Whale Watching

I took a morning walk to beach. 

I told myself that I had to go to the beach everyday this week. Cause, if someone lived a 20 minute walk from the beach, wouldn't they go there EVERYDAY!?!?! YES! So that's what I'm doing. I went there last night too, 2.94 miles. I'm going to prove to myself that I am worthy to have a home 20 minutes from the beach someday. 

It was lovely, and filled my cup. So I just walked out of the resort and down the hill to Crystal Cove State park. I left at 6:10 this morning, walked 2.52 miles. Pretty K asleep in our fluffy bed when I got back. 

I got back in time for us all to get up and ready and out the door for our Whale watching excursion at 9am. 

I didn't know where it was, and got us in the line for the wrong "adventure" when Corey told me to go ahead with the kids while he and Brent parked the cars. They came and figured out where we were actually supposed to be, yay. The boat whale watching tour we had was smaller, but that was good, cause the one I got us in line for had a ton of tourists, most of which looked like they were in a junior high tour group. I get so disoriented on the water. I looked at Life360 to try and see where we were. I thought it was cute it had us on a boat. 

It felt like we were further out than this shows. The ocean was peaceful and quiet, and it was nice to be out and "doing something" even if it was just sitting on a boat. 

We didn't see any whales, but saw a pod of dolphins! They were close to the boat, and the captain followed them, so we saw them twice. It was kinda cold, so we went inside. 

Yay, some seals too.

Back at the Marriott, the kids went swimming. 

The Felix's boys were super sweet to play with Peter, and Katharine loved playing with their daughter. She's the same age as my girls, but siblings are old news... "Meh, we've swam with them before. Let's see what it's like swimming with these other people." Griff chasing Peter. 

I walked around the pool, and Peter would swim across the pool to where I was standing, then I'd go to a different corner, and he'd swim over there. I didn't get in to swim today, but I played with them that way. Then when it was almost sunset, Abi went to the store for stuff for s'mores. We visited by the firepit, and I ran down to try and see the sunset over the ocean. 

I decided I better go to the ocean again today cause we'll be heading out early to go to Six Flags tomorrow, and I might not get it in. On my walk back, I discovered some red edible looking fruit in the bushes. I googled it and am pretty sure I found it - carissa macrocarpa, aka natal plums. It said they are edible, so I picked as many as I could find (watch out for the thorns!) I felt a little silly foraging, but it was fun. The white milk that comes after you bite into them is a bit disturbing looking, so we'll see if I die. But I'm pretty sure they're safe. 

General Conference

I took a walk to the beach this morning. This shrub lines the south side of the Newport Coast Drive, and it smelled so pretty. I picked myself a small bouquet to enjoy today. 

I'm also challenging myself to a little contest, to see: "I lived 20 min from the beach, would go to the beach every day?" If the answer is "yes" then I have permission to move to a home 20 minutes from the beach. :) So I'm going to test myself. I bet I can do it! I like Crystal Cove and I like the ocean. 

So I enjoyed some solitude and quiet this morning, then came to my fun kids. 

Haha, Katharine was taking photos of them. 

They're awake and ready for fun! But today - the fun is listening to General Conference

It's not the most exciting activity, but they know it's good for our souls. I'm not sure how much they got out of it, but I enjoyed it. We did better listening today than we did yesterday. And Corey and I caught up a little bit too on the messages we missed yesterday. And we did really good in the last session, where it helped that Corey had a container of peanut MnM's that he passed out after each speaker. 

"Good job listening. What did they say?" "Jesus!" said Katharine. Good job.

Peter got one right. Looks like Owen missed out this round.

I was touched when President Nelson came on the screen for the last message of conference. He spoke on Confidence in the Presence of God., but what left the deepest impression upon me was just seeing him there looking so different than he has the past 4 decades. Just like all the apostles we've listened to and grown to love, and like every prophet who has served before him, we are seeing President Nelson age before our eyes, even as he seemed almost apologetic that his eyes are failing him. What a sweet humble servant of God.  

He is giving his life to God as he spends his life in service to all of us. They are not in this for power or money, as I hear many critics claim. I know they are simply trying to follow God and serve him, come what may. I look forward to listening to these messages again on our drive home. 

We had a BBQ with the Felix's after. Hamburgers and hot dogs, watermelon and ice cream sandwiches. Peter started talking to Sister Felix about Anacondas, and she was such a good listener and totally engaged with him, so much that he ran back to our room so he could put on his lizard pjs and be an anaconda in the bushes.

While they visited, I ended up following Katharine around. K checking out the surfboard.

I agree with Hyrum, who commented after seeing this photo - "That pose is legit." 

Then we watched the sun set from the lobby balcony. 

K found a bunny rabbit - do you see it by the far light post?

