Ace

Did you know I call my husband Ace?  Before we were dating, I only referred to him by his last name... and when we got engaged, I figured I needed to change that, since his last name would soon be mine.  After watching him play tennis and realizing how good he was, he became Ace.  It fits him.  He calls me JP, which is short for Jannie Pannie (my childhood nickname).  Most of my siblings have shortened it to Pannie and even though it should be embarrassing, it never has been.

I did not intend to write the above paragraph.  It just came out after I titled this post.  I just put my baby down for the night (thankgoodness.  that girl's scream makes me want to poke out my eyes.)  Ace is downstairs playing rummikub with the boys and I guarantee he will win, for the third night in a row.  As I was rocking Ro to sleep, and singing to her, I busted up thinking about my husband singing the songs at Family Home Evening tonight.  Zack taught us a little pumpkin song and Daddy had the words down after one lesson.  He was literally screaming the lyrics and made up his own actions (which included several pelvic thrusts) and I completely lost it.  Although the kids love it, I know he's performing mostly for me.  He can always get me to laugh...

So as I rocked, I thought of all the things Ace has said to me the past few days and I thought I would write them down.  He will hate the fact that I am writing them on my blog, but if ever I die, he can look back at these words and know that I loved the way he made me laugh.

Yesterday I sent him home to get a few things for my lesson.  When he dropped it off, I asked him if I could take his scriptures too.  I had my digital scriptures, but thought I should look spiritual carrying around a heavy quad.  He handed them to me and said, "Of course.  And if you run out of material, read my patriarchal blessing to them.  It's in the back."  He says things like that without cracking a smile and I love it.  The fact that he was holding a cute baby girl (who needed a diaper change) made him that much handsomer.

I had to run some early morning errands a few days ago and could not find my bra anywhere.  I often misplace things, but not usually my bra.  After looking for it for 30 minutes or so, I said really frustrated, "Why can't I find my bra?!"  Aaron, not realizing what I was looking for that whole time, smiled and said, "It's on the back of the bathroom door.  Hit me again.  What else do you need?"  I love (and hate) that he always comes to my rescue.

On the way home from shopping with Debbie (we were seriously gone for 5 hours) I called him to see how things were going at home with the kids.  He answered, "Shop til you Drop, this is Aaron."  I know he was frustrated that I hadn't checked in, but he takes everything with stride and knows I don't get many nights out with my sister..

Tonight he came home singing "my heart's a stereo, turn me up when you feel low" and although he shouldn't quit his day job, he sounds a lot like Adam Levine.  He knew the disposal had been out of commission for a few days and without even changing from his dress clothes, he got to work on it... He had it up and running before dinner was on the table and I could not have been more impressed.

During dinner he sat really close to me, making our elbows touch.  If I moved away he got closer, so I finally he gave in.  Sometimes he tries to see how much it will take to annoy me.  During the dinner conversation we talked about something nice we did for someone else.  The kids reported cute little favors they did for each other.  When it was Daddy's turn he said, "When I was riding the elevator down to my car, I had gas but decided not to fart.  That was nice to everyone else riding with me."  The boys loved it and I tried my best not to smile, but didn't succeed.

A little later (while doing the dishes for the 14th time today) I told him my life isn't FUN enough.  He laughed and in a very mocking tone (charlie & chocolate factory, Veruca Salt voice) he said, "I want more fun!  Get me more fun, Daddy!  And bring it to me now!"  And right then my wish was granted.  He is a lot of fun to be married to.

He's been doing his workout routine for the past 10 minutes or so, but he just got into bed next to me.  He's not looking at my computer screen... he's on his phone scrolling around.  A minute ago, I asked him what he was doing (mainly afraid that he was going to ask me what I was doing.)  Without looking up at me he said, "I'm paying your bills.  Whatch YOU doing?"  I laughed.  and he asked why that was so funny.  I said because it seems like I don't do anything around here. and then he said again, "And I want to know why that's so funny."

this past weekend

I still have a couple of beach photo picture files to edit, but I need to move on to real life and stop thinking about how I wish we could be back on the beach without a care in the world.

I feel terrible I don't have more pictures to document this past week/end.  We had a blast putting up our Halloween decor and celebrations are in full swing.  Bedrooms and closets got organized, bathrooms got a deep cleaning and the cold weather finally kicked in!  

Debbie and her family drove through on Saturday and arrived minutes before our Fall Festival/Stake Fair.  It is a BIG to-do here and I didn't take a single picture.  I must have been too busy talking with my sister and chasing around our 9 kids.  There was loud music, face painting, cake walks, trampolines and bounce houses, dinner, cotton candy, stuffed animals and lots of friends.  It was bitter sweet running into old friends that will no longer be in our ward.  Love the neighborhood we live in!

