Another lunch day with Daddy

I'm super grateful for the job that Paul has.  It has enabled me to get to stay at home with the kids for almost 10 years now. Even if we can't go everywhere and do everything we want, we have a really great life and I know we are truly blessed. Dreamworks has been at a tough spot lately. Not made the best decisions for the direction of their movies and unfortunately, they have paid for it. There have been multiple rounds of layoffs over the last two years and luckily Paul has escaped all of them. Well, last week they held a company wide meeting announcing that they are closing down PDI, which was their original studio from back in the day and is located in Northern CA. There are about 400-500 people up there, half of which are going to lose their job. The other half will be relocated down here if they would like to make the move. But it also means more layoffs down here at their Glendale Campus to accomodate the people that will be moving down here from San Fransisco. It's been a rollar coaster of ups and downs wondering how many rounds of layoffs Paul can withstand. He still has yet to have his meeting for this "installment" of layoffs, but we are feeling pretty confident that he will be kept on. And hopefully with the changes they have made, and the people they have moved into important positions, the company will be able to turn around in the next year or two (or three) and start producing more consistantly great movies again. Instead of hit and miss. 

Anyway, having said all of that, it's still a great place to work and I don't think Paul would leave unless he didn't have a choice. Carter and I got to go meet him for lunch the day after all this news hit the press. So there was definitely an energy at work that is not usually there, but it was still a fun day to visit. We got to see Paul for lunch and walk around the beautiful campus. Plus Carter got to play a little foosball with his Dad so he was a happy boy! 

MLK day

Paul had the day off so we decided to do a little exploring with the Osmonds. We've never been out to Carpinteria and Becky had heard they had some cool tide pools, so we figured even if we weren't there at a good time (low tide), it'd still be a fun day hanging out. Well, we totally scored with the tide pools. We got there at about 1:30 and were told that low tide was at 3:00. So we set up our little spot and started exploring. There were some teenagers who were quite adventurous and they had found an octopus that they had somehow coaxed out of his hiding spot. So we were there at just the right time and got to see it too. It was so cool. We totally didn't expect to get to see an octopus. It was even moving all around. Probably trying to get away from us. Besides that there were just TONS of sea slugs and sea anemone all over the place. The tide was at the perfect place to where the kids could walk around and explore all the little pools and not get hurt. The thought came to me that a year or two ago, this place would have been murder to be at with my kids because it's definitely rocky and slippery in places. But they're getting older and that means (in some ways) life is getting easier. It was a great day. The kids all ran around and played together. Ate snacks and had a good ole time. About 4:00 a fog rolled in. All the sudden it got COLD! Like crazy different from just an hour before when it was clear and beautiful. So we packed up real quick and headed home. Stopped at a little Mexican restaurant in Fillmore and then called it a night. Love days off like this. Simple, fun and relaxing. 

A little catch up of random events

I've gotten behind so before I catch back up, I wanted to post a few random photos to remember the beginning of our year.

Becky made me this awesome wall hanging for my birthday inspired by a plaque I saw at a shop in Nauvoo. I had sent her a picture of it and asked her to help me recreate it. I didn't dream she would just make one for me. I love it and was so touched that she remembered I loved that quote. I'm definitely blessed with good friends.

We had some lazy days over winter break. But it gave us some time to do things like sort the constantly growing mess of legos. Now to see how long the organization lasts. 

This is my pinterest inspired christmas card tree. It wasn't exactly how pinterest showed it, but it worked and I loved it.

Brandon got to go to his buddy Timmy's 8th birthday party at Lazer Tag. It was his first time playing lazer tag and he LOVED it. Then the next weekend we got to go to Timmy's baptism which was so sweet. He's one adorable little guy!

Every year or two we like to get passes to a theme park. This year we decided to go with Six Flags. Can't say I love this park, but the passes are cheap and the parking is free with the pass (usually $20 a visit) so it was more than worth it. Plus it'll give us some "free" entertainment come summer time. The fact that it's only about 15 minutes from our house is another big bonus. And I love that all four of my kids still love the "kid" area and can go on all the rides alone. This year is looking good for me.

The last week before school started back up was all about playdates. The house was crazy because if one kid has a friend over, they ALL want a friend over. But hey, it was crazy in a good way and I'm glad to have friends over if it keeps my kids entertained and happy.

Ashlyn and Grace made this adorable poster together I think in hopes of ensuring that another play date will happen soon. Love those two together.

Paul and I celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary. Sure love this guy of mine. He's a keeper.

And I couldn't help myself. We headed back to Kishos. It's so good!

Brandon was in a hurry to get to watch a show one day, so naturally he thought it was a good idea to combine his sandwich with his banana. Yuck! But he claimed it was good.

And in bittersweet news, I was released from my calling in YW. I feel truly grateful to have been able to be in YW this past year and 8 months. I got to know those sweet girls and the leaders I worked with really well. I loved it and will miss them so much. They all wrote me a sweet card and then the President dropped off these beautiful roses to me. I wish they would live forever. 

On the flip side,  I was called into the Relief Society as the second counselor over "additional RS meetings". Lol. So funny that they keep changing the name of activities. But whatever. I haven't held a calling in RS since I was in college so this is all new territory to me. But what I'm figuring out is that I'm basically a party planner of spiritual and enriching activities for the sisters in our ward. So it'll be fun. Thank goodness for pinterest is all I have to say. 

Had a date night to help celebrate Adam Hall's 30th birthday. Such a baby he is. ;-)  His wife Lisa organized a little surprise get together at their house. We ate, chatted, played a mean game of charades and then sang Happy Birthday with cookies and ice cream! It was a fun evening.

We've also had some "fun" sickness creep in our house. I went down with a sinus infection just the day after New Years. It put me in bed for a few days until I finally decided I needed antibiotics. And thank goodness for them. Feeling well is such an under appreciated thing until you no longer feel well. So grateful to generally be a healthy person. 

About a week after I was sick, Carter started complaining of an ear ache. After a few days of on and off again pain, and less and less sleep each night, I took him in. Double ear infection. So another dose of antibiotics for our household. He was a trooper though and a tough little guy. Asked to hit up Cafe Rio after his appointment since the Doctor's office is just down the street. Smart boy..he know's I wasn't going to refuse when he was sick. He claims their tortillas are the best ever. I have to agree!

Ringing in the New Year

Wasn't it just Y2K? I swear it was. But I guess that was 15 years ago! Where has the time gone? We celebrated with the Osmonds and had a smashing good ole party, kid style of course cuz that's how we roll. Playing candy bar games, making noise shakers and time capsules, creating Fireworks in a jar, and digging in to some delicious chocolate fondue. Then we rounded off the night celebrating the New Year with New York time. It was such a fun, crazy busy night and probably one of the most exciting New Year's Eve's we've had in years. I think I spent last years in bed with the flu so this was much MUCH better. However, I was coming down with a bad cold that turned into a sinus infection so I was pretty much wasted by the time everyone left. I hate to admit it, but I was in bed by 10:30. I guess that's also how we roll. 

Happy New Years! Here's to a great 2015! 

Becky thought it would be fun try some chocolate dipped pizza.

Let's just say it was as good as it sounds, which isn't too good in other words.

We huddled around the computer for the countdown, but then found out Netflix was doing their own countdown so we could have watched it on TV. Oh well!

And here's my favorite person to celebrate the New Year with. Lucky to have him every day!