Warrens in Review

Last night, I spent an hour reading over my past blog entries.  I am so glad that I decided to start this blog back in August of last year, because it has been a wonderful way of journaling.  I also realized that I haven't been quite as diligent posting current events in the Warren family.  So, here it goes:

I enrolled my two oldest children in swim lessons back in January.  I knew that this summer would be tough with a newborn, so Simon and Ava have been learning all the essentials at an indoor private pool.  It has been a wonderful experience for all of us.  Both of them have progressed so much with the help of their swimming coaches.  I've already enrolled them in another 9 week session that will end once school gets out. 

Simon is doing well in school.  He reads anything and everything now.  When we study the scriptures at night, he does fairly well reading verses out loud on his own.  He told me the other day that he wants to marry the little girl who lives across the street from us.  When asked why he didn't want to marry one of his other friends who happened to be a girl, his response was, "She doesn't go to our church, and I won't be able to marry her in the temple."

I've nicknamed Ava, "Funny Girl."  You would never guess it, because she is very quiet and almost withdrawn in public places.  But, Ava makes me laugh every day with her quirky comments.  One day, I encouraged the kids to go outside and play.  I checked the digital reading on our outdoor thermometer and it was 52 degrees.  The sun was brightly shining, and I was practically pushing the kids out the door.  Being skeptical of the warmer weather, Ava cracked the sliding glass door open, stuck her hand out to feel the temperature, and announced, "It is not 52 degrees out here!  It's more like.... 51 degrees!" 
Ava is also my little helper.  She does a great job of folding clean towels and wash cloths, clearing her place setting, rinsing her dishes off after each meal, and making her bed.

Brahm is all boy.  He is aggressive, and independent, and fearless.  He is finally beginning to talk a bit now that he is almost 2 1/2 years old.  Mommy, Daddy, and No are his favorites.  Most parents hate hearing their toddlers scream, "No," in contempt towards them.  But, I am just happy that he is talking.  He can say "No" all he wants.  Just like his Daddy, he is happy and chipper very early in the morning.  And just like his Daddy, he is in foul spirits after 8:00 pm. 

I am 22 weeks pregnant and still plugging along.  I do not have that 2nd trimester boost of energy with this baby.  In fact, I can easily take a 2 hour nap in the afternoon and then go to bed at 9:30 pm and sleep for 9 hours.  I am getting older.  My body is getting older.  And, there is a noticeable difference with this pregnancy. 

I've written a short children's book.  Nothing special.  I'm revising it right now, but I plan on sending it to a publisher soon.  I have 5 other ideas for children's books up my sleeve. 
With my calling in the Young Women's Program, I'm currently working on earning my Medallion by November.

Jess is still running.  His wet, sweaty running clothes give the whole family the willies.  Ava loves to help me throw dirty laundry into the washing machine.  But when it comes to Daddy's running clothes, she will not touch them with a ten foot pole. 
Jess has planned a surprise get-a-way for our 10 year anniversary in April.  I don't handle surprises very well.  I've been hyper-ventilating, because I have no idea where we will be going and who will be taking care of our children.  I trust him, though, that all will turn out well.

And the gender is.....

For the past few months, I've researched nothing but baby girl names-- Gale, Helen, Catherine, Josephine, Gwen, etc.  I haven't taken any interest in boy names.  I thought for sure that my last child would be a girl.  Almost 2 weeks ago, Jess and I went to our ultrasound appointment.  This entire time I've wanted this child to be a girl.  But, in the back of my mind, I knew I was carrying a boy.  I was too sick not to be carrying a boy. 

Lo and behold, I am having another boy. 

Which means, this will not be my last child. 

I think I've soured Jess on the idea of conceiving another child from my most recent bout with morning sickness.  Hopefully, all is forgotten a year or two down the road. 

My due date is July 7th, but the professionals think that I will give birth around the 26th of June. 

Any suggestions for boy names?

P.S.  I really am thrilled about having a boy!

On the Road Again....

Our final leg of the trip took us to our home away from home-- Salt Lake City.  Two special ordinances were taking place that we didn't want to miss-- the baptism of my niece and the sealing of my nephew.

