Vacation Bible School

Anden just finished his first Vacation Bible School

with his buddies Will and Michael.

They had so much fun!

Our church doesn't offer something like that.

So I was excited when Holly let us join in with them!

Here's the boys after their last day!

Gotta love the 3 cheesey smiles.

And how my son is the only one that wouldn't stop moving

and thus has a fuzzy head!

(and this was the 4th attempt and sadly the best pic! lol)

But the best part...

my pedicure ran long.

So I got to wear these beauties into the church to pick them up!

Swim Lessons Recap

Well the 2 weeks flew by.

Swim Lessons are now done.

After 3 days,

Taylee was bumped up to the older class.

Let's just say her older brother was LESS than thrilled about that.

So she still would do her class

and then double dip in Anden's class afterwards!

The second to last day I took video to show her progress.

Unfortunately Anden wasn't feeling well and missed this class.

He probably planned that so he wouldn't have to be in the video!

So Taylee and I went to lessons alone.

Taylee entertained me on the way there.

By singing one of her favorite songs.

"Call Me Maybe"

This little girl of mine picks up on everything I listen to.

And will be singing the words after 1 time!

(mental note: I better start listening to lyrics in advance!)

Then she'll be off teaching the song and her own dance to her friends!

So since that was her song for the day!

I figured I would add it to her movie below!

Then on their final class they had a little party afterwards!

And of course it took Taylee 5 minutes afterwards to

FALL

back into the pool while in her regular clothes.

I was at softball and missed the final class.

But luckily everyone was more than happy to fill me in!

And this one cracked me up.

The older boys patiently waiting for their class.

Just Keep Swimming

When summer hits

(which is April through October in these parts!)

we LIVE at the pool!

It's the cheapest, coolest, funnest activity!

And now that both kids are swimmers,

it's even somewhat relaxing for me too!

This weekend we brought friends with us each day.

Tracy, Sophia, Noah came first.
Holly, Will, Lucy came the next day.

Taylee has always been fearless.
So when I asked her,
"Honey do you want to try the diving boards today?"
She was off and climbing the ladder before I could even finish my sentence.
I thought she might be somewhat cautious.
But nope.
She just "taylee flopped" right in the water!

And yes I did intervene when I saw her standing in the high dive line.

She looked at me sheepishly with that little mischievous grin,

"Oops Mommy I actually thought this was the little diving board line..."

Then she giggled and skipped over to the little diving board line.
She knew exactly what she was doing.

I know for a fact she would have jumped off the high dive

if I hadn't have caught her.

And I wonder why a random stranger once a day tells me

"Gosh you've got your hands full with her!"

We had such a fun time both days at the waterpark!

And we only ended up in the first aid station three times!

Sophia now has a black eye

from a unfortunate timed My Little Pony tail swinging

(yes courtesy of Taylee).

Anden now has 3 scrapes on the top of his foot from diving into the shallow end.

Will now has a scrape on the top of his ear from slipping on the wet ground.

I think it's safe to say

the First Aid Station knows us by name.

Swim Lessons

On Tuesday the kids started swim lessons.

We chose to do a private teacher this year.

With a small class at a private home.

Taylee was ecstatic to be included.
She's the only kid in her class that already swims.

And she sure let them know that when she wouldn't stop swimming away!

The big brothers "patiently" waited their turn for their class.

So we're here every day

for the next 2 weeks!

I can't wait to see their improvement!

Just another normal day

Each day we set out after our morning prayers

in hopes of a normal day.

However "normal" usually doesn't exist in our world.

There's always something

unexpected

funny

crazy

stressful

That's just how we roll.

So the other day about 6pm we decided to ride quads

over to the splash pad for a quick cool off.

We all quickly changed into our swim gear.

I pulled out Anden's quad and got it running.

Taylee decided she wanted to ride with us too.

So the 3 of us piled onto the child size quad.

Anden driving.

Taylee smashed in the middle with no view other than Anden's back.

