OK, what is not to love? I am sick of snow, and on Friday, it was snowing again. Not so fun anymore. So, we came to St. George. The weather was beautiful today. We went swimming in the outdoor pool several times. The children loved it, we loved it, and we even had some bathing suit marks from getting some color. Happy, happy, happy. It feels good to be able to prove you got some sun. Plus they have some fun shopping, and endless great restaurants. What a fun place. It has been just what our family needed to get away and have a little fun! We will have to remember this one.
Just remember when you make reservations online through hotel.com and others, be aware of the difference between "connecting" and "adjoining" rooms. According to the "hotel" people all the rooms are adjoining cause they are next to each other. If you have 5 kids and 2 adults, you don't want "adjoining rooms" , you want "connecting rooms".
If you fail to do this, when you sign up for the hotel with adjoining rooms and arrive at 9pm with the fam, you find out you are screwed. Your two "adjoining" rooms are really just next door to each other with no connecting door. That's not going to work with five kids ages eight and under.
And then you find out that Hotels.com wants to charge you, the hotel wants to charge you for your reservation, and then you get to spend an hour and a half talking on phones with the front desk and hotels.com to get a refund. By then it is 10pm and you are hoping to be able to find 2 connecting hotel rooms anywhere.
Thanks Ramada for coming through for us. I would definately recommend the hotel. Right next to all the outlets. Fun. Great swimming pool and hot tub. Perfect for a weekend adventure. I would not recommend the Wyndam. Just in case you were wondering. Who knew adjoining/connecting room terminology could create trauma. Anyway, it has been a great time being here for this weekend. Brandon really loves it here and I think would love to move here one day. Maybe for retirement.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Night Swimming
The most fun activity for children. We had such a great time as a family; swimming in the pool tonight. So much fun! There is something about the water, so fun, refreshing, relaxing, bringing the best of times!
A Testimonial
My husband Brandon and I have had a dilemma. We have LOVED the food at Texas Roadhouse, but, there are a couple problems which have prevented us from going on our date nights.
1-They play Country Music. (Big problem for us.)
2-They play Country Music VERY LOUDLY, so you can hardly hear anyone talk.
3-They have some dead animals on the walls. (Sometimes not so appetizing. Makes you wonder what you are eating.)
4-The waitresses and waiters participate in line dancing (in case the music wasn't loud or annoying enough.)
But seriously, the food is REALLY fabulous. So, what to do?
Well, all these factors turned to our benefit today. We are here in St. George, all seven of us, for the weekend. We are thinking, "Where can we take our family for some good food, without disturbing the nice folk around us?" Unfortunately, there is no such place. But, right at this moment, we began to think of wonderful Texas Roadhouse. With the loud music, you may not be able to hear the screaming or whining of our five children.
Added bonus: they serve you peanuts in buckets and encourage you to throw the empty peanut shells to the floor. Could there be a better place for us to take our five children? I think not. Oh my gosh. We were in heaven. Incredible steaks, loaded potatoes, loud country music actually louder than our children. (OK, I really don't like Country Music, but hey, it covered up the sounds of the kids.) Since we went for lunch, we missed out on the line dancing. Shucky darn. But hey, next time we will go for dinner. We all had a fabulous lunch, enjoyed making a huge mess with all the peanut shells, and we could be as loud as we wanted to be. Seriously, so dreamy.
So, next time you are wanting to go to a kid-friendly zone, forget about McDonalds and head over to your local Texas Roadhouse. It may be a little more pricey, but definately worth it. This may become a family tradition for us. For real. I know, sorta' disturbing that we got such a buzz off this experience, but it is truly incredible to find a stress-free eating location for a young family of seven.
Some of the decor
Stuffing ourselves
Peanuts anyone?
1-They play Country Music. (Big problem for us.)
2-They play Country Music VERY LOUDLY, so you can hardly hear anyone talk.
3-They have some dead animals on the walls. (Sometimes not so appetizing. Makes you wonder what you are eating.)
4-The waitresses and waiters participate in line dancing (in case the music wasn't loud or annoying enough.)
But seriously, the food is REALLY fabulous. So, what to do?
Well, all these factors turned to our benefit today. We are here in St. George, all seven of us, for the weekend. We are thinking, "Where can we take our family for some good food, without disturbing the nice folk around us?" Unfortunately, there is no such place. But, right at this moment, we began to think of wonderful Texas Roadhouse. With the loud music, you may not be able to hear the screaming or whining of our five children.
