Riding the Frontrunner!

For preschool yesterday, we thought it would be fun to take the kids on the frontrunner, which is the commuter rail that is up and running now. I personally have been looking forward to this since we moved here because I thought for sure it would improve Michael's commute. Well, we are about to see.....

So we get there at 9:00am and the kids are SOOOO excited. You can hardly keep them from talking about it. Laney was just so excited for the train to come and pick her up and the boys...well, they were boys and challenged each other to see who could get on first. The train came and we all found nice comfy seats. The train cars were really nice, I was very suprised. The kids just loved watching out the window as we passed other cars, houses, businesses, etc. But about a half hour into it, I realized I forgot to go to the bathroom before leaving the house (a big no no) and the kids began to get a little restless. My first priority, to find a potty ( I know, it should have been the kids, but I really had to go) and that I did. It was amazing nice also, but a little nauseating since there is no window but a lot of rocking! So I was glad to go back and face my next priority. Entertaining the kids. We managed to get to Salt Lake and were excited to go on our adventure tour of temple square, the conference center and the church history museum, and then off to a park to eat some grub, which may I say I also forgot to eat breakfast (It is hard to get out of the house by 8:30! Give me some credit...at least I brushed my teach ...in the car) so I was getting really hungry.





Landon in front of the train after ride





The frontrunner drops you off at the tracks station so that you can commute using them...which the kids also enjoyed. We just had to figure out which one to hop on and let me tell you, the guys that work there that were giving us advice either didn't speak great english or spoke in riddles. Finally I just guessed and we acutally ended up where we were supposed to be....WHEW!
The flowers all over temple square....beautful!! I couldn't stop to take more, you will see why in a minute

In front of the Christus


The closest thing I will get to a class picture...taken on Temple Square


We toured temple square, visited the Christus, smelled some flowers and looked at the temple. Then we headed over to the Conference Center where we toured the top. It is pretty amazing how they can construct such a grand building and have a beautiful garden WITH a fountain on top! Pretty impressive. In there, we saw the hall of the prophets and the room where all the pictures of the 12 apostles are, which was fun to see. Laney was looking for President Hinckley and was excited to find him. Then we peaked into the actual room where conference was held....it is so HUGE! It never ceases to amaze me.


Chloe fascinated by the elevator in the conference center




You can see by these pictures there is a common denominator....WATER! They are drawn to it no matter where we go. And the pictures pretty much document how it was. We get them somewhere for a pose. Someone runs out, someone runs in...someone almost falls in....Very eventful.

Laney was a big help though...trying to be all grown up and pushing her sister while being tickled by her cousin. She is getting good.





These are taken on top of the conference center...see you can see the temple in the background. Yeah...we made the tour guide a little nervous. I guess a boy fell over the railing about 5 years ago. These kids are fearless. But we could see daddy's building to the left...you can't but we could. He couldn't see us either...but we called to see if he could.

So by now, the kids are dragging and we are all pretty hungry. May I say, that we had two grandmas with us...on that had MAJOR surgery about three weaks ago, on mother who just had twins three weeks ago, and well me....who skipped breakfast...okay so I wasn't a big deal. I could have kept going but everyone else was ready for a break. So we called our daddy and met him for lunch. It always melts my heart to see the girls run to their daddy the way they do. They truly adore him! I almost cried. CAn a man asked for anything more than to be adored by 3 ladies?!!

Lunch was anticlimatic since McDonald's ran out of ice cream, but we all survived. Luckily for us there are a gazillion mcdonalds and surely we can find one that has some :)

Everyone was ready to go by then. It is hard work coralling 6 kids....us adults were exhausted!! And poor Laney and Chloe. They were about an hour past their nap time and I thought Laney was going to fall asleep mid-step. I hoped they would sleep a bit on the train....but....no such hope.

