April Fools!!!

I always say I'm going to do something funny on April Fools day and I never do, so this year I did this:

It did get me a few phone calls from neighbors, but I think the crazy snow storm was the biggest joke of the day.

Let's not forget Tanner's valiant efforts though. He created this piece of work on Gavin's bedroom door late the night before April 1st.

He was so excited about this and had been telling JL and I about it for days. He had seen this done on America's Funniest Videos. I am happy to report that the Seran Wrap worked and Gavin came up laughing about it.

Have YOU Ever Wanted Somthing So Bad???

Tanner had a field trip for cub scouts to go roller skating a few weeks back. Unfortunately we were out of town and he missed it. He was quickly reminded about this when we went to Pack Meeting and all of the boys got their roller skating loop but him. He started to cry. I FELT SO BAD!!! So I told him that we would all go the next day.

Now, we've been to Classic a handful of times, but my kids have never roller skated. They always take their scooters and they are happy with that. But I told Tanner that in order for him to earn his loop, he would have to skate and not scooter. He was good with that.

I was a little skeptical because I know that skating takes some serious coordination. I was pep talking him on the way over because I knew that he wouldn't be able to just run off and skate on his first attempt. I told him that I would help him and stay with him. I turned the other kids loose with their scooters, and Tanner and I began to skate.

He fell over and over and was landing in positions that would have killed me. He kept saying, "For crying out loud." But every time he fell, he would get himself back up and try again. I kept encouraging him and telling him that I was happy that he was not giving up.

During this falling stage, I decided that it might be wise for me to take off my roller skates, because more than once, when Tanner would start to fall, he would grab my shirt or pants. I didn't want to take a tumble myself. I sat down on the bench and was unlacing my skates, and I turned to look at Tanner (sitting on the bench next to me) and he had his arms folded, his eyes closed and his head bowed. I KNEW he was saying a prayer. And I had to turn my head away to keep from crying. I thought it was so sweet!

I didn't say anything to him about it at that moment. We went back and practiced some more. He fell, got back up and just kept trying. After a while, he became more and more comfortable. He started getting braver and going faster. He told me he wanted to stay until he could go off of the jumps!!! At that point, I asked him if he had said a prayer. He told me that he had. I asked him what he said. He told me that he asked Heavenly Father to help him be able to learn to skate and that he wouldn't get hurt.

By the end of the night, Tanner was doing awesome!! He did not want to leave the place!!! The other kids were more than ready to go. We had been there for over 2 hours! I was so proud of him for NOT giving up, for doing something that was hard, and for teaching me that it's okay to pray ANYWHERE!!!

It was one of those awesome parenting days when you realize that all the lessons you're TRYING to teach your kids, may actually be working!

Bienvenido a Miami!

JL was asked to go on a last minute trip to Miami for 2 weeks, and since the kids were off track, I got to go on a last minute trip too!

I started my trip out in Ponte Verdra Beach where my aunt and uncle live. They moved there a few years ago and I haven't had a chance to see their new house. I flew into Jacksonville, FL and was greeted by my fabulous Aunt Tracy.

They have the most beautiful guest suite at their home. She even had mints and told me that she did evening turn down for her guests!!

I spent a few days with them and we had such a great time hanging out and seeing the sights! Tracy took me shopping at all her favorite beach boutiques. We attended afternoon tea at a local restaurant, did more shopping, and had the yummiest Gelato at a little place near the beach.

We also spent a day at the beach. When we first got to the beach, the tide was low, so we looked for shark teeth. I had never done it before and was surprised to find some of my own!!

It took a bit of getting use to, but it was a lot of fun. We relaxed, read magazines and I even took a little jog along the beach. I wish I could do that more often!!

Did I mention that I love the ocean?

After several fun filled days of Ponte Verdra, I headed south (on a tiny prop plane) to Miami. Unfortunately for me, my feet got very sunburned at the beach the day before, and my feet were very swolen for the plane ride to Miami. My shoes didn't fit very well and I was very uncomfortable walking through the airport! I was happy to find JL waiting for me in Miami. That airport was the craziest, bussiest airport I have ever been through. It was insane!

JL took me to our hotel....a nice hotel in a very nice part of Miami called Coral Gables. He was able to score a sweet room upgrade so we had a nice 2 story suite with a great view of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.

We saw all kinds of fun dream cars parked at our hotel. I just happened to have my camera with me to get this Ferrari, but we saw a few Lamborghinis and a Lotus to name a few. Our little Mazda rental looked great parked next to them!

Saturday, we got up early and drove to Key Largo....about an hour away. It was a beautiful drive. We had scheduled a snorkling trip. The water around Key Largo was SO clear!!

The boat took us about 9 miles off the coast of Key Largo to some beautiful reefs. We saw some really cool things.....

a nurse shark (he was a lot bigger than this looks...probably about 6 feet), and notice the barracuda in the background.

More Barracuda. But the most surprising of all the underwater surprises was....

Jesus. Yup, the underwater statue, "Christ of the Abyss". Very interesting.


Don't know the species of these strange creatures, but I'd stay far, far away!

On our way home from Key Largo, we saw a beautiful rainbow. First just a little piece coming out of the clouds, but before long, we saw the entire thing.

Sunday, we drove across the state to the Gulf side to visit with my cousin Matt and his family in Cape Coral. On the way, as we were driving along I75, we passed through Alligator Alley. It was crazy...we saw hundreds of alligators in and around the canals along the side of the freeway. I was completely amazed, and spent the rest of the drive looking for them.

We had such a fun time with the Hoffmans. They fed us a great dinner and it was nice to see them....it had been a long time since Matt and I hung out. (So long in fact, that I have never met his wife or kids)

The trip was so good for me. I loved spending time with JL and my relatives. I THINK JL enjoyed having me there for a long weekend so he didn't just sit in his hotel and do homework. It was exciting to see a part of the country that we've never been to before. I hated coming home without JL, knowing I had to go home alone and face the real world (and the snow). But I came home to happy kids! (Gavin told me that he couldn't remember what JL looked like.) Thanks again to my family and friends for helping me so I could go!!

(Having fun with the mirror on the ceiling of the elevator)

I can't wait for his next business trip...as long as I get to go too!!