Spring Break 2015

What a whirlwind week it was for me and the kids!  We traveled much of the southeast in just 9 days!  The kids had half days before break started so I picked them up from school on Friday and we headed  straight to North Carolina to visit my parents.  Ra wanted to go to the Toby Mac concert in Asheville on Sunday so we made a long weekend of it and stayed with my parents since they only live an hour away from Asheville.

I think this was the first in a very long time that I have gotten to spend my birthday with my parents!  It was so nice to be spoiled by them.  Mom made birthday cake for me and had a gift waiting when we arrived.  She also spoiled Ra with some GF apple crisp and GF brownies.  She's getting good at making special treats for him and he totally appreciates it.

It rained the first day we were there so the kids enjoyed playing games and with all the toys at Nan & Pap's house.  Sunday it was nicer so we took them to the park to play and burn off their energy before we headed to Asheville.  We had dinner at Tupelo Honey, which came recommended by a few of my friends then walked down to the Civic Center/US Cellular Center for the concert.  Ra got a Capital Kings shirt and a flag and Sis got a Toby Mac poster.

Here we are waiting for the show to start.  We were on the floor in the 11th row!  Yes, they are spoiled, but it's Christian music that they LOVE, so I say spoil them as much as possible to keep the positive influences in their lives!

I love watching my kids singing, worshiping and praising God.  We had so much fun seeing Capital Kings, Mandisa and Toby Mac.  Great show!

Capital Kings is one of Ra's FAVORITE groups.  He was really bummed they didn't play longer.

See why he loves them!

Next up was Mandisa:

Toby Mac!

Sis took a short snooze - until TMac started singing Eye On It really loud and she was quickly up and dancing with me and Ra.

Some old skool - J Train!

His new hit single - Beyond Me

The day after the concert we headed up to West Jefferson to hang out at my parents new cabin.  The kids had the BEST time.  I wasn't surprised though.  My kids are camping junkies.  They have both been camping since they were very little - I think Ra was 2 his first time and Sis was 18 months old.  They love playing in the woods and using their imaginations.  They had so much fun.  They only came inside for food or the bathroom!

Here they are shooting bad guys.  They were playing army and were using sticks for guns and grenades!

This is mom and dad's new cabin.  The cabin was known as Big Rock - the huge rock to the right is also what their cabin is built on top of - there is evidence of the rock in the basement!  They didn't blast the rock, just built on top of it.  I guess they are like the wise man who built his house upon the rock!

Sis got a little cold so Pappy offered her his sweatshirt.  I loved that he still has a WCU sweatshirt!  Brought back memories!

Finding trails in the woods.  I didn't realize how much they missed hiking.  Here at sea level is not as much fun as it is in the mountains.

Practicing his sniper skills.

I loved this cute bird house!  The cabins have quilt squares on their exteriors.  It reminded me of their version of hex signs!  Can't wait to see which one mom chooses for their cabin.

Love spending quality time with my mom!  I miss her so much.

I really didn't want to leave - neither did the kids.  The fireplace was so nice and cozy.

On the way home the skies were beautiful.  They looked like they were on fire - this picture doesn't do it justice because I wasn't able to capture the vivid colors enough.  There were oranges and reds as well as yellows.

The next day we packed up and headed for home.  We were home for less than 15 hours before loading back up and heading out on the road again.  

When we got home it was almost 90 degrees so I had them take a dip in the pool to burn off their energy while I got unpacked and some laundry done.

This time we headed to Disney World with Sissy's best friend's family!  We rented a house for all of us to stay in during our trip.  It was awesome to have so much space for 2 adults and 4 kids.  Thankfully G's brother is the same age as Ra.  They are in the same grade at school but haven't ever been in the same class.  They got along really well on the trip so it was a win-win!

When I turned around and saw these two holding hands on their way into Magic Kingdom on our first day, my heart melted.  They love (and fight) just like sisters and have a very special friendship.

Hope this isn't a glimpse of their future!

Help me Mom!

The second day we spent at Epcot.  We were there all day long and the kids had so much fun!  They did the Agent P scavenger hunt through the United Kingdom, caught a 360 glimpse of Canada, said hello to Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins, ate dinner in Germany, tasted Coke from around the world, etc.

Here they are in Innovations earning money to go to college.  Future roommates?

Saving more money for college while Ra supervises.

Epcot was a huge hit with all 4 kids!

It was also the Flower & Garden show at Epcot.  The flowers were gorgeous but my allergies didn't enjoy it!

K found her favorites!

She loves Lady & the Tramp as much as her momma does!

All made with flowers...Seriously?  How do they do it?

 Ra and G designed their car together for Test Track.  They did a great job!

Here is Sis showing off her car design.

