She's THREE!

I figured I better get these things written down so I would not forget them.

Yesterday we went to see Uncle Nic and Aunt Carlies new house.  Sophia noticed a swing set in the back yard and we never made it outside... On the way home she said, "Mom, I am so disappointed that I did not get to swing"! I had to giggle hearing that word come out of her mouth in the correct context.

She was getting Seth a snack in his spill proof (yea right) container and I helped push the lid on... a little and she crossed her arms, stormed off and said, "mommy, I am very upset with you because you helped me".

GOOD GRAVY... we are in a world of  T R O U B L E folks!

Allaso Ranch

It is FINALLY here, the day Jonah leaves for Allaso Ranch.  

Side Note:  Jonah asked if he could go to summer camp last summer but it was the end of July when he asked.  It was a little late to sign him up.  We told him maybe next summer.  You better believe that Jonah could not stop asking all year about it!  He was SO excited.  I told him that he would not know a SINGLE person there and his response, "I know, that's OK, I make friends easily".  Insert mommas heart breaking here...  Luke watched the video and read all about it and said how much fun it looked  but he did not want to go.  I told him that was fine, maybe next year.  He said, "No, probably not".  

Last week we received his packet in the mail and he is on Team Captain America (Blue Team).  We talked about decorating our car for the drive down and Aunt Kelly brought over her window paints for us to decorate.  THANKS Aunt Kel, we had so much fun decorating and Jonah was so excited to help.

Jonah was to check in at 3:45 Sunday afternoon.  We loaded up the car and headed East to Hawkins.  He was kind of quiet and I think maybe a little nervous.  Must have realized he was not going to no a SINGLE person there.  We arrived and got him checked in and went to meet his trainers for the week.  We did not stay long, maybe 10 minutes because none of the other parents stayed.  We said our goodbyes and off we went back to the truck.  

Momma did not even shed a tear because I knew he was going to have a blast all week or maybe because I knew I would not have to break up a fight all week between he and Luke.  Guess we will never know!  HA

So, about him not knowing a soul out there, momma knows someone who was going to be there with her daughter who is 6 months older than Jonah.  He has no clue who she is but I showed him a picture and told him that if a lady comes up to you and asks how you are that it was moms friend Lydia.  

Day two of him being gone Lydia sent me a message telling me that she asked Jonah's trainer at lunch how he was doing.  He told her that he was doing GREAT!  Cue the tears.  I could not help it.  It was great to hear that he was doing well.  I knew he would but it sure jerked my heart strings!   

You can check the website for daily pictures of the kids so you better believe I became a stalker of the website.  I felt like I checked it ALL THE TIME!!!  Thank goodness he is coming home tomorrow so now I can actually parent my other three and stop stalking!  HA HA HA

They were on their way to horse back ride but it
started to thunder so they could not go.  Jonah
was a little disappointed.  

Pick up day has FINALLY arrived!  I can hardly stand it.  This momma missed her first born so much. We could not wait to hear all about his week.  We were to be there at 9:45 to pick up our little camper. 

We were there a few minutes early so we decided to go ahead and get his luggage they had set out by cabins under tents.  I walked over and grabbed his two bags (one with clothes and one with all his bedding).  When I packed them there was NO way anything else was fitting in there.  They were both HALF empty!  So, when I got to the truck I started going through the bag and there were only two or the nine outfits I had packed in there.  So, I checked the "bedding bag" and his blanket was missing.  I had to think what else was missing.  It was his laundry bag!  I went to look for it and sure enough found it!!!  It had dirty clothes, his blanket, shoes, cameras, pens, flashlight and whatever else he could shove in there!  

Once most of the parents were there they brought the campers in and put them on stage to sing their camp song and dance one last time.  We spotted Jonah... in the front row with green neon shorts and a face mask.  He seemed to be fine... until the music started playing and he started rubbing his eyes like he does when he gets nervous or in trouble.  I knew it was going to get ugly, I just didn't know HOW ugly!  

I started getting hot, teary eyed and a lump was forming in my throat for him.  By the time EVERY OTHER CHILD was up there smiling and dancing Jonah was sobbing!  My heart hurt for him.  Did he not want to leave?  Was he nervous WHY WAS HE SO UPSET?  Finally the music stopped and Justin ran to get Jonah.  He was so upset he was gasping for air.  I wanted to grab him and hug him so tight.  He was a FILTHY, DISGUSTING, SWEATY, HOT mess but I went in anyways.  He literally looked like he rolled in a dirt pile before he walked in the building.  His face was clean where the tears were falling.  His clothes were dusty with dirt and his feet were pretty much black since he had on his slides.

