It just keeps getting better...

This year, for our Anniversary, Craig told me not to do anything, because he wanted to plan it. "Okay," I thought, but I honestly didn't expect anything more than dinner and maybe a movie. Imagine my suprise, however, when I was awoken at 2 am thursday morning (a day before our anniversary) to a smiling Craig, dressed, hair combed, and ready to go. "Get up, we're going," he said, I shook off the sleep and groggily asked, "where are we going." He guestured to the night stand where there were a dozen red roses and a card telling me to get dressed because we were going away for the weekend. Three hours later, kids asleep in the back, car loaded with suitcases, all of which Craig packed, we were in the car a couple of hours into a trip to I had no idea where. The suspense was more fun than I can even describe. I was guessing all sorts of places, Yellowstone, Las Vegas, Park City, Jackson Hole... anywhere semi-close. So my stomach did an almost audible flip when we turned onto 80-West toward Reno, I looked over at Craig and almost shouted, "Are we going to California?!" He smiled and nodded. Needless to say I spent the next 3 hours bouncing off my seat I was so excited. Now, for those of you who don't know, I grew up in California, and LOVED it. I also haven't really been back (except a short trip for a wedding) since the day we got married, 5 years ago. Since my parents moved to Utah right when we were getting married, I haven't really had any reason to go back, and I've missed seeing my home more than I can describe. I seriously cried when Craig told me where we were going. Yeah, tears streaming down my face and all. And since we left so early(such a good idea, the kids slept through six of the ten hours and then sat calmly for the other four), and California is an hour behind Utah, we arrived semi early in the afternoon, and had most of the day to spend with my Aunt Julia, and cousins Kaisa and Raquel. My kids got to swim in a pool I grew up swimming in, that was surreal. Now let me take a moment to talk about my cousins. We were pretty much raised with my Aunt Julia's family. Seriously, Rocia, Kaisa and Raquel are like my sisters. And I haven't really seen Kaisa since I left for school, six years ago. There are some people you just click with, no matter how long you've been away it's like you never left. That's my cousin Kaisa. I swear we knew eachother before we were born, I just love that girl. She seriously the cutest funniest spunkiest person I know. And so dang cute with her 3 little boys, yeah 3, she's a busy girl.

Me in the morning with my roses, still clueless as to where we are going.
About to leave, they are so tired.Driving out to Cali- the sun is not even up yet.
Swimming in Aunt Julie's pool.I seriously spent 1/2 my childhood on Aunt Julie's trampoline doing the exact same thing.

So we got to spend a couple days catching up with family, I was able to see my dear friend Stacy from my high school and young single adult years, who I also hadn't seen in 5 years. She's just as cute as ever, and has a georgeous little girl named Montana. I was so glad to be able to visit with her and spent the rest of the day telling Craig all about how we used to harmonize "My little Wild One" with Maran while walking from 2nd to 3rd period our senior year, and "How Great thou Art," while on our way to YA firesides. Those were some of my best times. Strangely, on the same day, I took Craig down to Elk Grove to look at my high school, and on our way across town to see the restaurant where I worked at my first job I was thinking about how I'd really like to see my friend Melissa Bonham, from high school, but had no way of getting ahold of her. Seriously 2 minutes later, we're driving down old town EG and she was right there on the side walk, walking into a store with her mom. Unbelievable! I totally shouted her name out the window, like a geek, and parked the car, so I could talk to her for a few minutes. Yeah, I will never be that lucky again. Seriously one minute earlier or later and I wouldn't have seen her at all. Awesome!

Me and StacyAn ice cream shop in Old Town Folsom

Craig at the Pony Express Monument in Old Town Folsom, his great great Grandfather was a pony express rider.Me in front of my high school.We also went to check out the Sacramento Temple, which neither of us had seen since it was completed. And I was able to take Craig to see the houses I grew up in. I was super lucky because one of the neighborhoods I grew up in is now a gated community and so there was no way to get in, but somebody was coming out as we drove past, so we snuck in behind him, and I showed Craig the house I spent most of my childhood in. Hehe, we're so evil. My Aunt Julia had a barbeque at her house Friday night and I ate the best ribs I've ever tasted. We swam in the pool with the kids and cousins that night. Fun, fun, fun.

Me, Raquel and KaisaMe, Craig, our kids and Kaisa's son MaddoxCraig in front of the house I grew up in.The house I lived in in High School
That's Carter, not Hannah, in one of Aunt Julie's wigs.Kaisa and Ethan

On Saturday, Craig took us all to Santa Cruz to go to the beach and boardwalk. This kids were a little stinky, but it was a great day. It was especially cool because we went to Santa Cruz 2 days before we got married, only now, going back we've multiplied. The kids were so hilarious in the water. A couple of times they underestimated the size of a wave and ended up face down in the sand. I must admit it was pretty funny. I even got to eat a corndog on the boardwalk, mmmm.

On a walk through the redwoods.

