Mowhawks For My Munchkins!

My boys have rebel hair!

Why? Cuz they wanted it so badly they went over momma Mota's head to her cool little sis.  And guess what!?!
Yup, Andrea talked me into it.

Hunter couldn't stop smiling telling us,
"My hair was made for this"!

Parker was beyond proud!

And Austin, their cousin, went all Hulk on us! LOL!

{3 VERY happy little men - Austin, Parker & Hunter}

{Parker - Adding the final touch}

{Hunter- getting the hawk thinned down}

{Hunter, Austin & Parker - Totally freaks me out so I had to add it}

{Austin, Parker & Hunter- thinkin they're all that and more! LOL!}

A Picnic, A Hike and A Splash

   Summer Sand Bucket List accomplishments 2 and 3 complete!
 We headed up Provo Canyon with our friends Christine and Lilly for a picnic and a hike to the falls!

{Tanner, Lily, Shaylee, Hunter & Paker playing in the falls}

 Okay... so I admit we cheated a bit with our picnic, but who doesn't love pizza right! And it was in the park and we did sit at a picnic table!  We all agreed it totally counts.

Our kiddos must have been famished cuz we ate all but 2 pieces of our 2 pizzas and only half a bag of crazy bread was left out of two.

{Left: Tanner & Hunter... Right: Lilly, Shaylee & Parker}

Then came time for our hike.  With two 3 year olds we knew it had to be a short and easy little walk with so we "hiked" up the Bridal Veil Trail to the falls.

{Lilly, Shaylee, Parker, Tanner & Hunter waiting to "hike"}

{Lily & Shaylee - growing up so fast... being so independent}

{Shaylee & Lily - Cutest little Besties ever!!!}

When we arrived at the falls we all waded in. My munchkins and Lilly played for several hours, until suddenly the sun began to disappear over the mountains.

{Tanner felt all grown up cuz he was allowed to wade to the deep end!}

{Tanner, Hunter & Parker building a pool for the girls to splash in}

{Dancing Shaylee}

We hurried back to our van, divided up the rest of the food for our hungry kiddos and took off for home all worn out from the days adventures.  All in all it was a marvelous day and my kids felt so accomplished when they dropped two more clothespins into the sand bucket.

Bamboo Hut... A Little Taste Of Heaven!

Bamboo Hut was totally a PHS thing... absolutely a BYU (football team) thing... without a doubt it was a Provo thing... And the thing is it was the bestest place ever to go for awesome food.

{Click here to follow on FB}

In my teen years I'd leave school grounds to run across State Street with a group of friends and stand in the longest line imaginable for someone wanting to buy lunch. It stretched out past the tiny box of a building, past Sounds Easy Video and often times wound it's way around Hardie's. Sun, rain, wind and snow... I stood in line through it all. Think I'm crazy? Yup, 100% crazy, but not alone. I stood in that line with friends and teachers, college football players and men in high dollar suits discussing multimillion dollar deals... no one was immune from the insanely addictive food in that tiny little shack.

The line moved fast, but not always fast enough. I can't count the times I walked into class late and it was so so worth it to be handed that paper plate piled high with noodles and rib sauce, rice, chicken, ribs and the occasional bag of seafood wantons if I had enough in my pocket.  We'd look around for a seat... if you were lucky you might just find one, but odds were slim - so out the back door we'd go to sit on the curb or Provo High's grass.  All was right in the world.

Then suddenly the horribly mean people that owned the building tore it down! Or at least that's how the rumors told it.  They reopened in a crazy out of the way place.  Loyal customers followed... Bamboo's magic noodles and rib sauce were all I could keep down with my first pregnancy... nothing else not even water! 

And then the unthinkable happened... they disappeared!!! While pregnant with Hunter I craved Bamboo's seafood wontons.  I tried all sorts of restaurants in search of something that would satisfy- no luck, not even close. It was agony! Sadly I quit searching.

{This is a seafood wonton... and no one makes them like Roxie}

Then a friend tipped me off to the Original Bamboo Hut Facebook Page. I messaged them before I got my hopes up... It was them! Who gets this excited over food right? You go 9 years craving something you can't have and get back to me.

So it turns out they're at Orem Summerfest yesterday and today! I packed my kids in the car and told them my sad sad tale while on our way to putting an end to my 9 year craving and giving them their first bite of island food.

