Going to church

Morning is low key as we usually eat pancakes and lounge around in pajamas. With church being at noon, why rush it? Kids still get up by 7am, but we are in good spirits.

10 o'clock comes by, kids are happily throwing around balls and chasing Isaac. Jared and I are enjoying a little down time with nothing to do but relax!

10:30 Lay Isaac down for his power nap

11 o'clock creeps up We need to start getting ready!

11:15 Throw clothes onto the beds, start to "encourage" the boys to get dressed.

11:25 Are you done getting ready boys???? I struggle to finish curling my hair and finding jewelry.

11:30 Hair gel, shoes on, ties straightened.

11:40 Fight breaks out between Austin and Wesley. Empty threats that the boys will stay at home. No one takes the blame for whatever insignificant thing it was. Big tears for Austin.

11:45 Make PB & J sandwiches for "lunch" (to be eaten in the car or during sacrament!) Isaac needs to be woken up!!!!

11:48 The yelling begins. "Vamos Chicos!!"

11:50 Isaac gets whisked off into the car, sleep marks still on his face while I try to button up a shirt on him while sitting in the front seat.

11:55 In the car trying to stuff in diapers and toys into the church bag. Did I curl my eyelashes? Do the dogs have enough water? Did I bring my scriptures? Is there water in the sippy?

12:05 We are always 5 minutes late. Walk in during the opening song. Find a bench that hasn't been reserved yet and quietly take a seat while singing along.

Why do some Sunday's feel like such a circus act?

La cabana

Wesley had two weeks of Spring Break, so we decided to take the latter week and go up to Pinetop, AZ with our good friends Aleesha and Armando Bake. With parent teacher conferences at my school, my classes were cut short and I only had to find a sub for one afternoon. Sweet timing!

Up the mountain we drove, plenty of dry food and warm clothing in tow. We made a special stop at Jared's favorite green burro joint, "The Burger House" in Globe, AZ. The Bakes met us up there, where we then caravaned up to Pinetop and hit up the local Wal-Mart to buy our food. It was fun preparing meals together as families, and especially having kids that are the same age to play with.

The cabin had a small loft with two beds and one queen bed downstairs. With 10 of us, it was a cozy fit. We ate steaks from the frying pan with sauteed zucchini. Breakfast consisted of pancakes, bacon, eggs and biscuits. The second night we cooked up Jared's famous spicy spaghetti over at his parents house and they made german chocolate cake for dessert. The kitchen was super tiny, and with those many boys running around (and toddlers toddling), we really could imagine what the pioneers went though when they all lived in one roomed cabins.

Sleeping was a whole other story. The first night us adults stayed up late playing Phase 10. By the second night, we were so sleep deprived that we hit the sack by 9:30! It's hard for the kids to sleep soundly in a foreign bed, and it's even harder when there are extra kids that make noises, need water, need to go potty, cry, etc. Isaac was no exception. He spiked a fever from teething at midnight the first night! Poor baby was upstairs in the loft in his pack 'n play. So, we had to take it down, soothe him, run to the pharmacy, give him a bath, etc all in the wee hours of the morning. The minute we got him settled in, another child woke up needing something else! Jared and I just ended up sleeping on the floor to give our boys a quiet rest in the bed. Up by 6am.

The weather was blue skies and crisp air. There were beautiful wild flowers along the highways and the climate changed from 38 degrees to 75 degrees in the valley.

The snow was slushy and icy, so not ideal for snowmen or angels. The boys were disapointed, but still got in a few rides up and down the hill. I was nervous to go down the sled! It'd been years. After one ride, I headed back to the van where the toddlers and mama's hung out.

Unpacking from road trips is probably the worst part. Messy cars, dirty laundry, restless kids bouncing around the walls, Isaac screaming in his carseat to get out, and frazzled parents thinking of all the things that need to be cleaned out! The fun didn't end there though b/c the boys were whisked away to Prescott with Grandpa Lowe and Tia Olga for an overnight sleepover before they go back to Mexico. Funny thing, I miss them already.

Jared's Hand

My dad loves his "wonderful son-in-law."

He gifted Jared some very thoughtful things tonight in celebration of a Phase II test.
In my dad's own eloquent words:

Jared, like the solid wood tray, is:

-solid in his manner
-durable
-long lasting
-in good order
-stable
-of good quality
-genuine

The hand of Jared:

-provides leadership to all family members
-presents kindness with balance
-combines firmness with flexibility
-points the way to compassion and wisdom
-gives encouragement
-disciplines with caring
-gives generously
-knows restraint
-values harmony in the home and in the land

After a warm embrace, we all got kinda choked up. My dad is heading back to live with his wife Olga in Mexico permanently. We all love Grandpa Lowe and all his love he freely gives and shows.

He looked Austin in the eyes and said, "Yo te amo. Dia y noche. Te amo." So sweet.