We kept asking him what was wrong and he finally uttered the words, "my head hurts".  I asked when it started hurting and he told me when the music started.  We all know that when Jonah is "on stage" with lots of people watching he gets nervous.  He has done this since preschool.  

We get him calmed down and to the restroom to get wiped down.  I notice the lost and found so I walk over there to see if anything is his.  Jonah looses it again...  I ask him what is wrong and he said, "a boy stole my shirt at the pool".  I told him it was OK, it's just a shirt... but it was his favorite.  DUDE, it was $7.99 at Marshalls or TJMaxx, I will get you another one.  

So, we have made it to the car!  I found a pair of clean clothes for Jonah to change into, THAT my friends is how disgusting dirty he was!  We asked if he had fun and if he wants to go back.  He uttered, "yes, I had fun" and shrugged his shoulders about going back.  He told us he got homesick the second night.  

As soon as we got home he ate lunch and had him jump in the shower.  I went in and scrubbed him from head to toe!  I then started unpacking his bags and noticed that the 2 bath towels, 2 washrags and all his PJ's had not been touched.  I asked him if he had showered and he said, "yes, with a smirk on his face".  I asked what he dried himself off with after the shower and he said, "my swim towel".  VOMIT!  he swam twice a day and then used it to dry off after his shower.  W O W!  I then asked him what he slept in and he said, "our clothes for the next day, that's what we do".  OK then...

I started to pull out the clothes to wash and noticed a few items missing from his bag.  A couple of shirts, his toothbrush and his Bible.  He said that he did not pack his care package he got in his bag, he set it beside it.  Needless to say, we did not get home with the care package.  

When I put Jonah to bed I told him how glad I was that he was home and how much we missed him.  He told me that he only looked at the picture I tucked in his pillowcase once, maybe twice.  I asked if it made him sad and he said, "yes".  Then he told me that he only threw up once.  W H A T?  I asked when and why and he told me on the second night he got really hot under his fuzzy blanket.  This is not news... it happens at home all the time!  He gets overheated and he barfs.  Oopps, I may have forgotten to mention that to the trainer :)  

Over all he said he had fun and when people started asking him if he had fun and wanted to go back he was telling them yes!  I know it was hard not knowing a single person out there and I am so proud of him for going!  

notice the dragon fly on the deck pic.  Got it!  :)

The photos above were the pictures Jonah took with the disposable cameras I sent with him.  With as big of a picture nut as his momma is you would have THOUGHT he would have taken a.) better pics b).  more pics

Note to self... DO NOT send a disposable camera to camp.  I sent THREE, one of which was water proof.  I am pretty sure I spent about $30 on the three cameras and they had to be SENT OFF to get developed.  After 10 days and a $21 developing fee this is what we got folks.  Money well spent!  HA HA HA

Who Needs A Pool?

Staying cool in the Texas heat.

Atkins Wedding, Day Four: Heading Home

It has been an awesome weekend but we cannot wait to get home to see our turkeys!  We were to meet downstairs at 11:00 so we can load the bus and head out by 11:30.  We headed down about 10:30 since we knew that it would take forever for the car to come and get our luggage since everyone else was leaving too.  We got down and they unloaded our luggage half way down the mountain and were going to load all of it once everyone was down so they could take it the rest of the way down to the bus.  Well, of course 11:30 came and went and we waited... and we waited... and we waited and we... you get the point!

We had the last flight out of San Diego at 5:00 and this was not looking good.  It was a two hour drive to the border then we were going to have to sit to get over the border.  

At 12:00 I was getting a little irritated.  I saw Yar talking to the guy up by the luggage and then the guy came down and went behind the bar and started talking to three other employees just STANDING THERE!!!  WHAT WERE THEY DOING???  Yar told them that we were on a tight schedule and that half of us had a flight to catch.  

Come to find out... they really could give a rats behind!  Finally I was going to say something.  Yar beat me to it and walked over to the guy and told him that we needed to start loading the luggage.  Everyone had been down there waiting for over an hour now.  FINALLY... they got to loading.  We did not even wait for them to unload the cars, we all started grabbing stuff and throwing it on the bus.  We get the bus loaded and hit the road at 12:36.    

It was an uneventful ride...  UNTIL, wait for it...

