My week in review

My head is spinning from this last week, another week with Todd in DC. He has been gone for almost two weeks now, but fortunately he is due to come home tomorrow, for that I am VERY thankful, and excited!

Here is a small glimpse into the last week of my life....

Logan Had a track meet last Thursday

He was amazing - mile in 5mins 1 sec
(new goal break 5 mins)...

Friday morning I flew out to DC to spend the weekend with Todd. Can't go more than a week without major withdrawal! :p Even if that means a total of 20 hours in 3 different airports and 4 different airplanes in three days to spend less than two full days with my Love.

I had such a wonderful time!

We actually did SO much. I am absolutely in LOVE with that area. We spent time in DC, Maryland and Virginia. I was taken away with the beauty of it....

Yah, kind of hard to see this movie.
But was able to twice with the same view.
The Young Victoria if you are wondering.

My other view:

Much better...
Between Heaven and Earth
My favorite place to be.
I would love to live on a cloud and never come down...

After landing, we were able to visit another heavenly place...

We visited the DC temple, which is really in Maryland.
You can see it through the trees as you approach... amazing.

Every where you looked beauty was abundant...

Even down to a sweet cardinal
happily singing in the tree... I was so in love...

once again... I didn't want to leave....

We toured DC as well.
We saw cool monuments, and went to the Smithsonian institute! So much fun!

and sooo windy... A skirt wasn't the best idea that day.

We went to the Harbor in Maryland and appreciated how beautiful it was there too.


Then I had to say good bye to my Love,
and was able to return home to my babes... Whom I missed lots.

My Mom was able to spend some time with the kids while I was gone, which the kids really enjoyed.. (: Krystin by Monday morning though was not feeling well. She really looked terrible. It appeared to be a sinus infection, so off to the doctor we went, but not before...

the dogs had their fun...

Because mornings are not quite crazy enough, especially when Todd is gone and I have a sick kiddo... Pups decided to have some fun of their own or was it revenge for me abandoning them for three days???...
Usually, the dogs go outside, do their business and come back in within maybe 5 minutes. Well, somehow we lost track of time in the craziness that is morning... I asked - are the dogs still outside? Why yes they were, so I called them...
All I can say is that Lily, white Lily,was no longer white. She came scampering in the house completely Black, except for her little white snout... With Honey closely behind her sharing in her joy of this new look. If I had my wits about me I would have taken a picture, but we were NOT sure if it was mud, because it smelled so badly!!! Really badly. So gross. (What on Earth could smell that bad on the side yard, behind the bushes, opossum potty, don't know?) Apparently, to my dogs it smelled like perfume. They made sure to cover themselves as much as possible and looked tickled pink! Once inside, they quickly got tossed into the shower, and then won a trip to the groomers (they needed to be deodorized and disinfected).


New record for bow removal - shaken off within 1 minute.

Definitely not my favorite way to start the day,
but good if you want to diet.

off to the doctor...

Krystin had the opportunity to have her first ever blood draw. She has been having pain in her feet and hands, unrelated to the current sinus infection, so doctor wanted to do some tests...

Yes they made her wear a mask, and no she didn't like it one bit.

She was seriously brave though about the blood draw.

It appears there will be follow-ups with a specialist to figure out exactly what is going on with our little love-bug, but we are optimistic that things will go well.

Logan was feeling a bit left out, so we arranged a physical therapy treatment for his legs.
Just to keep them up to snuff.

A little runner maintenance.


Krystin got her braces off!

It sort of gave me that happy feeling, akin to when she was potty trained.
Last child, youngest baby out of braces...
Check - done with this stage. I hope.

Last pic with braces


First after braces!


Then after 20 million doctor calls, stopping at doctor offices, going here there and everywhere, Krystin had a performance tonight!

She really is fun to watch on stage.
and thankfully was feeling much better, aside from foot pain...
She always makes me smile!

Kayla and Logan waited with me in the FREEZing,
cold rain for over an hour before the show, so we could get good seats.

Cause we all love Krystin

Having fun at home after

And to finish off this crazy week - Todd returns tomorrow night! We are all super excited to hav him back. Orinigally, Thursday was set to be quite like the rest of my previous week, a bit insane. Logan was scheduled to have a track meet tomorrow from 2:45-6:30ish, while Krystin a second night of her performance call time 4:45pm, and Todd's plane landing at 5:1opm... Hmn, how to be in three places at once and how sad Daddy has to miss these things????

Well, Capistrano school district solved my dilemma for me. Teachers are on official strike as of tomorrow, Thursday, so Track meet and performances are officially postponed...

So, no teachers at school means? Disneyland day for kids I think!

A letter to my Hubby...

Dear Todd,

We miss you lots! We know it has only really been 3 days since you left us, and there are 8 more to go before your return... But, it is true we are sad with out you. So that you don't feel too far away here are some pictures so you can feel like you are here too.

We all love you lots too.

We had some friends for breakfast. Our favorite kind the two-legged, winged type. They were remarkably friendly and brave.