Peter said he wouldn't eat it (even though he is a hungry anaconda). Ok, time to head back. Ok, one more pic of Katharine. Strike a pose!

At the room, our kids and the Felix kids came and played card games and ate ice cream sandwiches.

I got the little kids ready for bed, unless they collapsed before I was able to. It was a long day for this toddler!

More fun coming tomorrow with a boat trip to go whale watching and then hanging at the resort and having fun at the pool. 

LA Angels

We've had a busy day. We just got back from an LA Angels Baseball game. 

It was the Angels vs. Cleaveland. The Angels won. Walking into the stadium. The Felix's treated us to the game. Bro Felix got red Angels' hats for everyone, fun!

The Angels hit a home run as soon as we all sat down. They were just waiting for us

Bro Felix ordered nachos for everyone too. Katharine liked the nachos, but didn't get the memo that it was a serving size for two. She didn't want to share, so I took her to a safe distance where her nachos would be protected from her siblings and I "shared" with her by letting her hold hers and mine (aka she got her own.) 

After K was done with her nachos, she was bored and wanted to walk up and down the stairs, which the ushers said was not allowed, so I took her up to the open walkways and followed her around the stadium for a good portion of the evening. There were fireworks after the show, and Katharine really liked that. It was a new experience for the kids and it was fun. 

We had a good drive into Newport today. We tried to listen to General Conference, but the reception wasn't great at we drove. We kept driving until lunch time, then we looked for a Costco. We found one close to the freeway in Yorba Linda. It's like our home away from home.

We had a lunch of pizza and ice cream, and a strawberry banana drink. Then I took the girls in and we got some groceries. Look at my good helpers as I was checking out, ha.

I stopped by Pavilions for a few more things on our way home after the game. We should be set for a few days? Although I always think that, but then they all think there is nothing to eat. Tomorrow we'll try to catch up with what we missed of General Conference today. 

Drive to Las Vegas

Hello. We are left today for spring break. We just got to Las Vegas so here's just a quick check in. It's late but we made it. I drove the whole way. We made it to St. George in daylight, got some dinner at In-N-Out (did you know that the whole city was in line at In-N-Out in St. George tonight??) then it was dark for the rest of the drive. Corey and I drove in his car (thank you to Freeway Transmissions for competent work). The kids were ALL in the van with Abi driving. It was nice to have it quiet for us, but I was praying they wouldn't crash and die. Esp in the Virgin River Gorge. That would be really sad and tragic. I sang the Killers the whole drive. Corey prob had more than his fix of the Killers, but it fits my vocal range, so I can sing and it helps me stay awake. So if I gotta drive, just be prepared, we'll be listening to the Killers (sometimes John Denver). NOTE TO SELF - Ok, so we always listen to "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" when we're driving into Las Vegas, and we like to have the first chorus part cue in right when the city lights come into view. I put these "notes to self" here in 2022, but didn't look it up before hand so I couldn't remember which milemarker it was. From my experience tonight: begin the music at mile 61 for the "Welcome to fabulous" chorus to start at milemarker 58-ish, ok!! I joked we needed to turn around to do it again so I could be sure, but I'll try to trust myself in the future to look up this post for reference before my next drive into Las Vegas. We are staying at the Worldmark. Katharine's got her baby, Daniel's got his teddy. 

Today I was blogging and blogging again, just trying to finish 2024 (ugh, so behind...) I finished 4 post in August 2024, I'm almost done! I wanted to finish the 2nd and 3rd weeks of Aug before I stopped, and I did, but since I felt so out of balance from blogging ALL day Wednesday and yesterday too, I HAD to get some exercise, so even though I hadn't packed yet (doh) I went bouldering at 1. I had to go climb cause the last time I went was on Tuesday AND cause I'm not going to be able to go all next week (well maybe I'll be able to go Sat night next weekend?) So I still have one more post for Aug 22-23 then I'm all done with August finally, yay. I'm done with Sept, Oct, and Nov, so then I just have December. It only took me 9 months to finally finish July. If it takes me 9 months to finish Dec, 2024 won't be done until September. I will try to finish it before then. Maybe I'll have time to blog on our trip?? Yeah, probably not. Goodnight.

Blog Blog Blog

Katharine is back, but I tried to keep up the momentum I got going yesterday, and today I've blogged and blogged and I'm almost finished with July 2024!!! And now I'm chipping away at August 2024, go me. September October and November are already done. I have been sitting way too much though and my hips can tell. I didn't go climbing this morning or on a bike ride (it's too cold!) or anything other than some splits stretching as I sat and a few handstands. I almost went to go see the Chosen this afternoon. "Almost" as in I thought about it and set a few alarms. But instead I blogged. Now it's 2pm, gotta go pick up Abi from school.

