Summer Adventure #1=San Francisco

We took advantage of Southwest's $25 flights and went to visit Katie and Jordon in CA. We took the kids on lots of adventures and they had a blast. We came home exhausted (okay, maybe just me), but with lots of fun stories to tell.
HIGHLIGHTS:
We brought the kids to Pier 39, where they were fascinated by the sea lions. We saw a mother protecting a whole dock full of babies from another sea lion. It was the Discovery Channel in real life. I could just hear some guy with a British accent narrating in the back ground.
It was a little windy and cold, but we had to take a shot of the kids with Alcatraz in the background. Then we warmed them up with hot, fresh donuts. Topped off with cotton candy, we were ready for the drive back over the Golden Gate bridge to Katie's. After dinner, we went to the San Rafael farmer's market and tasted every possible fruit available for sale. Kye thought he'd died and gone to heaven.

Friday was Jelly Belly factory (after a quick stop at a birthday party and a picnic in the park), which the kids thought was great. Kye's favorite flavor was buttered popcorn and Lucy liked very cherry. Isaac ate anything that slightly resembled candy as it passed his mouth. We finished off the day at an ice cream social for Katie's ward. We had to scrape the kids off the ceiling from their sugar highs and put them into bed.

Saturday we enjoyed the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The kids loved it--especially painting the windows in the art area with watercolors and then squeegee-ing them off.

After church and long naps on Sunday, we drove to Baker Beach. It was a bit chilly, and Isaac was miserably cold, but the other kids loved playing in the sand.

All that fun, fun stuff, and I'm pretty sure the kids' favorite thing was swimming in the 8'x10' jacuzzi in Katie's complex on Monday morning.
NOT SO HIGH-LIGHTS: When we weren't on adventures, the kids watched lots of movies--just so we could keep them quiet so Katie's neighbor would stop banging on the ceiling. He obviously didn't appreciate the sound of 7 kids running, jumping, and dropping toys on the floor. I just can't understand why.

The trip started off a little crazy, with us sitting on the plane at the gate for over an hour while they fixed something on the flight deck. The kids just couldn't understand why it was taking so very long. Luckily I packed a lunch for the trip, so we just had a little picnic on the plane. All things considered, it could have been much, much worse. (Though I'm not sure Isaac felt that way, what with double ear infections and all.)

The flight home was much shorter, smoother, and better. We had a blast and thanks to the Greens for letting us come!

Top Ten--May 2007

10-Zach’s brilliant idea of getting Lucy a goldfish for graduating from kindergarten. The kids have really enjoyed it, actually, but Isaac did dump a bowl full of dirt and ants into the goldfish bowl the day after we got it. Goldie is still alive, but was severely traumatized (she lay in a coma at the bottom of the bowl for the next two days). She seems to have gained some strength back, and is now growing. Apparently goldfish can live for up to 30 years! (I’m banking on 30 days IF we’re lucky.)

9-Lucy's comment, "Mom, stop eating all the cookies! It’s not good for you or for the baby!” I just can’t seem to stop myself. Cookies are my “Turkish Delight” this pregnancy.


8-Kye, coming into our room one morning, bright-eyed and chipper, with two thumbs way up in the air. “Yesterday was a thumbs up day, mom!” What had we done to inspire such an exclamation? Cleaning the house, riding bikes, and eating snacks—all very thrilling, I’m sure.

7-Words from the wise:
“Poc-saw” = popsicle (submitted by Mr. Isaac Bradshaw, aged 2)
“Gutter” = the part of a cow’s body from which milk comes (submitted by Miss Lucy Bradshaw, aged 6 ½)
“E-visual” = things not done by a group, but on your own (in other words “individual” in case you didn’t get it. Submitted by Mr. Kye Bradshaw, aged 4)
“Poisonberry” = a new and delicious kind of jam that was tried while at aunt Katie’s house in CA, and which Lucy asked if we could acquire for our own pantry (submitted by Miss Lucy, see above)
“Kye-cicle” = that which Kye thinks he will turn into when he is really cold

6-Our car rides, full of “If you’re so smart . . . ” questions, “Who am I if . . . “ questions and Rhyming games. One carpool morning, Kye rhymed, “Hey, towel and vowel rhyme!” Lucy’s response? “Yeah! ‘Vowel’ is just like Kaitlyn’s dad’s name. You know ‘Vowel Martin’!” (His name is Val. Close but no cigar.)

5-Isaac’s new love of Curious George. “I’n not Isic. I’n Kiss Jawj!” or (dressed up in Lucy’s pink high heels, with a purse slung over one arm), “Bye, mom! I’n going to Kiss Jawj’s house!”

4-Isaac’s new and vastly improved ability to get into trouble. Talk about search and destroy missions. And what do I hear for all two minutes he spends with his nose in the corner after he gets in trouble? “Awwwwwww! No fayah! No fayah, mom!”

3-Having Zach home most of the month. Quite shocking, actually. It was great. He could attend Lucy’s graduation, be there for Josh and Allie’s visit, finish framing the basement, be at the ultrasound, go on nightly walks and bike rides, and actually be home for dinner. You just can’t beat that.

2-Isaac: Where’s the baby mom?
Mom: Right here in my tummy.
Isaac: (Poking his finger in my belly button) Awwwwwwwwww, cute, mom!

1-THE ULTRASOUND—Yes, yes, as most of you know I was completely shocked by the “It’s a boy” statement. I was pretty sure they had made a mistake. I’ve got pictures. There was no mistake. But I believe my first shocked words were, “Crap! What are we going to name this kid?” The kids were surprised, too. Zach, however, now has gloating rights till the next child comes along. He alone thought it would be a boy.