Young mom, 'cause you're in a new town, You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find Many ways to have a good time. ................................

It has been a while but I am back. I am now coming to you from the fun and exciting state of Kansas. It is cold here. I guess, living in Arizona for so long, I forgot that there were places on Earth that freeze and turn white. People around here tell me that it is a beautiful place to live but I haven’t really seen it yet. The grass is muddy and brown (when it isn’t white and icy), the trees are bare and wholly unsuitable for climbing (I could climb a tree. I am not so old as to not still have wild ideas completely unsuitable for my age and most definitely detrimental to my health if I ever followed through with them. I could climb a tree), and there are no flowers or color anywhere. I will give it a few more months before I render my final verdict. I do miss the Arizona winters.

I have filled up my days utterly avoiding the mess that is my house. It seems like every piece of furniture that I liked was damaged in the move and the crap that I should have thrown out before we loaded the truck made it through in the same shape as before. So, needless to say, I have quit unpacking boxes. It depresses me. It is cold outside and with 2 kids not in school, I have had to find a suitable warm place to spend my days where I don’t have to look at the chaos that surrounds me at home. The trick is to only have to get in and out of the car once (because that is another hassle. The baby needs a coat when the wind blows but freaks out when I strap her into her car seat with the coat on because it is tight. The same goes for my 3 year old, only he has managed to figure out how to unstrap himself, which is a whole different kind of fun).

My first instinct was the mall. Makes sense right? Many stores, indoor playground, the pretzel place, and lots to do. That was not a good idea. After spending hundreds of dollars on stuff I didn’t need (and that was just at the pretzel place), chasing my 3 year old around, and trying to breast feed in front of Subway (where the tables and chairs are) I realized that I was not in Mesa anymore (lots of nursing mothers with little kids). I was doomed to stay in my small house watching the Backyardagans forever. That’s what I thought until I discovered……….. the YMCA.

I thought this place was the stuff of early 80’s gay rock; made up for the purpose of getting preteens on the dance floor at the middle school dances across the country, but no. It is a real and very magical place where dreams come true. We joined the “Y” (as it is referred to by the locals) and IT began.

For less then $50 a month I have discovered freedom. I walk in the front door and a smiling face greets me to take away my children for 2 solid hours of peace. Alone. Once my children have been sequestered in a place that rivals any McDonald’s playground I have ever seen, I have my choice of activities. They offer pools, saunas, spas, a full gym including cardio and weights, group fitness classes, a full gymnastics area (where my idea for being able to climb trees originated), a track, basketball courts, Wii’s, and (my favorite) Ultimate Dance Revolution games. It is a cornucopia of stimulation. If you want to exercise they have it all, but if you don’t, they have many other options as well. If I want to just sit and read, they do that. If I want to watch TV, they do that (cable on several large flat screens through out). If I want to shower and get ready for the day without having a child walking in to ask me for food or to fix the TV or computer for them, I can do that. It is bliss. I have 2 hours to do nothing or everything, everyday.

On top of the freedom and peace I have discovered there, more treasures have made themselves known unto me. I have busy kids. In Mesa I didn’t like having to drive all over the planet: Karate here, dance there, it was not worth it. Here, they are all in the same place at the same time. Where? You guessed it. The YMCA. For $120 a month my kids are in Karate, Gymnastics, swimming, dance, soccer, and cheer. Anything and everything you can think of is at the Y. One trip to one place and I don’t have to stay in the room if I don’t want to (or if my kids don’t want me too. I do have a 10 year old).

I have not only satisfied my desire to not clean or unpack my house, I have discovered the perfect way to do it so that my husband can’t even complain about it. I love the YMCA. It has done wonders to make my stay here in Wichita so much more enjoyable then it could be, and I have lost weight to boot.

So you can keep your warm winter days and trips to the park. I choose my fully staffed kids play place and lap pool any day (everyday actually). If any of you would like to pop in and visit I will take you over and show you around. If you are in the mood, I will school you in the beginner footing of either Funky Town or Girls Just Want to Have Fun and join you in a lap around the track (or 2). You might have to stay in a hotel because my house id full of boxes and almost completely uninhabitable but how is that really different form what it was in AZ?

I hope that everyone is doing well and missing us as much as we miss them. Take care and keep in touch.

Ice Skating

We went ice skating with Hawker at the Wichita Ice Center. None of the kids have ever been ice skating before so it was an adventure. The big boys were off as soon as they hit the ice I just wish I had taken a picture of the brusies that appeared the next day). The 2 little ones had to have me and Dan "help" them. I got quite a workout and a sore back (form carring the kid's weight not from falling). I will definately go again.

My girl. Near the end she was out on the ice on her own and she started to get the hang of it.

This one makes me tired but he is so cute. The scab is from a scuffle with his big sister. She won.

One big. One little. All Pink.

Danny in the Mix.

This is how the little ones got around.

This is my intimidating muscle flex pose. I'm scary aren't I?

Semi-Pro.

This is Dan and Trouble. I love this picture because the blury kid on the ground was on his feet when I pushed the button. It is bug man.

I grow them really cute.

My 8 Month Old Beauty

Christams 2008

The stockings were hung (now that we have a fireplace on which to hang them).

We always torture the kids by making them wait before they can see their presents. We let them in from youngest to oldest. We are mean parents.

