Spring Break in Philadelphia: Day One

When Spring Break is 4 days long (including the weekend) options are limited.  Like, really limited.  

So, we drove.  To Philly.  

And, you know, you can't polish a turd, but you sure can have fun trying.

We started off our vacation in Camden.  Because we thought it would be cool to take a stop in the most dangerous city in the US.  We are so street.

Also, because there is an aquarium and battleship located there.

Meet, the USS New Jersey.

This puppy has walls of steel.

  (Sidenote: we vacationed with some of our favorite friends, and she played photographer most of the trip, so be looking forward to Brothery Love 2.0, featuring legitimate photographs of things like boats. Until then, the dregs...)

 Next up was the Adventure Aquarium.  Which was cool, but, after going to Georgia's, not that cool.

This child was not my most favorite travel partner.  But, she did sleep through most of the aquarium, so there's that.  

 After dinner day one, we took a leisurely stroll to the temple construction site.  

Hey. I'm a Mormon.

 We ended our night (and every subsequent night) at the pool.  Which, true to form, was the kids' favorite part of the trip.  That, and the unlimited goodies at the treat cart in the hotel lobby.

 **How can something so beastly look so positively scrumptious?!?!**

#BecauseOfHim

 Easter.  Jesus.  The reason for the season.  Happy and hopeful. 

It's one of my favorites.    Equal parts sunshine and spring and The Resurrection.  

So when the church launched a weeklong social media campaign requesting posts with hashtag becauseofhim, I was all over it.  Like white on rice.  Because Jesus.  And Easter.  And happy and hopeful.  

I need all of it, all of the time.  And, because I believe.  Big time.

My week, in review:

#becauseofhim I can be a better daughter.

 #becauseofhim I can serve others. These 4 happen to be my most favorite projects.

 #becauseofhim I have been given a glimpse into how my Father in Heaven loves me. As a result, I am able to love more fully.

 #becauseofhim I can be a better me.

 #becauseofhim I get to live in this beautiful world and stand in holy places.

 #becauseofhim I am inspired. And speaking of inspired, how about those forefathers?!?!? And while we are on the subject, freedom is: beautiful and America and God and the gospel and hope and forgiveness and no children in diapers (soooo I'm not completely free yet).

 #becauseofhim I can get answers to my prayers. The details in this life I am living are a direct result of countless answered prayers. And if my phone works after Eden threw it in the toilet an hour ago, that will be an answered prayer as well. And on that note, Happy Easter!! I love Jesus. Everything that is good and happy and real and meaningful in my life is truly all because of Him.

In summary, #becauseofhim, I know love.

Meet April. The Tease.

 Here's the thing about April.  She can shine bright like a diamond and melt the shivers on your skin and make your soul sing.  She can cause you to pull out your shorts and slurp on a popsicle and smile to the heavens. She will make your heart flutter until you are absolutely certain you are falling in love.

And then, when you least expect it, she will punch you straight in the gut and laugh in your face.

I think it's time we break up. 

More March Musings

And now for some randomness...

 Ryder caught a nasty cold.  Baking and sweet cuteness ensued.

 The kids spent yet another freezing cold March day at the batting cages.

 We got us a new baby.

Which inspired a little decorating (like those wall tiles?  SHAMELESS PLUG: Get them at Donny Osmond Home)

Ryder presented a story at school.

THE DEB CAME TO VISIT.  

She's always such a pleasure.

And this girl.

Now, good riddance March.  You were mostly stupid.

Snow Sucks...A lot.

 This winter has been brutal.  Like the worst ever.  Or at least that's what I hear from the locals.  Certainly the worst of my 7 winters here.  Or is it 6?  Feels like 65, so really, that's irrelevant.

 The kids had 7 cancelled school days and half a dozen delayed openings as we watched ourselves become suffocated by snow.  And their Spring Break shrunk to two days. 

 Brutal. 

