Spring Break Family Vacation

I’ve been feeling the need to spend as much family time together as possible. Time is just flying and my kids refuse to stop growing. What better way than to strand them on a boat in the middle of the ocean for 5 days. 🤣 My teenagers were in heaven eating endless amounts of food and frozen yogurt 24/7. Mason lost his room key card only 3 times this trip 🙄. We enjoyed some beach time, took a water taxi out to the iconic archway at Lands End in Cabo, got some whale watching and dolphin playtime. April LOVED all the shows and basically everything except the food. As predicted she ate hamburger patties, French fries, and ice cream all week. 🤣 One evening at dinner they even ordered gluten free french toast for her. Poor Callie woke up Tuesday morning (her BIRTHDAY!) and ran to puke on the balcony! 😬 Thank goodness for Dramamine. Carnival had amazing service and good kind employees. They did such a great job catering to our picky eating and food intolerances. Something I stress about EVERY time we travel.

Probably my favorite “moment” the whole trip I was laying on the bed waiting for dinner time and Callie fresh out of the shower started doing her hair. The cruise ship hair dryers were kinda terrible. She turned and asked Ron to blow dry her hair. I was pleasantly surprised she didn’t ask me but I just sat back and enjoyed the view. What a beautiful picture/moment. April came and asked for help with her hair right after. I married a good man.  

Callie is 12

I can't believe my Callie girl is 12. She is feisty, hard working, animal loving, kind, thoughtful, smart, athletic, organized, coordinated, adventurous, STILL a daddy's girl and a good friend to all. She loves music. Whenever I can't find her around the house I immediately look out the back door and usually find her swinging with her headphones on and singing to her music. She often listens to youth albums from the church website and I LOVE listening with her in the car because she knows every word. Callie is currently serving as second counselor in the YW 12-14 yr old class. I am so proud of her.

For her birthday party we planned a SPA night. They treated each other to pedicures, facials and we painted rocks. This was a little crazy but really fun. Callie has a really good group of friends and we had a to of fun.

Callie's Broken Toe

Oops she did it again! Poor girl, 3rd year in a row breaking a bone. Callie was playing in the back yard with her friend and bumped into some old trampoline poles that were propped up against the wall, and they fell on her toe. Thankfully she only needed to wear the boot for 4 weeks this time (same boot we kept from last years broken foot). I was so relieved about the 4 weeks time line because she got her boot off just in time for us to go on the cruise. She was such a good sport about it and did not let it slow her down. She went on a youth hike, rode her scooter outside, presented her country report at school (which she crushed by the way) and rarely complained about having that bulky thing on.  I really hope in 2024 she doesn't break any bones in 2024 and put an end to this this 3 year curse/tradition. No more broken bones please. 

Noah Ran Cross Country

So proud of this kid. I couldn't believe it when he told me he would be trying out Cross Country this season. Running is NOT his favorite. I really enjoyed going to his meets and watching him try something new. Poor kid had to miss the city meet because he was really sick. He still does not like running and has decided it is not really his thing. But I’m proud of him for participating in it.

April Riding her Bike!

This is a BIG deal! April started riding her bike with OUT training wheels and she is SOOOOOOO happy about it. She wants to ride constantly and loves every second. I'm so proud of her and sad that we won't be riding the "co-pilot" anymore. It's the end to a chapter of parenting that I'm not sure I'm ready to be out of. Ron fixed her tires (stupid hot summers are ROUGH on bikes) and we both went to the church over Christmas break to help her. All it took was literally one push and she took off, didn't even look back! As she was riding away she called out "how do I stop?"

I took April for a night bike ride about a week later, just me and her. Even thought we had bike lights it was still a little scary for her because she had never gone in the dark. During the bike ride she informed me "If I die. Will you tell Noah I love him?" LOL The things this girl says and comes up with.\