Me in the back,

with my arms securely around both kids,

while clutching onto Anden's microscopic stomach.

As we're driving there I thought gosh it actually feels

somewhat "cool" out here with the breeze billowing

through my swim cover up.

Then I realize...

it's a little too breezy

and a little too free.

hhmmmmm

Then it dawns on me

O.M.G.

I don't have a freaking swimsuit on!

I somehow forgot to put it on

before I put my swim cover up on

because of the screams resonating from the other room that

Anden was teasing Taylee.

So in panic stricken horror,

I decide to just play it off.

Nobody will notice.

We're only going to be 30 mins.

As we round the corner approaching the park,

the quad suddenly starts sputtering.

No. No. No.

And quits.

Right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

I attempt to start it several times

(my mechanical skills involve continually pushing the start button)

and pretend to maneuver some wires as if I know what I'm doing.

Nothing.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Of course this would happen

while I'm trying to discreetly hide my new commando style.

Well by now the kids have jumped off 

and are almost up to the park.

I yell to them to come back

cuz we're pushing this bad boy home

while my naked a$$ hangs out the back.

The drive to the splash pad is at most 5 mins.

Going 10mph.

I predicted we could make it back in 30 mins.

Going .01mph.

The kids were not about to ditch their water spraying into your eyeballs glory.

So I lost and we marched to the park

"OK for TEN minutes only!"

I stared at the lug of machinery and questioned what to do.

So as a good Anthem patron,

I shoved it out of the bike path

and onto the grass.

I didn't want to block anyone's peaceful successful bike ride

with my roadside litter.

So there we left it while the kids played

and I hobbled along with crossed legs

and my hands securely at my sides

while hunched over

to hide my newly freed boobs.

Within 7 minutes,

the Anthem "police" in their Gator

came roaring past us and back up the bike path.

I naively thought,

gosh wonder what that's about.

Then I glanced back as the Gator

with it's ego filled flashing patrol lights

pulls over to the quad.

The man jumps out & begins to inspect it

while talking into his walkie talkie.

The other park parents

are now gawking at the man

inspecting a random quad in the grass.

My face started to turn red.

I held my head low

and humbly slithered my way over

to explain the situation

and get my fake ticket.

While still holding my ounce of clothing

to securely cover my nakedness underneath.

Naked Me: "Hello sir, that's my son's quad. It died on the way here. We live on the other side of the park"

Fake Policeman: "Well I got a call about a quad ON the grass.  You can't park it here!"

 Naked Me: (trying not to laugh) "I'm sorry sir. I didn't intend to "park" it here. It died."

Then he attempts to start it.

With the same ingenius method I tried.

I tried to hide my smug face

as he got the same result I did.

And yes I secretly took a picture.

I was trying so hard not to laugh at the

COMPLETE

AWKARDNESS

of all this.

And I was adding humor to my friends' night

by updating them on my pathetic plight.

I assured the man I'm fine and was just planning to push it home.

I'm not too far away.

And the quad is fairly light.

He must have felt bad that I had to REALLY pee

cuz I was standing there with my legs crossed

and my arms folded over my boobs.

When in reality I was just containing my lady parts from joining the conversation.

So he adamantly states,

"There is NO way I'm allowing you to push this home.

No offense, but I wasn't raised to let a lady do that stuff".

Normally I would have greatly appreciated

and complimented him on his rare chivalry and manners.

But me and my naked crotch just wanted left alone!

I assured him I was totally fine to push it and it really wasn't a big deal.

He held his ground.

Then he pulls out his walkie talkie again.

And as he calls "Bob",

he then tells me.

"It's no big deal. I just need to ask the Sheriff to come check it out and give his approval"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Seriously I'm OK!

I wanted to crawl my white butt into a hole.

It's pretty rare that I get embarrassed

since I have a sliver of pride left in me.

But this was one of those rare moments.

So I humbly excused myself to go gather up my rugrats

while he waited there for the Sheriff to arrive.

