Spring Break
Monday I taught a few piano lessons and then while the big kids were off playing with their neighborhood friends, I convinced Leisa to come with me down to our school playground so the littler kids could play together for a bit. It was such a beautiful day and so we talked and the kids played for about an hour and it was really nice. Then I made dinner and we went to soccer practice and when we got home we had dinner and family night.
Tuesday the kids all did a job (a great part of spring break is each day they did a cleaning job!) and then we went to the park to play with the Ainas and Rays. It was another beautiful day and my ear and forehead got sunburned after sitting out in the sun for a few hours. The milkshake place we had wanted to go to was closed but it was fun to be out and playing with friends. We left in time to get home for an early dinner and to get the girls to dance, after a quick stop at Bruster's for ice cream cones.
Wednesday it was rainy so it was our chill day. We cleaned, they practiced the piano and then the girls and I watched High School Musical. It was a bit cheesier than I remember but the girls liked it. Lily had a young women's activity in the afternoon and soccer was cancelled so we had a relaxing night.
Thursday was okay. We ran some errands and it was still wet so soccer was cancelled and Brandon was kind of sad. The girls and I watched High School Musical 2 and the kids just played here at home.
Friday though was a fantastic family day. I wasn't sure it was all going to work out and there was a bit of drama involved but I was able to make it happen. I got us season passes to Six Flags and since Friday was our only completely free day, we went, even though the high was only supposed to be 46 degrees. I told the kids in the morning that I had gotten passes and that we were going there and I told them to bundle up because I didn't want to hear any complaints about the cold. We got there soon after it opened and just about shut the place down eight hours later. It was a super fun day and the kind of family fun day that just fills my soul. My kids are kind of wimpy on rides (especially Lily) but there are lots of little kids rides and she only cried after two rides so that was, I suppose, good. There was no one there so we walked on just about every ride. Sometimes we had to wait while they sprayed down a ride and sent it through a cycle to dry it off but it was nice to have a lot of rides to ourselves.
Josh did take Lily and Curtis on a wooden roller coaster that none of them loved but then I convinced Curtis to come on another one with me (even though it went upside down) and he ended up really liking it so he and Josh went on it while I got us funnel cakes. It was a relaxed day and fun and there was no pressure to ride anything because we have passes so we can ride it some other time. Josh did ride the Batman one while I took the kids to the car for lunch and I was a bit disappointed I couldn't convince a kid to ride the drop tower with me (so I'll wait to go on that) but overall, it was super fun. Nobody said a word about being cold and it made it easier to wear masks all day, plus we had gloves on so we didn't have to worry about sanitizing or touching things. I would have loved to have gone on Superman but I think Josh and I will definitely go on a date sometime this summer and just do all the roller coasters by ourselves. I know Lily is more excited about the water park so I'm sure we'll be there plenty this summer too and I'm excited to have something fun to do all summer. We got Wendy's for dinner, listened to the Easter scriptures on the way home and made it just before 9pm. Brandon fell asleep in the car right before we got home so I carried him upstairs and he was dead weight. I laid him on his bed and started taking off at least his outer layer of clothing and I soon learned why no one complained about being cold. He had four pairs of socks on, a long sleeved shirt and then three sweatshirts (plus his coat, hat and gloves) and two pairs of pants. It cracked me up as I kept pulling socks off only to find more and more.
Saturday was General Conference and it was wonderfully uplifting and inspiring. I loved every minute of it! I also picked up groceries, we dyed eggs and then did our egg hunt outside. Two eggs are still out there somewhere to be found at a future date. Josh made delicious steak sandwiches for dinner and it was a great day.
Sunday morning the kids woke up and followed the jelly bean trails to find their Easter baskets. Emma and Brandon found theirs but the older two were not trying very hard so we had waffles first and then we all helped them look. Then it was more conference and it was all so wonderful. I love being a part of a world-wide church and was so impressed that each speaker and choir was from a different country all over the world in the first session. We talked to Josh's family in between sessions and I made a carrot cake and got dinner all set to eat after the last session. The resurrection roll dough didn't rise so I ended up using crescent rolls but they were fun to make and the kids loved them. It was a wonderful Easter and I love celebrating my Savior. I love him and and am so grateful for his atonement and resurrection and the hope that this gives me. I have peace in knowing family relationships can last forever and that death is not the end. We are meant for so much more and it is exciting and wonderful. I'm grateful for a living prophet to lead and guide us today and for the Spirit that teaches truth and uplifts my soul.
Monday we went to a park with Olivia and helped her out with her kids. She is where I was 11 years ago and I feel very anxious to help her. Her son hasn't really been around any kids or adults so at first he was super clingy but by the time we left, Lily was his best buddy and all the kids had helped out with him. It was super sweet and made Olivia really happy. We also got the girls' hair cut, I taught some piano lessons and we cleaned up for my parents, who came today. We had a goal to make this our spring break of service and to do something for someone else every day. It didn't quite work out that way but we did do some nice things for a few people and so it was a step in the right direction. I also had my kids each pick a dinner to help me make throughout the week and that was fun and worked out really well. All of it contributed to a great week and I am very grateful. I am also thrilled to be sending them all to school tomorrow!
Sounds like a good Spring Break!
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