My favorite 43 year old

My youthful husband turned 43 this week. He still, as we like to say, is in his "early forties."  

From the day we married, he still:

-always opens the door for me

-brings me unexpected flowers

-loves a good deal

-makes me laugh

-listens

-is genuinely kind to all he meets

-loves to be tickled (hence the picture of the treasured birthday gift from his children...tickles)

We made him a scrumptious dinner and carmel turtle brownies for dessert. yum.  When we asked him  about his birthday wish, amidst the circus happening around the table, he responded, "Well, I would wish for world peace, but I'll settle for peace at the dinner table." :) Amen.

May you have at least 43 more happy, peaceful birthday years ahead, darling.

Me, in the meantime

It's been so long, I didn't remember how to access this site. sad.
But, as you can see, it's been a little mayhem-like around these parts.
Lots of children.  Lots of chaos.
And, just because we obviously can't get enough chaos in our lives, we got a new doggie last week...Maude.  She's actually the calmest member of our family so far (except for maybe Baby Ben).

We are doing fabulously.  Life is grand.
My husband just purchased a fancy new phone for me last week because my archaic phone "from the dinosaur ages" (direct quote from my brother-in-law) that has served me well for quite some time was submerged in water.  The "story" I heard was that it was right next to my girl's bathroom sink and "it just fell in."  Just like that.

So, I'm hoping that I can consequently take more pictures of higher quality. And be more connected.  My four younger children's posterity are depending on this. :)

Fall is here. School is in session.  I have pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on the menu for this week (This just may be for the main course. I'm pretty sure I won't have any protests...except from maybe my active conscience).

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Tschuess...

Oh so Wicked...

Rule #1: Never blog tired

(Otherwise, you get raw me. Thank you my loveliest friends for loving me, even when you know the raw me. I love, love, love you!...have I mentioned that I've missed you? Another confession: I've lost my address book. Can you pretty please e-mail me at aethunell@yahoo.com with your info? I need it. Thank you.)

Moving right along...

This past weekend was magical for a myriad of reasons:

1) Austin learned to ride his bike. Ever since then, he's wanted to "pwactice" riding his bike...of course until today when his mother neglected to shield him from the big bush at the end of the driveway that came out and grabbed him. Now, he's not nearly as eager; however, I'll "pwactice" with him tomorrow. A fresh new day always makes things look brighter (I know this from experience.)!

2) Saturday, Annie played in her first club volleyball tournament down in Orange County. She was nervously excited! Savannah, baby Ben, and I cheered on the greatest little lobaro (did you know that's a position in volleyball? I didn't.) ugh. She's still growing too fast. Growth is good, growth is good, growth is good...I hear this from my husband regularly, so I have to remind myself of this when he's not around. We cheered, yelled, cheered...such fun!

3) Several years ago, I bought the soundtrack from the Broadway musical Wicked at Target. Why? you may ask? Why do I buy most things at Target? I wander around. The more I wander, the longer I'm there, the more I spend. Oh, but I love Target!! ANYWAYS, we all love this soundtrack. So, for Christmas, Adam and I gave the three eldest girls tickets to see Wicked down in L.A. The night was magical! We treated ourselves to a delectable Italian feast on Sunset Blvd. beforehand, complete with warm, incredible Artisan bread and fresh pesto. I've been dreaming about it ever since! After, we walked down the street to the Pantages Theater to see our show. Amazing. I laughed, I cried. I've never heard voices sing like that! Well, it did help that both witches were from Texas. I loved them before they even opened their mouths! I'll enjoy this memory forever!

And, this happened Monday...my sweet friend Tiffany gave me a new "plan"/game to do with my little ones--entailing poker chips. When I told my sister about this new wonderful plan, she burst out laughing and said, "You've gone from warm fuzzies (cotton balls in jars) to poker chips!!! What is this world coming to???" When Kate opened the poker chip box, she read the label, "Po-ker...Mom, did you know this says 'Poker chips'?" Yes, my love...don't worry, we will not be playing poker. I'm not that Wicked! :)

Line of the week, asked by my almost 13 yr. old:

"Mom. Was pizza around when you were a kid?"

Sweet Dreams...

Resolutions

Resolutions. Now it's just funny. I think I have had this exact post for the last three years. I will be better at this...for posterity's sake. This year, I have decided to start small. The only thing I have on the list for January is: hmm... No, I'm not going to say it out loud. I'll jinx myself. If I do accomplish it, I'll just tell you! I like this way.

