Flying Over Westover Field

Taking off (Or Landing)

Lizzy is smiling here, but apparently she cried alone in the backseat during take-off!

Not much cuter than a 3 year old with great-big headphones on.  He LOVED this!

Papa and his brood of fliers (though Leah didn't fly)

     My dad has had his pilot's license since I was in high school.  The last time we had the kids in the airplane was when Daniel was just 3 and Sarah was 4 1/2 and we lived in Palmdale, CA.  Today my dad took the kids up in pairs: Daniel and Lizzy and then Sarah and Jacob.  My mom wondered if Lizzy was OK in the backseat.  I said, "Of course, she is my brave one."  On the contrary, we found out when Papa returned her to the ground that she cried from the time he revved the engine before take-off until halfway through the 10 minute flight.  I guess she was a little nervous of the loud noise and without Mommy there to reassure her.  

     Otherwise the kids had a blast flying in Papa's "We-pleene" (as Jacob says).

Playtime at Grammy & Papa's

4 of the Fab. 5 on the lawn swing

Grammy helped Jacob roll out and cut Molasses cookies.

Lizzy and Jake LOVED painting Grammy's house with water & paintbrushes.

Grammy's has a lot of pools-they just don't fit big kids very well!

LeLe had a great time with pails of water as well!

My Date with Princess Oldest

     What would a date with a 9 year old girl be without some good shopping?  

     Sarah's desire was to go to the tea room where Lizzy and I went.  I let her choose our table, and for a while, no one else was there besides us!  Sarah chose ham and cheese sandwich, scone, brownie, goldfish and fruit.  I had the same as last time (since it was so good) Chicken Salad on a croissant with a yummy cran-feta-pine nut salad and scones!  Sarah chose the tea room's most popular tea called San Fransisco.  It was a blend of strawberry, ceylon, cinnamon and one other spice I can't recall.  It was really unique!  I took some time to talk to her about schooling, what she likes and doesn't like about it.  She did say the only thing she wanted to change this next year was to teach Lizzy math.  I keep reminding her if she really wants to do this, she can't give up after 2 weeks!  She keeps telling me she won't, so I'll let her try.  It should be interesting when older sister and younger sister stubbornness rears its ugly head!!  Hmmmmmm.

     After tea we walked up and down main street Sutter Creek.  We went into all the little curio shops and the toy shop where Lizzy found her princess lunch box.  At a cute little place(which smelled divine) called Tomorrow's Heirlooms, we found a bunch of the softest, cutest stuffed animals.  Sarah preferred the alligator, but I settled on a zebra for baby boy #6.  We continued on to the bookstore where Sarah and I really went crazy.  She found a gift for Lizzy's 1/2 birthday party in July(a porcelain elephant) and chose an Encyclopedia Brown book for part of her gift.  I found a baby album/1st year calendar for baby boy #6, as well, and a book of famous quotes for homeschooling.  We also just had to get a book of 2,000 jokes and knock-knock jokes since she and Dan are so into them, but don't know many.  

     We left Sutter Creek and went up the hill to Wal-Mart where I bought her the Bakugan she wanted and one for each of the other kids.  Bakugans are these transformer-like balls that pop open when placed on metal or a magnet.  They are some weird Japanese toy and although I likely would never let the kids watch the TV show or use the website, they have fun playing with them.  I do find it funny that this is what Sarah chose as her "treat" along with a book about a boy detective.  

     I have this to say about my Sarah: she is versatile in her tastes! We had a great couple of hours of one-on-one time and I am so thankful that the Lord provided both the means and the time for me to date each of my big kids on this vacation!

My Date With Daniel

Dan building his new Bionicle at Johnny Rockets.

Posing by a Castle display.

Mommy and Dan by the Pick-A-Bricks.  Too bad you can't buy them one at a time!

"Mom! I found the store!!"

     Two days after our big weekend to the Bay area,  I took Daniel to Sacramento for his big date with mom.  I dropped all my other kids at my sister-in-law Sandi's where 3 of them went to nap. Daniel and I drove 30 minutes up to the Arden Faire Mall to the Lego Store.  He scoped out the store sign and was SO excited to go for his first time.  We wandered through the store for a while before I told him he had $40 to spend on whatever he wanted.  He carefully looked at all of the Lego's there and the keychains and magnets.  I liked digging my hands into the pick-a-brick bins!  He finally settled on 3 Glatorian Bionicles.  As we left he saw Johnny Rockets and asked if we could sit at a table there so he could get a Coke Float and build a Bionicle.  Of course I said yes, it was his special date!  As we walked to the car he told me it was the 

Best Day of His Whole Life!

