This sign says it all

We're headed to Seaside today. Be back in a week...

Spokane Day 2

This morning we got up and decided to walk a few blocks to the mall, and then across the street to the Riverfront Park. The mall was okay. The kids were bored, so we didn't stay long.
We walked across the street and found these runners!

Then they spotted the gondola ride, and that was it! We decided the best thing to do was to get a day pass, and do everything unlimited (since we did have the whole day to kill). After getting off the gondola, I asked Colton to hold my purse while I put sunblock on Kennedy. He thought it would be a great idea to throw my purse to Whitley, who was NOT ready to catch it. Everything in it fell out. My camera lens broke, and my cell phone was laying there in 4 pieces. NOT HAPPY! Luckily I was able to put my phone back together, but my camera was a total loss.

After riding the carnival rides to our hearts content, we mini golfed, and then played a little bit on "the big red wagon".

Landon met up with us after his meetings, and we sat and watched the kids ride this carousel a thousand times. (He took these pics with his phone)
Then it was off to dinner at PF Changs (another one of my favs). It did not disappoint.

Spokane Day 1

We got here late last night, after cleaning and doing laundry all day so that we were ready to go to the beach on Friday. I cannot leave town with a dirty house. It's just so much nicer to come home to a clean house! My friend Lisa had told me about a zoo in Spokane that her son had gone to, so we decided to check it out. It was called Cat Tales, and it only had big cats.

It really reminded me of "Out of Africa" in AZ. We were able to get really up close and personal with the tigers. Colton and Whitley were even able to feed this huge male tiger names Ali. Kennedy wasn't old enough, and boy was she mad. She was happy with her little stuffed tiger she got, which she names Oli after the tiger that the kids fed.

We were there for about 3 hours before it started to rain. We decided to leave and get some lunch, and do a little shopping. I try to take advantage of the stores whenever I can! For dinner we went to one of my favorite places. The Old Spaghetti Factory. I've been eating here since I was young, and it never disappoints!

The Davenport

This is the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, WA. This is where I will be sleeping like a princess for the next 3 nights! Okay so we do have the kids with us, so princess is maybe a stretch, but this is definitely one of the nicest hotels we ever been in.

Landon has some meetings here this week and any chance we have to get out of the Moe Hole, we take. The kids and I are going to the zoo tomorrow, and then who know what. Maybe the mall!!!

ARRR Pirates

Moses Lake actually has a triple A baseball team. The Pirates. We've been talking about going to a game all summer, and realized that last night was their last home game. We took a blanket and our camping chairs and set up along the 3rd base line. The kids had a blast. They have all kinds of different activities that they let the kids doing in between innings. First they had a hula hoop relay, then they raced the pirate around the bases, and last but not least, they sang "take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. The weather was beautiful, and we had a good time. I wish we would've gone to a few more games this season.

Lee Theater

The kids have been wanting to see Walle since it came out. A girl at Landon's work had told him about this place in Ephrata (Mayberry) where the theaters have tables, and you can order pizza and eat during the movie. We thought the kids would have fun watching Walle this way, so we've been waiting until we had the time to do it. Well tonight we finally had time. It was this tiny little theater with only three movies playing. The theater that was showing Walle, didn't have tables, but we could still order and eat pizza in there. We were sort of bummed since the whole reason was to eat at the tables while we watched the movie, but we ordered pizza anyway. These pictures don't do the theater it's justice. The guy that was running the ticket counter, also came in and started the movie. It was a one man operation!

Plain old Wednesday

We had a very eventful day today. It's amazing how you can entertain yourselves when you're forced to get creative! Inspired by my friend Liz, the girls and I made some yummy strawberry freezer jam. Liz taught me how to do this years ago, but I had forgotten about it. Thanks again Liz, the jam is to die for!

After the jam was done, and we were sick to our stomachs, we went out in the little teeny tiny backyard for some slip n slidin'. I knew Kennedy would love it, but I didn't know if Colton would be to "old" for it. As you can see, he had as much fun as the girls did.

Just as we were getting started, Landon got home from AZ, and the kids talked him into getting in on the action. All in all, it was a pretty good day for just a plain old Wednesday.

Let the fun begin

This is the main reason we decided to have the rest of our stuff moved up here. There are a ton of fun places to go camping all around here, and we're missing it! Also, there's an ORV (off road vehicle) park about 2 miles from our house! The kids are dying to get on their quads! Everything will be delivered this weekend, and we can't wait!

Arizona Dreamin'

Landon left for Arizona yesterday. We are finally moving the rest of our belongings to Washington, so he went to get things ready. I tried my best to get him to let us all come along. I guess he didn't think it was worth the extra 3 grand. Whatever!!!

