The Ockermans

Amy Turns 8!

2012-02-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

For Amy's 8th birthday, she wanted to have a shark cake, go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, and have her friend, Kaitlyn, spend the night. I think we can handle that!

After Texas Roadhouse, the girls set up their beds and were ready for cake. Too bad the shark turned out purple.

Amy had been planning the big day for weeks! Here is the schedule she came up with. I think they stuck to it exactly as written.

Happy Birthday!

Only Christmas Photos

2012-01-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

I did a horrible job at taking pictures this Christmas. This is all I came up with. Here is Elli in our friends' manger scene. We had never had the kids in a manger scene before. I'd heard of people doing them, but I thought it was old fashioned or something you did at church. I guess people do them with their own kids! So I brought a towel to the Christmas Eve dinner/party we were invited to and Elli got to be Mary. I really liked it! It was so sweet to see the kids be the parts and to watch their excitement. Must do again. Thanks Stacia, or Codi for sharing that tradition with us!

There is the baby! Only the most important person!

And this is the only picture I took on Christmas Day. Here are our fuzzy slipper sock feet after a fun morning of presents! Thanks Grandma for keeping our tootsies warm! They all fit great!

Christmas Eve Hike

2011-12-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Riley had the idea to go for a hike on Saturday morning and sent out an invite to all the locals. We were happy to have two families join us, the Willardsons and the Lauberts. I am so glad they decided to join us. Otherwise I probably would have complained most of the way. It was a bit chilly.

We started off at about 9:00. Here's Nash, the dinosaur/dragon king. He walked a lot and got rides a lot. Makes me remember trying to do things when our kids were little. It's a little easier now.

Walking, walking. Riley said the trail was 4 miles long and that we would be done by 11:00. I had a lot of baking to do!

Amy taking a break.

Alice in the pack.

As we climbed higher and higher, the ground suddenly changed to frosty frozen. There was no snow, but frost all around everything.

Brr!

Then we reached the top and found snow! I think it was made by the ski resort, but fun to play in for a while. Sandy was let off the leash and loved running all over.

Elli couldn't resist a cartwheel. I stayed as much out of the snow as I could. I know from cold Idaho winters that once you get wet, you never get warm! No cartwheels for me!

Riley so happy that we all came out on this crazy hike.

Sandy likes to run right passed people as fast as she can and here she comes!

"Mom, no pictures of me! Seriously!"

All the kids except for Adam and Alice. Let's see if I get this right... Annika, Elli, Ariel, Amy, Dallin, Nash, and Adriana.

And the rest of the group minus Nikoli and Alice, and Christina.

Dallin was surfing down the ramp.

Darin almost got Riley to sit next to him on the chair lift.

Christina couldn't resist a ride with her sweetheart.

So cute!

"Now how do I get off this crazy thing?!"

Coming down was much faster and easier. The Lauberts split and went a way we thought was longer, but they beat us down! We stayed on the trails thinking we were going so fast, while they shot right down the ski lanes. They were enjoying a snack in the car when we walked up. It was warming up a little by then and it turned out to be a great way to start the day. Thanks for joining us Willardsons and Lauberts!

2011 Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Usually I buy the big gingerbread house kit. It comes with one big house and all 3 kids try to take a turn and make it how they want it. Not always a happy time. So this year, I saw a kit at Target with 4 small buildings and thought it would work out much better. They each got their own pieces to build with and decorate however they wanted. And when Elli's dropped on the floor, we even had an extra house for her to start over with. But, it quickly turned into a competition and Dad was going to choose the best one.

"I'm going to put coconut on MY roof so it will look like snow."

"I'm going put a big driveway on MINE."

"I'M going to put on all the candy I can!"

Adam won best roof, Elli won best driveway and Amy got the award for most candy. Smart judge.

Our Trip To Mexico!!!

2011-12-06T05:53:00.000-08:00

My family (mom and sisters) had been planning a vacation for over a year. Since Elise wanted to get married in Mexico, we decided to make that our destination. It seemed like forever away, but slowly the time passed until finally it was time to pack up and go!

Here we are at the airport after waking up at 4 a.m.

After playing Slap Jack for a while, we boarded the small plane that was the first of 3 flights that day. But, because of an hour delay due to a small electrical problem, the rest of the day was canceled. We were sent home and told to come back tomorrow. To compensate for our troubles, we were escorted by limo to another airport. This time we had to wake up at 2 a.m. to make the flight.

Even though we were super tired, it was our first time in a limo and we all thought it was pretty cool!

Adam did say that we probably shouldn't even go at all and that it was just too much trouble. I said "NO WAY are we staying home! Get me to Mexico any way you can!"

There are a lot of photos to follow. Beware. It might get boring unless you were there.

Welcome to Sayulita

2011-12-05T17:23:00.000-08:00

We finally made it! The first thing the kids wanted to do was get in the pool. They had seen it in pictures of the house online and had been talking about it the whole day.

Khanya was already in it when we got there.

I think the girls got in everyday. Even after a long day at the beach, they still wanted to swim in it.

Mom and Brandy were a still little unsure of the whole house situation when we got there. They had arrived the day before and had already experienced some unpleasant things. Mostly bugs and a long hike up the hill from the town to our house. By the end of the trip though, the trek up the hill was invigorating and welcome exercise after all that yummy Mexican food!

That evening, we had a rehearsal for the wedding. The house where the wedding was was so neat. I love these huge doors!

Then a dinner on the beach ended day one with both families. I think my kids were so tired, they fell asleep with their heads on their plates. We had been up since 2 in the morning, remember?

Wedding Day!!

2011-12-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

The wedding wasn't until late afternoon, so some of us took the morning to explore the beach.

Adam didn't wear his flip flops and didn't want to get his favorite Sambas wet.

We enjoyed the morning out, while Mom stayed at the house and made some last preparations for the reception. Those boxes were filled with mint chocolate candies that were scrumptious.

