Harris Spring Break

Winter 2015 has been bitter cold and very grey but with the arrival of the Harris family it was Spring for me.  I believe they really did bring the good weather with them from the south and it left with the as well because as soon as Kathryn and crew left the weather turned grey again.  It was so nice to spend time and a holiday with family.  While the Harris crew was here we ate well, had daily adventures, played hard, watched some classic movies, celebrated Easter, and just all around enjoyed our time with one another.  Tank was especially sad when they left because they took his best friend with them, Lucy.  Both dogs refrained from food the day of the departure and this lasted for a few days until I took Tank to the vet.  I was fearful that he was sick and needed medical attention.  The diagnosis was that he was heart broken. 

The Harris Family arrived late Saturday night and we got to spend Sunday with them.  We had a mock Easter dinner because Boyd was going to leave early from NYC because he needed to work on Easter weekend.  We ate one of my favorite meals potatoes, ham, and beans.  As usual the adults liked it and the kids subsisted on the nutrients from the air because they ate next to nothing.  Except when we had the egg hunt then they found their eggs and gorged themselves on chocolate.  Oh to be a kid and be able to eat like that without consequences of weight gain and guilt.  It was a good day and we enjoyed being together.  Kathryn was talking about their plans for NYC and was inviting me to join them but the catch was that Josh had to go to work and it would be me with my three boys. When I took a pass Kathryn I'm sure thought "c'mon Jena, don't be a woose."  It wasn't until they had their own personal experience with the city that they understood my reasons for not going.  In short it is exhausting and nerve racking with small children.

Adam, Zach, and Andrew were constantly asking when their cousins were going to return for the two days that they were absent.  Soon they were reunited for lots of adventures to come.  As Kathryn and I were planning out our week she explained that in SC they didn't have rocks and her boys got really excited about them.  So a hike at Hackle Barney state park was a great place to fulfill the need to play with, in, jump on, throw, climb up, crawl through, and collect rocks.  The hike unexpectedly started with a play in the snow!  They Harris boys couldn't resist the call of the cold white stuff.  Kathryn was mortified at how cold it was and I thought we wouldn't make it out of the parking lot because it was quite cold and we weren't prepared for the conditions.  As we got started our bodies adjusted and the cold was forgotten.  The boys had a good time finding hiking sticks and playing a long the path.  We got to the river where we threw rocks, ate a picnic and found ourselves enchanted by the huge boulders that beckoned us up the hill.  I overheard bits and pieces of a game of stone forts and secret hiding places.  We followed a trail that took us up a waterfall and over some bridges which the kids loved.  I think the hike was my favorite activity that we did.  It was just what my soul needed after a long grey winter indoors.  I haven't been there in so long and had forgotten how much fun that little hike is.  

popcorn zoo
Wednesday we got the crew out to go to the "Popcorn Zoo" down in south jersey.  We settled on this Zoo primarily because of financial reasons and because it would be a more interactive experience for the boys.  In my mind it was a little less cool that I remembered it being but our boys thought otherwise.  We ate lunch first at their picnic site and there to greet us were peacocks.  One ate out of Ben's hand!  The boys were thrilled and more than a little distracted from eating their lunch.  We made our way into the zoo from there each boy with his own box of popcorn to feed the animals.  We saw lots of tigers, and other big cats, monkeys, bears, and typical farm animals.  It was kind of hard feeding these animals because of the fences and barriers between us and them except when we got to the sheep.  Miles fell in love with feeding the sheep and at that point that as all he wanted to do.  It was really cute to see him get so excited and share in that experience with him.  Those sheep were well loved and fed by the time we left.  Andrew got a kick out of chasing the birds and trying to catch them, I enjoyed the bears that were reaching through their fence to get popcorn, Zach said that he loved the peacocks at lunch the best, and Adam really enjoyed feeding the ponies through the trough system they had set up there.  I think the best part for everyone was just being together.  It really doesn't matter what we are doing as long as we are together. 