Tonight I'm feeling a bit tender. Homesick. Homesick for the familiar. We've lived in this house for a year now and I love it, but I guess I'm looking for someone who knows me. Knows what I like. When you're a mom of a gaggle of kiddies, many times it's hard to take time for friendships. Life moves at such a lightning speed, that some nights when it slows down, you look around and feel alone.

Now aren't you glad you're reading? :)

Night night. I think a good night's sleep always makes things look brighter. (and I will be checking off one of those resolutions...)

The Greatest Joy

Happy Mother's Day to all of you capable, intelligent, creative, caring, loving, kind mothers! I hope your day was a special one. I actually love Mother's Day (and not just because I get breakfast in bed--with a basil tomato omelette, and am entitled to one long guilt-free nap in the middle of the day). All day I get to reflect on my own mother, grandmothers, mother-in-law and to think of how miraculous they truly are...and how I want to be just like them when I grow up.

I love all the little notes, pictures, poems my children create especially for me. They are displayed and saved. One, in particular, brought a smile and belly laugh to me today.

To: Mom

From: Austin (scribed at primary)

My mom's name is: Alexis

My mom is 10 years old.

My mom likes to go anywhere.

My mom has green eyes.

My mom weighs this much: 26 (who created this list anyway??)

My mom's birthday is on 26th of August. (actually July 9th)

My mom was born in my grandpa's house

My mom's favorite food is spinach (either they've been watching too much Popeye or I've been pressuring my kiddies to eat this frequently lately).

My mom likes to help me eat lunch.

My mom is the best at going to Disneyland.

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!

Ahhh...at least he knew my first name.

These are precious days. Some days feel endless, but looking back the time goes at lightning speed. I love being a mother. There is nothing I'd rather do.

Again, happy mother's day.

p.s. A quick, funny story...Ok, the boys actually have been watching a lot of the original black and white Popeye cartoons lately. I think I found this classic DVD in the dollar bin at Target. Anyways, as we were driving around, Joseph randomly said, "Mom, I want to eat more spinach...like Popeye." "Oh, that's good son. Spinach is just so good for you. Spinach really does make you so strong and healthy." "And...I want to smoke like Popeye." "Eh?" "You know, how he can make those circles of smoke in the air?" great.

Whoever said motherhood was dull???!!!

Blackberry Lane

I get my thrills...on Blackberry Hill (well, I think it was Blueberry Hill).

I sing this little jingle often as I pull into my driveway. This is our new abode.

Say hello to "Blackberry Lane."

I love this place. I'm still pinching myself that I actually live here. I've driven through this area for years, and just dreamed. God is very good to us.

Our next door neighbor takes my girls horseback riding down the road as often as my girls have time. We have a confused rooster living across the street (along with many other barnyard animals) who has absolutely no clue as to what time it really is. He just cock-a-doodle-doos sporadically during the day and night. I know because I'm pregnant and use the restroom regularly...especially in the middle of the night. The first night here, I awoke at 3:30 a.m. to this rooster's exclamation. I smiled in my bed and thought, "Aw. I live in the country. A rooster cock-a-doodle-doing...how charming." After I counted 33 cock-a-doodle-doos...not quite as charming.

Anyhow, it's still all wonderful. For the last month, we've spent our Saturdays working in the yard. Actually, I love digging in the dirt. Last weekend, Adam planted five more fruit trees. So, now we have (not to brag or anything) five orange trees (navel and valencia), a grapefruit, two lemons, a pomegranate, Satsuma tangerine, two plums, an apricot, an apple, a peach, two avocados, and four different grapevines. Next weekend we want to plant our berries. We're country folks now. My sister Lauren still thinks we need a beehive. I still think that's funny. Erika and beehives...I can visualize it all.

So, the picture of the road is what I see before pulling into the driveway.

Frontyard

Backyard

Adam planting

Boys helping

Erika's awesome outfit she put together. She wanted to wear a tutu. It was too cold. We compromised.

And, Adam's sister, Britta, and her family came in town last week. It's always nice having a visit from family.

Next time, I'll include the inside. Brace yourself. This house was totally "in"...IN THE 80's! There's enough dark green carpet to last you a lifetime.

Have a fabulous day!

And, I now have my 40 year old husband. I knew we had turned a corner, when I was listening to the oldies station last week on the radio and heard one of his old, favorite 80's "I come from a land downunder" by Men At Work, sandwiched in between "In the Jungle...the Lion Sleeps tonight" and "Everybody's doing a brand new dance now...come on baby, do the locomotion..."

I just had to smile.

Journal Make-Up

Do you write in a journal? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Yearly?

Obviously, I'm on the yearly plan.