Straight from the Fair, Deb and I went shopping.  She knows how badly my closet needs it.  We spent hours in the dressing room and had a great time.  We laughed a lot but by the end I felt like crying.  I don't like to shop.  The last time I went was when Deb forced me to go after my birthday last year.  I got some really cute things and love that my husband didn't ask me how much we spent.

Saturday night was a night from hell.  Hyper cousins playing, no one wanted to sleep.  I think everyone was finally quiet by midnight.  Simon woke up around 1:00 AM claiming monsters were eating his legs.  He crawled into bed with us and after he fell asleep, I was wide awake.  I think I dozed off around 3 but at 4:00 AM, I heard Ro screaming in her crib. One of the kids used her bathroom at night and turned on the lights in her room.  I rocked her for a bit, but she wasn't going back to bed.  Around 7, when the older kids woke up, I was able to lay back down and get about an hour of sleep.  Needless to say I had big bags under my eyes at church.

I was sustained in as RS pres in my ward on Sunday afternoon.  We have a whole new ward (boundary change) and I called two counselors I've never met before.  My first counselor is 9 months pregnant (due of Friday) and my second counselor has lived in Vegas for just a few short months.  The Bishopric knows me well and let me call a third counselor, which I am thrilled about.  I haven't been nervous about the call too much.. more excited than anything.  I love meeting new people and believe I can handle the schedule.  My only wish is that I could sit on the stand during Sacrament meeting and watch Aaron wrangle five kids from afar... and I could just smile at him.  Maybe in the next life I can be a man.  With the lack of sleep and stimulation of the cousin visit, our kids were wired during church.  Roma was so loud and ended up barfing all over Aaron's suit.  So glad it wasn't me.  During Sacrament meeting, Zack and Simon went out to get a drink and Zack came back wearing a CTR ring he'd stolen from the lost and found.  He's not the sharpest tool in the shed...
  

Aaron had to run home and change and grab a few things for my lesson that I forgot in the kitchen (I set it down for a second to check on dinner in the oven and left it at home... so annoying.)  He was back in the RS room minutes before it began.  The lesson turned out great and I am looking forward to meeting all the new Sisters in my ward.  I recognized only a fraction of the faces.  After church I was learning the ropes of my new calling (welfare forms) and totally forgot about the roast in the oven.  I saved it just before the house burned to the ground.  The carrots were a little black on the bottom and there was zero gravy for the mashed potatoes, but we survived.

I made a few phone calls after dinner and ended up falling asleep on the couch, with the kids running around me.  I was THAT tired.   I woke up around 7 PM and played a couple of games with the older boys..  and then prepared for my first presidency meeting this morning.  I didn't get to sleep until after 1:00 AM.

Ben woke me up minutes before I was to take carpool. Of course, his lunch was made, the baby had a bottle and he was just waiting for a ride. I threw on a new outfit (boy that felt good!) brushed my teeth and we were off.  As we were leaving out the door, I remembered it was picture day at school.  Oh boy.  I made the kids change their shirts (Luke wore a bloody skeleton head on picture day last year) and had them comb their hair, for real this time.  I grabbed a checkbook on my way out the door and drove to the school.  

Once I got in the parking lot, I went to write a check for pictures and realized Aaron used the last check yesterday at church.  Who uses checks anymore anyway?  Luckily I had $20 in my wallet found some change to order ONE 8X10 each.  geez.  They better smile or else.  Another girl in the carpool left her form at home too so we scrounged up some change for her too.  totally crazy.  I do not want to be this kind of mom..  but what's a girl to do?

While parked at the school, Simon told me he had to go potty (we woke him up on our way out the door).  He didn't have shoes on, so I asked him if he could wait and he said yes.  But on the drive home, he could NOT wait and I had to pull over on the side of the road.  He stood on the door of my van and shot pee out into the dirt.  Most of it went outside the van.  I had to do a quick wipedown when we got home.

We had a few minutes to spare before my presidency meeting, so I was able to make a few copies.  The two babies went to a friends house which was heaven sent.  The meeting went well, lots of work to do and parties to plan!  Luke and I went to the library quickly to exchange his books.  PS.  Luke has been homeschooled since the beginning of the year and he is a gem.  He reads 4-5 chapter books a week and is such a big help at home.  Could.not.survive without this awesome 9 year old of mine.  I will pull Ben and Zack home as soon as they will let me.  This is another post for another day.