 

My sister's daughter, Mele, was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on a Friday evening.  Both grandmothers gave beautiful talks.  After the program, the Halatokous prepared an unforgettable evening of eating, music, and dancing.  Tongans really know how to throw parties, and this was no exception.  There was a buffet of shrimp, ham, meatballs, chicken, rice, crab salad, sweet potatoes, Tongan chop suey, creamy spinach, and desserts galore. Traditional Tongan music played over loud speakers while polynesian dancers performed.  Everything was quite impressive.

I feel very close to my niece, Mele.  I babysat her on a regular basis until she was 5 years old.  Simon and Mele were practically siblings.  I feel as though Mele is one of my own.  Our family was so excited to be able to witness her baptism and confirmation.  We love you, Mele!

Mele, in white, surrounded by the Hanks and Halatokoua cousins

My sister, Rachel, and her husband, Kala (parents of Mele)

My nephew, Sifa

My niece, Solome

My niece, Liz

My nephews- Sifa and Ian, and my niece, Christine

My nephew, Miles, with his daddy, Devin

The very next morning, we drove to the Timpanogos Temple to witness the sealing of my nephew, Sawyer, to his parents Abbey (my sister) and Peter.  Abbey and Peter adopted this beautiful baby in July of 2009.  They had to wait 6 months for the adoption to finalize before blessing and sealing him.  The sealing ordinance that took place was one of the most spiritual experiences that I have had in the temple.  Thank you, Abbey and Peter, for allowing us to be part of this sacred moment in your family's history.

 

Peter, Abbey, and Sawyer outside of the Temple

The cousins watching a sleeping Sawyer

Brahm

My mom, Grandma Hanks, holding Sawyer

Daddy and son

Mom, Rachel, Mandy, Abbey, Beth, and Meredith (4 of my 6 siblings)

Sawyer

D-day

January is the perfect time of year to travel to Disneyland for four reasons:

1. gas prices are low(er)
2. the park is not busy (we usually walked onto rides or waited in a 5 minute line)
3. a lot of promotions (for both Disneyland and nearby hotels) are offered this time of year
4. The sun was shining and the temperatures reached the 70's!

Warren Familia

Our family left Las Vegas early in the morning (6:00am) to make our 4 hour drive to Anaheim.  We stopped for breakfast at the famous train car depot McDonald's in Barstow where both Jess and I were accosted by the same panhandler.  For time's sake, we ate our Sausage McMuffins in the car while Jess drove and searched for directions on his phone at the same time.  When we arrived in Anaheim, we checked into our hotel, assembled the jogging stroller, packed it full of coats and food, and began our brisk walk to "The Happiest Place on Earth."  Ava was the lucky child who got to choose the first ride of the day (because "ladies are always first").  She chose the carousel, and so it was. 

Brahm impatiently waiting for the others to return from a ride

Daddy and Ava had to take Dramamine chewables before swirling around in the teacups

Being pregnant, I thought it would be best to avoid some of the jerkier rides.  So while Jess, Ava, and Simon spun around on the Rocket Jets, Brahm and I interactively shot our astro-blasters at targets on the Buzz Lightyear ride.  Brahm was less than happy to be separated from Jess.  In fact, if one didn't know that I was his mother, one would think that I was kidnapping him.  There was "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth" when Brahm was transferred from Jess' arms into my arms.  Once lunch time rolled around, we enjoyed our packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, oranges, and pudding cups while watching the Jedi show in Tomorrowland.  The rest of the afternoon was filled with rain.  But, we made the most of our day by shielding ourselves with an umbrella and/or poncho.  Because of the ominous weather, the park was practically empty.  Ava and Brahm peacefully napped in the jogging stroller under the waterproof cover while Jess and Simon jumped onto the Indiana Jones ride and others like it with ease. 

Ava and Minnie Mouse (she was still a little unsure about the characters on this trip)

Simon and Mickey Mouse

Once nightfall hit, we headed back to the hotel, threw up our tired feet, watched way too much Disney channel, made ourselves dinner, and took a dip in the jacuzzi.  Thank goodness for on-site laundry facilities.  With a family of 5, the odds of a child (or parent) getting an essential article of clothing dirty are high.

