One Day

These past few weeks have been busy. The kids have been involved in various activities and playdates. My work has been extra crazy and Matt has been working 12 plus hours a day.

Then yesterday it hit me.

One day when my kids are grown,
I'll long for tiny handprints on every
window and mirror.

One day I'll miss warm bodies snuggled in my bed.

One day my hands will wring with boredom for the thousand and one toys, shoes, pieces of clothing and just general junk I pick-up off the floor each day.

One day I'll open my dryer and my heart will ache for onesies, princess pajamas and dresses with the perfect spin.

One day I won't need to click carseat belts and repeat umpteen times, "Get in the car!"

One day I'll actually go to a store, restaurant, heck anywhere; without visiting the bathroom.

Luckily One Day is not today. So I'll continue to enjoy every minute of the chaos. Because One Day will arrive all too soon.

Chubbers' Baby Story

On Monday, July 23, I woke up at 6am. Matt was in the shower so I decided to rush downstairs to check on Chubbers, our rabbit, to see if she had given birth. It was dark in the family room and kitchen area. Chubbers was quietly laying down. All appeared to be well and no sign of bunnies. (Or so I thought.)  I sleepily walked back upstairs and told Matt no bunnies.

 

 

Wait, I'm guessing you're wondering how we got into this predicament in the first place. It all started when Matt, the kids and I took our vacation to Utah. Chubbers was sent to his Auntie Beth and Uncle Matt's house to be bunnysat. Since we were taking our nieces to Utah, Beth offered to watch Chubbers. Our sweet bunny would hang out with it's cousin bunny, Thunder.  I also gave Beth some special instructions.  Should she become attached to Chubbers while we were away.  I'd be happy to leave her there to permanently live at Casa de Meyring.

The first day Chubbers visit she and Thunder played all over the backyard.  Later that afternoon Beth called to say the bunnies were happily playing outback.  I quickly panicked, she's a girl and Thunder is a boy!  Beth said, well, it's too late now, what's done is done.  We decided it was best to keep the bunnies seperated for the balance of the trip.

Upon our return Chubbers continued her stay and after a few days my brother called and said, pick-up your bunny.  We brought Chubbers home and immediately noticed a change in mood.  She was irritable and when I tried to pet her she nipped at me.  I did what any same person would do and went straight to my friend Google.  After reading all the rabbit pregnancy symptoms it was pretty clear she was indeed pregnant.

Alright, now we were on baby bunny watch 2012.  We needed a new cage as hers was to small for babies. She needed a nesting box and some peace and quiet.  At least we could promise 2 of the 3.  After getting her all set up in her new digs she started building her nest.  She'd take large mouthfuls of her timothy hay and put them in her nesting box.  We knew at this point birth would be any time.  Four days later.................

After my shower that morning I came down and immediately noticed the fur everywhere.  I knew this was a sign of birth.  Matt checked the nesting box and saw 2 tiny pink babies cuddled together.

We immediately decided to protect the cage from Andrew.  He likes to share his toys with Chubbers and this wasn't a time for sharing.

Here are the two little babies.  (Please excuse the blood.)  When I was taking the picture Chubbers jumped on top of her nesting box protecting those babies.  We checked them all day long.  They cuddled, wiggled and snuggled all day.

This morning we noticed there was only one baby.  I panicked.  I grabbed our scoop and checked the litter box and the entire cage, nothing.  I checked chubbers, she was clean.  Where is the other baby?  I moved the box, listened, nothing.  I had to check the box.  I felt around under all this fur.  Not only did I find the missing baby, there are at least 2 more!  We have at least 4 bunnies if not 5.  For fear of getting too much of my scent on them I didn't pull them out and count them.  At this point we are just hoping they are thriving and chubbers is feeding them.

Summer Buh-K-Shun

I need a vacation from my Buh-K-Shun.

I'm feeling tired, grumpy and utterly exhausted.

On June 22 we set off for Las Vegas for a one night stay at The Venetian.  Matt and I had our 3 children and our two nieces, Ellie and Kayley.

From Las Vegas we headed to my brother Ryan and his wife Kristy's house in Price, UT.
The kids had a blast together.  We kept them extremely busy almost a little too busy.

The picture were downloaded from my iphone and I'm not able to change the order.

Addi dancing to "Over the Rainbow" sung by the Osmond 3rd generation girls.