Buried in the sandCarter loves doughnuts...alot.The fam, on the beach.On the boardwalk
A little crazy in the car. On Sunday we spent the morning chatting it up with Aunt Julia, and Kaisa and Scott and the kids spent the time screaming "BACK EGOR!" at my uncle Steve. If you are an Erickson you'll know what that means, if you're not, discard it, it's way too long to explain. Then sadly we climbed in the car and headed back home :-(

Back Egor!Shy cute Aunt Julia.My cousin Brant- cutie.Time to go, I love this kid.Craig's belly- five years later...
Stopping in the Sierra Nevadas.It was a really special trip for me, and reminded me of who I am. It was good to go back to my roots, and remember things I had forgotten. Thank you, Craig for such an amazing trip, and an amazing anniversary. You always know what I need, even when I don't know it myself. You are everything I dreamed of when I was a little girl, and you've answered every hope I've had as an adult. I couldn't design a more perfect person for me. I thank the Lord that he led me to you, and that you were there waiting for me. I love you more now then when we got married, and I'm grateful for every minute we are together. I love you, here's to the next 5 years!

Happy Birthday Meghan!!!

I just wanted to wish my little sissy Meggie Happy Birthday!!! You are still my best friend, the best singer, and cutest little throat swelling girl on the planet. Nobody knows me like you do, Meghan, I love you! Happy 24th Birthday to the best sister EVER!!!!!!!

In 5 years...

We've gone from this: To this:

The Robinsons: Craig, Cori, Hannah, Carter and Ethan.

Established August 22, 2003

Yeah, we've been a little busy.

Dear Jane

Anyone who knows me, well, knows that I'm slightly obsessed with Jane Austen. Well, maybe not so slightly. She's my fave. This obsession was only fueled last night when I went on a girls night with some women in my ward to see Pride and Prejudice: The Musical, oh yeah, that's right. So good. I was actually surprised how well the actors could sing considering that it was a college production. There were all kinds of cute funny moments, but by far the funniest/saddest was when Jane and Mr. Bingley finally get together and they totally breakout into a reprise of an earlier love song, full crescendo and everything, and I don't know if it was just too overwhelming for everyone but almost the entire audience busted up laughing. Only, it wasn't meant to be funny... at all. Sad Day. Come on people, theater etiquette! It's not a movie, those people can actually HEAR you! Other than that, it was a cute play. Thanks ladies for a fun night!

Stylin`

Hannah's hair has been a thorn in my side for the past two years. She's got my funky curl, which means it's totally curly on one side, and a kind of blah wavy on the other, plus you add in the Robinson SUPER COWLICK and yikes, you've got a super problem.


The Problem
This is pretty much what it looked like EVERYDAY, especially after naps. But it was so long, and I really hesitated cutting her locks off. I mean, it took 4 years for it to get that thick and long. Except I realized that although it was long, it almost never looked good. :-( Another big problem: she was starting to notice too. Nice, great mother I am. So I got some guts and drove her down to get a haircut on Saturday. Here's our lovely little solution:

We went with an A-line do, which I think really accents her cute little nose and chin. It's nice a short and totally manageable!


We went down to the great clips and lucky for us Hannah's friend Lexi's mom was available to cut her hair, Yippee! She was so much less intimidated when she realized it was Lexi's mom who was going to cut her hair and then she was totally excited about the "princess haircut chair." She was the definition of perfect; held completely still, put her head down when Tara asked her to, and pretty much smiled the whole time! Yes! Too bad mom was such a geek, squealing every thirty seconds about "how cute it looked" and snapping pictures and video the entire time. Dang it, I am a nerd!

Her ice cream treat after her haircut... the finished product.This is yesterday after her nap, WITHOUT combing it! Oh, yeah, that's an improvement.

Snotty

So I put Ethan to bed tonight and he's totally tired and grumpy, oh yeah, it's a cry himself to sleep night for sure. So after about ten minutes of bloodcurling screaming, I go in to calm him down. I rocked him, gave him lovies, and put him back down. He went right to sleep. So later I'm sitting on the bed and I look down at my arm. There's big ole trail of thick dried snot. Mmmm, how long has that been there?

Fun for the kiddos

Here are some cheap and fun ideas I've used to entertain the kiddos this summer:

Hiking. We discovered that this is actually possible this summer, when we'd had ourselves convinced we'd have to wait years to enjoy this hobby again, Wrongo! The kids probably have more fun than we do, picking flowers, finding stick swords, pretending they're in Snow White's forest. It's the perfect activity for them to use their imagination, and it's good exercise.

What is is about grass that is so much fun for kids. Seriously. I'm like 90% sure we surround our kids with WAY too many toys. I'm not kidding. Clear off the lawn and watch the mad skills with the somersaults.

Never underestimate the power of a little cornstarch, water, and some food coloring. It makes up a mighty fine potion, a big mess, and a good opportunity to teach the kiddos about liquids and solids.

A big blow-up whale in our little blow-up pool, add in some neighbor kids = absolute hysterical mania. Way to go Daddy for your ingenious 6 dollar supermarket find, the whale is a BIG hit.

And, if all else fails, just turn on the tunes. Kids love to dance, especially my kids. Speaking of which I couldn't resist posting this little video of Hannah, it's priceless. She does this little run-dance thing would be totally cheesy, but since she's only 4 it's totally hilarious. Enjoy!