Chit-Chatting To The Zoo

My trip to the Philadelphia Zoo with Phoenix was too much fun! We rode next to each other on the bus ride down and chit-chatted about life according to Phoenix. I so love how her mind works and what is important to her. She loves to talk to me about upcoming plans like...what color her nails will be painted next and if I will help her or not, what she will be wearing to school tomorrow, what she would like to pack in her backpack when we go to Utah and what she feels she would like to do when we get there, what is on the school menu tomorrow and for the following week and if she wants to buy or pack (all of which she buys...because I am an all too busy, lazy mommy!)

We had a group of four girls the agenda was the Apes, Giraffes, Gift Shop, and lunch. You have to love girls who know what they want. I must say we did all of the above and a whole bunch more.

Besides hanging out with my favorite seven year old, all day...My favorite part was the Gorilla. He was just chillin in his cage. I swear we all sat there, eating lollipops watching him for a good 20 minutes.

We climbed trees which I am pretty sure was not allowed! Went to the Children's petting /interactive part of the zoo, chased peacocks, and imitated the penguins.

It was an amazing day, but all that really mattered was that I spent the whole day of quality time with my Phoeney Bean.
and it so was "OUR SPECIAL DAY"

A Decade of Motherhood

My eldest child turned 10 on May 28th. It was a wonderful day! We all stayed present and in the moment and it was a great day. We started the festivities off with a family favorite for dinner and definitely one of Stone's favorite's....Shrimp Fried Rice.
Stone would not be Stone if he hadn't tried to talk me into opening his gifts early so just this once I informed him that he had a "special" gift this year and he could open that one early...but only that one. When Mitchell and I see things prior to the kids birthdays that we think they might like we will go ahead and get them so as to help offset the cost all at one time. So Stone's first gift was bought prior to Mitchell dying and he was able to see it and know that Stone would love it. Phoenix, Avery and I wrapped it "To: Stone From: Dada"


The gift was a Teck Deck holder and some Teck Decks. We then put 10 candles into Stone's requested cake...vanilla cake with vanilla frosting, and sang to him. He made a wish and warned the girls to "blow on his cake and die" The girls kept their wind to themselves and Stone blew them out with one shot!
We then ate cake and I swear I cannot remember when or where this crazy tradition started but I do know it was Stone who did indeed start it. The kids shove their faces into their own piece of cake so as to look funny. Stone was apparently too cool this year to play. I guess at 10 you start to become embarrassed to play the games you once created, but the girls were certainly not too embarrassed to play

Stone on the other hand can get any job done with a piece of cake and a glass of milk. I actually took a sequence of photos to log the event and while it was happening he told me I was embarrassing him but I just sat there in astonishment as I watched the cake and a glass of milk disappear in 20 seconds if he actually took a breath during the whole time or not. After the cake we cleaned up and Stone was able to open the rest of his gifts.

Stone you are such a great boy and you are all too quickly growing into a young man. You are so responsible and I am so proud of you and so happy that Heavenly Father had the foresight to send you here to live with me!

I love you!

Too cool for Pre-School

Avery graduated from Pre-school. Here is the graduation annoncement that she sent home:

There is a picture of Me on the left and Mitchell on the right and then on the back is a picture of all five of the kids. She asked me repeately if we were going and I assured her that we were. She was very, very excited to say the least!

When the day of graduation finially arrived she actually had Ms. Dani call me to ensure that I remembered. Which I had! You would think that I was irresponsible and forget things all the time or something...which I really dont! (at least about my kids things) I think Avery was just THAT excited.

The program was really cute. They sang all their little songs and showed off the things that they had learned this year. Stone and Phoenix went directly outside and played on the playground equipment until refreshments were served as they were apparently not that interested in the Pre-school program...I was loving it. There was a twinge of sadness...at Mitchell's absence as he so would have been there but he was not and so I just got twice as excited for us both~

Avery then asked me to take pictures with her and some of her friends and she ate refreshments. Avery loves Ms. Dani. I am not quite sure if Kindergarden is ready for the likes of Avery without the child whisperer! (That's what we call Ms. Dani b/c of her unique skills with "unique" children)

Avery... Congrats and Good luck Baby...I am so proud of you!

Here comes the bribe...oh I mean....bride

The trip to Utah for Aprils wedding started out interesting to say the least. As the plane started to land in Salt Lake I was very surprised by my reaction as tears started to stream from my eyes. Apparently there was much more emotion tied to this place than I had realized. As I analyzed my own reaction I started to recall all the great experiences that Mitchell and I had shared together in Utah. We met here, had swam in the Salt Lake (which I was at that moment flying over), climbed the "U", stayed at a nice bed and breakfast in Salt Lake and attended a Jazz game while my parents kept the kids, we had flown back together so that he could ask my Dad if he could marry me, we had done the whole Utah sightseeing thing together, and we had actually conceived Stone in Utah as well. I got myself and my emotions together as I looked over and was glad that I had brought Jenn along with me because this trip was not about me or about my loss, but about April and her new beginning with Adam.