See the little bird looking at the egg on Logan's finger?
and you can almost hear the squeek from Logan's lips...

One actually flew over and took the food from his hand.
It was adorable, kind of like a pudgy humming bird hovering in flight!

Krystin was instantly enamored and wanted a bird friend too.

friendly little guys

Brave little bird gets breakfast.

Our Children are beautiful.
Thank you for the best gift a Mommy could ask for...

Wonderful babies....

We had a picnic at the park for dinner.

It was beautiful and sunny, with a slightly chilly wind blowing...


We had sandwiches, salad, and jamba...

Logan ran with Lily

or ... really Lily RAN Logan

Honey got a (slow) turn too...

Now we are home, kids are showering and doing school work and I am thinking of you! I love you and can't wait to see you soon!

With Love,

Tammy

Sleep-over

Here is a little glimpse what my house was like last night. (:

We had our friends sleep-over on their way home last night...

Our friend Jon's brother was even able to come over with his son.
Bet you would have guessed these two were brothers.

Well, they are on their way now and the house seems remarkably empty and quiet. It is amazing the difference an extra 6 children makes in a home. :p

Spring Break - 2010

This last week was Spring Break.

We were very fortunate to have Todd home for the entire time. I feel rather spoiled... However, Todd is now gone for the next two weeks to DC to start a new adventure in programming. He left yesterday a.m. ... and I miss him already, snoring and all... Pathetic, I know.

Anyhow, on to our family adventures.

The Easter bunny came to our house!

YAY!!! The Easter bunny is always hiding eggs in silly ways over here - there is always a note left under the basket with egg hunting instructions. This year the bunny must have had some time on its hands, because it hid 6 eggs of 6 different colors for each child. Yes, 36 eggs to find each. Best yet, no fighting or crying, because everyone knows there are those 36 eggs waiting to be found just for them.

of course we dyed eggs the night before

...and we started a new tradition the night before also
we made Easter cookies.

Yes, they are in the oven and the oven is taped shut. You have to read about them on the link above to get a full appreciation of why. (Thanks to Shawni for sharing the idea.)
I did adapt a little and used mini chocolate chips, yummy.

It was a wonderful Easter!

Monday began our week that my head is still spinning from. Krystin had a school field trip to Yosemite. Only 12 students attended (out of probably over 1000). I don't really like my kids leaving without either me or Todd with them, but there wasn't any way we could go this time, with Todd going to DC and us going to AZ on Thursday. Krystin's Social Studies teacher convinced me that this was not an opportunity that Krystin should miss, so finally I agreed.

and they're off in a 15 passenger van...

Krystin had a blast.

Well, and froze! They slept in tents (that had heaters)
in 15 degree weather and snow.
Poor little Arizona child was a Popsicle.

Krystin posing with Mr. Keene's son.

Krystin learned a lot. They had many great lessons.

So, what were we doing while Krystin was having an adventure in Yosemite???

Well, we decided that Kayla and Logan would benefit from a little educational field trip too, so...

First we took them to the San Juan Capistrano Mission.
My camera's battery was charging, so I don't have any pics, but Logan might.
None today though. It is quite beautiful and it was fun for the kids to be able to get a sense of where California came from...

Then, we sat in FAR too much traffic and went to the Griffith Observatory.
We had thought about taking the kids to an amusement park, but decided this would be more beneficial for them. I have never heard my kids so excited about a family fun trip as they were at the observatory. It was an amazing time.


Kayla & Logan with the great minds of the observatory

the views were fantastic

These two were overcome with the beauty of it...

all day long...


Kay and Logan holding a meteorite

The best You are HERE - EVER!

It is of our solar system.

Then Todd and I got new tires for my car,
oil change and even had another middle of the day date.

and even were able to have lunch with Todd's sister Ali!

Krystin came home from Yosemite at just before midnight on Wednesday, and we headed out to Arizona at 6am Thursday... Yes. Everyone was very TIRED.


even Lily

Our kids don't usually sleep in the car...

Logan didn't actually sleep, but he assisted in the process.

Ok, I was bored, and yes Lily Loves to sleep on my shoulder.

and on my arm.

Honey was just taking it all in...


We stayed at my Dad's house and the girls had a great time catching up with old friends.

while Todd and I got to play taxi cab and just enjoy being together...

Logan opted to stay and hang out with his Grandpa


and the pups liked that idea too.

The ride home was a little more adventurous than I had hoped for. Kayla threw-up and felt miserable, and then Lily threw up! Yuck! They are all better now...

We always get a book on cd to listen to during our drives, so much fun. This time were able to listen A short history of nearly everything. We actually didn't get to finish the book, but that just gives us an excuse to do something else fun that we need to drive to! I can't wait! Excellent book so far. The kids love it too, but they do tend to be knowledge junkies... (:

Anyhow, Todd is in DC, I am doing endless amounts of laundry, and waiting for our friends (with their 5 of 6 kids) to come to our house and sleep over on their way home to the Bay area. (: Always hopping over here. You want to come visit too?