Easter week in California

We got to spend this Easter with Grandma & Grandpa Ginn in California. Bobby was going to help his Dad with some demolition work so we decided to make it a family affair. The kids and I played all week and Bobby got to work, but I think we all had a great time. One of the days Bobby got to work with his Dad, and even though Ed got some war wounds, they both came home saying what a great day they had together.




Of course we had to color Easter eggs, the kids were very worried that the Easter Bunny wouldn't know where to find them, but I assured them that I left a note for him.


Easter morning before church. The kids were not being very cooperative about pictures, maybe that's because the Easter Bunny hadn't come yet. They still look beautiful in their new outfits, thanks to Grandma Marie :)

After church we came home to find the house covered with yarn and the kids each had to follow their color of yarn to find their baskets. It was a little messy but a lot of fun.

After they emptied their baskets it was time to hunt for eggs. The Easter bunny did such a good job hiding them that I think there are still some there. What a wonderful day, it was awesome to spend it with our "far away" Grandparents.

There are so many fun thing to do when we visit the Ginn's. One of the kids favorite things is going to feed the horses. Grandpa brings a giant bag of carrots and the kids really just love it.

At some point Lauren decided that she had given enough carrots away, so she sat down and ate one herself.

The Beach!! We spent one day at the beach and it was awesome! The weather was perfect, the kids had so much fun playing in the sand and chasing the waves. We even got to see some dolphins playing in the surf, which Ed told us he has never seen before at that beach.

Lauren would have been happy to spend the whole week playing in the sand.

Sea World! We also got to spend a day at Sea World which was fabulous of course. The kids loved The tide pools and the aquarium. The Shamu show and the dolphin show were so much fun, but we learned that if you sit in the "soak zone" you will be soaked. We didn't get just a little wet like I thought, we quite literally got soaked, but it was all part of the fun.

There is a park across the street from the Ginn's house so we spent a lot of time there, swinging and sliding and chasing rabbits and squirrels. What a fun vacation, thanks Ed and Marie we all had a wonderful time!!

Oh, and of course if you go to the Ginn home you have to play cards!!

Random Fun

Every time we go out for Thai food Bobby tells us how easy it is to make, so we decided to give it a try. A bunch of couples got together and we each made a different dish. There was a ton of food and it was all super yummy!! It was fairly simple, but time consuming and since we had to drive to Provo to get the ingredients I'll probably just stick to The Thai House from now on :)

After we ate, we hung out, watched silly stuff on you tube and played games. It was a really fun night. You have to laugh at that many adults gathered around a two inch monitor. Here is the link to what they were watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

Since my kids wear uniforms to school, they get super excited anytime they get to do something different. This is them on crazy hair day. I think Stacia looks like a character from a Dr. Seuss Book.

Uncle Jeff giving Stacia soccer lessons in the front room.

The kids make everyone who comes to visit play the Wii with them. This is Bobby's Uncle Bryan, who we have been able to spend some time with lately, we can't wait for the rest of the family to get here!

Lauren thinks she is sooo big! Her new trick is to climb up on the desk and sit on top of the computer. She is a silly girl.

Grandpa Lemke March 15, 1919 - March 13, 2009

My Grandpa Lemke passed away in March, 2 days before his 90th birthday :( We knew it was coming, he had been sick for a couple of months and in and out of the hospital... but it was still so hard to take. My parents had already planned a trip out to Wisconsin for his birthday so they already had a flight out and said they would help whoever wanted to come. So of course I jumped on it, cause I really felt like our family should be represented there. So after looking at tons of flights, Me, Amanda, Rachel and Jared all got a flight out to Wisconsin. Paul had just arrived home from California and couldn't make it. (We missed having him there with us!) I really loved my grandpa and will miss him dearly. My only regret is not being able to see him more. Living so far away made it difficult to truly be close with him. The times we did visit, or that he came to visit us was always such a good time though. I will remember it well. Grandpa was such a fun loving guy, and it makes me realize just where my dad got all of his sense of humor and fun personality from... they are alike in so many ways. I will always remember that about my grandpa, he was always smiling and goofing off. He had a love for bowling and golf and was known as "Geno". My dad's mom had passed away at a young age and he has been without her for I believe it was 37 years? I know they are together again and that makes me so happy!! We love you and will miss you so much grandpa!


When we got to Wisconsin we had to have my parents favorite pizza, NEDS! Mmm, it was so yummy and so much fun to spend time with my family.


Of course we had to hit our FAVORITE frozen custard spot.. KOPPS! Literally the best you will ever have :)

This was the night before the funeral, we went to my aunt Paulette's and helped put picture boards together.

In this picture we are in my Grandpa's house, it is all of us with Grandpa.. (literally, I swear the spot in the middle by his picture is Grandpa there with us.. Jared.. it's not a thumb print! haha)

This is right after the funeral, putting the casket in the car.

These were the soldiers outside... SO COOL, they shot off gunshots for grandpa and it was the neatest experience.

My dad :) I love this picture of him.

Right before they gave this flag to my dad...which was one of the best moments for me, when they handed it to my dad and did this little ceremonial thing... I am pretty sure it's the first time I have ever seen my dad cry... which in turn made me BAWL!

My dad after receiving the flag

They have everyone splash holy water onto the casket at the end and you then get to take a flower from the top.

This is my mom and Amanda with my grandpa's sister Doris

Jared, Mom, Dad and Rachel

My dad and his Aunt Doris

February at the Bobby Ginn House

February was an eventful month in the Ginn house. Stacia had her birthday, Bobby lost his job, we all got sick, Lauren got her first real haircut, and of course we had some Valentine's Day fun. So here are some pictures to show all of our fun times.

This is Lando showing some of his awesome skills at Tae Kwon Do.


Stacia and Milli cruising the neighborhood.


Stacia and Lauren. Lauren Loves riding around in this car, which is funny because anytime we go anywhere in the real car she just screams and screams.


Lando enjoying some sun, and getting better at riding his bike.

Lauren's first haircut. Isn't she cute!

Milli needed a haircut too. If she had her way she would get a haircut every day. She is always asking me to trim her bangs.


My two munchkins chillin' after their haircuts.

Stacia has to wear a uniform to school so on Valentine's day we gave her a super fun heart hair-do. She loved it and made me do it everyday for awhile.

Bobby made the mistake of leaving his chocolate where Milli could reach it.

On Friday the 13th we went to the Wingate's house for an "ugly sweater/fondue" party and had so much fun. Jonathan Biesinger and I won the prizes for ugliest sweaters. I think my awesome 80's hair put me over the top. When we were getting ready, Bobby laughed at my hair and said it wasn't an 80's party, but that sweater was just calling out for some big hair and obviously I was right.

Then on Valentine's Night we had Rachel & Austin and Amanda & Wade over for a steak dinner and some more fondue for dessert. We even let the kids in on the fondue. It was a really fun night and I think we will make it a tradition.