Ripley's Aquarium

After a hike in the mountains we treated the kids to the overpriced Aquarium. Is there any other type?
Shawn was in heaven!
He spent at least 30 minutes picking up the horseshoe crabs. We used to find these shells on the beach in Milford all the time.

Dad tries to follow tradition and feed his second son to the Sharks!

This girl enjoys these places right along with her brothers. She's learned to enjoy their adventures in her own feminine way:)

The whole draw to the aquarium, the saw shark!

Smoky Mountain National Park

Who doesn't love a good rushing river?

3rd annual Spring Break with G&G

Gatlinburg, TN paled in comparison to Washington DC and Kirtland, Ohio.
We started out big with this tradition of my parents joining us for Spring Break.
We enjoyed our time together in a great cabin and the best company!
Hillbilly Golf was the pace we were looking for. Not so touristy, but fun and different!

The tram took us backward up the steep hill, then we golfed back down.

Easter

Beautiful weather, General Conference and Spring Break. The perfect way to celebrate the resurection of our Savior.
We love Him and what his life means to us. Having these 3 healthy, happy children makes us so grateful for our Father in Heavens' Plan to return with him someday. Nate and I can see a glimpse of the love he has for us and why he wants to reward us with a perfect body and a perfect life after all we've been through here!
Happy Easter!

Favorite Home decorations

Nate's mom made this quilt. Isn't she talented? Its just what our wall needed..a little Love at Home. Thanks Grandma!

This is the ledge over our entry way. I bought this ladder from a cute little etcy store in town. I loved it and when I went back to buy it with money my grandparents sent for my birthday I had to call and share the news with them. My grandpa answered, Grandma was getting her hair done, so I had a few moments with just him and it was the best conversation I've had with him in a long time. One of those moments when the stars are all aligned. I miss them and this ladder will always remind me of how well he knew me, my kids, and the love we all have for each other. He is one of the best examples that writing memories down makes them last, even when we can't remember them!

Shawn earned his Arrow of Light- He should be pinning Nate, not me. They have worked so hard on this.

Pirate Ryan!

Cara had a scarf making party with 2 friends. She brought me invitations all made up and then said, "Mom, can I have a party on Monday?" It was Presidents Day. This is not an uncommon ocurrance, but me saying "yes" is a change:). She is sending the scarves to children in Pakistan.

What have we been up to?

This....
Ryan trying to make it to play with Miles.

The kids built snow forts, some with tunnels, some with their own rooms. We had great use out of our snow clothes this year! For me, I'm so glad it is finally melted and the sun has been shining for 4 days!!! We can even see the buds forming on tree limbs. I'm puttin up my "Welcome Spring" sign today!

Excitement!

Ryan doesn't just get on the bus. Each day he picks a new way of getting from the bus stop to the bus. (and sometimes all the way back to seat 18) It cracks me up and his bus driver is always smiling waiting to see what he'll come up with next.
That makes me smile. What if she was in a hurry and waited impatiently for him to come?
Thank you Mrs. Bus Driver!
This started out as a coping mechanism for a nervous moment. It has become his time to shine and be the star for an audience of 2 smiling adults:)

Today's jumping with pointed fingers on his ears got me thinking...remembering... a sweet grandma in CT who told her twin grandkids and Cara as they waited for their first bus ride, "Remember the only difference between being nervous and excited is fear. It feels the same, but when you're not afraid anymore, you can just be excited!"
I love her for that and she'll never know!

Made with Love!

Cara

Ryan with his cowboy hat!!!

We didn't snap very many photos of Christmas morning for some reason. Probably because we were video taping it. I don't know how to transfer that yet, so no luck.

But this was one of my favorite Christmases ever! The kids worked so hard on hand making their gifts for each other and for Nate and I.

They were so excited to give their gifts to each other.

They were our first gifts to be opened.

Here is the list

Shawn repainted a shelf of mine to match her room butterflies and all!

He made a custom LEGO set for Ryan by building, photoing, taking apart and placing the bricks in a ziploc!

Cara painted a big R for Ryan to put in his room. He has been asking for one for a while because Cara has a Cute C hanging in her room.

She also decopaged a shoebox for Shawn with magazine pictures of wolves, eagles, Alaska scenery, etc. It is for his scout keepsakes, etc.

Ryan painted a cardboard purse for Cara with a rinestone handle. He worked so hard at framing the heart picture hole using colors Cara would love. Then on the other side he made a huge sunflower that turned out so beautiful!

For Shawn, Ryan made a Yankees hoodie. I bought a plain hoodie from Walmart and then we printed out and cut out our own stencil, then Ryan painted the logo on. It looks perfect!! You would never guess it was the work of a Kindergartener.

The kids made me a neclace and a scarf.

For Dad we made a Corn Hole set- thanks to Bro Bartlett's help!