Added bonus: they serve you peanuts in buckets and encourage you to throw the empty peanut shells to the floor. Could there be a better place for us to take our five children? I think not. Oh my gosh. We were in heaven. Incredible steaks, loaded potatoes, loud country music actually louder than our children. (OK, I really don't like Country Music, but hey, it covered up the sounds of the kids.) Since we went for lunch, we missed out on the line dancing. Shucky darn. But hey, next time we will go for dinner. We all had a fabulous lunch, enjoyed making a huge mess with all the peanut shells, and we could be as loud as we wanted to be. Seriously, so dreamy.
So, next time you are wanting to go to a kid-friendly zone, forget about McDonalds and head over to your local Texas Roadhouse. It may be a little more pricey, but definately worth it. This may become a family tradition for us. For real. I know, sorta' disturbing that we got such a buzz off this experience, but it is truly incredible to find a stress-free eating location for a young family of seven.
Some of the decor
Stuffing ourselves
Peanuts anyone?
When will I learn
If I could speak for Ethan I would say:
"Mom, this is the reason you should never attempt to cut our hair again." Every single time I look at my boys I am reminded of my mistake. What was I thinking? Exactly what I think every time haircut time comes around. Do I really want to brave a haircut place with five kids? Do I really want to pay for 4 boy haircuts? The answer is always no. And I always decide the day I cut their hair that I can't handle another day of overgrown hair. When we were first married, I tried this stunt on my husband. That only lasted one cut and he has never let me near his head with clippers again. I really should apply this lesson, but what is the fun in that.
Instead, I tell myself (each time) that this time I won't screw up their hair, can save myself some aggravation and a couple bucks by doing it myself. All those thinking errors. I end up having to take them for the correction haircut, expending more time and effort. Next time I am feeling so inclined I am hoping I will take a look at this post for a friendly reminder. Gotta' love those lessons I never learn.
You may not think this is that bad, but this is after several attempts at correction. You should have seen him a couple days ago with a couple bangs that were a couple inches longer. Poor kid. But hey, except for this "evidence" he won't really remember this, will he? Oops, another thinking error slipped by. Thank goodness for delete buttons!
"Mom, this is the reason you should never attempt to cut our hair again." Every single time I look at my boys I am reminded of my mistake. What was I thinking? Exactly what I think every time haircut time comes around. Do I really want to brave a haircut place with five kids? Do I really want to pay for 4 boy haircuts? The answer is always no. And I always decide the day I cut their hair that I can't handle another day of overgrown hair. When we were first married, I tried this stunt on my husband. That only lasted one cut and he has never let me near his head with clippers again. I really should apply this lesson, but what is the fun in that.
Instead, I tell myself (each time) that this time I won't screw up their hair, can save myself some aggravation and a couple bucks by doing it myself. All those thinking errors. I end up having to take them for the correction haircut, expending more time and effort. Next time I am feeling so inclined I am hoping I will take a look at this post for a friendly reminder. Gotta' love those lessons I never learn.
You may not think this is that bad, but this is after several attempts at correction. You should have seen him a couple days ago with a couple bangs that were a couple inches longer. Poor kid. But hey, except for this "evidence" he won't really remember this, will he? Oops, another thinking error slipped by. Thank goodness for delete buttons!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Gymnastics Ribbons
Today Maddie and Benj were able to participate in a little gymnastics program put on for the families. They received ribbons at the end and were thrilled.
The mischeivous smile!
Brother-sister loves
Benjamin gettin' some love from Maddie
The mischeivous smile!
Brother-sister loves
Benjamin gettin' some love from Maddie
You know you may be at the end of your rope when......
you start thinking that signing up the toddlers for morning and afternoon preschool (next year) is a brilliant idea. I mean, I could be mother of the year for the hour and a half lunch in between the two preschools. That sounds more achievable to me.
I think it's the whole all day, every day, no break ever thing that can get a bit old. What can I say, I am an all or nothing person, and the "all" preschool idea is looking fabulous.
Sometimes it is about pausing and saying, wow, this will be gone quickly, and trying to enjoy it; even the rough Mommy moments. Even if it involves lots of spills, dead goldfish, a bit of defiance, and some frustration once in a while. Cause the other part of motherhood; priceless, includes the smiles, sweet snuggle moments, and joy. Not to mention the way children help you look at the world with new eyes with all their beautiful wonder. Sometimes you can forget these things, temporarily, as your blood pressure is skyrocketing from the latest spill or mess.
