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Spring Break Day 6 Girls and Boys Date Day

Saturday was a special day. 

Aaron took the boys and I took the girls on dates. We dropped the boys off outside LEGO land for a boy date. The girls and I went to the American Girl Doll Store aka girl heaven. 

This french cafe playscape here can be ours for a mere 5 bajilllion fazillion dollars! 

Quincy had saved up and brought money to have her Josefina doll's hair detangled and styled/rebraided at the "doll salon."

When we got there, she was disappointed to see that not only was Josephina's signature braided bun not on the menu of hairstyles to choose from, but that the prices for almost everything but a basic detangle and ponytail had gone up from $12 to $20. Guys. Twenty dollars to have your doll sit in a salon chair and get her hair brushed and braided.  

I suggested we just enjoy the store and walk around and browse instead.  The girls went straight for the Julie doll section. 

Julie and her BFF Ivy are the next historical dolls Reese and Quincy are saving up to buy. What they don't know, is that I scored both Julie and Ivy at our neighbor's moving sale a few weeks ago. I bought both dolls and their entire collection of furniture and clothing, pets, an accessories for the cost of one new doll. The entire lot is stashed away hidden in storage for upcoming holiday and birthday gifts. They're gonna die with excitement on Sunday when they each find a doll in their Easter basket. 

Anyway, Quincy discovered in the store that the Ivy doll has just been "retired" and is no longer available for purchase.  (She's now going for a ridiculous $200 on eBay, for just the doll alone! Madness.) 

Quincy's reaction was straight up awesome, "Ok, that's it. I saved to have Josephina's hair done and waited forever to come to Kansas City and then I got here and they don't have it and I can't afford the other braid choices. Then I find out They got rid of Ivy before I could even  buy her? I'm not going miss out on anything else. Josephina's hair is happening today."  She asked me to take a photo of the styled Josephina in the display case, then without telling me her plan, she walked up to the counter, and said very matter of factly, "you don't have Josephina's hair as a choice on that poster. It used to cost twelve dollars. Can any of you do a braided bun like this? Mom show her the picture on your phone.  I brought fifteen dollars."

  

And then she just waited for an answer.  

The stylist was as impressed as I was and answered, "you got it!" And handed Quincy a $15 style ticket. 

Quincy thanked them and as we walked to the counter to prepay she said to me, "you know how little dogs make their eyes look big and it's called puppy dog eyes and that's how they get you to give them what they want? I didn't even have to do puppy dog eyes. I just said what I want and waited for an answer! They know I asked a fair price and that's why they said yes." 

My. Little. Negotiator.  

And so Josephina got her spa treatment at the doll salon after all, because her spirited owner chose to be decisive and bold, instead of pouting. I was impressed. 

Way to take action, Quincy!

Reese had already decided her Kit doll didn't have long enough hair to make it worth paying for a salon visit. She picked out a $7 blonde accessory headband  that looks like braided hair, and put it on the doll herself. "I just saved myself thirteen bucks" she said with confidence. 

It was fun to shop around with just the girls. 

The boys had an adventure of their own. We dropped them off at LEGOland and left. 

They got to the counter and learned that you can't just buy a ticket and go inside, you must reserve a time slot and they were full until late afternoon. Poor Corbin's hopes of a day at Legoland were dashed a second time! Dad came through and took them next door to the little sea life exhibit instead. 

Corbin picked out a LEGO city set in the gift shop that cost less than Aaron's ticket into Legoland would have cost and Soren picked out a hot pink $1 sucker. Both of them were beaming when we picked them up. 

We had lunch at Noodles & Company (my fave!) on our way out of town, and got home just in time for the girls and I to change into church clothes and continue our girls and boys dates. 

The boys got a pizza and put together the LEGO set. 

The girls and I called around and pulled together a last minute mother daughter dinner at PF Changs with some girl friends. 

Pictured: Madi, Jill and Hannah G, Ruby M, Delaney and Finley S, and my girls Reese, Quincy, and baby Sloane. 

Katie and Julie (and Jill hiding behind Reese). 

After dinner, we went to church and watched the General Women's Broadcast. What a great meeting! I really loved the messages shared, and I heard an inspired counsel. I felt so uplifted and strengthened as a woman and a mother. 