This was more of a gift for me then her (potatoe/patato) but the tree mezmorized her.

The baby got a ton of help and she did enjoy the presents after we took the paper out of her line of site.

Even the big kids get to have a little fun. I gave Danny a Bar-B-Que fork with a meat thermometer (her is a master of the grill). Unfortunately I had to leave the grill in Mesa because it wouldn't fit on the truck. Hind site is 20/20 and if I knew there would be no grill I wouldn't have rubbed salt in that particular wound.

Bug man LOVED his Air Hog. It is a remote controlled car that goes up walls and upside down (it is actually pretty cool).

Lou looking lovely.

Someone needs to give this girl a lesson on how to use a dart gun.

All the excitement took its toll on 2 of them. It was nice to have them sleep but they managed to do it in the middle of the floor.

Christmas Eve

For the first time ever we got a live Christmas tree. I was so excited and the guy gave us a deal(I think. I've never gotten a live tree before. $25 for the tree and the stand). I picked it out and left the rest up to the professionals.

Once we found the perfect tree, we had to get it home. Luckily we are just ghetto enough to make it work. We ran into trouble when we realized we didn't have a hammer at home to get the stand on the tree so we had to transport it all together. We ended up using a blanket we had just purchased (because it is cold here!!!).

Danny does the hard part. It is worse with the fake tree. If we don't continue getting live trees, we are getting a prelit one next year for sure.

This is the finished product.

Magoo loves Christmas trees. We have to watch him because ornaments will dissapear. Thanksgoodness for "shatterproof."

These are my beautiful girls.

This is Koby opening his Christmas Eve present. He's a looker (he looks the most like his dad to me).

This is my little angel's first present ever. She feasted on the paper a little later.

I know it looks like Lou is in pain but this is her overexcited at the prospect of presents face. She really gets into it.

As a child, every year for Christmas Eve (that I can remember) my parents gave us PJ's. I thought this was a fun tradition and we have carried it on in my family. Recently I shared this with my mother only to discover that the only reason she gave us pajamas was so that her kids didn't look like beggars half naked in her Christmas morning pictures.

The Chaos That Surrounds Me

The elders were Great about helping us unload our overstuffed truck but things got put where ever there was an open space. For New Years I was robbed and then got to wake up to this. With 5 kids and the holidays, we are slowly picking our way through the mess. It is very slow going.

I can attest that even a semi-clean house can make a difference in your attitude and outlook. I have been grouch for 2 weeks (longer then that if you ask Danny).

We just have too much junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Big Move

We didn't order a big enough moving truck. I guess when we said 2300 sq ft house they didn't count on Mormons with 5 kids. We ended up leaving a few things behind (desk, rocker, grill...) but every little thing I could fit got shoved into the van with the kids and the necessities. It made for a cozy trip.

This is the passenger side. I had the move things just right so I could use the mirror because the back window was completely blocked.


This is a shot of the back seat. The kids were actually being good for a minute.

This is the floor in front of the back seat. No room to even walk.

On Sunday morning (the second day of our drive) we woke up early in an Amirillo hotel room after a long night of vomit and dogs barking (the hotel was "pet friendly") we got on the road early. I was a little punch drunk and forund great humor in seeing "The Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere", I called my mom and couldn't stop laughing. I think she was a little worried about me. I was going to exit just for fun but decided to just pull to the side of the road. Some of the impact of the enormity of it is lost but I still chuckle a little when I look at the pictures.



In the end, we made it safe and sound.

My Oldest turned 10!!! When did I get this old?

For my oldest's birthday we went to Amazing Jakes. It was a half day at school so we got there around 1 pm, had some lunch, and then hit the floor. I bought 3 hour ride passes and we had so much fun with minature golf, lazer tag, bumper cars, go carts, roller coasters and more.

For the first ride of the afternoon we chose the Mini Coaster. Lou was a little worried at first but Magoo begged and I let him go. The ride went around twice and Magoo shrieked like a banshee.

This is where he ended up for almost the rest of the day. I guess I picked the wrong ride to start with.

Emmie chilled out the whole time. Now that she sits up on her own she is enjoying a whole new type of freedom.

Look! My boys do like each other sometimes.

The big man tackles the big wall.

Lou wanted to try the wall also (she said that this time she was big enough) but after an attempt and a smile she gave her harness to the big boys for their fun.

Bug joined Lou in her love of all things spinny and fast (before he threw up).

Finally, 2 minutes before the unlimited pass expired, he let me take him on the carousel. He held his frown for most of the ride but a smile creeped in at the very end. It didn't stick around for too long though. He wanted to go again but the ride pass expired so I said no and he wasn't very happy with me.

Lou always looks like a model mugging for the cameras.

Half way through the fun Russel, Lindsay, and Calvin showed up to join in the fun.
Calvin seemed to enjoy all the food and noise. If my kids do anything for Calvin it would be entertain him.

Uncle Russel felt a old standing in the lazer tag line but I bet he didn't let his age stop him from beating the little kids at tag and rubbing it in.

Once the unlimited passes ran out we went back to open presents and eat diner. I am all about getting my money's worth.

All the fun took its toll. Even on the big kids.

You can always count on Magoo to eat his weight in pizza.

Everyone loves the baby.