Honestly, I am a journal writer. Really, I am. However, even though my journal sits on the edge of my bedside table, staring me in the face every night, I usually crash into bed, or onto the floor, or into my children's bed (and I mean crash. In fact, just the other night, my sister, Adrienne, found me face down on the carpet, glasses askewed, book bent, glamorous drool everywhere fast asleep). So, after a long hiatus of non-journaling, this is what I usually do:

1) Ennumerate everything that has happened in the meantime, usually taking up many pages. This takes up quite a bit of time, but I'm funny in the way I don't want different memories to be lost forever (because, let's face it, in the past, oh 12 years and nine months, I have had very little memory to speak of).

or

2) I say, "Well, just too much has happened. I don't have the time to recount everything. I'm just starting from today."

So you can know that I haven't been sitting on a chais lounge, savoring bon bons, and watching the long Pride and Prejudice movie for the last four months, I will quickly combine the two methods and pick up next week with an honest to goodness post with pictures and descriptions.

Just for the record (in order):

-Bought a new home on October 30th (I'll have to post pictures later. I love it. It's complete with a laundry shoot, fruit trees of all sorts of yummy varieties, a pool, an acre of land for a large garden, chickens, and my jersey cow--which Adam has already nixed...)

-Erika contracted some mysterious skin disease that two different doctors could not identify. gnarly.

-My parents left for an 18 month mission to Hawaii. They are loving it! Of course, it's Hawaii!

-celebrated Thanksgiving! So much to be grateful for...so much.

-sold our home in two hours. a sheer miracle.

-packed

-moved the week of Christmas in unusual California torrential rain. Actually, we moved our stuff in the garage. Our house was being painted

- Homeless for three days. High humidity=wet paint...that wouldn't dry. Eight people on one very kind family's floor.

-moved in two days before Christmas--just by the skin of our teeth! Adam's parents came into town. It was very nice to have them here...they are always so generous and helpful.

-Breathed a huge sigh of relief and gratitude

- School

-Work

-Found a wonderful piano teacher for my girls after a very long search

-Austin broke both bones in his arm after I was giving him an "under-dog" on the swings at the park. Talk about guilt!

- Adam was released as Bishop of our ward at church. A very bitter-sweet time. We loved our ward, but boy is it nice having another adult at the end of our pugh! Ha-llelujah!

-Annie turned 12 and entered into the young women program at church. Quite a teary experience. Like my mom always lamented, "Why do you have to grow up?" However, Adam the realist and optimist always reassures me, "Growth is good. Look at what an awesome young woman she is!" I know. He's right. She is as bright and twinkly as ever. She loves the group of girls her age at church and school and was thrilled to be "kidnapped" out of primary last Sunday.

-Adam has been out of town quite a bit lately. I admit. I don't like it when he's gone. The bed is very empty...for about 30 minutes until all my little peeps join me. I think while I write this I have three kiddies in my bed upstairs. See why I'm up so early??

Oh! Did I mention I'm expecting a baby! Baby #7! Wow. I'm still trying to get control with six. Adam muttered a couple weeks ago in bed, with his eyes closed, and arm over his face, "I feel like I'm on a roller coaster and can't get off." Well baby, hang on for dear life. Or maybe just put your hands up and squeal with laughter...the ride is so much more fun that way! (I'm 16 weeks along--just in case you're wondering).

And, Adam turns the big 40 this week! He tells me that I talk about it too much. But, I don't really. I think he's just a smidgen sensitive. He's still as amazing, handsome, funny, smart, loving, kind, and good as ever. Just love that man...

Well, that wraps it up. A quick journal entry in a nutshell. Thinking of you. Hope your new year's resolutions are going well. I'm still making them.

Love you bunches...

Modern-Day Miracles

That's right. Miracles never do cease. I'm living proof.

Miracle #1: It's raining (and not just a lame-o drizzle like we usually get in Southern California). Peeps, if you have access to a Trader Joe's, this is the time you need to go and get yourself some spiced cider and maple cookies (the ones that are shaped like a fall leaf). Perfect, cozy treats for a rainy day.

Miracle #2: My house is clean. miracle. Well, we did all work on it for about 7/8 of the day, but ahhhh... (laundry doesn't count, right?)

Miracle #3: My dear, amazing friend Cherie and her miracle-working camera. She took our family's pictures last weekend and they turned out beautifully. Like everything she touches. She captured our family so perfectly. Now, the pressure is off for last-minute Christmas card pictures ...whew. Love you so much Cher. Thank you a million times over.

Are you enjoying the Fall season? Have you gone to a pumpkin patch lately?

Goodnight. xoxo

Me & a bedside table

Hi everyone! I've missed you!

I've been on leave.

Let's see, where did I leave off...hmm...well, I don't even know where to begin. LOTS has taken place.