I made it known that Hawaiian/Poly food is my absolute fav and just a little taste of what I imagine heaven to be.  They looked at each other and roared in laughter as I continued my speech and officially declared they would no longer be deprived of all it's awesomeness.

{It's Roxane!!! See! Proof I found the 'real' Bamboo Hut!}

 Wanna know how good it was?  Well I'll tell you. My kiddos are begging to go again today they'll even empty their piggy banks to pay for it!  I know right! How awesome are they? Should I introduce them to kalua pork?...  

Yup! I think I shall! 

{Parker inhaled his... I had to tell him to slow down}

{Hunter chewed on his ribs til the bones were clean - then asked to keep them - a reminder of his first 'bite of heaven'. LOL!}

{Tanner doesn't eat much these days, but did enjoy his snowie}

{I shared with Shaylee - She ate so much she shoulda had her own!}

The Lorax - First Sand Bucket List Accomplishment Completed!

Yay! Our first sand bucket list clothes pin has been officially dropped in the bucket! Only 19 more to go!!!

Me, my munchkins, my friend Christine and her daughter Lilly all went to the movies tonight. To make it special and different for my little ones I splurged buying popcorn and drinks instead of stashing candy, water bottles and crystal light in my ginormous never ending hole of a purse. (Shocking I know, but admit it you all do it too)

Yes, I admit it, "I'm frugal", but seriously how does one justify $5 for a drink?... Crazy, crazy, crazy!  Being a sand bucket list goal I did this once.  Sadly I handed over my debit card and was charged $11 for a drink and bucket of popcorn. Before leaving the concession counter I asked for 5 empty water cups, a trick I learned from my friend Jamie.

Hunter proudly carried the drink, Parker the popcorn and Tanner was a happy little man who handed the tickets to the ticket taker.  Shaylee wanted her own seat for the first time and was thrilled to have a little cup holder in her booster.  

After everyone was situated I handed each kid a cup full of popcorn.  It totally alleviates fighting and passing the bucket up and down the row... of course Christine and I were constantly filling them, but the monumental feat of peace amongst 5 children was had  as we watch The Lorax.

When the movie ended Shaylee and Lilly got out of their seats and began dancing in the isle... what my baby girl calls "Shakin' her booty". The cutest thing ever!

On our way out we stopped by concessions to document our first list accomplishment... we were stopped immediately!!! Absolutely NO picture taking of any kind in the movie theater. It would've been a supper cute pic too.  Sadly we moved outside and took a pic with the marque poster.  And now I'm left wondering what secrets the concessions counter could possibly hold that employees don't want documented. Hmmmm.....

{ They posed themselves!.... Lilly, Shaylee, Tanner, Hunter & Parker}

 Oh yeah, one more thing... my little Tan Man is in slippers... and very proud of himself for "getting one past mom".  If I'm not careful he may soon learn that Mommy really doesn't know everything.

Summer Sand Bucket List

 

WooHoo!!!

Summer is "officially" here!

My Mota munchkins are home and school free until August.
I am so, so, so excited!!!

This year we're starting a new tradition...
A Summer Sand Bucket List

My kiddos and I got up this morning, sat around the kitchen bar and decided the adventures our summer should hold.  When each desire was shouted out I wrote it on a clothespin and attached it to the outside of our sand bucket. As we accomplish each one the clothespin will be removed and dropped into the bucket. So simple, but so fun to watch as we fill our bucket with memory packed experiences.

Some of the things they came up with surprised me... others were a little generic.  River rafting down Provo River with a 3 year old?  I called and was told it is ABSOLUTELY do-able, but only with a guide.  All we need to do is save up a little each month, maybe set up a lemonade stand so my kiddos can help and by the end of summer we will be on the river!!!

Looks like we'll be panning for gold, swimming in the Great Salt Lake, star gazing, visiting Timpanogos Cave, camping, fossil hunting, ice blocking and visiting Hogle Zoo to name a few. 20 activities to accomplish by summers end - on top of using our 7-Peaks pass of all passes which I purchased for $10.00 each!  

So much that can be done on a tiny little budget... who knew!?!  I suppose only those who have no choice but to be frugal.

Vegas Baby!

Our first full on trip... well a quick trip. We're on our way to San Diego to go through the temple with my sister Andrea and her hubby Todd. On Saturday they'll be sealed for time and all eternity!