I had a mothering experience when I gave the girls paper and pens to take notes. I learned that note taking really stresses Reese out. Her desire to be complete and exact was challenged by an inability to write down every quote word for word. She grew frustrated that the talking never paused while she wrote a througyr down, and felt she was either missing things while she wrote, or not writing everything because she was listening.  By the end she was giving up on writing anything and had created a countdown for time keeping in the corner of her paper. Hilarious! Time is something consistent and predictable that she can control and track. About halfway through the last speaker I encouraged her to just write general thoughts and words that inspired her, and I made a mental note to teach her how to take notes this coming weekend during the General Conference Broadcast. Reese likes to have a formula.  This is why she loves math. There are rules and patterns and outlines and precise answers when problem solving.  I love this about her because she is careful and obedient to truths and God's commandments. I think she will benefit from having her own copy of the Conference Ensign with all of the talks in printed text for her to read and highlight and write in. I'm happy I made this discovery about her learning style. The notes she did take were precise and calculated. Anything incomplete was scribbled and crossed out. I admire her drive for detail and exactness, and I'm excited to teach her some short hand because I think this desire for accuracy will be a great blessing to her both spiritually and academically. I am very aware that it is a great blessing to mother a child who does not struggle with obedience and does not challenge God's law. She discerns right and wrong very clearly and knows on which side she wants to stand. 

I was also really touched by Quincy's notes. She enthusiastically filled pages and pages of thoughts from the meeting. She wrote down anything and everything that seemed worthy of ink.  I'm inspired by her eagerness and the way she documented everything with vigor. 

A few of the things she wrote down are: 

President Hinkley gave us the Brocklenation [referring to The Family: A Proclaimation to the World. I also love that even though she couldn't pronounce of spell Proclaimation, she knew it is important and should be capitalized.]

Everyone is a defender of family

Give comfort

The Lord is sweet. 

Being a parent is not a secondary job. 

I hope we will do our best [to] come to heaven and be a defender. 

Have faith! 

She also created a numbered list of things Elder Eyring said about the Comforter and his suggestions to comfort to those in need:

1) you will not get fear

2) the Holy Ghost is the "Comfornor"

3) I told them I love them

4) we can listen

5) peace comes with hope. 6) I see that miracle again and again.

They are so young and already so in tune with the Spirit. I loved attending this meeting with them. 

I feel very blessed to have these children. They are all uniquely different.

 

This week was a reminder to me of their high value and how each of us is a masterpiece of Heavenly Father's creation. We are divine works of art and should handle each other and ourselves with great care and regard.  

Boys and Girls Date Day was a rich ending to our spring break. 

Spring break day 5 the Temple, Hallmark Museum, Kaleidoscope, and Fritz's

We woke up to sunny skies again [Friday] morning. Even though it was pretty chilly and windy, the sunshine and blooming "popcorn trees" were lovely. 

I am so grateful I got to spend some time in the temple today. It is truly a place of peace. I left feeling empowered by the reminder of my divine nature and the spiritual gifts God has given me to bless and strengthen my home and family. 

From the temple, we headed over to crowne center. Our tickets for Kaleidoscope weren't until 1pm, so we killed some time exploring the mall.

We toured the Hallmark museum, and learned how cards and bows are made. The children scored some serious loot from the tour guides at this place. Scented stickers for days!

A little fun with the green screen on hallmark tv. 

There is a free fairy tale village play area at the mall with cute sets and interactive activities for the children to play out famous fairy tales. Super cute. It reminded me of the "village" indoor dramatic play area at A Children's Garden in Morgan Hill, Ca where I taught preschool many many years ago. I hope to someday have my own place like this.  HolleeAnn and I dreamed of creating our own "imagination station" for children to enjoy. 

We passed the entrance to Legoland on our way to Kaleidoscope and had one frustrated 5 year old. "You mean there's a LEGO LAND store?! There's an American GIRL doll store and there is NO American BOY doll store. That's no fair but the LEGO land store is like my boy store and I want to go in there. Please?!!" 

If he hadn't just had a bolting/safety issue followed with a meltdown in the road ten minutes before, we probably would've caved right then and there and bought him tickets. I'm pretty soft when it comes to things that interest Corbin, and he presented an excellent argument with the lack of an American Boy Doll store. We ran into a friend from school who passed me a coupon to get 2 kids in free. We might return tomorrow. 

