More Raptor Reef

We loved going to Raptor Reef with the Lankfords over the weekend. It was a long car ride (about 8 hours each way) but we used cb radios and traded kids back & forth. It was great fun but one of my favorite parts was how kid friendly this place was. There are free tubes laying everywhere, free life jackets, the life guards were actually nice & smiled at you when you're 2 year old got so excited she actually ran (heaven forbid) between the kiddie pool & the hot tub. Josh was just an inch or two shy of the minimum height requirement for the "big" slides and the lifeguard just told Joaquin he should go get him a pair of inch high water shoes & she'd let them sneak down together. Wow, they'd never hire her Ross Park!

Raptor Reef

Our first official family trip was a hit. Connected to the indoor water park was a place called "Triple Play." They had bowling (with push button bumpers & these great ball launchers), lots of games (Shelby's favorite was the balls, Quinn spent all of her money trying to grab stuffed animals - she finally caught this teddy bear), laser tag, miniature golf, and even a rock wall Jessi loved climbing. Dad was pretty happy to play every game the kids wanted to play, but my favorite was when he held Josh on his shoulders for this last one.

Daddy Daze

For those of you who know Shelby and how much she loves Joaquin - it makes this picture all the more amazing. For some reason tonight she danced with him, wrestled him, and even asked for Dad to put her to bed. I took this picture to prove how much she loves him for tomorrow or the next day when she changes her mind again. What can I say, she's a typical woman.

If you'll remember how my little man loves crafts-on President's Day when everyone was home he begged to make Pinata's. So we got out the glue, balloons, & paper. This was Quinn's (we're drying it) and if you can't see what's written on the tape, it says, "This balloon was made by Quinn, who gave it to her Dad Joaquin." Quinn really liked Dad's message, can't you tell?

This is Josh showing off. He too wanted to be with Dad at NAPA today, we're not sure if it was Dad's cologne or what, but I sure loved it. And it was nice for Dad to feel loved by someone other than me!

I had to include this picture of my trooper Jessi. Last Monday we took her into the doctor where they found out she had strep throat, then she started to get these weird soars on her nose and right below her eye. So Wednesday we took her back to Dr. Timmons and found out she probably had a Staff Infection too. So she's been home from school all last week because she's contageous. She missed Jump Roap for Heart (which she loves), her Valentine Class Party, Gymnastics, and her last tournament Basketball game (but they made it to championship so she'll get to play this Saturday). Today was her first day back to school and she was soooo excited. When she woke up this morning she had a few dots on her stomach that I thought was just a contact rash, so I put on some Hydrocordizone Cream, gave her a dose of Benadryl and sent her to school. When she came home at 3:30 she was covered from head to toe in dots. I tried hard not to laugh out loud-what a wreck! So she's off the antibiotic now & the doctor is hoping it was just a reaction to it. In this picture Joaquin's been tickeling and giving her a new nick name - Rash - don't you just want to tackle him sometimes.

How do you solve a problem like Maria?

What a hottie!
I especially love the leg lift, was that choreographed?

Can I just say how proud I am of this girl? This is my 15 year old niece, Kiah Brown who's a freshmen at Blackfoot High landed the lead role in "The Sound of Music!" Around 40 family members including cousins, uncles & aunts, and grandparents came too ooh & ahh for Kiah Brown last Saturday. The cousins (including Jessi & Quinn) just wanted to see her kiss a boy!!! Jessi thought it would be so embarrassing to have to kiss a boy in front of your parents, but most of the other cousins (and uncles) just hollered loud enough to raise the roof. But being the practiced professional that Kiah was - she smiled a little longer than normal and went right on with her lines. Needless to say she had warned her Captain Von Trapp of her boisterous & large extended family. That sounds an awful lot like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" doesn't it?
So here's a few snapshots of the amazing Kiah Brown (and Dana since she made most of her costumes & rehearsed lines over & over again). When the musical started around 20 nuns walked on stage singing, my sister Lisa leans over and says, "Kiah beat out everyone of those nuns for this part." No pressure though. But Dana's comment was my favorite. She told Kiah to be sooo nice to those nuns. When Kiah asked why she responded, "Because I was always a nun and never Maria." Isn't that the truth?!?

