Swim Lessons @ Cal High

Tuesday was the first official day of group swimming lessons for Gavin, Colby and their friend Kady! It was a little chilly watching and I thought the kids were going into hypothermia when they finally got out of the pool. It was a success in that there were no tears, fights or drownings.

I wish I could hear what Colby was telling the pool manager. She looks like he is giving her a full run down on what he is about to do.

I imagine Colby is explaining that he is an expert swimmer always has and will be.


Gavin had a little blow to his ego when Colby was first placed in a level 3 and he was in a level 2 class. He got moved up into Colby's class after a full' demonstration of his 'skills'. I think they are moving him into level 4 but we will see Thursday.

I think all three are in this picture but you can't see the boys. Kady is out in front.

Kady had a lot to offer her teachers. Floating...

and gliding. Nice Job Kady!

Easter Sunday

Before Church because we knew it was our only chance.


Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Boyer and The Halls
Mazzy fell asleep on the way home from church to dinner and did not wake up happy. Picking flowers always seems to cheer her up. However she doesn't pick them and keep them nice she fully picks each petal off.

This is Mazzy's idea of an egg hunt.

Colby takes it a little more seriously!



Gavin was frustrated that the smaller kids were getting help. Whenever an adult called a little kids name to show them an egg, Gavin was there in a heartbeat. He did fine on his own.



Mazzy finally cheered up by the end of the hunt.

Spring Break!

I am not as efficient as I was once at posting. That is not saying much because I have never been great. Oh well, here are pics of what we have been doing when our van hasn't been in the shop, I am not surfing the internet for short-sales or foreclosures, it is not raining outside, or we are bored with bothering our downstairs neighbors in our favorite apartment!

Making messes frosting Easter Cookies with friends and family.

Mazzy happy to pick on someone smaller than her.

Gavin, Mazzy and Hailey doing lunch.

Trying to get all three kids together for a picture.

Gavin showing me how he is ready for more responsibility.

Colby doing his solo routine.

Gavin and Mazzy sharing a swing.

Mazzy on being a Mazzy!

Loralee, and the terrible horrible no good very bad weekend!

Note: This is going to be long and tedious so you may not want to bother. It is definitely more for me than you!

Troy left for a man ski trip around 12:00 pm on Friday. He wasn't planning to leave until 2:00 pm, so I asked him if he could pick up Gavin at Kindergarten and drop him off at home. He told me he could drop him off somewhere on the way to Tahoe. I could tell it was going to be a terrible horrible no good very bad weekend.

I called my dad, who had casually volunteered to take Gavin and Colby to a movie this weekend, to ask which day would work better for him. He said, "Tonight". So I called my sister in law, Traci, and told her we would go to Jacob's play on Saturday night. Then my dad called and decided that Saturday night would be better. I thought it might be a terrible horrible no good very bad weekend. I called Traci back and asked if tickets were sold out for tonight? She said, "We'll make it happen!". I was skeptical.

We got to the play, Fiddler on the Roof, very cute. It started at 7:30 pm. I should have known better than take 3 tired kids ages 6, 4, and 17 months to a play on Friday night. Within the first minute of getting in line Gavin and Colby were making a scene running in and out of people pretending to throw up on each other. I thought the tickets were at will call and they weren't. I couldn't find Traci and was about to go home when a friendly usher took pity on me. I should have taken my exit cue.

We got to our seats in the balcony and I finally put a screaming Mazzy down. She had wanted me to put her down since we arrived. I turned around for a second to threaten Gavin and Colby who were fighting with their cousins. A few seconds later I hear a weird thumping, a man screaming the Lords name in vain, and a surreal visual of Mazzy rolling down the stairs. I knew it was going to be a terrible horrible no good very bad weekend.

After a full infant body analysis, comforting a livid, screaming baby and convincing some of our theater neighbors that I had some small speck of control over the situation the play started. It was a great play except for the unscheduled intermissions of , "Mommy, I'm thirsty, I want a drink.", "Mommy, I need to go potty." "Mommy when is it going to be over?". Note to self: Next time come without children!

