Spring Break--Back to the Beach Day/AKA Water Day

It started out as a terrible-horrible-no good-very bad day. Mostly because the clouds rolled early and suddenly my phone was telling me there was a 20% chance of rain which soon turned into 100% chance of sprinkles. With the kids getting pink eye there was no way I could have switched activity days around and done this one earlier in the week. Besides, I special ordered Hawaiian Sea Salt for my Kalua Pork and it didn't come until Wednesday giving my pig ample time to slow cook from Thursday to Friday. But more on that later.

Cassi brought the girls and Adam over and that's when the sprinkles hit. I wasn't sure we'd even get to play outside much because it was so cold (yeah, I know we're all wimps here). When out of nowhere the sun broke through the clouds. I yelled "Everyone outside, quick!" I grabbed my Bucket of Water Fun and we headed outside.

Even Brock and Blake got to escape being Quarantined for a while and play with everyone. We had hand sanitizer at the ready just to be safe.


Adam "guarding" my Bucket of Water Fun!

We started with bubble blowing. Everyone had their own special bubble wands and tried to be the one to blow the biggest bubble. I think Katelyn and Bradley won. They had some pretty big bubbles!










Second, we did a water variation on the good old egg toss. We had nets and balls (that worked a lot better once they were wet) and the object was to pass it to your partner and see how far you could throw and catch it. Good clean fun!



Blake joined the game a little late and felt his odds were better on the sidewalk instead of the grass.


I have no words for this picture. It's like a cafeteria lady gone bad. My guess is one of his cousins had something to do with it. I love "my" Adam!

Cassi and I decided since it was still sunny and getting warmer we'd go for the gold and try out the new slip and slide.

You can tell how warm and comfortable they are.


After just a few minutes they were running for the sidewalk to get warm. Imagine the water being a little chilly?


Getting the feeling back in all extremities.


There is no doubt Adam and Chris share the same chilly end of the gene pool. He totally loved the sprinklers and played in the cold water in his pajamas the whole morning. It was hilarious!


Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Tonto decides to play with HIS new toy, now that the restless natives have gone to freeze themselves in the sprinklers.


We moved on to sandcastle building. Well, not building but drawing. Since we were without beach and sand each team drew a sandcastle or other beach/ocean thing.


Bradley, of course taking the task very seriously, draws an amazing sandcastle. The boy has skillz!


Megan and Cassi add hearts to their starfish.


Even Brock channels his inner Van Gogh.


Where is Blake you ask? Funny enough he's not making air kisses but trying to suck up the water as it shoots out of the slip-n-slide. This is one funny boy folks!


Megan went back to try the water again. She and Adam had fun splashing and jumping.


After pacing closer and closer to the tunnel entrance, Brock finally takes one step too close. Blake "helps" him in.


But he made it out without scars or crying so it must have been worth the nudge.

We threw some pizza at everyone and let them play a while longer until we could see the fun quickly crossing the edge of chaos. After a Quiet Time movie ("Aloha Scooby Doo!") and a little wii action it was time for our LUAU!

I mentioned earlier I special ordered Hawaiian Sea Salt. It's supposed to be what they use when they do the whole pig in the pit at the luaus. Totally worth the cost to ship it fast. And now I know I really am part Hawaiian because I cooked Kalua Pork and it was GREAT! Cassi made fried rice--the recipe from our 3rd grade teacher who is from Oahu. Also amazing! Add some pineapple, strawberries and teriyaki meatballs (compliments of mom) and you have yourself an outstanding luau.


Is your mouth watering yet?


We were so busy eating that no one took any more pictures. But just imagine: incredible food (if I do say so myself--see below for kalua pork recipe), lots of OHANA, festive music (gotta have IZ) and you're right there with us! It was the perfect end to an almost perfect Spring Break! (Really could have done without the pink eye!) Unfortunately, reality will call early Monday morning, but Aloha will be with us forever!

Kalua Pork Recipe:
1-6lb. Pork Butt Roast (I know, I thought the name was funny too)
1-1/2 Tablespoons Hawaiian Sea Salt or Red Clay Sea Salt (the salt is a red color)
1 Tablespoon liquid smoke
Serves: 12

Pierce pork all over with a carving fork. Rub the salt then liquid smoke over meat. Place roast in a slow cooker.

Cover and cook on LOW for 16-20 hours, turning over once during cooking time.

Remove meat from slow cooker and shred. Add drippings as needed to moisten.

Enjoy your kitchen smelling like an island luau!

