A few more pictures from the Zoo

Sweet cousins. Love Sarah's elephant pants.

I was very happy with how the tiger face turned out. Pretty girl.

Marianne of course hung out with the boys the whole time. She's just one of the boys!

Beau and Mikey, wild crazy loud boys.

Looking at the giraffes...Now turn and look at me! CLICK!

The zoo baby takin shares a name with Beau!

We were actually all in this same spot years ago when the baby rhino Chomper was introduced to the public.

Don't feed the tigers, Grandpa!

On the playground.

Amy visits NM

Amy and Mike brought their kids to New Mexico for a cheap adventurous spring break. They also brought our other sister Amanda's daughter Madison along so she could enjoy some girl cousin time. Madison and Sarah were super sweet to Marianne. Madison brought her this super cute shrug, and Sarah picked out her clothes. 

Amy is expecting her fifth baby this June. She's torturing us all by not finding out the sex. We decided to tackle an easy sewing project and made these booties for the baby. It was simple enough, but then Luke and Mikey and Jacob all wanted booties in their size. And not just slippers, but booties just like these but bigger. It took a little pattern enlarging and tweaking, but eventually Luke had a wearable pair of super soft slippers. I didn't finish Mikey's while he was here, a fact that he reminded me of daily.

I think I've mentioned how Marianne idolizes Joshua and Luke. She adores them, loves them, wraps them around her little finger. Here is Joshua showing Marianne his Clash of Clans game.

They were all lucky enough to be here for St. Patrick's day. We ate lots of green food and had a wonderful feast of corned beef and cabbage and soda bread and mint brownies.

All the girls stayed with me that night while the boys went to Los Lunas. We rented "Annie," which was fantastic, stayed up late, ate popcorn, had a dance party, and sang all of our favorite Annie songs several times over. Thankfully they were just as kind in the morning and they all slept in, even Marianne.

In the morning we met up with everyone at the zoo. Before we left, I told the girls I'd paint their faces like animals. Bekah picked a tiger, and Madison and Sarah were butterflies/fairies. Marianne was a lion. I almost felt bad later when Bekah related to me that a little girl and her mother had seen their painted faces and the mom had promised that she'd let her daughter get her face painted too. Maybe I should set up shop at the zoo!

It was a slightly cloudy day that eventually gave way to a drizzle, but it was not cold, and the animals were entertaining enough.

Amy and Mike, both carrying some weight...

By this point - the train ride back to our vehicles - each and every one of the kids was fed up with picture taking. So I tricked them into this one. I said just stand in a line, youngest to oldest. No pictures. And then I took their picture anyway. That's why Sarah and Bekah are looking so betrayed.

After this picture was taken, Joshua said he'd like to run on the trail back to the zoo instead of taking the train. I said I'd accompany him, because I was in running shoes, and despite being in jeans. We had a lovely run, not much more than a mile, beat the train, and wound up running around to the front of the zoo because we couldn't get in the same way as the train. Joshua was very nice to me and didn't run too fast.

Piedra Lisa Trail with the Ludingtons

A few weeks ago we took some time to go on a hike on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Carla, Doug and their kids came with us, along with two other excellent hiker boys that we picked up to come along and motivate our own children to hike well. We had intended to hike a different trail, but because of a series of events that delayed our departure (including a few minutes to dance on the sidewalk to Maroon 5's "Sugar" while waiting for the boys), we wound up taking a closer trail. Piedra Lisa trail is just a fifteen minutes away from our house, and while it was a little steep, it was a beautiful hike.

 I stayed at the rear with Carla and the slower kids. Rus and Doug were somewhere in the middle with the bulk of the kids, and the older kids were who-knows how far ahead of all of us. We enjoyed critical glances from passing hikers at the brood of eleven children that we were herding up the mountain. It was really fun to just enjoy a leisurely hike with the slower kids while visiting with Carla. She is a wise, wonderful friend and mother.

 I can't believe how stunning the colors are in this picture. It really was a beautiful day! A sad side note: As we were hiking the trail, in fact the whole time we were hiking the trail, a search and rescue helicopter seemed to be hovering and circling the top of the mountain. I learned a few days later that while we were enjoying our hike far below, a 17-year-old girl had stepped over the railing at a trail on the peak of the mountain (to get a better view), slipped on an icy patch, and fallen to her death. So sad.

 Marianne was a walking fashion statement on our hike. Bear shirt, leggings, and fluffy skirt with hiking shoes. Rus made me stop and get a picture of him and her, saying, "she's just too cute."

 And she kissed him...

I'm so grateful for my family and for beautiful places!

Trip to Mesa

When I mentioned to Rus that I wanted to go to Mesa for the weekend of my mom's birthday, cousin's wedding, and sister in law's baby shower, he quickly and endearingly suggested that I go alone, without the kids. I was happy to oblige, and after arranging babysitting for Wednesday (he had Friday off work already, and took Thursday off as well), packing my bags, and finding food that he could feed the kids, I was off! I went with my parents, which made the whole trip infinitely more satisfactory.

Here's a view from the truck near Pie Town, NM.