We travelled to Utah in the summer.

Kate was baptized (pictures to follow. a very special day.).

The kiddies started school at a new charter school over in Camarillo (adding an extra 2 hrs. for me, the boys, and Erika in the car. I think I've figured out every fruit and vegetable that is being planted off the freeway. I was just noticing all the harvested pumpkins on the hillside today. I am giddy it's fall)

I'm teaching the two music classes/week. Fun, but still ironing out the kinks.

Honestly, I don't know what has happened. It's a blur. I was just thinking tonight that I need to make a to-do list everyday like a normal person. Maybe I can keep track of my life a little better. Maybe that's why I needed to blog, to make some sort of documentation that my little family is still alive and moving along.

Hence, the bedside table. This is my bedside table...a disgrace, I know. Who knows what's piled underneathe there. Open the drawer and you'll be taking your life in your own hands. I have so many books that I'm in the middle of, no wonder my brain is a swimming mess. I'm overbooked!-Get it? I'm so clever. ("Great!" You're saying to yourself. So glad I'm reading Alexis' blog...such a boost!).

Well, here is the boost! My kids are as cute as ever...if I may say so myself. Every morning on the drive home, we have to take a specific route so that Austin and Joseph can see this "race car" parked in front of a house. When I pointed out a different race car on the freeway, Joseph said, "Mom, that's not a race car. It has to have a number on it." Oh, okay. Then, the entire drive home was spent conversing with my little boys on what type of race car they will drive. "A dark blue one with, guess what number on it mom?" I then spent the next little while, guessing what number they'll put on their race car. delightful.

Joseph didn't want to eat the yellow center of his hard-boiled egg this morning, so he promptly threw it in the flower bed. He said, "It'll be Jack and the Egg-stock." I laughed.

Kate started speech this year so that she could say her "aw's"=r's. She giggled while telling me that if she fills out her entire "chawt" (chart), she'll get an entire pack of silly bands. Are those silly things as big in your area as they are in ours? sheesh.

Austin started pre-school for the first time. I'm glad he's in preschool for the sheer fact that I get to pick him up and see his ecstatic face when he sees me come through the door. priceless. It's moments like those that I never want my babies to grow up. My heart can hardly take it.

Erika is as spicy as ever. She's the boss applesauce...understand rubberband? (remember that?). She crawls out of her crib every night and pitter patters down the hall to our room. We're still working on her vocabulary, since she mostly says, "Na-o" (No!) or "Da" (Yes!). We like to think of her as our brilliant, Russian speaking baby.

Annie is making friends at her new school. Like I tell her often, she could make friends with a post. She's enjoying having a locker in middle school and is growing up faster than is good for her mama's heart. She spent a week down in Texas, by herself, with my parents and Fordy. She had such a special time and will never forget those moments with Jefe and Merlsie.

Savannah is still as sweet as ever. She's still adjusting to the new surroundings at the new school. It just takes time. Every night, however, she makes a palette in the playroom for herself to sleep upon. My sleeping beauty. Never mind that we have four other empty beds in the house!

Adam's bedside table looks almost identical to mine. Get my drift?

Get some sleep and enjoy the weekend! It's conference time! I love this time of year. That is a true boost!

Kisses...

Oopsie!

That link for BYU below didn't work. Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs

Climb every Mountain

Can't you just hear the dear Sister in The Sound of Music singing this to Maria? Ah yes...Climb every Mountain. Did she mean mountains of laundry? Mountains of sand on the tile floor? Mountains of cracker crumbs and who knows what else on my car floor? Well, I'm climbing.

Things we have done this summer so far:

1) Gone organic. Organic meat, dairy, fruits & veggies. It's an experiment. I'll keep you posted on my findings; however, I find that I eat a lot less and am feeling good.

2) Watched T.V. I'm cancelling cable.

3) Listened to 1776 by David McCullough. Amazing. Check it out from your library. It changes your thoughts. Loved loved it. David McCullough is a brilliant researcher and writer. It almost convinced me that I want to have another son and name him George Washington Thunell. almost.

4) Bought a bunch of new roses for my garden. Oh mama mia. There's a rose. Her name is Neptune. If you want to smile every day too, you'll plant her in your garden. She's a lovely shade of lavender and she's planted all over Oprah's garden up in Montecito (you know, Oprah). Also, she has a friend...Chrysler Imperius. She is a deep hot pink color. These two roses are so fragrant that Savannah was watching me smell them yesterday and said, "Mom, you should plant these all over the place because every time you smell them, you smile." Indeed.