I literally had to drag the kids off the playground toys

while threatening through gritted teeth that the Anthem Police were impounding

the quad NOW if they didn't hurry.

They suddenly decided to listen to me and hurry back to the quad.

After what seemed like an hour (ok 5 mins),

the Sheriff arrived in his Gator

(seriously people does anyone drive normal cars around here!)

to discuss with the man helping me in his Gator

why there was a homeless family of 3 riding a mini quad

ON the grass.

Again I assured them I hadn't committed such a heinous crime

and that I was ON the bike path

prior to the death of the quad.

So the nice Gator man tells the old Gator man

that he just wants to load the quad into the back and drive it home for me.

The kids are now one in each Gator

flipping on lights and pressing buttons and horns.

I'm still awkwardly frozen with my legs crossed

while holding my girls.

The fake Sheriff relented and together they loaded up the quad.

While trying to be appreciative,

I could only keep thinking how I would have been HOME by now

securely in my own protective underwear

if I had just pushed the dang quad!

After the old man about got a hernia from lifting,

I offered my thanks and the Sheriff took off.

I awkwardly waited to see if the nice man

wanted me or the kids to ride in the Gator with him.

No such offer or suggestion came.

So I grabbed a kid in each hand and we started the long walk back.

With the nice man in Gator

slowly creeping along behind

watching my every giggling butt step.

Awesome.

So we walked.

And we walked.

And the kids ran and tackled each other in the grass.

And I hollered at them.

And then we walked some more.

Until we walked right up to my garage door.

My neighbors were stopped and gawking as well.

 I felt like I was in the Anthem Nudist Parade.

Should I wave

or just hang my head low?

If I only I had candy to throw to the crowds to distract them from the oddity of this.

So the nice man backed that Gator right up to my garage.

And unloaded the quad for me.

I graciously thanked him for his kindness

and offered him a cold water

to go along with the Peep Show.

He denied the water.

His thirst must have already been quenched.



Kids

The kids love Ninjey

especially Taylee.

And while she was cuddling the most non cuddly pet,

Anden was saving the world

as

RoboBatmanCowboy



Summer Eats

I love Summer for many reasons.

Fresh food is one of those reasons.

You just can't beat the thrill of eating

Corn on the Cob!

Two seconds later Anden abruptly informed me

that the corn made him have 4 more loose teeth

and now no longer likes Corn on the Cob.

And requested his trustly ole quesadilla option instead.

Hmmm was he playing me?

Girls Night

We celebrated Holly's

milestone 35th birthday

in true girl fashion

on Saturday night!

I mean,

just look at these amazing cupcakes Audra made.

Most DELISH ever! lol

Not only is Holly one of my very best friends,

she's also my kids' second mom.

I love her so much!

So glad we could celebrate her birthday together!

Divers

Saturday we went to the waterpark again

with the Mortensens.

The kids were ecstatic to play with their long lost friends!

Grace is an awesome little swimmer and thus it pushes Anden.

Grace also now goes off the high dive.

Anden started that last year as well.

But then at the end of the summer he freaked himself out

(probably by opening his eyes and seeing how HIGH it is!!)

and hasn't wanted to go off it since.

Well the second that Grace jumped from it.

He couldn't be outdone by a girl!

So proud of the little daredevils!

Swimmers

Immediately after work on Friday,

we headed straight to the pool.

The kids were cracking me up.

Just being themselves.

They are both so crazy brave in the water.

Caution would be nice at times,

but I love their adventurous little personalities.

So I took a bunch of little videos of them.

They have music playing throughout the water park.

Taylee is always dancing away to it.

(which is adorable!)

But in this video clip,

you can't hear the music.

But luckily we can hear

Anden's annoying singing/commentating the entire time.

(not so adorable!)

Oh how I "love" this little boy stage.

Dirty Hands?

Well this is definitely a new spot for a bruise.

Go figure,

the one time I forget my batting glove,

which provides an extra layer of protection under my mitt,

I catch a nasty hopping grounder

which immediately broke a blood vessel in my hand and swelled right up.