Spring Break--Nature Day

Ahhh, the sounds of nature. The peace and tranquility of it all. Today we tried to recover from the trauma of our unlucky yesterday and took a minute to look at the beauty around us. I had to revamp some of the activities due to our germ infested friends. So instead of going on a long nature walk, we journeyed to the backyard.


First, we looked to see how many colors in nature were in our backyard and drew those things.


Second, we traced/drew and colored leaves from the backyard.


Third, we drew bugs or insects. Fourth, we made a list of all the things in nature we are thankful for. (Blake's eyes are still a little puffy and red but got better as the day went on).

After a snack of Keebler Bug Bites, lunch and Quiet Time movie--"A Bug's Life" (what else?) we sent Bradley to scouts, ran a quick errand and got home in time to get things ready for our Outdoor dinner--which we ate inside. Scott grilled the best burgers yet and they melted in our mouths.


For dessert I let the kids make Oreo dirt with gummy worms. They loved it! They had their choice of clean dirt (vanilla Oreos) or dirty dirt (chocolate Oreos) with some vanilla ice cream on the bottom.


Poor Brock. His eyes are so puffy. That's the downfall of long eyelashes--conjunctivitis is really hard to detangle from his Ultra Lash lashes. I was glad the Oreos and the worm seemed to cheer him up.


Bryson took his worm head-on!


Even Scott enjoyed a worm or two. . .


The Attack of the Killer Gummy Worms!


Clearly, more than a good time was had by all--except perhaps the worms!

We cleaned up the kitchen, got all hands washed and eye drops done then settled the 3 older boys down in their brand new sleeping bags downstairs for a "camp out." How could the evening get any better you ask? I put on the old Disney Classic (thanks to Mom) "Follow Me, Boys" starring Fred McMurray. You just can't go wrong there. Yeah, I've got my game face on again!

Spring Break--St. Patrick's Day

Well, the Luck of the Irish was not with us today. After adorning ourselves in green and finding a few treats from Lucky, our house Leprechaun, we discovered that Blake and Brock had come down with Pink Eye. Very non-festive!


How many great pictures can you take of pink eye infestations? After panicking and crying (I hate pink eye as much as I hate scorpions!) I girded my loins and went to town disinfecting the house. My mental status went on high alert trying to keep an eye (no pun intended) on where everyone's hands were going. I lost track of how many times I washed my hands but by the end of the day I'd opened a new bottle of hand lotion.


We did salvage part of the festivities with a Green Dinner. The kids decided what green menu items they wanted and would eat. We ended up with green grapes, green apples, spinich leaves, kiwi, celery, green and white pasta and Leprechaun Fizz to drink (lime sherbert and 7Up). Pretty much my children are liars (cuties, but liars) and only ate grapes and apples for dinner but I enjoyed the pasta and chicken salad I made to go with the spinich leaves.

While I cleaned up the kitchen they colored some St. Patrick's Day coloring and activity pages and then I was anxious to get them in bed early. I let my mental status go down to barely conscious so I could be ready to tackle 6 more days of eye drops! Darn Lerprechauns!

Spring Break--Zoo Day!

Tuesday was Zoo Day thanks to Megan having a birthday and deciding to go to the zoo! We walked along the African and Arizona Trails and encountered a host of wild animals--besides the ones we brought with us. Some of the favorites were:


Elephants,


Rhinos,


Zebras and Reptiles (sorry, no snake pics!).


My personal favorites were the Meerkats & Warthogs (it was almost like being in Disneyland). . .


. . . and the Mandrill monkeys, where we also encountered a group of Elders.


About the half-way point Cassi broke out the Krispy Kremes and we all got a much needed sugar high.




Very happy stroller buddies!


(I feel a chorus of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" coming on. . .")


This was at the Rhino and Gazelle exhibit and Brock was finally able to see some animals. Up to this point there was always a wall or bush in his way because he was in the stroller. He looked and pointed and said "Animals!" I said, "Welcome to the Zoo, honey!"


This is Blake using all of his Grandpa Partridge's genes while trying to climb into the Zebra enclosure.


On the second attempt into the Zebra enclosure Blake decides to just look over the edge.


Here's Blake on his way into visit the Elephants. He told me he wanted to see how far down (or deep) the dirt went. Right. He also tried to get into the Cheetah exhibit and the Mandrill exhibit. He thought the Mandrills were lonely.


Fortunately, we talked Blake down from the fence and he posed with Katelyn and the Elephants.


Here's everyone (minus Adam and Brock) with the Elephants. We were tired and hot. It was a good time to take some pictures in the shade.


Standing tall we conquered the Zoo--well at least one third of it. Can't wait to go back. Just need to find a leash strong enough for Blake or an exhibit that wants to add one more to their group!