5) Prepared to teach my music classes this fall. Now, I am very careful and selective on what I whole-heartedly endorse. I whole-heartedly endorse the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is something that will completely change your life. I speak from experience. I can 100% endorse this. And, not nearly on the same level, but an amazing thing that I whole-heartedly endorse is Let's Play Music. It is an incredible music program that I wanted for my children and since there isn't a teacher in the area to teach it, I decided to certify and teach some classes myself (which included my children, of course). I flew down to Phoenix a couple times in June to do this. Look on this website and see if there's a teacher in your area. If there is, sign up--I can guarantee you won't be sorry! amazing.

6) Carted Annie and Savannah to Ventura every morning for Jr. Lifeguards. Oh oh! This morning as I was driving them to the beach, I noticed trailers, security and a fake brick entrance by the beach here. Movie filming. I would've never believed it if I didn't live here, but I've seen so many of these situations, especially off the 1 in Malibu.

7) Didn't swim very much. It's been rather cool and overcast. I think it's an extended "May-Gray, June-Gloom" this summer.

8) Didn't take pictures.

9) Purchased a lovely new thing for our living room that I will have to share pictures of next time.

10) Turned one year older (and wiser).

Watch this (sorry for being so bossy). Please watch this. It'll make you laugh.

Old Spice Guy and then BYU's version

Ducks in a Row

Can you believe that I actually took this photo with my iphone? Can you believe that I caught this little moment in nature? Love this picture. Notice: SIX little ducks...all in a row. My sweet friend, Lynn, and I were driving down a busy road a couple weeks ago, and there was a mama duck on the road by the island, trying to get all her little ducklings to follow her and to keep them from getting hurt. We stopped. Lynn helped get all those little ducklings to follow their mama on the other, safer side of the street. It's so natural. So instinctual. That mama knew every one of her babies and those babies knew their mama. When they were finally all reunited...we sighed. Everything was right again.

I feel that. Even though it is total chaos when we're all together, it's just not the same if one, two, or...say, FIVE are missing. Summertime--so much to do, so little time. I have a million field trips floating around in my little head, but reality sets in and a trip to the pool sounds just so delightful. Today, I was determined though to take the trip down to L.A. to IKEA for some needed (?) items. (btw, I don't know if it's nation-wide, but our IKEA is offering free children's lunches now until July 5th). None of my older children wanted to go with me, so the 5 of them went to play at a friend's house. Erika and I took the field trip. My my...does that girl have...spunk! We pretty much made a scene throughout our entire shopping experience. I was tossing "IKEA" cookies at her, trying to keep her from falling out of the cart and breaking all my items in the cart. I was exhausted. What the? Having all six together is just easier. Crazy, I know. It's like Yin-Yang. We just go together. Me and my little ducklings. (Adam is standing right behind me at the moment, wondering where he fits in in this picture. He's suggesting that he's the dots on the Yin-Yang...giving everything balance. I would agree. You're so clever dear).

And speaking of husband, after reading my last post, he said, "We've come a long way baby? Isn't that from a cigarette commercial? You know, 'You've come a long way baby'?" oops. I knew I had heard that jingle before. I just didn't know where?? Now I know. And so do you.

One more thing I have to write, so I don't forget it. Last week when my two older girls received trophies at school, my Kate was muy disappointed since she did not get an award. The next day, Annie and Savannah were whispering with Adam about what type of trophy they were going to get for Kate. I eavesdropped, "Let's get her a really big one, like that soccer trophy, that says 'Best Sister in the Whole World'." Payoff. They get it. I was so happy and touched. Thanks for letting me tell you that.

And now let's see...what field trip for tomorrow? Any ideas???

xoxoxo

We've Come a Long Way Baby!!

June 8, 1996

June 8, 2010

First day of school 2008

My three youngers


I'm here, I'm here, I'm here!

I'm sitting here with my Costco-sized bag of Nestle chocolate chips and the front of my shirt is sufficiently covered with traces of the day. It's been a good day. Everyday is a good day when you're married to a man like Adam (Can you tell that I have recovered from my last S.O.S? I think I was also suffering from the lack of ZZZs...and chocolate).

Last week we celebrated our fourteenth anniversary! We started a new tradition. Adam took the day off from work and dropped off our little ones with a good and true friend. We spent the morning down in L.A. at the temple which always, of course, puts everything into perspective--especially our marriage. Then, we spent the rest of the day down at Disneyland. Yes, that's right! Just him and me at Disneyland. It was a dream. A lot has happened in fourteen years. We've moved 9 times, had 6 children, finished 2 degrees, been so poor that lunch would consist of the free popcorn served at the bank (pathetic! but true), completed 20, 647 loads of laundry (or at least it feels like it), eaten thousands of dinners at the table together, dreamed hundreds of dreams together, laughed at our funny and clever children together, kissed goodbye in the morning and at night--who knows how many times?! That is the beauty of marriage. To me, this kind of love has roots. It grows and deepens. It's an amazing thing really. Here's to another fourteen years...and many more.

