Bubbles, Bubbles, and more Bubbles

Alyssa had my cousin's daughter over to play one evening. They wanted to go swimming. Knowing the water was freezing and it wouldn't take long I agreed. Sure enough they came in after 10 minutes and I started making dinner. They decided to have a bubble bath in my huge bathtub in their swimsuits instead....what could that hurt I thought to myself....and off they went. I went upstairs shortly after to check on them and sure enough bubbles in the tub and took a picture. 15-20 minutes later.....it was time for them to get out and come and eat dinner. This is when I really needed my camera. (I kick myself for not taking a picture because you can't even imagine the sight I walked in on). What I walked into was bubbles and water EVERYWHERE! HUGE mess! We have a water softener which makes suds like crazy, then you have a child add tooooo much bubble bath and then turn on the jets to the tub...yeah the bubbles went everywhere. Water and bubbles all over the floor and all around the tub. I was truly speechless because seriously did they think that jumping into a huge bubble bath over and over again was really a good idea...I mean really? Obviously they did think it was a great idea but didn't they think, "Wow this is making a mess....hmmmm maybe we shouldn't do this anymore." Apparently it didn't cross their minds. I just told them it was time to clean-up and that they had to do it all on their own. On the flip-side they had a blast and why ruin it with getting mad....good thing Elliott was out of town he would have gotten mad. I just brought up the wet dry vac and headed back downstairs. Later that night I told Alyssa she was banned from my tub for a while.

Weekend Away

This past weekend I had the opportunity to fly home while Elliott stayed home with the girls. This was my 3rd time in almost 12 years that I spent days away from Elliott and the girls. First time was going to Hawaii with my sister when Kylee was 18 months old and my second time was to help my brother's family move from St. George. How nice it is to get away even though it was a short trip. My brother Paul took advantage of Jet Blue's $10 air fare last week and few his family from Miami to CA. It was so fun to see my siblings. We were all there but John. Saturday morning we got to head out to the lake on my Dad's boat. It was a beautiful day! That Saturday night a restaurant that we all had worked at over the years had a reunion. I was the first employee of my siblings and started when the restaurant opened. Their were 6 of us there that night that were from the original hired crew when the restaurant opened. The restaurant is no longer opened. More than anything it was fun hanging out with my brothers, their wives, and my sister.

My sister's son Anthony

Paul getting ready to go...he screamed like a girl in the cold water.

I grew up going to this lake...love the lake...love the memories.

Getting ready to leave.

My siblings David, Paul, and Christy

David is sporting a random strangers glasses

Paul's wife Nikki with my sister and I

This is by far my favorite picture!! I couldn't stop laughing about Paul's silly face. He didn't make it on purpose. The camera just went off before he could smile...funny Paul.

Coming home I was greeted at the airport by Elliott with some flowers and Ryann and Addy looking like orphans. This is why my girls need their mother....and yes I had to take a picture but you cannot appreciate how nappy the hair looked in person. It is clear they both dressed themselves. On the positive side at least they were dressed and my house was clean when I came home.

First Day of School

Today is my first day of school or more like my first day back to school. I knew when I finished my BS I would always go back. I actually intended on going strait into a Master's program but because we moved to Casper the week after I graduated I knew I would have to put it on hold. Then two more babies came into our family and since we have moved 3 more times. In January, I started feeling it was time to get a move on with college. I was debating between getting a Master's in Occupational Therapy or a Master's in Marriage and Family Counseling. I ultimately decided upon getting a Master's degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology. I was actually finished with my enrollment with M & F counseling and it just wasn't feeling right. After spending some time researching other degrees I came across I-O Psychology and knew this was it! ( I was actually interested in it back in 2002 but my college didn't have a program for it) The program takes 2 years which I would like to try and finish in 1 1/2 years....we'll see. All of my classes will be online. Back to researching and writing...oh and a whole lot of reading!

Biking at Lake Mead

Yesterday we took all the girls and our bikes to Boulder City. They had a place we could park right by Lake Mead and then get on a 4 mile trail that was used for the railroad in building the Hoover Dam. Elliott towed the younger two in the bike trailer and the big girls rode their bikes. Alyssa wish Grandpa was their with his boat so we could go out on the lake and then wanted me to ask the people parked next to us that had a boat if we could go out on it with them.

Getting ready for the ride!

They were troopers riding 4 miles in and 4 miles back in 90 degree temperature. One little crash, a few tears from one, and a creepy mood from the other one we made it. Their were 5 tunnels that you got to ride through on your way to the dam. At the end of the trail we parked our bikes and walked down and around to show them a closer look of the dam. Once we got back to the bikes we had a snack and headed back. After we were finished we headed into Boulder City to get some dinner and check out some of the Antique shops and of course stop in the Ice Cream parlor for a little treat. Boulder City is such a cute old little town.

One of the tunnels.

Walking down to the Dam (I dumped water on Alyssa's head to help cool her off)

Down at the visitor center

Eating our snack..you can see part of the picnic table to the right...we opted for the shade even if it meant seating on the ground.

Taking a break just off the trail... Lake Mead

Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I think the most memorable part of that day for the girls will be the cockroach in the sink when we went to wash our hands at the pizza place.....Ryann said, "This is the grossest bathroom ever!" I just prayed for no food poisoning.

13 Years

Elliott and I just celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. Where has the time gone? It was low key like every year. This year we went and got some sushi then went over to a friend's house to hang-out and have some adult conversation. I always wondered if you would get bored being married for so long. One thing I have have learned over the years is that Elliott will never allow for a boring life! I am so grateful for him and the great relationship we have. He is my best friend. Our anniversary fell on a Sunday and I debated on wearing my wedding dress to church...but decided not too. But when I can home I had to try it on and to my surprise I could actually zip it up but it didn't quite fit the same...a little snugger...but it did zip up. Not bad for 13 years and 4 kids later.

Race for the Cure

May 1st I had the opportunity to run a 5k in the
"Race for the Cure". Some of the ladies that I workout with thought it would be fun to do this together....funny thing is I find no fun in running. It fact I have a love/hate relationship with running. I do not enjoy the actual "run" part but love it when I am done. It is easy and free exercise and it always goes faster when you have people and conversation. I couldn't believe how many people were there. Having an aunt and my mother as a breast cancer survivor I felt it was the least I could do. All the survivors had pink hats and pink shirts. Everyone else was in white. It was crazy seeing all the pink shirts. Elliott took all the girls down to the finish line to wait for me to cross over. I ran the whole thing without stopping but felt like a rat in a maze weeding around and around the streets in downtown Vegas. Addy and Ryann got to experience a "port-a-potty" for the first time...what a treat that was!

These were some of the gross Chippendale's that handed out pink carnations to the survivors that crossed the finish line.

Just finished!