More Pictures from Santa Cruz & San Fransisco

Jakey digging in California sand.

Papa with two of his girls!

The Coit tower in San Fransisco: It is meant to look like a fire hose 

and is dedicated to fire fighters.

A street car

The result of trying to photograph 5 kids aged 9 to 1!!

California Vacation: Weeks 2-3

Sarah poses at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sarah and the kelp she and my brother threw on each other.

I asked my mom to take this prego picture since I rarely 

get in front of the camera.  Here I am 20 weeks.

A sweet cousins shot.  My oldest two and Scotts #1 and #3, Ethan(9) and Dillon(4)

My cousin Holly and her new husband Ryan Kegley.

   I have been so busy vacationing, I haven't updated this blog as well as I had planned to.  So here I am again with a few minutes on my hands to update you all on the last two weeks!  

    After a semi-quiet week at my parents and taking Lizzy out on here date, we headed off Friday at noon for San Jose.  My aunt let us park all of our stuff at her house where we had my "adopted aunt and uncle" watch all 5 of my kids while my parents and I headed off to my cousin's wedding.  My Aunt Sherry and Uncle Al actually introduced my parents and spoiled Scott and I rotten when we were kids.  They walked into my Aunt Shelley's house and immediately warmed the kids up to them.  I was so relieved since I haven't even seen them in 5 years!  So we left the kids and headed over the mountain to Santa Cruz where we grabbed a Starbucks before my cousin Holly "tied the knot."  It was a beautiful garden wedding but I have to admit, I was pretty excited when I saw my cousin Jeremy(her brother).  I don't think I've seen him in maybe almost 20 years!  I had fun talking with my 4th grade teacher, Janese Favret, while my brother and Sandi and my parents all hit the dance floor.  The next day we packed up the kids and returned to the Santa Cruz beach and Boardwalk.  I used to visit there when I was a kid.  It has big roller coaster and fair-like rides with all the food and vendors.  My kids were thrilled.  Now the downside of it is because I have 5 kids, they only got to ride on 3 rides each and my tickets were gone!  Daniel was nervous to ride the "Tsunami" and "Log Ride" but ended up LOVING them!  Dad and I took Leah, Jacob and Lizzy on the old carousel which still has rings you can pull and throw in the clowns mouth!!  We had Hot Dog on a Stick for lunch (which I used to eat in So. California, but my kids don't remember) and then I got them Dippin' Dots-their favorite treat from our local ballfield!  We were there with my brother, his wife and their 4 boys and babysitter, so we all headed out onto the beach for a dip in the Pacific Ocean.  It was a HOT day for Santa Cruz, but the water of the Pacific is COLD!!!!  Sarah had fun throwing kelp on "Uncle Apple Juice" (as they call my brother-long story), Leah ate the sand as she always does, Dan went in the water with his cousin Ethan and Lizzy and Jake dug in the sand and cried when the cold water got them!  It was a FABULOUS time!  I think that day registers as my favorite-if only Marc had been there. . . .

     That night I got to catch up with my Aunt Shelley, Uncle Michael and cousin Brooke (7 yrs).  On Sunday we went to Venture Church, which I grew up knowing at Los Gatos Christian Church.   I was quite impressed with their scan-code stickers for checking kids in and out of their classes and nursery!  After another lunch of In N Out my parents, the kids and I left San Jose and headed out towards San Fransisco.

    San Fransisco is my second favorite memory of our trip!  Although my camera died and I don't have pictures, I do have video of our time there!  We crossed the Golden Gate bridge and looked back at the city from the vista point.  It was amazing!  Daniel and I sang for the camera our family's favorite song by Caedmon's Call: The Ballad of San Fransisco.  We crossed back to the city and drove to Lombard Street to take the kids down this favorite road.  Well, I realized I am a true Floridian Flatlander now, because I didn't realize the backside of Lombard street is a very STEEP hill.  Here I was in slippery sandals with my foot cemented to the brake pedal for fear of rolling backwards down the hill.  I carefully slipped my shoes off while my mom reminded me to brake and gas at the same time.  Afterwards we said, "Why was I driving?"  My mom was born and raised in that crazy, steep town!!!  I loved driving DOWN Lombard street and seeing Lizzy and Dan hanging out of the windows of my dad's Explorer.  He let them unbuckle and every time he switched back on the road below us I could see the joy on their faces!  

