What a day!

It all started when we were making scones for breakfast this morning and
accidently used baking soda instead of baking powder. You wouldn't think that
would make that much of a difference, but it did. It was sad. That must
have knocked the universe off kilter a little bit, because things spiraled
downward from there.After rushing to get all the kids in the van with
enough time to make it to church with just enough time, I went to start it and
it was DEAD. Not even a click or any effort at all. So thinking quickly, I got
the jumper cables out of the trunk of the other car, started it, and jumped the
van like a pro. Seriously, it looked like I knew what I was doing. The van
started up and we were off. I figured maybe one of the doors was just open a bit
and the lights stayed on overnight, draining the battery. It would be fine once
we drove to church and recharged the battery. We should have just stayed
home.So we made it to church before the opening prayer and things were
going well. Katie sat with who she wished were her parents (Ken and
Camille Campbell) during Sacrament meeting, and Chase was oddly well-behaved.
After sacrament meeting, Chase went to Sunbeams with Ken and Camille, who are
his teachers. During Sunday School we fed Parker and wrestled with Katie, who is
so naughty these days, thinking she needs to go to nursery. Towards the
end of Sunday School a guy comes up to me and starts saying something about
"laceration...head...bathroom...blood...Colonel". I decided to investigate,
thinking that "I'm a doctor, so it should be no problem." I rounded the corner
to see (Colonel) Ken Campbell holding Chase with blood running down his face,
into his ear, all over his hands and arms, with a bloody paper towell in hand.
Apparently the Sunbeam walk after Sharing Time took a morbid turn when Chase was
running and tripped and a brick planter caught him right through the right
eyebrow. I can fix this! Oh...um...ugh. It was realy big...and looked
like there was a chunk missing from his forehead and was really deep. Bad news
bears. Maybe I should let someone else fix this. So it was off to the ER. But
then when we got all our kids gathered and loaded up in the van, it was (still)
dead. Oh yeah. Dang.So we got someone to jump the van, Colonel Ken drove
Chase and I to the ER, Natalie took Parker and Katie to Amy and Danny Dixon's
house, dropped them off, borrowed their van with a full battery, met me at the
hospital with Caleb and Amy, and then we sat and waited forever. Caleb
and Amy went to their piano Ensemble practice (which was also at UofA thank
goodness), Ken went and got us a new battery (exchanged our old one which was
still 100% under warranty)... don't judge, I'd say our ox was in a mire. Side
note- after Ken left, it was a while before Chase noticed he was gone. He turned
to me all of a sudden and asked, "Where's my Campbell?" Amy and Danny
Dixon took care of Parker and Katie, went to our house and got Parker's medicine
and food, and made us dinner, so that when Chase finally got stitched up and we
got out of there, we got back to the Dixon's just in time to give Parker his
medicine and feed him. And our van was waiting there for us with a brand new
battery lovingly installed by Ken.Although it was a rough day, we felt
so blessed for such wonderful friends and family who took care of us throughout
the whole ordeal. Chase was such a trooper too, which is somewhat out of
character for him. Overall though, not a day any of us want to re-live. So much
for a day of rest! Sheesh.

Rodeo Break

First of all, isn't this baby so big and cute?

Everybody who doesn't live in Tucson should be jealous of us Tucsonans for one reason: Rodeo Break. Yep. The last Thursday and Friday of February, all the kids have off school to celebrate the rodeo that is in town. It's a big deal.

To celebrate, we decided to try some wild Western activities as a family. So if you've driven on the I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson, you have probably seen signs for the ostrich farm at Picacho peak. We have driven past it about 100 times and it looks so lame and depressing from the freeway. But for 5 bucks each and kids under 6 for free, we figured it might be worth the experience.

It might have been that we had such low expectations going into it, but we thought it was so much fun! They give each person a cup of food and you go around to all the different animal stations and feed them. These donkeys were a little too into Parker. One of them kept "smiling" at him. It was great.
Feeding the deer.

Parker enduring... I mean, enjoying!

So this little apparatus was pretty cool. You put the food in these little cup things attached to a conveyor belt and then cranked it up to the "goat penthouse" where it dumped it out for them to eat.

Katie was a little out of control thinking she could just be a big kid and wander around.

