Spring Break...California Adventures

It was an early morning without any alarms.  The kids were eager to the day started and have some fun.

We are back!!!!
Carsland here we come.

Waiting in line for the new ride.
The kids were fighting to push Dave.

Look who we saw getting on the new ride.
Gwen Stefani
Everyone started snapping pictures.

Dang!!! Ryder got Gwen's car

This was a fun ride and the line wasn't that long.
Ryder was all smiles he loved seeing Gwen.

No Hands!!!
Fast Pass time and we needed go to the wheelchair line.
Guess who we saw again???

Ryder & Bryana
Both loved California Screamin and rode it multiple times.

Meeting Flik
Times have changed.
I had to beg them to take their picture,.

The Muppets 3-D is gone.
Instead,,,
Frozen Sing a long
The kids weren't really thrilled about it, but they tried to be good sports
The actor who played "Genie" in Aladin was in this one.

Parade time
We needed treats to get us through.

Waiting for the "World of Color"
Between Fast Passes & the wheelchair
We got a front row seat.

It was a great show and even better everyone could see.  It was getting cooler time to head back to the hotel and get some sleep.  Tomorrow was Disneyland.

The kids chattered all about their favorite rides and fun times we had today.

Spring Break....The Beach

Dave felt good enough to make the long drive to California.  Off we went to enjoy the rest of Spring Break.  Rylee was able to bring her friend Bryana with us to enjoy the fun.  We had to make a few more stops along the way to let Dave stretch his legs and stomach.  We finally arrived it was way too early to check in so off we went to find a beach to play in.  However, Google Maps and I had a hard time getting together to actually find one.  My first attempt led has to a neighborhood we could see the ocean between the houses.  My second attempt took us the the Newport Beach Library.  So much for typing in Newport Beach Public....  Finally, I got it to accept Beach and about 4 minutes later we were there.

The girls were disappointed that they couldn't get on their swimsuits instead rolling up our pants and enjoying the water.

Handsome Group
We finally found it!!!

This is so cool.

Holy Cow!!!
The water is so cold!!!!

Sushi Anyone??
The kids found this pile of seaweed on the
beach instead of shells.

Silly kids
Already begging to come back at the end of our trip.

Note to us of where we were.

I think everyone had a good time even though it was really short. It was time to head back to Anaheim and rest.  We have a long day tomorrow playing at Disneyland.

Spring Break 2016

Monday was the official starting of Spring Break.  Our plans started on Wednesday so Ryder had 2 days to fill.  Boredom soon set in and the phone calls started.  All his friends had left town so he completed chores around the house and his reward was to go swimming.

The girls didn't want to go and Dad felt much better so off we went to the pool.  Instead of swimming it became all about the slide and showing off for his Dad.  My darn camera and I couldn't catch those moments as his bottom his the water.

The good news!!!! Dave felt good enough to head to California for 2 days in the park.

Spring Soccer Season...Season Opener

vs FC St George Blue starting early at 8:45 in the morning.  Could these girls take what they were learning at practice and put it into play?  They worked together and played their hearts out with only one sub.  This was still a Keeper's Workout with 30 attempts and gave up only 5 goals.

Keeper on duty.

Again!!!

Where did the ball go?

Way up high!!!!
Amazing to me that those feet
kick that hard and high.

Once again on duty.

The second half was a little rougher but the girls offense was starting to gel but there wasn't enough time left to catch up.

Walking off the field Reganne handed me her gloves and what were once small sections missing the foam had turned into holes on each finger.  We know have the task of finding gloves that she will wear and help her catch those balls.

No soccer next week since it is Spring Break.  

Surgery....

This man has an amazing ability for lifting, moving, and refusing anyone's help with either one.  He finally met his match with a large entertainment center that someone wanted to donate.  He and his helper were positioned just right and ready to lift.  Instead he heard a pop!!!  Dave's pain tolerance is amazing it takes a lot to bring him to his knees.  That donation did just that.  4 days later he said time to visit the doctor now if possible.  She confirmed that he had 2 hernias in his stomach region and put him on 15 pound lifting restrictions.  2 weeks later meeting with the surgeon he was given 2 options. The first being to live with them and the pain.  The second to have surgery and fix them.  The decision was easy get them fixed and ASAP.  ASAP turned out to be another 2 weeks but the lifting restrictions raised to 30 pounds.