So now I have a permanent dirty hand.

Good times!

Zoo

Many times I have joked about the

Harbeck Zoo.

I'm not exaggerating.

Our backyard really is an animal infested environment.

The other day

while we were out for 10 minutes letting the turtle roam around,

Anden quietly caught 3 baby quails!

And proudly came running over to show me!

Aaahhh put those mini puff balls down!!

I had that old wives tale fear in my head

that if a human touches one,

the mother abandons it.

And the last thing I wanted was 3 more pets to take care of!

So he dropped it

and Taylee was walking right behind him

and unknowingly stepped on it.

The poor puff ball hobbled away sideways when she lifted her foot

and ran under the hot tub.

Great, now we have a handicapped pet.

I pleaded with Anden to not catch another one

and that they were only babies and were really scared.

 Ten seconds later I hear Taylee baby talking to something.

I turn around and see the two mischiefs huddled up.

Anden looks up awkwardly.

"Mom I had to. Taylee didn't get to touch the other one."

At least this one didn't get smashed by a flowery flip flop.

After smothering love,

they released this one to roam the backyard zoo with everything else.

Then they went back to loving the turtle.

Which he now has an official name.

I really had to "guide" their selections

into something I approved of.

He will hereby be referred to as

Ninjy Turtle

(c'mon it was the only way to make "Ninga" sound cute!)

But he also responds to Rocky.

Since the kids can't seem to get Lynds' turtle's name out of their brains.

Heart Full of Gratitude

To me,

my blog is more than ramblings.

It's my way of channeling

frustrations into humor,

hardships into happiness,

events into memories.

All while

cementing moments

and creating little biographies

 for future reflection.

It's my therapy.

It's free.

It heals.

Usually I take the carefree humorous approach.

Rarely I show my deeper intimate side.

I leave out the dark times.

I include the sunshine.

But today I wanted to share some of my inner heart.

With complete humility,

I wanted to say thank you to my family

for making this past weekend possible.

Our family has had more than it's share of tumultuous times.

We were split up at young ages

and siblings grew up separately.

We've had to fight to find each other.

To get to know each other.

We have different upbringings.

Different memories.

Different cities.

Different views.

But somehow there's still a tie that brings us together as siblings.

Somehow we all surfaced to the top

and found each other.

I know that there are many differences among us

and I wholeheartedly appreciate that

we could come together as one family

and set aside the differences for the unity of the group.

I know it's not the most comfortable situation.

But the purpose of the weekend successfully prevailed.

I truly am humbled

that I was able to spend a whole weekend

with both

Dad and Mom.

And 4 of 5 of my siblings.

It was a dream come true.

I have waited 20 years for that reunion.

While I was driving home from Vegas,

I had time to reflect on what had just occurred.

I wept.

Out of happiness.

To others,

it might be just another measly family reunion.

But to me,

it meant the world.

You see,

when your family is taken from you,

You abruptly realize the importance of it all.

Then when you grow up and live far away,

you cherish the rare times together.

You make every effort possible to rebuild those relationships

and create new memories.

Please don't take your families for granted.

It's never too late.

It might have taken 20 years,

but I knew it would happen.

I Love You

Dad

Mom

Nathan

Lyndsay

Luke

Brooke

Jordan

Vegas Trip - 6/4

Monday - 6/4/12

Sadly today everyone had to head home.

Dad, Anita & Grandma left first.

Then Luke & the girls headed out.

They had a 9 hr drive.

Which meant that we got to stay and play with Lyndsay & Baby K

And then still drive and get home before them!

Oh wait, Brooke's flight was at 1:30am!!

So technically she left first...if that's even considered "today".

So Lyndsay & Kyrrigan came over to the hotel

and played while we loaded up.

Then we went back to her house for lunch.

And to get the turtle ready for his move to Arizona!

Yes I said that correctly.

Me, who doesn't do pets,

Just took on a pet turtle.

