Lagoon and Science Camp

Okay before I go any further I need to clear something up. Daren is a fantastic Dad. I cannot think of a better Dad around. He is helpful and involved and always looking for ways to make memories (good memories) for our children. To start things off: Lizza got a haircut! It looks so cute and I cannot believe I let it grow out. She looks really good with hair like this.

We have had a fun couple of weeks. The Wallace clan (minus the Souza part - we missed you guys!) Went to Salt Lake City for a long weekend. We went to Lagoon all day Friday and had a great time. Daren and I hadn't been there since we were dating and we both agreed things have improved. Our kids had a blast running around with cousins, grandparents, and us. Each of them had a favorite ride. Abby liked the sky coaster ride. She rode it 4 times! The first time she almost fell off as they were getting on and I thought, "This is the end. She will freak out the rest of way, but she pulled it together." I think Grandma and Brynne helped. Lizza liked the great white roller coaster and Mousetrap and Puff! She just couldn't decide which was the best. Meg liked Puff the roller coaster and then the sky-ride is her next favorite one.

Max loved the water fountains. He got soaking wet every time. The last time we went to them for the day he went in the middle. You can see the middle behind this water picture. He got shot by water and loved it. He's a crazy man!!

Herb and Vicki (Daren's parents)are so good about just making a fun vacation.

The next day we hiked Ensign peak. It was almost a mile round trip, and very steep. It was hot but our girls did so well. Meg even raced me to the top and "she beat."

Sunday we went to church at the Joseph Memorial building, which is our normal place to go when we go down there. The kids love the building and the time is really convenient. Here's all of us after church. It was a wonderful weekend.

After Salt Lake, Abby and Lizza, along with cousins Tanner, Anika, and Brynne, went home with Grandma and Grandpa for science camp in Idaho Falls. We missed them here at home, but Meg kept me busy playing all day with her. It was fun to just have 2 kids: It felt liberating! Two was a hard number for me in terms of kids. But Four is killing me! I felt like we could do anything with only Meg and Max this week. We didn't, of course, do anything, but we could have. There wasn't any fighting because Meg and Max have nothing to argue about. The house didn't get very dirty because Meg enlisted me in pretty much everything she played, so I was right there to clean up one mess before we went on to the next. But I missed my older girls. I didn't get to talk to them Tuesday night because I was at craft group and I was really sad about it. I was pumping Daren for information as to what they said, what they did, etc. He was making fun of me. But they came home with so much to tell us about and show us. I am grateful they get to go and have willing Grandparents to take them. It is a great experience. They made digestive systems, grew clear spheres, made solar ovens, experimented with absorption, made dancing beads in a test tube, dissected sheep's eyes, and looked at intestines and a sheep heart.

Along with science camp Vicki takes them to do things everyday. The women is amazing and never rests. So Lizza liked making an edible aquifer at camp and going to the zoo the most. Abby liked dissecting the eye and looking at the other body parts-but not touching them. Her favorite extra curricular activity was going to the movies 2 times and shopping at the dollar store. Megan's favorite part of the girls being at science camp "was just playing princesses with me, Dad, and Max". And we did - a lot. She also started swimming lessons while they were gone. She loves it and has one of her "best friends" Madison in her class.

After everyone was home and settled we went on a family hike yesterday and it was really fun. We stayed in Boise and went up Bogus Basin (which is a ski hill) and there was a hike that was only a mile. It was a fun trail that went in and out of the trees. We saw lots of bugs, rocks, and sticks which all seemed to be a big hit with the girls. We have a few more short family hikes up our sleeves for the summer that we are all excited to go on.

Daddy time

So I told Daren he needed to write this on here but he is watching basketball and I don't care for the NBA that much. So I will try to give it justice. In my head I am sure it is a lot funnier than it will be on paper.