My children had their internal clocks set on Mountain Standard Time, so we rose bright and early each day at around 6:15am.  The hotel provided a complimentary hot breakfast buffet that we were all too happy to eat each morning. 

Dumbo

Our next 2 days at Disneyland and California Adventure Park were much the same but with the sun brightly shining.  I noticed that everything was in bloom-- the roses, the trees, the flowers, everything!  If Southern California didn't suffer from wildfires, floods, earthquakes, high jobless rates, a high deficit, and a steep depreciation in home values, then I would definitely want to live there!  The high temperatures for the remainder of our trip reached up to 70 degrees.  Who could beat that in January? 

A major meltdown

As I mentioned before, I could not ride on the roller coasters or other jerky rides.  So, when Brahm fell asleep in the stroller for his afternoon nap, Jess and the other kids used this time to hop onto Space Mountain or the Matterhorn.  With a sleeping Brahm by my side, I leisurely sat on a park bench, munched on a huge macadamia nut-white chocolate chip cookie, and "people-watched."  I love to people-watch.  The Japanese tourists were my favorites.  The women were dressed to the nines in their Dior shades, fur-lined jackets (mind you- it was 70 degrees), mid-thigh form fitting dresses, and stiletto boots along with the most expensive camera equipment slung around their necks. Then there were the Orthodox Jewish families.  Both parents and children were dressed as if going to synagogue-- women and girls in skirts and blouses, boys and men in slacks, white shirts, neckties, and sweaters.  The boys wore yarmulkes (yamakas), and prayer shawls with the tassels hanging out from under their sweaters.  The men wore fedora hats.  Some had the long side curls whiles others didn't.  On the opposite end of the spectrum were the families whose parents were covered in tattoos, and piercings.  I always found it to be most surprising at how normal their children looked.  I imagined these tattooed mothers with dread locks shopping at Gymboree, The Children's Place, Gap Kids, or other mainstream children's stores for their kid's clothing--  that is how normal and cute their children appeared to be.  Finally, I saw quite a few LDS families. The women were usually blonde and wore stretchy Shade shirts, chunky jewelry, and pushed a double stroller full of kids.  The men wore their BYU paraphernalia. 

Brahm napping

The Toy Story Soldier street show

Speaking of BYU paraphernalia, Jess wore his BYU hat while we were there.  While watching the nightly Celebrations parade one evening, the main singer atop a float appeared to be looking at me.  I turned away and watched the performers in front of us.  I then turned to look at the float again, only to notice that the singer was again looking at me.  Feeling awkward, I turned away again.  This happened a time or two more.  Finally, the singer shouted out for all to hear, "Go Cougars!"  The whole time he was staring in Jess' direction, not mine.  In fact, Jess had quite a few people give shout-outs to him (actually to BYU) while we were there. 

Brahm and his best friend

Jess and Brahm visiting with Mater and Lightning McQueen

Miss Minnie

My family's favorite rides were Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear, Matterhorn, Pirates, Monster's Inc, Mr. Toad's Wild Adventure, and Soaring Over California.  Simon did not care for some of the faster roller coasters and the Snow White ride (the evil queen frightened him).  I, on the other hand, could not handle the new Nemo Submarine Adventure.  Being pregnant, I have become terribly claustrophobic.  I was so fearful that this ride would experience difficulties while we were nestled inside the enclosed submarine and that I would have to endure minute upon minute of patiently waiting for problems to be fixed, hoping the air supply wouldn't be depleted by the 50 or so passengers. 

Matterhorn

Ava

Ava was Daddy's roller coaster buddy.  She, unlike her brother, enjoyed the "wind-in-your-hair" sort of rides.  Brahm was happy with any ride as long as he was with Daddy. 

