Swimming with sharks

For Spring Break I had a surprise for the kids. We spent overnight at the Golden Nugget downtown. They have an amazing pool with "THE TANK" a huge tank filled with fish and sharks. There's also a three story slide that runs through the shark tank and into the pool three stories below. The kids loved it. The wind was crazy the two days we were there so it was pretty cold. We will probably go back when it warms up but I probably wont let Jacob sleep in the bed with me.....he spent the whole night grinding his teeth and kicking me in the head....haha!

Surprise Visit

We had some unexpected friends for spring break. Our college roomies and friends, Celeste & Wes with their six cute kids. We decided to pick the warmest day and heat up the spa for the kids to play. They had a great time and I couldn't help thing what my Dad *in Ireland* would think about swimming at the start of April.....hee hee. Our kids have all grown up together, including Shaun and Selena's four cuties and it's so fun when we get together. They just all play well and hang out. Baili usually manages the girls and the boys just do their own thing, play Wii, wrestle, play ball, watch TV or bug the girls. Celeste came to some of my Zumba classes which was so fun for us. She is so talented and creative & I love just watching her dance and move. One night Sam and Wes had to shut us down because we were having so much fun dancing with the kids and the men wanted to watch a movie :) We love our college friends and whenever we can get together its a great time!

They make me laugh

Here are some pictures of a performance I attended, ahem....downstairs....of the nutcracker meets a hip hoppin' Santa. It made me laugh so hard I felt like I had done 1000 crunches.
The kids often put on these "performances" that take just a couple of practices, usually courtesy of director Baili. They always entertaining, sometimes a little long, but fun. Well, they were super excited to get me downstairs for this special Christmas one. Baili and Kami danced around, Baili flinging Kami left and right, spreading both their arms out like they were swans gliding on a lake.
Then Jacob shows up looking like he does in the pictures, boy scout shirt, homemade hat (that I couldn't get quite to his liking), gloves, church pants, & sword? Can anyone say "nutcracker"? He was funny enough to look at and talking through his paper mustache but when he put on some crazy song and started dancing all over the place, I lost it. Tears ran down my face as I tried not to openly laugh out loud and hurt his feelings but seriously........HILARIOUS!!!!
Its probably one of those things where you had to be there to really enjoy the true abdominal effect but if you just glance once more at the first picture it'll give ya an idea of how funny the moment was. He was very much in character. Bless his nutty heart......
......and then...out comes SANTA...aka Ryan with a balloon stuffed under his coat! These kids have way too much time on their hands, I think! Seriously though, they love to create and act and dance and have all kinds of fun. It was very cute and fabulously entertaining.


Things I've heard from my kids recently that seemed fitting in this post......

Driving home from school one day, I mention to Baili and friends that I'm tired of doing housework and chores. Her friend, Lauren, says...."Oh you have the same hobbies as my Mom"

Kami at the dinner table, me in the kitchen...
"umm Mom, I don't wanna burst your bubble or anything....." (pause)
"i don't like your potatoes!" (pause)
"did I burst your bubble?"