It was a great trip! We were able to do two sessions at Mt. Timanogas Temple, Play with Adam, Megan, Porter, and Miles (why didn't we take pictures?) Oh Well...I will show you who they are anyhow...

But, I am sure we will take a ton of pictures when we play this summer...I fly in on June 16th! ~~~Jealous much Daniel :)

We spray painted wedding shoes, decorated the wedding cake, shopped for those last minute touches (and just some fun things too), ate at Cafe' Rio...a must if your in Utah with me!

So I will set the Wedding scene for you...the home of my mother's friend was beautiful...to say the least. The day was beautiful~April and Adam got married in the stone structure behind the pool with the orange roof...I know...amazing...right?!

I was ready to go as the maid of honor but I apparently cannot do two things at once and while holding onto the gown and the grooms ring I dropped the ring and the inlays fell out...That's right people...I will forever be known as the maid of honor who broke the ring! Oh well...At least I looked good...right? lol

Here's the awesome cake we "Mom, Kim, Lori, Jenn, and I decorated" to perfection if I do say so for the group. I must interject my opinion though and say April and Adam were Nanny's and fed each other with forks oh so lovingly...barf!


Here are the pretty tables with all the trimmings minus the lime green cheesecakes that were oh so delicious! (I think you can see them in an above picture though)

And in true Daniel style. He surprised me and wore one of Mitchell's ties to the wedding so Mitchell was still with us in spirit.

(Mitchell) was apparently okay with April's choice to marry Adam as the wedding popped off without any real disasters. I am sure April will remember how opinionated Mitchell was about the men she dated... the first time he ever met her he sat her down and had a talk with her about the boyfriend she had at the time and told her that she didn't need this boy and how cute and great she was and that she could do so much better....and she could...and she did! lol...That was so unlike Mitchell as he really didn't stick his nose into other peoples business like that...ever! :) Except for where it came to April dating boys! I guess he really did see you as the sister he never had.

I can only speak for the brides side of the family as they were looking simply gorgeous!

And I guess the bride and groom weren't so bad themselves...In fact I do believe they themselves were the best looking of them all.

If you could imagine that!

On Mother's day we all met up once again for a picnic in the park and a game of kickball. I myself did not play for what reason...I don't really know, most likely, because I was sitting on the blanket full of food and in some kind of conversation with someone at the time. Regardless It was a great picnic with aunts, uncles, cousin's, grandparents, brothers, sister, parents...It was a blast. A great trip to be remembered!

Ethan loved those bubbles. Great call Mom! Damn Gina!
Who woke up on the wrong side of Jason this morning?
It's a good thing that Grandma and Pap don't have the Internet or Grandma would not be happy with me right now. That is for sure! I believe Pap just finished blowing his nose too...lolTrashdigger! ...lolWhere's the grub?

Real men play ball Congratulations April and enjoy every moment!

Spring Break Fun

Amy strikes again...I don't remember if you recall the post I wrote about when I described Amy as the person who will have you out following her into crazy adventures you are thinking the whole time..."why in the world am I doing this?" and then end up having some of the best times of your life. It is because of Amy in my life that my children think I am a more fun Mom. It is also because of Amy that I feel a little more like I am living than simply just surviving. It is also the reason that every time Amy even mentions the possibility of moving. I literally almost start to hyperventilate and with one of my meanest looks in my repertoire, I let her know that is simply not a possibility! I also (completely out of line...I know) ask if she needs me to have a talk with Jerry. I think it's a bit funny but I can just see this conversation now...me explaining to Jerry about Amy's worth in my world...it may get nasty at first, then I may have to pull my widow of five children card followed by tears. Jerry would I am sure laugh at me while I am sure that my sob story wouldn't even come into consideration for what is best for their family yet in my mind I just couldn't let this woman who means so much to me and has literally changed my life go without some kind of a fight! So anyhow...Allow me to share with you...hands down...our best Spring Break ever! All Amy's plan! I just followed along and my kids are still singing my praises!

We first took the kids to Chuck E Cheese and then Roller Skating. I decided to take only Stone and Phoenix because they had never been roller skating before and I wanted to make sure that they had enough individual attention to actually learn how to skate. They really did a great job! They both caught on really fast and I do believe that this is now one of Stone's favorite things to do! I was so proud of them.

At one point I think I even caught myself flashing back to Jr. High School. It was just like Wheel-a-While in 8th grade. If I closed my eyes I swear I could hear Tiffany belting out the tunes.

(Sorry about the picture quality...cell phone/lighting/moving/=bad pictures)


The next day so as not to leave Avery, Zion, and Cy out, we took a trip to the Brandywine Zoo. It is a small local Zoo with a cool monkey house and a beautiful fountain park. We looked at all the animals, ate ice cream and took pictures. The kids had a blast and as you can see so did the Mommies!

Thanks again Amy!