We did lots of fun things in Mesa! We stayed with Tyler and Gina. I woke up at 5am to run with Tyler before he went to work, that's how much I love him. Gina, my mom and I went to the nail salon later that day and had our toes painted. Gina is due in less than a month with her first baby - a boy! I couldn't be happier for her and Tyler!
The next day we made the trip to Ikea because we love it so much. Grandma went with us, and Dad was seduced by the incredible comfort and low price of this chair. I love that he is framed in a halo of light, with the price clearly displayed above him.

On Saturday, my Mom's birthday, we went to a few flea markets to find beautiful old rusty metal parts. We have big plans for old rusty metal parts. The first place was a bust, although they had the most delicious freshly baked cinnamon rolls. The second place was a gold mine. Why, oh why am I so easily seduced by old, used, worn things?

Proof of my part in the trip - waiting for dad to bring the truck around...

Also on my mom's birthday, we went to my cousin's wedding reception. "Reception" is stretching it a bit...It was more accurately a beautiful, casual park day with delicious catered tacos and addictive oreo-cream-filled cupcakes. Oh and there were lots of family members there as well. Here I am with my uncle Casey. My dad lost his 'stache and Casey found his.

Here is the happy couple: Ty and Alisa. Alisa actually served her mission in Arizona! She is from Canada. Several people from her mission were able to come to the "reception." Very cool.

My stunning mom and grandma! I love these ladies!

Gina went to her baby shower outside Tucson earlier in the day, that's why she's looking so cute in this pic. Sarah is going to be a big sister again later this summer - my sister Amy is expecting!

See? My dad, clean shaven, and my uncle Casey with his mustache. Oh how facial hair makes life interesting. It's a nice variation from talking about the weather (which was beautiful by the way).

My sister Amanda asked me to take some pictures of her kids. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to take this picture of the kids not being goofy. Notice how the arms are blurry? It's because they were always moving! Left to right - Madison, Hayden, Taylor, and Preston. Taylor is graduating high school this year! He is to-the-day 15 years older than Marianne - they share a birthday!

Grandma made my mom an amazingly scrumptious coconut cake. It was so good I didn't even have a chance to take a picture of it before Tyler ate it all and then licked the plate...Well maybe he had some help...

It was a WONDERFUL trip! And coming home was great too. Bekah cleaned the house and made me a cake while Rus and the other kids came to meet me so my parents wouldn't have to drive all the way up to my house. All the kids were delighted to have me back because I brought them each clip on lamps from Ikea. Rus made burgers, I slept in my own bed, and all was well.

Hike Up Hidden Valley

We took advantage of a Saturday a few weeks ago to go for a hike. Bekah was off with a friend, so it was just the three kids, Rus and I. 

Marianne did a great job, especially considering the steep, rocky wisp of a trail that we were following.

Beau and Jacob are natural hikers, although Jacob couldn't seem to stand our slow, slow pace. He was a yell away most of the hike.

And he and Beau climbed every boulder they could along the way!

Squishy cheeks, Dates, and Bugs...

Marianne and I have the wonderful honor of watching Miss Lydia Bug on a regular basis. We love her squishy cheeks and how she loves to squish other people's squishy cheeks. Marianne adores her.

Jacob received his Wolf! He's such a big kid. Have I mentioned how I don't really love cub scouts? Probably not because that might be offensive...But I don't.

Rus took the girls to a ward Daddy Daughter party. He requested that they be dressed up with their hair done special, and in return promised to wear a button up shirt. They had a great time! They danced, played games, and ate lots of snacks. Marianne threw up later that night and Rus the next night and the rest of us had the same affliction for several more nights.Too bad those two memories are intertwined...

Chip and Emilee visited that same weekend. We took care of them, fed them, Marianne did Chip's hair, and when they went home they took a bit of our stomach bug with them. I still feel bad...

Any tips for keeping a stomach bug from turning into an epidemic? Yuck.

Seeing Old Friends and Why I Stress Out at Fieldtrips

Can you believe that I lucked upon a brief visit with my college friend Tami as her family traveled from Phoenix to Kansas? I was so happy to see her, and her family who had swollen in numbers from two kids to five with one more on the way. Tami and I would be the very best of friends if we lived in the same town as each other!

Here is an awesome diorama that Jacob made for his "Spirit Animals" book report. I helped with the making the clay animals, but he put the whole thing together. He was so, so proud of it!

We went on a walk a few days ago and I couldn't resist this incredibly cute picture of Rus and his baby girl. He was helping her up quite a hill in this picture. Marianne is a surprisingly talented scooter operator!

Last Wednesday was "Mustache Day" at school. Bekah wanted hers to be curly, classic and sparkly, while Beau didn't want to wear a mustache. But he did want the pet snake on his arm to wear one.

I was able to chaperone Beau's field trip last week. We went to the aquarium and botanical gardens. I find chaperoning field trips to be terrifying and exhausting, especially when I have my extra little hoodlum to keep an eye on. (Never judge a mother who has leashed her child. She, unlike the rest of us, has simply come to terms with the fact that she is powerless to keep her child from leaving her arm's-length invisible-perimeter.)
Anyway, here's my well-behaved little group. I love that Beau's friend, the one with the black glasses, does not actually need glasses. He just loves wearing them, and adopted these empty frames from a 3D movie. I wonder if he wants to be like Beau?

The last time we hung out with my parents, Bekah asked my dad to help her build a jewelry box. And he did! He built a beautiful box with her out of poplar, complete with a handy little tray inside. She was ecstatic. He's such a wonderful grandpa!