I'M ALIVE....BARELY

...In case any of you are wondering. I am taking a little break (which will probably be interrupted and this blog post will be written in about five different settings) to fill you all in on what has been going on in our lives. First off, Josh and I finally finished the complete series of LOST! I was a little obsessed. We would watch as many as five episodes each night, we didn't do anything else (unless there was an important basketball game on to watch) besides watch this long, too-many characters, most unrealistic show. But overall, it was great and we were both sad to see it end. But now we are back in reality and actually know what is going on in the world :) Last Saturday (6/4), Tahnee came over to help me organize, clean and throw out a ton of stuff in our apartment. Glad she was there because she kept me focused and we got through everything we needed too. We were very busy all day and then rewarded ourselves with a Seven Peaks outing later that day. As Tahnee and I cleaned through some bins my parents brought up last year, full of stuff from my childhood, we couldn't stop reading my journals from junior high and high school. I don't even know what to say about them, except if anyone ever got a hold of them, I would be so embarrassed haha. We were laughing really hard and I could not believe how different I am in a lot of ways, but also how some things just never change! From elementary school I found several "About Me" projects. Things like Disneyland and hamburgers were on my favorites lists, and "favorite fruit" was crossed out haha. More than half of my pictures were taken at Disneyland and most of my teenage pictures were taken with my cousin Courtney. Pros and Cons lists of my crushes (let's not even go there). And "Qualitites in a Future Husband" lists that flooded my Young Women piles. It was so fun going through everything. After Seven Peaks, Josh and I cleaned the rest of the apartment and finished packing. Sunday morning, we left bright and early. We drove straight through The above blurb is what I wrote on June 12. Yes, it has taken me this long to complete my post. So to continue.... Once we got here we started babysitting and Josh started working on June 9. We managed to go to Disneyland THREE times in the first week as well. We officially have become obsessed with that place! My husband is a Disney freak, I am learning. On June 12, Josh left for Orlando for five days and my parents left for Sacramento for three days. It was the longest few days of my life. I was at home, watching all five kids by myself. Luckily, my mom called in back up to help drive kids to and from school and help me out for a couple hours each day. But other than that, it was up to me. It was hard work and that is when I realized, I don't know if I am fit to be a mother. Luckily, I understand that kids come one at a time (usually). Not FIVE at a time. But let me tell you, I have never thought about my future so much as when I have been here!! I think it's driving Josh crazy. I have 100% figured out I am not meant to cook and clean everyday for the rest of my life. So therefore, I may put off kids for a bit longer than I originally thought. Back to my crazy week. My parents and Josh eventually came home. Hallejulah. Josh and I made sure we were gone most of that weekend. I had to leave the house! Other than that first week of being thrown into the fire, the rest of the weeks have been pretty consistent. I try and take the kids places a few times a week. If you know me at all, I don't do well sitting inside all day. I like to be out and about and busy. So I have visited every shopping center in Orange County. 1.) There is a pet store that will entertain the kids for a while; 2.) If they are indoors, it's air conditioned; 3.) If they we go to the Irvine Spectrum, there are water fountains the kids like to run in, which entertains for about an hour (then I get too hot); 4.) The kids love getting out of the house and going "bye-bye," just driving around will be sufficient for them! We have also gone to the community pool, McDonald's (on really hot days to get an ice cream), Chuck E. Cheese, the park, and bravely took the twins to Disneyland! They are having the summer of a lifetime!! The twins and Gregory still have school all through the summer and really enjoy it. Gregory just started going on a bus, which is a big deal to him. The twins have class at the house two days a week and then two other locations the rest of the week.

Enough of the kids (since that is my whole life right now); let's talk about Josh and I. It has been so different for us to live here. So far it has really worked out and we are so grateful to my parents for allowing us to stay here for two months!! We enjoy the evenings together, going to the gym, night swimming, Disneyland, met up with Emily and Scott in Newport Beach, going out to eat, and tonight will be our first Angel game together! There really is never a dull moment. My mother-in-law always tells me how we have such a fun life, and I have to admit, we really do have a lot of fun and we make sure we are always doing something we will enjoy together.

For 4th of July weekend, we were able to go to LA for a couple days and do extreme sight-seeing. We stayed at Rick and Arlene's house and have Ryan, Melissa, and Brady go with us. The first day we went and saw the Getty museum, the Grove (outdoor shopping center) and have lunch at Wood Ranch (of all places), and that evening we went to the Griffith Observatory. We were able to weigh ourselves on each of the different planets. Next time I get weighed or go in for a new Driver's license and they ask my weight, I simply want to say, "Um, on what planet?" We had a terrific view of Los Angeles while the sun was setting. To get to the museum, there is quite a hike, but I made it with only one rest! That night we were all exhausted. The next day, Rick and Arlene made us breakfast (which was such a treat) and then we were off to Alavera Street a.k.a. Little Mexico. While we were there we got chocolate-filled churros and saw Union Station. Then we headed to Philippe's, where I learned my great-grandpa loved to go. It was packed! This place is a whole-in-the-wall but amazing. French-dipped sandwiches that are already dipped. I was a little hesitant since I have never had a french-dip sandwich before, but it was delicious! Pleasantly surprised. Then we headed over to L.A. Live and the Staples Center. We had all been there except for Josh. It was blazing hot outside. There were a couple different companies outside with giveaways, like Coca-Cola giving away free coke. Well that didn't cut it so Melissa and I got a Frappachino at Starbucks. Mmm...that hit the spot. Well there was also an Anime Convention going on at the L.A. Convention Center and that was a sight to see. Pretty much everyone there was dressed up as some character. It was preety unbelieveable that so many people would put the time and money into these elaborate costumes. Afterwards, we went back to La Canada and took a nap and a cold shower. That night, Rick took us out to dinner at Mi Piace (?) in Pasadena. It was such a nice vibe in the resturant and the whole boulevard. I would love to live there. We left Sunday. Once we were home, we relaxed until everyone came home from church. Later that evening, we went to Newport Beach and walked around the main street and along the houses that faced Balboa Island. It was a beautiful day. Monday (the 4th), I went shopping with Desiree for some summer clothes and then over to Jim and Janice's for some food. Josh was pushing to go to Disneyland that day. I had told him over and over that I would only go for fireworks and then we are out. It is a known fact that Disneyland is always crowded that day. We have downloaded an app on our phone that tells us how crowded the park is. It was unusually low that day and I gave in. We were very surprised to see how not crowded it was. We parked on the second floor of the parking structure and asked a few cast members if it was busy. They said no. Wow!! We walked on everything. For fireworkds, Desiree had told us to go to the top of the parking structure. As we left California Adventure, there were a million people coming to the park and sitting in between the two parks. We went to the top of the structure and so did 500 other people. But it didn't matter because no matter where you stood, you could see the fireworks. It was a great July fourth, very laid back.

I hope to stay more on top of my blog. I hope everyone is doing well. I can't believe how much I miss Utah and miss my apartment. I would love to stay there and live there, but we really have no ties there :( Josh is really loving his internship. He has so many perks and eats out probably 4 out of 5 days for lunch. I get very jealous, but oh well. That's life. Lately my back has been killing me, so last night I went and got a massage at Massage Envy. I told the guy I was in a lot of pain, and he really knocked me around. My body is full of bruises but it was what I needed to help my back. Hopefully it gets better once I stop babysitting full-time. Like I mentioned earlier, Josh and I are going to an Angel game tonight. I am pretty excited. Get a giant hot dog and enjoy the game with my hubby.

(I keep trying to delete the space in between pictures and text and it isn't working. I realize there is a lot of white. Sorry.)