Ok, Abi called when I was 5 min into my drive and said she actually can get a ride, so then I turned around and came home, and K is upset with me now. So I distracted her with tortilla chips. It's hard trying to focus and get work done with K here. I'm glad I got so much done yesterday. Trying to finish a bit more, but K has kinda been driving me nuts! Blog blog... K is taking a bath now. 

I didn't watch the water level there very well. Another hour pass... I'm still at the computer. K is all clean and out of the tub now playing. 

I'm in the zone blogging. Blog blog blog. I have finished July '24! But ugh, I've blogged a bit too much and feel out of balance. I wish I could go on a ride but it's 40 degrees. We're leaving for California tomorrow. I think tomorrow night in Vegas? I haven't helped Corey plan this trip at all. But I'm keeping a family history. From my perspective. Of the lives of myself and the babies and toddlers at home. Maybe I should try to write more about the older kids and college kids. I will once I get on top of the basics/bare minimum that I am aware of, aka my life here at home. I hope they are keeping their own histories. Time for scriptures now. I took a pic of Katharine and Daniel playing kitchen cause I liked their little head scarves. Straight out of the Chosen!

I also like it when K cuts her kitchen toy cookies or fruit, the Melissa and Doug kind that stick together with velcro. It's cute. Corey worked late, and as for me I kept avoiding all responsibilities to blog, so we didn't do scriptures down stairs on the screen, just me reading upstairs on the landing. Sophi took a pic of me reading. I guess this is my resting/reading face.

And a pic of herself. 

I've started reading them fun short stories in a book by President Monson that I got thrifting "Consider the Blessings". The kids really like it! They are good and short stories of testimony that are amazing. Corey's home now. Good blogging day! I finished July, wonder of wonder miracle of miracles. Kids are headed to bed and us too. I still want to try and finish blogging last year. I won't be able to finish December, I have a few weeks missing there, but I did quite a bit of Aug today too and now I only have like one more week to do to finish August, yay. Sep Oct & Nov are all done, so then I'll focus on December. Maybe I will be able to finish Dec in California. Ok, goodnight. (I need to pack!)

Katharine in Provo

Well, today was a very unique day for me. I took Katharine down to Utah County last night for a sleepover with Ethan and Bella. I miss her! But with Katharine gone all day, I had a whole like 7 hours to myself! Corey left when he took Churchill carpool, so after I got the boys out the door at 8:30, I was all alone. It was strange for me, as a mom, but really great. I loved it actually. I had a goal to blog. And I did. I caught up on a lot of March and did a little bit of July 2024, which I have been behind on since, let me see... since July 2024. I did not finish it yet but I'm close! Thanks Ethan and Bella for helping me with my goal of keeping a family history. Corey took Lily down to Provo for a concert, so Lily didn't come home after school. Abi popped in briefly at 3 and then left to go work for my parent's. Sophi and Natalie stayed after school for track. So they weren't home until after 4, and the boys got home at 4, but also left right away to go play with friends. I was by myself from 8:30 AM until 4 PM basically and it's been pretty quiet since 4 too. It is a bit strange to think that that is what some people's lives are like. And that someday mine will be like this too? The plan is for Corey to pick up Katharine after Lily's concert/performance is over. It's 8pm and they are not on their way back yet, but I suspect they will be soon. From the videos and photos Ethan sent, it looks like they had a great day together. He sent a few videos to our messenger chat of him throwing her in the air onto a lovesack. They also watched the Bee Movie and walked around BYU with K in her Belle nightgown. 

It is one of her many dresses. I sent her with three nightgowns/dresses in her luggage: Belle, Snow White, and Moana. They found a fun playplace on campus for her to explore.

K didn't attend class with Ethan. But as they continued their tour of campus, K got a pic with Cosmo.

Katharine seemed concerned that he was frozen solid.

And where are his shoes?? He shouldn't have human feet, should he?

Ethan said it was super fun and that K is really cute. Bella also sent a pic of Ethan gagging as he changed her #2 diapers. Don't worry, E, they don't start off that potent. Your newborn will start off with more mild #2 and slowly work you up to it.

We are going out of town for Spring Break. We are leaving Friday for Las Vegas then will drive from Vegas to Newport on Saturday. Corey's worked hard at making plans for this trip. He does a good job. The kids are lucky to have him. If he ever dies, I'll need someone else to step up to make vacations happen, cause I don't think I could do it. It's all too much. He's found deals to go to Six Flag and whale watching and we're going with some neighbors, and they are treating us to a baseball game. We'll be there through Friday the 11th. On the 11th we'll drive and spend that night in Vegas again, then try to make it back for Bella's baby shower on Saturday. 

