Keepin' it real.

Than's in Boston. It's hot again. It's supposed to be 98 degrees tomorrow. Boo. I'm fat and pregnant and should take this alone time to do something crafty or productive but I'm not going to. I just want to go and get a popsicle and watch mindless television for a little while and fall asleep on the couch with the fan blowing on me. But, my kids still aren't asleep and I should go put the smack down but that means I have to walk up the stairs and it gets hotter when you walk up the stairs. The last time I walked up the stairs this is what I found.

(And no, I have not decorated that room yet. They are all three just sleeping together. The other day Camry asked, "Mom, when am I going to get a real bed?" Who knows dear. We're working on that. Hopefully before number 4 comes!)
Lights on. Books everywhere. At least they are reading, right?

I love Claira's look of, "Oh no, we're in trouble." And I love that she's reading some star wars book.

So, Camry just came down...again...and said with a sneaky little grin, "Mom, you should come up and see Claira's crib." Oh great. This is what I saw! All the books piled up and a little happy girl in the midst of them. They were just so happy with themselves. But I did just put the smack down and I think....think they will be going to bed now.

Camry just wants to snuggle all the time. Morning and night. And we usually do when Than is gone. They know the rules though. Claira has to fall asleep and then they can go into my bed. I just can't do all of them in bed with me. Claira is a pillow hog and someone's feelings are hurt when I'm not sleeping by them and I'm curled up on the side of the bed, usually with no blanket or pillow, and it just doesn't work when you've got a belly as big as mine.

Pacen had Back to School night tonight, but we missed it. They really don't want kids there and I couldn't find a babysitter so we stayed at home. I sent his teacher an email about that and she responded within minutes...gotta love that and it was a good choice not to bring the kids and there is a make up day sometime. It's not like I'm going to volunteer for anything in the near future anyway! We were having the missionaries over for dinner tonight and my kids were horrible! I practically had to drag Pacen over to the table, he refused to sit by one of the sisters and moved his chair over by Camry and neither he nor Camry would answer any of the questions they asked him. And then they were being all silly with their food doing some sort of 'showing off' I guess. So, after they left I asked Pacen if he thought that that was an appropriate way to act and he started crying immediately because he knew it was wrong and he was in trouble. I love that I don't even have to raise my voice. I didn't let him play the wii after dinner and it was like I had grounded him for life. He cried for probably 30 minutes over it and then he'd try to talk about it again and then the tears would start. Can't you just change your mind!?!?!?!? he'd say, Plllllleeeeaaaasssssseeeee!!!! It was kind of funny watching him throw this fit and I just read books with the girls until he was done. One of the books had pat-a-cake in it so we 'marked it with a C' for the girls and then like five minutes later he says, "Mom, I'm sad because when you did pat-a-cake you didn't do a P for me." So, we did it again and he was happy for the rest of the night. Kids are weird.
You know what else is weird....this deer.

Or is it a unicorn??? He's our cute little male that only has one little crooked horn. He's been coming around without his mama. Our little baby is growing up!

Okay, now it's late enough that I can just veg out on the couch for a while. I hear no sounds coming from upstairs...yeah. Than's coming home tomorrow night...double yeah.

Hooray!

Pacen left for school today without crying!!!! Okay, I will take a step back. He did wake up today and throw a little Pacen fit about wanting to take the day off of school saying he'd go tomorrow. But, I just talked to him about how we don't take days off and we got ready and when we got to the place to drop him off he got out of the car and walked right to class. There might have even been a smile on his face. So, hooray for Pacen and hooray for happy kids and no tears!

She's Got Mail!

Today could quite possibly be one of the happiest days in Camry's short little life. She FINALLY got some mail from Alli. I only say finally because ever since we sent Alli's little letter in the mail, she's been asking if her letter had come back from Alli. And I mean like minutes after Alli's letter had been taken by the mailman. So, everyday she would ask to go out and check the mail and today it came! And she got a little email from her friend, Kamden, so all is right in Camry's world. She just loves mail. I think all kids do. It makes them feel so special. Than's grandma (AKA GG Ma) is the queen of mail sending. And it's really awesome because even though we don't live that close to them, she has developed a relationship with the kids through her letters. She's not a blog reader so she doesn't follow the day to day stuff we do, but she's made a personal attempt to know them and the kids love it. The other day we were talking about grandma's and Camry asked, "Mom, who do you think is my best grandma?" And I just told her that they are all best in different ways in my great mom voice and then she says, "I think GG Ma is my best." So, go out and send some real mail to some kid because they will love it.

