Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter in Vegas
Well... they say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but we had too much fun not to share it!
We headed down on Thursday morning and arrived in Vegas around 5 or so... we checked in to the Stratosphere and I immediately hated the room! We paid 15$ extra a night for a "supposedly" bigger room and a view of the Strip. It was awful. For those of you that know the strip... there's not much to see from the Stratosphere it's a bit away from the other hotels so it was a view of a bunch of cranes! There is so much construction going on right now on that end of the strip.
So we went and asked for a new room. We got a much better view. It was looking west and it was a lot prettier and it worked so I calmed down a little. We have never stayed in that Hotel before but we had been there for the rides and I thought with Natalie and her friend Shalena ( we hired her to help us keep Natalie busy:)!... it would be a good hotel for them to run around in... well it was okay as far as Vegas hotel's go. Craig keeps trying to remind me that they really aren't in it to make money off of the rooms!
Okay... enough about that! We had a wonderful dinner in a 50's diner. The servers actually all sing and they have to audition to work there. It was awesome!! The kids loved it except Sami was sick the whole time... the smokey casino wasn't helping her any.
Friday, we went to the tower and the view was really cool. Natalie and Shalena and Zach rode the rides. We were so proud of Zach for not being scared. But, poor Sami... she cried for a long time becuase she was too small to ride anything. We had to bribe her! I don't know why she wanted to go at all... they are so high and one of them the girls were actually dangling from the tower... it's sooo high!!
After that, we hit the pool... it was FREEZING! I am not in love with the hotel at this point at all. But, Craig loved it... it had a weight room and he was the buffest of the buffest out there! The girls and I laid out for a bit! He had forgotten his swim suit so he was thrilled to work out!
We got cleaned up and went to Ceasers to shop and Craig took Zach to some batting cages! The girls and I shopped and got depressed at all the high end shops... it's crazy how expensive things are and that people pay those prices for a name... We did find Sami an Island Princess and FAO Schwartz... it worked for her bribe!! Natalie kept trying to get me to buy her a huge bear... she's such a funny girl.
Craig and Zach met us at the Cheesecake Factory. We had an LDS waiter a novelty on the Strip. It's weird, because we all noticed something different about him right away. It's amazing how you can tell when people are LDS. They have a light around them for sure. He was really nice! It was refreshing.
On Saturday since the pool was cold we didn't really spend much time there so the girls wanted to shop at some more realistic shops so we went to the fashion walk mall. We were done shopping after awhile, but they both got a cute dress for Easter!
We then headed to MGM and went to see the lions and then to the M&M factory. That store is insane! If you love m&m's you are set! I've never been there before and I was amazed what they can put m&m logos on!
We headed to New York New York and ate there and then headed back to the hotel. We took a round about way through the parking lots and it felt nice to be outside with the flowers and the fresh air and no SMOKE!
Vegas is such a funny little place. In one 3 or 4 mile strip there is so much SIN. We had to explain to the kids that the games really aren't games. In fact there was a game room in our hotel and we used the jackpot game to show the kids how you can put quarter after quarter in and still win nothing. I think they got it but they couldn't grasp how come so many people would play and do bad games. I think it was a good learning experience for them to see that we really are blessed with the knowledge that we have that our church is true and that our Savior died for us and was resurrected so that we may live with Him again.
On Sunday morning, we checked out and headed to Hurricane to see Craig's parents. We had a nice talk in the car about Easter. As we were heading out we saw written in the sky a huge smiley face and then I love J. Zach and Sami quickly said the J was for Jesus. I love their cute little minds and all the fun things that they say.
They are so close to Jesus and have such a beautiful relationship with Him. I like to fly behind them!
Happy Easter everyone! Remember how lucky we are we KNOW that we will live with Him one day, because of the sacrifice that HE bore for US!
We headed down on Thursday morning and arrived in Vegas around 5 or so... we checked in to the Stratosphere and I immediately hated the room! We paid 15$ extra a night for a "supposedly" bigger room and a view of the Strip. It was awful. For those of you that know the strip... there's not much to see from the Stratosphere it's a bit away from the other hotels so it was a view of a bunch of cranes! There is so much construction going on right now on that end of the strip.
