any problems...smooth sailing!

We visited a Children's Museum.

Ate some delicious donuts and treats at the Rasmussens favorite Mexican store/restaurant. It was pretty cool!

Swam in their hot tub and pool!

Went for a fun hike!

And experienced all the joy of pinewood derby time!

 It was the best Spring break yet! Thank you Arizona Rasmussens!

Easter 2010

Easter came and went and here I am only blogging about it now. Whuuuut? Steve and I are still perfecting the art of family traditions. We decided to have the Easter Bunny come on Saturday so that we could focus on the real reason for Easter on Sunday. This was the first year for that and I have to say it worked really well. The kids can burn off all the glorious sugar and be a little more "focused" on Sunday. The Easter Bunny brings a family basket, not individual baskets, at our house. There are all kinds of goodies in there; candy (of course, and there is stuff that everyone likes to make sure everyone is happy), movie (this year it was "Horton Hears a Who"), books...whatever. We also have the tradition that the kids can eat anything they want on Saturday. This makes me happy because I'm not fighting off the candy binge - bring it on - and it gets rid of the candy quick! Thank you Easter Bunny! ;) On Sunday we got together with my family for our Easter Dinner and egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was Sadie's first hunt that she participated in so we had fun teaching her the ins and outs of the egg hunt. Each family brought eggs and the kids each ended up with 6 eggs, plenty if you ask me.

My mom holding Ezra (3 mos.), sitting next to Sadie (18 mos.).

Ellie (4), Zane (2), Ethan (5) and Luke (4) Sadie hunting eggs with Dad. What is all the commotion? Luke and Ethan are seasoned hunters.

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone,

but in every leaf in spring-time. ~Martin Luther

Tomato Tornados coming through!

So… Luke tonight in his prayer before dinner said, “and please bless that there won’t be any tomato tornado’s”.  Guess he’s got a little too much ‘Cloudy with a chance of meatballs’ on his mind.

Master Bath Remodel: Step 1 - Change Plumbing

Ideally, I'd love to show you the before pictures of the closet that was our master bathroom, it was teensy tiny. Then the hallway right outside. But we lost those pictures in the great computer crash of 2008....(sigh). So you'll just have to take my word for it. Our old master bathroom had a single sink with one cabinet underneath it. To the right of the vanity was the toilet, which was infront of the door leading into the bedroom. And then two feet infront of the toilet was the shower. No tub, just a shower. It was a shower that would fit one person, at best. When we remodeled our kitchen we closed off the hallway between the master bedroom and kitchen, intending to expand the bathroom into this space. The work has begun. We are moving the toilet into its own little room. We'll be putting in a shower thats at least double the size of the original.

Steve and his dad tackled the plumbing of this job. We had gotten quotes from plumbers to do the job but they all wanted $3-$6,000. So Steve talked to a contractor friend of ours and decided he wanted to try to do it. They had to cut into pipes that are over 40 years old. It was pretty stinky...literally. Unfortunately, I can't really describe the work that has taken place. These are the progression of photos for now. The last one is the bathroom in its current state.

New pipes

This is where the new toilet will go.

You can see the sliding door that will close off the potty room. The shower will be at the opposite end with the vanity in between.

Thank you, Daddy Dan, for all your help!! We wouldn't be as far as we are without you.

kitchen backsplash

These are the befores. No backsplash...

Over the oven

Behind the sink

Midway through the project

Its done!

These are the little accent squares we chose.

One cabinet with lighting.

Behind the sink looks so nice now.

Steve chose the deco for wall between the micro and stove. It turned out really well.

One project done. Now I need to decide if I'm going to paint around the window and ceiling a color or just do the beige that matches the dining room? Opinions?

On Hold

The blog is in major neglect right now. I have one word to explain why: construction. My house is under construction right now therefore my life is out of whack. We (I don't know why I include myself, merely for the fact that I live in this house too but don't be fooled - I am not doing any of the work...right now) are trying to finish our master bathroom. Thats the biggest project. And I mean big. Big like cutting into the foundation of our house big. Big as in cutting up pipes that were laid over 40 years ago big. Steve, his dad and his brother Allen also changed out five of our doors, including our front door. We also hired a friend to install our backsplash. I have pictures but I'm not going to upload them yet. I'm supposed to be on my treadmill doing my 3 miler for the day so I've got to make this quick. When the kids and I get back from Arizona I will do a more thorough post. Until then, I'm putting you all on hold. Enjoy the elevator music! ;)

Oh thoughts...

