July 2009

We had the most amazing trip! I'll try very hard not to bog this down with pics and details because it's all detailed at my journal blog (remember it's private, so let us know if you'd like an invitation: lebarons.blogspot.com), but it was absolutely fabulous.

Momba (Amy's mom) flew out to drive with us across country to CA.

Highlights were Amy getting pulled over for the first time EVER, the snow storm, visiting Ouray, CO, hanging out and hiking with Uncle Jim, seeing Arches, visiting the Moultries, seeing a train carrying artillery, making a quick nostalgia tour of Provo (where #1 was born--he's much more sentimental than his parents), and Amy confusing time zones and having us leave way too early on the last day. We had a wonderful experience visiting Temple Square in SLC, UT. #5 even decided he wants to be married in the Salt Lake Temple.We spent a week in Monterey with the LeBarons.

The cousins LOVED being together...especially when it was time for the ice cream line up. Highlights were the Monterey Bay sea lions, seeing pink (girl time and getting to fix my nieces hair, nails, etc.), Dennis the Menace park, kite flying on the beach (OK, not so much a highlight for #3, who got pelted in the head by one), swimming, Santa Cruz, the aquarium, the farmers market, Mario Kart (they kids loved it so much that we caught #3 "driving" his toast without even realizing it--sort of akin to a mom rocking anything she holds on her hip), and family history devotionals.

We spent a week enjoying the Lamoreaux Family Reunion.Highlights were the Tide Pools (except having the window smashed and my purse--with driver's license--stolen), Upper Crust Pizza, San Francisco Zoo, bounce house & snow cone machine, girl time (GILROY!), a dinner at Pedro's (my all time favorite restaurant because it's where my dad always took me when I got him to myself), movie time, tie dyed and embroidered shirts, Mario Kart, and swimming!

We also got to spend the next week with my folks (and part with my sister, Em).Highlights were mini-golf with Grandpa, NASA museum with Gram, the incredible Redwood Forest, the Lego store, swim time--complete with ice cream stocked freezer next to the pool, bike riding, and the splash park in Turlock. I even got some one-on-one time with Grandpa, Gram, and Em.

Plus, we hit the Jelly Belly Factory on our way to Em's house!

Then we took our time driving home.
Highlights were visiting Ridgecrest, CA, where Caleb was born and we have many dear friends (unfortunately, it was only for an hour or two, so we missed most of them!), getting to visit with the boys Lamoreaux great-grandparents, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Albuquerque (one of my first homes), the modern art Cadillacs, driving on Route 66, and lots of prizes, games, and songs along the way.

#5 got bored a little easier than the others, as you might imagine. We heard "Loudly Brays the Donkey" on repeat for about an hour at one point. Another time he asked grandma, "How do you make it work?" literally 27 times IN A ROW. #1, our biggest entertainer/helper, had to get a bit creative! #5 was totally thrilled, though, to come home to a new bike as his 6 month birthday present (we do that because his b-day is so close to Christmas). Having his binky taken away upon settling back in wasn't as joyful...#4 turned 5! This child is a total joy. He keeps us laughing and is just so much fun. It's breaking his mom's heart that he's going to be making someone else laugh 8 hours a day when he starts kindergarten! Here is the cake we made together--our version of kung foo panda.On his birthday, we went to the zoo, the zoo McDonald's, and Aunt Allie's house for a movie.He opted not to have a party, but to take his very best buddy to Build-A-Bear, where he got a dog with cowboy boots. If you know #4 at all, you know he chose cowboy boots over a chance to choose any toy he wanted when he was 3 or 4 and this year he spent most of his birthday $ from Nan-n-Pops and Gram-n-Pops on a new pair of boots. We all really laughed, though, when he insisted on naming his dog "favorite son." Like father, like son?Mike and I celebrated 12 years. It was very low key this year. But after 12 years, we still enjoy each other so much. No one can laugh or make me feel special like Mike, even in all the little details of daily life...and five boys!We redid the bedroom of #1 and #3. They chose blue as the primary color, green as the secondary, and royal purple as the "pop" color. We also worked in fish for #3 and space for #1.