FHE at Leatherby's

We didn't have FHE yesterday, cause we were going to have it today. We told the kids that today we were going to go see The Chosen for $5 Tuesday. Well, I drove to the Cinemark around 12:30 to buy our tickets, and it was then that I learned that the Chosen is not part of the $5 special. Thus, at $12.50  a ticket, it would cost over $120 for the 10 of us. Yeah, we don't want to do that. Which was a bummer cause we had talked it up. After not buying tickets to the movie, K and I headed out to Skyline to get Abi. We had an hour to kill though, and K wanted ice cream, so I took her into Macey's. She liked driving in the car. I bought some sushi for lunch for me. 

Walking out of Macey's.

She's cute. Still had 30 min to kill, so I took sushi to Corey. He didn't eat much, and so I saved the last two pieces for Abi. What else shall we do to make it up to the kids? It's really important to Corey that we "do stuff that the kids like for FHE so that they'll look forward to it and participate". I picked up Abi at school and took her to the bus so she could go to her flute lesson. I let her know the bad news and good news (actually 2 bad news and 2 good news). Bad news: We aren't going to a movie for FHE. More bad news: since we aren't going to the movie, Grandpa won't be picking you up, so you'll be riding the bus home. Good news though: I'll take into consideration your suggestions for something else to do for FHE. Good news also, I brought you two pieces of sushi. As Corey had predicted, she suggested Leatherby's. Also during this time, Ethan reached out asking if Katharine could sleep over. I was a little nervous, or am a little nervous, just not sure how she'll do when it's time to bed and she's not at home. I asked K if she wanted to go see Ethan and Bella, she said yes, and then she cried when we got home cause she wanted to go see Ethan Bella. I told her we had to get her blanket and pack pack. So we went inside and gathered things into an Ikea bag. Then she entertained herself playing with a bottle family: blue Listerine as the dad, large pink pepto as the mom, and smaller pepto as "Katharine" (not "the baby"). Who needs dolls when you have bottles of medicine and toiletries to play with. 

I went to pick up Sophi and Natalie at school (today was the first day of track), then back home again, then pick up Abi at the bus stop, and then it was 5:30, which was the time I told Ethan that I could brink K to them. They left around the same time, we met up in Pleasant Grove and Katharine is with them for the next 24 hours, sniff. She looked super cute in this pic Ethan sent of them going out to eat for dinner. Aww, my baby.

I miss her! But I'm really going to use my time wisely tomorrow to get stuff done! (Not cleaning, cause I can have kids do that. I shall be blogging). So I got back from taking K, I was tired after so much time in the car and had to lay down for quick power nap. Then we went to Leatherby's. Corey had a meeting at 7pm though, and then another meeting at 8. The kids were getting a little stir crazy. We decided to get in the car and go drive to where Corey was at the Stake Center, and wait in the parking lot for him to come out. Then we counted heads and realized Lily was not with us. She was still asleep on the couch. I go wake her up. It takes a moment for her to come too. As she got on her shoes, Corey pulled in. Ok, off we go. I did not partake of any of the food at Leatherby's. I even resisted the fries. And remembering the gluttony last time, I consulted with the blog and found said gluttonous post of our outing to Leatherby's last year for Corey's birthday. I announced: "You may each order 'the Gavin'." It was $5. That was how much we were going to spend on the movie tickets. Anything above $5 bucks you pay yourself. Sophi and Natalie asked if they could pool their $5 together and order something to share. Yes. 

Abi just ordered what she wanted, and so she owes us $2.29 extra. 

Owen is watching his figure apparently and didn't want ice cream. He decided the kid's menu burger and fries was a better option for him and his future athletic career. 

That was a dollar extra, but we'll cover that cause you are trying to be healthy. Peter with his mint and oreo ice cream, Daniel next to him with Cookie Monster flavor (it was blue). 

Lily got the Gavin - raspberry cheesecake flavor. 

We talked a little bit about things that happened today. Abi brought up: "Sushi isn't good for you if you're pregnant..." I said "Shoot..." She gave me such wide eyes and I could tell was freaking out for about 3 seconds, and I was laughing, then she realized it was an April Fools joke, that I did not plan on, it was just a spur of the moment tease since she made a comment about pregnancy. Funny. 

As we walked out of Leatherby's, Owen asked "Am I the healthiest kid?" (cause he didn't order ice cream.) Yes, you are very healthy! Peter piped up "Well atleast I am the only kid who enjoyed it!" 'cause he ate so slowly. He was the only kid who brought home leftovers. I always tell them when they are eating treats to eat it slowly and enjoy each bite. Peter was proud of himself for following that counsel. After we got home, we drew names again for "Secret Sibling" for this week. I didn't do much for Peter last week, the week went by too quickly! This week I'll try to do him again plus the person I got for this week (Daniel).

One other fun thing. This morning I went to the temple for 5 am initiatories with my mom, and then I left in time to meet my sister Beka at Momentum. She used our guest pass to try out the climbing gym. We did a few boulders and I belayed her on a 5.6, she did really good! I always like sharing climbing. I find it very fun.