You are my sunshine

Before Carina was born, I had a feeling that there was a reason she was joining our family when she was.  That her soul and body had come together at this particular time and in her particular fourth-child spot, for a purpose.

As my transition from three to four kids was my hardest, her disposition made that feeling grow and grow.  She just fit.

And as this past year has been one of my more difficult ones, having her home with me all day every day has been a blessing.  Her chipmunk voice, her spunky attitude, going all day long, often insistently pulling me out from under the cloud I am under.  It is a phrase that is used often, but she is a ray of sunshine in my life.  I am so thankful for it.

Today on her third birthday, I knew exactly what she would love to do.  After a breakfast of sugary cereal we went to my parent’s house, where they gave her their gift to her – “Frozen.”  Then Granny came with us to Old Navy, where she got to pick out whatever dress she wanted.   We brought six or seven options into the dressing room and when she tried the second one on, no other dresses would do. I encouraged her to try the others on, but as she did she kept saying, “I like that one,” pointing to #2.  Library was next, where we ran into some friends going to story time, so we joined then.  After that we dropped Granny at home and had lunch.  She wanted to watch Frozen with her new dress on.  I told her she couldn’t eat lunch in the new dress, so she wouldn’t let me start the movie until she quickly gobbled half her bean burrito down, declared she was done and got the dress on. When the boys and Dad came home we went to Nothing But Noodles and then SAS Cupcakes, where she got to choose her own (pink) cupcake.  She only ate the frosting (no surprise there). 

Great Wolf Lodge

On Wednesday, just before I was going to put Carina down for a nap, my Dad called.  “Hey, do you know anyone who wants a free night at The Great Wolf Lodge?” he asked.  He and my mom had been there the previous night, planning to stay for two nights, and they had decided to come home early.  He explained that they had two bracelets to get into the water park and said we could have their room.  I had just finished going to play group with Carina and was preparing to feed the two sets of ward missionaries that night and Ollie had soccer, and it was a school night, so I just laughed and told him that I really didn’t think we could manage it.  As soon as I hung up I started wondering…hmmm, how much does it cost to get more bracelets? Answer: $40.  No way.

I called Chad and told him I wanted to run it by him just to let him know (we have wanted to try this place our for a long time) and he immediately went to work seeing what we could do. Of course, he is not as Jeppsonish as me and just called the resort and explained the situation.  They said there would be no problem transferring the room over to us, and giving everyone in our family bracelets.  WOW.  THANK YOU GREAT WOLF LODGE.

We ordered the missionaries pizza (again), Chad called his boss to get the next day off, and as soon as Chad got home from work we broke the surprise to the kids.  We had been planning to surprise the kids by taking them out of school on Columbus Day, which is Gabe’s birthday, and taking them to Discovery Place.  So instead we made this Gabe’s birthday celebration, and they could not have been more excited.

I have to say, this little getaway was just the type of little getaway that is really good for me.  Not enough time beforehand to obsess and stress about everything that needs to be done.  Close enough and simple enough that I managed to pack everything in about 15 minutes.  It was a 40 minute drive in traffic and just the right amount of spontaneity to make us all feel a little giddy.

The lodge was just wonderful for the family.  It is well done to begin with, and then they had done it up for Halloween really nicely.  Everyone there is very friendly – to the point that is has a Disney feel to it.  We got there at almost 7 that night and immediately changed into our swimsuits to play at the waterpark for the hour that was left before it closed for the night.  In the morning we strolled to Dunkin’ Donuts (inside the lodge), then lazed around, went to Carolina Mills and lunch, and then spent the rest of the day in the waterpark.  It was one of those magical family days when almost everyone is happy almost all the time.

 

We really loved this place and one night there was really perfect for our family.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Ollie turns 5!!!

We had our traditional birthday pool party for Oliver last Saturday.  Since Leslie and Lily (my nieces) also had birthdays this month that we had not yet had a chance to celebrate, we did a combined birthday party for the three of them.  We had his best friend/cousin Liam spend the night before and they just played and played until bedtime and got up and played and played some more.

The water was COLD and it was only around 80 or so outside.  The kids braved the water more than the Blythonian parents. 

This post will just pretty much be pictures.  Deal with it. (Don’t tell Colin I used that phrase – it was banned from our house about a week into summer).

Now tell me all those pictures didn’t make you smile! 

The next day was actually his birthday and, fun fun fun STAKE CONFERENCE (when you get to go to church and sit in hard chairs for two hours with no Primary!). 

Ollie got his big present from us after church, along with his present from his brothers.  Chad put the bike together during quiet time and he rode it all around the downstairs for about an hour, telling me over and over again how much he loved it.

I love it when they all have a chance to show their love to each other, and Ollie really eats it up.  At one point I saw Gabe give Ollie a hug out of the blue.  Ollie beamed and walked over to me and said, “Mom. Gabe just gave me a HUG! First time ever!” with a big double thumbs up. 

I let him choose what we had for our back to school feast, which I will post about next.

First birthday here and here, Second here and here (that video kills me), Third, Fourth.  I think I am going to cry.

Easter and Happy 60th Birthday to my Dad!

Easter began with all the kids snuggling in our bed at 6:30 am.  Carina was happy to wake up once she realized all her “Bah-Bahs”  were there.  Colin in particular has been a real favorite of hers lately, and after she gave them all hugs and smiles, Colin picked her up to take her downstairs.  I reached for her and she shrieked at me, making it quite clear that she was sticking with him.

The kids went downstairs to find their baskets, candy, and all the eggs we dyed the evening before.  Pretty much your traditional Easter morning. 

We planned to get pictures of all the kids in their Easter outfits, but barely even managed to make it to church on time (and it is at 1!)

Easter was also my Dad’s 60th birthday!  We have an old tradition in the Jeppson family of having “egg fights” with all the empty plastic Easter eggs.  So for his birthday, I gave him a basket with 60 eggs, all full of pictures and notes from his kids, and told him to bring them over for her birthday dinner.  After dinner we had a nice little fight in the backyard.

Do you like the boys’ outfits?  We are going to have to have some matching lessons before they become teenagers. 

When it was cake time, Carina seemed to think it was her birthday again.  Grandpa was happy to let her be a part of the fun.

Oh, and my brother Levi came down from the mountains with his mountain man beard and totally spoiled my kids.  He has always been such a good uncle.