Hurry Up and Wait...

2011-12-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

for the Bride!!!

Mom had us on a timer and we were running late. No one knew quite where to go, so our driver was on the phone trying to find out. Was it "Los Delfines" or could it be "De Los Fines"?

We got to ride in golf carts down the hill so we wouldn't get our pretty clothes dirty.

Riley came down on the second trip with all the forgotten odds and ends .

Hurry hurry! It's almost time to start!

But, Elise was running late with the photographer, so we just had a little extra time to enjoy the mariachi band, that's all. Mom always said, "Elise will be late for her own wedding." and she was.

All the Details

2011-12-04T18:22:00.001-08:00

Everything looked amazing. What else can you say? It was Elise's wedding.

The Money Dance

2011-12-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

Following Mexican tradition, the bride and groom begin the dance. Then as guests cut in, they pin money on the couple and wish them well. Elise looked beautiful it was fun for everyone to get a chance to say hello on her busy day.

Wedding Reception

2011-12-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

Amy was pooped and was taking a rest on the couch by the pool until the music came on. Then she jumped up, ran to the dance floor and danced long into the night. Jr. definitely got the award for best moves. He was awesome. Shy, but awesome.

Beach Days

2011-12-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

After the wedding, it was time to relax! Monday and Tuesday we went to the beach. Once we sat down and listened to the waves and felt the warm sun, all the travel stress disappeared and we swore we would do it all again next year.

Countless vendors would come up and try to sell their wares from jewelry to food to tablecloths. Our favorites were the sticks of shrimp and mahi-mahi and the candy cart full of gumdrops and goey treats.

Boogie Boarding

2011-12-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

For about $3 each, we rented a few boogie boards and everyone got at least one good wave. Monday was the best day for the boards. Tuesday the waves were a little meaner.

Wednesday

2011-12-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Elise recommended that if we wanted to do a fun excursion, reserving a boat for the day would be a good choice. While Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed some quiet time together, the rest of us took her advice. Early Wednesday morning, we headed into town to catch the taxis to take us to the boat.

The boat was called "Chica Locca". Crazy Lady. Let's get on this Crazy Lady!

A Day with Chica Locca

2011-12-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

It was a perfect day for the boat ride. The crew served a breakfast of fresh fruit and muffins and unlimited juice and smoothies. Then on the way back, we had huge sandwiches and pasta salads. Mmm. We saw dolphins and schools of tuna and relaxed in the sun.

Yelapa

2011-12-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

One reason for renting the boat was to take us to Yelapa, the village where Ivan grew up. First we stopped on the beach for some lunch. Then Ivan and Gregory went parasailing behind a boat. During Gregory's turn, the boat broke down and Gregory slowly dropped from the sky into the ocean. Brandy wasn't freaking out at all. I thought she was just being paranoid when she started yelling "Gregory is falling! Why is Gregory falling?!" But, he really was. Riley was all strapped up ready for his turn until he saw the mishap. No parasailing for Riley. Then we walked through the village on our way to see a neat waterfall. The water was pretty cold and only the brave dared enter.

Then we headed back to the beach to catch the boat back. The waves on this beach are a lot smaller, but they are mean. They knocked Adam right off his feat and left pebbles in his trunks.

Take us Home Chica Locca!

2011-12-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

Here we are heading back to Sayulita. My pants got soaked while I was hopping into the boat taxi, so they came off.

Brandy didn't feel well on either boat ride and just had to focus in the horizon. No fun being sick!

As soon as the music came on, Elli and Amy got to dance again, this time on the boat deck. Luckily they didn't get sick even though they were spinning AND bobbing up and down.

Good Night Mexican Sun. I love you!

Esto Es Mexico!

2011-12-03T15:57:00.000-08:00

After 2 days at the beach, the kids were pooped. All they wanted to do Thursday day was relax at the house and play in the pool. Riley and I went into town for a few hours during the day, then at night, we walked around with Jr. and the kids looking for some souveniers. Adam bought a Nacho Libre mask and found this wrestling painting on the side of a building. Then we met everyone at the Plaza, a brightly colored park in the middle of the town, before deciding on where to eat dinner.

Thanksgiving Dinner

2011-12-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

We decided that we would all go out to eat together at least once and it ended up being Thanksgiving night. Many of the restaurants were offering a traditional American Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, but that's not what we came to Mexico for! We wanted enchiladas and chicken mole! We chose Mexican food instead and it was so good. There's nothing like refried beans in Mexico. Must try to duplicate! So there was no turkey or pumpkin pie this year, but Elise shared some pie that she bought from the Pie Lady in Yelapa and her cheese pie more than made up for it!

On To Dessert!!

2011-12-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

The streets come alive after dark and even though we were full from the delicious dinner, we couldn't resist the homemade Mexican treats. There was ice cream more flavorful than ever, churros made right on the street, and a friendly couple who sold their baked goods right out of the back of their car! Since it was our last night, of course we tried them ALL! My favorite part was watching the churro man squeeze the batter out of his gun.

Last Day at the House

2011-12-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

The taxis were scheduled to come at 11:30, so we had plenty of time to relax and pack up all our stuff. It was nice to take our time and enjoy each other's company a bit longer. It was a great week, but we were a little anxious to get started on our journey home.

End of the Season 1/2 Marathon

2011-11-27T18:13:00.000-08:00

This last summer, I was able to run in the mornings with these fine ladies, Jess, Kristi, and Christina. (Codi too, but she couldn't make the race.) We would run everyday except Sundays most weeks. We got faster and went farther. Once Seminary started, I had to stop the early morning runs and just didn't run as much. I was done for the year until Crazy Christina talked us all into a half marathon in November. I thought I could do it easily. After all, we ran 12 miles one morning this summer just because. But, I have found out that running is not like riding a bike. You cannot pick up where you left off. Needless to say, it was a tough race. My goal was to finish under 2 hours. My first 1/2 marathon was 2:02. This time, I was over by 1 minute! I was so frustrated, but I could not get my legs to go any faster. This year's time was 2:01. Guess I'll have to keep trying until I can get under 2.