 It stopped being fun after about day 3.   Because windchill temperatures were in the negatives, for weeks....months...years????!?, snow play was forced to be kept minimal.  And thus, lots and lots of days cooped up indoors ensued.

Bruuuuutaaalllll.

 The kids' school janitor did try to make the best of a crappy six month situation.

  Then, theeeennnn, last week, on a blessed Saturday, the sun shone and the skies warmed to a balmy 49 degrees.  And you would have thought it was July.  In Georgia. 

 It was 26 degrees the next day.  

But, we have nearly survived it.  I mean, it's suppose to be below freezing and snowing this week, but bring it. 

Spring will come.  Because the church is true. And that is all.

MediocreBowl

So earlier in the month there was a Super Bowl.  Except the only thing super was the food.  And the friends. 

 Well, and the Seahawks, but who gives a rat's hind quarters about them?!?

 Actually, the T-Mobile commercials featuring Mr. Tebow...two thumbs up.

Color Me Crazy

We haven't been back to The Crayola Factory since Linley was Eden's age.  Which is strange, because I am pretty sure that was less than five minutes ago.

Which is even stranger, because that must mean I am an old person that promises it all goes by way too fast.  

Guys, it does.

The End.

The place was recently redone and getting rave reviews, and we are buried in snow and ice and temperatures that freeze your nose hairs, so when MLK day arrived, we happily escaped to a destination we could draw our winter woes away.

Poor sweet Eden was sicker than a dog, but another day stuck indoors simply wasn't an option. So we dragged her along, and she slept most of the day away in her stroller.  

Which, let's be real, made for one dang pleasant artsy fartsy experience.

 Maybe we'll even go back again.  

In 5 years.

To 2014

Did you know I'm a blogger at Donny Osmond Home?   And since I am a one-stone-two-bird killer, here's one of my posts highlighting my 2014 goals:

Here’s the thing about goals: they hurt my feelings.  Something about highlighting all of my shortcomings at the start of a new year sucks. But, like a good girl, I dust myself off and readily resolve to fix every.single.one.  I make sweeping proclamations like I am going to win mother of the year and be the perfect wife and I won’t even burn the rice once. Which is followed by 86 bullet points, including, be more patient, yell less, be less confrontational, let more things slide, be a better listener, etc. Then, ultimately, I fall short on every.single.one.  And by February I find myself feeling like a frustrated failure with hurt feelings. And that really sucks.

The alternative, however, is to never identify my weaknesses, remain stagnant and eat lots and lots of crunchy rice.  And, well, that’s just worse.  So, I continue dusting myself off and try to work out ways to make my weaknesses whole.  Only now, I’m doing it differently. Instead of focusing on my failures, I am making a goal to concentrate on the good.  Each night before bed, I will identify at least one moment in my day where I was a good mother.  Or where it felt good to be a mother.  Because, lets be honest, the joy in motherhood rarely manifests itself in the day-to-day and the week-to-week…the joy of motherhood is found in little fleeting precious moments.  And that is where I am choosing to keep my focus.  The happy parts.  The confident parts.  The magical, sparkling parts.  A nightly reminder that I like this ever so important job, and more so, that I like the people I am doing it for.

Additionally, I am going to ensure I hug each little head and smooch on my husband daily. It’s a little shocking, but somehow I can go days without ever touching my children. In the whole being busy and constantly in and out of the car and having a baby perma-connected to my kneecaps….I fail to tousle the hair on my sons head or squeeze my daughter’s hand.  And yet I manage to never miss telling them to make their bed or turn off the TV.  So, in my new resolute quest to focus on the happy parts of motherhood, I am going to squeeze the heck out of my four little beasts. Every day.

The happy parts.  That’s my resolution.

New Years Eve

 Basically, all you need to know is, we party like rock stars.

 85-year old washed-up rock stars that are sleeping soundly in their beds by 10:30pm.

Here's to a rip-roaringly rad 2014.

I feel it in my bones.