We were going through the "bus lane" to go "faster" but that plan BACKFIRED big time!  We got in line and when we tried to get through they told us that we could not go this way because we had one person (Pepe, Andrea's dad) on board that needed to get his papers checked since he was not a citizen.  They said it would not be fair for him to cut in front of all the US Citizens who had been waiting in line... for HOURS. 

Soooooo, you've heard the phrase, "back that bus on up". Well, we literally backed. that. bus. on. up!  We reversed down a busy street for a good mile.  Yes, you read that correctly... WE BACKED THAT BUS ON UP!  

We had to drive around to the other border crossing area (the one where we crossed over on the way in).  

When I tell you we were about 20 feet from where we were supposed to go in and we could see it, THAT is how close we were.  There were THOUSANDS of cars that we got to pass and THOUSANDS that were on foot walking over.  We would be over the border in no time... NOT

We sat there and moved about 2 feet every 45 minutes or so.  We were getting off the bus to find a bathroom and some snacks and stretch and get back on... then repeat the same thing the next hour.  At this point folks we are NOT making our 5:00 flight.  We call the airlines and they want to charge us $425 for a change fee, but so kindly waived after they heard our story but did charge us another $400 for the difference in the airfare for changing flights.  After that good news... Justin needed a beer... or six.  

We got another hotel booked and started texting mom to tell her we missed the flight and were on the 6:20 the next morning.  Scrambling to figure out who was going to watch the kids.  Mom could go in a little late and Carlie was going to be home.  Thank goodness!  

Justin on either side of the border
Scott and Byron passing some time playing some tunes. 

We FINALLY got up to our turn in line.  We had to unload the entire bus this time and go wait in line to get our passports checked.   We made it.  It took FIVE hours to get through but we made it.  Once everyone was through we had to find the bus to get back on it to drop us off at the airport where we all met up.  We arrived at 8:00.  At this point we were all delirious.  We have never been so happy to be on US soil!  I must say, after crossing I got to experience paying a quarter to use THE MOST DISGUSTING RESTROOM IN MY ENTIRE LIFE at the McDonald's across from the border.

 8:00 PM sharp we pulled into the Wally Park parking lot where we all met.  We unloaded the bus and said our goodbyes.  Headed to the airport to catch a shuttle to the hotel, checked in at 9:00 and went to grab some dinner in Little Italy.  We headed back to the hotel to for some sleep until 4:00 am.  We had to leave for the airport at 5:00 so Justin set his alarm.  I set mine just in case and thank goodness I did because Justin set his for 5:09 instead of 4:09.  That would have sucked if we missed another flight!

We arrived at the airport and hit the Starbucks first thing.  Boarded the plane with no problems and off we went.  It was so great to see the kiddos!

Atkins Wedding Day Three:

We woke up this morning and kept trying to fall back asleep but could only sleep until 7:30.  We tried SO HARD... it was just not happening folks.  So we got up and headed to breakfast which was served by the pool.  The view was breath taking and the breakfast was delish!  We ordered an omelet with ham, cheese and spinach and looked over the Valle.  It was very cool this morning and did end up warming up a little this afternoon.  We went and walked around until we were meeting at the bus for lunch at noon.  

The pool area and our view from breakfast
We saw this bird flying over us on our walk back.

We loaded up and headed to Hacienda Guadalupe one of Scott and Andreas favorite places to eat while visiting here.  We all sat on the patio and enjoyed lunch.  The food was really good.  It took about an hour to get our check because they did ONE AT A TIME and decided to wait until everyone was ready to go.  It was a cluster!

Roger, Uppy, Dan, Scott, Sally and Ron

After lunch some of the folks headed to the Adobe Guadalupe for a wine tour.  I stayed behind with Angelique, Byron and a few others.  I am not a wine drinker so did not think it would be much fun and did not want to be rushed getting ready for the wedding.  Justin had a great time and said it was a pretty cool story about how the vineyard started.  

The Atkins Men

The wedding started at 7:30 and we needed to start heading that way at 7:00.  We got cleaned up and headed that way.  It was going to be a sunset wedding overlooking the Valle where Scott proposed to Andrea.  Did you catch the "going to be" part?  As the weekend was going the ceremony started at 8:32pm.  By this time it was pitch black and the preacher had to use a flashlight to read the vows.  They were beautifully written by Scott and Andrea.  Scott also busted out the guitar and sang the song he wrote for her they day he proposed.  COOLEST THING EVER!