1. Birthdays. I had a great birthday this year. We went to Plum's for breakfast. Deliciousness. Disneyland with the kids. Naps. Then Cirque du Soleil's Kooza with the O-side Rasmussens. Oh, and I can't forget Sprinkles and May Garden. I love eating as much as I love having a celebration to eat for. I wish every day was birthday day. It was perfect. Thanks hubs.

Love the bumper cars in Bug-land

Sadie looking out over the bridge at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

Ethan's turn

My cake 2. Earthquakes. First Haiti. Then Chile. Now everyone's talking about California's "Big One." I hate to admit it but its occupying a lot of space in my head. I grew up in California. I've been through a few earthquakes in my day. Some have really shaken things up. But this one is supposed to be a doosey. And this time I have kids. I have three kids. I've found myself scoping out the ideal spot to run for cover. When I'm driving I've started noticing over passes and being a tad scared that I'll be on one or under one at the wrong moment. Why do I have so many things on my walls? Why is there so much glass in my house? How will I turn the water off if a pipe bursts? Will Steve be ok if it hits while he's at work? And then there's food storage...I don't even want to start on that topic. Its overwhelming. Sorry, not to be depressing. I shouldn't have read Cormac McCarthy's book The Road. It really got me scared. Not that we don't have anything. We have two storage barrels of water, we have a good radio, a honeybucket, a first aid kit, and some food. If our house is mostly in tact we should be ok for a while. We will continue to do what we can to prepare. On a funny note, Steve likes to joke that after the big one hits we'll probably have beach front property.

3. My father in law is coming to help Steve start fixing up our master bathroom at the end of this month. Thank you Daddy Dan!! Could it be that we'll actually have two functioning bathrooms? I know its going to be a long road until its done. I honestly can't wait. My poor hubs is going to have to live with the impatient person that is myself....and I can't really help. I'm crossing my fingers that its done before Christmas. I can't imagine what it will be like to have it finished. I can't imagine what it will be like to move into the master bedroom and have our own bathroom. I think of being on the opposite side of the house from the kids and I get nervous and giddy at the same time. I think of having a whole extra room and my heart begins to flutter. If any of you want to offer up your husbands in service we'd greatly appreciate it. I might even bake something for you. (wink)

4. A friend of mine recently posted this line on her Facebook and I just loved it. I want to share: "the foolish man seeks happiness in the distance. A wise man grows it under his feet." I definitely need to break the habit of thinking "I'll be happy when..." Its time to be happy now. One, of many, things I have to be happy about:

Love letter to Hubs

Dear Hubs,

I really just want to break out in song..."you...light up my life..." I love you. I love that you made dinner for me tonight. I love that you cleaned up afterwards. I love that you put Sadie to bed after all that. I love that you recognize when I need some time off, even if its just a few minutes and try to give it to me. I love that we can clearly remember our first Valentine's together. Happy 10th Valentines. It was three days after our DTR. I canned some cookies for you. You gave me a picture that hangs in our room still today. You were the best home teacher I've ever had. ;)

I love your faith and willingness to serve. But I love that you aren't perfect and that I can gripe to you about things sometimes and you gripe about things too. Our minds are so alike sometimes its weird. But 97% of the time you are too good. So many people tell me that. I love that you've helped them out. I know I haven't been easy to come home too sometimes but you have taught me some good lessons. I love you for hanging in there. You don't wear your heart on your sleeve. Your actions speak so loudly and I know that is what counts. I loved watching you play soccer last year. It was so fun to watch how excited the boys got to cheer you on. I knew you had played in your youth but you were really exciting to watch. You are so humble and don't like the spotlight. I see where Luke gets it now. I also loved watching you let the boys help you mow the lawn yesterday. I know its not something you look forward to doing (mowing the lawn) but their enthusiasm and helping you push the lawn mower (even though you don't need it) was so adorable. One day they are going to look back and think about that. You will be so big to them in that moment.

I love seeing you with Sadie. She is your little girl and the bond you have is so special. You are her dada. She lights up when you come home, I love seeing her face. You are such a good father to our three kiddos. I love that.

I'll stand by you throughout life. Whatever you choose, I'll stand by you. I know you will never lead us into dangerous territory. I'll stand by you through the good and the bad. Together we will watch life unfold, our children grow and look back to say "remember when." I will stand by you. I love you forever.