     From there we went to Ghiradelli Square where we ate at a diner without kids menus (RIP-OFF) then over to the Ice Cream Shoppe for some decadent dessert!  Jake and Lizzy each had enormous scoops of ice cream, Sarah chose a simple brownie, Dan a Root Beer Float and Me: a "Gold Rush Sundae" with dark chocolate fudge, peanut butter sauce, and vanilla ice cream!!  I bought a large tub of chocolate-mint flicks as a taste-to-go.  It was DELICIOUS!

  Thus completed our second weekend in California and the most of our big trips.  We returned to Jackson exhausted.

Lizzy's Date with Mom

Whenever my California parents visit us in Florida, they try to take each of the oldest three out for some one-on-one time. Since this was MY vacation, I decided I wanted to do the same! It is not often that I get one-on-one time with my kids-except for occasional trips to Publix or WalMart! I planned one date per week while we were here to spread out the cost, and generally planned to spend $40 on each. Lizzy picked a date to the local tea room called Tea Eras (cute name!) We left early and wandered around Sutter Creek first and I hadn't told her, but when she found something she liked I knew I would buy it for her. At a little old-timey toy shop there were dozens of kinds of tin lunch boxes. She found one in Disney Princess with a beaded handle that looks more like a purse-but she says it really is for her lunch on days we are out! Next we went to the tea room where we had Peppermint tea with lots of sugar cubes, scones with Devonshire cream, sandwiches and dessert. The main thing she wanted was a chocolate brownie and I had a lemon bar! It was a sweet time with my little Bean.

New Favorite Fact

   Paging through my dad's magazine The Bottom Line, I found the following quote:

When a man gets married he gains an hour more of work per week.

When a woman gets married, she gains 7 hours more of work per week. 

   This must be why I make marriage and children a FULL TIME JOB!

The First Two Weeks of Vacation

     So the first two weeks of vacation are officially over and as they say, "Vacation has worn me out."  Course, I have 5 kids and I am 5 months pregnant, so I'll cut myself some slack.  It HAS been a blast!  Most of our travels are done and behind us as great memories and the next two weeks will be more calming, though still fun.

     First, we turned back time and spent 3 days in Jackson, CA, at my parents adjusting to the time zone difference.  Marc played with the kids.  I caught up with my parents and did 1 day of school with the kids.  The kids caught up with my parents and dove into my mom's stash of toys!

     Second, we packed up our cold-weather clothes and headed up to Lake Tahoe.  My dad says I drive the twisty mountain roads like an old pro.  Guess that skill isn't easily forgotten!  We ate cheap at Taco Bell and took the kids to McDonald's playland where we caught up with my brother Scott, his wife Sandi and their 4 boys: Ethan, Eric, Dillon and Decklin.  It has been 2 1/2 years since we saw them and I just wanted to hold Scotty for a long, long time!  After a quick stop at the grocery store, we headed up the hill to The Ridge timeshares that look down on Lake Tahoe.  Technically at that point, we were in Nevada. We had great 2-room suites next door to each other that the cousins were able to run in between and spend time with one another.  The non-gambling thing to do in Tahoe is to go to a casino-top buffet dinner, which we all dove into with relish!  I told my kids that after they had some decent dinner protein, they could have all the dessert they wanted.  They LOVED it of course and mostly had soft-serve ice cream with sprinkles and oreos.  My poor nephew Ethan did not get the go ahead for all-you-can-eat dessert and had to stop at 2.  At dinner I stood up and announced to Daniel that he had been chosen as Sparky of the Year back in Florida and his jaw dr0ppped.  It was fun to tell the whole family at once!  The next day we took the kids out to big breakfast at The Red Hut and to the time-share park.  Once we saw some snow, we all piled in the cars and drove down to it where the kids tried to hit the adults with snowballs and vice versa.  Daniel snuck up on Marc and hit him square in the ear with an icy ball!  We had dinner and breakfast in the rooms and took the kids to the indoor pool, but mostly the kids were happy to play in the rooms with cousins!      