Meet the First Grader

We made it! I say we because I was a nervous wreck all day waiting to pick Pacen up. It started off well. Than was finally home to give Pacen a school blessing. We headed off to school a little later than I wanted to but it all worked out because Than was able to stay with the girls in the car while I walked Pacen to his class. We got there and there were many, many parents with their kids, some with cameras even bigger than mine so I fit right in. We hung up his backpack and then I tried to take his picture by the door. This is what we got.

Can you feel the pain on his face?!!?!?

Then we sat down at his desk and he got out a book and seemed to be happy. Then I talked to his teacher for a minute and waved goodbye and then his face crumbled and the tears started. I showed Mrs. Howitt that he was crying and said I'm out of here and just left hoping he'd be fine. I felt like I could cry right along with him, but held it together. :)

And he was just fine. I didn't get a call from the school all day. When I went to pick him up he saw me and just got the biggest smile and ran to me and I picked him up and hugged him. It was right out of the movies. He told me all about his day and how he doesn't have to cry tomorrow because he knows what to do. His teacher gave him a tissue to use if he felt like crying and he said he just kept it in his pocket all day and that seemed to do the trick. Yeah for teacher tricks! He played with Meg and Holly and he thought the name Holly was cool because there is a reindeer on My Friends Tigger and Pooh that is named Holly. And so we drove around trying to find a drive thru anything in downtown walnut creek so I could get him a little treat and couldn't find one but he was happy just playing the wii when we got home. Camry kept asking him questions like, "What kind of backpack did Holly have?" "What color hair does your teacher have?" She was very curious about school and very excited to have Pacen back. He said his favorite part was lunch, and was so excited to tell me that he got to have two recesses. So, all in all, a success. One day down, 188 more to go.

Summer Send Off...

(And I think for the record that this could be one of the worst family pics we have ever taken. Look at the kids faces...each look a little 'special' in their own special ways.)

What better way to kick off the end of summer than with another trip to San Francisco?!!?! Even though I vowed off Fisherman's Wharf on Saturdays, we did it one more time and it was o much more enjoyable because there was probably 50% less people than the last time we went. And we found cheap parking. And we had better company. (Just kidding Loren and Kathy!). Kaylee has to come down once a month to let Olive visit Zach and so we got to meet her new husband, Chris, for the first time and it was super fun. He's a great guy (and a Mr. Fix it--fixed my toilet and ice dispenser while here!) and they are working hard, creating a beautiful new little family. All the Hancock's were here (okay, minus Shauna and Joe) and we headed off to San Fran early in the morning.

We rode the merry go round....

We ate Clam chowder...or chili....I think Pacen almost threw up while walking down the fish market place....that's my boy. Fish stink!

Kaylee might look like she loves Chris, but she might just leave him for this guy. Know where he's from.....Seinfeld! Sam spotted him and even I, who am not a big Seinfeld-er, knew who he was. This may have made Kaylee's day.

I love it when Camry mans the camera. Than and I actually get in a picture together...love it!

What made mine and Sam's day....The Nob Hill Chill. Oh yeah baby. We were practically running to the shop. It's a little piece of heaven I tell ya.

This is how Kaylee walked around downtown....covered in like 12 layers of clothes. No, it was not that cold. She's just crazy. The other fun moment walking was when this crazy man comments to me on the street and I quote, "Hey...lookin' good mama." Yep, I wore a bright pink shirt and stood out like a sore thumb.

We bought Camry a little necklace and she's in love. Than is making her 'work it off' and she has remembered. She can even take it on and off all by herself now. And what is it about stinky feet? Every kid and baby love it. It never seems to get old.


Claira slept most of the day and just woke up as happy as can be. Love that girl.

