Spring Break - Seattle Style

We headed north this year for Spring Break. My older brother David and family live in the Seattle suburbs and we decided to go for a visit. Despite having reservations about the 15 hour drive, we got on our way with a poor little minivan bursting at the seams. We splurged a bit and bought some car portable DVD players since our bare-bones van did not come with that luxury. They were a life saver in the car and we had a relatively uneventful, quiet trip. Each child with headphones, Greg and I could actually talk to each other in peace.



We arrived Saturday evening just as my brother Dave was returning home from London at the same time. He works for Microsoft in the XBOX department and writes software and games for the new Kinect. He then travels all over the world working with other companies who also want to make Kinect games. This guy is quite the world traveler.
He took us to his office and took us on a tour of Microsoft and XBOX. Pretty cool.




Dave's wife, Kate had also been in London with him and had left their kids with her parents. She wasn't home yet because she was in Idaho picking up the kids. We met up with her and the cousins a day later.
Monday we did very Seattle touristy things. We first went to the downtown city center where the Space Needle and things are. We totally scored on planning our trip because what to our wonderment did we find, but a traveling Star Wars exhibit that was at the Science Center. We actually knew it was there for a very brief time and were so happy to be able to plan our trip at the right time. Being the parent of three boys, all of whom eat, breathe, live Star Wars this made the whole trip worthwhile for the kids. The exhibit included all the original costumes of main characters from all 6 Star Wars movies. Darth Vader, Luke, Leah, Han, etc. It also had the real R2-D2, C3PO, Storm troopers, Wookies, and so on. Original light sabers, too. The only disappointment, as far as my kids were concerned, was that the ships weren't life sized. I tried to explain to Andrew, in particular, that every shot of a space ship you see in the movie was just a model suspended by strings and being filmed. So they had all the actual models for the Millenium Falcon, X Wing fighters, AT-ATs. But he was expecting a real actual life sized ship. We need to discuss the "fake-ness" of movies a bit more. This kid really believes in Jedis. Anyway, we were all totally geeking out.












We then walked over to the Space Needle where we had lunch reservations. We rode the over priced elevator up to the over priced revolving restaurant and ate a delicious meal with an incomparable view. I think this was actually Greg's favorite part of the whole trip. It was so cool.





The next day, Tuesday, we got up and went to the Seattle Aquarium. I must say, and don't be offended any of you that may know and love this aquarium, I was a little disappointed. I would have thought being right on the sound and close to the ocean, it would have been a bit more impressive with more variety of cool fish. It was a smallish aquarium. But I have been to places like the Monterrey Aquarium and the Shark exhibit in Vegas at the Mandalay Bay and was expecting similar grandeur. But it was fun for the kids to touch star fish and sea cucumbers and anemones.





After the Aquarium, we wandered around the famous Pikes Market and saw the fish (blegh) shops aplenty. We then headed back to Dave's and gathered up everyone to take a ride on the ferry across one of the little Sound Finger things over to Kingston.





Wednesday we devoted to Major League Baseball. Greg is a born and raised Dodgers Fan and while we lived in LA we took in as many Dodger games as we could. So his thoughts tend to drift towards baseball in the spring. And no vacation would be complete, in his mind, without the opportunity to see some MLB. So we checked to see if the Mariners were in town and went off to a game. Even though we didn't particularly care about either team (Mariners v. Toronto Blue Jays) it was still a fun opportunity to see some pro ball. And a chance to see the famous ICHIRO. Too bad the Mariners lost pretty bad on account of crummy pitching.




Thursday we took it easy and hung out at home (Dave's house) played the Kinect, watched movies, took a quick drive into Seattle to check out the famous Gas Works Park. It was cold and rainy so we didn't stay long. There were some homeless people sleeping in sleeping bags on the playground area. Also, a very disturbing guy who was hanging dead body dummies from trees around the park. I'm not sure what he was doing, but he hung up each very lifelike bloody corpse by a noose around the neck and strung them up in a circle of trees. We got a bad vibe and decided to leave. Ah well, no big city is perfect...

