Wicked- again!

My mom came to babysit for a few days for our Monterey trip, and we took the chance to drive to San Francisco and see Wicked together. Even though I had just seen it, I loved it so much that I wanted to go again with mom. We drove to Oakland and took the subway in. We got there early and walked around FOREVER, looking for a decent place to eat that wasn't over 25$ a plate. We found French restaraunts that were a bit too fancy of food for us, and another place that looked nice, but too expensive for what you got. Then we went to Carl's Jr. right by the theater and took one look at the bathroom and high-tailed it out of there. EEW! So we ended up getting fries and shake at BurgerKing. We laughed at how funny that was. We sure got our education while walking around- ended up in the red light district on accident, walked past crazies yelling swear words, homeless on the street, and transvestites. I think mom was ready to go back to Utah after that!
But the show was great and we had a fun time in the big city together! Thanks Mom! It was fun to have you come out and we were so grateful you could take care of our kids for a few days! Love ya!

Birthay girl's night out.

Ok, so some friends were ready for a girl's night out, and since it was close to some of our birthdays, we CELEBRATED! Also we lamented Gloria's moving :( We went to BJ's restaurant and had dinner, then the famous Pizookies! Then we went to Kohl's and went shopping until 11pm. The purses and clearance racks were a favorite spot. Naomi and I cracked up at what we tried on. Just doesn't fit the same after 5 babies (for me, anyway- Naomi looks great!) Thanks girls- we had a blast, can't wait until the next one! We missed you, Katie- you could have had your own Pizookie with the candle for your bday, too!

Sydney and I at the "Purse"uit of happiness Stake Activities Day Luncheon

On my Birthday, Sydney and I got to go to a fun luncheon put on by the stake primary. I just love those days when I get to spend 1 on 1 time with my kids. We had a great time! Especially loved the cupcakes!

"Dearie" performance...

I performed a lovely ditty in the stake talent show with a bunch of fun ladies from my ward. We dressed like elderly ladies and had such a fun time- I didn't have much time to get a costume together (thank goodness for old bridesmaid dresses), but we laughed so hard and had a good time- more in the practices than the performance! Thanks, J.C. for getting us together!

Bradley turns 12!

Bradley turned 12 on Valentine's Day. What a big day for him! We spent the day before going to lunch with him and shopping for a bike and new Sunday clothes for him for his birthday. Then on his birthday, Mike made a special dinner for him, complete with the kind of cake he wanted- angel food cake/strawberries/cream! As you can see, Mike really did a number decorating the cake for Bradley! It was fun. We especially enjoyed the special time we had Sunday when Bradley received the priesthood. Mike gave a great blessing, and we had some great people there. When he gave Mike a hug after, I wasn't sure if he'd let go. He is so glad to be growing up! We love you Bradley- you are one great kid!

Snow in California!? WooHoo!

We woke up to snow on the ground last Friday...I was sleeping and awoke to screams and heavy footprints of the little ones running around excited!
Nathan couldn't wait for me to help him...as you can see by the first picture, he threw on his coat first-over his pajamas, then his snow pants (backwards and not zipped, and straps hooked around the OUTSIDE of his coat), then shoes without socks. I cracked up when I went outside and found him like that. What a funny guy!




Addison watched with wonder from the window for a while, then had to get out for a bit.




The older two were busy in the front making this snowman (actually- it started as a snow WOMAN, but with a boy that age, I made them shave off the curves for the picture!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

We took the kids to Chinatown in SanFrancisco for the annual Chinese New Year Parade last week. They had a great time, especially Nathan, who had learned ALL about Chinese New Year at school. He went right up to some Chinese men playing Chinese checkers in the main square and said "Happy New Year" in Chinese. The Chinese man of course replied back, "Happy New Year" in ENGLISH! I had to laugh! Nathan was nevertheless thrilled.

Here is what we saw on the way down- hay bales shaped like tractors- Had to add this one for my daddy!


At the entrance of Chinatown...



Everyone thought this was funny, EXCEPT our resident animal activist-Sydney. She about died when she saw the chickens cooked with their heads on and displayed in the window. We didn't eat here!


Mike bought some Chinese New year cake from a street vendor and the kids gathered around to try it! Wasted $5- it was aweful! Not even our dessert loving kids could stomach it!

This restaurant was very busy, but they took our big family. The waitress didn't fake how exhausted and stressed she was. While we were deciding what to order, she just pointed at the menu and said, "Get that- for 5!", then took our menus in such a hurry, we weren't sure what we got. It was good, though! The kids taught Addison how to play drums with chopsticks and we had to put a stop to that after a few bad looks. And after a while working with the chopsticks, we had to finally ask for forks, so we could get to the parade in time!




The parade was crowded, but some nice people let us share their bench and we had a great time talking with them and their kids. The kids made everyone laugh with their loud and crazy cheering for the parade entries. It was 2 and 1/2 hours long. We stayed for an hour, then went walking around Chinatown to buy the kids the souvenirs they wanted. We caught the end of the parade on another street and saw some more Huge dragons and floats!

Trip to Aerospace museum

Last Saturday we went to the California Aerospace Museum. The kids loved it!
They especially loved climbing up into the cockpit of several planes, making paper helicopters and launching them, and playing "spaceship" on the playground.

Bradley's picture in the "Friend"

Only took 2 years- now he's almost 12, but he made it! He looked every month for a long time, checking if any of his pictures made it in. (Sneaky way of mom getting her kids to open the magazine, huh?)

Trip to the zoo and park

New Year's Pictures

We had a great time at Steve and T's house for New Years. Tanya was so sweet, even being sick, to plan some food and get out all the noisemakers, hats, etc for the kids. They all remember it and had so much fun. We loved playing, "BANG" for the nth time that week! It was fun to see Mike's family!