all about Jeff

Today is Jeff's birthday and I haven't posted about Father's day so this post is all about Him. In fact saturday night I had to remind him his birthday was coming up. He's not anti-aging or anything it's just not a huge deal for him. On father's day I let him sleep in and I was going to make breakfast in bed but just as I was getting his plate ready to take upstairs he came down so he had breakfast on the couch. I got him (and Levi) matching ties. I know it's kinda cheesy, but I have to take advantage cuz he won't be going along with the whole Sadie Hawkins, dress like dad for many more Father's days. I couldn't resist how cute of the idea and it really was cute in person. The ward went all out and during the last 15 min. of church the men went in the cultural hall to eat pies, receive and wear "king of the day" crowns (thanks primary), and bow ties made of M&M bags.
Today Jeff worked so to me that's always a buzz kill when you have to work on your birthday, but since b-days are just another day to him he didn't mind so much. He of course got lots of phone calls, new roller blades (he ordered them online) and didn't have anything to open from us (another buzz kill in my book. I want presents. I wanna open something. I sound like a spoiled brat now. Okay it doesn't have to be much just unwrapping something is exciting). He did get great literary books from my mom that he requested, and his family comes Wednesday night. We made him a cake and for fhe we looked at his baby book, told stories (he informed me that his nickname in scouts was JD: Juvenile Delinquent. mmm. nice to know now and not 9 years ago when we were dating), and then we started working on the rock wall we're putting up in our house. I'm glad he's had some good days recently. I think he deserves it. We adore him. We wish he never left for work and we run to the door when he comes home from work.
made him this too.

Levi eating his cake and looks like he's wondering "what's so fascinating about eating cake." yeah, we gave him a haircut last night.

little mermaid

The night before we left to Las Vegas to fly home, we went to see the production of Little Mermaid at the Tuachan Theatre in St. George. If you live anywhere in Utah, Nevada, or CA you must see it. One of the neat things is that it's an outdoor theatre. The sets, costumes, and real water were ahh-mazing. Seriously, real water filled the entire stage. It's late at night but Sydney and other small children were fascinated the entire time even though it was 11:30 pm when it ended. Of course two minutes in the car, Sydney had fallen fast asleep.


Sydney made me stand w/ her and Prince Eric and Ariel

The next day we drove to Vegas and stayed the night there before our flight left the next morning. We tried to see the pirate show at treasure island but it closed due to winds, we saw the Bellagio fountains and enjoyed that while standing next to some piligs. I think it was 1 man w/ 4 wives, and we went swimming and shopping. At 8:30pm the sun had set and it was 103 degrees. It felt so nice! I love warm weather. The two flights home were exhausting but it would be even if I were by myself. Levi had 5 dirty diapers that day (that's never happened before), Jordyn cried off and on the whole time wishing we could go back to Gammie and Grandpa's house, and Sydney was an angel so 1 out of 3 is not too bad :) I always enjoy the comments and stares when people see me travel w/ 3 young kids.

I can pretend it's Paris, right?

The pirates-the girls made me stand w/ them too.

Sew fun

We've done more four wheeling, more swimming, more playing, more riding horses, more cow feeding, and I've managed to squeeze some time to actually sew some projects. I rarely sew because I just find it impossible w/ 3 kids by my side wanting to "help." Believe me, I've tried and nothing gets done and I end up frustrated. But since I'm at my mom's house, I can actually sew during the day while the girls are outside or with my parents and they've been going to bed early w/ all the activities throughout the day. Plus, I have my mom to lead me in the right direction and ask questions. Sewing is complex in many ways. I've learned it takes a special sense of visualization that I often lack. Well I wanted to make the girls each a blanket and an apron. I'm stoked w/ how the aprons turned out, mostly because they're reversible and I love the ball thingies I put on them.Yes, I've been wanting to make these silk flower clips. I love them, because they're quick and easy and they don't have to be perfect. Does that make me a sloppy, lazy crafter?....um...hmmm mmm.

The purple ones are one apron.

The pink ones are another apron, reversible.




Some more pictures of what we've been up to.
climbing trees
climbing poles. Levi is a psycho climber just like Sydney. He climbed to the top of the corral to watch his sisters ride horses.
Jordyn riding
Sydney rode the horse by herself and took control and led the horse where she wanted him to go.
Riding the 4 wheelers to the cows and feeding them was a evening ritual the girls looked forward to. We've had such a wonderful trip in so many ways. But we're happy to be going home and being together as a family again. We hope to do some fun, new things in Alaska this summer. As you know, I'll keep you posted on those things because I'm a freak like that.

Misc. part 1

1. Going on dates with gammie and grandpa
Sydney got this rapunzel costume so when it was Jordyn's turn for a date she wanted the same thing.
Jordyn

2. The Aquatic Center in Cedar City.
We got a month pass and go every chance we get.

3. Baseball in the front yard

Levi climbed on this mini motorcycle when we took a walk. The kids love playing outside. Why wouldn't they the weather has been awesome...better than what we're use to in AK.

4. Canyoneering
Jeff went on an all-day canyoneering adventure yesterday. It looked like something up my alley too. Lots of repelling, hiking, traversing in water and the next picture is "chimney(ing)."

5. Four Wheeling
We use my parent's four wheels alot. We use them to drive to the park, cattle corals to feed the cows, and out to dinner like in these photos. The girls love to do "rollercoasters" i.e. go on bumps and hills.

National Parks

Wednesday and Thurday we went to Bryce Canyon National Park and Zions National Park. On Wednesday we took the kids to Bryce Canyon. I almost felt like I was home for a second when we slammed on the brakes for several deer in the street. Bryce Canyon was amazing. We were in awe of the millions of hoodoos we saw and the thousands of years it took to create such a magnificent sight. We would have loved to hike around, but with no jogging stroller and backpack it was impossible to achieve such a task w/ Levi. Levi was only interested in picking up sticks and rocks and he usually walks in the opposite direction of the rest of us. We spent several hours there walking around and watching a movie they had available for toursists.