     After leaving Tahoe we headed down the hill to Placerville and on to Coloma, CA where gold was discovered in Sutter's Mill.  We saw a gold panning demonstration and a forging demo at the old Blacksmith's shop.  We stopped in an old store for ice cream where the kids got huge scoops of ice cream for only $1.25!!!  We walked by the old stone and iron jail and saw an original Stage Coach.  Grammy and Papa left us then to go on home and the kids spent the whole next hour throwing rocks into the American River.  This was by FAR their favorite thing!  Daddy taught them how to skip rocks across the top of the water and Leah decided to try swimming in the icy water, but thankfully, only her face and the top of her shirt ended up under water!  After Coloma we drove through a California favorite: In N Out burger!  We spent the rest of the evening visiting with College and Seminary friends: Phil and Jamie Layton and their 4  kiddoes. It was a sweet time of fellowship after not seeing them in the last 5 years!  

     Sunday morning was Mother's Day and my kids gave my mom and I some cards I had picked out-yes, I said I had picked out!  :-)  We attended my parents church here in Jackson before grabbing our suitcases and heading 30 min. to my brother's house.  My brother and sister-in-law just moved into a new house last month and Marc and I had fun drooling over their 3,500 square feet of SPACE!!  Scotty made all of us ladies a nice BBQ tri-tip lunch and Marc got to watch his golf match!  After golf concluded we headed 2 hours east to Sonora, CA.  We stayed in a hotel there so that our travel into Yosemite National Park the next day would be shorter.  Dad and I took the kids to the pool and Marc even got to eat from his second "place I have to eat at while in California," Carl's Jr.   Monday morning we headed off to Yosemite and all its beauty!  Marc and I made the big kids ride in our car so we could hear their reactions as we headed down to the valley floor, saw Half Dome and all the waterfalls.  Unfortunately, the kids were actually a little bitter that they couldn't ride with Grammy and Papa like Jake and Leah did. . . so much for "family" vacation!!!

Yosemite was gorgeous and Yosemite Falls gave off such a cold, strong wind that most of the kids wouldn't even go up to the bridge at the base.  We toured the American Indian Village and ate lunch before purchasing promised souvenirs at the gift shop.  Dan and Sarah both picked out wooden edged "Swiss Army" knives with their names on them-very cool!

After driving 3 hours home, Marc had to pack up his stuff and Dad took him to a hotel next to the Sacramento Airport.  I was very sad to have him leave but certainly not ready to leave yet myself!!!  Marc's flight was at 6:20 in the morning so we let him fend for himself to get there on time!  He did arrive safely home WITHOUT missing his flights and in time to teach his first class on the Doctrines of Grace at 7 pm in Florida!

Vacation Begins!!

I took this pic of Jakey in case I had to show what my suitcase looked like.  Oh, and by the way, he wears this shirt every other day!  For his birthday this month, he told me he wants, "'nother one, football shirt."  What 2yr old asks for clothes for their bday????

Marc on vacation!  Playing electronic Yahtzee with a Theology book on his knee.

Sarah as a pirate.

     My daughter is so creative.  Lately her creations have included watercoloring herself and her siblings to look sunburned on AWANA beach night, making a prosthetic arm from a bright green hand-shaped back scratcher and bandanas and this pirates beard from paper!  

     So our vacation is underway and we are enjoying our break in California.  As we ran up to our flight gate a week and a half ago, we saw our plane being pushed away from the gate.  4 hours later we finally boarded a new plane to Kansas City and got off in L.A.  We were delayed there for 2 hours before boarding a plane to Sacramento.  Altogether our flight day took 19 hours from our door to my parents in Jackson, CA.  God's mercy was so completely poured out on us as it didn't SEEM like a 19 hour trip to Marc and I and 5 kids!  The kids should be awarded prizes for how well they survived the trip.  The older kids were GREAT and Leah and Jacob cried at different times and Lizzy finally cried a bit in the L.A. airport, but who can blame her?  By then it was midnight in Florida! Dan fell asleep on the floor of the terminal there and when we got him up, he had his McD's HappyMeal KidsBop CD stuck onto the side of his face since I begged him not to lay his face right on the carpet! :-)  I wish I had a picture, but Sarah fell asleep in Leah's carseat!  

     Marc has been the picture of relaxation since we arrived.  His new attention grabber is electronic Yahtzee.  When Sarah misplaced it he bought the app. for his iPhone to continue his new habit!  He did work on computers in Florida from afar and read theology books and best of all, played with the kids in new silly ways.  My favorite was when he was playing swords with Jakey and Dan and pulled himself "wounded" down the hallway by his elbows to "get one last kiss from his true love(moi) before he died."  LOVE IT!

     Marc returned to Jupiter 3 days ago after our trips to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.  Look for those updates and pics as soon as I have some more time!