Pacific Grove Hight School

I thought you and Troy could visualize yourselves here better with a picture! Dad and I drove by the high school when we were down last weekend.

This is a picture of our view from the hotel we stayed in in Monterey. It shows the whole Monterey Bay almost. It was nice, but across the street was a pub, kind of noisey at night. As you can see the weather wasn't as nice as I had ordered for us.

More fun pictures!!

No, that is not a peace sign, it's how many cheeseburger's they had!!

Me and "A-Bomb"
A-Bomb having a little snack

sisters

Posing silly

some of my favorite pics from the trip

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TROY!

Sweet Bliss

Mom, Kate and Carrie carrying the daily burden of "where do we eat?" It really was hard decision making...but we managed.
Ahh, yes. Here we are a Ghiradelli's. My milkshake was amazing!
Mmm...this Mexican was really good.
And our stop on the way home at In n Out. How many burgers did we eat?
I hate my camera! It only focuses half the time. You remember this bad boy? Kate, you have to tell me what they're called, I forgot. REALLY underbaked cookie with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge on top. It's really good for breakfast too:)

I did take some pics that didn't involve food, I really did. They just didn't turn out and most of them were similar to Carries she posted on the Lambournes blog. Besides, we all know food is our favorite past time---side note----I lost half a pound over our trip (A big thank you to Alex for still nursing, he just melts those calories away! -if I'm still nursing him when he's 3, someome please stop me!)

I noticed today that there's a job opening at the high school in Pacific Grove...maybe we could buy a cute multi-million dollar home there! Wow, wouldn't if be nice to buy any type of home there...

So I must share my SPA experience! On Monday I went to Tri-Citites to spent 3 wonderful hours getting pampered. It was heaven. While I was waiting they brought me some lemon water in a pretty glass, then I went into a nice changing room and put on a really nice robe and slippers. First I had the Swedish massage, it was amazing! She started with my face then went to my neck, shoulders, hands, arms, legs, feet and back. It felt SOOO good! Then I went into another nice room and had a facial, that felt really refreshing. Then was my pedicure....I wanted to collapse and never wake up when it was over. I am so grateful for my friends who were so generous for my birthday and to Becky and Natalie for (always) watching my kids!

Okay, so I posted all my trip pictures on the Lambourne Update Blog: http://lambourneupdate.blogspot.com/
Usually I post stuff to both, but it took a long time to post so many pictures, so go there to see them and copy them to your computers. There's also a picture of Caitlin in her nightgown I made her and Rod's Easter masterpiece.
Also, we finally watched Enchanted last night! Caitlin did NOT like it- we put them to bed and finished it. She didn't even get to the way fun singing in the park part, so I showed her just that part today and she liked that part, but even the cartoon witch scared her- she's just a sensitive soul! I thought it was a great movie, and one worth buying.

me jardin!

Okay, don't correct my French, I'm sure it's wrong! Anyway, before I post my girls' trip pictures, I'm going to make you all look at my garden that I built. There's a gate that opens to access it, and I divided it into 4 sections with the pavers, so I can just step on the pavers and still get to all my plants. There's a lot of plants at different stages, so some are still very small and you can't see them in the picture. The tomato plants I took pictures of (I have a total of 10 tomato plants!) are my Italian Cherry Tomatoes from Italy that mom got me!! They are doing great! The whole yard around my garden is a work in progress, although I have laid a rock path, built a fire pit, and planted a Sunflower Forest!

Caitlin's party & Grandpa's visit

On Friday we celebrated Caitlin's birthday! She had a "camping birthday"- complete with a tent filled with balloons set up in the back yard. We went on a bear hunt, they made "rock monsters" (glued eyes and yarn for hair on rocks), and had a delicious campfire cake. I even made invitations out of brown grocery bags. Yes, I know that's ridiculous. But it worked great for a camping party! I forgot to take a picture of the cake, but I got the idea from: http://www.brightideas.com/birthdays/themes/campout/cakestreats/c_1658_1.jsp It turned out great, except I nixed the cellophane and replaced them with candles, instead.