When we finally got to the train via the tracks, the train was standing room only. Not a good thing. So I began going through the trains (holding Chloe mind you, while the train was moving) to find a seat for Betty (grandma that had surgery) and Laurie (mother of twins) to sit. I can stand, after all I had eaten :) I had gone through 3 crowded trains to no avail. And I became a little disgusted at this point. There were men that watched me fight through the trains with a kid and never once offered up their seat nor did they help me through. I was so disgusted I stopped my search and began to return. At this point people go upset at me for interrupting them TWICE...heaven forbid. But two little Asian ladies saw me and said there was a chair on the second level and I should take it with my little one. I thanked them but told them about Betty and they said to hurry and go get her before the seat was taken. So on my return, I was going down some stairs when the train jolted. I fell, trying to catch myself and causing a rucus and what do you know.....NO ONE even tries to help. Luckily I saved Chloe but I tell you, my leg is feeling it today. I did get one man to peer around the corner to see what was causing the rucus, but that is all. No are you alright, can i help you, is your baby fine....nope. Disgusting isn't it. So I finally made my way back and poor Betty had to sit on the stairs while the rest of us tried to entertain the kids for the hour ride home.



Pics of everyone being such good sports, including Betty. My hat is off to her.

So to sum it up....it was an adventure for sure. I don't know if I would do it again, but the kids had fun and it was a good experience for me. It is a testement why I avoid crowded areas and why I do not want to live in Salt Lake. Most people are not very nice. Michael swears that if we had been on his bus, that never would have happened, so I have to say, he is probably better on the bus than the frontrunner.

But don't think the whole experience was a downer. It was really fun to see the kids excitement at the whole adventure because that is what it was for them....after all, how many times do you get to ride a train?

Can I plant now?

It is now approaching the end of April and I am so anxious to be PLANTING! I want color, smells, and life just blooming in my yard. Michael worked so hard last year to get us grass and it looks so great, but wouldn't it look even better with beautiful flowers all around? And lucky for me, Michael has been working like a madman to get the soil ready for the flower gardens and the veggie garden. I felt bad, a couple of weeks ago, Michael asked me where and what I was going to plant. And to completely get the jist of this story, you have to understand our beautiful relationship. You see, I am the dreamer. I see these elaborate things and want to do them. So either I begin by buying all the stuff or just starting the project. Then, my dream becomes reality and I realize that it is going to take ALOT of work, and that is where Michael steps in. He is the finisher! It really works out nicely. So back to the story...I begin to tell him the things I have seen in my mind and he just rolls his eyes. You ask why? Because he knows, that he will be the finisher....poor guy. What has he gotten himself into? Well anyways, he feels he should use this as a teaching moment for me and tells me he is not going to do anything else until I get a definite plan. WHAT!!? Me? That is supposed to be his job.

Well, that doesn't stop this dreamer! I sat down one afternoon after the girls were asleep and I did plan. I did a map of our garden and placed everything where it should be according to the directions. I was rather proud of myself and decided to extend my organization to the front of the house. Oh...grandma and grandpa you will have to come and see the finished product. I am so excited!! I am going to have a beautiful butterfly garden with aromatic smells wafting through the air. I don't know of anyone that isn't going to want to plant themselves right on my porch. I guess I should probably factor that in and put a sitting area around there. Well, that will be another project for another day. Here are a few pics to wet your whistle. But to get the full effect, you all will have to wait with the rest of us.

Imagine these growing up a vine on the side of

the house & around the door....oh beautiful!!

It's going to be wonderful...if only I could get the weather to cooperate!

Now...one last thing. Does anyone have an "in" with the weather. If so, I would like to request some spring weather so that I might begin my little heavenly abode. For right now, the dreamer must continue dreaming ... since how Mr. Frost continues to visit my garden areas. I love when they say till after the frost....with this unpredictable weather how am I supposed to know?

I am shooting for the middle of May, cross your fingers.

Does everyone have their new Fablehaven?...

