San Francisco

A few weeks ago, Bob and I decided to take the kids to San Francisco for the weekend.  We knew we wanted to go while we were here, so when Bob got some unexpected time off we went!  It was lot of fun and the kids loved it!

Kids getting ready to walk on Fisherman's Wharf

Family pic on the Wharf

And yes, Bob and I are wearing the same hoodie.  We both forgot our jackets, well Bob more forgot, I didn't think that I would really need one.  Note to self if you ever go to San Fran take a jacket.  Anyways, I never thought that I would be that couple who wore the same jacket as their spouse, but I am.  I refused to get a light pink one and black was the other option and apparently Bob didn't want the pink one either so we both ended up with black and it was the cheapest we could find.  We looked like a 60 year old couple walking together. In fact, a 60 something year old man said to his wife "why didn't we get matching jackets?"  I am pretty sure he was mocking us.

China town

 We went to the Aquarium on the Wharf and the kids had a blast.  They were able to touch baby sharks, sting rays and other sea creatures.  They loved it there.

Bob and Risa enjoying the fish

Jaxon and me 

touching the star fish

Risa and the star fish 

touching baby sharks

We had to see the painted ladies and the park where the opening scene of full house taped.

in front of the painted ladies

a park by the painted ladies

We went for a walk by the Marina and this is what Jaxon decided to do...  practice his martial arts.

good form

and then he found a stick and we couldn't get him to stop.

family pic.  the golden gate bridge is behind if you look really hard:)

We went across the Golden Gate Bridge, but we were never able to walk across it, because it was really cold and windy and I didn't want to hear the complaining from a certain little boy and this would always happen...

she would fall asleep the second she sat in her seat. 

Jaxon enjoying the ride across the bridge

all smiles

We went to this Sourdough place that was on the wharf and had an amazing breakfast and bought this to eat as well...

a turtle made out of bread!  So cute, I couldn't resist!

And Jaxon really got into the maps and telling us where to go, he wouldn't leave the hotel without one, that's how serious he took it.

telling us what road we needed to go on.

We had a lot of fun and it was really nice to be together as a family.  My favorite part was cuddling up next to Risa every night and I'm pretty sure that Bob's favorite part was sharing a bed with Jaxon and him demanding that they share the same pillow the entire night!

my bed buddy

Bob's bed buddy

Tahoe

We went to Tahoe and to be honest I didn't really care to go, I just thought that it was just another lake, full of gross things.  But it wasn't and I was pleasantly surprised.  The kids loved it and  loved being in the water and enjoying the sun.  We enjoyed it so much we spent the whole weekend there:)

Lake Tahoe

Risa and dad enjoying the water

Jaxon and I at the beach

Jaxon and Risa getting ready to play in the water

Risa loved the water and could not get enough of it

"Cheese"

building sandcastles with dad.

So cute!

And my favorite picture from the lake...

he thought that he looked pretty cool!

Preschool

Jaxon is officially old enough to start school!!!  I wasn't sure that I would put him in or not, but then I realized that with us moving and him leaving his friends behind, he would need something like this to do.  So we signed him up met with the teacher and he has loved it ever since.  He enjoys doing the crafts, learning, playing games and I think that he really just loves being around other people.  He already told me that he made a new friend named Taylor and she is not to be confused with his other friend Taylor who he left behind in Oregon.  At least this is what he tells me.

 Anyways here's a pic of the big the day.

so excited!

he got to bring a stuffed animal for the big day, to help with first day jitters:)

Bob was able to be there and take him for his first day, which I know Jaxon was very happy about.

me and J as you can see I dressed up for the occasion!

I can't believe he is this old, it feels like yesterday I would put him in the baby carrier and go on walks with him to pass the time.  So sad.  And yes, as you might have guessed I did tear up a little bit as we drove off and left him for his first day of preschool!

WE'RE HERE!!!!

So after months of thinking, planning and preparing for the move we have finally made it to Nevada.  We could not have done it without the help of my mum who helped me pack, clean, put stuff in storage, drive the 10 hours to Nevada  and then unpack everything, oh and then give me a few nights off so I could go out and relax.  So to my mum I owe a BIG THANK YOU!!!!!  And of course to all the people who helped us load the truck and then unload. Thank you!

We packed everything and left the only home we have ever known together as a family.  (that's really dramatic, but true:))

getting everything packed

the kids playing in boxes, because all of their toys were packed up.

Jaxon doing his part to load the truck

Risa listening to some tunes to escape the chaos around her.

All the people who helped us pack and watch the kids. We miss you!

After we packed the truck and said our good-byes we headed to Nevada.  We drove to California the first day and stayed the night.  The next day we continued on our journey and made it here.  We unloaded and got settled.

one last pic in front of 1781 B

The kids are adjusting and making sense of their new place and having to share a room together. Bob is enjoying his new rotation and it is great to have him back with us.