Because I'm able to swap piano lessons for swim lessons, all 5 boys took 4 weeks of swim lessons this year (plus 2 weeks of mom and me for #s 4 & 5). Wonderful workout for the older 3, and the progress of the younger 2 was amazing. Thanks, Miss Ruth!

Quotables:

#4: "Mom, there's a lot of sand out there!"
Mom: "Really?"
#4: "Yeah! That's why I think it's San Diego!"
For more quotables, click here or here.

June 2009

#3 asked for only one thing for his birthday--this dinosaur! Some friends who were ready to be without theirs donated it to his birthday cause. Thanks, Anne!

#1 received his FIRST DEGREE BLACK BELT. #2 received his BLACK BELT. #3 received his BLACK BELT. We couldn't be more pleased with their dedication and success! And none of us, including these three, could be more pleased with the break we're taking from the many hours of classes we've been attending!

#3's friend in the longhorn shirt moved a couple of days after #3's birthday party. He is missed! We're hoping to get together again soon with some of these other fun friends.

#3 turned seven!! He decorated his cake to be a wii remote and had a Mario Kart party with some friends before having to get geared up for his black belt test.

#1 graduated from elementary school. The teacher at the pulpit was WONDERFUL. He involved the kids, welcomed their input, and really helped them excel. The woman on the left is our principal, who has also been supportive of our family.

#s 4 & 5 got all duded up to attend #1's graduation from elementary school.

#5, #4, and cousin looked darling in the sweaters Gram knitted for them!

We also began the most amazing summer trip we've experienced to date. For TONS of details on that, see our other blog at lebarons.blogspot.com . It's a private blog--if you'd like an invitation, leave us a comment.

Quotables:

Zeke, after momba had been quiet a little while on our 17 hour driving day: "Hey, Mom, is Grandma still with us?"

For more quotables, click here. I'll be updating more from our trip soon, too!

May 2009

Since I realized I somehow missed this in March, I thought I'd include a picture from the Kennewick Posse Reunion Trip. Rick is missing because his family was mid-move. He was missed, but these four had a blast.

We celebrated Mike's 35th birthday with a BBQ and swim with Brian and Allie. We absolutely adore Mike. No one could be more blessed than we are in their sweetheart/daddy!

#4 graduated from preschool. His award was "POCKETS" because he apparently always had a surprise in his pockets. I had never noticed! It reminds me of Hatari--love the Duke! Since then I've done more checking, and he really does always have a toy tucked in.

We had a Memorial Day flag ceremony with our scouters. We are grateful for those who serve to protect our rights.

We said goodbye to the 5 geckos we had caught. We released them into our backyard. We've only spotted one of them since, but we think that may be due to the Texas heat. Since I'm doing this update in July, it was 104 today!

Mother's Day was fun because my boys were so sweet to me. I even got my favorite breakfast--Mike's homemade french toast--AND still got to be on time to church!

#4's preschool class sang to us for Mother's Day.

#s2 and 3 made more hats for premature babies at Parkland as they finished their community service hours to achieve their black belts.

We had a very successful black belt bake sale. Thanks so much to all who supported us in learning a little about finances and responsibility as the boys earned money to pay for part of the testing fees! (Can you tell the boys did the decorating themselves?)

#1's choir had its final performance.

Hope took new family pictures for us. She had to take the kids faces from 5 different pictures and put them on this one to get it to look this good!

Quotables:

Zeke, distressed: Some of the pieces in this soup are entertaining.
Mom: Entertaining?
Zeke: Yes, they're entertaining, and that takes too much effort for me.

For more quotables, click here or here.