On the other hand, there are some plusses with the morning/afternoon preschool idea. With my two oldest in normal school, two children in preschool most of the day, think how much I could get accomplished? Dishes MIGHT get done (that is still dependent on me actually doing them I guess, so maybe not. But you get the idea, there would be more of a possibility for.....), floors mopped, bathrooms cleaned, and laundry done. I might even have a fabulous non-frozen, or non-little caesers, or non-wendy's, home-cooked meal for the family at night. How dreamy would that be. And, if the toddlers were gone most of the day, that would mean less "artwork" on the walls, less fingerprints, less flour on the floor, several less times the dog runs out the door as they open it, and less cereal poured out. Less mess. So, you could actually get things accomplished and have them stay accomplished. I might not be able to handle such success.
That can start to look REALLY attractive. But then I would miss out on all those beautiful smiles, the flour around their mouths, the multiple "I'm sorry Mommy"'s, and just their sweet goodness. And let's face it, all the great blogging about their messes.
OK, maybe one preschool for my 3 and 4 year old will work out just fine. Thanks for helping me problem solve, brainstorm my options, etc. Blogging is so therapeutic.
Bad stages, please pass quickly. I am really ready for some rainbows.
I think it's the whole all day, every day, no break ever thing that can get a bit old. What can I say, I am an all or nothing person, and the "all" preschool idea is looking fabulous.
Sometimes it is about pausing and saying, wow, this will be gone quickly, and trying to enjoy it; even the rough Mommy moments. Even if it involves lots of spills, dead goldfish, a bit of defiance, and some frustration once in a while. Cause the other part of motherhood; priceless, includes the smiles, sweet snuggle moments, and joy. Not to mention the way children help you look at the world with new eyes with all their beautiful wonder. Sometimes you can forget these things, temporarily, as your blood pressure is skyrocketing from the latest spill or mess.
On the other hand, there are some plusses with the morning/afternoon preschool idea. With my two oldest in normal school, two children in preschool most of the day, think how much I could get accomplished? Dishes MIGHT get done (that is still dependent on me actually doing them I guess, so maybe not. But you get the idea, there would be more of a possibility for.....), floors mopped, bathrooms cleaned, and laundry done. I might even have a fabulous non-frozen, or non-little caesers, or non-wendy's, home-cooked meal for the family at night. How dreamy would that be. And, if the toddlers were gone most of the day, that would mean less "artwork" on the walls, less fingerprints, less flour on the floor, several less times the dog runs out the door as they open it, and less cereal poured out. Less mess. So, you could actually get things accomplished and have them stay accomplished. I might not be able to handle such success.
That can start to look REALLY attractive. But then I would miss out on all those beautiful smiles, the flour around their mouths, the multiple "I'm sorry Mommy"'s, and just their sweet goodness. And let's face it, all the great blogging about their messes.
OK, maybe one preschool for my 3 and 4 year old will work out just fine. Thanks for helping me problem solve, brainstorm my options, etc. Blogging is so therapeutic.
Bad stages, please pass quickly. I am really ready for some rainbows.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Uh-Oh
I will leave it at this. Our son is 8 years old; nearly 9 years old. He is starting to have "listening ears". Whoops. We have really got to watch what we say around him 'cause enquiring minds want to know. Oh, it was so nice all those years to be able to talk freely without worrying about kids really understanding what you are saying. This stage is OVER. And if we don't realize it, we will pay a price. Our home teachers came over today and they sure got an earful or two from our little son Brandon. Wow, I didn't realize how much he was picking up on. Good to know.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Great Balls of Fire
To my brother Daniel; this one is dedicated to you!!! Brandon can't wait to take you out for a good time on your next visit.
My husband having his male bonding boy moment. And we are totally not rednecks, I don't know what would give you that impression! See video below for validation of the facts:
Great Balls of Fire
My husband having his male bonding boy moment. And we are totally not rednecks, I don't know what would give you that impression! See video below for validation of the facts:
Great Balls of Fire
A Taste of Spring
Please hurry Spring, we just can't wait much longer for you to show up!
Brandon (8)
Ethan (6)
Benjamin (4)
Maddie (3)
Dylan (2)
Dylan with my parents
Benjamin loves the bars
Maddie
Ethan and Brandon
Dylanator
Grandma helping Maddie
Grandpa, Daddy, and Ethan
Dylan
Benjamin
Maddie
Brandon (8)
Ethan (6)
Benjamin (4)
Maddie (3)
Dylan (2)
Dylan with my parents
Benjamin loves the bars
Maddie
Ethan and Brandon
Dylanator
Grandma helping Maddie
Grandpa, Daddy, and Ethan
Dylan
Benjamin
Maddie
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