Spring Break with Andrea

This week was a ball! I love Spring time and Easter! I'm such a fanatical planner.. I have 3 different calendars all with color coding and other odd organizing to keep me ahead of the game and prepared for all things festive!

I usually plan our Saturdays with 2-3 too many activities. What can I say? I'm a party animal. These babies need to get in the game! Who needs naps? But last Saturday Tanner got up early to meet our handyman in the yard and fix the sprinklers. Our neighbors complained about some major drainage in their yard that was pretty much flooding their garden. When we water our backyard it just ends up getting so muddy. So it really needed to be dealt with. After that he ran to the store and then came home and made us all a super yummy breakfast! What a guy! We drove to Laguna Hills and Tanner dropped the me off with Parker and Rayleigh so we could enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt and he took Jack to Frenches Bakery to cash out his Groupon. The kids had a blast running around the mall, finding eggs, getting prizes, and playing on rides.

Then we met my parents at the Shops briefly so I could return a dress at Hanna Anderson and get some cute things for the kids.

THEN, we went to Laguna Beach with my parents and Aunt Kaylynne and Uncle Dick and Brady who were here visiting. My Mom was actually feverish and sick. She had James an Carole for 5 days and the day they left my Aunt and Uncle came for 5 days. She was just exhausted but trying so hard to rally. I made her call her doctor and get an Rx called in. Poor thing. I'm so protective of her. And so is Tanner. He was about ready to scoop her up and steal her away. We walked around Laguna for a while and then everyone decided to join us a Cest La Vie for a nice French dinner. It was perfect. The kids were great and the sweet French baker even gave the kids a plate full of starfish cookies and macaroons! 

We took the kids down to the beach to play for a while and watch the sunset. Tanner stole my Dad away for a while and was telling him about his job interview. He really values my parents' opinions and perspective. There's a lot to consider and I'm so thankful for their sage advice and positive outlooks.

The next day we had a wonderful day at church. I just love church. I don't know what people do without faith and religion. And knowledge of a loving Savior. I'm always happy when I can attend Relief Society (without a baby). It's like a special treat. After church we had chicken and rice and the babies napped. (Gotta love 9am church). Then we met my parents, aunt, uncle, Jon and his family, Cami and Noah and Jessi, Brady, Nicole and her girls and Andrew (who I hadn't seen since our wedding 12 years ago!) at the Montage park. Parker, all on his own, prepared an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. He asked if he could borrow our eggs, found candy to stuff them with, labeled the buckets, and even remembered to bring bags for everyone. He even had 2 special golden eggs! The kids had a blast. He's just the best. It was so good spending time with family in the fresh air right at the beach watching the sunset! This is what life is all about, people.

Brody and Rayleigh had SO much fun playing together. They just love that they are the same size and age. It's like they have their own little secret club. I tried to get a picture of all 3 kids together but it's literally impossible. But I won't ever stop trying! The drive home was beautiful. Everything is so green right now. I just love it.

A few weeks ago Andrea texted me bright and early and said, "So, I should come for Spring Break!" and so she did! She came without Jeff because he was studying and taking his Captains test for the Fire Department. It was a huge endeavor and he did really well! Andrea is so proud of him! Mason is just 2 years younger than Parker, Lia is 3 months older than Rayleigh and Jack is 3 months older than Mae. I'm sure I've told our story before but it really is divine and miraculous. Heavenly Father placed us together on Earth at a specific time for a mighty purpose. She has been my rock so many countless times. And now we are enjoying the fruits of our labors. The extremely odd realization we had is that our kids are cut from the same cloth. They are so the same, it's weird. And she has dark haired children and mine are all blond. I'm sure people assumed her kids were mine and vice versa all week. And I'm sure we looked like a couple of crazy moms with 6 kids in tow but we had so much fun!

I spent all morning on Monday getting ready for them and when I was all done they arrived! Perfect timing! I got Parker from school just a few minutes after that and then we just played for the rest of the day. The kids get along so well. There was NO fighting or bickering. They shared and laughed and Parker and Mason even came up with another Easter Egg hunt for us all. Parker had to plan and prepare a meal for scouts so he decided to do home made pizzas. Mason helped him and they turned out so good! 

There were frequent dance parties.

We threw all of the babies in the tub that night and I think Jack felt like "the man!" He LOVED Andrea. I've never seen him flirt before but he was flirting so hard with her the whole time she was here.

Tuesday we took the kids to 3 Arch Bay. There was no one there which was nice but the waves were huge and rough. It was kinda scary but the babies stayed away from the water so that was good. It was warm and sunny and just so perfect. We brought lunch and had a little picnic. A friendly squirrel ate our leftovers. Jack stood right up a couple of times! I was trying to capture it on video but I was never fast enough. I think he was showing off for Mae.

After the beach we just let the kids play in the back yard and get in the hot tub. We fed them quesodillas and Tanner brought us dinner. We were sure spoiled! We kept thinking that life would be so perfect if we lived closer to each other. Like next door. We just GET each other and the kids were perfect. I'm not kidding you, they were so great. We never once had to discipline any of them. I really honestly feel like we are a match made in heaven.

Jack was so tired that night after all the excitement and he fell asleep in my arms which he rarely does anymore. I just sat there holding him for as long as I could.

The first night, Mason slept in Parker's bed with him but neither of them slept very well. I wonder why? Look at Parker! ha ha So they, on their own, set up the cot and got blankets and pillows to make a nice bed. Andrea, Tanner, and I stayed up that night talking. It was so nice having the kids snug in their beds sleeping and dreaming away and being able to talk to Andrea face to face. We talk almost every day on the phone. I love our conversations. Andrea is so smart and so faithful. She always steers me in the right direction. Only a good friend does that. She never takes advantage of me and has never made me feel badly about myself. On the contrary she's always made me feel like a rock star. I look up to her so much and have so much respect for her. Everything she does and everything she is is something to be proud of.

Wednesday Parker had to go back to school (he was "sick" yesterday) and we took the kids to Irvine Park Railroad. Her kids, especially Lia, love animals so we even went over to the OC zoo. It was perfect. We all rode the train and the girls jumped in the bounce house while Mason played games and won prizes for everyone. It was so fun and we were bummed to have to leave. But the kids were hungry and tired. It was a hard drive home. But once we got there they were fine. We ordered pizza and they had a picnic in the backyard while we cleaned up and Andrea packed her car. It was sad to say goodbye- we could have had 500 more days of adventures together. But she needed to get home and Tanner and I had to go to mutual for Youth Conference kick off night!

 Andrea left at 6:30, I ran upstairs to rock Jack, my visiting teacher (Courtney) came at 6:40 to watch the kids, and Tanner and I went to the church at 6:45.Andrea left my house spotless- she was the BEST guest. But man was I tired that night. Tanner had to leave straight from mutual to go back to an over night work conference. So I was alone that night. I was woken up by something around midnight and was terrified. I heard someone downstairs but it turned out to be Parker- he was getting a drink. And giving me a heart attack! No more overnights for Tanner! I need him HOME! ha ha

How sweet are these girls holding hands in the car. I hope they grow up to be just as good of friends as Andrea and I are. We can't wait to take them to New York City to shop for prom dresses or to LA for their first American Dolls. We are so blessed to each have such spunky, brave, strong daughters. And Rayleigh and LiaRae are lucky to have each other.

2 going on 22.... glimpse of the future! 

I love Andrea. And I love my family. Friends and family are what make the world go round. And I am so thankful for the best friends and family in the world!!!!!