The race was beautiful though. Couldn't have asked for a better day. It was through Amish country on a double loop course. The hills were rolling and long in places, but we all did great. We all finished about 4-5 minutes apart from each other. What a fun weekend.
The trip was not without it's troubles though. The night before the race, we all drove down together and stayed in a hotel. After picking up our race packets, we were driving the course to familiarize ourselves with it. All of a sudden, my car made some kind of clunking noises and I thought one of the tires had shredded like the ones you see on the side of the highway. I pulled over and the tire was loosing air fast. After a friendly farmer helped get the donut on, we were on our way and got it checked out after the race. THIS is what they pulled out of my tire. Some kind of mean metal something had gone completely inside my tire. Nice. We made it home on the donut though and Riley got a new one that afternoon. It was a little scary, but I felt safe having Christina around. She has got some mad tire changing skills and even if the farmer hadn't come along, I think she could have gotten us home.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-27T17:36:00.000-08:00

Amy started with a white, vampire bride look, then switched to a black witch. Cute.
Elli started as a witch, then switched to a man. No man in particular, just a man. Funny.
Adam declared this to be the year he stopped trick-or-treating. So, I declared him the door answerer. He would switch hats with each ding dong. Weird.

His reward was that he got to keep the leftover candy. When the girls got home, the trading began. Everyone was happy.

Swollen Sandy

2011-11-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

Before we could take Sandy to the doggie daycare for our trip, we had to update her shots. A couple hours after we got home, her face started to swell up. It was only on one side. I think she had an allergic reaction to one of the shots. It was kind of funny, but it went away the next day.

Amy vs Ribs

2011-10-08T13:03:00.001-07:00

Riley has been experimenting a little this year with the dutch oven. This time he tried ribs. The kids love ribs. Amy dove right in and got sauce everywhere.

Amazingly though, she didn't get any on her clothes or in her hair!

Mmm. Dad is a good rib cooker!

First Day of School

2011-10-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Adam started middle school this year and his bus comes an hour earlier than the elementary bus. So, I did not remember to take his picture. But, here are Elli and Amy on the very rainy first day of school.

Elli is in fourth grade now!

Amy started second grade! (this happens to be the same outfit Elli wore on her first day of second grade!)

Boulder Field

2011-08-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Adam needed to pass off some requirements for scouts, so we went camping with some family friends. On the way out of the park, we had to stop at Boulder Field. It was pretty cool! This huge field of rocks was left by glaciers that would pick up the rocks as they shifted and then dropped them here over time. The kids found several pits to duck into. Think of all the fun pretending!
Adam ran around the whole field like a squirrel on a wire, while I got dizzy trying to find my balance. This was not a place for the indecisive foot. You just have to GO! I am getting dizzy just thinking about it.

Our Favorite Eleven Year Old

2011-07-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

Adam is eleven now! His birthday was Saturday and he had his friend, Thomas, over for the day. We took them to the river with some of our friends, then Riley took the boys out to get Adam's favorite burger, the Jay Hawk, from the Burgery Company. Look at that face. Can my baby really be 11?The only thing he wanted was this remote control airplane. Easy for me! No party!
I talked him into this cake. I just wanted to make it. Wish the ship part was longer. Hope he liked it. HaPpY bIrThDaY aDaM!

Adam at the River

2011-07-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a whole year since we have come to the river spot. It is such a cool, quiet place to let the kids play. You can head up stream a ways and build a dam or spend hours skipping rocks. Adam is pretty good at skipping now.
He didn't know I was taking his picture. I think he had fun.

Elli at the River

2011-07-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

The water was cold! Elli took one big plop up to her neck and it took her breath away.
Summer's sun kiss has turned her hair golden and her skin brown.

Amy at the River

2011-07-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last year, Amy's favorite thing was to float down on her fish innertube. This year it had a hole.
We had some old noodles and they worked OK. Not as fun as the tube.
Brrr!!

Fireworks!!

2011-07-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

We didn't go to a parade for the Fourth, but we were invited to some pretty neat fireworks! It's so hard to wait until the sky is dark enough. The park broadcast a little program where the fireworks matched the songs. The songs were not particularly patriotic, but classic American songs. It was good.
As soon as they start, the kids get quiet.
Then after a while, they start to play again. Elli hooked together glow bracelets and thought they were pretty neat spinning together.
I thought traffic was going to be bad, but Christina lead us to a secret location and we were home in no time. I can't believe it's the middle of July already.

DC Temple Trip

2011-07-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

We could take one whole day and go to DC for a quick trip to the temple, but it is much funner and more enjoyable to stay overnight and do some sightseeing along the way. We try to go every so often and this time we went with the Willardsons. That way they can go while we watch Nash and we can go while they watch our kids. I think we got the easy shift; the night shift.Riley and I went early the next morning which gave us the afternoon to walk around. I wanted to go to the Holocaust Museum which is close to the mall. The main part was sold out of tickets, so we went through the kids section and got lunch. Maybe another time. I've heard it's really neat.
Then we took the metro and walked through Arlington Cemetery. Riley was so happy. Here we are at the top of a hill where one of the Generals had his house. Right before Christina took the picture, a very slow man walked right between us. She was even counting loudly, "ONE, TWO...", but he just walked right on by. We finally got a photo of Adam smiling! It was pretty funny.

