California Science Center

We went to Mummies Around the World. I wanted to do at least one museum before we left and Jon indulged me. Thanks babe! I know most people wouldn't want to spend that kind of money to look at mummies but I think the kids liked it. If nothing else, they learned a few things. It was definitely no-holds-barred. Then we stopped at the Ecosystems exhibit, which they loved. We had to leave a little before we wanted to because Dewy's ears were hurting.

China Town

A cool place. I would totally go back, but also a good reminder that it is really not that fun to shop with kids....or husbands.

Knott's Berry Farm with Jon

Dewy was very mad that Jon did not win the ball throwing game. He walked right up to him and hit him. We stopped at Korean BBQ on the way home. Jon got to brush up on his rusty language skills because the lovely people inside did not speak English. Tomorrow we are going to China Town, per Jon's request. I think Jon has decided this is as close as he will get to Asia so he might as well take advantage of it.

Swimming

Here are a few pictures of the kids at the pool, since my documentation of this summer would not be complete without a few pictures of something we have done quite a bit. I am sad that my documentation will forever remain incomplete owing to the fact that I forgot to take my camera when we went up to Bakersfield last Saturday to see my cousin. The kids had a ball. Jill and Niel had a bounce house and super fun slip-and-slide set up in the back yard when we got there. My cousins (I guess? Our grandma's are sisters) Letty and Cody were there with their families as well. As Tilly would say, "Thanks Aunt Cousin Jill."

A bunch of nonsense

The kids thought this part of the zoo was really fun. Too bad it isn't open everyday. Dewy now would really like to "go look for condos."

On a side note as you might notice from all this pictures, Tilly is a giant poser. If I had a penny for every time she said, "Take a picture of me," I would have a really giant bag of pennies.

Yesterday Dewy was singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Instead of "Gently down the stream." He would say, "Dip me down the street."

I am excited to see Jon in a couple of days. I miss him.

I had the following conversation with Asha this week:

A: Jenny, if you and Jon got a divorce and you started dating a different guy and he wanted to be your boyfriend, but he didn't like your kids what would you do? Would you chose him or your kids? I mean like would you chose your kids or love?

Me: I would chose my kids because I love them the most. Why do you ask that question?

A: There was this lady and she started dating someone that didn't like her kids so she locked them in their carseats and drove her car into a lake and she got out before it went under water but she left her kids in the car and they died.

Me: Are you afraid that would happen to you?

A: No because all the guys my mom are around like me a lot.

Today the girls were playing UFC. That is not what they were calling it but that is pretty much what it was. Asha was Tilly's coach and Cricket was Sage's. They would yell at them what to do while Tilly and Sage were fake fighting. At one point they pulled there fighters into their perspective corners to talk to them and I heard Asha tell Tilly, "When I tell you to rip her arms off, you rip her arms off."

Oh the Humanity

Yes that is blood all over Sage. We were riding the Log Ride at Knott's Berry Farm today. I was in back with Dewy and Zaya and Tilly & Sage were sitting infront of us. There is one point in the ride where you go down a hill and then there is a sharp turn all in the dark. Right after this point in the ride Sage let out a scream of terror and then started crying. When we got in the light, I asked Tilly what happened. She said she hit her tooth. She cried the rest of the ride (not very long). Just as we went down the last big slope I could see that there was blood on her hand. When we got to the bottom I asked her to turn around so I could see. THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD. It was all over her chin, running down her neck, and all over her hands and arms. (I am thinking oh crap she knocked her tooth out). It probably looked like more than it was becasue I am pretty sure it was mixed with a lot of slobber. We got off and the ride operators went into emergency training mode. They called the EMT's and had us sit down. They gave us some paper towels and I cleaned her up to where I could look at what was bleeding. She had hit the bars you hold onto and bit her lip really bad. It stopped bleeding pretty quickly and by the time the Knott's Berry Farm Police arrived we had everything under control, but she was ready to go home. She was pretty brave actually. She stopped crying as soon as she heard EMT. I think it scared her because she kept asking what that was. Only a parent can know the gratitude that comes when it's just a bit lip (and didn't knock their teeth out).