Okay, Christmas.

Now that it's February, I guess I better get to the Christmas photos.
So---

Christmas Eve Ornaments and PJs from Grandma and Grandpa.

THANKS!

Home

Ryan's school Library tree house!

I haven't blogged about Christmas, as you can see.

We left on Christmas night to my parents' house in California.

10 days of sun, family, chaos, new memories and immersion in memories of youth.

As we were decending over Cincinnati the pilot so casualy announced 8 degrees with light snow.

I said- outloud- "Turn the plane around." He apparently didn't hear me.

My imagination has been spending the last 10 days figuring out how in the world to move to California. And not just to Cali, but La Crescenta. I want to live around one corner to my parents, and the other to my brother and his adorable wife and kiddos. I want to wake up to a 78 degree January day and a farmers market with local produce that actually GROWS right now. I want to see Melanie and Melissa as I walk in the church every week.

I want, I want, I want.

So, my post today is a reminder of what I love about home. Which is NOT La Crescenta. It's here in Cincinnati. So, buck up and love it, Jen.

First on my list is our Garage.

We have not had an attached garage we could really use as a garage or entire marriage. I love not having to clear the ice off the car, just to run to the store. I am grateful each time I walk in the house witout walking through the muck and the mud of a driveway or parking lot.

The kids can also come through the garage with their snow gear after sledding or snowman building and drop it all off. feet from the washer.

I know it is simple and really not important. But it is a simple pleasure. And would cost a pretty penny in my home town. I'd give it up to be near family, have my kids play with their cousins on a regular basis, take cello lessons from Grandpa, go to Dodgers games with Grandma have Uncle Jon as a high school math teacher, Cook with Adrienne, give Cara some girl time with AC, sign Charlie's cast and buy the Duke's go cart.....

But fortunately the list doesn't really end with the garage. It goes on and on to more important things that make a difference in our lives. Like neighbors we can play with on demand, a friend who takes me to the movies, Other friends who make me laugh, great babysitters, a short commute for Nate, the Museum center, many after school programs to choose from, Graeters Ice Cream and more.

Nate has the camera at a cub scout hike right now, so still no pictures of Christmas, but they're coming, I promise.

Hugs

Jen

Mine Schwester

I love my sister. It was so good to see her 2 weeks ago. (and so sad) It was too short, too hectic, too hard to spend time together. But still- SOOO good to see and touch my oldest friend and her adorable babies.

I came accross this post about sisters and it could not have been said better of my relationship with "Meeeee"(I cried)

I love you, Amy and all the ways we're different. I love having someone I can text when something random happens to me and they CARE! Someone I can cry with and feel better. Someone I can try to solve the world with and really not get anywhere!! You rock and I wish I could get together and really spend time soon.

We've done that before, right? The above picture is proof. Ryan was 4 months old and we zip lined!!!

Our Christmas Card

To see our Christmas Card
click here.

Its always fun when Grandpaarents come, Hooray!

When Grandparents come we play!

Yes, that's our baby climbing that wall. It was sooooo cute to see him fly up that wall. Is there any physical trick this kid can't do? He's lucky it was weight and not height that qualify you:)

Cara and Shawn each got to climb twice. It was a school night, so we were practically the only people there.

Skyscraper. Their faces were hilarious as they swung around and around.

Air Force Museum and Zoo

Saturday was about 60 degrees, so on our way to the children's museum we changed routes and spent the day at the zoo instead. We were there at the perfect time. Right as we were finishing up it was getting dark and the light display began. It got suddenly crowded. Wilkeys and crowds don't mix- so we were happy to be heading home.

The Air Force Museum is soooo huge. We could go back and learn more everytime!

Thanksgiving Dinner

The kids waiting for Gma and Gpa at the airport!

We had invited our neighbors to join us, but by the time Ryan was back from picking up Grandma and Grandpa he had a fever. Since their daughter had just had her tonsels taken out they didn't want to chance it. The kids were BUMMED! And I felt bad that they ended up spending Thanksgiving at Cracker Barrell. We had LOTS of left overs. Including 2 quarts of gravy!!

What do you call your dad's cousin? Well, we call her Shaunice and she came to Cincinnati last month! She coaches womens basketball at ASU and the Sundevils came to play Xavier. She got us in for free and we had a good time. Well, Nate and I did. The kids unfortunately are not into basketball. I am determined to convert them one day!

We took Shaunice to dinner and to Graeters! It was good to see her.

Cara was a dancer at the High School Basketball halftime. She had a blast and we loved her smile. Sorry the photographer didn't capture it very well.

Nativity

I worked on the Nativity Display our Stake does each year. After a lot of work I was glad to know I spent my first week of Christmastime helping others see the Christ child displayed so beautifully.

Wacky Wednesday!