So we went and asked for a new room. We got a much better view. It was looking west and it was a lot prettier and it worked so I calmed down a little. We have never stayed in that Hotel before but we had been there for the rides and I thought with Natalie and her friend Shalena ( we hired her to help us keep Natalie busy:)!... it would be a good hotel for them to run around in... well it was okay as far as Vegas hotel's go. Craig keeps trying to remind me that they really aren't in it to make money off of the rooms!
Okay... enough about that! We had a wonderful dinner in a 50's diner. The servers actually all sing and they have to audition to work there. It was awesome!! The kids loved it except Sami was sick the whole time... the smokey casino wasn't helping her any.
Friday, we went to the tower and the view was really cool. Natalie and Shalena and Zach rode the rides. We were so proud of Zach for not being scared. But, poor Sami... she cried for a long time becuase she was too small to ride anything. We had to bribe her! I don't know why she wanted to go at all... they are so high and one of them the girls were actually dangling from the tower... it's sooo high!!
After that, we hit the pool... it was FREEZING! I am not in love with the hotel at this point at all. But, Craig loved it... it had a weight room and he was the buffest of the buffest out there! The girls and I laid out for a bit! He had forgotten his swim suit so he was thrilled to work out!
We got cleaned up and went to Ceasers to shop and Craig took Zach to some batting cages! The girls and I shopped and got depressed at all the high end shops... it's crazy how expensive things are and that people pay those prices for a name... We did find Sami an Island Princess and FAO Schwartz... it worked for her bribe!! Natalie kept trying to get me to buy her a huge bear... she's such a funny girl.
Craig and Zach met us at the Cheesecake Factory. We had an LDS waiter a novelty on the Strip. It's weird, because we all noticed something different about him right away. It's amazing how you can tell when people are LDS. They have a light around them for sure. He was really nice! It was refreshing.
On Saturday since the pool was cold we didn't really spend much time there so the girls wanted to shop at some more realistic shops so we went to the fashion walk mall. We were done shopping after awhile, but they both got a cute dress for Easter!
We then headed to MGM and went to see the lions and then to the M&M factory. That store is insane! If you love m&m's you are set! I've never been there before and I was amazed what they can put m&m logos on!
We headed to New York New York and ate there and then headed back to the hotel. We took a round about way through the parking lots and it felt nice to be outside with the flowers and the fresh air and no SMOKE!
Vegas is such a funny little place. In one 3 or 4 mile strip there is so much SIN. We had to explain to the kids that the games really aren't games. In fact there was a game room in our hotel and we used the jackpot game to show the kids how you can put quarter after quarter in and still win nothing. I think they got it but they couldn't grasp how come so many people would play and do bad games. I think it was a good learning experience for them to see that we really are blessed with the knowledge that we have that our church is true and that our Savior died for us and was resurrected so that we may live with Him again.
On Sunday morning, we checked out and headed to Hurricane to see Craig's parents. We had a nice talk in the car about Easter. As we were heading out we saw written in the sky a huge smiley face and then I love J. Zach and Sami quickly said the J was for Jesus. I love their cute little minds and all the fun things that they say.
They are so close to Jesus and have such a beautiful relationship with Him. I like to fly behind them!
Happy Easter everyone! Remember how lucky we are we KNOW that we will live with Him one day, because of the sacrifice that HE bore for US!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
My kids are INSANE!
Sami and Zach thought it would be fun to stuff pillows in the pants and in their tummies! The were running into each other like "sumo" wrestlers!
I don't know who thought it was more funny... Zach and Sami or Craig!
They were laughing so hard that Zach actually peed his pants and of course that made him laugh even more hysterically!
They really are crazy little kids!!!
I don't know who thought it was more funny... Zach and Sami or Craig!
They were laughing so hard that Zach actually peed his pants and of course that made him laugh even more hysterically!
They really are crazy little kids!!!
Disney on Ice
I AM a princess right??
We took Sami to the Disney on Ice show and then we took her to DoDo's for lunch at the gateway. It was her special day with Mommy and Daddy! She is our little princess after all!
Sami loved the Disney on Ice so much!!!
She was absolutely mesmorized by it.
