Lagoon With the Parrys

Today was Lagoon in June!  The weather was perfect all day long.  I was so excited to see my Grandma & Grandpa there!  Grandma said, "I never miss this!"  Still, I was glad to see them.  Lagoon has gotten ridiculous in some aspects.  They made my Grandma & Grandpa pay $35 to get in the park!  They didn't have any entrance only passes.  My grandpa asked to talk to the manager.  He asked him what they thought they would be able to ride.  The manager said, "You could go to Pioneer Village."  Really?  My Grandpa did end up going on one ride.  He rode Rattlesnake Rapids.  I wish I could have been there!  Jordyn got a picture.  Awesome.

Grandma & Stephanie

 Grandma, Grandpa & Stephanie

 Grandma, Grandpa, Stockton & Maysen

 Grandma, Grandpa, Preston & Jorja

 Grandma, Grandpa, Lincoln & Ella

We got to Lagoon at 11 and wasted no time getting on rides.  I had warned the kids that the lines would be long and now would be the best time to ride anything they wanted to ride.  Maysen went to Air Race - there was already a long line for that.  Stockton, Jorja and I went to Blast Off and ReEntry.  There were no lines for those!  We stopped by an easier airplane ride on our way to meet Maysen.  I saw her on the purple airplane.  I was so glad I wasn't with her!

Preston LOVED the airplanes!  He was scared at first and wanted to go with me.  Half way through the ride he yelled, "I want to go on this again!"  He went again with Jorja.  While Mike was waiting for Jorja and Preston to ride, I took Maysen and Stockton on the skyride.  They got the exact same carriage as they got last week.  Weird.  As we were getting off the ride, Jorja and Preston met us at the bottom.  Preston was running to us and tripped.  He scraped up his knee and was so sad. Not a great way to start the day.

I took Jorja on The Spider.  She did not want to go, but I really wanted her to.  She loved it!  She would have gone again if the lines hadn't arrived.  Maysen and Stockton didn't want to wait in the line, so they didn't go with us.  Maysen took Preston on Music Express to get him happy again.  It seemed to do the trick.  Jorja took him when we got back.  They rode it together.  Jorja is considered a 'responsible person'.

Preston & Jorja

 The ride has stopped, but they are hiding from the camera.

 Preston

 Preston - looking a lot like Weston

 Jorja

 Jorja & Preston

 Preston & Jorja

Today was also my dad's stake Lagoon day.  With those tickets Mike was able to get an entrance only pass for free.  Too bad we didn't see Grandma & Grandpa out front.  I was glad I got a pass for me.  There were several rides that Preston wanted to be with me on.  I also took Lincoln and Ella on a few rides.  When we were riding OdySea, Ella REALLY wanted to ride with me.  The only problem was Preston REALLY wanted to ride with me.  I ended up riding with Ella and leaving Preston in the front of the line, then switching to Preston the next ride.  For some reason they took forever starting the ride when I was with Ella.  We sat on the ride at least fifteen minutes!  I'm glad I had a fish where I had a good view of Preston and was able to talk to him.

I also went on Rattlesnake Rapids with Preston, Maysen, Lincoln, Ella, my dad, Cathy, and Max.  I was sitting next to Ella and could tell we were going to be the lucky ones who got hit by the waterfall at the end.  I picked up Ella and tried to get her out of the way, but no luck.  We were soaked!  She did not like that.  Lincoln loved the ride though.  I was wet the rest of the day.  I had just changed out of my swimsuit.  Luckily my kids were still wearing theirs.

Grandma & Jorja

 Grandma & Maysen

 Grandma & Stephanie

Mike ended up taking the kids to the car early.  Jorja and I weren't ready to go.  The weather was perfect and the lines were just getting short again.  Plus, my family was still there!  Last week, Mike took Jorja to the car while I rode rides with the other three.  Today, Mike took the other three to the car while I rode rides with Jorja.  We were able to ride Tidal Wave (and get in the back) and the swings.  There were so many gnats there, when you rode the swings they would pelt your face.  I guess that is a good thing if you are a frog!

