APRIL II MAY I

When you have an experience like we did after all the magic from Magic Kingdom and 24 hr of Amusement park, it is very hard to get back to reality.  Although we needed a vacation from our vacation, going back to work for Dan was really hard and the return to my daily routine was also difficult.

 We said our goodbyes the Asian way - with a big bowl of Pho and headed back to Seattle.  One thing Dan and I have always said whenever we came back from a vacation is "Thank goodness it's Seattle and not Spanish Fork".  We knew Spanish Fork was going to be a temporary place and the home we built there was very much an investment rental property, but we didn't think that after a year of living there that we would want to escape so fast.  Seattle is much more beautiful and we have 2 big cities within 3 hours with a lot to do.  Vancouver and Portland.

 So back to slightly cold weather.  Put those jackets back on to go Easter Egg hunt kids.  We went from 90+ degree weather to 65+.  We took our children to the community Easter Egg hunt and event.  They had fun but at the end they said "Disneyworld was better!"  Well, of course!

 EASTER

 We had cousins over for an Easter dinner.  As always the girls could not get enough of each other.

 And Ronin was showing off his motor skill by crawling every where.  He was 5 months at the beginning of April and was crawling in Orlando.  After 2 weeks practice he was fast and furious.  He was pulling himself up on almost anything, even the wall.  We had to take our indoor plants out to the porch and baby proofed the house even more.

 

 He has a very warm personality and a smile that warms your heart.  I'm always prepared to snap a picture of his smile with my phone.

 He's a great eater and is chunking up

 Back to reality means back to school for Reena and for all of us.  She had a spring break and we took her out of school for a few extra days.  I'm becoming more relaxed about taking kids out of school being married to an American :).  I came from a studious and rigid family.  We graduated valedictorians and we never miss a day of school...even if we're a bit sick.  Yeah you get the idea.

 Let the RACE BEGIN!!
      A few days after we got back from our trip I had to start training for my Cindo de Mayo half marathon.  A group of women from our ward got together and talked about signing up for a race.  What we didn't communicate so well about was what race we would sign up for.  What ended up happened was that most people signed up for the 8k and only me and another sister signed up for the half marathon.  I felt like it wasn't worth it to pay for the 8k when most of the time when I go to the gym I run about 8k anyway.  My goal is to tone the tummy and collect another medal and medals are awarded to half marathon and marathon runners only.  So I began the training..,well sort of.

 Most of the runs are little ones around the park while the kids play since that is right in front of our house, but one of the runs I ran along the trail of Lake Sammamish.  It was gorgeous!  I wish that the beauty around here was a stronger motivator for me.  Unfortunately I did not train as often as I should've.  I finished in decent time but it was painful after mile 10.  I was very happy to be done with that race.

 

Of course we celebrated my race with the cousins soon after with this.  Dan's cousin Matthew and his friend came into town so we shared this with them.  We had a fun gathering at Dan's cousins Shelly and Matt's place.

 Mother's Day

My husband is very good at anything with eggs.  Our camping trip in the San Juan Islands was saved by the scrumptious eggs Benedict which we had at the Snug Harbor cafe.  Ever since then he has been making them and perfecting them every time.  That meal and the orchids he got for me made my day.

 I'm one lucky mama to have these children call me "mom"

It's because I have great women in my life.  I look up to these and many other amazing women that I know and love.  My grandmas and my aunts just to name a few.   I want to be the best mom for my children so that when they grow up and move far away that they will remember me and send me flowers.  Our moms loved the chocolate and flowers we sent them but they certainly deserve more than flowers.  The best thing a mother wants is good kids.  I can certainly attest to that.