Spontaneity

Craig was gone all last week, even President Day!  (insert sad face) He had a conference in Seattle and as he called & text throughout the week-not much this time-about eating crab cakes, going on cruises on the bay I thought, "Wow work for him sometimes is rough" LOL  Although he was awake until almost 1 every morning trying to get work done for his job in Ogden.  I did feel bad about that for him.
I was texting Aimee throughout the week and wanted so badly just to run away to Boise with her & her family since Kyle was off.  I knew it was a little unrealistic.  But it did spark an idea......

Friday Craig did have a work for a bit but we had planned to take the girls to Kids Club and get out of the house.  I'm pretty sure I have major cabin fever.  Since Dec. 26 I've just wanted to run away.  But haven't.  So I told Craig, what if instead of KC we just go away for the night.  Wherever.  He quickly was on board.  Jaycee was SO excited and ran up to get her little suitcase packed.  We threw out ideas of the beach, Bend, Eugene and then knew we should go up north.  We've been wanting to go up there since we moved here to WA.  It's insane that we live soooo close to a Rain Forest!  I did a quick hotel find while Craig wrapped things up with work.  I wanted to go to Port Angeles really bad as it is right on the Puget Sound and also was interested to drive through Forks.  Craig was just dying to visit Hoh Rain Forest.  So that was the plan.  We booked a $69 night at Motel 8 with free waffles haha.  We're cheap haha.  We ended up leaving our house at 3pm and set to Port Angeles (4 hr drive up) but mostly was the whole trip.  Not necessarily just hurry and get there.  Whatever we wanted to do as we drove up.

 The girls were so cute and so excited.  I'm sure Hadi was because Jaycee was.  The drive was fun to talk and see such beauty here in WA.  I just LOVE it here.  It never gets old....well the rain does.  Driving along the Puget Sound was amazing but I was getting a little car sick with all the windy roads & ups & downs.  Needless to say, I was excited when we got in Port Angeles and out of the car. 

This pic was adorable!  As we were driving Jaycee was getting tired.  In a soft voice she asks Hadi, "Hadi, can sissy use your blanket to lay down.  I need to take a little nap."  It was adorable.  I looked back and saw Jaycee laying down and Hadi was petting her hair back.  I had to take a pic to remember that moment.  How did I luck out with such amazing kids?!!!!

  It was a bit colder than I expected but we were prepared.  We wanted to eat somewhere cheap and ended up at Wendys.  It was cute cuz the girls got these little games in their Kids Meals so we had a fun game to play in the restaurant.  Guesstures.  We then went for a little drive up a mountain behind our hotel and found a deer just hanging out up there.  It was fun & cool to watch it. We then just hung out in the hotel room (it was about 9) girls took a huge, messy, splashy bath, we read up with all the things there is to do there (BC is right across and wished so bad we had our passports!) and then we all watched Full House as we fell asleep.  Even with cable there's nothing on TV! 

The next morning Jaycee was super excited for waffles with syrup.  They hardly ever get syrup.  So funny cuz we all made waffles and hardly any of us ate them.  Yuck!  We ended up with boiled eggs, bananas, yogurt & toast.  Good enough.  We set out for the 1 hour drive into Forks and hit such beauty!!!  We drove up mountains and into snow, across a gorgeous lake and back into rain. Words just can't describe how pretty it was.

 We got to Forks around noonish.  To say the least, there wasn't much.  If you were going there for Twilight there were shops & for reading the book you can see a lot.  But the filming wasn't filmed there so I couldn't remember a lot of details.  I didn't really care though.  I just wanted to drive through. We got our magnets & smush penny and headed into Hoh Rain Forest.  It was about a 45 minute drive from Forks.  We did stop for a while at their little store in town.  It reminded me of Wangsgard in Ogden.  We did have to be mind full of potty breaks as Hadi is potty training.  She did awesome & no accidents-in the car at least.  Only one in the hotel.  After potty breaks, getting a drink & gum we were headed into the RF.  I wanted to take so many pictures but I knew it wouldn't do justice. 

About 2 miles before in the actual Olympic Park we stopped at a huge spruce tree.  Also we wanted to walk around.  The fee for the park was $15 and at this time it was about 1:30ish.  We didn't want to go in and pay knowing we had a goal to be home at 10 (it was a 4 hr drive back)  So we climbed around & explored for while.  It was so relaxing and just what I think we all needed. 

 I seriously have THE BEST family ever!!!!

After here we headed out and to keep going.  Also it was about 35-40 degrees & rainy so we all were a little cold.  Also a part of the drive is on the coast so of course, we had to stop at the beach. 
As we were driving we saw a sign on the road for Large Cedar.  Or something like that.  It was a quick turn in and holy cow, I'm glad we stopped!  It was the coolest thing ever!  Jaycee was in the car and didn't want to get out & in the rain again.

A little after that was the beach and we played there for a while.  It was cool because there were logs everywhere that the tide must bring in.  The girls loved climbing around.  We also found a whole hand full of sand dollars.