She wants to take skating lessons now. I think that would be so fun and I think she would be amazing at it too!!
She was so funny about it. She thinks that the only thing to do is take the lessons so that she can become a skating princess! She was like... mom which princess should I do?? It was so funny.
She was worried that she couldn't do it because girls were already doing all the princesses. She wanted to know what she should do. I told her those girls would be mommies and when she was older they wouldn't want to do it and so she could take their place... she seemed to buy that!
She also was trying to recruit Zach.. She told him that she needs a boy to lift her and twirl her around. He was having none of it! It's funny how she thinks that she needs the boy right away...
Maybe lesson two!!
Sami LOVES LOVES LOVES Areil!
This is from the Dragon during the Sleeping Beauty part! It was so awesome!Craig actually liked this part!
We had SO MUCH fun... Sami is such a DOLL!
Daddy's little PRINCESS!
I know Craig thought it was about the most boring thing on the planet! He even asked me who snow white was!! But, he does love his girl more than anything and would do ANYTHING for her!!
This is the new Belle daddy bought... because he loves her so much! And she is wearing the crown the came with the 10$ smore daddy bought her!!! ( like I said ANYTHING!)
We took Sami to the Disney on Ice show and then we took her to DoDo's for lunch at the gateway. It was her special day with Mommy and Daddy! She is our little princess after all!
Sami loved the Disney on Ice so much!!!
She was absolutely mesmorized by it.
She wants to take skating lessons now. I think that would be so fun and I think she would be amazing at it too!!
She was so funny about it. She thinks that the only thing to do is take the lessons so that she can become a skating princess! She was like... mom which princess should I do?? It was so funny.
She was worried that she couldn't do it because girls were already doing all the princesses. She wanted to know what she should do. I told her those girls would be mommies and when she was older they wouldn't want to do it and so she could take their place... she seemed to buy that!
She also was trying to recruit Zach.. She told him that she needs a boy to lift her and twirl her around. He was having none of it! It's funny how she thinks that she needs the boy right away...
Maybe lesson two!!
Sami LOVES LOVES LOVES Areil!
This is from the Dragon during the Sleeping Beauty part! It was so awesome!Craig actually liked this part!
We had SO MUCH fun... Sami is such a DOLL!
Daddy's little PRINCESS!
I know Craig thought it was about the most boring thing on the planet! He even asked me who snow white was!! But, he does love his girl more than anything and would do ANYTHING for her!!
This is the new Belle daddy bought... because he loves her so much! And she is wearing the crown the came with the 10$ smore daddy bought her!!! ( like I said ANYTHING!)
From the mouth of Babes
Grandpa brought out his horse Gypsy to be boarded...the first of the family to move!
The kids were so excited to see the horse!!! Sami has been wanted a horse for so long. She is always asking why we can't have one! Grandpa they will be up to ride her a lot... get ready!
This reminded me of a while ago when Sami was really wanting a horse... She kept asking and I told her that we didn't have anywhere for the horse to live.
She said, "It can live in the back yard!"
I said, "Well, what would it eat?"
Sami "The grass!"
I said "Well where would you play then, if all the grass is gone?"
She relied, " We could play on the horses back!"
Ah the truth of children... gotta love it!!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Korean Dreams
Well, It's been such a long time since I have updated what's going on with Jeff in Korea! He is doing awesome. He is in a new area and will probably be there for a few more transfers at least. It's an Island (really beautiful) and it's the toughest area in the mission. Investigators are rare and they had to drop 5 last week. He gets pretty discouraged with the lack of progress sometimes but he has such a good attitude that he just keeps plugging away... he's so awesome that way!
He is the 1st counsilor in the branch presidency and his companion is the 2nd... but he's being transfered this transfer... but I guess the president needs to get a hold of them a lot for branch issues and stuff and so he requested that they be given cell phones and he even talked with President Dallin Oaks when he was recently there about getting these cell phones for them. Well the mission pres. hates them and really didn't want to do it because the mission used to have them for all the companionships and he had to send some home over it (cell phone abuse :) )
Anyway, they have them now because the pres. trusts Jeff!
He's such a great kid and doing and awesome job... we couldn't be prouder of him!