On Sunday (yes, I said Sunday...argh) we went to Santa Cruz. It was Kaylee's birthday and we also celebrated Scotty's birthday. The weather was fantastic and the beach was beautiful.

This is the chair that Engineer Chris made for Kaylee. He got super ticked when Scotty threw water in it "accidentally" and when random people would walk by his nicely groomed sand. He is a true engineer, that is for sure.

My kids just loved having their Aunt Kaylee around. And Aunt Becca, too. We are super blessed with a great family.

And now summer is over. Bummer. We really did enjoy it even with our move. Pacen is ready for 1st grade, I hope. He keeps saying, "I'm just not going to get dressed or put my shoes on and then I can stay home." But I think deep down he's excited. I am pumped because there are two girls in his primary class and one of them is in his school class!!! I think he's relieved, too, to know at least one person. We walked by his class and playground and tomorrow I'll walk him to his class like a crazy hover-mom, but it'll make me feel better. I never had to be a new kid and I never wanted to be one and now poor Pacen has to be one. I really am confident that he will do fine. He picked his new A's shirt to wear and it's all sitting out just waiting for him. I have fun snacks to put in his lunch and I think we are ready to go. I think I may be more nervous than him! Maybe I should set out my clothes for tomorrow. :)

AI 2010 Live!!!!

Last night I got to have a little girl time. It's funny because I don't go anywhere without Than and/or the kids very often and it's almost like I don't know what to do with myself. As I was leaving I just kept thinking, Okay, do I have everything I need!?!? Guess what...when you are by yourself you don't really need that much. No diapers, no wipes, no sippy cups, no blankets, no strollers, no snacks (okay, I did grab a snack for me and it was a big hershey bar and I ate the whole thing on the way to Sac-town and even had some melted on my shirt to prove it..but luckily Raeanne came prepared with a Tide Pen. Maybe I should take mine out of the wrapper and carry it around with me).

We first met for dinner at Mimi's Cafe. I almost asked for a kids menu. :) Then we headed off to the ARCO for American Idol Live Tour 2010!!!! It was actually a lot of fun. I wasn't as into AI as I have been in years past, but I still like it. They really are good singers. I would have put the concert together a little differently....made it flow a little better...but I still knew all the words and sang along as loud as I could.

If you read Angelee's blog, you'll know that I did make a friend while I was there. I was walking up the stairs and this lady was like...Why you made it up those stairs quickly! Its' like when you are pregnant if you do something that is really average people think you are amazing. Way to get up and get dressed! Then I met her in the bathroom again and she told me all about her daughter, her grandson, her daughter's first pregnancy which ended in an abortion, her daughter's bi-polar disease, her five generation family, the family reunion they wanted to have and I'm sure other things that I'm trying to block from my memory. Oh, just one more of the joys of pregnancy. You have a big target on your stomach that says, Come talk to me. Feel my belly.

Thanks for the great night, Angelee! Next time I'm buying a glow stick and a wearing glitter on my face. That's a promise.

D & E

This is Dennis & Everett. D & E as Than would call them. They have lived with Walt and Becky since they were 13, I think. They had awful childhoods, if you can even call them childhoods, and now they are almost 19 and off on their missions in September.

Dennis.

Everett. What is funny is that becky almost didn't let me take his pictures since he had gotten that awful haircut against her will. It isn't flattering, and now Becky gets to have it in her house for all times to remind her of the essence of everett. :)

I've also decided that it is so much easier to take pictures of girls. Much more willing and excited for pictures. I am excited but also nervous for them to go on their missions. They have had tough lives and I know will grow even more out there in Idaho and Washington.