Earlier this week I had a baby shower to go to. So Daren took everyone to run some errands with him. I personally think he is crazy to venture out after dinner and after Max's bedtime for sure and coming close to the girls bedtime but who am I to stop him. I don't have to be there. I do warn him every now and then about it but he does fine. This might change things though. Anyway So they were at Sportsman's Warehouse. Meg has to go to the bathroom. You knew that was coming right? Really can you ever go anywhere without having to visit at least one public restroom. Usually for me it is 3 separate times because they "don't have to go" until the last one just went 5 minutes ago and we just made it back to our spot in the store. Anyway I 'm not bitter just stating the facts of shopping with kids. So They take her to the bathroom. (I'm already laughing). Meg refuses to go. Again a very common thing. She is terrified of the automatic toilets one of her many many frights. One time one flushed on her and it's never been the same. Usually I have to hold her on the toilet and she cries but pees. I am talking soothingly and reassuringly the whole time she just won't do it on her own, usually. So I am told Daren is trying to talk her into it, threatening her and nothing works. So they leave the bathroom -I'm sure disgusted. They go to buy their stuff and meg pees right there at the check out place. I can just see it all in my mind. He tells the guy my daughter just had an accident right here. They are kind and say sir don't worry we'll clean this up. Daren yells "girls go get some paper towels now hurry!"(this part is being told by Lizza) So Abby and Lizza go to get towels and he starts wiping up. The guy says don't worry about it we will just clean it up with a mop. So they leave. Daren is FURIOUS! (Still being told by Lizza) he is reviewing with meg where to go to the bathroom. Once in the car Lizza tells him to stop being loud. He is just going to hurt her feelings. She knows and yelling doesn't make it better. Yep she is lucky to have older sisters! I can just picture the whole scene and all I can say is Happy Fathers Day!

We love you Daren. You are the best Dad around.

On a lighter note we had a great weekend of just being home. It was finally warm (mid 80's) so Lizza (on her own) set up the blow up kiddie pool in the back yard. They pretty much lived in it Friday afternoon and Saturday. Abby had a birthday party Saturday afternoon, which she was so excited about, because she has been invited to 5 this school year and all have been on Sundays so she didn't go. Anyway she got her first sunburn. I feel bad. I sent sunblock with her but didn't pre-apply because we were coming from a morning ward activity. So she didn't put any on and now her shoulders are red. Not bright red but red.

Max doesn't like to get into the pool but he likes to throw anything he can into the pool (i.e. shoes, balls, shovels, what ever.)

I love this age. They all want to hlep and Max is no differnt. Everytime I bring out my sweep/vac Max is right there trying to take it away from me. So we pulled out the toy vacume. Lizza got this from christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Wallace when she was almost 2. It has served us well. He goes for it everytime I pull out mine. He won't use it unless the noise is on. But what a guy hopefully the desire will stick.

I went to a local garden/pet store place this weekend to get propane actually and asked about feeding turtles. Our turtle has only eaten tuna and sometimes the dry food if it is soaked in tuna juice and sandwiched between serving of tuna. The guy was like yeah I would stay away from tuna it has a very high mercury count. So instead we get to feed it mill worms! I bought 20 brought them home and it ate 8. It was so disgusting. You just drop one in and it snaps it and chomps. I know this is random and you don't want details on the turtle but this is my vent today, sorry. So now every 2-3 days we have to feed it as many worms as it can eat in 3 minutes. The first time I just turned the baggie upside down and one fell out. But they are stored in a Tupperware container so I don't know who will do this the next feeding. I'm not touching those things. Maybe this will be when Daren gets in on the care of the turtle.

I remembered on more eventful thing for us. We finally got a back splash! we have lived here almost 2 years (end of July) and never got around to it. I couldn't have picked it with out my mom's help. The options are endless and I was totally overwhelmed but It looks really good and I cannot believe we waited so long.

the birthday girl

Meg has been asking me to get her pink tulips from costco for months now. Every time we went there (which is unfortunately to often) she would ask. So Aunt Mandy asked me to get some for her. So we went and they didn't have tulips. So these were her 2nd favorite.

It's official Meg is getting big. She turned 4 this week and reminded us repeatedly that she could do things now that she was 4 that she couldn't do before when she was 3. Such as, buckle herself in the car, say the prayer by herself, open the garage door. The girl is growing up. She has also started riding a bike, with training wheels of course (we are Wallace's and you've read in earlier post how successful we are at riding bikes).

*Funny thing about the cake picture. It was from Costco and had a princess and frog on it. She was so excited. she was standing on her chair trying to reach the cake she wanted and hand out pieces. Daren and I were both starting to say Sit down when she fell on her cake! she squashed the frog and a part at the top. She started bawling. She couldn't pull her self together until Daren started joking that most princesses don't drop and elbow on their frog prince. She started laughing and retold the story about how she karate dropped on the frog on her cake.

