Swimming

On Monday night my parents stopped by on their way home from Vegas. They enjoyed some yummy dinner with us and then we all went swimming. (Well they went swimming, it was too called for Claudia and I.) The water was FREEZING!!! My dad jumped right in and so Charles followed. He is still wearing a life jacket these days, and Madison is too! It is great, they can be totally independent in the pool without me worrying about them especially now that I have Claudia too. The pool started feeling a little too cold so they all got in the hot tub. John told Charles to take off his life jacket since the hot tub is shallow enough for Charles to touch. After some convincing he finally took off his jacket. He figured out that we were telling the truth and he enjoyed walking around the hot tub. John suggested he try swimming across the hot tub to grandma with his face in the water. He did and it was too hot. So he jumped out of the hot tub and ran to the pool (instinctively because that's what he does) and jumped right in. NO LIFE JACKET ON!!!! We all freaked out a bit and started running towards him. The distance between the pool and hot tub is about 10-15 feet. My mom was the first one to get there and before she even jumped in he was already at the top of the water paddling around as if nothing was wrong. Well she jumped to get him and the water splashed in his face and he freaked out because we all were freaking out. He didn't even notice that he did not have his life jacket on. I think it is time to start working with him so he can swim with NO life jacket. I know he can do it. He proved it to us (unintentionally of course.) He is just scared!

LOVE/hate

I have a LOVE/hate relationship with couponing. Sometime I feel like I spend way too much time trying to get the BEST deals. Sometimes it totally stresses me out and I wonder if it is even worth it. Sometimes my kids DO NOT cooperate in the store making it even more difficult to make sure I am getting what I planned on getting to make it a great deal. 

But then there are shopping trips like the one yesterday that was AWESOME!!!! The kids did great. We were in and out quickly and I saved over $60!!! Woo Hoooo

I got all the above items for only $14.88. 

6 bags of Snyder's Pretzels (the best pretzels but usually out of my price range.)

2 jars of mayo

4 lbs. of strawberries (oooh they are soooo YUMMMMY!)

and 12 boxes of pasta (I actually got paid .12¢ to take the pasta home!!)

We even went to Rite Aid and got paid 75¢ to take home 3 tubes of Crest Pro Health tooth paste.

Ok, maybe it is really worth all the time and stress!!!!

On the move

Claudia has officially started crawling. In a matter of 3 weeks she has learned to move from tummy or back to the sitting position and vice-versa. She also pulls herself to standing. Making nap and bedtime a NIGHTMARE!!! She gets herself standing and then gets stuck. She is not crawling very fast yet but when she sees something she wants she will get it. Now I have to make sure to keep the floors super clean.

The Easter Bunny Comes Early

The Easter Bunny was so thoughtful and kind this year he decided to come and bring the kids their baskets early. He knew we would be going on our family vacation and thought the kids could use their gifts early. What a smart Easter Bunny. The kids were very surprised to find a note on the TV on Friday morning (April 1st) that was from the Easter Bunny. 

 

He told them that he knew they would be going on vacation and thought they could use some gifts to take. The kids were very excited. Charles and Madison found their baskets (the Easter Bunny hides them at our house) and then they found Claudia's. They were so excited. Their baskets had swimming goggles, bubbles, washable markers (THANK YOU Easter Bunny, I was having a hard time getting the non-washable markers off their hands.) Madison was SUPER excited because the Easter Bunny brought her a NEW princes piggy bank. (You will remember she broke the last one. See here.) The only downside to the Easter Bunny coming early was that Daddy was a work. 

Bitter Sweet

Almost 3 weeks ago I was released as the Relief Society President. I've had a LOT of mixed emotions. When we got home from church 4 weeks ago there was a message on our answering machine. It was from the Stake Executive Secretary and it was for John. A member of the Stake Presidency wanted to meet with both of us. I literally laughed out loud and knew there were some big changes in store. A member of our bishopric moved out of the ward and so we all knew that there would be a replacement. Some people in our ward were speculating that the replacement would be John. But I thought for sure they would leave me as RS president since I had only been in the calling for about a year. During the hours leading up to our meeting with the Stake Presidency member we kept guessing what it would be. We both hoped that it would be a call for John to be the Ward Finance Clerk. (His ALL time favorite calling.) And we really hoped it would NOT be a call for John to serve on the High Council. (I don't think I am ready for that.) But we both sorta knew that is was for John to be called to serve in the Bishopric. And of course it was!!!!! Which meant that I would be released because of our young family. The member of the stake presidency said something that I thought was great, he said Elder Cook came to our stake several years ago and said something along these lines... Do Not make functional families Dysfunctional by overwhelming them with demanding callings. Which I thought made perfect sense, although I really wasn't ready to be released. I felt like I was finally starting to understand the program and my presidency and I were finally heading in a good direction making some great progress. But I know that the Lord has a plan for John and our family. I know that I was called for a reason, even though I did not serve very long. I have grown to LOVE the Relief Society. Something I was not very familiar with since I had not really been too involved (I served in YW and Primary all my married life until we moved to Riverside.) But I now LOVE the program and know without a doubt it is an inspired program for all Sisters. I got the chance to share my testimony with all the sisters in my ward and to get to know so very many of them as I served them. I'm not sure what the Lord has in store for me now. But I do know that John will be great!!!! And I will stand by him and cheer him on and give him all my love and support as I cling to my father in heaven for support as we move forward in this new adventure.

New Year's Eve

Since we were finally in our own place for New Years we decided to have a party with some friends. It was a bit crazy having so many kids in the house but I think everyone had a good time.

 

Student of the Month

Charles was the STUDENT of the MONTH for March!!!

We are so VERY proud of him. Charles is a great little man. He is so well behaved (most of the time) and is so good at keeping you on your toes. His teacher Mrs.Ortiz says he is such a big helper and is constantly improving in all areas.

My mom got to come with me to the awards assembly since her school was on spring break. And she was nice enough to watch my girls so that I could have lunch with Charles. That is one of the rewards that the children get for being student of the month. I asked Charles what he wanted for lunch and he said, "You know what I like, surprise me." So funny!  

He is so laid back and not too opinionated and Madison is total opposite. She ALWAYS has an opinion.

We are so excited that Charles has received this award!!!! 

You may not see me sporting the sticker on my bumper, sorry I've never really been into putting stickers on my car. But we are SOOO to proud!!!