Our Beach Getaway

For the past year, Ryan has been asking me if we could go two places. One was to the beach and the other was San Diego. When I asked him why, he simply responded, "because I've never been there before." Fair enough.
For the past 5 years we have been just a little busy building our practice that we often don't take time to take vacations or to simply stop. We decided that it was time to do this if only for a weekend, we were going to just stop and play. Ryan turned 5 this weekend and so it was the perfect excuse to celebrate. We packed up and drove an hour and a half to an indoor waterpark and amusement park. I think I laughed more this weekend than I have in a long time. It was wonderful.
When we got there, we of course headed straight for the pool. Morgan had insisted on wearing her "swimmin poot" since getting dressed that morning. She was wearing a dress over it and when we walked into the lobby and were checking in, she whipped off her dress right there and was all set to go. I was cracking up. Usually it is Ryan we have to worry about taking his clothes off in public.
When we got to the pool we tried to lay down the ground rules before hand about sticking together and I think that the only thing they heard was "mwa mwa mwa mwa." It was a little crazy at first but then Heath and I got our game faces on and became super parents(really people were looking at us thinking who are the crazies that brought 4 little kids and thought they were gonna have fun) Oh but it was fun. Most of you know that our kids love the water. That is, all of them but one. Jack is not so fond of it. He was clinging to me so tight and crying everytime he got water splashed on his face. I thought, "poor little guy," but then as is typical for me I told him he was fine and we continued on. Kids learn to either cry over everything and someone will come along and make it all better, or they learn that it's ok to cry but sometimes we have to do what we don't want or do things that are hard but we will be stronger and smarter at the end of it all if we don't give up.
Yes you will hear me tell my kids to "shake it off" from time to time. I don't think it is mean or uncompassionate. I love my kids more than anything on this Earth.
Anyway just like when I talk I get off on tangents here too.
So they had these water slides there that you had to be 48 inches to ride. Heath wanted to check them out before taking Patrick on them. He came down and nonchalantly told me that I really needed to try them out. So I opted for the one that you ride the intertube down, and hiked my way to the top of the building for my ride. HOLY CRAP!! The whole time I was going down I was thinking about how terrified Patrick would have been if we let him just go without us first taking a test-ride.
After a little while at the pool we went out for dinner and decided to check out the amusement park when we got back. We walked in and the boys eyes got as big as saucers when the first ride they see contains all these people screaming their heads off as they are thrust up in the air and sideways and then plunged back down. Ryan looked at me and said very matter of factly, "I DO NOT want to go on that." Patrick was right there with him nodding in agreement. I was thankful because Heath gets sick on all those things so I am the designated ride partner. The kids went on this lily pad spinning thing that bored them to tears. We decided to try something a little more exciting for the second ride so the boys chose this fun little mini roller coaster. As boys are, Patrick and Ryan raced to get to the front seat. Before the ride even began Ryan began to second guess his choice and put his head down on the bar in front of him. Morgan and I rode behind them. She was yelling and waving her arms and I was laughing hysterically at the tension on Patrick's face and Ryan with his forehead glued to the safety rail. Poor guy, he did try it a second time with Daddy beside him and sitting in the back seat, but he assumed the same position, forehead velcroed to the rail.
We went back to our room and Heath stayed with Morgan and Jack while Patrick and Ryan and I snuck back down to the pool. The boys loved the wave pool, but the waves only last for about 10 minutes and come on about every twenty minutes or so. When the waves start they would blast this siren so you would know to go back to the big pool. Well Ryan had to go to the bathroom, and Patrick being the good big brother offered to take him in the mens locker room. I was standing guard by the door waiting, and waiting, and waiting wondering if something happened to them. Suddenly the siren blows, and out shoots these 2 little boys yelling "wave pool" as they ran past me.

Resurrection Day!

Happy Easter 2010! We had a wonderful day! We went to church and came home where Daddy prepared a delicious brunch. The weather was perfect, sunny and 70 with wind perfect for kite flying. The kids had a their annual Easter egg hunt in our yard. The deal was that they could eat as much as they wanted but tomorrow just like at Halloween the candy is gone. Heath came up with this one but I think he's a genius. ha ha ha!
I got to spend most of the day cleaning and cooking which I DO actually enjoy doing. Morgan went on an outing with Daddy and then when they got back the big boys went out kite flying. Then Morgan, Patrick and Ryan surprised me with big bouquets of daffodils that they picked(with permission of course) from our neighbor's yard. That neighbor joined us for dinner and we enjoyed the evening listening to and watching a thunderstorm.
All in all it was just another fun Sunday but we are so thankful to have each and every one of them. This life and the next are a gift from God above. We give him all thanks and honor for loving us like no other can.

Little Hunters ready to find some eggs

And they're off...

Morgan proud of her goody basket

Jack taking a bite out of his first Easter egg

Patrick definitely needed to give the others a headstart but was more than willing to share

Ryan was totally pumped about the hunt and of course Mama got lots of hugs and "I love yous" which is typical Ryan-style.

Morgan watch out Ryan's gaining on you.

"I think I found them all Mommy"

So excited to eat some candy!

Uh oh Patrick, I think someone is stealing your treats.

Jack wants to know, what's the big deal about these plastic eggs.

Our little princess is proud of her find.

Jack waving and wishing everyone a Happy EASTER!

My favorite peeps!

Happy 7th Birthday Patrick!!

It's hard to believe that 7 years have gone by since our firstborn came into this world. Where does all the time go. Samuel Patrick Treharne(otherwise known as Patrick) was born on March 1st 2003, his due date. He was the easiest most laid back baby and has mostly continued on with these traits as he has grown. He is my ever faithful go to guy for help and oh so proud of being "the man of the house" when daddy is away. He is not perfect by any means(are any of us?) but he is a great big brother and I am proud of the boy that he is and look forward to seeing him grow day by day.


This year Patrick really wanted to have a birthday party with his friends. So for his first "friend" birthday party we had a Rocket Launching Party at the Family Museum.


I usually make the kids their birthday cakes but on Friday night Patrick saw Miss Amy's masterpiece at a silent auction at church and begged for it. It came down to the final seconds but we won, and if you have ever had one of Amy's cakes, it was totally worth it. YUMMO!!

Miss Amy was so nice to add some finishing touches to make it extra special for Patrick. Thanks Amy!


Before they could have fun launching the rockets they had to construct them.


The noise, the running, the wrestling, the silly potty words, the chaos are all reasons why I never finished student teaching. Teachers have my utmost respect especially ones that have 10 first grade boys in their class.


Ryan, Mac, and Jacob were the young ones of the bunch and amazingly the quietest and most attentive. Good job little guys!



Patrick gets to launch the first rocket.




The boys had so much fun launching the rockets and competing for the farthest and highest launches. Jacob Pohlman had the highest launch and lost his on the windowsill. Makes me wonder what else may be up on those windowsills.




Mac and Brooks taking their turns.

Look at it go!

Two analytical minds and a rocket can only mean one thing. They must be discussing their strategy for the perfect launch.

Time to sing "Happy Birthday" and don't forget the "cha cha cha's"

Patrick got all seven candles on the 1st try.

Patrick made sure to read the cards and thank everyone. When your 7, the world revolves around you and sometimes this is hard to remember.

Lots of fun and exciting new toys

I was worried how Ryan would do with all the big kids and if he would just get lost in the crowd, but Patrick made me proud by always including Ryan. He told his friends, "I want to open my brother's gift first." He would also yell "check it out Ryan!" when he opened something that he knew his little brother would especially like.

I think they had a good time.