Andrew is running, climbing and trying everything!

Andrew sliding, swinging and loving the outside.

Matt's booth at the Camarillo Fiesta

Kids enjoying the Buccaneer ride at the Fiesta.

Oh, and our rabbit, Chubbers, is having babies.  I'm not sure how I feel about this.  Sometimes I'm excited and other times I'm worried hoping all will go well and the babies will be healthy and will thrive.  Also, I totally identify with her irritability and moodiness.  The kids are absolutely thrilled beyond measure.  Every morning they run downstairs to see if the babies have arrived.  (They could arrive this weekend!) 

Karissa and Kayley in their tap costumes for "Go Barbie Go!" at dress rehearsal.

In Price at the Little Grand Canyon.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  Looking at this picture I'm laughing because Matt was so panicked that we were standing out on a rock with drop offs on both sides he couldn't even look at the camera.  LOL!

After the Fiesta 50 cent ride night we took the kids to sushi.  It was 830p when we walked in the door and the kids were starving.  The each ate 2 bowls of miso soup with steamed rice and california rolls.  That was 9 kids total. Since I walked into the Fiesta with 12 kids this was a piece of cake!

Lehi Round-up.  The kids loved the Rodeo especially all the cowgirls and cowboys!

Our party of 5 on the road to Utah!

Princess Festival at Thanksgiving Point.  The kids LOVE it.  They get to meet all their favorite princesses, get the hair and nails done and do service projects for children in need.  Even better, I love the "More than a Princess" message.

The kids at Pioneer Village in Salt Lake learning about how the pioneer children learned at school.  What a fun day.  The kids got to see how the Mormon pioneers travelled from Navoo, IL to the Salt Lake Valley.  They got to see what life was like once the Pioneers arrived in Salt Lake.  The 7'x7' cabins were 8 children were raised.  The dug-outs some of my ancestors lived in.  This gave us a huge understanding of some of the challenges the pioneers faced.  I'm so grateful for my ancestors for the sacrifices they made for their beliefs.

Addi's hair at the princess festival!

The Queen of Harts teaching the kids how to play croquet.

Addi got married on July 4 so Finn Huff.  They sealed the deal with a kiss.

Fiesta little kids swings.  We learned that at 49" Karissa is too tall for the little kids rides.

Addi at her swim lessons and loving it.  She is absolutely fearless.

Brigham Young's Farmhouse.  What a brilliant man.

Andrew and Daddy trying to escape the princesses.

Lehi Round-up.

Panning for gold at Pioneer Village.  The kids collected lots of "gold" nuggets.  They could turn them in for candy but most of them decided to keep it.

Addi and Karissa post annual physical appointments.  Addi had to get 2 shots.  She was not happy.  And yes, those are bathing suits, we were swimming before and after the appointment.

Don't be deceived by those red mountains, this isn't Price.  It's CarsLand at Disney's California Adventure.  What a fun place.  Disney spared no expense and totally recreated Radiator Springs.  Of course with the $20 ticket hike, guess who's paying for it!

Addi + Minnie Mouse = twins

Cowgirl Kayley. 

Disneyland!  What a fun day!!

Princess Festival.

Ballet dancers at Dress Rehearsal

An overcast 4th of July at Solimar.

Addi with the Auto Club Smart Car that was brought in for the Fiesta.

Addi and Brett with Tinkerbell, Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

At 40" Addi is now tall enough to ride Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.  If she was scared she never mentioned it.  Addi cheered on every ride.  I think Space Mountain might have been the fastest.  When Addi got off the ride she told Kristy, "I didn't even puke!"
Thank goodness!

Now for a little down time.  (I can wish, right?)

The Graduate

One June 9, 2012

Matt graduated from the Southern California Institute of Law

What an exciting day for our family! 

It's been a long 4 years.  Matt has worked his buns off the entire time. 

Our family is so proud of him. 

The sweetest moment was when Addi yelled, "GO DADDY!"

as Matt was receiving his diploma and shaking hands with his professors.

We ended the event at a sweet little Italian joint, Aldo's, on State Street.

The food was fabulous!

Thank you to everyone made the journey to beautiful Santa Barbara. 

Your presence meant so much to us.

P.S.  I need more pics from Uncle Johnny, Aunt Joan and Aunt Debbie!