I think I did finally learn my lesson about birthdays though. It seems that birthdays sneak up on me. I don't really start thinking about them until a week before and I don't take action until just a few days before. Which is how it went this time. So I had no clue what to get her. So I went to target to just look and find something. I'm lame I know. It took 1 1/2 hours to pick something and when she unwrapped everything I was remained how easy she is to please. She would have been happy with this little fur-real dog that growls and barks when you play tug a war with it. I got that at target in April on clearance for $6. I let Abby buy it from me to give to her and she loved it. I didn't need to by the $25 barbie and horse that I also got her. She likes it and plays with it but she loves that dog. So I am vowing right now (and this is written down so I can't go back on it) that I will look ahead for birthdays and be prepared from now on. No more impulse birthday gifts!

Anyway, here is our tribute to Meg. She can be so sweet and unselfish. Usually if someone wants something she has she gives it to them. She has done this since she was a baby. So sweet. She has always been my laid back girl, she has a stubborn streak in her but if those flags aren't flying she is just happy to be alive. She loves to "play" with me. Which consists of telling me exactly what to say and where to be with my Polly pocket/my little pony/barbie. She is also very smart. I will ask Abby and Lizza a question and she will answer it. You don't even think she is paying attention because she's in her own world of make believe but she is there. She wears a dress at least 5 days out of 7 regardless of the weather. Best of all she loves us and tells us all so frequently.

Here are some random pictures of Meg what would we do without her?

So after the birthday bash, which is still going on we have one more with Grandma and Grandpa Wallace, we also celebrated the last day of school. YAHOOO!!

We had a good year but I am excited to have my children back. We started our summer program of "taking care of ourselves" today and I am excited.

We have had an action pack week full of birthday parties lots of cake and ice cream, Grandma's cousins, and not enough sleep. So tonight they were in bed by 7:50 reading in their beds. But working up to that point we were doing baths and clean up. It never goes well and tonight here was the result.

Yep Lizza got whipped by a fake pearl necklace that promptly got thrown away. If you use it as a weapon it's gone. You can see the round marks from each pearl across her cheek. We were exhausted and out of control! So on that note I am sure this post is jumping all over the place and spellcheck is picking up some words it doesn't even have suggestions for, which all means I need to go to bed.

the things they say

In the past week we have heard some pretty funny things come out of our kids mouths. I thought I would share a few. We walked into church today and there was a man sitting there with an eye patch on. Meg says oh great look mom we have a pirate at church today. I was laughing so hard I couldn't walk into the chapel for a few minutes. We have a ditch that runs through our property. We use it to flood irrigate the back of our yard. When we don't have our dam in it flows through on certain days to our neighbors. Anyway Abby and Lizza were playing back there and put a flip flop in on one end and thought it would get caught on the other but it wasn't so it went through to our neighbors. They came and told us and we told them to go ask Steve if he found a flip flop. They of course were scared. So later I found this note they had written to him, (this is exactly what it looked like) "um Steve, have you seen a flip-flop that's pink and say's lovely girl in white? If you haven't ask your neighbors. Remind them if they haven't to ask their neighbors. heart(they drew a picture of a heart) Lizza." Abby had written this for Lizza. Neither of them had the courage to give it to him, hence finding it in their pocket. In case your worried he did find it and threw it over the fence the next day. What a guy.

one last thing

This isn't worth it's own post but I forgot it in the last one. It will only be good for Kirst but you'll enjoy. So at Oaks park we go on this little train ride around the park. Fine and fun. We come up to this older laday waving to everyone as we toot by. It was nanny K! and John no less. I could not belive it. I called sheryl as soon as I got off the ride.

Memorial Day

Since we don't have much time off this year because Daren changed jobs, we are maximizing what we have. So for the long weekend we went to Portland. I love Oregon. Just driving through all the green makes me smile. It wasn't has bad as a drive as I had envisioned. It took us 7 hours I think to get there. But we survived that part. We went to the OMSI because with our membership to the discovery center we get in there for free. It was lots of fun. We spent almost the entire day there.

Pretending to be squirrels, Max wrestling the dinosaurs, and playing with the balls. This thing kept him busy for a good hour I swear. He loved it. The girls were running around him to all the different exhibits and he was still there.

Meg playing with the water and learning about sound

Sunday we went to church, ironically it was the same church I went to when I lived up there. Kind of fun. It was right next to the temple which is why Daren picked that one to go to I assume. I didn't bother to ask I guess he was in charge of the planning. Afterward it was pouring rain but I love the Portland temple and meg and Lizza wanted to see it so we went over and got out and walked around. It was fun. I love that temple.

