World's of Fun

Our much awaited one day family vacation has now come and gone. On Saturday we took the kids to Kansas City to see some of our old friends from Long Island and to an amusement park called Worlds of Fun. We left around 9:30 in the morning and we got back at about 4:40am the next day. We could see the sky brightening and the clouds turning red as we approached Wichita.

We first went up to the Smith's house. Their youngest son is just a few months younger than Ruth. They have 8 kids and 4 grandchildren. Their three youngest kids are still at home. We had a really nice lunch with them, and then our kids went swimming with their kids in their neighborhood pool.

After swimming we had dessert and then we all went to Worlds of Fun. The Smiths helped us a ton with our children. We would not have had so much fun without the help of the Smith family. When we got there, we measured everyone one and found out that because Kate was so close to the 48inch mark we had to get her measured specially and get her a special "I pass for 48inches bracelet." Then we went into the park. Ruth and Kate went with the Smiths to go on some big rides while John and I took our four youngest kids on the baby rides. Adam and Johnny both liked going on the Wacky Worm (a child sized roller coaster). Rachel smiled real big and laughed during all of the rides that she was allowed to go on. Adam would not go on the child ferris wheel because he does not like heights, so Johnny went on with Rachel. Adam, and Johnny both really enjoyed the swings and the kid bumper cars. Adam is still asking if I can take him back to the bumper cars.

We met back up with the Smiths and Ruth and Kate while Ruth, Kate, and the three Smith boys were waiting in line to go on the detonator. That is a ride that shoots you like a gun 200 feet up and then bounces up and down. It shoots you at 45mph. Kate was white when she came off. We went on a ride that everyone except Rachel and Anya could go onto next. John would not go, so he stayed with the babies. Adam liked it, but I squished him pretty thoroughly. Then Ruth and Kate wanted to take me on the Mamba (the tallest roller coaster in North America). But it started to rain and and there was some lightening so the mamba closed for a while. We then went on the Boomerang. I was going to ride next to Kate, but the memory of her previous ride with the Smith's made her change her mind at the last minute. So I went alone. Ruth went with Isaac Smith on the ride before Kate and I, so Kate just joined Ruth and Isaac at the exit. The Boomerang goes really FAST!!! You go through two loops and a twist forward, and then the same thing backwards. I liked the fastness of it.

After that we split up again. I took the little kids on the carousal and Johnny on a faster ride that he was allowed to go on while Ruth and Kate and the Smith boys went on the big bumper cars. When we met back up we were soaked, but finally cooled down, the rain had stopped and the Mamba had reopened. So I went with Ruth, Kate, and the three Smith boys to the Mamba, while John went with our four youngest children and Brother and Sister Smith on the Steam Engine and the Old fashioned Cars.

The Mamba is insane!!!!! We waited in line for a little bit and then went on together in the same car. I sat with Kate, and Ruth sat with Isaac. We started out by going click, click, click, click, slowly up 205 feet. Then whoosh we went straight back down. We went so fast and steep that our bottoms did not even touch the seat. I could not open my eyes. It was terrifying!!!!!!! I can't believe my little Ruth and Kate went on that twice!!!! But I did it, and even though I did not enjoy it I am sure my kids could talk me on it again if we ever go back. After that it was to the Boomerang again. But Kate would not go on another fast ride after the mamba, so I had to stay off with her and just watch the others ride.

We met back up again after that, I went on a much tamer roller coaster that was very enjoyable. I kept my eyes open the whole time for that one. But Kate would not come with me and Ruth wanted to ride with Isaac, so I sat alone. At that point John took Johnny on a fast ride that Johnny was allowed to go on. It is called the Sea Dragon. They went on 4 times together. I went and sat with Sister Smith and my three little ones. While Ruth and Kate went on one more ride with Isaac. That was very noble and nice of John because he hates fast rides. But because Johnny did not make the 48inch mark he was left out of a lot of the funner rides. Thank you, John for making it nicer for Johnny.

By the time we all met back up together it was after midnight. We had a lot of fun. The whole things cost $260. $100 of that was gas. But I think that it was a good and fun family trip. We are so grateful for the Smith's. They were fun to visit and have along and helped us make it funner for all of our kids. I think even John would do it again.

Can it get more disgusting?

I keep finding living wingless house flies walking around and wingless, legless house flies bouncing around the kitchen and bathrooms. I know that at least one of my children is doing this and not that flies are walking into the house. I think this is a whole new world of disgusting brought to me by my kids.

All a Kid Needs

Johnny stated, "All the money a kid could need is a million dollars."

Rachel's Interpertation of Sausage

I was separating some italian sausages to freeze for meals, and Rachel was standing next to me watching me. Rachel asked, "Is that meat?" I think I said, "mm, hmm," but I may have just ignored her altogether. Anyway, not being satisfied Rachel replied, "No, it's disgusting. It's poop."

Nightmares

A few of the kids told me their nightmares. Here is what I remember:

Adam's Nightmare
When I opened my eyes a monster was there. (Right in front of his face). I punched the monster and he ran into the road. A car hit the monster and killed him. The monster was squished.

Kate's Nightmare
1. I dreamt that I had to go potty and when I woke up it was the middle of the night and I did have to go. And THAT was a nightmare.