We headed over to the pool area for the reception where they transformed it beautifully.  It was still FREEZING outside.  Along side the cake table there was a basket full of rocks and sharpies for everyone to write a memory or message on a rock for them.  They had parting gifts of fresh olive oil and guitar pics with the wedding date and their names on them and some wine charms.  The night could not have been more perfect!  We headed back to the room at 2:00 and there was a group still on the dance floor!

Lauren, Angelique and I
Scott's band also played a song!

Justin, Yar and Byron
Scott, Brian and Tricia did NOT get off the dance floor all night!

Magic Matt brought some of his magic tricks with him.  

Atkins Wedding Day Two: SD to Endemico

Everyone met at Wally Park to board the bus to take us down to Mexico.  We crossed the border with no problems.  Just unloaded the luggage off the bus and headed in to get it x- rayed and very uneventful!  (Remember this for the return home)  It was a hour and a half  drive south of the border along the coast.  It was overcast so we could not really see all that great but it was still pretty.  

We had a lobster lunch at Puerto Nuevo, a small fishing village just 40 miles south of the border.  I of course did not eat lobster so I had a skirt steak.  We had an ocean view terrace and it was FREEZING! 

After lunch we loaded back on the bus and headed to Endemico which is located on a natural reserve and vineyard.  Upon arrival we had a sangria waiting for us as we all checked in.  The room we stayed in was really cool.  It was our own little room on a mountain side.  There was a king size bed, a table and a bathroom.  There was no TV or phone but they had wifi and a sound system that you could plug into your phone.  We had our own balcony with a bench and fire pit that overlooked the Valle's vineyards.  They had two cars that would drive you up and down the mountain.  If you walked there was a path that you could take you just had to get red dirt in your toes.  We of course took the car up with our luggage then walked the rest of the time or who knows how long we would have had to have waited for a ride.  

After check in and hanging out with everyone we went to the room to get some R and R before dinner at 7:30.  Once the sun went down it was SO FLIPPIN' COLD and there was a constant wind.  I was pretty stylin' in Justin's jacket.

So as I mentioned above, dinner was at 7:30.  Now, we ARE in Mexico and you've heard the phrase, "Mexican minute".  This has NEVER been so true.  We finally were able to order dinner at 9:00 or so. There were 37 of us so we knew it would take a while... they would bring out 3-5 plates at a time and then 30 or so minutes later bring out a few more.  We got our food at 11:15!  WHAT WHAT?  I honestly do not even think I was hungry anymore but ate anyway seeing as how I had no idea when I would be eating again.

When a group would finish dinner they would leave and head to bed.  There were a few that got their plates at midnight and some that cancelled their orders.  It was so crazy!  They are a restaurant... were they cooking on a Weber with one cook?

Tonight is the night that I learned about Pic Stitch folks!  This will forever change the way I blog!  I can save SO much time and space with pictures.  Shout out to Bryon and Angelique for showing me this!  As Byron would say, "you gotta have options, its all about the options".  NOW I know what he is talking about.

We were set up to eat outside but moved inside
 because we were all so cold.

Atkins wedding weekend Day One:

We landed in San Diego at 8:00 tonight and headed to the hotel to drop our bags off and then met some people at Jimmy's Tavern.  We stayed at Humphreys Half Moon and got taken for all we had!  Who would have known this was the weekend for Comic Con and everyone and their dog would be in San Diego!   They had 180,000 people show up this year and are expecting 200,000 next year.  We saw some interesting people dressed in costume.  

The hotel was beautiful and it was old school.  It had a living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and dressing area.  We ordered room service for breakfast then went and walked around the grounds of the inn.  We did not have to meet at the bus until 11:00.  Wish we would have been there longer than 14 hours to enjoy it and get our $380 worth!  

Gatti Town

Justin is leaving town Sunday so we thought the kids might like to get out and do something fun.  We took them to GattiHell... oopps, did I really just type that?  Gatti Town... TOWN.  

The food is actually pretty tasty and the kids love it there.  When we were done eating we headed to the playroom and the kids blew through their $10 cards in about 10 minutes.  Of course they could not believe what a ripoff everything was.  At least they are learning at a young age...  Money goes fast!  

We headed to get Justin a suit for our Mexico trip this coming week and then off to Dairy Queen for a dipped cone.  

Later that night Jonah was invited to go and bowl with Greer.  They bowled and played more games and brought more junk home.  :)