Also on the drive back we passed through a city named Amanda Park.  haha. It was meant to be to marry Craig ParkER!  He did a quick stop to take a pic

 

The rest of the drive back was talking stories about our past; about life; about our future.  It was just AWESOME and really made me open up my eyes that just a little trip like that can make a HUGE difference. I learned much about my little family. I learned how much I love being with them.  I fell in love with my husband even more-and yes, it happens.  It's like we've reached an even deeper love that I didn't know existed.  I really got to know him so much better.  Even after 7 years together!  This weekend away will go in the books as a huge milestone for me.  It will never be forgotten.

A DAY OF LOVE

Craig and I do "switches" so this year I got to do Valentine's Day.  You'll find out a lot about us through my blog but one thing is WE LOVE OUR KIDS!  Some people maybe bum off their kids a lot or look for any excuse to get a break.  NOT US.  I know a huge reason is cuz Craig is a HUGE family man and he waited until 28 and school was done to have a family.  I know it was part of the plan because we all know "our story" and I wasn't ready any sooner.  So knowing this, we just love being together.  We both had plenty of time to act young do all the things young kids do: date, stay out late, no kids, etc. etc.  We just love this stage in our life and being together as a family. 
It just seemed natural to have them with us on Valentine's Day.  My friend did offer to watch them but we didn't want them gone. 
I think Valentine's Day is very commercialized when it comes to over-doing the day.  Don't get me wrong, I do love the day but I don't find it necessary to spend hundreds of dollars & time away to express those feelings.  So I just wanted it to be a simple day but enough to say how much we Love each other. 

The day started off with Jaycee going to her play day.  She was excited to be with her friends on a fun day.  We went about our normal Friday morning until she got back.  From there we went to run errands and to get things ready for the night.  This day was a splurge day so Craig requested something fruity for dessert.  Jaycee and I picked out some yummy raspberry bars to make. 
We had a fun day making Valentines for our neighbors & friends and spending the time together without TV.  I love the TV sometimes when I need to get things done but I love MORE the time when it's off and we get to talk & hang out together.  Hadi took a long nap while we made our special treat and gift. 

Craig got home and we headed to dinner.  So Craig LOVES deli food. LOL  When I was thinking of a dinner to make (we hate going out on Vday cuz of crowds) I quickly chose this.  He loves getting Safeway lunch special of corn dogs & joe-joes on work days.
We all went to Freddy's and chose whatever we wanted for dinner.  It was actually fun although my food sucked.  I got chicken and it tasted like they were sitting for a while so I went back for a hot dog.  They really are so yummy.  And super healthy...haha...NOT!  We gave Craig his gift.  It was a deck of cards on each card was a reason why we loved him.  Jaycee added some cute things in there when I'd ask her.  Craig also gave me a box of chocolates with a cute card with some valuable coupons in it.  As much as I didn't want to splurge with chocolate...I needed it!  We then walked around, made at least 3 potty trips (Hadi is nearly potty trained) and I decided it was time to go before she wanted to go again. 

We hung out at home reminisce about the years leading up to today.  Just memories of our married life and what brought us to this point in our life and here in Washington.  I also realized that we have spent more time as a family out of Utah then actually living there.  It was a weird realization.  ***K won a HUGE job that I know and have a feeling could bring us back to Utah***  Then we all just hung out, ate dessert and watched our most recent TV series.  Jaycee & I had a sleepover downstairs and really was just a GREAT day!   

The girls got a treat, book and Jaycee wanted a Papa ring.  I have the cutest little LOVE bugs!

 Getting dessert & our little gift ready

Saturday morning after.  We all hung out watching cartoons & being lazy.  IT WAS SO NICE!

BIRTHDAY!

Looks like from here on out I'm 29!  It's a good feeling that I still feel young but then on the other hand....I'M 29!  Inside I still feel 22 and then when I talk to youth they quickly remind me that no, I'm not 22 anymore. 

On my birthday I was supposed to go a music rehearsal but Craig planned a fun day date.  He woke me up for breakfast with a smoothie & a donut.  Mmmmm....  Then we got ready and went on a date to see Hunger Games 2.  It was so fun to be flirty, take time to be just US and with all that was going on recently, it just was nice to go away if only for a few hours.  I was craving a date to the movies & with popcorn.  It didn't fail. I have the best hubby ever and I just LOVE going on dates with him. I wish it were to happen more often but I'll take what I can get. 

After we got back we hung out at home with the girls.  Then I chose BDubs for dinner.  I was craving spinach artichoke dip.  I still haven't found one better than Iggys.  It was fun though and the Saints vs. Eagles game was on so we took our time and had fun being there in a huge crowd. 

After dinner we ran a quick trip to the mall to get my gift of shoes, they sent the wrong ones.  Then we went home for cake, gifts & enjoying the rest of the night.  I was spoiled as usual.  It was the perfect day and perfect way to bring in the last year in my 20's. 

 haha I was trying to do a suprised look (when I actually picked this out) and looks like I want to eat it LOL