Chase, our fearless child, was surprisingly quite cautious of the animals and we couldn't get him to actually feed them. But he still talks about this non-stop and asks to go see the animals every day.

We decided ostriches are freaky animals! They were a little out of control aggressive to get the food. Scary. But hilarious to watch people try to dump food in their trays without getting bitten.

The grand finale was feeding the lorikeets (sp?). They sort of attacked humans (in a nice way), landing on any open appendage hoping for some nectar.

Again, sort of freaky for some little kids. Parker LOVED it. It was really cute.

So I love the picture below because there's some random lady holding Katie in the background. I didn't know this even happened until I looked at the pictures when we were home. Katie is an equal-opportunity hold-ee and lap sitter.

Cute kids.

This picture doesn't really fit... it's just Chase and Katie playing in the dirt in our back yard... Sort of rodeo-esque I guess.

So we were really wanting to go to the rodeo to experience the whole thing, but the Tucson one cost like $24 for each person! Our friend Aubrey found out about the Marana rodeo that goes on every Friday night that is only $5 for adults and free for kids for admission. For another $5, the kids could try "mutton busting" and ride "wild" sheep to see how long they could stay on. Best 5 bucks ever spent. Caleb and Amy both did great and were very entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, we failed to capture this on camera. Oh well.

Caleb with friends Lance and Isaac

Cuties Parker and Amy

Some Jones and Chapman kids

Oh, and we planted an orange tree. It was a Costco deal that was too good to pass up!

Amy's Birthday Party

Our Amy turned 9!

Which is a good thing, since I have been telling people she is 9 for about a year now. I think she should take it as a compliment, but she just seems to get offended. I am sure she has moments when she wishes she was an only child... Birthdays at our house have gotten a little out of hand.

It starts with a birthday breakfast of choice.

Amy decided on cinnamon rolls.

Of course.

Are you sure you don't want Lucky Charms?

Then we open family presents.

All this is done before 7:18am, cause that is when the bus comes.

Next comes treats for the class and birthday lunch with mom.

Then party.

I am beginning to think that my party planning days with Amy are almost over. I was given a few "guidelines" this year for her party. I was not allowed to have a theme, because "We don't want to be all "come to my doll party" or something. How embarrassing would that be!" I was also given a list of friends to invite and an outline of what the invitation should look like. She does not realize that she is killing my creative juices!

Well...don't tell Amy, but I don't do well without a theme. So I had a secret theme. It was

~Amy's Sweet Shop~

We played candy games, decorated cupcakes, and each girl went home with one of these:

This was my real simple idea. It was not going to take any time at all to put together...I think in all it only took 8 to 10 hours to make fifteen of these little babies. Including the treats of course.

See?

Easy.

Simple.

Cause that is what I am all about.

Just ask Jake.

These girls were so much fun. I love this age, before all the drama and when they still like girl stuff.
We played Glamourize Amy. The picture pretty much somes up the game.

It was fun. Now, does anyone need a poster size picture of Amy?

After the party I asked Amy what her favorite part was.

She said opening presents.

Sweet.

Could have saved myself a few hours of insanity...

Okay, I would have done it all anyway.

Good times.

After the party we do birthday dinner.

Amy chose Aunt Melissa's Pepperoni Bread.

It was yummy.

And to top off an amazing day Grandma Freestone showed up with Amy's cousins that are in the same grade as her.

Julianne and Liz got to come for the ultimate sleepover.

I went to bed, but I heard it was an amazing night.

Thanks Grandma!

Snow Bunnies

So this was one of those family trips we will look back on and laugh...maybe.

It all started with thoughts of snow and Iowa. We were getting a little lonely for that wet and cold feeling between our fingers and toes.

So we decided we needed to go play in a winter wonderland.

Did you know that just up the mountain from Tucson is a Ski Resort?

Seriously right here in the desert. It was too good to pass up. So we collected snow clothes and some sleds (boats according to Chase) from friends and set off.

We really looked like a red-neck bunch with our make-shift outfits.
Chase may have been wearing some of Amy's old go-go boots and they may have had hearts on them...just sayin'.
Our spirits were high as we set off toward a wonderful family experience. I even said to Jake on the drive up "You know, I feel really good about this. Like we can do these things as a family again. Now that Katie is getting older and Parker is getting stronger."
It was a lovely moment.