The day finally arrived and we were all ready to begin this journey together and get him feeling better.  The kids were off to school and Dave was off to surgery.

Waiting for his meds
Look at the excitement in his eyes.
He was more than ready when the dr pushed on his belly button.

Success!!!
I am starving and all she will feed me is soup.

The surgery went great the upper hernia was really small and required only a few stitches to close it.  The lower one in the belly button required more work including pushing, installing mesh, and sewing it back together.  He felt great and was ready to go home to eat.  I only fed him soup and let him sleep.

Sleeping required laying down which hurt.  Sitting up required pressure on his incisions..  Walking felt the best.  He walked, walked, and walked.  He wanted to go to work but we took the keys.

3 days of resting and relaxing were more than he could stand.  A couple of trips to work, breakfast & lunch out, and even cleaning the carpets downstairs.  Of course he wore himself out and couldn't sleep.

Finally by Sunday he slept through the night and started feeling better.  We were all praying that he would continue to feel better so we could go to Disneyland over Spring Break.

Waters' Sports Update....Swimming

After basketball season ended baseball was knocking at the door.  This year Ryder decided against doing it again telling us that it was boring.  Instead how about swimming lessons??  We had some quick shuffling making it do able and he was ready to start.

Monday & Wednesdays were swimming nights.  He even had friends from basketball joining him.  It was time for some fun and learning.

Last Lesson
High Five!!!

Water Slide
Part of completing the class was going down the water slide.
By yourself!!!

Let me show you what I can do!!!

How about 10 more times??
 I can touch the bottom!!!

This has been a good thing for him to do.  His confidence in the water has tripled and the exercise hasn't hurt either.  Afterwards he showers, eats dinner, reads, and goes to bed.  In fact we have to force him to stay awake until family prayer time.

March lessons were cancelled due to the lack of interest between spring break & Easter.  April lessons will start soon enough.  We will have to have family swim time until then.

Middle School Play

Rylee has been working really hard at school with piles of homework.  We were so happy when she decided to audition for the school play.  She was so excited to get a part and put in the hard work to make it perfect.

After so many late afternoons and crazy homeroom practices opening night was finally here.  However, due to scheduling conflicts we had to wait until Friday to attend.

Taking a bow
The Reporter Etta Lettuce

And another one

Final bow of the night

She  did an awesome job.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the melodrama and got into the card prompts.  Really weird was everyone recording the show  on their iPhones, iPads, and cameras.  I snapped a few pictures during the final bows.

There was a surprise at the end treats!!!! Root Beer Floats for everyone.  It was fun watching Rylee with all her friends giving each other praise and words of encouragement.  After 3 performances they were all pooped and ready to go home.

She has an amazing talent and we love to encourage her to keep developing it.

Blue & Gold Banquet

Ryder was really excited about his first Blue & Gold Banquet or so I thought.  Den meeting was making the invitations for each of their families.  When he handed it to me he promptly asked "What the heck is this? and why do I need to go?"  I tried to explain to him that it was a night to celebrate Cub Scouts and Dad & him would make a cake together for a contest with other boys.  He was all in.  

Maybe I was a little more excited than him since this was my first official one to attend as a Mom.  Remembering all the ones I had to stay home as the brothers all got to go for their special night with Dad & Mom.

Train in a snow storm
Dave & Ryder did an awesome job.
The cake was ooey, gooey, and very chocolaty!!!

Wolf Skit
Yucky bubblegum.

Awards
Mom!!! I got something.
The Helping Deed Belt Loop

A cub scout always does his best
and
Smiles even though he didn't win the wooden spoon.

It was a fun night with "Building A Cub Scout" with Bro Ivey showing a lot of different tools for different jobs.  Encouraging the boys to always try new things and learn new skills.  I thought dessert would be all the cakes the boys made.  Surprise!!! they had a special cake for everyone that was yummy.  The boys were able to take their cakes home for their families to enjoy.  We had a couple of boys ask for a taste and we gladly shared.

They announced that next pack meeting would be the Pinewood Derby.  The boys will all get their cars next week and den meeting.  Ryder can hardly wait to make his first one.

Until next month....... He will be working hard on his car.