Your wife,

Love letter to Sadie

Dearest Sadie, You are pure sweetness. Honestly, from the moment you were born there was so much different about our family. You had each of us wrapped around your finger.

You have quickly grown into this beautifully intelligent toddler. I love your sweet face. Sometimes you glare at me. I love it. I have a hard time not laughing. I love so much about you. I love the age you're in, 16 months almost. You are so sweet. You recently figured out kissing. You put your lips together (no puckering yet) and say "mmmm." And we are always willing to stop whatever we're doing and kiss you. Its too cute.

I love how you say "hi." Or when you are shy you always touch your forehead or eyes and just look at the person until you decide whether or not its ok to move on.

I love how you carry your "pano" (old burp cloths) around. Those are your comfort items, paired with your right hand middle two fingers life couldn't be better for you. I love listening to your vocabulary grow. So far it is limited to: mama, dada, shoes (what could be more important for a girl?), hi, and dat. It doesn't stop you from trying to communicate more to us. We know you are going to be full of great conversations in the future and I love it.

Do you know how much your brothers love you? Sometimes its disguised by the abuse they give you but you are so tough. Just three days ago you decided to wrestle with Luke! Luke of all people! And I just sat and watched and waited for you to cry out in an unfortunate misunderstanding but it never happened. You loved it. Luke has always loved getting your attention. Ethan has been more gentle about it. Sneaking a kiss here and there. Holding you when you want to be held. Helping you across the street. These two boys have got your back for life.

I had so many fears before you were born but now they've been put to rest. You are absolutely perfect. You have completed our family and filled our home with even more love than we had to begin with. I love you, Sadie, forever.

Love,

Your Mom

Love letter to Luke and Ethan

Dear Luke and Ethan, You two really are like two peas in a pod. There is so much you do together, its hard to remember that you are seperated in age by 17 months. I love this about you two. I love that you share such a special bond. I watch you lift each other up and push each other forward, its beautiful. It brings me such hope. But you are not without your individual strengths. Ethan, you have stepped into your role as the eldest child effortlessly. Each new milestone in your life, our lives, you handle with such ease. You are a calming influence to Luke's storm and a guiding light to Sadie. I love how you pretend with your brother, or anyone else for that matter. One minute you are a soldier, the next a knight in his armor only to be followed by a fierce jedi warrior. Your imagination will get you far in life. You started kindergarten this year. That first day I cried. I want to press the pause button right now and keep you my five year old boy forever. Yesterday you asked if I was going to sit on your head? I was puzzled, what the? Then you clarified, "to keep me little." You always make me laugh. I love you. Thank you for being so willing to help. I love that you are cautious and thoughtful. Last night you came home from being out with dad and presented me with some flowers you helped pick out. You told me how much you loved me. Thank you. I love you and your tender heart. Luke, I love your individualism. You know who you are and you're only four. Sometimes I think you are something else and you teach me quite the opposite. You know you don't have to run as fast as Ethan or play the same games but you still find a way to make your mark and enjoy the experience together. I love your tenacity and quick mind. You don't let time go by without being filled to the brim of excitement. I love the twinkle in your eyes when you smile. Each day I pick you up at 11am from preschool and you almost tackle me to the ground with your running start hugs! I love it. I can see that you are a good leader at school. I love how much you love your sister. Sometimes it drives me crazy, I'm not going to lie, but I know your heart is pure. Thank you for being so forgiving. I love you, Lukers.

I love that you both accept me so easily, with all my faults and inadequacies, you love me unconditionally. When I lose myself you both show me such forgiveness, it humbles me. I am better because you two came into my life. I love it when you ask me to tickle you. Its so funny. I hate being tickled but you two LOVE it. I love watching you play together. I know you will be great policemen, or soldiers, or firefighters, or race car drivers or whatever it is you end up deciding on. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to watch the process.

I love how proud you are of the projects you bring home from school and primary. I love hearing the explanations and details of each drawing. I love how you remind me to not take life so seriously. We can sit and read a book and nothing else matters.

You both are getting so big. I used to be able to put you both on my lap comfortably, its not the case anymore. I know soon I will be looking up into your faces instead of down. I love the little men you are. I cherish each hug and kiss. I would do anything for you. You will always be my boys.

"I love you forever, I like you for always. As long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

Love,

Your mom