We (Craig, myself, and Tricia) are going to go pick him up! I can't wait! It will be so fun to see the country and hear him speak the language (he's only had one American comp all the others have been Korean so I imagine he's pretty fluent!).
It's not that far off either. I can't believe how fast 2 years flys!!! So I have Korean dreams at night! It's awesome!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Joys of Childhood!
You got to love the joys of being a little kid! Sometimes I miss it!
Zach lost another tooth tonight! He was so excited...
I think he used a whole roll of toliet paper to try to pull it all the way out!
Zach lost another tooth tonight! He was so excited...
I think he used a whole roll of toliet paper to try to pull it all the way out!
He was running around showing everyone. Even Natalie. Those two don't always get along, but they love each other and the excitment of the tooth was enough to run to her!
I loved to see his face and hear his voice and relish in his joy! I guess that is what parenthood is all about right?
21 Days Closer to Christ
My Relief Society President is doing a celebration Easter dinner for our quarterly activity and she asked me to read this book
and then share my thoughts at the dinner!
and then share my thoughts at the dinner!
I've only done 3 days and I can already feel that it's going to be a great journey!!!! Each day has a little story and and some scriptures to read and some days it will ask your to
journal or something else!
The point is to open each day with a personal prayer and read the suggested scriptures. At the end of the journey you should have a closer deeper relationship with Christ.
I could really use this in my life today!! Life can be so hectic and busy and crazy and I feel like I get lost sometimes. Family life... church callings... it's all so busy and there isn't a lot of time for me so it's nice to have this one thing to turn to when I feel overwhelmed!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Kids
Wow.... how time flys... I took Natalie to get her learners permit!!! I can hardly believe she is old enough to drive. I remember signing her up for kindergarten like it was yesterday! She can't drive... it's crazy...
I registered Sami for kindergarten this week and it was hard. I don't know if it's because she is my baby or because she's sick but it was hard. I didn't feel this way about Zach and Natalie hey I was excited... But, I feel like my kids are all leaving me. It's such a weird strange feeling to have these kids that are doing these "old" things.
But, I am grateful for this time in my life. I really enjoy being their mother and it's fun to watch them grow even though it's painful it's fun. I get excited thinking about what lies ahead for them. There are so many possibilities for them in this life that I wonder what they will become.
I was talking with the 2nd counselor in our bishopric and he said that Natalie is one of those people that will be somebody. Not necessarily a fame and fortune kind of somebody, but someone that will just be neat and wonderful and do good things and people will be blessed by her. It was so nice to hear, because I think that about her too! She's always amazed me and probably always will...
I guess this is why I feel a little sad about Sami... she is so special to me too and it is so so hard and painful to see her go through such a hard time....
UPDATE ON SAMI.... we got all the blood tests back and everything was normal but one blood test that was slightly elevated... nothing high enough to get excited over, but enough that it has sparked the Dr. to look for one more thing in her MRI... which is on the 19th of March.
Thanks to all of you whom have expressed concern for her!!
I registered Sami for kindergarten this week and it was hard. I don't know if it's because she is my baby or because she's sick but it was hard. I didn't feel this way about Zach and Natalie hey I was excited... But, I feel like my kids are all leaving me. It's such a weird strange feeling to have these kids that are doing these "old" things.
But, I am grateful for this time in my life. I really enjoy being their mother and it's fun to watch them grow even though it's painful it's fun. I get excited thinking about what lies ahead for them. There are so many possibilities for them in this life that I wonder what they will become.
I was talking with the 2nd counselor in our bishopric and he said that Natalie is one of those people that will be somebody. Not necessarily a fame and fortune kind of somebody, but someone that will just be neat and wonderful and do good things and people will be blessed by her. It was so nice to hear, because I think that about her too! She's always amazed me and probably always will...
I guess this is why I feel a little sad about Sami... she is so special to me too and it is so so hard and painful to see her go through such a hard time....
UPDATE ON SAMI.... we got all the blood tests back and everything was normal but one blood test that was slightly elevated... nothing high enough to get excited over, but enough that it has sparked the Dr. to look for one more thing in her MRI... which is on the 19th of March.
Thanks to all of you whom have expressed concern for her!!
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