 They loved playing inside of the aquarium and being eaten by Bruce!

 A trip to Epcot isn't complete without a stop for food and drink in Germany!

Trying to keep up with the drummers!

On Friday we headed to Hollywood Studios.  Here are Ra and A getting ready to get on the Toy Story Mania ride.  

These two were busy building twin Lego mini-figures at the Lego store in Downtown Disney after a long day in Hollywood Studios.

The kids had a blast together.  They all pin traded, hunted Hidden Mickey's, rode rides together, learned new things about countries and science, saw shows and made great memories.

The next morning, Lynn and her kids headed home early while me and my crew headed back to Hollywood Studios to ride our favorite coaster - The Rockin Roller Coaster.  We rode it twice because we got there early and it was only a 15 minute stand by wait time.  We also had an early fast pass so we rode it twice in a row!  We are adrenaline junkies and can't get enough of roller coasters.  Lynn and her kids aren't crazy about them - at least she and A aren't.  G loved Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom and probably would have ridden the Rockin' Roller Coaster with us if the line wasn't so long.

Here is my baby girl devouring a HUGE donut while we waited for Ra to ride the Tower of Terror.  She's so darn cute!  Love this girl.  She's my buddy.

I think I need a vacation from my vacation.  It was a lot to do to make it work - lots of driving, packing clothes and food, long days, little sleep, etc. but I'm so glad my kids got to experience it.  I'm also glad we have 2 months until our next adventure and that Andy will be along for that one!  I'm grateful that our kids are use to being on the go and are up for anything.  They adjust well to any environment pretty well. I love taking them on adventures and seeing them experience new things.  These two are seasoned travelers at a young age.  I hope they never stop seeking adventure!

The Good With The Bad

What a day it's been and it's only 4pm!  Oh my...Ra had his first day of SAT testing at school which means half days, no homework but sitting all morning long.  After I picked them up from school we visited the chiropractor (want him to be able to focus for his testing) and got some groceries for our spring break trip then headed home for lunch.  After the kids got a bite to eat, we decided (yes, I bribed) them to go for a long bike ride by offering Rita's as our destination.  It was beautiful outside and I wanted them to get some exercise so it was a win-win.

We were having a fabulous time until the ride home.  Sis was sugared up and ready to go on our return trip.  They were both riding on the sidewalk and she was going full speed and not looking where she was going.  I yelled "Watch Out!" just in time so she swerved and only clipped the speed limit sign instead of hitting it head on.  She got thrown from her bike and landed on her hip and elbow.  She was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs so loudly that people came out to the porches to see if we needed an ambulance or help.  It sounded worse than it was because that's how she is when she is hurt and scared.  We were still over 2 miles from home so I knew there was no way I was going to get her to ride or walk.  Most of my friends who I would call for help were at work or picking up their kids from school.  Thankfully Andy was in the office and not in a meeting.  He was her hero and came to get her and take her home.  Ra and I continued to ride home.  When I got there she had calmed down some...until I went to clean her wounds.  The one on her hip bothered her the most but was able to get everything fairly clean and bandaged with "magic cream."  

She's being spoiled with How to Train Your Dragon 2 on the sofa with her pillow, blanket and momma at her beck and call!  Hoping she heals quickly because she's got gymnastics tomorrow.  She's trying out a new gym because her gym is moving locations over spring break and it will be a 30 minute drive instead of a 15 minute drive.  Please pray that she does well tonight and tomorrow.  Her guardian angel sure does keep busy with this one!  Praising God that things ended the way they did because it could have been so much worse.  At least she's learned to always look where you are going!  

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Ra has been loving Upwards Flag Football this spring.  He's super into football.  He's always begging to throw with me or Andy.  He plays at school with the other boys during recess and he's thinking he wants to try out for the middle school team next year.

Sunday was his first game.  His team had a double header because his division only has 3 teams so each week, one of them will play twice.  He did a great job!  He was so enthusiastic, encouraging to everyone and played very well.  He caught touchdowns, scored extra points, rushed on defense, and high fived his friends whether they were successful or not.  I was so proud of how he handled himself. 

 A little pass interference?  He was upset but kept it to himself.

His buddy Connor scoring a touchdown!

2 extra points!

He's upset he's missing this weekend's game but is looking forward to the upcoming games.  I can't wait to see how he develops and grows as a player.  We love Upward sports.  It's such a great way for Ra to start playing organized sports.

Supercross comes to Daytona!

I remember going to SX at Daytona when I was a kid.  We drove to Florida with our camper in tow.  My dad's parents were with us.  We watched the race before heading to Cape Canaveral and Disney World.

Andy decided to take Ra for some father/son bonding.  They had a blast!  Thankfully Daytona is only and hour and a half away.