Friday we got up early, packed, grabbed breakfast and hit the road for home. We stopped over night at my parents house in Idaho and made it home to Utah Saturday afternoon. We're unpacked, laundry done, everything put away, and back to routine in a remarkably quick time. Pretty fun Spring Break.

Ribbons? Pink? Doing hair?

Yes, we are having a little girl...! I really am thrilled, but after having 3 boys in a row, I find myself a little out of my element. My mom was never one for super girly-girl tendencies and I was not raised like that. So I have nothing to draw experience from. That being said, I truly am excited for a little baby girl and all that I will learn with this new adventure. My due date is Aug 14. But with a scheduled C, I will likely be a week or so earlier. I really had mentally prepared myself for another boy, so when the ultrasound man pronounced this one a girl, I was a little tongue tied for a moment. And he seems to be completely sure. He said he's never once been wrong in 25 years and that I was NOT going to be his first.
But we've had a wrong ultrasound before with our second son. So....

Anyway, that's my news and I'm feeling pretty good right now. Occasional nausea, but much better than it was.

Things to Report...

1. David has learned to turn on his own TV shows from the On Demand menu.
2. Every person in the family has had a disastrous bout of stomach flu with accompanying puke and other unmentionable ailments.
3. Vomit doesn't come out of carpets very well.
4. ChemClean Carpet Cleaners leaves a very strong lemon scent behind that lasts for days.
5. ChemClean Carpet Cleaners won't move your furniture for you unless specifically told to do so.
6. Karen was released from 4 different music callings in the ward.
7. Karen was called to be the new secretary in the Primary Presidency.
8. Jimmer has reached God-like status in Utah County.
9. Greg's car is barely alive but still gets him to and from work.
10. Karen has rediscovered her love of Calvin and Hobbes.
11. David prays in EVERY prayer that Santa will come tonight and that he can share with Garrett at Church.
12. Andrew is a mathematical whiz at school and brings home perfect math sheets.
13. Greg and Karen are expecting baby #4 this summer.
14. Karen barfs up her toenails on a daily basis.
15. Nathan beats his mother at video games every time they play.
16. The weather still continues winter-ish.
17. Karen graduated from her 20s and turned 30 this month.
18. Greg joined Facebook.
19. Nathan still can't tie his own shoes...
20. Andrew knows every word to the opening theme song of Phineas and Ferb.
21. The Wildings are still here. Despite the lack of blog entries.

Ready for 2011....

We have had such a blur of activity this month. It seems like I can only get to blog about once a month lately. Oh well.

Greg celebrated his 32nd birthday this month and we had a quiet party at home for him. The boys helped me decorate the cake and it got a little out of control with sprinkles, but it was a fun.
We have been dumped on lately with a ton of snow and the boys have been living high and enjoying every flake. I feel like I'm constantly pulling on snow pants and boots and gloves, then taking them off just a little while later. Then do it all over when they're ready to go out again. We enjoyed our first snow day since living in Utah which canceled school. And apparently, that just doesn't happen around here. This was a first cancellation in many years. So we made the most of it and went sledding and played in the snow all day. It took Greg and me over 2 hours to shovel out our driveway and sidewalk. Then we decided to be kind to the mail man and spent another chunk of time clearing out the street right in front of our mailbox. Santa forgot to bring us a snow blower this year. Maybe next...

We had a wonderful Christmas with Greg's family in Provo. We all met at the condo there and brought Christmas with us. Lots of fun and lots of family to hang out with!



Silly boys come up with silly things when they're bored and have access to scissors and paper.

When our kids were babies, we bundled them up in a blanket burrito and it helped them stay asleep all night long. I was feeling sad that David is no longer my baby, so the other day I bundled him up the way we used to. He thought it was so hilarious. The older boys immediately wanted to be "burrito-ed" as well.

Greg's rather ugly birthday cake..

The day school was canceled. Over a foot of snow and it snowed all day!


Christmas morning!

David is obsessed with Garbage Trucks. The all knowing Santa wisely brought him two. Who needs one when you can have two, right?

Silly bands are a very popular item with the younger set these days. But I've heard rumors that more and more schools are banning them. I can see why. But Santa couldn't resist Star Wars Silly Bands. But they came with a condition...that the boys would not take them to school.


