WICKED WITH GEE!!!

For my birthday this year my sister Angie, or Gee as she's known to us, gave me tickets to the musical Wicked in San Francisco. So, Gee and I left for San Fran Friday afternoon. We made good time, however traffic hit and took for ever to get over the Bay Bridge. We both wanted an ice cream sundae from Ghirardelli Square so we made our way towards the piers. I needed to eat something before ice cream especially since we wouldn't have another chance to eat till after the play at 11pm. So, we went to a fancy seafood place and got salad and soup. (cheapest things on the menu.) Then went over and got our hot fudge! YUMMMMO!!!! We were scarfing our sundaes at 7pm and the play started at 8. We weren't exactly sure how far the theater was so we hightailed it. We were doing great on time until we got stopped for about 10 or more lights, not moving at all, by some kind of bike ride parade thing. Very frustrating. We made it on time to the Orpheum theater. The musical was FANTASTIC!! I highly recommend it.

After the play we went to a hotel. It was nice to have a night away. Which reminds me Ryan had all 4 boys by himself! He did great. Chase only woke up once and everyone survived! Thank you honey for letting me go play! Love you!

Woke up the next morning and headed home. Gee had a cake to decorate and I promised Ryan that I would take Evan to his baseball game @ 5pm. Gee thank you for a great mini- trip! I had a fabulous time.

IT'S DONE, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

Well at the beginning of our blog I posted about Ryan making a new sidewalk for us. It took longer than planned, but it is finally done. And, like always Ryan out did himself. He always makes everything he does beautiful. Ryan's dad came over a few times and helped cut the stones. Thank you Bill! And, THANK YOU RYAN for making our home beautiful inside and out!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

RODEO TRADITION!!!

Every third weekend in May the rodeo comes to Redding and for as long as I can remember the Claycamp family has gone to the pancake breakfast downtown and then the rodeo that night. Because we left for Disneyland Friday night we didn't go to the rodeo this year (I was very bummed!) but Ethan, Chase and I met Dad, Angie, her friend Rachel, Adam (he came out from Utah) and our cousins Kira, Andrea and her friend Ashley. This is such a huge tradition for us that the twins have come home every year that they have been gone. They close down a few streets downtown and the Asphalt Cowboys organization here in town put on a pancake breakfast. It is good and cheap and it is so much fun to have my kids now looking forward to the breakfast and rodeo. Evan and Chan are sad they don't get to go to the breakfast anymore cause of school.

DISNEYLAND!!!

Last year for Christmas Ryan's parents got their whole family a family trip to Disneyland. And this last week we all went. All six of us went with Ryan's mom and dad and Ryan's sister, Laura, and her husbnad and son, Dave and Taylor. We left on Friday the 15th and drove down to Laura's house in Dixon to spend the night. We just wanted to shave a couple of hours off the trip before the long haul on Sat. So, on Sat. we got up and started the journey. Nothing of huge importance to write about that day, except arriving at our hotel directly across the entrance from Disneyland was a highlight for the boys. Evan, Chandler and Ethan have been before but Evan was 5, Chan was only 2 and Ethan 9 mos. So, Evan remembered a little bit but the other two had no memory. It was so great to watch them be so excited about something that they had no real idea what they were excited about. The next morning we all got up and and went to the Orange County Swap Meet. It is this huge outside fair type market that various vendors come and sell their goods. It is one of Cindy's things she likes to go to when in So. Cal so it was fun to see finally what she talks about. That night we all went to Rainforest Cafe, at Downtown Disney, for dinner. We've never been so it was new and fun for the kids. Then of course we had to go to the Lego store that was there. We cannot pass up Legos. Like we need anymore sets, I know, but we can't help ourselves. We are Lego junkies!

The next morning, Monday, we all got up and met the 9am opening of Disneyland. It is so fun and amazing to me how that park does make people happy. Not only were the kids mesmerized but I found myself kind of smiling and bouncing as we made our way down Main Street. We had 3 full great days of Disneyland and California Adventure Park. Chan went on every roller coaster, Ethan went on all of them too except Space Mt. and Splash Mt., and Evan even got on Indiana Jones and Mullholland Madness and did great! Chase loved the rides too! I think Chase's favorite ride was the merry-go-round. He'd beam from ear to ear and hold on and pet the horse. It was great!

Chan had a great experience with the Jedi training academy that they have there. They pick about 22 kids to come up, wear Jedi robes, learn a light saber routine, and have a chance to fight Darth Vadar or Darth Maul. He really wanted to get picked. So, while the other boys were doing other rides I ran him over and waited for the show to start. It was on our last day there and the last show time so he had to get picked. When it was time for them to start picking "younglings" my ex-cheerleading days kicked in and I became the obnoxious parent in the front row making my son known. They said to be enthusiastic and those kids get picked, so that is what they got. Well, it worked, Chan got picked. He couldn't smile any bigger if he tried, and it quickly became the highlight of his trip. ( Not only are we Lego fanatics but Star Wars is HUGE at our house too!) Oh, he fought Darth Maul and did great. (That dude was scary!)