Kaleidoscope was fantastic. And bonus: free! 

The children made their own die cut puzzles.

They explored and experimented with their senses with noise buttons in a sound room and glow in the dark wax paint in a black light room. Sloane was not a fan of glowing in the dark.

They painted with watercolors, and cut and pasted to their hearts' delights.

For lunch, we are at Fritz's. You order your food to a soup nazi from an old school corded phone at the table, then it is delivered from the kitchen by a model train that runs on a track suspended from the ceiling. 

Soren LOVED watching "Thomas" deliver food to the tables around the restaurant. 

What's lunch without dessert? We knew better than to settle for milkshakes when we could pick up frozen custard minutes away.  Soren started coughing and Sloane started screaming, then we hit traffic and Soren coughed until he threw up his ice cream. It was our "everyone is so done" moment and we called it a day. 

After a mandatory family quiet time, Aaron took the big kids for a dip in the hotel pool and I stayed back to feed Sloane. 

After Soren's bath, he ran over to the window and waved down to Aaron and everyone else in the pool.

He was naked. 

I rushed toward him with a towel in time to watch him pee all over the glass. He panicked, "I poop! I poop at the window! Wash it, Mommy!" 

 

Happy to, son. 

Luckily it was just pee. Still gross.

Lunch had been so late, aaron just ran to the market and grabbed yogurts, pretzels, and assorted fresh fruit for our dinner while I bathed the other kids. Corbin was out before Aaron returned. The girls and I watched Ella Enchanted on Netflix, then we had a show of Soren talking to the little boy in the hotel mirror. He talked and sang songs to his "buddy" for half an hour.  Sooo cuute!!!

Sloane and Corbin have been out since 6pm. I won't sleep tonight. Definitely worth it for this fun day. 

Spring Break Day 4: Kansas City, TRex, and Liberty Jail

Thursday morning, we hugged our sweet neighbors, the Craft Family, goodbye and wished them good luck in their new home in Rogers. We are sad to see them go, but happy for their new adventure. 

Clear skies meant things were looking up and we were finally on the road to Kansas City! 

We checked into our hotel and headed right to TRex for an early dinner. 

This place is awesome. Meteor showers light up the ceiling, fiery volcanoes, color changing ice glaciers, huge tropical fish tanks, and loud animatronic dinosaurs surround the tables. The food is good, too. Super fun dinner place. 

Right when you open the door, this huge Trex drops his head down and roars at you. Soren nervously jumped into my arms, and immediately felt betrayed when I started to "feed" him to Rexie. We ate beneath a giant squid tentacle in a giant clam shell by the "kitchen of fire". Good good times. 

Next, we toured Liberty Jail, where the prophet, Joseph Smith, was held as a prisoner without fault for four months in the winter of 1838. 

The last time we were here was in Sept 2007. Quincy was just a baby. Time flies.

This is the entrance to the jail. There was a narrative that said many angry people had gathered outside the jail to catch a glimpse of Joseph when he was brought to the prison. He had been arrested after the Missouri Governor Boggs had signed the "extermination order" driving all of the early saints (about 5,000) out of the state, into Illinois, leaving homes and belongings behind. Joseph sent a friend to meet with the governor to see if an agreement could be made to allow the saints to stay. Instead, his friend betrayed Joseph, signed the order and revealed Joseph's location, and the prophet was arrested, along with 5 other men. 

Before entering the jail, Joseph turned to the crowd of angry spectators and addressed them kindly, "Good afternoon, gentlemen." This act was an example of the unyielding kindness Joseph showed to the men who held him captive. 

It's probably unnecessary to describe how terrible the living conditions were in a basement prison in the early 1800's. I think "dying conditions" is a more accurate description. 

We left with new gratitude for the sacrifices made by the early saints of the church. Their refusal to renounce and forsake their religion caused them to endure unbelievable misery. "Joseph's witness and testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ filled the dark walls of their dungeon with the radiant light of peace and revelation."

Back at the hotel, the children settled down with the novelty of cable tv (can we talk about the fact that Full House is on Nick at Nite? I'm old!). Goodnight Day 4.