I don't know if anyone has read the "Fablehaven" books, but if you haven't, you need to! They are excellent for kids and adults alike. So Brandon Mull (the author) has just come out with the third book and he had a party last night to launch it. The girls and I decided to go. I was extremely excited and Laney can't ever pass up a party! :) Plus her cousin would be attending with her! What fun. Michael couldn't join us because he had a softball game, you can imagine how sad he was :(

So about 5 o'clock-ish....we headed out for our jaunt to SLC. Normally it wouldn't phase me, I've driven that drive a gazillion times, but for some reason, lately I have been a bit sheepish about driving...I don't know why...call me crazy. But this time was a bit more scary since they decided to cover half of the freeway with orange cones, cement baracades and cut what should be 3 lanes down to 2 VERY small lanes.....COME ON!!! Get it done already....okay, enough of my ranting.

So after my fine navigation skills got us there with no delay, (may I say before my sister who had GPS, just a little pat on the back for me) we hurried to get seats to see the big show. And for those of you who attended BYU, you might know of the Garrens comedy group. Well Brandon Mull used to be apart of them while he attended that so he asked all his friends to come and perform for his part-tee and let me tell you, they are still hilarious. They even had Laney rolling! ( I don't know if she knew why...but she was laughing and that is all that counts) Laney read the story with me and liked it at the time, but I don't know if she remembered it much. Guess I will have to read it again:) So after all the fun and prizes and so forth, we all had to wait around the for the book signing. Unfortunately we got there late so I was in group G...not a good thing.

But while we waited we got to see Muriel the Witch. We tried to get the kids to pose with her but they were a bit intimidated and we had to wait in line...that seemed to be the theme for this night. So we improvised.....

Muriel Laney preparing to meet her

Us talking them into going to sit by her..unsuccessful

Then, they had a poster of a cataur (I think that is how you spell it and I am too lazy to go and check right now) where you can put your head through it....

Chloe Laney's is wigging out...sorry. I'll fix it later.

The girls thought that was fun...but again you had to wait in a long line, so I improvised again. I love photoshop!

I think I have come to a point where I don't like to go where a lot of people are. They are pushy and I am not patient enough to WAIT and WAIT. Which is why we ended up not staying for his signature. I mean really, all it is going to do is mess up my nice new book right? Unless he gets famous which I think he is on the way, but then again all those other people have his signature. Oh well...so long story short. After an hours wait, they were only on group C....and I was group G. It would be 10:00 before we got to my group. The girls were hungry, antsy and running around everywhere and I was ready to go....so off we went.

The weather may be fickle here...but it sure is b-e-a-utiful!

Chloe running amuck...bad lighting sorry again.

The Party was fun while it lasted and was a good experience...so we will mark as an excellent activity on a Friday night. Too bad the other I don't know 500 people didn't decide not to come...then it would have been even more fun :) Guess you can't always have it your way. But I did get to see a most beautiful sunset by the mountains. I tried to get a good shot, but it just doesn't do it justice...sorry. So here is my little plug....get the book and read it! They are fun.

April Showers....

I hope because April did bring the showers that May will bring her flowers! We have been lucky to recieve lots of moisture in many different forms this past month. From snow, to hail, to just plain rain. It is kind of a guessing game as to what each day will bring.

As a recap because, again, I am not so good at the daily, nor weekly update we have had a fun April. We got to spend a few days with Grandma Ro and Grandpa D at the end of March, which we all enjoyed. Then we got to go up and enjoy a relaxing weekend at the Lake for General Conference, which I loved to watch. It had such great talks that seemed to be directed to me....it just boosts that testimony that these are special men being guided and directed. But on the way up there, Chloe discovered headphones. We have tv monitors in each headrest which allows them to watch movies, but in order to hear, you need headphones. Well, usually we just put the headphones above Chloe's carseat and it is loud enough for her to hear. BUT now she thinks she is old enough to wear them on her head. It took a couple of tries to get it right. This kids is something else. She knows how to make you smile.

She was so proud when she finally figured it out.

She has also discovered that she likes bananas. But you can't cut them up, she has to eat them in chuncks, and bites are unheard of!It is much better if you just shove it all in so we get an icky mess. But the girl knows what she likes.