First Annual Kutztown Ward Campout

2011-07-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last year a few families from the ward, including ours, camped at French Creek Park and saw these large group camp sites. Riley thought one would be perfect for a ward campout. He has been dreaming of one ever since and so was put in charge of organizing it.There was a good turn out for the first year! The weather was nice, there was plenty of room for frisbee and catch, and of course the fire was the favorite spot of all.
I'm not used to camping, but Riley assured me that all you do is sit around the fire chatting and getting meals ready while the kids get dirty and run around. That is what we did.
We broke out the mallows after an early dinner and everyone had their own roasting styles. Christina was pretty serious and must have liked the charred kind. I like a light golden, bubbly brown all around, then I lift off the crisp outer layer to reveal the gooey middle. Mmm.
Kids liked the fire too. We all went to sleep smelling like smoke and rubbing our full bellies. I don't know how many smores my kids had. I lost count after 3.

Campout Morning

2011-07-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

No one needs an alarm clock! The kids were up with the sun and ready for another day.
Amy found a rolly polly while the old guys made breakfast; hashbrowns, eggs, bacon and juice.

Come and get it! I think everyone had a pretty good time. I got part of the credit for putting it together, but really it was all Riley. Way to go!

Arrow of Light

2011-07-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, we attended the Arrow of Light ceremony for scouts. Adam has accomplished all of his requirements to advance. (I'm not sure all the levels and terminology) Here he is at the sacred bridge crossing symbolizing his crossing over from Webelos to Boy Scout. That's Brother John guiding him across and Bishop Witmer at the end to receive him.

The evening couldn't be complete without a delicious cake made by Sister Moulder.
Thomas and Adam celebrating their achievements. Jacob was out of town.
And the proud parents. Way to go, Adam!

Taylor and Amy

2011-07-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Amy's fun friend from church, Taylor, had to move away this June. They have been in the same primary class since we moved in and love to play together. It was hard to see her family move away. Each Sunday before primary, Amy would cry and beg me not to make her go to class. She said she couldn't look at Taylor without thinking about her moving. Luckily we made it through. Good luck in Texas, Taylor!

Swim Team

2011-06-19T17:30:00.001-07:00

Elli wanted to try the swim team this year. She loves to swim and wanted more than one week of lessons this summer. She said she would rather swim than walk, which doesn't make sense to me. Swimming totally wears me out!

Thursday was her first meet. She had 3 races and said the backstroke was her favorite.
I think it's because she gets to start in the water rather than dive from the block.
She did so well! I was surprised and proud. She didn't seem nervous at all and can't wait to practice each day. She must get it from Riley. I am not comfortable in the water at all.

Emmaus Parade

2011-06-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Our friend Christina (between Elli and Amy), invited us to the Emmaus parade. The girls were excited because last year, candy was thrown at them from the floats. This year, the parade lasted for a total of 2 minutes I think. Seriously 2 minutes. There was a small band from the highschool and some scouts and old people and that was it. Not sure if it was the same parade as last time or not. A bunch of them tried to catch another parade in Macungie at 10:00, but we had some errands to do in Emmaus and I didn't want to hop back and forth. So we...

Went to the Park Instead!

2011-06-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Adam was having a total blast, as you can tell!
Elli has been asking to go to this park for a while. It has a very squeaky merry-go-round that she likes.
Amy is the monkey bar queen at school, but was recovering from related blisters, so decided to swing, too. Thanks for getting us out of the house, Christina!

Hair Cut

2011-06-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Someone around here needed a haircut. He actually wants me to pay him to cut his hair. So, I got mine cut instead. Now we almost match! I am not quite sure what I have done. That's all I will say about that right now.

Pennsylvania's Rolling Hills and Shaggy Buffalo

2011-06-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

Riley runs on a trail up in these hills and wanted to show us what he found. This green country is everywhere out here and part of why we love Pennsylvania. Imagine this in the Fall!
We started out on the trail in search of some buffalo herd that is protected 'round these parts. It was up and down and we almost lost Elli. She just didn't think she could make up one more hill.
We finally found them and they were large! Of course as soon as we get to the top of the hill, the herd headed down to the bottom. Elli's grumbling probably scared them.
After catching our breath, the girls were ready for a photo. It was a nice trail and we got to bring home some momentos. We pulled off at least 20 ticks from Sandy and are still finding big fat swollen ones in her fur. G-ross!

May Birthday Girls

2011-05-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

It is a big month around our house. Elli's birthday, Mother's day, and my birthday, too. I honestly couldn't remember how old I was turning. I thought it was 31. Not so. Not so. Anyways, Erin sent me this cute sash and it gave new life to an old skirt and sweater I had. Love it!
I also got some spending cash, flowers, a book Riley saw me gawking at, and a sweet scalloped table top! I made out pretty well! Yummy dinner with good friends and a break in the rain for some sun to shine through to go with it. Thanks everyone! It was a great day!

Copy Cat

2011-05-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is what I wore for my birthday day. I had my eye on this skirt for a while and then it went on sale just in time for me to order it for my birthday. It came in the mail right as I was getting out of the shower. Amy brought it up to my room and I just couldn't take it off. We had a baptism that afternoon and dinner plans that night, so I decided to wear it the whole day! I totally copied the website. Not original at ALL, but I love it and am not ashamed to say it! I just need to find some white keds to complete the picture. It really was comfortable though. I may wear skirts more often.

Nine on the Ninth!

2011-05-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Elli turned 9 on May 9th this year and noticed that that only happens once. She could have had a party or a big family present and she opted for her own Nintendo DS. I tried to surprise her, but she knew. She wanted to make these hamburgers and fries for her birthday instead of a cake.
I baked them and she did most of the decorating herself. She did a great job!

And here is the chef herself in her new birthday apron from Grandma O. Happy Birthday Elli!

Easter Line Up

2011-04-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

Easter pictures in front of the piano never disappoint. Adam annoyed, Elli crying, and Amy chipper.
After dinner was all cleaned up, the girls got to color a few more eggs. They already decorated the really bright ones at the neighbors house the night before. Adam didn't want to do any more.
Happy Easter!!

Final Pinewood Derby

2011-04-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

This was Adam's last chance to race in the Pinewood Derby before he becomes a boy scout. He has had some bad luck in the past but was confident in his design this year.