Perks

So there are definite perks about living in California. We really are close to Oroville and so when we got the call about Angelee's 30th birthday party, we had some other plans, then just chose to head up for a quick 24 hour getaway to the ville so we could hang with Angelee and some other friends we hadn't seen in a while, hang with Than's family, swim in the pool (well, let becca swim with the kids in the pool---that water was COLD!), and then head back Friday night. It worked out perfectly and the drive really isn't that terrible, even with a little traffic. So, Thursday consisted of driving to Oroville after Than was finished with work, eat dinner at La Comida, take the kids in the hot tub and fall asleep on the couch. Friday we obviously at lunch at Charlie's, swam, took Dennis and Everett's 'senior but really i'm leaving on a mission in 6 weeks' pictures, and headed off to Chico for the party. So fun to see people that you haven't seen in a while and just feel good. We left the kids with Walt and Becky and I'm pretty sure that they didn't really check on them from about 8:30 on since all their friends came over to play Nertz, but all was well, especially when you just give Claira a gigantic bowl of popcorn and sit her in front of a show. Camry was passed out on the couch and Pacen and Scotty were still up watching the show, too. It was great Grammy-Papa bonding time for sure.

Me and the birthday girl. No, I'm not due any day. Still have 6 weeks but look like I could pop at any moment.

It was 80's theme and I don't really do 'theme' stuff...I'm boring like that and just don't have clothes to coordinate with every decade, but maybe I should invest in some. Liz made me put on her belt and they gave us little rubber bracelets so I totally fit in. And what the heck was I thinking to stand next to skinny little Raeanne!?!?!? Really I'm smarter than that.

So, the other perk (same perk, different people) is getting to hang out with Dave and Lenore! They drove down Saturday morning and we headed off the the city, which is always a big mistake on a Saturday because of the crazy amounts of people. We wanted to go to Golden Gate Park but when we got there, there was this big concert going on so there was no where to park and we ended up just pulling off in a red no parking zone, eating our pizza we had grabbed on the way in and then got back in the car and headed off to the beach. I knew of a close beach since earlier this week two girls in my ward called me to hang out for the first time! I was super excited to get to know someone and they showed me a super fun place to go. If you are in the area, Stinson Beach is where its at. So much better for hanging out than the city.

No, they did not plan their outfits. They are just 30 year old men that have a BYU addiction. I think one of them made fun of the other one about what they were wearing and I said something like....really....really you are making fun of him!?!? Look at you two! Oh, good friends. I love it.

At the beach, there was some sand castle building. It started out like this, and ended up being Turtle Castle or something. Turtle Mansion some were calling it.

The little turtles surrounded it...aren't they creative!?!?!?

Camry was in charge of the exterior decorating...

Hard at work...

Somehow, after Camry made her take her to the bathroom for the second time in one hour, it turned into some incredible castle with a protective wall from the ocean and a two headed dragon to protect it. Gotta love hard digging dad's and creative kids.

This is what claira did while everyone was busy building. She loves the beach. When we were heading into the city we'd tell her we were going to a park first and she's scream, "NO....Beach!" And she got her way, imagine that.


Pacen has been such a good helper these days. He is getting really great at cleaning up the living room and play room and unloading the dishwasher. He helps with Claira most of the time and it's so nice to have that help. Camry, let's just say that she is learning how to help. Most of the time Pacen says, "Mom, Camry didn't do anything." And he's probably right. The other day I was telling someone about how I was going to need a lot of help when the baby comes and when the person was gone he said, "Mom, I'm going to be here to help you. I will take care of Claira and you will take care of the new baby." He is so sweet.

After the beach, we introduced Lenore to the beauty of Rite-Aid ice cream. Shame on Dave for not taking her there sooner! It's so high class when you eat ice cream out of a rite aid, but it really is a glorious thing. You know she loved it. Who doesn't!?!?! You know who doesn't love it....the mean old lady that glared at us because our kids were in her way. She really had PLENTY of room to move her cart around them...it was like a super open part of the store...not like an aisle or anything...but just refused and glared at us until we moved all of them. Whatev lady. And you know who else loved it....Lily. She kept stealing bites of Claira's ice cream when she thought no one was looking. It's a good thing she didn't try to steal Pacen or Camry's...she might have lost a finger.

So, yes, besides the weather, there are some perks about living here. We're settling in our new ward. Than had to give a talk on Sunday and did a great job. We got invited over to someone's house and got to know some people a little better. The kids have made a few friends in the ward. It's not exactly 'home' yet, but you have to give it time. It's only been 6 weeks after all.