Tomorrow is the last day of school. I'm always nostalgic around this time. It's now when I realize just how fast life is ticking by and another school year is behind us. Today their school had an awards ceremony. After none of the girls had received an award during the time their teacher was handing out awards, and the three youngers were getting mighty restless, I left. weird. That afternoon when I picked up the girls, Annie and Savannah told me that right when I left, their principal gave out awards. She gave out the "Top Dog" Award--two from each grade. Annie and Savannah both received it. Kate received a Talent Award for her piano piece in the talent show. That's super! I'm glad for them. Mostly because they are all kind and good girls.

This past month I had a tender experience that I'm still thinking about. So, one overcast morning ("June Gloom" as California calls it--the marine layer) a couple weeks ago, Erika and I were sitting outside watching the birds hop around our backyard. It was a delight to see her face watch each of these little birds perch in the branches and swoop down onto the grass. After a little while, I left the back slider open and went upstairs to get ready for the day. As I was upstairs getting dressed, this bird came flying in and crashed into my bathroom mirror. I screamed! Then, Joseph, Austin, and Erika joined me in trying to shew this little birdie out of my room and down the stairs and out the front door. This hopping, screeching, and laughing (mostly nervous laughter with a few ignorant squeals from Erika) went on for about 15 minutes. All at once, the bird saw the the outside window from our bedroom door and flew at it with full speed. As you can imagine, the bird then crashed to the floor, it's wings spread out on the floor as if they were broken. We all ran down the stairs and realized the bird was still alive, but just couldn't move it's crippled wing. I started to cry. Joseph looked at me and said, "Mom, are you crying about this bird?!" So pragmatic. I carefully picked the little birdie up and took it outside on the grass. All four of us knealt down around this sweet little thing. I told the kids that we should pray for this little bird, so it could go back home to its family. We said a simple heartfelt little prayer that the wing would be repaired. The second we said amen, that little bird took flight. I couldn't believe my eyes. I learned two things in that moment that I keep thinking about:

One, that all living things are truly His and He knows each one. "He who notes the fall of a sparrow, surely hears the pleading of our hearts" (Pres. Monson). Two, I am so glad I can be at home with my children-all day. It is in these brief, impromptu moments that I get the best teaching in.

Summer starts tomorrow! Time for some serious swimming and sunshine!

Loves...

S.O.S.

Have you ever felt like crawling into a corner and hoisting up a white flag in surrender?

After a series of pretty interesting events this past month (a visit from the police was one of them...I'll give you the details later), I have felt quite defeated and rattled, especially in my mothering abilities. Then, as I was about to go upstairs and collapse in my bed, I read my dear, dear friend's blog. Cherie...my vitamin C. It came at the perfect moment. A life preserver rather. Hope you don't mind Cher... but hope you all can glean as much as I did.

http://cheriemask.typepad.com/

Loves,

Alexis

Mamacita

This morning I awoke to chitter-chatter from downstairs and the smell of bacon. My darling and dear ones all clamoured into our room not long after with breakfast. This experience always makes me smile (and laugh out loud on the inside). Using the same trusty breakfast-in-bed tray we received from our wedding (which has taken quite a beating over the years), my Adam, true to character, carefully brings up a culinary masterpiece complete with a flower in the corner, my napkin folded just so, and the food arranged like a work of art. I can tell my littles have already had strict instructions downstairs not to touch my food or ask for a bite. Although, of course I never mind either. Everyone hovers around me, pointing out all the little details of the tray, "Have you tasted the syrup?! It's just like Cafe Nouveau!" "Look at the heart waffle in the middle. You like waffles, right? And strawberries too?" "I love bacon. I sure wish I could have some." "We have to go downstairs now. Dad told us you needed some peace and quiet." I protested. But, there I sat eating my breakfast in "peace and quiet" and giving me time to think I was the luckiest girl on the planet.

Kate gave me a little poem entitled "My Mamacita" (She filled in the parts that are italicized):

"Mamacita always says take care of the baby.

Mamacita would tell you I'm cute.

Mamacita helps me clean my room.

Mamacita and I like to shop at the mall.

Mamacita can't stand it when I clean the house.

Mamacita loves it when I play with the baby.

And now that Mother's Day is here,

Mamacita deserves a great big cheer!"