Here he is setting his car in the line-up. Then they run to the finish line and watch as the cars are released.

Here they come!

No way!

Yes!!

He worked hard on his car and took first place this year! Way to go, Adam!

Annual Girls Getaway - Southern Style

2011-03-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

It is March again and instead of basketball, I think of my fun friends from North Carolina! It is our time to plan a long weekend together and catch up on what's been going on the last year. We decided to try somewhere warmer this year. We ALL decided to, not just me. I didn't even suggest it. I was all ready to go to NYC again, but I guess my murmurings from the past were too much to think about. We chose Savannah, Georgia! And it WAS warmer and more comfortable.

Our first stop was Columbia, South Carolina. We feel better if we start out our trips with a temple session. It was a small, beautiful temple and it's always good to go.
Then we get to think about food. The last two trips have largely been centered around food. Luckily all four of us appreciate food the same way and look forward to the next meal. I should have noted the names of the restaurants better. This was a little cafe with tiny desserts. I had 3 small truffles for a large price. They were extra special truffles though and served on a special little plate.
This was the breakfast cafe we went to twice. Mmm.
Our last dinner was at the Melting Pot. I had never been. I think the dessert course was my favorite. My pants will tell a different story. We also ate at The Old Pink House one night where I tasted duck for the first time. I am all about duck now. Oh, mommy! It was delicately crunchy on the outside, yet juice and tender on the inside. Wonder if I should even attempt to duplicate it. (If you guys remember the names of the restaurants, let me know.)

Spa Day

2011-03-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

Everything was in walking distance from our hotel. We passed through these beautiful parks along the way. Each park took up a square block and all the surrounding houses faced in toward the park. After Riley and I live and work on our farm, I'd love to buy a home right here.
So, we made our way to the the spa. After various massages and facials, we each got a pedicure, two at a time up on raised thrones. I felt rather silly for paying so much for a pedicure, so I unabashedly helped myself to the mini cupcakes and fancy chocolates they offered.
Lenette and Heather got red toes.
Debbie got pink and I got the white tips. My girls at home laughed when they saw how tiny my pinky toenail was and joked how small the brush must have been to paint such a little white line on it.

700 Kitchen Cooking Class

2011-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking class we took. We learned all about preparing a scrumptious brunch from chef Darin. He was amazing! I can't wait to make the brown sugar bacon and the lemon curd again. We all agreed that cooking classes are a must for every trip from now on!

Wide Open Fields

2011-03-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

Riley and Adam found a great spot where Sandy can run free (and kids too). She didn't get as many walks this winter as she probably would have liked, but this is right around the corner and she can get out quite a lot of energy without us being out too long.

Happy Fat Tuesday!

2011-03-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

Here in Pennsylvania, today is Fat Tuesday. What is Fat Tuesday?! A long time ago, across the swirly, twirly river, Pennsylvanians would use the lard, flour, sugar, and butter they had in their pantries to make fastnachts. This would happen right before lent began so they wouldn't waste their food. They would eat tons of them since they had to give up the sweets during lent. Although we don't observe lent, we will surely eat the fastnachts! What is a fastnacht? It's a donut like pastry with no hole. Traditionally, you cut it in half like a bagel and put syrup on one side and then put the other side back on, like a sandwich.

Amy's New Specs

2011-03-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

After failing the school eye exam, we went to the eye doctor and sure enough, Amy has inherited my near sightedness. Now she can see the board at school and the leaves on the trees. Wish my first pair of glasses was cute like that. She picked them out herself and so far likes to wear them.
I cannot get a normal picture of Elli. She is in the silliest moods lately!

Adam's Flashy Smile!

2011-03-08T04:58:00.000-08:00

Here are the braces! Wow. I can vividly remember my own. He claims his teeth have already moved and has been so good at brushing. The $500 cash prize that the orthodontist is offering at the end of the year may have something to do with that. Now, what are we going to do with that hair??

Flower Party

2011-02-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Amy wanted a party instead of a gift from the family. Her choice of theme was flowers. I did my best. February birthdays are hard. Either pay a ton to have it at a facility, or have it at your house. (I will probably never do a sledding party, unless Riley takes them out. sorry.)
Some of the decorations and food. Amy cut out all the cheese and ham. Pretty cute!
I have wanted to make these ice cream pots for a long time, so when she said "flowers", I said "really?!" They took the place of a cake, so there was nowhere to put candles. We just sang instead.

Party Games

2011-02-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

Here's Amy at the table at the beginning of the party.
When all the guests arrived, they first made flower art with dots and crayons. Then they could make a necklace if they wanted.Then we played Pin the Dot on the Flower and her friend, Taylor, won the prize. I totally forgot about a prize until the guests arrived, so I gave Adam $5 and asked him to run to CVS to buy a little prize. I was thinking a lip smacker or nail polish, but he came back with silly putty. He said that was all they had. I'm guessing he didn't want to be seen buying girly things so he got the first thing he saw. It was nice of him to run out for me though. He got to keep the change for his trouble.

We also had a little game where they had to find flowers hidden around the house with clues attached to them. Each clue told where the next flower was.

I hope she had a good time. It was a lot of work and I swear after each party that that is the LAST one. Elli and Adam were a big help though. Elli helped me serve the food and keep track of presents and run the games. Aside from running to the store, Adam steered clear of the girls most of the time. Maybe a small party next time. Maybe.

Amy Turns 7!

2011-02-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Amy's birthday was on a Thursday. Riley left that morning and her party wasn't until Saturday, so we celebrated on Wednesday. She chose Texas Roadhouse for her restaurant and strawberry for her cake. Riley decorated that one. Pretty. She sure is big though. I don't notice until I see her around her friends. I think they look huge, but she is just as tall. Funny.