Me, already exhausted on the first ride of our final day in the park

Pirate Simon

A photo-op with Minnie

Lastly, I cannot end my journaling efforts without sharing a funny story.  I had a mean protein craving while there, and our daily peanut butter and jelly lunch wasn't cutting it for me.  I saw people dining on huge turkey legs.  The sight of them was quite hilarious.  They looked like cavemen gnawing on gigantic bird carcasses.  I was convinced that I needed one of these absurdly large legs of meat to suppress my protein craving.  Jess kindly ran across the park one afternoon to a snack stand to buy one for me.   When he returned and laid the leg before me, I was a tad bit grossed out.  I tore off the skin, then the layer of fat, and then I began to strip the meat from the bone.  There was enough meat on this one turkey leg to feed my entire family.  The kids had a couple bites, I had a couple bites, Jess had a couple bites, and then we were done (with meat to spare).  My hand reeked of roasted turkey.  I swore off meat (at least for the next 2 days) after this incident.  While "people watching" the next day, I saw a couple walking hand-in-hand and happily sharing and gnawing at a turkey leg together (skin, fat and all!).  I started to gag. 

The infamous turkey leg

On our final night in California, we met up with Jess' cousin Jace and his family.

Baby Malin, Jace, Krista, and the Warren clan

I love Disneyland!  This was our 3rd time going as a family.  I love the music blaring on Main Street.  I love the ride operators and Disneyland staff (they are all so happy and sweet).  I love the nightly parades and street shows.  I love the cleanliness of the park.  And, I love the rides!   We had a great time!

Viva Las Vegas!

I need to preface this portion of our trip by saying that our 11 hour drive to Las Vegas left us exhausted throughout most of our vacation.  Jess and I thought we were smart by leaving Boise at 8:30 in the evening, hoping the kids would sleep most of the way.  But, Brahm kept everyone awake with his incessant whining about the state of his blanket.  We purposely avoided the Nevada route because of road conditions that called for chains or snow tires.  But while travelling though Utah, we hit a blizzard in Cedar City that lasted for 40 miles.  Ava vomited in an empty soda cup due to car sickness, and our arrival to Las Vegas could not have come soon enough. 

Jess's step-grandparents, Ivan and Frimma, flew in from New Jersey to see us along with other family members.  We spent most of our stay catching up with them along with other loved ones and friends.  We enjoyed eating, laughing, lounging, and more eating!

Some highlights worth mentioning were:

a trip to the chocolate factory

4 course breakfasts

a discussion about the existence of a God with the wife of a well-known atheist and libertarian

Hawaii home movies

hot and sour soup

the kids terrorizing Gramee's tank full of fish, Darla-style

the fabulous view from Grandma Frimma and Grandpa Ivan's upgraded hotel room

loading up on Grandma and Grandpa Hanks' hand-me-downs destined for D.I.

the joy of watching all of the little cousins play to their hearts' content

My favorite quote from our trip went something like this:

Jess:      "What do you kids think of Las Vegas?"

Simon:   "It's a lot like Mexico."

Jess:      "What do you mean?"

Simon:   "There's trash everywhere."

The kids on the Ethel-M Chocolate factory tour

A factory worker giving Simon bunny ears

   

Ava surveying the selection of chocolates

"I'll give you a bite of my overpriced mint chocolate bar if you give me a bite of your raspberry creme bar."

Brahm enjoying his peanut butter filled chocolate bar while Daddy salivates

Ava, Simon, and Gramee posing in the Cactus garden

Both sets of Grandparents live in Las Vegas along with Jess' only sibling, Laci, and my oldest sister, Whitney.  We had a wonderful time visiting with everyone!

Thank you, family members and friends, for making our stay so pleasant! 

California, here we come......

Warren Family Vacation

11 hours to Las Vegas + 4 hours to L.A. +  another 4 hours back to Las Vegas +
6 hours to Salt Lake City + 5 hours back home to Boise =
30 hours worth of driving!!!

We drove approximately 2,100 miles, spent around $300 in gas, and bought enough energy drinks to keep Jess awake on these arduous drives.  We tried to avoid dangerous winter weather (hence, the route from Boise to Las Vegas through the state of Utah), but we were slowed down by blizzard-like conditions travelling south through Cedar City.  Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive!   Our 9-day vacation was broken up into 3 mini trips: Las Vegas, Anaheim (Disneyland), and Salt Lake City.  We loved seeing family and friends. But, will we make this trip again any time soon?  Give me a year or two, and I'll warm up to the idea of travelling in a packed car with kids suffering from motion sickness, fatigue, and boredom. 

More details and pictures to come......