We also enjoyed a visit from Grandpa this weekend! Caitlin and Lizzie loved having him here, they really love their Grandpa. When I told them to say good-bye to Grandpa before I took Dad to the airport, Lizzie said "No, Grandpa stay here." Isn't that adorable??

We'll celebrate with a little family party tomorrow night, I'll post something then, too.

For lunch, the girls made "campfires", with peanut butter on the plate, they stuck on pretzel sticks for the logs, raisins for rocks around it, and cherry tomatoes and cheese chunks were the fire.

This is Caitlin's vogue shot and Lizzie's doing Marilyn Monroe (Caitlin was trying to show the camera her flower tights from Grandma)

Happy St. Patty's!!

Does everyone have their corned beef and cabbage cooking for tonight?

A couple years ago I tried the 'green' cream of wheat like mom did and it didn't go over very well...maybe next year I'll try it again. Devon woke up this morning at about 6 and I was very out of it trying to put Alex back to sleep and Devon started off looking to see if I was wearing green, pinching me, asking me to find some clothes for him that were green, and just TALKING and TALKING and he doesn't talk quiet either. Finally I mumbled something about Happy St Patricks Day and told him my brain wasn't working yet today. Early mornings are HARD! Sometimes I wish I was a morning person.

Nathan and Bev are almost moved into their new house in Yakima and on Saturday I had their girls over. All the kids including Cam's best buddy, Ethan decided to make volcanoes in the backyard. They were all working out there for about 2 hours, they had so much fun. Kids just need a place to dig and get messy!

Hello to a new decade!

I am now closer to 40 than I am to 20...very scary! I had a great birthday though, it started with Mom and Emily really bringing it home with their "Happy Birthday" duet, thanks guys. Audrey kept telling me happy birthday and handing me some sort of trinket throughout the entire day. Devon told me I was OLD! My dear friends Natalie and Becky once again surprised me by decorating my front door with thoughtful notes about me, then later after tumbling class we met up at McD's to let kids play and enjoy lunch. I can't forget about the awesome birthday crown Nattie made for me! My other good friend Danae brought over some wonderful chocolates, and my friend and neighbor Marilyn gave me some pretty flowers. Then Bev and Nathan were so nice and came over to watch the kids while Troy and I went to Olive Garden. Mom, remember that necklace with the black pearl necklace? I'm not so sure you gave it me, somehow in high school it found its way around my neck and I've hung onto it ever since. Hope that's okay :) Before I got married the chain broke and I've had a hard time finding a similar chain...so after almost 10 years I have it around my neck again. Troy found a white gold chain and it looks really nice. What a nice husband! After dinner we came home, had cake and watched American Idol, what a great day!


Okay, I have to let you know that a major miracle took place the other night. I went to bed around 11 and woke up at 6:30. Straight through. Did not wake up once. I can't tell you the last time that's EVER happened. At least before Devon was born. Alex usually wakes up 2x's, sometimes once. This night the stars were aligned and he slept all night and the other kids all slept good. I always wake up even if they don't wake me up, either to use the bathroom or just because my body is so used to it. I was really confused when I woke up and looked at the clock. Ahh, if only that happened more often! I just had to let you know this small miracle in my life!

******Side-note********

The Office starts up with new episodes April 10th!!!! Life isn't the same without the gang.

more pics of the birthday girl!

Happy Birthday Brooke!!

well, since kate moved all our pictures around on out computer, this is the only one i could really find with brooke in it!! sad, we'll have to take some gamour shots of you when you come out, maybe glamour shots by deb...haha..anyways, Happy Birthday Brooke, we love you so much!! Let's all say what we love about Brooke!!

A weekend at 507 Union Ct....