Andy kept sending me pics of their Trey Canard sightings.  They kept their bikes in the car pits and had to get from their trailers to the pits.  They also spotted Ryan Dungey but didn't get to snap any pics of him.  He's Ra's all time favorite but Canard is a close second.  We are huge Canard fans not only because he's a great rider, but because he loves Jesus and isn't afraid to tell the world.  I call him the Tim Tebow of the dirt bike world. Kids like mine need role models like him.  He posts his daily bible study on his social media and he always thanks God before his sponsors in his win speeches.

They had reserved seats and tix to stand on the track for a motorcross like experience.  They loved being close to the action.

Canard got tangled up with some other riders in the final, but had a great comeback.  Ra was happy that #5 pulled out the win!

Next year my cousin and her family are considering coming down for the race.  The boys can go and the girls can hang out here at our house.  I hope it happens!  Sis and my cousin's daughter are so much alike and really enjoy the time they do get to spend together.  The boys came home happy and tired.  Ra really liked going and spending the day with his dad.

New Wheels!

We do a good bit of bike riding now that we live at the beach. It's a great way to get around and we can do it year round.  Sissy's 16" bike was finally just too small.  The poor kid was exhausted after short rides because she had to pedal too much.  We were hoping she could just go right onto Ra's 20" but no luck.  I tried and tried to find a used bike for her but that didn't go well.  I had arranged to buy one via Craigslist for $20 in great shape, but in typical Craigslist fashion, they sold it privately out from under us...Ugh.  I found a great deal on this new bike.  I had to remove the training wheels and streamers and attach her new basket before she felt it wasn't "babyish" and now she loves it!

Showing off her non-babyish new bike!

Mom!  Watch me ride!  It's so much easier!

Look at my basket!  The flowers light up!

We rode to the Beaches Green Market for milk and some fruit.  She made it the whole way without any whining or fussing!  What a difference 2 inches on her wheels makes!

She loves her new bike.  We rode bikes all weekend!

Grandparents Day

Every year my kids have missed out on having their grandparents attend Grandparents Day at their school.  In Utah, Uncle Kevin and Aunt Cara were kind enough to stand in for them.  Kev & Cara are the true example of family to our kids.  They care about our kids as if they were blood.  We are so thankful for their presence in our lives but nothing is the same as your actual grandparents on Grandparents Day.

This year the stars aligned and my parents were able to attend!  Andy's parents don't travel like mine do so it was extra special that Nan and Pap could be there.

The entire school - preschool through Upper School participated in the program.  They called it Carousel of Memories.  It was a theatrical musical presentation hosted and performed by the student body.  They took the grandparents through 4 generations - 40's, 50's 60's and 70's.  During each era, they got to see how music, dance and styles of each era had changed.  They also showed some of the technological marvels of the "good old days" that made life more convenient, comfortable and fun - which paved the way for new and exciting innovations in the future.

I found this pic on the school website.  My dad is a blur in the middle, but there he is enjoying a cup of coffee at the reception before the program started.  

My dad really enjoyed the musical peformances, especially the Jazz Band.  It took him back to his Jazz Band days.  He was rather impressed with the director too.  Providence does the arts and sports right (our boys hoops team is back to back state champs among many other sport team accolades at the school) on top of their prep school curriculum.

Each grade level dressed up from an era and sang popular songs from that decade.  Ra dressed up in suspenders and a white button down shirt.  The fedora I ordered for him didn't arrive in time - something about a snow storm delaying delivery. ;)  He was disappointed because that would have made his 40's attire complete.  The 5th grade sang "Swinging On A Star" by Bing Crosby.  Sissy's grade dressed in tie die shirts for the 60's and sang their own version of "My Girl" by the Temptations but changed the words to "My God."

The teachers asked for photos of the kids' grandparents when they were young so they could do some comparisons of grandparents to students in terms of resemblance.  Here are the pics of my mom and dad - back when the world was black and white!  Lol!

Mom was such a cute little girl!

Sis thought this was me!  Ha!

My Nanny and Pappy Hershock with my dad and Aunt Beth.  Lori - I think this pic of your mom reminds me of H!

A rare moment when my dad's smile was captured!  Lol!  What a cute kid!

I'm glad they had such a good time.  Both kids had projects they worked on to celebrate their grandparents.  Sis made a poster of pictures of her grandparents and Ra had worked on a family tree and wrote a paper including his family history and background info.  They also worked on projects at school in art class, music class and with their classroom teachers.

After the program, my parents went to see Sissy's classroom and then went to Ra's classroom.  They got to meet the kids' teachers, administrators, football coach and athletic director, etc.  It was nice for them to see inside the building and meet those who are helping mold our children.  They've taken the kids to school and picked them up before, but never went inside to see what it's like.  My kids were THRILLED to actually have their grandparents there.  Hoping they can attend again in the future, but glad they got to do it while both kids are still in Lower School.