I gave Greg a Kindle this year...hopefully he'll share it with me ;)


Grandma brought treats for the boys to decorate.



Have you ever seen a cuter kid than this??

November at a Glance....

Sheesh, I've been lazy about blogging. Either I've lost my drive for it, or nothing interesting is going on in our lives. Well either way, here we are. Things have been rolling along pretty well for us. Greg's busy at work. Flu season, etc. Keeps those pill pushers super busy. The boys are doing great in school. Andrew recently did a report on Egypt. The second graders were all asked to choose a country and do a 15-20 minute oral report on it. I thought it was a bit much for second graders, but it actually was pretty great. My parents went to Egypt several years ago and took thousands of pictures and made them into slides. So we borrowed the old, old slide projector and showed that to the kids in Andrew's class. Mom and Dad also brought back lots of souvenirs that we borrowed to show the kids. It was a great experience for Andrew in public speaking and the kids were mightily impressed with all the cool stuff we brought in. They were also mightily impressed at the old timey slide projector and lots of kids asked what in the world that thing was. Different times.... I was working the slide projector in the classroom and wasn't able to take a picture of Andrew, unfortunately.
We braved the winter roads and drove up to Idaho for Thanksgiving. Idaho got dumped on with a terrible blizzard and the I-84 pass over Sweetzer was pretty scary. But we made it. We are grateful this holiday season for so many things. Good health, Greg's secure job, cars that drive, a warm home when it's below zero outside.
We are excited to move into the Christmas season and hope everyone has a fabulous holiday.

Grandpa with David and cousin Daniel

Snowy Idaho.

I found my parent's old wedding album while home for Thanksgiving. Took some pictures of pictures. That's my mom.

Andrew's art work.

Nathan had a kindergarten assignment to disguise a turkey so he wouldn't be eaten for Thanksgiving. I helped.

My favorite bush in our yard that turns such a brilliant red each fall.


I was SO excited to meet my friend Danielle at a BYU game. She lives in California and came up for the game. Miss you!! Move to Utah!
(Below) Snapped a quick photo of LaVell as we entered the stadium at the same time. Such a nice guy, pressing the flesh and saying hello to everyone.

October at a Glance

We've been enjoying this beautiful month of October. Beautiful leaves changing on our mountains and around town. We survived Halloween despite a biblical type rainstorm. We went out with umbrellas and ran as fast as we could between houses. The kids came home soaked to the skin, but with full pumpkin baskets, so it was a success. Such a shame Halloween had to be so rainy. Lightning and thunder, too!
This month just flew by so fast and here we are to November already.
I'm not sure why blogger makes my pictures all out of order and different. So sorry for the confusion.

In case you're not as obsessed with Star Wars as we are, these are two bounty hunters. Jengo Fett and Boba Fett. Don't ask me...Also, a little Garden Gnome.

Nathan with his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Miner. Such a lovely witch! She's super nice and we like her a lot.

Andrew with his teacher Miss Winkel. Apparently the female teachers at the school all like witches a lot.


The school had a parade for all the parents. Each grade marched around the gym. So cute.

Somebody was so MAD that I made him wear the beard.


Kindergarten Halloween program at school.

And to cap off our month, we had a huge windstorm that took out a section of our fence. Getting fixed in a day or two.

Kindergarten Invades Pumpkin Land

Today was a fun today. I volunteered to go with the Kindergarten on their field trip to Pumpkin Land. I was given a group of 3 other kids, plus my own Nathan, to be in charge of. We got our group organized and headed straight to the corn maze. It didn't look too huge from the outside of it, but it sure took us a long time to find our way out. It was super tricky inside and they made the exit really hard to find. Long before we finally got out, the kids were begging to cheat and cut through the stalks and just get out any way they could, but I made them stick with it. There was a small animal zoo with bunnies, goats, roosters, peacocks, and turkeys. Then over to the play ground for some energy release, then back to pick out a pumpkin to take home. Pretty fun field trip for a bunch of 5 year olds.

Nathan with his buddies from school. Do you see that he's like a full head taller than everyone else? He's gonna be huge!