Today was such a wonderful day - I love my family!

First Day of Summer!

Preston

On the last day of school we usually let the kids 'Stay up all night'.  They look forward to this all year.  This time we let Preston enjoy that tradition.  Stockton fell asleep at 6:00, right after piano lessons.  We woke him up for scriptures around 8:30, but he went straight back to bed.  Poor kid.  I guess he isn't feeling well.  Jorja was watching So You Think You Can Dance with us.  She fell asleep.  We woke her up when it was over.  She walked to the couch, and fell back asleep.  That left Preston and Maysen.  I whispered to Maysen to keep an eye on Preston.  Maysen was up when Mike got up this morning.  She said Preston fell asleep at 11:00..  I read a book in the morning.  It was great.  When I finally got up (around 7:00) I went to take a picture of Preston who was sleeping on the playroom floor.  As I was getting my camera he woke up.  He was nice enough to pose for some pictures for me anyway.  (For some reason I can't get the words above the picture.  Usually I upload the pictures first, but I did it backwards this time.....)  Maysen took a two hour nap this morning and was up the rest of the day.  Hopefully she doesn't crash at Lagoon tomorrow!

Graduation!

Today was the last day of school!  Stockton has now finished elementary school!  He will be the only child of mine who will have had sixth grade in elementary school.  Believe me, he was ready to leave! The sixth graders did a walk around the school with all the kids cheering - just like the fifth graders do at Mirror Lake.  I got there in the middle of the walk and was lucky enough to spot Stockton.  Preston ran up to him and gave him a big hug.  So cute!

Preston testing out the camera for me.

 Stockton & Preston

After the 'walk' the sixth graders put on a program.  There were no more seats left, so Preston and I found one random desk against the wall in the very back and used that.  Man, the program was long!  I was not expecting a two hour program.  Having Dominion on my cell phone saved me.  Preston played that the entire time.  The sixth graders sang Unwritten.  The song Stockton's teacher called to talk to me about because Stockton kept singing, "Today I'm just a chicken."  And something about salad dressing.

The program was so long because each class had two different 'talent' acts.  There was lots of singing and dancing.  I wish I knew the kids better, but at least Preston and I had Dominion.  One of my beehives, Zoe, did a cute song, so that was fun to watch.  Anyway, when the program was finally over Stockton asked if I would take him home.  I asked him if he had his backpack.  He had left it in his room.  Stockton was going to run and get it and wanted me to meet him out front.  I told him I parked in the back of the school by the portables.  We started walking to his class, but Stockton got ahead of me.  I was still feeling very week and wasn't able to move quite as fast.  I lost track of Stockton. I went to his class and his backpack was gone.  I thought maybe he was by the car, but Adam saw me and said Stockton just went that way. (He pointed the other direction than I expected.)  I went looking for him.  I walked all the way around the school, looked on his bus, went back to the auditorium, back to the classroom and finally back to the car.  Stockton was waiting out front.  He probably thought I was just talking to people.  I was so frustrated.  I wish he would tell me where he is going instead of just assuming I will know.  I also wish I would have trusted my first instinct and checked the car first.  I was also so tired and so hungry.  School had now let out and my car was blocked in for a long time.  

Jorja's bus got to our stop before we did.  We saw Jorja walking home. She was crying.  She had taken Maysen's lunchbox to school the day before and hadn't been able to find it.  I dropped Stockton and Preston off at home and took Jorja back to school.  We searched the lost and found and the classrooms. No luck.  She was so sad.  I sat her on my lap and asked what was the worst thing that would happen if we didn't find the lunchbox.  It turns out that her froggy ice packs and frog sandwich holder were in the lunchbox.

Soon after we arrived home one of Jorja's good friends called.  That was great timing!  Here is an example of how Jorja and I are different.  Jorja made cards that had her name, address, phone number and my cell phone number on it.  She handed them out to people in her class.  She is my little social butterfly.  Anyway, Jorja's cards worked because Jazzie called.  Jorja talks about Jazzie all the time.  We asked Jazzie if she wanted to go swimming.  Perfect way to cheer up a Porge.

