Mini Vaycay!

My husband decided to be spontaneous and book us a little mini vaycay at the Tahiti Village in Las Vegas.  The boys had a 4 day weekend over Memorial Day so it was a good time to go have some fun.  We only stayed for 2 nights so that we could be back for church but that was ok.  It almost didn't happen for Kyle and I because Wednesday afternoon he came down with a pretty high fever.  He was up during the night with fever of 103 and it was a really rough night.  We decided that since the hotel was already paid for and none refundable that Don would take the boys in Thursday afternoon when they got out of school and I would stay home with Kyle and hope and pray that he would get better so we could come in on Friday.  His fever stayed until Thursday evening and didn't come back.  He had no other symptoms but the fever so it was a little strange.  Don and the boys left around 4 for Vegas, checked into the hotel and then headed right for the pool.  They hung out there for a while, ordered some of the food from the pool side restaurant and the ordered pizza later that night while watching movies.  They got up Friday morning and went to breakfast at Denny's which was right on site and then went back to the pool.  Kyle was much better Friday morning so we headed in about 11:30, made a stop at Target and then met up with Don and the boys around 1:30.  We hung out at the lovely pool and the kids had a great time.  Kyle especially loved the sandy beach entry area where there were lots of sand toys to play with.  The kid was fearless though and kept walking farther and farther out into the water until he would fall over.  We had to be right by him the entire time because he would just go right under.  He was pretty good about knowing to flip himself over though.  Kyle and I stayed at the pool until about 4:30 and by then he was pretty worn out and I was getting worried about him getting sunburned.  After a really thorough bath to get all the sunblock and sand off him, he proceeded to tear up the hotel room and call papa on the phones.  I ended up just unplugging them and letting him play with them rather than trying to keep him away from them.  Don and the boys stayed at the pool and went to play in the lazy river for a while longer.  When they came back to the room we ordered dinner from the hotel restaurant for me and Kyle and then Don and Caleb went to Cane's just across the way for chicken strips.  We spent a relaxing evening doing nothing and the boys were actually asleep pretty early, Kyle barely made it to 8:30.  With the dark curtains in the room we were able to sleep to all of 8:45 before Kyle woke up.  Funny side note-I was having a hard time going to sleep and so at about midnight I asked Don for an ambien.  I took a whole one-big mistake-apparetly Kyle woke up around 1:30 and I hardly remembered it.  We had a lovely conversation while Kyle was up tossing and turning for about an hour and a half.  Don told me about it the next morning.  He finds those midnight conversations pretty funny.  The next morning we got up, cleaned up and packed up and went down to breakfast at the Denny's right there at the hotel.  I remembered Denny's as always being cheap and not as tasty but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food really was. After breakfast we loaded up and headed across the street to where the outlet mall was. I hadn't been there in years and years.  It was very crowded but it was huge!  We shopped for a while until Kyle had had enough. Don took Cayden and Kyle home and Caleb and I finished some shopping at Costco and Walmart.  We also dropped off an ankle brace for Elder Lane who had been transferred just few days before.  It was a really nice surprise mini-vacay.  

Cinco De Mayo

We had a delicious feast on Cinco De Mayo this year.  Cody picked up some carne asada at the mexican market in Mesquite on Saturday night.  We made salsa and guacamole, black beans and tortillas and margarita flavored crystal light.  I wasn't sure what to do for dessert so I made the topping for Kansas krunch and we called it fried ice cream.  Cayden did the chicken dance, Caleb serenaded us with his guitar and Kyle made a mess with his dinner.  Arriba!

The Big 42

Don turned 42 on May 20. We celebrated with lasanga for dinner and banana cake and presents. On Saturday night he and I went to dinner and a movie-Star Trek. 

Connor wrapped Don's present in toilet paper.

The official birthday hat.

This looks like skis but is really a shovel and a rake.  

We love our dad!

Chug a Lug with the Missionaries

We love our missionaries! This was May 20, the night before Elder Lane got transferred. They came over to visit and Connor wanted a chug-a-lug contest with gatorade. We made them do it on the porch!  We must have fed them something but I can't remember what it was!  I am so glad these guys feel comfortable in our home and come and see us when they can.  We try to feed them once a month but we have to take turns with other people in the ward!  They have called a few times when they have gotten cancelled on for a dinner appointment and we hurry and find them something to eat!  We definitely miss Elder Lane but are glad he is serving so well to get a "promotion" to district leader!

New Calling

So after only being in the Primary presidency for about 10 months I got called into the Relief Society presidency as 2nd counselor.  I am a bit unnerved and feel very inadequate for this calling.  I have been the secretary 4 times-3 times in Primary and 1 time in Relief Society and while those were busy jobs and had alot of paper work, I felt very good at doing that because it was easy for me.  I am organized and can stay on top of things and I can type out lists like nobody's business!  While I felt very capable and comfortable being the secretary I sometimes wondered if that was all I was good for.  Well I guess I am not just a secretary anymore but this new calling has me a little concerned.  Mostly because I have to figure out and plan the RS activities and the previous sister who was the 2nd counselor went way above and beyond with decorating and fancy stuff.  I don't do that kind of thing so I feel I will be unable to fill those shoes!  It will be a new and interesting challenge.  Our president is as good as they come and incredibly organized and already so on top of things so that is a bonus!  

Breaking and Entering.

Connor was working with Grandpa a few weeks ago and they went up to Warm Springs to clean a building. When they got there the doors were all locked even though Grandpa had made arrangements for the doors to be unlocked before they got there.  So Grandpa had Connor climb through a window that had been left unlocked so he could let them in.  Of course the alarm went off and Connor about flipped!  He was convinced that they were going to jail!  Usually if an alarm goes off in a building the alarm company calls the business and asks for code to turn it off remotely or if no one answers they send the police.  Grandpa answered the phone and told them what had happened and everything was fine but Connor was just sure that they coming to haul them away for breaking and entering!

Father and Sons' Campout

The campout was April 25-26 at Whitney Pocket.  This is the first year that Connor has gone with our ward for anything in a long time and Don actually hadn't taken the boys on this campout for a few years.  The Elders Quorum had to cook breakfast and so that was right up Don's alley and since he is in the presidency they basically put him in charge.  Connor loves to cook at any event he can so that was good for him.  They made huge breakfast burritos with eggs, sausage, potatoes, green chilis, salsa and cheese.  The motto for Father and Sons should be "what happens at Father and Sons, stays at Father and Sons"!!  There are always many stories the boys some home with from camping and most of these their dad tries to get them not to tell me mostly because I may be a little concerned that their safety was not first priority   This year's story involves getting chased by a bull.  Connor and Caleb went on a 4-wheeler ride with Brother Jackson and his boys.  They were going down a road and kind of in a canyon when they came upon a bunch of cattle.  On their return trip they saw them again but this time there was a bull and he was none to thrilled with their presence.  He started coming toward them and you can imagine the words coming out of Connor's mouth!  A few choice 4-letter words starting with S and D.  He seriously about wet himself.  Brother Jackson had them go up on the sides of the canyon walls a little bit so the bull could not get them and they hurried right out of there!  Cayden visited many campfires the night before just chatting with several of the men mostly asking for stories.  Cayden also go incredibly sunburned.  Not because there was no sunscreen but because there was none applied to his body.  He could not bend his legs Sunday morning to the point that he got to stay home from church and then he missed school on Monday as well because he was walking like a hunched over old man!