We decided to break up the trip with a night in Vegas, about the half way point. We found an awesome deal at the Excalibur and so here we are! As we pulled up all of my Mota munchkins were oooing and awing at the lit up castle. Upon entering our room they were overcome with such excitement that they ran straight to the beds and started jumping... you see my kiddos know the only time they're allowed to jump on a bed is in a hotel.

They love the view of the castle spires from our window and just can't get enough.

My munchkins saw the tram/train as we were pulling up so I told them we'd ride it - and we did. To be a child again and find such pleasure in the little things.

We walked around for a little while and then headed to In-N-Out Burger - grandpa's absolute fav place of all time. The one in Orem doesn't really compare to those in Cali and Vegas. I have no idea why.

My little ones did amazingly well for having sat in a car for 6 hours and I'm so very grateful we decided to stop. 6 more hours tomorrow... 6 looong hours tomorrow, but so worth it to be there for my little sis "Master Andrea" and her hubby "King Todd"

I Didn't Do It Mommy!

My poor Shaylee bug tried closing our bedroom door this morning. To her great surprise it fell over. She just stood there, in the doorway, as look of fear engulfed her sweet face and I reached for the camera on the bedside table. Her little bottom lip popped out, then tears formed and flooded her cheeks. I held my arms out and she ran to me. I held her close, rocking her, as she cried the words, "Mommy I didn't do it. Mommy I didn't do it." in between sobs.

I wiped her tears and lifted her head to look into her blue terror filled eyes. I assured her she didn't do it and mommy wasn't mad at all. She hugged me tight and whispered, "thanks you mommy".

A moment passed and she asked who did do it. Parker and Hunter had been rough housing a few days prior and pulled the hinges from the door. Grandpa hadn't fixed it because he is wanting them to help.

Shaylee had an instant smile. "Sos mines Hunter and Parter did it?" she asked. I reassured her they did. Then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Did you tells them no, no don't doos that?"

There isn't a single job out there that's as hard, heartbreaking, or stressful as parenthood. But I wouldn't give it up for the world. Nothing is as enjoyable, self-fulfilling, full of love and humorous as the job of a mommy!

It's Great To Be Eight!

Hunter was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today! He's been looking forward to it all year and it was almost unbearable for him when he found out we delayed it a month due to being with his dad on his birthday.

Towards the end of December I took my Hunter baby out to pick a new tie and of course he had to have one in his fav color... pink! I love that my little man isn't afraid to be who he is and tell the entire world.

My sister, Andrea, took his eight year pictures (I borrowed the one above before it could be edited...shhhh) and put together his invite for me. It was hard giving in not making them by hand this time, but I think they turned out amazing. The only job I had in it all was to deliver them.

Hunter, his grandpa and I met at the church early so any last minute things could be taken care of, they could change into white clothing and I could get a picture or two of them together on my little man's special day.

We all met in the chapel for a wonderful program in which my sister Andrea (right), her friend Tamran(left) and Tamran's friend (not shown) sang "Be Still, My Soul". I had no idea my sis could sing like she did. After the program Hunter and all of the people who came to support him gathered in the baptismal font room. The little ones sat up front right next to the font so they could see. Hunter had asked my Uncle Randy and Grandpa Tom to be his witnesses so one stood on either side. Hunter's foot popped up on the first try so my dad lightly stepped on his feet and tried again... the second time was a successful immersion!

Hunter and my dad left the font to change. The rest of our group gathered in another room and sang primary songs while waiting. I passed around a journal for all to sign so my son could remember his special day and those he shared it with. Hunter came walking in the room with a ginormous smile and sat down right by me. I put my arm around him and squeezed him tight telling him I was so proud of his choice.

Bishop Paulos gave a few remarks. Then Hunter went up to the front, sat on a chair, and the priesthood holders who were there circled around him placing their hands upon his head. My dad gave him his confirmation blessing giving him the gift of the holy ghost and making him an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Afterwards we all gathered in our "new" home for a light brunch. My sister and I had made 192 mini muffins, 30 cinnamon rolls, and 4 egg and hash brown casseroles (recipe courtesy of my friend Jamie). we also had fruit, chocolate milk, milk and juice. The kids seemed to love the little muffins. Hunter completely filled a plate and ate them all. Tanner filled his plate telling all he was having a muffin party! He sat next to the bar on the floor to eat them with his bestest friend.

All in all it was a wonderful day spent with my kiddos, family and friends. And I am one mommy who couldn't be prouder of the choices her kiddos are making.