Like Kate's piano teacher tells me on a weekly basis, "I could just eat her up with a spoon!" So cute. My Kate. Who has never once called me "Mamacita" until this poem. Who I guess seems to take care of the baby quite often. Who thinks that her help is unneeded when it comes to housework. Who ever said that being a mother is boring??

Happy Mother's Day to all of you brilliant, creative, beautiful, bright, enthusiastic, hard-working, loving, persistent, caring, compassionate, determined, enriching, happy people who change lives on a daily basis. Our role is a divine one. No one can take our place...and I mean no one.

"When God thought of mother, He must have laughed with satisfaction and framed it quickly--so rich, so deep, so divine, so full of soul, power, and beauty was the conception."

Henry Ward Beecher

And one that I read to myself often:

"I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world and one that demanded the best that I could bring it."

Rose Kennedy

(picture of me courtesy of Joseph Thunell photography)

Watch this! You will absolutely love it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E&feature=player_embedded

I heart Grandma Camp

My amazing mother has hosted this event for hmmm...six years now. This is a modern day miracle because our numbers are growing exponentially and many of us have moved far away from the mother-ship. Yet, somehow she still manages to pull it off with flying colors. This is the main gist of Grandma Camp:

• Everyone wears the same thing (boys & girls & moms). So, we barely have to pack anything. We wash these outfits every night and then voila! You are ready to go the next morning. Also, we can keep track of the littles better when everyone is wearing the same bright green shirt. You get the picture.
• We usually put in our orders of what meals we love. My dear mother spends who knows how long, preparing our favorites: spinach lasagna, burritos (or some type of dish with beans. I mean, we must've eaten pintos 3-4x every week growing up. It just wouldn't be home without them), jambalaya, and of course, topped off with Blue Bell.
• Each day, we usually take a field trip somewhere. Favorites: Blue Bell Factory, Bluebonnets, Houston Children's Museum (incredible), the park (simple and perfect), NASA, Chuck & Nancy's "ranch," Miller Theater, and the Houston Temple.
• A Tea Party. The children dress up in their Sunday best and sit around Merlsie's dining table They sip peppermint tea using her lovely dishes, eat dainty cookies and sandwiches, and have a delightful conversation. They love this part.
• A gigantic van is usually rented to fit everyone. Merlsie had a magnetic sign made for the van which reads, "Watch out! It's Grandma Camp!" I had the honors of driving the beast this year...and mercy! was it a beast! (I'm bummed I didn't get a picture of this. As you can see, my picture portfolio here is a little on the skimpy side).
• This year we did a little "service project." The women-folk put together these darling fleece blankets for the babies down in Mexico, coming home from the hospital. My girlies loved it.
• The children and mothers play, talk, and laugh. Laugh and laugh and laugh. It's a chance for the cousins to bond...and they do bond. They're all little buddies--just the way it should be. And, us women have so much fun talking, working in the kitchen, giving eachother pep-talks and ideas. just magical.

We all love and look forward to this little bright spot of the year. It normally falls in the springtime. Thank you Grandma Merlsie! Here's to another fantastic Grandma Camp! (The last picture has nothing to do with Grandma Camp at all. I just love this house. It's also on my parent's street. I drool everytime we go past it).

We had a bonus of having Adam's two sisters join us this year. We're all just one big family anyways.

And, as a side-note, us siblings threw together a surprise 40th Anniversary party for our parents. It was so much fun to plan and then to pull off. Ahh...all those years of Student Council paid off. At least I know how to operate a helium tank! BTW, fyi Costco enlarges pictures for a STEAL!! You can get a 20x30 poster-size for a sheer $9.99. We enlarged eight pictures of my parents through the years. They made us cry.

(Thank you Meesh. I love you too. Let's connect soon. muy bueno.)

Home sweet home

My mama tells me that I'm a sixth generation Texan. And, when I told someone recently that I was from California, she about choked, "You are not from California, you are from Texas. You live in California." I know. When I go back and visit, I can feel it...these are my roots.

We just arrived back home from a spring break visit to Texas last week for our annual "Grandma Camp" (which was a huge success). I will, of course, be detailing our Grandma Camp in the next post; however, I just wanted to spend a moment explaining my feelings about the Lone Star State.

Besides the heat and humidity (which gives me a headache), I love this place. These are my top ten reasons why I love Texas:

1) Blue Bell Ice Cream. These people know how to make seriously good ice cream in half gallon containers. None of this skimpy Breyer's container nonsense, in which every time I'm back to buy more ice cream, they've shrunk their container another size. so distressing. It's so good, we go to the Blue Bell factory every year for Grandma Camp.