Spending Christmas Money in NYC

2011-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

The kids had plans for their Christmas money. Elli and Amy wanted American Girl dolls and Adam wanted a Lego set. I made them wait until after we went to FAO Schwartz before they spent all they had. Elli snuck on the big piano.Adam searched the Lego section for his favorite set, but didn't find it. Even the Lego store didn't have it. It is a limited edition and we had to come home and order it.

So, we headed over to Rockerfeller Center to see the tree and ice skaters. The kids were pooped, so I ran into a store real quick while they rested here. You can see the disappointment on Adam's face at not finding his legos.
After I came back, we crossed the street to the tree. There were people EVERYWHERE! Lots of them! I think we ended up walking over 60 blocks, but the kids did OK. I can't say 'great'. There was a bit of complaining and blisters.

Watching the Skaters

2011-01-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Amy got the best seat.Riley loves to ice skate and wished the line wasn't so long. I didn't get a picture of the skaters, but it was pretty crowded.

Christmas Recital

2011-01-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Elli's piano teacher had a little recital at her house for the kids to play some Christmas songs. It was a very nice evening with no pressure. Elli did great and said she wasn't even nervous. One kid forgot his music and tried for about 5 minutes to remember his song, but every time he messed up, he'd start all the way over. Finally the teacher had to finish for him. One kid even played an accordion! Pause for applause! P.S. I love her house and want to buy it.

A Little Bit of Snow

2011-01-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

It snowed over the break and Amy and Elli played in it once for about 10 minutes. It was just too cold to enjoy. The snow has since melted and I hope that's all we get!She inched closer and closer to the shelter of the house,
with frequent cries at the door for a nose wipe.
Thank you.

Nerf Wars

2011-01-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

Adam got some Nerf guns for Christmas from Elise and has been tormenting each of us with surprise attacks. This was one battle Riley chose to fight back.Adam is a pretty good shot now and can hit his targets quite accurately.
It gets serious sometimes. Sandy hates the noise and tries to get as far away as she can.

Gingerbread Men

2010-12-31T14:11:00.000-08:00

I didn't do much for Christmas this year, but I did have a gingerbread man kit from last year that we never used. Isn't that a good mom?! And I let them get it out of the closet and decorate some. Only four. They are a year old. Not like we are going to eat them all. And we can't give them away, gross!They are having so much fun.
Amy's turned out pretty cute! It's because it's Amy herself!
I'm boring. I did the one on the top like the one from the box. I copied. Elli did the other two. Ouch! Amy's arm is missing the tip! Someone snuck a bite before I could take the picture...and some frosting!

And a House Too!

2010-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

I did see this kit on sale at Target and bought one fresh this year. Adam didn't want to help with either. Amy is wearing the same pajamas although it is a totally different day. See, Elli changed.Just in the past few weeks, Elli has turned into a young lady. She got makeup for Christmas and is putting outfits together that I never would, but they actually look cute. She did a real bang up job on her side of the house all by herself, even though the frosting was hard to work with.
I didn't get a final photo, but it was fun. We picked at it for a couple days and then the frosting got hard, so I nibbled what I could and threw most of it away.

Thanksgiving Dinner

2010-12-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

This is what I saw from my seat at the table this year. Here's Adam. He sits on my right by the wall. Easy to reach and keep under control. Boys need a lot of help with table manners and a quick tap is a good reminder to keep elbows off the table and to sit up tall. He complains about me now, but his wife will absolutely love me!Elli is on my far left, closer to Riley. She may need to be moved closer to me soon. She is always so silly.
Amy is close to me on my left and does pretty well.
And there's the spread. Riley and I sit at the ends and man the conversation. I am thankful this year that Riley is home with us. It sure has been nice having him around for every holiday.

The Plain Meal

2010-12-31T13:40:00.000-08:00

I was hoping to put a bunch of yummy recipes on my food blog, but none of them are special. Riley likes plain, plain, plain. Here's the pie he picked. He always picks a plain pecan pie. No chocolate chips or anything.The roll look yummy and they were, but they are the normal roll recipe. Plain.
This is his plate. Full of plain. Turkey, beans from a can, rolls, roasted carrots, and potatoes. Those potatoes are actually pretty good. Maybe I'll put that recipe up. He asks for those at Easter and Christmas, too. I shouldn't complain though. Plain is easy.

Huntering and Gathering

2010-12-31T13:18:00.000-08:00

Riley read a book once called "My Side of the Mountain". He since has had a primal desire to live off the land. He already got a deer this year which we have turned into yummy jerky and eaten. Recently he gathered acorns and more acorns and shelled each one. Then he rinsed and rinsed to get the tanic acid out so he could turn it into acorn flour.There's the acorn flour on the right and the pancakes he made from it on the left. It is highly nutritious and delicious.
The kids were hesitant at first. Elli, who hates anything brown and will only eat white bread, but no crust of anything, was very skeptical. Maybe adding butter will help.
Hey! Look! They are good and she liked them! (Even though the pancake on the plate looks like she didn't have any yet, she really did like them.)

So Good We Have Company

2010-12-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

Adam liked them too. I took a bite and it was actually pretty good.Remember all those acorns? Well they were in the garage for a while and the squirrels wanted to help themselves. I had to keep shoeing them away. Can they smell the acorns or what? Luckily none came searching inside.

Fall Hiking

2010-12-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

This Fall, Riley scheduled a hike as an activity for our church. It ended up being just us and one other family. Although it started out a little chilly, it turned out to be a beautiful morning, just right for a hike. Too bad more people didn't make it.Here's Amy before we started on the trail.
This is the other family. They are funny and we had great time!

About Half Way

2010-12-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here we are taking a break.

Coming Round the Mountain

2010-12-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

We made it to the top and started heading down. Much of the fall splendor had already passed, but the colors were still pretty amazing.It was one big loop and ended right where we started from. Thanks for showing up, "other family"! We had fun and hope you did too!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

This year was a bust for costumes. The kids had big plans, but I just didn't have time to gather supplies and help make them. About an hour before go time, Adam tried to put this together. It was pretty good for a last minute costume, but it fell apart 20 minutes later. Elli ended up being a midget marine and Amy was a cheerleader like last year. They all got plenty of candy and had a good time anyways.