Next Daren had found a county fair that was free so we headed over there. It was awesome. It was at Oaks Park, Which I didn't know until we got there again Daren planning me implementing and being happy that is how we divide and conquer. It was so fun. We got ride passes and rode some rides at the park and went rollerskating, which happened to be include with the ride pass. the girls had such a good time. Abby of course was scared of every ride at first but by the end she had done everyone that the others had. Daren didn't feel great that day so I was going on all the rides. I was starting to get sick. The last ride I did I thought I might throw up so that was it for me. But by that time they girls loved the rides and just started going on them alone. there weren't any lines and they went crazy! Meg and Lizza rode the kiddie roller coaster probably 30 times, at least!

So this was the first time on the rockin'tug but I promise Abby went on it with out me several more times.

ROLLER COASTER!!

I know there are a lot of pictures but a picture says a thousand words, right? So then we have the rollerskating. Meg was the best out of everyone. I am not sure if it is because it is her thing or because Daren taught her while I worked with Lizza and Abby cried about being scared and she was going. Who know but she was cute. The all were and Abby said that was one of her favorite parts of the day.

You probably have noticed there aren't pictures of Daren. He was sick pretty much the whole time. I felt bad for him and he was a trooper. He wasn't grouchy he just followed us and would find and place to sit and even took over Max off and on. But I did feel bad for him. The one snag we have with this whole vacation was that is was so short we really were trying to use our time wisely, hence the Sunday activities. Well while I was on one of the rides with Abby she said this is the best Sabbath day ever! It was such a fun day but We could have hung out at our hotel room too and had fun. I don't know how to really justify this one but it was a great day. I need to work on making our "sabbath days" more fun. It usually consist of some go play and let me read the newspaper. Can't you girls play that outside? So if you have any great ideas let me know I am always open for suggestions.

P90X is killing me

I have been meaning to write for days but haven't made it. So last night was to be the night. The girls were going to bed on time, I made sure of that and I was going to write after P90X of course. Now here's the background. P90X is this intense workout program. I gave it to Daren on our 9th wedding anniversary (may 15th). So we started Mon. with the fitness test to confirm we could handle it. We passed with flying colors except I am currently struggling with pull ups. I should be able to do 1 and I can do 0 unless I have a chair to help me. Anyway Tues. time for the arm work out. this is about 55 min of push ups done in several different styles and pull ups done in different styles. So we muscled through I was dying on the last round of push ups I could only do 3 and it was all I had in me. But we finished we were cheering and didn't have to do this DVD for a week I could handle that, but then it went straight into abs. There were no normal crunches it was crazy stuff. By the time that was done I was sick. I just had to sit there and breath and concentrate on not throwing up. It was hard for Daren don't get me wrong but we finish and he goes and makes himself and smoothie watches a little ESPN hangs out, while I am thinking I am going to throw up seriously I am going to throw up right here on the carpet. Needless to say no blogging last night. Today my arms are hammered. They don't just ache but they are still just worn out I cannot lift max above my head unless I hurl him with momentum. They are weak. So moving on. Lizza was our winner for the week during FHE. She worked really hard this week at being helpful, she got all her obedience beads over to the good side, and she has been very gracious to others, Saying thank you. Next we have dance recital pictures. Abby and Lizza have had a love hate relationship with dance this past semester but finished and loved dancing the recital. I asked Meg if she wanted to dance like her sisters and she told me she doesn't need lessons she already know how to because she is like Genevieve (12 dancing princesses). I asked but wouldn't you like to be up on the stage and wear a pretty costume she said no I just like being down here doing this (she claps and says whoooo). So Meg apparently isn't ready for dance. Max also enjoyed the recital. I have been trying all day to add a video of him dancing to the music at the recital and it is not loading . So someday I will figure out how to do that in a timely manner and you will get video clips. If you have any tips on that please let me know. Also tell me this, is this outfit ridiculous? I had Max in this for Church and Daren came home from his meetings to get us and was like no no way what are you wearing and went and changed him. I think it is cute Daren says defiantly not cute what do you think? Next we have Meg : I love her and listening to what she tells me. Yesterday she brought out a dress she wanted to wear. so we put it on and she said I need a shirt to go underneath it. Meg always wants to wear a dress so through the winter we wore leggings and long sleeve shirts underneath. So I said no your okay it is supposed to be warm today. She says but you can see my breast in this dress. Daren says you don't have any your fine, "yes I do see there right here." So Daren says if you think its immodest than you can wear a shirt underneath it. meg, "no I like it this way, I like immodest." She is the one that will give me a run for the cloths she wears. She has always been the most particular. This is the dress .