Spring Break 2012

Our Spring Break this year was very low key.  Jason worked most of the week, and it rained almost every day.  We mostly tried to RELAX!  At least, that's what I tried to do.

The first few days the kids were off from school, Jason was home too, and we had sunshine!  Perfect combination!

Our whole family spent most of the day outside, and Jason worked hard on the garage.  I got out a lot of baby stuff including the bassinet, and washed and cleaned and prepared.  By the end of the day we were all tired, but felt great because of all we had accomplished.

The kids and Jason outside with bouncy balls, bikes, scooters, soccer ball and football.  Lots going on!

Bennett has more fun without Harrison grabbing at his face.  I completely agree Bennett!  Harrison likes to grab my face too, and I hate it!

Jason in the middle of a soccer game and football game simultaneously.  He's an amazing dad!

It's amazing to me how grown up Lily is.  She is SO helpful with her little brothers.
Maxwell and Glenn are both on soccer teams right now, and have lots of fun practicing together.

Crazy Harry

Learning to throw a football.  I don't think anyone is ready to receive his throw.  Oh well, I don't think he noticed. (Although, he was born on the day of THIS great catch by Johnny Harline in the last few seconds of a BYU/Utah game.  My dad wanted us to name him Johnny Harline Ritz in honor of the occasion.) 

Other fun things we did over Spring Break....

Last year when I was in NYC I got Lily a Bath Bomb in a really cool little bath shop with homemade soaps.  I put it in her stocking for Christmas.  She finally decided to use it over Spring Break.  The poor girl has her own shower, but when she wants a bath she has to use her brother's bathroom - Star Wars stickers on the wall and all!  The bath bomb was fun because it smelled really girly and it turned the water pink!

Her brothers could smell it in the hallway.  When she got out they peeked in and saw the pink water.  They begged her to not drain it.  Max and Harry were SO excited to play a Star Wars Battle in the good smelling, pink bath.

We had several family 'movie nights' - Here are the three younger boys in their jammies waiting for a movie and popcorn.

One of the few days that Jason was home we drove up the Columbia River Gorge.  We hiked around one of the water falls, then went to the Bonneville Dam on the Washington side - which means crossing "The Bridge of the Gods."  I HATE bridges.  Jason and the kids think it's hilarious.  They like to torture me.  Seriously, why do we have to go to the Washington side?  The Oregon side is Damn nice too!

In the visitors center you can go to the lower level and watch the fishies swim through the fish ladders, up stream, through the dam.  It's one of my kids favorite things to do.  Even Lily, the girly girl loves it.  Bennett got really into it for the first time on this trip.  The only downsides to the day were the cold drizzle/rain, and the fact that all the walking put me in some serious pain including contractions.

La Tourelle Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon Side

Bonneville Dam - Fish Ladders - Columbia River Gorge - Washington side

Yes!  Those are REAL fish swimming by in the green water!

Lily sat in the window the whole time and would yell out whenever a new fish would appear.  She's very good at identifying the different species.  The boys wander around and look at the displays and wait for Lily to yell out, "Chinook Salmon!" or "Steel Head!" or "Lamprey!"  Then her brothers all come running to see the new fish swim by. Someday this skill will really impress the guys Lily.

I took this from a distance, but I love it because Bennett is pointing. He loves to point at things he is excited about.

Bennett LOVED this mural on the wall.  He also got really excited about the huge fish swimming by in the windows.  I loved watching his excitement.

 This is all the fun we had.  The other parts that I'm not showing to you are all the parts where I laid around like a lazy mom while the kids made messes.   Over all it was a good Spring Break.  I am very happy to say that we made it through the week!

SOMSI

We use our OMSI membership very often.  For our last fun activity for Spring Break we went back to OMSI, exactly one week after our first visit at the beginning of Spring Break.  This time Bailey and Garrett came and played too.  Jason stayed home with Bennett so we could get them in on our membership.

Harrison in the Chem Lab.  My favorite part of going to OMSI is that Harrison calls it SOMSI. 

Learning about Hydro-power.

In the Physics Lab

Learning about Electric Current.

In the Chemistry Lab

In the Space Shuttle

Model of Apollo 13

On the Camel

Egypt Exhibition

Bailey and Garrett - such cute newlyweds!