On Wednesday for lunch we were treated to the Blue Bayou for lunch. That is the restaurant in the middle of the Pirates of The Carribean ride. I had always seen it before but never fortunate enough to go there. But, this time we did. It was fun and way yummy food. Thank you Bill and Cindy!

Also on this trip Chase and Ryan formed quite an elite bond. Chase has always adored Ryan and he has been our first baby to actually want to go to Ryan. On this trip, however, this bond grew to Ryan being the ONLY one Chase wanted. At one point Ryan went on a ride with Ethan and I stayed out to hold Chase. I have never felt like the babysitter or stranger that is holding the baby while the baby is hysterically crying, snot running from his nose and pushing away from me. Anyone walking by would have thought that I was definitely anyone but the mother! I enjoyed the "freedom" and didn't complain once. Notice every picture of Chase, Ryan is holding him. Ryan thought it was pretty cool, eventhough I don't think he would admit it.

We left Thursday all very tired and ready to come home. At least mommy and daddy were. The kids of course didn't want to leave and understandably so. They got to miss a week of school and were in kiddy paradise for three days. Who'd want to leave that? We were all very grateful for a fabulous time with family. Thank you so much papa and grandma we had a blast!

IT'S GREAT TO BE A MOM!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!

Today was a great day! I got to spend it with my family and what's better than that? Church was very nice. They gave all of the moms strawberry shortcake! YUMMO!! After church we went out to the cemetery to place some flowers on mom's headstone. We miss her so much and especially today when we remember everything our moms have done and continue to do for us. My mom might physically not be here but I know that she is with me daily. All the things she taught me and the example that she was to me I hopefully am giving to my boys. It makes me very sad to think that my boys were so little when she passed away and her memory is quickly leaving Chandler and Ethan because they were the littlest in our family at the time. But I am comforted at the same time to know that her example and love continues through all of her legacy. My boys' aunts and uncles and grandpa, and hopefully Ryan and I, can help them remember what an amazing grandma she was here on earth and how she continues to influence us now from heaven.

Anyways, Ryan made a nice dinner and in general just made the day easy. I am so blessed to have been given my four beautiful boys! I am amazed daily how lucky I am. They are my light and I am honored to be their mom!

To all the moms out there who are family or friends, and those of you who don't have children of your own yet, you are all examples to me and my children. I love you for who you all are. And whether you know it or not you are all a huge support to me. YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!

CHANDLER'S MOTHER'S DAY TEA!!!

This morning Chandler's kindergarten class put on a Mother's Day tea for all the mom's. It was very cute and it was very hard to hold back the tears. Once again his teacher, Ms. Tilzey, went above and beyond. There were so many things that we as mothers were given. The children made us bracelets, hand prints with a nice poem, fingerprint flower with another nice poem, a flower pot decorated by the kids and a sunflower cut out with your childs individual picture. It was fabulous. They had little goodie plates. The class did a little performance of various mother songs and poems. The moms had to even get up and do the Macarena with all the kids. It was fun! Thank you Chan for such a fun morning and for all my goodies!

Chandler also wanted me to post that he finally lost a tooth. I pulled it out for him in the car coming back from our L.A. trip a couple of weeks ago. And since then he has lost another one! He was beginning to think that they were never going to come out because according to him he is the only one in his class that hadn't lost a tooth! Congrats Chan!

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!!

Today is Ryan and my 10 year anniversary! I really can't believe that it has been 10 years! But one thing is for sure A LOT has happened in 10 years! Four beautiful boys, loss of loved ones, a house (that continually goes through changes), ups and downs, laughs and tears, all of it has made us stronger. I think it is really true that as the years go by you as a couple really do grow stronger. Our anniversary night just goes to show how busy we are and how our kids really do make us better people and have definitely made us grow. Your ten year anniversary is kind of a big one, at least after year one it is the first major milestone so usually most people try to do something more special than usual. Well, Ryan went to Evan's baseball game and I went to Bunco. Sounds pretty bad and very unromantic I know. However, Evan had to be at his game and I really don't have to be at Bunco,but Ryan knows how much I enjoy my grown up mommy time so we just figured hey we'll do something later. Plus, having Chase made it impossible to go away just yet. (Since I'm still nursing.) So, I told Ryan we'll go away next year. Who does something big on their 11th? Hey why not!

I just want Ryan to know how much I love him and how much he means to me. He helps me to see the lighter side of life and has taught me to laugh at random things. Ry I love you sooooo much and am sooooooo glad you chose me 10 years ago. We've come a long way babe and I'm very curious and excited to see what the next 50 years will bring! Love you!!!