April 2009

#1 got his Arrow of Light and his Super Scouter (not the right term...can't think of it right now...)--which means he earned every badge available to a Webelos.  That's doubly impressive because Webelos is designed as a 2 year program, but our church does it in one year.  He also crossed over into Boy Scouts!  He's growing up WAY too fast!
Gram made #4 this adorabe sweater, complete with hood.  Can't wait till it gets cold again!
Mike was so brave on Michael's birthday that he took this whole gang on the DART on the way home.  Since SOMEONE had to get the van back, I took one for the team and drove with a tired, silent #5.
Michael had his birthday party excursion to the zoo.  This was a game that fascinated many people during our few minutes in the children's zoo.  You match the rubber droppings to the picture of the animal they'd come from.  Our little cousin was so interested that he actually tasted several of the rubber samples.  :)
We had an indoor family campout.
This is Easter dinner, which we might not have had if Allie didn't insist and do all the hard part, since Mike was out of town...
#1 participated in his first martial arts tournament.  #2 went to watch and support.  All had a grand time, and it was a good learning experience.
I helped give our cousin his very first haircut!
One of my closest and dearest friends in the world passed away.  This is a memory table of Arlene Moultrie.  She was a lifting influence in my life, and I loved her dearly.  I'm so grateful that I've prayed about and am sure of my testimony and of the Plan of Salvation to know she is near and happy.
I got to spend a few days with my dear friends, the Moultries, in Utah.  What an amazing family!  It was wonderful to be with them, though we missed Arlene so much.
#2 got his brackets on.  Barely 9 years old: 2 jaw expanders, head gear, brackets, and counting.
We died Easter eggs.  #5 might be as amazed as Gram that mom braved the mess.
Mike and his sister, Kristi, surprised Nan and Pops and Rob with a special Easter weekend visit!  They did some volunteering, eating, laughing, and just hanging out.  They had a blast.

Quote of the month:  

With Aunt Allie at the pet store, Zeke put his head against the puppy cage. One came over and began licking the glass where Zeke's face was.

Zeke: All right. Get him out so we can take him home.
Allie: Ummm...no, you're mom's allergic.
Zeke: But he CHOSE me!
Luckily for Mike, I wasn't along--we might have a new pet if I had been.

For more of our humorous happenings, click here or here or here or here.  We even had some amusement with the Carpet Guy!

March 2009

This is #2's actually birthday. We always do cake and ice cream and Mom and Dad's gift on the real day. #2 opted for Nana-style ice cream cake, but still hasn't gotten his present. I told him we were going to give it to him at the zoo, but were going to wait since we hadn't gotten there. Apparently sweet #2 thought that meant he'd have to wait until next year. He asked, "If I need to wait a whole year, could I at least know what it was going to be?" We still haven't gotten there, but we intend to...and soon!

Jam making sessions make for one happy dad in our family!

Mom and Aunt Allie did several projects, including restaining this bad boy; stripping, caulking, and repainting the garage trim; and lots of yardwork. Lots of time and lots of laughs!

During spring break we give the boys a budget and a calendar and let them do some planning (I tell myself it teaches money and time management). This year, we planned to ride the DART, go to the zoo for #2's birthday, buy some Pokemon cards, and have an un-birthday party. This is a picture of the boys, who each had a buddy. #5 asked Aunt Allie to be his buddy!

Here Noah takes a shot at the soccer ball pinata, which he had just blasted out of camera shot! It was also Noah's month to go to the symphony with dad. He especially loved the violin soloist.

We celebrated #2's birthday. He wanted to go to the zoo, but it was so incredibly crowded that we opted for an afternoon at the zoo McDonald's. Here he uses his martial arts skilz to put this feline attacher into submission.

Here's the whole crew! It was Friday of spring break, and we were so thrilled to get out after being sick for the entire break!!

Someone made Dad's breakfast green for St. Patrick's Day! He had a hard time eating the eggs since we couldn't tell when they were done given the new color. Good thing he's a good sport...

#1 and #2 went with Mom and Dad to see the musical "The Pajama Game" at the Majestic Theater in downtown Dallas. We had a great time, even if the boys all decided they couldn't understand why mom likes stories about love. We watched for pink blushing cheeks, but didn't see much of that...although #2 was pretty glued through the binoculars when Babe and Sid kissed!

#5 is in love with trains! We've missed the obsession of #1, so #5 and mom had a great time building this fantabulous track.

Quotables:

We were doing our grateful game at Easter Dinner (going through the alphabet to name something we're thankful for with each letter). When it came to Eli's turn, he had the letter U.

Michael answered for him: Eli's thankful for a Uterus because otherwise he wouldn't be here!

Mom: Oooooooookay. Michael, you're on V.

Brian: Oh, no!

Thank heaven the carpet guy wasn't there!

Happy Easter!