I'm 3 now I'm 4

Nathan's birthday was 2 days after was got back from our cruise. He had been planning his 4th birthday since last year. He was very specific about what is should be like. " I want a Transformers Optimus Prime birthday with Gabe and Hiram." So I decided that since it was a beautiful day I just threw the party together that day. We had the family over and his two friends. We had a barbecue outside and played some games. It went really well, I'm glad I didn't wait until later in the week.

So here's a bit about 4 year old Nathan. He's been telling us that he is not Nate-dawg anymore. He says,"When I was little I'm Nate-dawg, I'm 4 I'm Nathan." He's excited about learning his ABC's. (poor thing, I forgot to even try to teach him them, I was still working on Olivia.) We'll have to work on them this summer. He loves pineapple and to ride his new bike, Rocket, and got a matching helmet from grandma May. He can be the sweetest little boy, but he loves to drive people crazy. He loves to tease people until they snap. I'm his sunbeams teacher and let's just say I'm exhausted. He is very particular about where every thing goes. He remembers where they came from and will correct you if you try to put it in the wrong place. He is so stink'n cute all he has to do is smile and I just makes you want to squeeze him! (And he know's it!)

THE Cruise

This is really wordy, but it IS my journal too.
So we had the May Family cruise 2009 on March 30-April 3. It had been long anticipated. Planned as my Dad's birthday presents and as our Christmas gifts.
We were all prepared, shopped til we were exhausted for the perfect cruise attire, and saved all our cash for our Mexican souvenirs. Family had been flown in to watch kids and last minute medical emergencies adverted (thanks to our family friend, who is also a doctor! Thanks Sherilyn! I thought Olivia was getting a staph infection, Logan was getting bronchitis, and Callie had questions about the Dramamine patch, so we all called Sherilyn within a half hour of each other the night before we left.)
We left at 5 am for the airport. So far so good. When we arrived at the Long Beach airport we met up with Heidi and Ryan. They said that Ryan found out that his driver's licence was expired, but was able to get on the plane anyway. Whew!
We were all so stoked!
Then we waited for our vans that would take us to the ship. And we waited. And we waited.




This is the only picture I got of Heidi.
After about 2 hours we decided to take a couple taxi's. (We did get some nice pics with the palm trees. It was a beautiful day!)
When we arrived at the ship Casey and I got in line and continued through, but nobody else was coming. So we went back and Brandon told us that they won't let Heidi on because she is pregnant! We didn't believe him. It was true! The woman looked at her and said congrats, and asked if she was due in July, when Heidi said "Yes. Thanks! Here's my doctor's letter." the women said, "Well you can't go then. You can't go if you are over 24 weeks." (Heidi was 26 weeks.) And that was it. We tried everything. Having doctors fax letters with a different due date, and trying to have them call people higher up (which I don't think they really did.) It was unreal. 3 hours later we had to come to terms with it. Heidi and Ryan would not be coming with us. It was like they had died. We were all sobbing! I'm sure every one was staring. We had to board, and the cruise line said they would get Heidi and Ryan a flight home. So we left. In the mean time, they told Heidi that the new plan ticket would be $500, and they never even offered her anything to eat even though it was 5 pm and no one had eaten since the airplane at 8 am. They were completely incompassionate! Like machines without feeling! Unbelievable! Carnival Cruise Lines are the worst!
Needless to say it kind of killed all the excitement. We were pretty wiped out that night. But was tried to make the best of it for the rest of the cruise.
So this is our FIRST cruise. As told by my pictures:
This is our dinner that night.


And this is the two empty chairs at our table we had to see every night! (Heidi and Ryan were supposed to be in them.)

That night Ashley had a Titanic "moment"...

The next morning we were in Catalina. We got up an had breakfast then went to leave the ship. We found a line that wrapped around the stairs and up a floor and down the halls. Casey, Callie and Brandon didn't want to wait in line. It made me feel claustrophobic and I insisted that we wait, I needed off the ship. I was also feeling a little sea sick, I wanted some solid ground under my feet.

So this is Catalina:





I even snapped a picture of the "Baywatch" runners. It was funny! They were just running through town, in matching outfits....I thought it was funny.

That evening we stuffed ourselves with dad's favorite part of a cruise, SOFT SERVE ICECREAM! By the end of the cruise dad was able to stack his 7 layers!