And since the weather has been so unpredictable, we have to take every chance we can to enjoy the warm weather. So on one of those so called "warm" days, we packed up and had a picnic in the park and enjoyed some play time. Laney wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get some pictures of her (a little excited to be outside) so Chloe gave me a tour. She was so excited, it was like a treasure hunt for her. Every corner held new suprises just waiting for her to discover.

She is getting so big...when did that happen?

Besides preparing the yard for planting, we have tried to fill the days and evenings with fun. Michael has worked so hard in the garden to get it into shape for planting. What a guy. In his spare time, he has taken to coaching the girls in his favorite sport....yes you guyed it, BASKETBALL. As you know, March madness just ended (thank goodness) I mean...oh shoot. So basketball is on everyone's minds...and the girls have really taken to playing with their daddy. I must say that Laney has pretty good form...she looks good passing the ball. Michael will have her pass him the ball while he makes the shot. And she is so cute, she always compliments him when he makes it..."Nice shot Dad" or cheers him on when he airballs it ,"OH Man!". Who wouldn't love the support?

Handsome isn't he? Look at the form...a natural I say!

Chloe is still working on her form. She loves the little skirts her aunts & Grandma

made her, and thinks it should be part of the basketball attire. She looks pretty darn cute...but I can't decide if she is a basketball player or a cheerleader...maybe she can be both!

She definitely enjoys passing more....point guard maybe?

We have also enjoyed a few walks. Michael keeps cursing the weather...he is praying for some warmth. For some reason he thinks that in April the girls shouldn't have to get all dressed up to go on a walk....did he forget where he was? Seriously though, this has been an unusally cold spring....a little warmth might be nice. Here are some shots of the girls enjoying their car.

These two are so funny in the car. They are like Thelma and Loise. They each have their duties. Chloe's duty is to man the radio...and she takes it seriously. No one touches it but her. And while Laney is driving she will put her feet up on the dash board, just chillin'. They will ride around the neighborhood just hooting and halloring! Their crazy. And Laney's job is to just drive. I don't know if she takes it quite so seriously. She is a wild one. Hopefully she gets better when in is time to get her license or she isn't getting one. Ask Grandma Ro how she drives......CRAZY! Poor Chloe sometimes has to hang on for dear life. But they have fun together.

I am so happy with how the girls play together. They really adore one another and get lonely when the other one isn't around. But they also get into lots of trouble together sometimes. It makes me laugh to see them interact...what a couple of hulligans! They get that from their father's side....lol jk. But I do know something Chloe did inherit from her uncle Jay....her amount of visits to the doctors! GEESH! They are beginning to know us by name there. And I have seen every doctor in that office at about any time of the day. Her latest is a sprained ankle. Her sister and her were jumping on a neighbor's trampoline and Laney jumped a little higher than she should have and Chloe landed on her ankle wrong. After a few x-rays and some exams, they decided it was just sprained and not fractured (whew)! So now she is wearing a splint and they advise that she stay off of it...yeah right! This kid was climbing anything climbable at the doctor's office while we waited...nothing phases her!

This is what we wear so we don't cause more damage...I didn't think they made them that small.

Then this morning, during one of her crazy ride episodes, Laney bumped her lip on her steering wheel and got a fat lip....MAN CAN WE GET A BREAK HERE!

She was such a sad girl! She didn't realize she could actually get hurt in her car!

So I have been in the crafty mood lately, much to Michael's dismay...but it is fun to be making things. I will have to post some things when I get a chance....but my sister has cashed in on the mood because she had to make a hand puppet. When she asked I thought she meant like a dog, cow, lamb...you know, easy ones like that. (she had to do a character in a book). But when she came over, she said she wanted to do "Fancy Nancy"....whom I think is adorable and we love her books, but I thought "Oh goodness" that might be stretching it. But it turned out really cute and we had a lot of fun making it. So thanks sis for letting me help you.

Here's our Fancy Nancy!

I think you can pretty much assume, life just isn't dull around here! We can spice up a life and have fun doing it!