Then we got there.
It was a great place to sled. The snow was a little slick, since it had melted and then froze again. That was okay. We would just be careful.
That was our first mistake.
Second mistake, letting Chase out of the car. Of course he took off wanting to play in the "slow" and ride on the boats. Jake took him down a couple times to appease him. While I waited in the car with Katie and Parker. Caleb and Amy got their snow stuff on. Third mistake, telling Amy and Caleb they could sled a few times on their own while Jake and I worked on getting Parker and Katie settled in the jogging stroller. So after they are all snug in the stroller and we have successfully kept Chase from cracking his head open, we can't find Caleb or Amy.
Anywhere.
So Jake sets off to go find them and takes Chase with him.
Twenty minutes later he comes huffing and puffing back up the hill carrying Chase, but still no Caleb and Amy.
At this point I am starting to freak out (I do that).
Jake says he has to leave Chase so he can keep looking. So now I have Chase running and jumping on frozen snow, while Katie and Parker are still in the jogging stroller. Just so you know, jogging strollers don't work that great in snow. Another twenty minutes passes while I have thoughts of Caleb and Amy lost and frozen out in the snow for days.
Finally Jake and our prodigals return.
At first I wanted to run to them, fall down on my knees, take them in my arms and cry tears of joy and relief. But before they were in arms reach I saw the attitude.
They were ticked.
What?
They weren't scared and feeling grateful for their gallant rescue?
Nope.
They couldn't believe they had to come back and share the sleds with the rest of the family.
Hmmmmm.
That didn't go over well.


Yeah, it's time to pack up and go home.

Family fun time is over.


BTW Caleb is not pictured, but I promise you, he is in the back seat, arms crossed, eyebrows as low as they go and lips pursed.


We had just dished out their punishments.


So we drove home, where Chase promptly went inside, sat down on the couch, and puked all over it.


And we're done.

Happy Birthday Chase!

Chase had a magical birthday.

Three is such a great age for birthdays.

They are just starting to get the whole thing and are excited with whatever you give them.

It started with the birthday tree that only Chase gets, since his birthday is five days after Christmas. Please notice the birthday garland I made for the tree.

I was pretty proud.



So the rule for Chase's birthday was that you couldn't make him scream. That is not an easy thing for any of us. At the end of the day Caleb said
"Chase did really good today, maybe we should do this everyday."
I said "What, give him whatever he wants?"
To which Caleb said "Ya, I guess that won't work."
Mmmmm, no.

Chase knew exactly what to do when it came to the candles.
BTW this is a Butter Brickle Cake (or you call it Butter Brickle Bread if your name is Aubrey) and it is so delicious.
Don't let the plain appearance fool you.


Caleb and Amy were so concerned last night that they forgot to get Chase a present. They were so cute and they worked for hours making him gifts. Caleb drew him this picture
and Amy made him a coloring book.



Chase also got Tinkertoys, a pillow pet (which Caleb seemed strangely jealous of), some puzzles and a backpack.




It was a great day. Happy birthday crazy! We love you!

Las Vegas

Jake and I got to take a quick trip to Las Vegas for a job interview. For Jake, not me...I don't think I would make it on the Las Vegas strip. I wear too much clothing.

My parents were nice enough to watch ALL FIVE of our kids for us.

Thanks mom and dad!

It has been a few years since we got to go anywhere without our kids. So even though it was Vegas, we loved it.


So if you are planning a trip to Las Vegas and you don't drink, smoke, gamble or go to nudie bars then here are your options:
1. Go somewhere else.
2. Go to Serendipity's and get frozen hot chocolate.
3. Go see Phantom of the Opera or the Donnie and Marie Show (we didn't do either of these, we just saw signs everywhere and they were the only signs we could look at).
4. Watch the Bellagio water show.
5. Go to Chronic Tacos and get amazing shrimp tacos!
6. Or seriously, go somewhere else. What happens in Vegas, can stay there for all I care.







This little beauty would swim around in the pond in the lobby of our hotel. If there are live fowl inside your hotel does that mean you stayed somewhere classy? I sure hope so!





We did have a great time though and luckily the job interview was for a job in Tucson NOT Las Vegas, so maybe we will end up staying right here. I am okay with that.