2.Everyone was running to get the shoes and when I got there the white shoes were taken and I could not get tall enough to go on all of the fun rides at Worlds of Fun.

Ruth's Nightmare
We went to Worlds of Fun and it was only as big as our house. The rides were all little and they weren't fun. The detonator was there, but it was closed.

My Nightmare
I heard crying at 5am and it was Rachel. I heard crying at 6am and it was Anya. I heard crying at 7am and it was Anya and Rachel. Oh yeah, this is a true story,not a nightmare.

Swimming Pool Stories

Yesterday, Ruth, Kate, and Johnny turned on the hose and made a mud puddle in the back yard. Then they went swimming in their mud puddle and jumped into our pool. Our pool is officially more like a lake than a swimming pool expect that it is chlorinated.

Today while I was in the pool with Ruth, Kate, and Rachel, Rachel said, "I have to go potty." I said "well, then go inside," and I lifted her out of the pool and her bottom was all warm. I then went and got some chlorine and added it to the muddy water. Rachel never went in to use the bathroom.

My Good Kids

At a stake girls achievement activity the girls had to pick a partner and write some things that they admired about that girl. Katherine Kitchen, my friends daughter, chose Ruth. Her mother told me that what Katherine admired most about Ruth was that Ruth always obeys her mother. That is true too. Ruth is very obedient. We are very blessed to have her for our daughter.

Johnny was anxiously saving his money for some time. When the girls asked him to spend his money he said that he could not. Then when Johnny had all of the money that he needed, he kept asking me to take him to Target. At Target, Johnny bought me a rather expensive slice of chocolate cake. I was very touched at his generosity. I offered to share it with him, but he said he wanted me to have it all because he loves me. Now Johnny has saved up some money to buy John some music from iTunes. He is just the most angelic little boy. I have been very blessed with all of my kids.

My Funny Husband

Two Funny John stories

1. We had a teenager knock on our door and ask for money to support a program to keep teenagers off of drugs. I politely turned him away. John then complained that teenagers should not be paid to stay off drugs, they should just choose to stay off drugs. Then John said he was going to go door and ask people for money to keep him embezzling money from his company or joining the mafia.
2. John played a six hour game of age of empires with Ruth, Kate, and Johnny today.

Baby Pictures

Slow Down

When I hold Anya I just love and adore her babiness. When she pulls up on her knees in the position to crawl I just think, "Oh, stay a baby a little longer-- just one more day. There is lots of time for you to grow up." But when Ruth was a baby, I would hold her and wonder what she would be like when she grew up. As soon as she got up on her knees I moved her toys across the room so she would have to move to get them. When she crawled, I got anxious for her to walk. When she walked, I got anxious for her to talk. When she could talk, I got anxious for her to learn her alphabet, and when she learned her alphabet, I got anxious for her to read. After having so many kids I have realized how fast babyhood and childhood go. Most of the time, I want it to go a little slower. When I cuddle my little baby Anya, I just want her to stay that size, and to keep cuddling me. I feel the same way about Ruth now too. I love the happy age she is at. I love that Johnny always wants to play with me, and that Kate loves to have me read her stories. I love it when Adam says, "my wuv you, mom. How was your day?", and when Rachel sits in the corner and sings to her dolls. Of course, I still rejoice with the new accomplishements of each of my children. I just know that soon Ruth and Kate won't want to help me in the kitchen or have me read them books, instead they will be off with their friends and busy with a lot of school work. And Johnny won't want me to play nintendo with him because his friends will be more interesting. Adam will start saying, "I love you," and Rachel will stop rocking her babies. Anya is going to start walking and talking and everything will be different. I used to want my kids to grow up so quickly. I still love to watch them grow and develop, and I even want them too. More than anything, I want them to become happy succesful adults. But I just don't want to miss my cuddles, and smiles and sunshiney kids while I have them surrounding me and wanting me.

The Spiderman Climb

At the zoo, watching the chimpanzees climbing around, Adam got very excited and declared, "They can do the Spiderman climb just like me!!"

French Bread Recipe

Most of the time I write my blogs as if I were writing a journal. I have found that blogging is a very convienant way of keeping track of all the cute, sweet, silly stuff my kids do, or to just say how I am feeling. This is not one of those blogs. I ran into a really great bread recipe. It is fast and easy to make and very good. So I am posting it here for any one who would like to try it out.

French Bread

mix together:
2 1/2 C of hot water
1 tbs yeast
1 tsp sugar or honey
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 C flour

After this is smooth kneed in:
3 C flour

The dough will be sticky, but that just makes a lighter bread-- it is good.
Let the dough rise about an hour.
Roll out the dough, and then roll it into a tight roll. Sprinkle a cookie sheet with corn meal, and place the bread on top. You can mix an egg with a tbs of water and rub onto the top for softer crust (I never bother with that part).
Let it rise another 10 to 20 minutes
Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until the loaves are a light brown.

This recipe is fat free and contains none of the expensive ingredients like milk and butter and eggs. I think that it would be good for food storage. I have not tried it with half wheat flour, but I plan to at some point. Anyway, my family loves it. I do not think it has lasted more than 2 hours after it comes out of the oven. Oh, and another great thing is that it takes me only about 10 minutes to mix the dough by hand. We really like the simplicity of it all.