All smiles after bath with aunt Kim

Happy guy!

All ready for their first Sunday at their new ward!

We have already met some really nice people and hope to continue to meet others in the ward and around us.  We look forward to our time here!

Things to live by while you and your children are sick

Here are a few things that I discovered helped me while I was sick and the kids were too, and I thought that I would share.

1. T.V. is your best friend.  It will be on day and night.  Literally.

2. The Doctors number will also become your new best friend, I think that I called it at least 100 times.  And as a side note, do not use your cell phone, b/c it will cut out on you and then on another occasion after you finally get the nurse back on the phone your minutes will end along with your conversation with her.  Which is awesome and you have to start the process again of trying to get them back on the phone.

3. Let you children dump out every toy they own, because you just don't care.

4. Give you children soda and juice ALL day long, because it will keep them quiet and out of your face while you rest.

5. Always make a plan.  For example who will come and sit with the kids while I take myself to the emergency room or who will sit with the kids and who will take me to the emergency room because I can't drive myself.  All relevant thoughts considering I thought my throat was closing over.

6. Skype with dad or another loved one so that they can "babysit" I mean have a meaningful conversation with them while you dose off in the chair beside them.

7. Make frequent phone calls to your spouse which will result in many tearful/hysterical conversations on your part, not his, about how awful this is and that if he doesn't get home soon you are checking yourself into a mental institution.  Oh never mind that's been the last three months:)

8. Make popcorn so your children can eat it, or better yet crumple it, stomp on it and toss it around your entire living room.  This will occupy them for a half hour to forty-five minutes more or less depending on when they start throwing it at you and wake you from your nap.

9. Always accept help.

10. And last but not least go to bed when your kids do which is 7:30 for me and don't move until the morning.

And if you do all these things, I am sure that by the next morning you will start to feel better.  And if you don't feel better by the next morning, then check yourself into that mental institution because another day of that will actually make you feel crazy.

Goodbyes and excitement

In a few short weeks I will embark on yet another adventure with Bob.  However, unfortunately I have to say goodbye to a lot of things as well.

Those goodbyes being, leaving Forest Grove FOREVER!!!!  When I think back to when I first moved here, I had just had Jaxon, left Canada and my family for really the first time.  I had never felt so alone in my entire life.  Those first few weeks here were hard and I remember thinking I can't wait to leave this place!  Now, I don't want to leave!  Funny how time changes things.  I have loved it here.  My family has grown here in so many ways.  I love how it is green all year round.  I love the nicer weather.  I love my running route under the BIG trees.  I love my ward.  I love that I have grown a lot here.  I love my home.  I love being able to go to the beach.  I love picking fruit.  I love just being outside here, it's beautiful.   And last but not least, I have loved the people.  They have made my time here pass by and I have met some pretty amazing ones.  Without them, I think that those looooong days would have drug on for centuries!!!  I feel very blessed to have had this experience in my life and to have been given the opportunity to meet and get to know these people.  And I guess I never knew how much I would appreciate it, until it is almost finished.

On the other hand, in a few short weeks, I will be reunited with Bob and my 3 mos. of being a single mum will end, HOLLA (which is the excitement by the way)!!!  We will move yet again and start a new adventure with the kids.  I have mixed feelings about this, but I keep telling myself that it will be fine and we will have fun there too!  I can't wait for him to be back and I know the kids can't either.  Especially a certain little boy who asks daily for his dad and will not talk to him on the phone because he says "I just want him here with me."  So I am counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds till he is home!

When I leave this lovely little place I have called home for three years, I will be leaving with fond memories, two children and a husband.  So I guess in a lot of ways, the most important things are coming with me.  Except everything that I listed above:)

And this is how I have felt about Oregon!!!!

Favorites of the week

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of this last week with the kids.

We found these sunglasses at Target and Risa wouldn't talk them off, so of course we had to buy them!   She wore them the rest of the afternoon.

He looks like he is sucking his thumb while he is asleep.  But he's not.  Such a tired boy.

Blowing into their trumpets or a vuvuzela (as Bob would call it)  just like their dad taught them to do, with parts from the vacuum.  Thanks Bob!

Favorite conversation of the week was one that I had with Jaxon (obviously because Risa can't talk yet). It happened while we were in church and Jaxon's good friend Maren's mum was at the pulpit speaking and said that her grandmother Maren had died and here's how the conversation went:

Jaxon: Mum, Maren died?!!!!

Me: No Maren didn't die, what are you talking about?

Jaxon: Anna said Maren died! (as he is pointing to the front of the chapel at Anna)

And then of course I had to explain to 3 year old how that was a different Maren and not the one that he knows.  Needless to say, I think that after sacrament when we saw Maren at nursery, he knew that she was just fine:)