Here Comes the Fifth Grade

2010-11-21T12:23:00.000-08:00

Each year the elementary has a Halloween parade. All the parents line the sidewalk and take pictures as the classes walk by. Last year I went to the kindergarten center's parade and missed Adam and Elli. For this one year they are all at one school! It was kind of fun to shout out, "Adam, look over here!" or "Elli, give me a smile!" I felt like the paparazzi and got a few good shots.They all used their costumes from last year. It was another last minute scramble. Good thing I didn't throw anything away. Adam is a ghost buster again, minus the knee pads and brown pants.

Next Came the Third Grade

2010-11-21T12:19:00.000-08:00

Elli was a witch again. She left her hat inside because it was too hard to keep on her head. Any little breeze would grab it and send it sailing.The hair is pretty scary though!

Finally the First Grade

2010-11-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

Amy was Little Red again. She was supposed to bring out her basket. I thought I made it clear that that was what made her look like Red Riding Hood. She was pretty cute anyways.
She looked a little too comfortable in front of the crowds and cameras.

Annual Rain Gutter Regatta

2010-10-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Adam had high hopes for his boat at this year's Rain Gutter Regatta. He sculpted and sanded and painted his boat weeks ahead of time. Last year, he had the fastest boat and he thought for sure he had the whole competition in the bag.
But, his sail was too heavy and he cut away too much of his boat. It kept falling over and although it was the slickest looking boat, he lost every race.
It was so hard to watch him fail and to see the disappointment on his face when race after race, he got beaten. But, he tried his best and learned a lot about being a good sport I think. We don't really talk about it anymore though.

First Week of School

2010-10-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

OK... This very fuzzy photo is the very first day of school. One of the kids was playing with my camera (which they know they aren't supposed to and no one would confess to!) and put the focus on manual. Even though it's out of focus, you can see the genuine happy, excited looks on their faces.

Only one day later, I figured out what happened to the camera. I took this picture on Day 2. This is the look I got from Adam and Elli. Already they remembered the monotony of going to school each day. Amy, still excited to be at school all day and ride the bus with Adam and Elli continues to smile each morning. Oh! And I started school this year, too! I am a full time student at the community college and it sure keeps me busy!

Last Summer Trip

2010-10-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

We had one more weekend to go before school and we had nice weather. It had to be Philly. We tried walking around Independence Hall last year but it was too cold and we missed a lot of what Riley wanted to see. So, we parked the car by Trader Joe's and walked around the city making our way back over there.
We stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch and a treat and sat down to wait for our tour.

On the way back to the car we saw China Town a few blocks over. We walked thru part of it and it was pretty Chinese! Wish we had more time and could have shopped a little.

Meet the Motorcycle

2010-10-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Right before school started this year, Riley found a great deal on a motorcycle. He had been looking at the Triumph and talking about the Triumph and dreaming about the Triumph for long time. It was time. He actually won this one on Ebay.
Riley calls her Susan. The girls love to ride around the block but Adam and I are waiting until he has a little more practice driving it. And the flames will be gone as soon as we can have them painted over.

End of Summer Camp Out

2010-09-26T11:14:00.002-07:00

We had "camping" on the summer list of things to do before school. School was close to starting and we still hadn't gone. A big group from the ward had planned a trip, so we couldn't refuse.
Adam finally got to use his pocket knife in the real outdoors.
The earphones look awfully out of place. Who let her bring those?
Luckily we found no ticks on those bare legs. Maybe we are too far north for ticks.

Please, Can We Get a Mouse?

2010-08-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

We are mouse sitting for our friends again. The first time, the kids were a little bit afraid to pick up the mouse and hold it, but now they love to. Adam wants to teach it tricks like walking on a string. Adam asks all day if we can get one of our own. Look at that face. No, look at that hair! (on Adam)

Day Trip to NYC

2010-08-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

We had a Saturday with nothing going on so finally decided to dive in and take the trip we kept talking about. We drove to Newark, NJ and got on a train. I thought it was cool how the ticket taker really punched the tickets like on Polar Express. We got off at Penn Station and just walked around. We made our way to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building and lots of shopping. Adam was in heaven at the Lego store, Elli loved American Girl, and Amy had fun at Toys R Us. I grazed the sale rack at Anthropologie and Riley was the navigator. Not much buying, but lots of ideas for Christmas!
Riley heard about PopTart World on NPR and knew all about it, so we had to stop in. We got poptart sushi and a poptart sandwich. It was pretty silly. The things people make money on!

Fruits of our Labor

2010-08-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

This is what we pulled out of the garden this year. I tried the butternut squash and it was pretty good! The watermelon didn't work, but we are having the spaghetti squash for dinner this week. Next year we are not doing squash or melons. They take up too much space!

Cooling Off in the River

2010-08-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

We got invited to this quiet little, pebbly spot by a river and it's just what the doctor ordered on a hot day! We've been a few times now and even Riley likes to meet us there when he can. Mom's can relax and kids can skip rocks, float down the water, and maybe even get along. No DS's aloud.
Adam thinks he was pushing Elli, but I think he's doing the robot.

Making Pools

2010-08-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

The first time we went, we didn't bring swimming suits, so they had to play on the edge. They each made a little pool and tried to decide who's was better.

Goin Shootin

2010-08-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

Riley loves guns and loves to go shoot them. We went with our friends, the Hendershots, and had a rootin tootin good time!The kids each had a few turns loading and firing the rifle. Good to know some good safety rules and how to hold it, right?
Even little Miss Elli had a go.
This picture looks so red neck to me. "I got to shoot the gun today, Ma!"