Miserable

I don't remember much of today.  I was so sick.  Maysen and I were both sick.  Preston took care of us today.  He would bring us water bottles. Maysen would call me when she threw up.  I would drag myself out of bed to clean her bowl and then stumble back to bed.  Not a fun day.

I missed Preston's last t-ball game.  My dad took him for me.  When he came home I heard him yell, "Trophy!"  He was so excited!  He loves it. He loved having his grandpa as his coach.

Preston and his trophy

 Preston reading to Jorja

Sage and Miles

Laura came over today with her cute little family.  We spent a couple hours of swimming.  I didn't get any pictures of Autumn, but I have pictures of her other two.  Sage was so cute in the jeep, I kept following her around.  She walks really well now and Laura says she is into everything.  She has no fear and she just goes.  That's gotta keep Laura on her toes!

Sage & Miles

Mostly Successful

I had to go to church early this morning.  I had an appointment at 8.  I was almost ready and about to leave when Preston woke up.  He slept much longer than usual and came upstairs covered in throw-up. Mike asked him when he threw up.  It was the middle of the night.  Preston said, "That's okay.  I found a dry spot on my pillow to sleep."  Poor boy! Obviously Preston didn't go to church today.  I went to my meeting, came home and switched Mike.  He took the other kids to sacrament meeting and then went and taught his lesson.  We switched again so I could go to Young Womens.  Another reason I'm loving living here!

While the other kids were at church, Preston and I played two games of Dominion and read stories.  Preston had a bucket next to him and had to use it a couple of times.  Preston also hasn't needed pullups while he sleeps for several months. (So proud of him!)  I thought today I would put one on him just in case.  I'm glad I did.  We had three extra ones and he went through them by the end of church.  I decided to go and buy more.  I came home and changed Preston.  He asked me where I got the pullups.  I said I bought them at the store.  He shrieked, "What!  It's Sunday!"  I tried to explain that Heavenly Father understands about emergencies.  That I just bought pullups and nothing else.  He still wasn't buying it.  Oh well.  Needed to be done and we ended up using several.

For Family Home Evening tonight we talked about setting goals.  They had a week to think of their goals.  Mike made these cool goal charts out of Olympic rings.  He labeled them physical, mental, social, spiritual, and talents.  They were to choose two big goals for inside the rings and little goals around it to help complete the big goal.  (The little goals don't have to correlate with the big goal.)  I thought it was funny that Mike had as a big social goal Invite a family for swim and BBQ and Go to class reunion.  For his little goals he had Build pool house, Build outdoor shower, Build treehouse . . .

Mike also tested his submarine for the first time.  He declared the launch 'mostly successful'.  It dove and came up and the water didn't leak anywhere.  He was disappointed that a water bubble got in front of the camera he had in the sub, so when he looked at the computer it was blurry.

Mike's submarine

 Mike

 Stockton and Mike

 Mike

My Porgie was feeling better today!  Glad to have her back!

 Jorja

 Maysen

We finally got the tree I bought in Nauvoo hung up.  I really like it.  Now I just need to get pictures in the frames.  Hopefully the random boy in the hat doesn't stay up there for years!

Patio Furniture

Mike and I bought some patio furniture today.  First we bought a table. The kids all helped put it together, so that was nice.  My dad and Max came over to swim.  It was really nice to have a table out there.  Later that day Mike went back and got two reclining chairs and a swing chair.  I think we will get one more table.  Hopefully these last well, they were not too expensive - but expensive enough I wouldn't want to replace them every year!

Jorja - not 100% yet, but feeling better

 Preston & Jorja

Awesomeness

Let me start out by saying This ride is evil!