The next day was at sea. So we played some games on the ship. Win lose or draw, sports trivia, and Casey and Brandon entered a free throw contest. No trophies in this family.


That evening we enjoyed some virgin drinks, gotta have the umbrella. And played our own version of bingo while waiting for a show to start.



The next morning we were in Ensanada, Mexico. We took a 3 hour tour and saw this building a winery, and some shops. We bought our Mexican vanilla and realized that we were close enough to walk back to the ship. (It was a weird tour.)

That evening we had our formal dinner. While getting ready Callie and Ashley realized they both matched. (Of course Callie used her robe! A little piece of home!)





The whole cruise dad just wanted to have a little quiet time an read a book. I think we all talk too much.

The next day we we back in Long Beach. Casey insisted on having breakfast, and left me with the bags and waiting in line to deboard! We had a few hours at the airport til the plane left so we ate lunch at the restaurant and just hung out. (Over all we spent more time at that airport than we did in Mexico. Crazy!)

I like to Move It

This is the lipsync we presented at the annual Harmony Ward LipSync & Lasagna Night.

My Lucky Day

So, I was inspired and motivated by all the people who do such creative and fun things on the "little" holidays. I decided I would be the"super mom" and do a creative breakfast for my children for St. Patrick's Day. I had it all planned out. "Shamrock" milk, "Irish"pancakes (really German), and a pot 'o gold (the orange slice). I had dreams all night about how the kids would be so excited and go on and on about how cool everything was.

So in the morning I wake up early, well, early for me. Start on breakfast, eagle ears Nathan and Olivia were down immediately and began fighting at the counter. I then went and got Cody up who was immediately STARVING and couldn't decide whether to cry or laugh for the pictures because he was ticked off I wasn't feeding him. After breakfast Brooklyn left for school, and Olivia and Nathan kept fighting. I was ticked! I worked so hard and they didn't even care ! So I grounded them! A real grounded! They weren't allowed to go to Callie's all day or play with Porter or MaryLeigh. So I put them to work. They both cleaned their room's, folded laundry, and cleaned the kitchen! My house was clean! I ended up being the winner after all! It was MY lucky day!

I fixed it! Yay me!

So for the last week the dishes on top rack of my dishwasher have come out just a filthy as they went in. So annoying! Every time I started it I would check and see if the spinner was spinning, and it kind of was...But the cups and stuff only were misted inside, hardly wet!!!

So Casey finally said he was going to tear the washer apart! We took it apart and couldn't see anything wrong, maybe a toothpick here and there, but nothing major. By the time we got it back together it was 11:30 pm, so Casey went to bed.

I wasn't satisfied, so after an hour and a half of searching the Internet, I found out it could be the "chopper blade assembly". I took the washer apart again, and went deeper this time and found the blade busted off just laying there. And the strainer thing was completely clogged! Which means no water pressure to make the top spray arm spin and clean my dishes!

So today I picked up my new piece, installed it, and boom! My dishwasher runs like a dream!

I am such a nerd! But hey, nerds save money, right?!

What's Not to Wear!

Around here everyday is dress up day! Especially if your sister is Olivia.
Last week when I got back from Enrichment Night I found this picture on my camera. It seems the girls and Casey had a little fun while I was gone! Then today,while fixing my hair, Olivia brought Cody to me looking like this. I think he would make a pretty cute girl, but I think we'll stick with the boy clothes.

Olivia enjoys getting her 2 1/2 year old cousin MaryLeigh dressed everyday also. Yesterday I went over to Callie's and saw what MaryLeigh was wearing and thought, "Wow she's starting to dress like Olivia." (which means a lot of pattern and alot of "bling"). Callie came in later and asked me if I liked what Olivia had dressed MaryLeigh in. Of course Olivia had dressed her!
That same day after watching "Nacho Libre" Porter showed up at my house in this outfit.

And later the girls, dressed in princess dresses, tried to camouflage themselves on a chair of bears.

Grandpa May's Cake

This is my dad's famous cake, the "Hot Water Cake". Chocolate heaven. He found this recipe and made it for a birthday a few years ago. He hasn't made it for awhile so the kids were a VERY impressed. It is soooo good. My dad is a pretty good cook! Of course you are too mom! Love ya!