I took the kids to church, then had a lazy, relaxing Sunday afternoon. Today we went to the pool again. Colton is starting to think that he doesn't want to go swimming anymore. I had to kindly remind him that that is the only freakin' thing to do here this summer. He decided he would stay home instead. I was really at a parenting crossroad this morning. Do I just make him go because I'm in charge, or do I let him stay home alone and see how it goes. I decided to let him just stay home, and hope he'd change his mind for next time. I made sure that his time at home would be well spent, and not fun at all, and gave him a list a mile long of jobs he could do while we were gone. Just as we were getting ready to walk out the door, he came down the stairs in his swimsuit and said he'd changed his mind.

So we all went swimming and here's big shocker-Colton had fun!! When we got home we all worked on cleaning out the garage (which was a pit) since Colton was suppose to do it while we were gone. I'm starting to see that as he gets older, there will be more and more of these little power struggles. I sure hope I can continue to win. (At least, I think I won. I mean, all I wanted was for him to go swimming. Of course, he did get out of working all day-okay, maybe he won???)

Spring Chicken

Today is the big man's birthday. 36, but he's still a "spring chicken" to me.

Landon woke up extra early this morning, and started asking for his presents right away. I had to make him wait until the kids got up to open them. I've never seen him so excited for his presents before. I think he thought there was really something special this year! Kennedy had wrapped her own gift a few days ago, and has been trying to get him to open it ever since. She had attached one of her soccer pictures to the front. When he finally opened it, it was a half drunk water bottle with a little white bow tied to it. Too funny!

The kids made him a special crown to wear. I'm not sure what the mean face is about in this picture, but it was better than the "fairy" one he pulled!

Here are a few reasons I love this man...

1-He's the best dad EVER. It helps when you're still a kid at heart yourself. This morning, Kennedy had tied some ribbon around his neck like a collar, and made him crawl around being her dog.

2-He giggles! I mean Pillsbury dough boy giggles. If you touch him tummy, he just can't help himself. It's the funniest thing.

3-I love his sense of humor. I know I've said it before, but we really do laugh together every single day.

4-He's a hard worker. His parents taught him at an early age the value of hard work and it shows. He goes into work before the sun is up, and alot of times doesn't come home until late that night. He stays until he's finished working. It's very important to him (and me) that the kids learn to be hard workers.

5-He always puts my needs before his own. He is, right now, in the other room trying to get me the new iPhone. I keep telling him it's his birthday, but he knows I need a new phone ( and really, I'd love the new iPhone, so I'm not really trying to hard to stop him)

6-He honors his priesthood.

7-He's honest. I'm pretty sure he has never lied to me. First off, he's a terrible liar. He's tried to pull a few things over on me, and not once has he been successful. I know that I can trust whatever he tells me. Which has been nice, since he's traveled alot in our marriage. I never wonder what he's doing, or who he's with. If he ever has free time on a trip, I know he's going to be in his hotel room on the phone with me!

8-He's very careful. Early on in our marriage I didn't' fully understand or appreciate this quality in him. I'm more of a fly by the seat of your pants, and see what happens kind of person. Landon like to take his time with decisions, and make sure that we're making the right one. Sometimes this can be frustrating, but in the end, it's always beneficial. I can't tell you how many times my rash decision would have screwed us, but because he wouldn't make a move until he felt comfortable with it, we were better of.

9-His voice. How can I have a list without his voice. I remember how low it use to sound to me when we first met. I'm pretty use to it, but every once in a while he'll mess around and see how low it can actually get. It always sends a little chill down my spine! I think sometimes he even impresses himself.

10-I love that he's mine for all eternity! How lucky I was to find him so early in my life. I feel like we've grown up together. We have been through all kinds of trials, and through it all our marriage is stronger than ever! I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. He's my rock. I love you Lan. Happy Birthday

Surfin' in the Moe Hole

Here are just a few highlights of my kids surfing and boogie boarding on the flowrider this week. Colton and Whitley finally tried to stand up! It is much harder than it looks. I was really proud of them though. They would wipe out and get right back in line to try it again. Kennedy isn't tall enough to try it standing, but she's just happy riding the boogie board!

Landon has been heading up a huge RIF (reduction in force) at his company this week. They let go around 200 hundred people. It's a huge job, and he's been working non-stop on it for about 2 weeks. It's been really stressful on him. It's really hard to tell someone they no longer have a job-especially in this economy! However, as far as Landon is concerned, it's been a great opportunity to go through this big of a RIF. I know he's learned a ton, and the more he knows and understands HR, the better!