2) The BBQ. I'm not normally a red meat lover (c'mon, I've lived in CA for almost 13 yrs now), but the meat down there is so tasty...mmm...I'm salivating right now at midnight. You smell it everywhere. And I love it. Pappa's, Goode & Co., my cousin Dale's BBQ...my favorites. Everyone eats it and everyone's happy.

3) The trees. Now, California has amazing agriculture; however, the thick trees in Houston make me smile and breathe deep.

4) The accent. I got jipped. How in the world did I not inherit an accent?? jeez. When I tell people I grew up in Texas, they always respond, "Well, you don't have an accent." Although, after I've talked to my mom for awhile or any friends there, I start using a little more twang and more "y'alls." I love it. It's home.

5) The cost of living. I'm not going to focus too much on this or I'll start getting the shakes. I am amazed how much house you can get there for your money. I'll leave it at that.

6) Biggie size. You hear that things are just bigger down there...and they are--the roaches, the hairdos, the earrings, the plates of food, the malls, the houses--everything. Get a load of that house I posted, which is right around the corner from my parent's home. My sister lovingly dubbed it "Toad Hall." I always trick-or-treated there. They gave out biggie size candy bars.

7) State pride. Where else do you see Texas shaped pools and Texas shaped corn chips (which were the store brand, mind you)? No kidding, I even spotted a Texas shaped stepping stone for your yard at Wal-mart (People use them too. Our cousin has them). If you want, I'm sure my mom would be happy to furnish you with a bumper sticker which says, "I'm not from Texas, but I got there as fast as I could" (she gave this one to Adam) or "Don't Mess with Texas" (a classic).

8) Bluebonnets. When I was in labor with each of my babies, Adam would tell me to go to my "happy place." Without even thinking too hard, I would imagine myself in a field of bluebonnets. It sounds a little weird. They bring back many happy memories of springtime trips to the bluebonnets. And, eventhough they don't bloom in the summer, they still bring me back to being in the Texas hill country all summer long.

9) The People. Eventhough I was raised with this, I forget...people are just downright friendly there. As I was pumping gas at Costco, an employee said, "Hi ma'am! How're you doin' today?" "Can I help you pump your gas?" I think I may have flinched (I'm sorry to say). Part of me was hoping he wasn't talking to me. Then I thought, "What is wrong with you?!!! Smile and talk!" We had a nice lengthy conversation about his family, Grandma camp, the weather (I was driving a 15 passenger van with a vast gas tank). Driving away, Annie said, "People are so nice here!" yes. yes they are.

10) My family. I love this house (the one Savannah is sitting in front of). We moved there when I was 3. And, I love even more the people inside. Really, they are why I love this place so much. I feel loved. I feel happy and warm.

I love Texas. And, I love California...this is where my little nest belongs. However, as my grandma Dorothy would tell me regularly, "There's no place like Texas." She's right y'all.

Leprechauns and a New Day Spa

Wow, I'm behind. It's practically Easter, and I'm just now writing about Leprechauns. BUT, just for the record, they did come to the Thunell home this St. Patty's Day. My kiddies woke up to green colored toilet water (classy) and green milk in the fridge. So, we know that leprechauns have to use the restroom and eat. Joseph and Austin stared down at the green water in amazement, all the while my older girls were smiling and winking at me. so funny. That entire St. Patrick's Day Joseph couldn't stop talking about leprechauns.

"Where do they live?"

"Why did they come to our house?"

"Are they all green?"

That day, I was out working in the yard with my boys in-tow. In the evening, they went to get their baths while I finished up outside. Not 10 minutes later, here comes Joseph on the driveway, dripping wet, and totally nude. (remember. Nut House). He was so worried. He pulled up his foot, which had a tinge of green from the grass. He said, "Look! I have green on my foot! Kate said I am turning into a leprechaun!" smile.

That night we watched Disney's "Darby O'Gill and the Little People." It is the obscure little Disney movie (that I own. thank you very much) about leprechauns that made Sean Connery's debut. See? There was a good reason to watch it. After saying how good-looking that man was a couple times, my girls said to me, "But, not as good looking as Dad, right?" Right. My husband trumps Sean Connery any day of the week.

On a separate note, we have a new day spa around these parts. They furnish massages, nail polishing, a hair salon, and good conversation. It is located on Belmont Lane. Annie and Savannah are the owners/operators. Come by and check it out!

The last picture has nothing to do with anything, except that Joseph was so thrilled to have the same clothes in his closet as his Daddy. He went upstairs and picked out the blazers and brought them down. my boys.

p.s. Thank you for all the calls, notes, and thoughts. As always, you are too good to be true.