"After the Wedding"

I have a deep love for the movie The Wedding Planner.

I love Jennifer Lopez' entire look from her hair, her makeup, her wardrobe, her job, her whole existence in that movie.

Oh and then Matthew McConaughey... Come on! He is so yummy in everything, but that movie especially.

And the city... I have always been in love with big city life. And San Francisco just has so much character - The hills, the architecture, the culture, all of it.

So, this movie I really just love.

While we were driving through the city, I couldn't help but think about this movie. I thought about if they did a sequel called, "After the Wedding" or "Three Kids Later."

My Sugar, just as dreamy as Matthew, and I, my makeup was a natural look like that of Jennifer's, could totally help with any of the movie ideas, creative input, writing, casting, wardrobe, makeup... whatever. We really could be the next J-Lo and Matthew. And our babies are definitely cute enough to actually be their kids in the sequel.

Getting the SCOOP!

Grandma and Grandpa are here and we couldn't be more excited to see them. 

"It's been a while, like forever," according to Afton. 

For FHE, I thought it would be fun to have my babies get to know their grandparents a little better. I wanted them to get a sense of who they are from their childhood experiences, favorites, loves, and fears. And what better way to get the "scoop" on them, then drilling them with questions while eating their favorite scoops of ice cream. 

We placed the scoops in a pile, face down, and each child would get a turn to pick. Whichever one they chose, would be the question the grandparent got to answer. 

They took turns and butted in on each other's answers, just like everyday conversation. 

Jocelyn used the times when Grandma was sharing her answers to steal her ice cream. Jocelyn had quickly finished her personal scoop of orange sherbet. But, grandma's strawberry was equally delicious.

Lots of laughter and memories shared

Then Jocelyn decided that she needed to eat my cookies'n'cream because I was busy filming. Little stinker.

Daily

She begs for science daily.

"I want it to be the summer of science even when it's winter time too."

"Dis is better than learning my letters."

"Vinegar stinks like butt momma, but I'm still lovin' it."

"Squirts and sizzles."

"You's have to use all your muscles."

"All done. Let's do it again."

Pick Right Back Up

Our husbands were dental school buddies. 

They were sort of forced into friendship because they had some key things in common. 

1. Both old as crap, in comparison to all the other freaking babies in their dental school class

2. Both LDS, and old as crap. The only other LDS classmates were just home from their missions because they were just freaking babies

3. Both dads of multiple kids, because they each were old enough to have more than one kid

Because of their forced friendship, the friendship of us wives was natural.

And then our babes' friendship was inevitable.
We had kids similar in age and they got along well. Like really well. Plus their kids weren't little stinkers, bonus. (Can't say the same for mine.)

And this weekend, it was just like the good old days. We were able to pick right back up where we left off 2 & 1/2 years ago. 

Husbands, good buddies.
Kids, best buddies.
Wives, just the best of the best.

Heart Shaped Pizza

Valentine's dinner with the twins was "de-yish-us."

John John sounds just like Jocelyn a few years ago, so it just makes me swoon.

That, and he is the sweetest little boy ever, other than my own John.

Written 2 years ago. 

Posted 3 days after Valentines 2021.

Really missing our cute twins and all the Washington family! 

Greece

Currently January 11, 2021.

This activity happened March 29, 2020, almost a year ago. 

This was beginning of the craziness of COVID. 

And this morning, my 3 babes all participated in their schooling, via zoom. (Afton is still on her zoom and is 2:55 pm.) 

Craziness of COVID. 

A lot has changed. 

But so much is still the same. 

Like the fact that I'm still behind on posting for our family blog. (Ugh.)

But I at least had the pictures off of my phone from last year, so that's positive growth for me. So I'm forced to screenshot for images, but I'm okay with it. 

I am, I promise.

Kind of.

I used to do this thing. It's called a blog. 

But some things have occupied my time lately that have hindered my ability to journal in this specific way for my family. 

Things like: 

Afton in 4 different dance classes

Jocelyn in 1 dance class

Afton and Jocelyn in swim

Jack in select soccer

Jack in basketball

Relief Society President

Ministering

Subbing

Wifing

Momming

The list goes on...

Anyway, here's my attempt to blog again (as I copy what I wrote on our Instagram (Chatbooks account) feed - my feeble attempt to still journal over the last 2 years of my blogging absence), along with 7,654,667 more pictures to document our adventures in GREECE today. 

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Spring break plans were filled with an rv, friends, Disneyland, and the ocean. But those plans were forced to change. 

This morning, our kids woke up to a new set of plans, as we will travel to a new country each day of the week. Jocy was so excited, as she thought we were literally traveling to all these places that I shared. (She's so pretty, definitely my daughter.)

Our country today was Greece: Parthenon like structures, Greek salad with homemade dressing, Athenians vs. Spartans, laurel wreaths to represent Apollo, Mediterranean gyros, and naturally the first olympic games honoring Zeus. 

Afton took gold in track. (Afton's pick)

Jocy took gold in soccer. (Jack's pick) 

Jack took gold in racing with balloons.  (Jocy's pick from her favorite pe teacher in the world.)

The night will end with watching Hercules and feeling somewhat connected to Disneyland. Where will tomorrow take us?

The Parthenon:

Greek Salad & Dressing: 

Athenians vs. Spartans: 

Laurel Wreaths: 

Gyros: 

The Olympics:

Hercules: 

Fruit Snack Challenge

Our babes are always down for an adventure, but sometimes midway, that excitement fades.

They start to get tired, whine, cry, whine, throw fits, whine... you get it.

Today was no different.

But the Fruit Snack Challenge helped.

Whoever could keep their ONE fruit snack the longest, would get to pick the music we listened to on our drive home.

Jack ate his in about a minute. Jocy held out for awhile, maybe 10 minutes.

Afton put up a good fight in hopes we would listen to Post Malone's Sunflower.

Fortunately, she did not win. My Sugar's efforts were valiant. Afton was scared he'd pick Buju Banton.

Jocy just kept asking for another. "Start over."

But alas, I won.


And Justin Timberlake was played proudly the whole way home.