Spring Busy

Our spring break was the week before Easter and it was anything but a break. Although, it was all wonderful!

The first few days we went to Phoenix and stayed with my parents. While there we went to a big Renaissance Festival held there every year. We ate, threw knives, road rides (all powered by hand), and saw some joisting.

On Monday we headed for Disneyland in California - about an 8 hour drive. We went with friends and had a great time. The weather was perfect. We spent one day at Knott's Berry Farm where they have many major roller coasters. And after each one, Noah would yell, "That... was ... awesome!" Dave and I just felt like we had been beat to a pulp, but we all enjoyed it. Noah was such a trooper at the Magic Kingdom because the family we went with has a tradition of getting pictures with as many characters as they can find - both of which Noah cannot stand (characters and pictures). He hung in there however. Here is is at a character dinner, where there are lots of characters in one place that come mess with you while you are eating.

We were back home for Good Friday services and Easter. Here is the only picture I took on Easter (and I call myself a scrapbooker!?) It was a quiet day - Dave's parents came over and you know the spread was good because I was cooking - hahaha! We had build-your-own-sandwiches and potato chips out on our back patio. We were all happy to be lounging outside. I was happy to not cook. Dave was happy we had his favorite food. Noah fell asleep at about 4pm - exhausted from the previous week - and we could not wake him. So Dave and I got to catch up on all the Young and Restless we had recorded while we were on vacation. All-in-all, it was a very good day.

Where did it go?

March came and went in the blink of an eye. Noah chose a mad science theme for his birthday this year and we had a wonderful time performing experiments, building jitterbugs and marshmallow towers, exploding soda, making ice cream and being crazy. Thanks goodness, once again, we had lots of people who really helped us pull it together - my mom, Dave's parents and some friends. Here we all are in our lab coats creating wonderful messes!

This is kind of a sad year for Monica. I think Noah has outgrown the over-the-top theme parties that we have been putting together. Because a few days before the party this year, he asked me, "Mom, will there be any time to just play?" To which I replied, "Of course not. We have 12 experiments to do and ice cream to make and badges and bags to decorate and games to play and..." I guess it's not all about me and what I want. Dave is very grateful that I have finally learned that lesson and he will no longer have to stay up at night cutting out green blobs or drawing heiroglyphics on rolls of paper or making paper mache dinosaur eggs. I will miss it very much, however.

Anybody have a birthday coming up?

Noah has really gotten interested in basketball lately, so we got him a basketball hoop so he can play at home.

We also went to dinner with Grammy and Pop at Flemings (per Noah's request). Flemings is a fancy steak and seafood restaurant where Noah loves their crab legs - he can taste the difference between Flemings and Red Lobster. He's a kid after Pop's heart - he has extravagent tastes!

She makes us laugh

I had to share these funny pictures of Diamond. She loves to watch tv with us. She does stuff every day to make us laugh (and make us crazy).

I miss the derby!

So We recently took Noah and his friend Jesus to the Monster Truck Jam at the Tucson Convention Center. They both thought it was awesome, but I really miss the demolition derby/truck shows in Logan. They are so much more exciting. Ten minutes (much less two hours!) of trucks with giant wheels squashing other trucks and cars goes a long way! And the noise and exhaust!! I never appreciated the open air setting of the Logan shows like I should have. I sure hope that our visit there this summer coincides with a demo derby - I think I'll be checking the dates now and plan our trip around it.

I also had the pleasure of taking two handsome dates to the Mother/son dance at school. Here are Noah and Jesus dressed in their finest.