Today we were able to spend the day at Lagoon.  Overstock rents it out for their employees once a year.  Love it!  The weather was great, we got in free and there were no lines.  Pretty awesome day.  What made it even better was the kids were fantastic.  They didn't even complain about walking.  They couldn't have been better, it made the day so enjoyable! EXCEPT for one unfortunate thing.  My Porge.  She has the worst luck! This morning she mentioned that her throat was hurting, she said she didn't drink enough water during the night.  (That is a frequent complaint.)  Unfortunately, she really did have a sore throat.  She was able to have some fun at the beginning of the day, but around 2:00 she started feeling really warm.  She was quite miserable the rest of the day. I am so proud of her though.  She was amazing and let us finish the day.

Now let me tell you about the evil ride.  The ride I will NEVER ride again.  It is Lagoon's new ride called Air Race.  Because there wasn't a line, we had no idea what this ride was going to do.  It spins, twists, turns upside down, goes backwards, holds you upside down . . . I was sick for two hours after.  I have never been that sick from a ride before. Poor little Jorja rode this ride.  She was so scared.  It's probably what put her over the edge too.  The craziest thing about the ride . . . Maysen LOVED it!  Seriously!  She went on it five times!  Well, I don't know how many but that ride was her favorite.  She also spent a lot of time going on tilt-a-whirl and scrambler with Preston.  They had so much fun running back and forth on those rides.  Oh to be young again.

Jorja, Maysen, Preston, Stockton ~ Tilt-a-Whirl

While we were on the ride of death, Mike took Preston on the Odyssey. Preston loved getting Mike wet.

Mike, Preston

 Maysen & Stockton

I talked Preston into going on the ladybug ride.  He was quite scared. He kept saying, "I think I'm scared!"  I had my hand right over his heart.  It was beating so fast!  After, he said he liked it, but didn't want to go on it again.

Preston, Stephanie, Jorja, Random Kid

Jorja and I were waiting while Mike took the kids on a ride.  I was quite sick at this point and decided to lay on a bench.  Jorja was right next to me.  When Mike got back he asked where Jorja was.  I pointed, but she wasn't there.  I had a moment of panic before I saw her running off the Tidal Wave and getting back in line.

Jorja, Maysen, Stockton in the back

 Jorja & Preston

Jorja and Preston got balloon animals from a clown.  Jorja has been making simple balloon animals lately.

Preston

 Preston with his heart flower

 Jorja with her frog on a lily pad

Maysen, Stockton, Jorja and I all went on this ride.  I love it!  Jorja was scared while we were in line, but she loved it!  Stockton and Jorja went back with me later in the day and we rode these several times.  Jorja wanted to go even though she was quite sick at this point.

Stephanie, Jorja, Stockton, Maysen

 Maysen & Mike

How do you know Jorja is really sick?  She got on a frog to ride on the merry-go-round, before the ride started she hopped off and laid down on a bench.  That's a sick little Porge!

Jorja

 My poor little Porgie

Stockton and Preston rode the little kid bumper cars.  It was funny to see Stockton slouching the entire way through the gate.  He thought he was so sneaky!

Preston & Stockton

 Jorja waiting at the bumper cars

 Preston

Part of Preston's heart flower popped.  It now looked like a heart with a bow.  He wanted a picture of it.

Stockton & Preston

When there was about an hour and a half before Lagoon closed, Mike took Jorja to the car.  We had some sleeping bags in there and they went to sleep.  Maysen, Stockton, Preston and I went on the Paratroopers.  Preston liked that one.  We walked to the other end of the park.  Preston did not want to take the sky ride.  We had earlier in the day.  He said it was scary.  Maysen and Stockton were able to ride Wicked a couple of times and also Wild Mouse.  Maysen then took Preston on Music Express, which he loved!  I think that one was his favorite.  Maysen finished the day by riding another nauseating ride that the rest of us were too smart to get on.

Preston & Maysen

Maysen and Stockton took the sky ride back.  Preston and I raced them! (They didn't know they were in a race - and what could they do about it if they did?)  I was able to get Preston out to the car and be back at the exit of the sky ride when they landed.  Today was an almost perfect day. I just wish Jorja could have enjoyed it!  Thanks Overstock.com!  I hope they keep up this tradition!