Roma and Simon are now down for a nap at the same time which NEVER happens.  Luke is reading next to me... and I am feeling blessed.  Busy, chaotic and happy.  Aaron laughed at me this morning and said, "you are a comedy act I get to watch everyday."  I resent that.  I am not here for his entertainment, unlike Adam Lambert who is always there for me when I need him.

Dinner needs to go in the oven and the older boys will be home in an hour.  We are going to start reading Phantom Tollbooth tonight after FHE.  I don't want the days to go by so quickly, but at the same time, bedtime cannot get here soon enough.  This is the most wonderful time of the year and I can't let it slip through my fingers!  We will be heading up to Utah soon, so the leaves better stay on the trees until we get there.  My parents get home from their mission in 17 days....  

The Kids Fun Deck

We spent hours every day at the fun deck.  They had hourly (free) activities for the kids.  They made cookies, crafts, popped popcorn, had banana splits, cold cereal breakfast parties, spa day where we could paint toenails, all kinds of treats.. basically kid heaven.  The best part about it, our kids were basically the only ones there (off season, I am sure..)  They had movies, books, puzzles, video games, ping pong, shuffle board, darts, stuffed animals, bean bags, a play ground, all kinds of baby toys, coloring books, you name it.  and from a board game loving family like ours (who packed lightly on the flights) the best part about it--- they had EVERY game you could think of.  We played and played and when it was time to go back to our room, they let us take games back with us (and movies too if we wanted.)  Such an amazingly fun family time and perfect after a day at the beach.  The staff was amazing and were so great with our kids.  Roma took a liking to Miss Kathryn and played with her while Aaron and I played games with the boys (we made sure to to get her schedule for the week.. so we knew exactly what hours she was working!)  These pictures below were taken just before we flew home.  so sad.  Don't worry, we exchanged info!  We will be sending her a Christmas card :)  Great memories were made on this deck..  we are dreaming and scheming of when we can go back...

marriott beach place ft lauderdale

facts about our Florida vacation, in no particular order.