 

We had a great time last week babysitting Wyatt & Kaylee Hunt for a day. We fiddled around with play dough, played house, and built forts together. I had to post the picture I took of Josh & Kaylee (he was just so happy they came he picked her right up). Wyatt & Kaylee wanted to look like their Dad (Jon's always got a goatie) only the color is a little off.
If you will also notice Josh's creation. He is one crafty boy. When he wakes up in the morning he knows exactly what he wants to do that day. He'll say things like, "Let's make a noise maker, I'll get the beans." Or he'll decide to make bracelets (for the girls of course), puppets, macaroni necklaces, etc.
Well as you can tell from the picture this day he wanted to make a mosaic feeding plate for birds -I'm sure that was your first guess when you saw the picture (he found the idea in an children's art book I have). It was supposed to be made with a real plate and mini tiles & then painted to seal it - yeah, that's just a little too much work for this mother. So we improvised with scrapbook paper, a paper plate, and glue. It's now sitting on a plate holder in the kitchen - he is so proud of it.

Basketball Babes

Quinn had a great time on her "all girl" team this weekend. She couldn't wait to actually touch the ball this year seeing as all the boys were on their own team. Go Girl Power!
Do you like her jeans? Tiffani & I just chatted the night before how we need to let our children dress themselves and not be picky about what they choose. So when Jessi came down for her game in jeans I said to myself, "She's only 7 - let her wear whatever she wants." I showed up at the game & Tiffani says,"What's up with the jeans?" I told her that I was playing it cool and letting Jessi pick her clothes. Tiffani (being the college sports guru) says while laughing, "I would have made her changed." Believe it or not - we both agreed by the end of the game that it hadn't mattered because she only touched the ball twice I think. Here's a great shot of one of those two times. Next game I'll let her wear snow pants if she wants!

Christmas Collage

This was one of my favorite pictures of Christmas Day because Jessi got Josh & Shelby dressed and with the help of Dad, dug out this awesome fort where they had multiple picnics in. We thought it was pretty awesome!
Joaquin was "surprised" with Guitar Hero World Tour for the WII, although he swears it was a gift for the whole family.
It was easy to tell which toy Shelby loved. We used to have lots of bath toys when Quinn was little, but as they were lost or thrown out I've never replaced them. So after suffering through the first 2 years of life using only my measuring cups & spoons, Shelby felt like she had died and gone to heaven with these slides, squirting animals, & strainers.
Josh couldn't wait to use the sleds that Dad got from Santa - the transformers he received should have gone to Dad - we think they're for ages 30 & up!
Jessi instantly loved her "High School Musical" jammies, but when we went to cousin Jayda's for New Year's & she had the same ones, WOW! She is sooo happy!
Along with the pet hermit crabs, Quinn absolutely loved receiving Season 1 & 2 of Eureka (it's about a quirky town with a down to earth Sheriff - we all love to laugh through it).

Jessi the Great

Jessi had her "Christmas" Gymnastics concert last week and we loved it. She's done so well this year that they asked her to move up a class, yahoo! She misses her other friends but is happy to feel so big.

Let it Snow

Josh was so excited about the snow that when Dad came home from lunch he wouldn't let him sit down until they had built a snowman. Little did he know just how big Dad could make that Snowman, it's taller than Dad. Shelby looked out the window and said "It's a monsterman!" Josh was a little disappointed I only had a pink scarf & hat (what can I say, girls rule in our house & Joaquin's never worn a scarf!)

Family Christmas Letter 2008

I love creating our family Christmas card each year. Here's our family shot (Jessi's almost smiling!) & the fun little jingle I sent along with it!

Sing to the Tune of
"Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer"

Shelby (2) loves babies all day
and carries them everywhere.
She hates to be called “hot dog”
as Daddy is well aware.

Josh (4) plays and loves his Hot Wheels,
Golfing, Bikes, and Napa too.
He’s learned to tease like Daddy
Poor Shelby suffers all day through.

Then Jessi (7) tumbles right on by
On her way to gym.
Smiling as her I-Pod blares,
Playing Barbies everywhere.

Quinn (10) plays piano very well,
Basketball’s a favorite too.
Animals are still in first place,
Babysitting’s fun to do!