Into the Night

2010-08-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

We kept on shootin till the sun went down. Here's Adam and his friends, Jacob and Josh.
I thought this was a great photo. Maria is due in September. Pow! Pow!

Trying to get Back Home!

2010-07-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

The kids and I just spent two weeks in Idaho (Riley joined us for the second week) and have lots of pictures to post! It was such a good vacation. I got to relax while my laundry was cleaned and handed to me all folded (thanks Nell and Mom!). The kids were reintroduced to family they didn't remember and we got to see most everyone we love. Even Riley said it was nice with all the "visiting".
Our trip out west was longer than we expected. We sat on the runway in a plane for an hour and a half waiting for a storm to pass over us. That messed everything else up so a day later and missing our luggage, we landed in Idaho Falls. Next time I'm packing a toothbrush in my carry on!
I'm glad the airports put in some play areas. Even my big kids had fun for a while.

The Clark Family Reunion

2010-07-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

The main reason we flew out when we did was to attend the annual reunion. Only a few cousins couldn't make it, so we got to see lots of familiar faces and meet some for the first time. It was held at Hiese, a cool place we grew up going to with a hot pool, water slide, golf course, camping, and hikes. The men golfed, we ate so much good food, and most stayed the day.Whenever there is water, there is trouble. Aunt Tess brought water balloons and there was an ongoing battle through out the day. Uncle Lane was a fun target, but beware! He'll get his revenge. Several big kids ended up soaked in the kiddie pool.
Don't do it!!

Visiting and Kiddie Pool

2010-07-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

The weather really was perfect. I guess IF has had a pretty cold summer, but it was a nice change from the humid PA heat wave. Here is the circle of chairs to relax and watch the kids play.Someone smart brought a little pool for the youngens, while some of us went to the big pool and slide. There was a cute little scream to go along with that big smile!
Hey! What's that big kid doing in the kiddie sprinkler? I think he's trying to fill up a water balloon.
These girlies are my cousins kids, Addi, Marley, and Bailey.

Slap Jack and Catch

2010-07-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Elli, Amy, and their only cousin (so far), Khanya played a little card game.
We haven't seen Khanya for more than 5 years! It was neat seeing her all grown up.
Brandy and Gregory played catch and enjoyed the shade of the trees.

Idaho Falls Parade!

2010-07-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

It was a chilly morning on the day of the parade! We came a little late and didn't get curb side seats, so Adam was not happy that the candy rarely came back far enough for him to get much.Amy was fine with a piece here and there. She's not much of a candy girl.
Elli found a spot up close though and soon the other 2 joined her. They found out that if you wave and make lots of noise, people throw candy right at you.
Then they just had to collect it. And fast! That big kid on the left was quick, too!

Riley's List

2010-07-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

When Riley joined us, he came with a list. A list of all the things he wanted to do. He likes to stay busy and not just sit around watching cable TV. Now that the kids are older and don't need naps, I'm okay with going all day. One thing on the list was driving to the Buttes. They are 2 old volcano mounds with a trail around the rim. I remember going to them on a field trip in 5th grade.

I wasn't excited about this hike, but it turned out to be a fun morning. Here's Adam about as excited as I was.
Once we got walking, we all had fun. Riley's Dad came with us, too. There's the great Idaho landscape behind us. Lots of flat farmland.
Elli got pooped about half way. She really was having fun.
And Amy. She was mostly happy.

Last Night in Idaho

2010-07-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Also on Riley's list was a bunch of restaurants that we love. We had to go to Papa Murphy's (take and bake pizza), Scotty's Drive-In, Reed's Dairy, and of course, Papa Kelsey's. They have our favorite sandwiches. It was a full week, but I think we did got thru most of the list.
And since he missed out on Heise for the family reunion, we had to go one more time.

Last Stop... Salt Lake City!

2010-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

We had one full day at the end of vacation to walk around the city and show the kids where we used to live. Adam remembered a lot, Elli a little, and Amy hardly anything.This is our old house on 2nd Avenue. Old and dirty, but so many memories!
Walked around Temple Square...
and through some parks we used to play at. This is the "wheel park" at the bottom of the hill. We would walk through here at least 2-3 times a week.

The tired feet got a rest while the bellies got a snack.

City Creek Walk

2010-07-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is another place we would walk to all the time. It's just down the hill from our old house.
Adam would play in this fountain every time we came. It was kind of weird to be back. Seemed like forever ago but at the same time like it was just yesterday.

Long Time Friends

2010-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

These are some of the best friends we have. We were all in the same neighborhood when we were all first married. When Cheryl heard we were coming to town, she and Annalese got us all together at Liberty Park, another park we would go to often. It's always fun to see how each other's kids are growing and to catch up every few years. Helene, the one on the end with the newborn, had her baby a WEEK ago and still came! Love you guys!

Is That the Watermelon!?

2010-06-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

The garden keeps on getting bigger! Some stuff is doing well and other stuff hasn't started. Riley didn't think we needed to label anything, so I'm guessing the huge vine in the middle is the watermelon. I know the photo below is spinach and I have already plucked some leaves off for my salads. Yum Yum!

Nathan and Emma

2010-06-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

I started watching these two kiddos on Mondays back in February. I knew it would only be until summer, but I can't believe it went so fast. Just in the short time I watched them, I saw them grow so much! It took a couple weeks, but once they warmed up, they were right at home.We'd always eat lunch right before going to drop off Amy at the bus.
Thank goodness for Amy. They would play with her all morning and then couldn't wait for her to get home.
Look at those faces! We are going to miss having them in our home!

Playing with the Flash

2010-06-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Riley got me a nice, nice camera for Mother's Day. My friend, Christina, tried to show me how it works, but I think the best thing is to try it out. I have no idea what I'm doing and can't remember what I had changed to make it do different things. The kids were all sitting down watching a show, so I thought I'd practice.Sure wish I knew more. I hoped the camera would magically make every picture perfect.