Sterling Hill Mine
Josh took off work on Friday and spent the day with us going to the Sterling Hill Mine up in Northern New Jersey.  Again I thought that this would be a unique to the area experience because they lack rocks where the Harris boys live.  It was another successfully enjoyable adventure for the whole crew including Josh. He said over and over at how much he enjoyed the tour and our tour guide.  I was really impressed with their collection of minerals that they had in their museum and at what it takes to get minerals from out of the earth.  I kind of had in my mind that mining was a thing of the past but I realized how important it is to everything that we use.  It was not only educational but it was just cool seeing the florescent lights of the rocks when put under the ultraviolet light and who doesn't like going into a tunnel.  Andrew was especially interested in the tracks and train cars that were in the mine and he kept on making references to Thomas the train.  Zachary and Andrew got to help simulate the dynamite explosion, Kathryn figured out that "Zoolander" was filmed there at the mine, Ben and Chase filled their pockets up with rocks 'til their hearts delight, Miles conked out,  and everyone got to get something at the mine store for $5 or less.  With everyone happy and exhausted we made our way back to the Engstromspot. 
 
General Conference
Saturday morning hit and we were exhausted.  We decided to play at the house and watch conference.  Before settling in Kathryn and I prepared to go out to get supplies for our Easter celebrations and feeding people.  As we did this I turned to Chase and asked if I could bring him back anything special.  I was thinking something along the lines of food like chocolate milk or a special snack that he would like, but he surprised me with his very thoughtful answer; "I would really like a green stuffed animal alligator."  The cute sincere way that he said it made me smile and Kathryn and I quoted it for the rest of the time that they were here.  It was nice to have a day to relax and hang out with our cousins.  The boys found the bamboo rods that I use for gardening in the back yard and those sticks turned into all sorts of props in the games that they played.  The little cabin play house hasn't been this well played with since we got it.  The cabin roof became a cool place to perch and it was often that I looked out my window to see a boy body climbing through a opening in the little cabin or a boys body hurling itself off of the roof of this little thing.  I just loved that they were outside with the dogs using their imagination and bodies.  I feel like during the winter school year they turn into little drones and it is nice to see them being their boy selves.

Easter
Happy Easter!  We hunted and died eggs, ate way too much sweets, listened to General Conference and had a nice time with family.  Easter bunny was really nice this year with candy, toys, books, and $100 MomBucks!  I love that I have my own currency. 
The morning was our traditional wake up and find where the Easter Bunny hid our baskets.  Some were easy to find and Adam's was the hardest.  Eventually all was found and they all dove into their baskets and candy.  We moved onto to breakfast and Aunt Kathryn with her southern charms made us biscuits while I cooked us up some sausage and eggs.  The breakfast reminded me of what our grandmother used to fix for us every morning that we were at her house in the summer.  Every meal was a big deal in Grandmother's kitchen.  We had so many simple good memories at their house and I hope that Kathryn's and my kiddos are creating similar memories and bonds with their cousins that we got to do.  It was because of the simple times that we spent together at their house that we have that.  I remember feeling so loved and like I could do no wrong at my grandparents house. 
The rest of the day was listening to conference and cooking and dieing easter eggs and making Swedish pastry.  That desert is by far one of my favorites and once start I just can't resist.  I blame it on the almond flavoring, man that stuff is addicting.  I made two bunny ear shaped pastries that we partook of after we had our post dinner easter egg hunt.  There as a lot of eggs and everyone was pleased and happy with their candy, balloons, and golden egg finds.  It was so nice to enjoy the holiday with family.  I'm so glad that Kathryn is as adventurous as she is and is so willing to make the sacrifice of time money and energy to see family.  She is wonderful.  I honestly feel an enlightened feeling of my soul when she was here knowing that our relationship is eternal.
That evening since it was our last night to be together we ended it with a stay up late movie night.  There was some dispute among the boys as to which movie they were going to watch so I choose for them; "E.T."  This classic delivered!  Not only did it bring back so many memories of my childhood, (Allen's E.T. sheets, and my love for reeces pieces) it was a blast to see our boys experience this movie for the first time.  The story is one that they boys really related to and when they boys took off flying on their bikes everyone's heart was captured.  Great movie.