And truth be told.

I was supposed to bring him home 2 wks ago.

But I'm an awesome pet owner and it slipped my mind.

We were 15 minutes down the road

and something was bothering me that I must have forgotten.

BINGO!

I hurried and texted Lyndsay

"OMG I'm a horrible pet owner already!  I forgot the turtle!"

She texted right back

"Ya we already noticed"

Oops. Fail.

So there was NO way I was forgetting him this time!

I got the wrath from the kids (and sitter's kids) the 1st time.

So let me back up and give you some history about the dang turtle.

If you read my blog, you'll recall that Lynds found a turtle a couple yrs ago.

I thought it was creepy and the weirdest pet ever.

Until I saw how much my kids loved it!

And my opinion really changed when I found out how low maintenance they are.

And then I was sold when I found out they hibernate all winter.

YES!

That is a pet I can handle! lol

So I half jokingly/half seriously told Lynds that if they ever found another one that we wanted it!

C'mon what are the odds they'll find 2 turtles in their lifetime?!

Well about a month ago I get this picture text of a turtle

with the caption

"Look what Aaron just found!"

Oh no,

anxiety and excitement swept over me.

Do I really have to commit to a pet??!

I was hoping to start with an earthworm and then maybe move my way up!

So I showed the kids and they were ECSTATIC!

How could I say no?

So I told Lynds we definitely wanted it!

And that's how the Turtle came about.

So we all loaded up in the car

with the turtle box fairly and equally placed in the middle of the carseats.

Then we started our trek home!

Soon we were back at the Hoover Dam.

Exhilarating view from the road.

Before too long the kids crashed out.

I looked back and my heart panicked a bit.

Good thing we didn't bring a snapping turtle home.

Taylee would have definitely lost some digits!

Just as I ready to turn on some music to jam the remainder of the drive,

I heard rustling and clawing coming from the box.

I looked back and the dang turtle was standing there staring at me.

My skin crawled.

I had childhood nightmare flashes of creepy animals attacking me.

I hurried and reached back and salvaged Taylee's hand.

And tried to shake the box so he got back down on all fours.

Great timing No Name Turtle.

Wait until the kids fall asleep and I'm helpless

before you decide to make your escape and strangle me.

So while still manging not to panic and stay on the road,

I tilted my rear view mirror all the way down so I

would monitor the foreign object in the backseat.

Finally he relented and just hung out his "window".

Phew.

I won that battle!

But then he got bored with his view and started causing a ruckus again.

And then the scratching of the cardboard box woke up the kids.

Strike 2 Turtle Boy!

Good thing my kids aren't scared of animals at all.

Anden was still half asleep and just shoved him down back in the box.

Taylee popped open her eyes and immediately went into her motherly voice

"No no no baby turtle you can't stand up in the car"

I just started laughing.

So why am I creeped out with this thing if they aren't?!

We finally made it home with all fingers and toes attached.

The kids ran straight to the backyard to introduce Mr. No Name to his new kingdom.

The turtle immediately started chomping away at the grass.

Sweet, that cuts down on my new broccoli bill.

The kids wanted to play on the sandbox digger.

So I told them to keep an eye on the turtle

while I went and got the last suitcase from the car.

I was gone 3 mins.

I heard them giggling away through the screen door.

My heart swelled thinking ahhh they're actually playing nice together.

I came around the corner.

My jaw dropped.

Mom: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

(while analyzing the scene that Anden is the only one dry and clean!)

Anden: {innocently} "Taylee wanted me to do it."

Oddly, I believe him.

Anden didn't think it was so fun after all.

When Taylee playfully heaved a wad of wet sand in his face.

So I taught em the good ole fashioned way to clean off.

They got sprayed down with cold hose water.

And yes,

the turtle took advantage of their antics to escape.

We found him all the way across the yard.

His little legs were about to give out.

He's back "safe" with us now.

And yes,

Taylee's shirt is still soaking in bleach.