• roundtrip non-stop flights from Vegas to Ft. Lauderdale were less than $40 per person.  (spirit air).  We paid a total of $237 for all seven of us to fly.
• we each brought one carry on.  and we paid for one piece of luggage.  we are light packers.  Simon ended up with only ONE shirt.  ooops. (luckily, we had a washer and dryer in our villa, which was awesome!)
• Aaron's parents had a week available of their timeshare that was about to expire.  They were so kind and generous to offer it to us, but nothing was available in Ft. Lauderdale until 2 days before we flew out.  It.could.not.have.been.more.perfect.
• we paid $200 and some change for our hotel/villa stay.  it was ginormous.
• the boys had their own room/microwave/mini-fridge/bathroom/shower/couch and toaster.
• Zack made toast in his toaster everyday, just because he could.
• we bought all our groceries before checking into the hotel.  under $100 for food.
• once we parked our van at the hotel on the first day of arrival (after the alligator farm) we did NOT get in the van again until we flew to the airport.  no reason to drive anywhere means you've arrived at the perfect location.
• we paid $186 to rent a minivan that stayed parked in the same spot the entire week.  next time we'll get a taxi to and from the airport.
• we ate EVERY meal inside this hotel room, sitting at the table as a family.  we did not do any fast food or restaurants, with the exception of 2 visits to Sonic for drinks after the beach.
• The hotel delivered a port a crib with clean sheets, blankets and a stuffed animal for our baby.  It was so thoughtful. 
• Simon and Ro napped everyday, for hours at a time.
• We had scriptures in the living area each night and family prayer around the coffee table.  While being silly one night (my birthday) Roma knocked her mouth on the coffee table and broke her front tooth.  
• All of our kids were in bed and asleep each night by 9 PM.
• we had the most comfortable beds.  we had two pull out couches that we never used.
• the master bedroom had an amazing jet tub.  I bathed in it everyday.  the kids bathed in it everyday, together.  Aaron and I had a romantic night in it once.
• On the last day EVERYONE got in the tub together, including Daddy.  It was not planned, it just happened and it was hilarious.  I begged to take a photo and use it for our Christmas card, but Aaron wouldn't let me.  and my hands were wet anyway. 
• the lighting in the room made the water in the tub look florescent yellow.  the kids had many pee jokes, none of them were funny.
• We had two balconies which were not ocean view, but our view was still beautiful, especially at night.
• it rained everyday, some days it poured
• we had a pool, hot tub and kids splash pad at the hotel, but only used it the day we checked out, just to say we did.  
• we hot tubbed one night while it was raining.
• we only saw two other children at the hotel.  One was a darling newborn named Victoria with a full head of black hair.  The other was a 7 year old girl, Samantha.  She was an only child who was very lonely and kept asking to play with us.  We saw her everyday and tried to include her, but she was a brat and kept complaining to her parents that our boys were teasing her (she wished.)
• everyone commented on the number of children we had.  We stuck out like we never have before... they totally pointed. and more times than we could count people said, "God bless you and your family." 
• Aaron was an amazing help with the kids.  If I had the baby, he was in control of the boys and vice versa.  He was changing diapers, warming bottles, having pillow fights, making dinner, washing dishes, you name it.  I kept thinking the whole week, "God has already blessed me so much."  This man is my dream guy! and I know now more than ever that we can handle more children.  we are a mighty duo!
• I absolutely loved visiting with the other residents, who's average age was probably was 68.  I didn't take a poll, just a guess.  Because it was a timeshare, they were all there for the week and we saw many of the same faces each day.  
• Because it was a timeshare, they tried to get us to go to a presentation (for $100 credit for room service.)  We would not do it.  #1 we didn't want to waste an hour (or 5 hours) of our precious vacation time.  #2 we probably would have purchased had we listened to their sales pitch.  we were in LOVE the minute we walked in.  It's location (steps from the ocean) could not be beat, and the accommodations were top notch.  The "fun deck" with activities for the kids every hour needs it's own blog post.    
• Every.single.day we saw the same lizard peeking out of a pillar on the sidewalk on our way to and from the beach.  We tried to catch it, but never succeeded.  We have a few videos and they are hysterical.  We loved that lizard and we feel bad we poured water in his house in an attempt to catch him.  He hated us.
• The elevator game was a big hit (stand in front of the one you think will open first.)  Whatever elevator Zack stood in front of, opened.  It was a magical.  He was beyond excited about picking the winning elevator.
• A worker at Sonic gave the boys gold necklaces ? and they wore them often.  They are still innocent and can look cool sporting jewelry.
• We played games every single night.  Rook and Bananagrams are always a hit, but Catch Phrase became the ultimate favorite.  Out of all the memories we made, laughing over Catch Phrase is at the top of my list.  We bought the game as soon as we got home.  
• Ben made Ramen the night we flew out.  It didn't have enough water and became a sticky noodle mess.  But everyone ate it anyway.  we served it with a side of stuffing.  ?  go figure.
• aside from Sunday morning cartoons while Aaron and I made a big breakfast, zero television was watched.  Two of the three tvs were not even turned on.  
• We bought a gallon of milk at the market in the hotel along with ice cream for my birthday.  The only other food we purchased was chips and salsa out by the pool.  While eating and drying off, Simon crossed his legs and said, "I like hanging out with you guys."  
• Our boys did not fight a single time we were there.  there were little annoyances here and there, but nothing we had to intervene as parents..  Aaron and I talked about it each night in amazement and gratitude.  it was heavenly and in every sense of the word, this was a real vacation.  
• I washed all our clothes before we boarded the flight home.  Nothing like flying home rested, rejuvenated, sun-kissed and with zero dirty laundry.
• no one wanted to leave.  we all plan on "saving all our monies" so we can go back again someday... because heaven knows we won't be able to do it again for that (unbelievable) price.  

Pictures, in no particular order...

"I love hanging out with you guys"

hotel website : http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/fllbp-marriotts-beachplace-towers/

life's a beach

Once upon a September we went on a family vacation to the beach.  We spent 5 days playing in the sand and swimming in the warm atlantic.  it was dreamy and magical.  The days blended together because each day was the same.  We woke up, made a hearty breakfast, went to the beach with a few snacks, and retired back to our hotel only when we were starving (or it was raining).  Everyday we built a massive sandcastle.  Everyday we snorkeled.  Everyday we added to our seashell collection.  Everyday was perfect because we were together.

  

 those few days changed us, not just the way we think about vacation (and what it means to relax) but it made us realize how important, valuable and essential our time is together.  Aaron and I would go to bed at night talking about our goals and dreams for our kids and for our family.  Since we've come home, we are different.  We are making big changes... some financial (scrimp and save so we can vacation well) but most have to do with our time..  how we spend it and what our kids do with theirs during the weekday, and how we can get the most out of our time together on the weekends.  We've realized that even though we're back and have to adhere to a schedule (dentist appts, carpool, scouts, chores) EVERYDAY we have still been to feel that peace we had together as a family on the beach.  I can't really explain the feeling, but it's acknowledging that I don't want to be anywhere else than where I am.  I love the stages that my children are in right now, today.  Our life isn't a beach, it can be very difficult at times, but it's also very rewarding.  Life is good, but there is always room for improvement.