Last day together :(
Harris' packed up to leave on Monday.  Kathryn planned to stay the night in a hotel part way through so they left about half day.  Everyone was helpful at getting stuff gathered up ready to go.  I was really impressed with how responsible Ben was.  The boys seized the day and the nice weather by playing on the trampoline and in the yard.  It was the first time in several months that we have experienced temperatures that breached 70 degrees.   Our boys felt like this "heat" was just too much to handle so the clothes came off!  At first it was just shirts but Miles took the cue and got down to his preferred attire, his "birthday suit".  Before I knew it he was running round the front yard with the dogs just as happy as could be.  That was how he said his farewell.  We sent them off with lots of hugs and long faces. 

They literally took the good weather with them because the following day it was cold and rainy.  We planned to go with friends to Liberty Science Center.  Well apparently everyone had the same idea and it took me 30 min to travel 600 feet off the parkway ramp.  Realizing that I was going to fight my through an exhausting, expensive, fruitless day I aborted the mission.  Adam was heart broken because at this point we had been in the car for hours (since we drove an extra hour to pick up my friends) and it looked like it was all for nothing.  We went to the liberty state park and had a good time playing at the park with the NYC skyline in the background and the statue of Liberty.  As soon as I caught up with the kids at the park I found Andrew saying "Oh, No!  I'm wet."  Yep he had bee in the car so long and didn't know where a bathroom was that he wet himself.  I just happened to have a pull-up, my socks that I hadn't put on yet, and a bag of clothes that I was going to donate with a pair of pajama pants in it, Ta Da! new outfit!  We played took pictures, had our picnic, and then went back to play some more.  We weren't there for very long when I heard Andrew upset again, he pooped this time.  This adventure had just expired and I was out of clothes so I cleaned him up and we were out of there with a movie to watch on our way home.  Awe love those DVD players.  Good memories and so glad that we got to share the experience with the Laskers.

Wednesday I got to hit the reset button on my house because I had my cleaning ladies coming and man after all of the fun we have had it was time to pay up.  After getting the house in order I took the boys out for lunch at their favorite restaurant "Chili's" and then to the toy store where they got to spend their Easter $ on Legos.  It was a great way to spend the rest of their spring break putting together their new toys. 
   

St. Patrick's Day with Grandad (Pictures to come)

I got a text at the end of the week from my dad asking if he could come to FHE on the following Monday night!  I was so thrilled that I could barely think of anything else the whole weekend.  It was a good thing that I was attending the annual "Scrap House Party" Friday and Saturday all day and all night and then all day.  It was a blast and I have never in my life won so many prizes and had so much fun scraping.  I'm so grateful for the chance that I had to get away for over night. 

Grandad arrived in time to give the boys snuggles and tuck them into bed.  Zach had his outfit for St. Patrick's Day all picked out; beardo with leprechaun hat, and green shirt.  Zach's excitement for this holiday always fuels me for doing something special.  This year as in the past our leprechaun left streamers all over the place and little goodies in the boy's shoes.  It was fun for the boys to make their way down stairs through the maze work of green streamers and be welcomed with special green pancakes and of course Grandad.  Like past years we had a hunt for Leprechaun gold but this year was different because the leprechaun's gold was disguised as green rocks (baking soda) and we had to wash them off in magic water (vinegar).  They droped their rocks into the "water" and green fizz was over flowing the bowl.  It was a fun day but having Grandad here to celebrate with us made it our best St. Patrick's day yet.  I made a special dinner too the green being the theme color.  Zach professed to love it but only ate the shrimp.  I think that he just love that it as green and therefore was cool.  At least the adults liked it. 

I do all of these little things and mke these special efforts and I ask my self "why"?  My answer is because I only have a limited amount of time with my children and I want to celebrate each moment that I have with them.  I hope that I create memories that they feel my love for them, so that when they look back on their childhood they will have memories of us enjoying everyday and making the most of our time.  Also simply I love the look on their faces.  I've noticed that Adam is totally on to the game of pretend but he plays along.  I wonder if I will keep up traditions even when they have grown?  Who doesn't like to get goodies in their shoes and green pancakes?  I think some of these traditions are here to stay.