Mother's Day, Quizzing and Summer Preparations...

I never knew how much love my heart could hold,

Until the day someone called me Mommy...

My mom gave me a coffee cup with this on it...and I must admit, it is my FAVORITE cup of all time. Because sometimes in the morning, when I really, really don't want to be awake, I need the reminder of what my life is all about...being a mommy. And on those days I wish my name was Daddy, because we all know his name just doesn't get called out as much...I just need to remember the first day Logan called me Mama!! He may have said "da-da" first, but his first real word with meaning was truly Mama (or was it football!!). Unfortunately it seems that I am called Mom more than Mommy - a true sign that my wee-ones are growing up WAY too fast and a constant reminder that I really need to enjoy these times with my kids!

It seems like we have been going more than coming lately, but truly I wouldn't change it for anything. Few people down here understand my crazy world and why I would want to homeschool my kids. But even with those days when I think I will actually go bald, I wouldn't trade it. This truly is the life God has chosen for us and even being in a new State (physically and mentally some times!) doesn't change the plan He has for me or my family....

Mother's Day:

I was blessed to have my mom spend Mother's Day Weekend with us and we had a blast. She was with us for three nights and, as you all know, we have three kids. So, guess what - one kid got to sleep with Nana each night. They were thrilled!!

We had a busy weekend with a quiz in Sacramento, but Mom was so excited to see Logan quiz and spend a lot of time holding the girls. In fact...she left feeling like a "couch". No, that wasn't a typo, she felt like a couch you sit on. During the quizzes, everyone has to be REALLY, REALLY quiet. This can be hard for a 4 and 6 year old. So, the best thing to do is to just put them on our lap and hold them. I wonder if her lap has recovered yet?

The weather was beautiful, but so beautiful that everyone in Northern California decided to go to Six Flags. After hanging out in traffic for an hour, we decided it wasn't worth it. She said she would catch it next time....in July. Thanks so much Mom for coming and spending the weekend with us - it was fantastic!!


Quizzing:

Between running to quiz practice and two quizzes a month, we have stayed busy. Logan's team did really well at the Sacramento quiz, but then a few weeks later we went to Modesto and that didn't go as well. So, we are continuing to work hard and hoping for a fun time at the next few quizzes!! Go team go...

Summer Preparations:

The kids are excited to have school coming to an end and we are super excited to enjoy the summer days in the pool. We put the pool up a week or so ago when the temperature was 100 degrees, but then it cooled off to the 60's...makes for some super cold water. So, we put the cover on and are letting it warm up during these beautiful 80 degree days...

We now feel like summer has officially started (except for the fact that we are still doing school!)...Mariah rang in summertime by becoming one big piece of road rash. This would be thanks to her brother's hand-me-down scooter, a bumpy sidewalk, and two older siblings that she insists on keeping up with. Last summer started the same way with Mariah's face finding a nice landing spot on Logan's bicycle tire while it was still rotating...yikes! So, here we come summer - pool, scooters, road rash and all...

This is how we started our trip...looking a lot like, um, can I say??? White trash...the truck was packed from front to back and side to side and the kids were three in a row. Besides one of the bikes scratching Phil's truck, all went well on the drive to Oregon. Then we were in for one FULL day of cleaning, packing, shopping, packing, and washing to get the trailer and four-wheelers ready.

We were so excited to be able to watch the Easter special at church. It was fun to see the sign team carrying on and continuing with the burden that we had when everything got started. They are all doing an awesome job and it was so much fun to sit and watch...

Here they are all ready for a ride...Let's go.

And she was off....what a blast she had getting herself from the campground to the dunes ALL BY HERSELF. It was her landmark trip, because now she is flying solo...just right behind her Daddy. Wherever he went that is where she was supposed to go and she did, even when he would circle around waiting for her she would go in the same circle. It was hilarious and adorable. We had so much fun watching her be on her own.

Mariah was just happy that her Daddy got his "blue banshee" back. It had been broken for a year and he was finally able to get it fixed and ride it. She absolutely loves riding with him on the banshee. We are sure that when she is all grown up she will ride a banshee!! But that wasn't all the fun she got to have...she got to drive the 50 with Daddy on the back....uh-oh...what did we start now??
That wasn't the only thing we started. Logan decided he wanted to try out the bike Nana was riding...Now he thinks a bigger bike would be really great - yikes!

But then he wouldn't be able to jump like this...

The trip was great and we felt so blessed to have friends and family there with us. It has become cherished time for us now that we don't get to go that often, but we truly enjoyed every moment of it. The only problems was...it wasn't long enough.

We ended the trip with a short visit with my Grandma and Grandpa....It was a great trip and now we have already started our plans for the next one. So...who wants to join us?