After the play, Gavin ran out one exit with his cousins. Colby took the other exit. I had to decide on an action and sacrifice one child momentarily. I knew Gavin would be a little more cooperative so I ran after him first. Together we took off after Colby. When we found him, I grabbed his hand and exited the theater ASAP. The rest of the evening was normal at least. Maybe tomorrow would be better.

Saturday am everyone woke up at 7 am like clockwork. I thought for sure after going to bed at 10:00 pm the kids would sleep in till 8. I get dumber with age. I came up with some fun exciting plans that kept becoming impossible due to bad behavior. For example, Gavin has bloody Wolverine claw marks down his torso from one of Colby's effective communication methods. After a lot of yelling, time outs and empty threats on my part we get ready for the park.

As we are preparing to leave for the park, our new Pacific Islander neighbor that moved in down stairs 2 weeks ago knocks on the door. "Is everything alright up here?" he asks. "My sister and I hear a lot of fighting, jumping, screaming, and crying going on all of the time." I don't really know how to respond as I am standing in the door with Gavin, Colby and Mazzy. I was right yesterday, it is a terrible horrible no good very bad weekend.

The park seemed like a good idea except we didn't plan for summertime heat in March. The kids were burnt and overheated in 20 minutes. There was no shade and my poor pregnant sister in law, Jenny was wearing thick control panty hose under her full length jeans to prevent blood clots from forming. We ate a healthy lunch at McDonalds and instead of going home to my noisy disturbing apartment (us being noisy and disturbing), we went to my mom's house in hopes that Mazzy would sleep there.

Luck was on our side and she slept. The boys got along for a while and my mood was improving. After Mazzy woke up, we played in the grass with the sprinkler (hose). It seemed like a good idea till I realized Mazzy was allergic to grass and she broke out in a rash all over her body. Hmmm

Now my boys are at the movie, Monsters vs. Aliens with my parents. Maybe not such a terrible horrible no good very bad weekend. It could be a lot worse, but Troy won't come back till tomorrow night so I am way ahead of myself.

BTW, I went to the Doughtery Valley High School Performing Arts Center last week with Gavin's Kindergarten class to see, "Alexander and the terrible horrible no good very bad day." Inspirational.

Solo Trip To Utah!

Troy was generous this weekend and I got to fly to Utah to see my Grandma, Aunt and Cousins for a few days. It was so weird and great to be solo. Thursday night my Grandma met me at the airport with my cousin Diane. My grandma is 94 and had no idea I was coming. It was the best! She was so excited and had to touch my face over and over again. She is so sweet and seems really great.

Friday morning I went on a brisk 6 1/2 mile walk with my Aunt Ann and cousin Diane. I found out one of my Aunt's lifelong goals is to always be able to out walk me. That is one she will no doubt achieve. After walking I had lunch with Diane and relaxed for a couple of hours. I was able to tag along to a wedding dress shopping extravaganza for my newly engaged cousin, Sara and got the photo of the year. Sara was having a difficult time picking between two dresses. So she called her fiance to come and help. He really needed to see the two dresses side by side and so my aunt was nominated to try on the other dress. It was AWESOME!

This picture is no longer available!

Friday night we went to Cafe Rio with Callie, Andrew, Sara, Scott, Grandma, Laura, Ann and I. It was delicious and really fun.
Saturday I went skiing for the first time in 15 years. I have been snow boarding but not skiing since I was a Senior in High school.

After we got to Alta my aunt realized that she left her pass at home and left me skiing while she went home to get it. At first I was pretty freaked out not having been skiing forever. Afterward I was so glad I got a few runs in before she came back. It was a perfect day and even though I suck, I am so glad I did it! I met one of my dear friends Becca Jean for lunch and meant to get a picture but was a little tired. Saturday night my aunt made dinner for anyone who could come and we just hung out.

It was a short but awesome trip!

I love you Troy!

Gavin's Valentines Party

Gavin's teacher Mrs. Dulle is awesome! They have parties for everything and siblings or extended family are always welcome. Warner, Gavin's cousin who lives in Idaho surprised us with a visit along with his family. He was a little hesitant to go to a new school for the day but he and Gavin had a great time!

This was the lunch time sock hop because it was raining outside. Such a great idea and Gavin and Warner rocked out!



A Memorable Valentines Day Celebration!

RLP Valentines Day!

COLBY'S DAY OF LOVE!