Showbiz Kids

Okay so my very friendly neighbor told me that they offer free classes in one of the clubhouses, one of which is hip hop. So I went and found out when and where so I could take the girls thinking this is soooo up their alley. I stayed and watched and the class began with a lecture about professionalism. Apparently Oakwood is the place to stay if you are trying to break your kids into the Biz because this class was kind of a hip hop class and kind of audition prep. At one point after teaching the dance the instructor said "OK me and Rori are casting a movie and we will pick two boys and two girls per group." I knew when he said this that one or all of the children I brought would not understand that he was pretending. All the girls were in the first group and the choreographer picked Sage and Cricket and then the Activities Director picked Asha and Tilly. Pfew. When it was over Tilly was the only one left standing. Of course Asha broke down because you guessed it, she thought it was a real audition.

Next the teacher asked them to break into groups of four and gave them five minutes to make up 5 counts of 8. Now I am not bragging but ours was the best. I wish I would have thought to record it, but everyone loved it. It was really cute. Good opening and closing.

When we left the girls were all so excited. They loved it and thought it was so fun. I thought it was fun to watch and funny that when they were leaving the teacher said to a group of kids, "Good class everyone. Now go get jobs this week."

A Nightly Habit

After wearing the kids out all day and sometimes after just doing nothing this is usually what it looks like in my bedroom, give or take a few and sometimes all when Avatar cartoons are on. I signed up for Netflix because there is only one tv in this apartment and with this crowd one tv just doesn't cut it.
And sometimes this is what happens. Gotta love it.

A Bear in the Wild

It may seem weird to title a trip to the Fashion District "A Bear in the Wild" but that is what this picture is. A creature in its natural element. This was my first time here and hopefully my last with small children. Not a good place for a stroller but there were a lot of good deals (also a lot of junk). Driving and parking was also kind of stressful for me. So the final word on the Fashion District: cool, need small car and no kids.

The Third Week

Time here is starting to fly by. Maybe it is because I am less homesick and getting used to our routine. This has been a good experience thus far for me. I am out of my comfort zone and have remembered that I can be independent, which are both things I would just as soon forget. It has also made me appreciate home more, both my home and St George. Maybe it is because I spend a lot of time at theme parks and people there tend to walk through the gates and become savages. (That is what happens when you spend a lot of money to stand in line in the hot sun.) I don't know for sure the reasons but people from LA might think they are cooler than the rest of us, but they are definitely ruder. At least once a day I encounter a bleeppty bleep blank. (I only swear when I know who I'm talking to. See what good manners I have!) Maybe it is simply that I am in a more densley poppulated area and therefore due to the laws of probability am more likely to encounter people with their heads up their.........Anyway, I miss St George!

And for anyone out there who takes the time to watch this, I would like to pose a question based on some of its content: Who do you know that is mean enough to take children to Knott's Berry Farm and then not let them ride the rides because they have been being so naughty? Me! Ha Ha Ha Ha. (That is my evil laugh.) Now they know I am serious when I threaten them. It was actually a smart move. They have been acting a little nicer. I stress the word little.

Spiderman and the Princess

Dewy and Zaya just brought me their dress-ups to help them put on. As I put Dewy's arms into his Venom costume he said, "I am going to be Spiderman and rescue the princess." As soon as I put Zaya's costume on her she walked up to Dewy and said, "Kiss me Spiderman." Oh how quickly they learn their stereotypical gender roles.

Sunday

Turn off the music for this one!

Celebrity Watch:WE SAW JON HEDER AND HIS BROTHER AT CHURCH TODAY (in our ward apparently).

A Day Out With Grandpa and Grandma

We drove down to Laguna so see Grandpa and Grandma DeWitt who were in California on vacation. They treated us to the Sawdust Festival and then lunch. Next we headed to the beach and then back to the pool at their hotel. The kids said it was the best day of their whole lives. Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma!