As everyone probably can assume our house is the party house on the weekends...crazy yahtzee parties until the late hours of 8pm..dancing to great vine..getting slurpees! The excitment never stops here! hahahaha... Ok, i'm exaggetraing just a tad but here are some pictures from our last weeknd! A rousing game of yahtzee in which our brother dominated us!!! (this is also a great pic of trav..maybe we could just cut and paste and use this one for anyother family pics we ever take) :)

We went over to Ben's grandparents and travis couldn't decide if he loved or hated the turtle...he's a little unsure still in this picure...

I had to sneak a pic of dad watching battle star..his favorite passtime....

Travis and i getting slurpees!!..I know, he looks mad but...i'm pretty sure he wasn't...but ya just never know....

Between two jobs i did get to go out friday night with a friend!

Travis and i also went to petco and saw lizards and bought crickets, then we went to quizznos. Mom, dad and trav went to grandma's saturday night but i had to work....story of my life....anyways..it was a fun weekend, travis kept talking about how everyone is comin down!! He's super excited as am i!!

Birthday Pics!

Bev, Reagran, Danae, me,Tiffanie, Marilyn, Becky, Natalie

"The Chocolate Wall of China" I feel the need to let you know I didn't eat this whole thing myself. I did eat most of it...I hang my head in shame. I'm reminded of one of Jenny's birthdays when Susan was amazed at how much cake I put down. Some things never change. Although they probably should! It was Divine!

Cute party favors!

Inside invitation

Aren't these so cute? Natalie always comes up with the greatest ideas :)

A Birthday To Remember!

I have the most wonderful group of friends! On Friday night we went out on the town (NO children allowed!) to PF Changs! We all piled into one car and drove to Tri-Cities-first we stopped for 'drinks' at Sonic Burger then went to dinner. It was so fun to be there with my friends (if only my good friend Steph was still here!) and eat GREAT food! They all surprised me with a certificate to a day spa, so I am REALLY looking forward to that!
Apparently my computer is having trouble uploading pictures tonight, so I will try again later...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUffD7IFAXQ

so...i don't know if anyone watches american idol. i don't really, but i watched it once and this kid is amazing. he's 17- and he's actually from murray, utah. anyway, check out this link.

Trip to Hearst Castle

The weather was beautiful - not a cloud!

This was the indoor pool with 22 carat

gold mosaics and a diving platform.

These are some of the elephant seals

we saw. There were about 100 of them!

The pool and views from the castle

were incredible.

This is the hostel in Cambria we stayed in.

Here's so recent pics. I love this one of Lizzie chowin' down on her cantaloupe. This picture is like a role model for me on how to approach my eating....wait, where did she learn that from? Anyhoo, it cracks me up.

Whoever says my garden isn't sooo worth all the time and effort I put into it? Check out these carrots!! I know they're tiny, but they were actually really, really sweet and delicious!

For Valentine's Day I had preschool that day and we were going to make cookies, so I wanted Caitlin and Lizzie to get their cookies before that. What better time than after breakfast?

I hid them and they went on a little cookie hunt and found their cookies (not quite as big as the ones mom made us- I figure as they get older their cookie can get bigger).

This is Lizzie's birthday outfit from Grandma and Emily. She loves pockets!! No, it's not too early for T-shirts and shorts. Note the sunshine streaming in the windows- yes, it's that beautiful time of year when you can all be jealous I live in the desert. We're talking high 60's low 70's, baby!!

Can I mention yet again how excited I am for our girls' trip?? I find myself thinking about it everyday now!

the redeeming qualities of snow...and other activities

Although I basically hate the cold and therefore, the snow,
it does have it's benefits...

A few weeks ago, I went snow shoeing on a group date.
(date not pictured in this photo).

I finally made it snowboarding. Our ward went night skiing up
at Brighton. The snow was a little icy, but it was lots of fun.

No, I'm not getting married, but we made tp dresses at a bridal
shower and I was quite impressed with my friends abilities.
Check out the puffed-sleeves.

I had a little reunion with some old roommies down in Provo.
Our waiter was really concerned about making sure that nothing
on the table was showing in this picture.