When it was all said and done, Andy and I met them at our favorite lunch spot - Angies!  It was great to catch up with all of us together before they had to drive back.  Sis was a mess as usual when they left.  I thought she was just being overly dramatic until I realized that it was real.  Poor kid.  It rips her heart out when they say goodbye.  She's the emotional child.  She wears her heart on her sleeve.  Ra is more logical and rational.  He knows it has to happen and he'll see them again.  They see the world through such different lenses.  As much as it kills me to see her so upset, I'm grateful she has people in her lives who she loves so much and love her in return.

Thanks mom and dad for always being there for my kids!  I'm so thankful they have you in their lives and know they can depend on you.  The two of you have been the constant in their lives.  Andy and I are eternally grateful for your presence, interest and love you show them.  If our kids bless us with grandkids, you've done a great job showing us how to enjoy them!

The Good Life

Today was an example of a wonderful day. Got Ra and his science project to school safely - no tragedies to the project in the car or on the way into the gym to get set up. Whew!  I'm so glad his cardboard box arcade project is finished! Of course we forgot to snap a pic of it!  It was a clever vertical maze that he created.

After I got back I cleaned and did some laundry then went for a run. The weather was too glorious not to take advantage of it with some outdoor exercise. 

Then I met Andy to finalize our living trust and wills. Nothing like figuring out what you want to have happen to you when you die!  Afterwards, Andy took me on a lunch date. We hit up our favorite sub shop and both went out on a limb and got today's special instead of our usual favorites. 

Today's special was called The Duke. It was smoked turkey and pork along w BBQ Fritos. Not bad, but we both like our usual a little better. 

After lunch I decided to hit the beach. It's supposed to rain tomorrow and temps are going to drop to the 50's. Yuck!  Just in time for my parents to arrive. Bummer!  

Getting my daily requirement of vitamin D at my favorite place. 77 and sun with a light breeze to keep me from sweating. 

I'm hoping that tomorrow's celebration of Grandparents Day at school makes it beautiful because the weather certainly isn't going to help. We are so excited that my parents can attend. This is their last chance for Ra to honor his Grandparents publically at school. Can you believe it's his last year of elementary school?  He's had 5 other Grandparents Day without any grandparents around. Thankfully Uncle Kev & Aunt Cara substituted for Ra a few times in Utah.

We've got a crazy busy schedule from tonight through Sunday so I'm enjoying this moment without any distractions. 

Gonna crack open my book!  Stay warm my northern friends!

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!

Sis and the rest of 1st grade went to Sweet Pete's to celebrate Dr Seuss. SP's is like a real life Wonka factory. 

The kids got the scoop on the history of the new building. The lighting fixtures in there are incredible as are all the decorations and art. 

BFFs!

Playing a game of Memory on the front porch. 

Reading the Bartholomew and the Oobleck story. 

Making their own version of Oobleck. I got the recipe. Can't wait to try it with the kids at home!

Oobleck experiments 

Here's Pete (aka Willy Wonka) showing the kids how to make taffy. 

Everyone got their own piece of taffy to cut and wrap in small pieces to take home. 

One of these days I'm gonna try out their new cafe. The menu looks so yummy. We love that Sweet Pete's offers gluten free treats and that he avoids artificial colors and flavors in their own treats.  

This Just Happened

Oh my goodness!  I'm so proud of my little gymnast. I signed her up for a tumbling clinic at the gym yesterday and this is what happened!

In less than 10 minutes she went from struggling to put the two skills together to being able to do it on the floor instead of the tumble track!  The best part is Ms. Cayln was the coach who got her to do it.  She's one of the tougher coaches at the gym who Sis is intimidated by at practice.  I've been telling her how much Cayln knows her tumbling and can break down skills and get gymnasts to do things they hadn't done before.  I've been trying to get Sis to agree to a private lesson with her, but she's not yet interested.  At least at the tumbling clinic she got to work on some advanced skills with some of her teammates while not having to do all the conditioning stuff.  

She struggled with her front handspring yesterday but I was so proud of her for going back to her coach to try again even after the clinic was over.  She's starting to show signs of maturity and a desire to improve her skills in a way I haven't seen before this month.  I think this is her passion, at least for now.  Not sure how long it will last, but she's all in!  I haven't heard "I want to quit" or "I don't like gymnastics" like I did before her meets.  All that anxiety seems to have passed.  She is also forming better relationships with the coaches who she's struggled to connect with because of their tough demeanor.  

She's starting to see the benefits of all her hard work - and it's hanging on her wall as a reminder every day!