Week in Review

Tuesday someone parked behind my car and I couldn't get out of the parking stall until the person next to me left. Why are people so rude? We went to the pool in the afternoon.

Wednesday I made my first solo voyage with the kids to Knott's. We spent about four hours but that was not enough. They were all mad when I said it was time to go.

Thursday we went to the Zoo again and we really didn't look at much that we had already seen. There is sure a lot to see.

Friday was Katie's Birthday! We stayed home, did laundry, and cleaned up. Then we went and got cupcakes at Yummy Cupcakes and took them to Katie's school. We went out to eat at the Pink Taco and then to see The Last Airbender. Word to the wise: Don't go to the movies in California. SOOOOOOOOO Expensive! Happy Birthday Katie Jane! We love you!

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland today. We met up with our Aunt Mary and Uncle Wally and our cousins for awhile in the morning. It was good to see them. The girls all love them, but we got separated after a few rides and never hooked back up with them. The kids had a ball. We had told them we would stay and watch the fire works but we got there before 8 and by 6pm Katie and I had about had it. Hey 11 hours is a long time. They agreed not to throw a fit if I took them to Knott's Berry tomorrow. What have I gotten myself into? Three days of theme parks in 4 days it looks like. Sorry poor feet!

Celebrity Watch: I SAW JESSE JACKSON IN TOMORROW LAND! He saw me staring at him as we watched passed each other and I smiled. He knodded his head at me and said "Hello."

Saturday at Knott's Berry Farm

We went to Knott's Berry Farm on Saturday. It was my first time there and it was kind of a cheap Disney knock-off but for the price it is going to be a good way to keep the kids busy.

Highlights:

1)Dewy and Katie screaming when the robbers came on the train ride, Katie because it startled her, Dewy because he really thought we were being held at gunpoint.

2) Having the bumper cars halted mid-run because Asha was stuck against the wall and had to be removed by the ride operator. She kept pull on the dash of her bumper car in an attempt to manually dislodge it from the wall. Don't worry she wasn't fazed a bit, Katie was the slightly embarrassed one. Asha did get stuck again but she managed to get herself out of it the second time.

PS The was finally came back on while we were at Knott's Berry Farm. It was a somewhat humbling experience to have everyone be so grateful for running water.

Poop on your Day Off!

No really I mean it. I decided that I was a little burnt out of keeping these kids entertained and since Katie doesn't have school tomorrow we could go do something fun with her. I decided we would take the day off and just hang out in our pajamas and do nothing. This was a big mistake only because there is a broken water line somewhere and we have been without running water since last night. And owing to the fact that apparently most of these children poop twice a day you can imagine what the inside of the toilet looks like, but you really shouldn't try to imagine bsides it is beyond your wildest imagination. Also the house now smell like an outhouse. At one point I dumped out the entire jug of drinking water I just bought in an attempt to flush the toilet. The Noetic Science is also not working. (I am reading The Lost Symbol). I am truly sicked out at this point. It is now 7:15pm and if I can't flush the toilet soon I might have to go to bed just so I can wake up and flush the toilet tomorrow. I hope. I hope. I hope.

Pony Rides

You will notice that Zaya and Dewy are absent from our Pony Rides at Griffith Park pictures. That is because after I bought them both a ticket they decided to freak out and not ride. I was annoyed and secretly a little relieved owing to the fact that went the older girls mounted these innocent looking creatures, they took off like a bat-out-of-hell. They were also very very short rides, but the girls said it was the best time of their lives. Afterwards we went to Shane's Inspiration to play and have a picnic. There was so much complaining that Katie and I are working on a system to nip it in the bud, so look for that program coming soon to a blog near you. We went back to the pool this afternoon and Zaya did not make me take her to the bathroom. She did however announce to everyone in earshot, "I am going to the the bathroom in the water." She was so pleased. (OK so was I. I know I am disgusting, but am already burnt out enough to prefer swimming in the two drops of pee I know that she created.)