The next day my parents watched the kids while Jeff and I drove to Zions National Park and took a hike to Angels Landing. It's a 5.5 mile (round trip) hike up a steep mountain. You ascend 1400 feet. They call it Angels Landing because one of the first orginal explorers said that the only way to get up this peak was for an angel to land on it. Well 90 years later there is a great trail with handrails in some parts for the steep/dangerous parts of the hike. It's not a hike for people who are afraid of heights. Once at the summit, we had a breath taking view of the entire canyon. It was a great date. We were looking forward to going tubing down the river after this hike, but unfortunately the waters were still very high and they weren't allowing people to tube down the river so we went home early.
We're hiking up clear to the top?? That looks more than 2.5 miles.

Takin' a breather
I'll just rock climb to the top.
Seriously, you're freaking me out. That's way too close to the edge.
Yes, we made it. We hiked up and down in 2 hr. 45 min.
Friday we spent most the day at Sand Hollow lake. Sydney and Jordyn loved tubing and watching Jeff and I ski. Sydney got up skiing on her first try, but when she fell she got a rope burn and didn't try again. It's always a good day when were out on the boat and waterskiing. Will post pictures when I get home. Tomorrow Jeff comes home and we stay here for another few weeks.


I love this picture of two sisters looking at each other laughing and having a blast.

California trip

When we visit the lower 48 we must visit Utah and California to see family. This trip we wanted to take the kids to Disneyland and my mom thought this would be a great opportunity to go with us and my sister Brooke and her family. It's hard to get the 12 of us together and with my sister's family possibly moving further away because her husband will be in med school in a year who knows when we'll all be able to do a fun vacation together. This past Tuesday we headed in two cars to California. My sister and I road in the same car w/ 5 kids. We heard "how long have we been in the car?" more times than I can count. It avereaged once every 20 minutes. With a bag of peanut butter M&Ms nearby, my sister and I talked the whole way while eating those addictive yummy morsels and threw a few to the kids too.

Wenesday we went to Disneyland all day long. It wasn't a busy day so we went on all the rides we wanted to. All the kids were 40 inches or taller so we did all the adult rides as well. I wasn't sure if Jordyn would like the fast rides, but she loved them so much she begged for more sometimes thru tears. The kids favorite rides were Finding Nemo and Space Mtn. Levi also enjoyed all the rides he could go on: It's a small world, pirates of the carribean, carosal, snow white, and others. Thankfully he did get some sleep in a stroller. We were at Disneyland for 12 hours and with 7 kids we only lost 2 kids throughout the whole day. Some highlights: Brooke talking spanish to a couple that spoke portugeuse, mom falling and hurting her knee becuase we were trying to take a picture while jumping, watching people's reactions to Matt's beard, Rowan getting lost, Star Wars ride that brooke talked her way into going on, minimal wait for rides, and running on as many rides 15 minutes before the park closed. It was so great to all be together and for the cousins to hang out with.
Sydney loved riding the roller coasters w/ her cousins.


Jordyn was just tall enough to ride the "roller casters." She rode all of them and would've loved ride them over and over again.

The whole crew in the morning.
Mom and dad with 7 of their grandkids.




Thursday--I thought the kids would sleep in but they didn't. We stayed at Luisa and Marc's house in La Habra. We woke up and headed to Fountain Valley to see my dad and brothers Ryan and Danny. We swam and hung out for awhile and headed to Huntington Beach to play in the sand and water. We also visited my brother's gravesite which I don't do often but still very special to me. While there the girls learned quite a bit about cemeteries, death, and much more. That evening we drove back to La Habra and went swimming with all Jeff's siblings minus Chris, parents, and grandparents and more of the girls cousins (Jake-3, Luke-3, Matt-1 1/2, and new baby Wes). We celebrated Tyler's 16th birthday and had fun splashing around in the pool.
Grandpa Levin aka Zeda and kids
Brooke, Danny, Me, and Ryan having some sibling fun
Huntington Beach


All the cousins together

Friday--My parents picked us up and we drove to San Diego to go to Seaworld. We saw lots of shows and exhibits and went on the Atlantis and River rapid ride. The kids loved getting drenched on those rides and the Shamu show. They sat in the "soak zone." Jordyn got lost again. She was found hiding behind a trash can. When a worker asked if her name was Jordyn, she said it wasn't. That's the difference between a 3 year old getting lost as opposed to a 6 year old (rowan) who told a worker she was lost and needed help. Highlights of today: all day dining pass that Brooke and I took advantage of, staying the night at a hotel, and visiting Kevin and Lisa at Campland. Another fun day of seeing the kids excitement and spending time together.
Levi pointing to a shark.


Watching the Shamu show sitting in the Soak Zone.
Saturday--We said our goodbyes and our family headed to a Greek Orthodox baptism for 2 second cousins while my parents and sister's family drove back to Utah. That evening we hung out at the Jun's house and all Jeff's family were able to hang out, talk, and I think a game was squeezed in their too.
Playing with Aunt Luisa
Baby Wes--just a few days old. Next time we see him, he'll be so much bigger.
Sydney giving lovies to baby Wes.
Sunday--went to church and drove back to Utah.

Although it was a jam packed 5 days, it was so much fun. It was fun for us to visit our family and see our kids get to know their cousins better. It was fun for our kids to go to the Happiest Place on Earth with their cousins and grandparents and for them to play with their cousins on both sides. It was 5 days with lots of laughter, little sleep, and countless memories. \