Inside the giant Ear

My kids love to climb in this ear.  It is possible to climb all through the ear canal to the ear drum.  I must have 100's of pictures of them all in this ear!  They always want pictures taken here.  I wouldn't have even posted these, but I thought this sequence was funny.

Harrison Happy

Harrison Annoyed that Max got in his shot!

Max happy, Harrison still annoyed but playing OK in the ear canal.

In the Paleontology Lab

The sand table is very therapeutic.

At the end the kids wanted to go play in the Science playground.  We said good-bye to Bailey and Garrett so they could go back and actually read and see the exhibits without chasing the kids with me.  I figured it was safe for me to be alone with 4 kids  I mean, this is my every day life.  Right?

It was 3 days before the end of Spring Break and it was SUPER crowded there.  We left the playground and went to the bathrooms before heading home.  Harrison took off after going, as I was washing my hands and yelling for him to come back.  I figured he would just wait outside with the older boys who should be out by then.  I still ran out as fast as I could.  Glenn was standing there and said he never saw Harrison come out.  We looked EVERY WHERE!  He was gone for a total of 15 minutes, and it terrified the staff.  He had gone off downstairs to ride the flight simulator, but they wouldn't let him without a parent.  He came back upstairs, and Lily was waiting by the bathrooms in case he came back there, and he did! 

 I will say that this was the first time that I've lost a kid in a crowded busy place, that I didn't get super upset.  I usually am crying and freaking out.  Not this time.  What does that mean?  I think it means that I am well seasoned.  I stayed calm this time, and I was much better off for it in the long run.  I have lost kids before at the zoo, the Gilbert House, at the park etc.  It is always a super scary experience.  I am proud of myself for maybe not getting better at mothering, I mean - I am still losing kids on occasion, but better at handling things.  My life is crazy, coping skills are necessary.

Spring Break - Second 1/2 of Day 7

After Tillamook, none of us felt like going home yet.  So we drove up the coast and ended up in Astoria.  We actually crossed the huge bridge into Washington, where Jason bought some crab cocktail.

Astoria is one of our favorite places on Earth!  Jason has family there, his mom grew up there off and on.  We go there whenever we can!

On this trip it was really rainy and we had given his Aunt no notice of us coming.  I felt way too bad to stop in and dump our 5 children in her adorable and always spotless home.  So, we drove around a bit and then got some Bow Picker for dinner.  Bow Picker is the best Fish & Chips in Oregon, and probably beyond!  Go there!  Try it! 

(These pictures were taken August 2010)

It is a small family business managed out of a small boat parked in an old parking lot.  It is on the main drag, facing the Columbia River, across from the Maritime Museum (also a GREAT place to visit!)  They use fresh tuna steaks and a secret recipe that they will give me NO hints to!  When I was pregnant with Bennett, I craved it often and we had to make special trips so mama could get her some Bow Picker!

It was a yummy dinner and easy to eat in the car.  Right Bailey?

(In the Summertime we pick up some fish and Chips, then take it to the beach.  The two go really well together!)

The kids were super tired and fell asleep, and, or cried on the way home.

You can see the heavy rain pounding on the windows.  I love road trips in our cozy vehicle, in the rain.

Don't worry, he fell asleep after doing this for about 5 minutes, though it felt like 30 minutes to all who were in the car with him.  Aren't you glad that there is no sound with this picture?

THE END

Spring Break Days 6 & 7

After spending the afernoon at JJ Jump with the kids......... (Mom, sorry I took no pictures.  I forgot.  I sat and read my book instead!)

On Wednesday, halfway through Spring Break, Lily and I got out for a girls ONLY night.  We went to a friends house for a bow making party.  Lily was a bit sour in the beginning, and not her usual sweet self.  But in the end it turned out great.  We had a good time and came home with new pretty, homemade clips for our hair!  We felt very accomplished.

On Thursday, Jason was home but we kidnapped Bailey again anyways.  We headed to Tillamook, OR.  It is on the coast and famous for it's Dairy.  We like to go to the cheese factory to sample the cheese and buy an ice cream cone.  This was Bennett's first visit.  Bailey refused to bring in the stroller because she wanted to carry him.  I think she regretted it just after getting in the door.  I tried to tell her!  That boy is HEAVY!

Waiting in line for free cheese samples.  We really love this part!

Watching the cheese factory workers do their job.  Harrison told me he wants to make cheese when he gets big.

I Scream, YOU Scream!  We ALL SCREAM for Ice Cream!!!

Sugar Coma