Super Chuck!!

I have a child who believes he is a super hero.  Just the other night as he was trying to fall asleep he told me he saw an invisible bad guy in his room.  Trying to stump him I asked him how he was able to "see" an invisible guy.  He replied that it was because he had super hero eyes.  

And the other day we were jumping on the tramp and he started to get tired, he sat down and told me his super hero powers had gone away for a minute but to wait and they'd be back.  A minute later he was jumping again telling me that his powers had come back.  And when he jumps super high on the trampoline he is convinced that he is flying.  

When he accomplishes something difficult I give him praises and ask him how he was able to do it and he responds by reminding me that he is a super hero.  I have a child who believes he is a super hero and I'm beginning to believe him too.  

My cute, baby sister tagged me so now I must report:

4 "people" who email me regularly:

1.  my kids basketball coach and music teacher

2.  Gayla Peterson with our wards "Highland Highlights"

3.  random people regarding cub scouts (no one in particular)

4.  Costco Photo Center

4 places I would like to visit:

1.  Italy

2.  Australia

3.  Greece

4.  would love to go back to Jerusalem

4 favorite restaurants:

1.  Outback

2.  Cheesecake Factory

3.  any Mexican food place with free, all-you-can eat chips and salsa (none of this paying for chips and salsa for me).

4.  Soup Plantation

4 things I am looking forward to in the coming year:

1.  Christmas

2.  hopefully adding to our family through adoption

3.  going to Mazatlan with family

4.  growing older with Paul

4 things I am not looking forward to in the coming year:

1.  my cutest, baby sister moving to UT (not looking forward to it at all)

2.  my kids growing older

3.  cleaning the bathrooms

4.  I can't think of anything else

So, I now tag Melissa Farnsworth, LeAnn Carroll and Melanie Engen

Go get em' girls!!

Day Off!

We had a relaxing day yesterday and it was a real treat having Paul home.  It seems as if he never has those random Monday holidays off but yesterday he did - HOORAY!!  Unfortunately for him I was a bit grumpy - no explanation, just a grumpy mom.  But I was in a fine mood when we were away from the house and playing.  I think it was the mess of the house making me grumpy and I had no desire to clean.  Sometimes it just seems never-ending.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect and we spent most of the afternoon hiking and playing at the park.  Though it seemed as soon as we got home I was grumpy again.  But today is a new day and I'm not grumpy.  Sing glory, glory!!!!!

ATTENTION: Gib has a blog!!!!!

My favorite 8 year old has been asking if he could start a blog for the last week or so.  I gave in yesterday and I think this could be a good thing.  Already he is documenting more than he does when he writes in his journal and I'm loving what he's documenting.  I've got a crush on that kid.  Check out Gib's blog.

From the way he's writing he's considering his grandparents, aunts and uncles and my friends as his audience.  Feel free to leave a comment too.  He mentioned a few times to me today that he hopes to get comments on his blog.  I couldn't ask for a better first born than Gib.  He's kind, patient, tender, confident, happy, aware, funny, cautious, calm, bright, etc.,  etc.  I just love that kid with my whole heart!!   

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

"That was awesome!!"

What a fabulous week we've had.  In order to avoid the Feb/March blues we decided we needed to take a vacation.  It didn't take much thought - Disneyland was calling!!  Having lived in California a few years ago and being able to do the the whole Disneyland annual pass we were soooo excited to go back.   But this time was so different.  You see when we went almost weekly Gib was only five and Charlie was only one - even though Gib was big enough to go on some of the roller coaster rides he had no desire to so we stuck with "Teacups", "It's a Small World", "The Pooh Bear Ride", etc.   Well, times have changed and now we have three kids that can go on the majority of the rides.  It was so dang thrilling.  What was even more fun for the kids is that we would get the swapping pass since one of us had to stay with Eli and after the ride was done Paul or myself would take the kids on the same ride without any wait.  Not to complain about any waiting time since every ride was about a 5-10 min. wait.  I don't know how many times I heard, "That was awesome!!"  (hence the title of this post).  I'm such a mom for saying this but the best part of Disneyland was seeing my kids get such a kick out of it all.  

The next day we did California Adventure which included my favorite roller coaster ride - "Screamin' California".  I was so proud of Gib because he was pretty nervous to go on the ride but he did it and loved it.  If you ask Charlie what his favorite ride was he would say "Screamin' California".  Poor kid couldn't go on it but wanted to so bad that it became his favorite ride.  We had a blast and can't wait 'til next time.
We also were able to stay in a beach house in San Clemente which was ideal.  It was a few minutes walk from the beach and the weather was fabulous.  These pictures were taken in the morning when there was a little chill in the air but come 11:00 the kids had stripped down to their swimsuits and were all but swimming with the dolphins (which we saw).   The kids would cruise on their scooters with Paul carving on his long board - living the Cali lifestyle for a fleeting moment.  In the evening we drove to RSM to see our old house and visit with our California friends.  It was great to see so many of them and made us miss living there.  What a dreamy vacation we were able to take.  Would love to make this an annual event.

Tonight for FHE we all drew names and then had to paint a picture of that person.  My personal favorite was Eli's painting of Gib - spittin' image.  Gib kept commenting how much fun he was having and hoping we could do it again.  Ruby painted Charlie at a football game and Charlie made sure to include himself in his painting of Paul.  Everyone thought that Eli's lips were blue but that was supposed to be his pacifier, as it is in his mouth most of the time.  It was a fun activity and we'll most likely do it again.  

I have a genius child - who would've ever thunk?  Of course, I don't think he got a drop of juice, but a genius, nonetheless.
And as soon as he realized it was raining today he grabbed his rain boots in order to brave the storm.  It ended up being too cold so he didn't last long. (He's a true Arizona boy). 

 The days he doesn't have school haven't been too exciting.  I find myself trying to get things done around the house and he ends up watching more t.v. than I'd like him to.  So, I've set some goals to encourage him to be more active during the day.  It has been a bit of a struggle because the t.v. is so easy and he's accustomed to it also but it's time for a change.  We have so many fun things to do around the house it is just a matter of thinking of them and pulling the stuff out.  Right now he's playing with trains and totally enjoying himself.  It's pretty much all on me and I'm up for the challenge.  Any suggestions would be welcomed.
This is Eli's favorite activity to do outside.  He'll pull one of us over to the long boards and encourage us to pull them down and take him on a ride.  I've only fallen once with him on because I hit a rock so I'm a lot more cautious now but he loves it too much to quit.