Timeline-The Jacklin 5 take a trip

We left on Tues. June 2, at noon. I was trying to keep one last surprise, since my Dad's (Rex) surprise party was impossible to keep a surprise. I wanted to see the look on his face when he saw that it wasn't just me & the baby...it was ALL of us waiting at the airport! When he saw us, a huge grin flashed across his face! Mom was delighted too. I can't remember a recent time where I'd seen her happier. The missionaries had vacated the basement for a week so we could stay there. They had bunk beds & the boys thought that was the coolest -so they took turns with the top bunk. The first night was filled with showing us the extensive garden & flowers. The boys spent probably an hour in Grammie's garden, esp. jumping off the couple of bales of hay. The next day, (Wed.) we had the grandparents to ourselves. We went to good old Fred Meyer to buy a few things, took a tour of downtown Renton & the changes at the Boeing campus where my Dad worked (Mechanical Engineer) for 37 yrs! In the afternoon, we got our suits & headed for Lake Washington at Jean Coulon Park. It was a great to have the kids play where I played as a kid too! We had supper out on the deck at home, overlooking the view, or should I say overgrown trees obscuring the view of Mt. Ranier?! Ahh, good to be home though.
Thursday, my aunt Doris & my dear brother John came in from LA. Doris came in @ 11am, so we dropped my boys off to play at a park & window shop in Renton while Rex & I picked up Doris. Then we all met up again & went to visit the grounds at the Seattle Temple (in Bellevue). Doris & her family had lived in Bellevue long ago when her husband was an Eddie Bauer executive. So Dad drove around for a long time trying to find her old house. We encouraged him to give up.;) Then we returned home. It was roasting in the house. My parents have no air conditioner in their house & have never needed one. It was a hot day, but this was strange! Come to find out, the heat was left on all day!! After dinner, my dad picked up Aunt Luann (Calvin's wife). We had fun visiting, then it was time to pick up (bro.) John C. My husband & I went alone. We picked up a treat & movie & headed back home -laughing the whole way!
Friday -time to pick up Uncle Cal & later Aunt Annette (her husband, John A., poor thing was sick in the hotel the whole trip! But at least he got uninterrupted rest). Our family, my parents, John C., & my aunts & uncle, all went to our favorite place to eat for lunch. Then everyone split up in groups. Our family & John C. had planned to go up to Everett to visit Tom (my bro-2nd to the youngest) & Amy's family for playtime & BBQ. Their boys are similar ages to ours & I couldn't wait for the day Colt & Caleb could finally actually play together. But a miscommunication took Caleb with Grammie & we had to go without him. It was a really great visit, however. Then Saturday was busy with getting prepared for the party.
Sunday (Aunt Doris left in the morning) we went to Everett (WA) & filled the chapel to capacity! (6 uncles, 2 grandpas, 1 great uncle +1 proud papa all got to participate in the blessing) All these Candlands & extended family came for the blessing of Tom & Amy's baby, Heidi. Afterward, we went to Ellen's house to eat. The kids loved playing in her playset & trampoline. Micah had fun getting acquainted with twin cousins, Macy & Avery. Afterward, we separated again, Many went to my oldest nephew, Adam's seminary graduation & school commencement ceremony. John C., & my family went to see Dan's new house. Dan was sure a cute host, so happy. We came back to my parents house to find my parents & his siblings still chatting away! Night owls! We stayed up with them till about 11 then said our final goodbyes. What fun!
Monday morning, Uncle Cal & Aunt Luann returned home. Aunt Annette & her husband (John A.) were up for some sight seeing. My family tagged along. We took the ferry to Vashon Island. We ate lunch there & returned in just in time to see them off at the airport. We returned home, where John C. & mom returned from their outing, just in time to say our goodbyes to him.:( Then we headed back up to Carnation, WA to have dinner & Family Home Evening with Dave & Marcy's family. They upheld our tradition of singing the storm trooper song as one of the FHE songs and had homemade ice cream for dessert!
Tuesday morning we spent getting ready to leave & went out for an early lunch, then headed out to the airport. We arrived in Houston about 12:45 am CST. Thank goodness for a day off on Wed. to try & recoup!

More Micahisms

Micahisms from Saturday and today:
"Mommy! Mommy! Look I found some money! Now I have enough money to go to MiNonalds! This one (points to the penny in his hand) is enough to go to Space Center and this two (points to 2 nickels) is enough for TWO MiNonalds, 1 for me & one for Caleb!
(At the dinner table) "Mommaay! My food is turning into poo poo!" he stated matter-of factly.
(About 3 weeks ago I made a brief explanation on how the digestive system works. I guess he caught on!)

Last year, I went to Seattle (by myself) because my niece (the eldest grandchild of the family) was getting married. So many people kept saying, "when are you going to bring the rest of your family?" It got me thinking "what would be the next big event that would come for?" I quickly realized my Dad's 75 birthday would be the next year & what better excuse than that?! Whenever we'd ask my dad what he wanted for Christmas or as a gift, he would respond, "a happy family" or maybe, "peace in the home". (Not till I was a parent of multiple children myself, did I fully appreciate that!) I knew it would mean the WORLD to him if he could be surrounded by ALL his family on his birthday. So, it was a year in the planning, because when I arrived home, I told my husband & began to formulate a plan. Though the plan had some ups and downs, as planning major events often do, it turned out beautifully! Everyone of my Dad's siblings (3 living) & two spouses were able to come, including his sister, who is currently a missionary in the Salt Lake City Family History Center. (In the past, it was rare that the Candlands had family reunions, but oh! what wonderful people!!!) Others that came were former & current members of the Seattle 4th ward -longtime friends, and my cousin Krager & his wife (whom I'd never met before), my dad's cousin, and his 4th cousin who is 91 years old-who is his current home teaching companion. With 9 immediate family members, 5 spouses, and 19 grandchildren, it was no small undertaking! We had a video booth set up for video birthday messages, a video slideshow and the younger kids had the nursery set-up for them to play with an older niece (Shani) to supervise. The program was intended to be simple, just have a few pre-selected siblings/friends tell a funny story about my Dad. Well I must not have done a great job MCing because my Dad took control of that mike! He was very cute to see how happy he was. True to his humble character, he asked every one that came to "roast" him (sort of) a specific significant thing they had accomplished in their life. He truly does have an amazing family! Then he asked all his children to come up and so we all stood up & asked us to tell something, so we all shared a memory. Our gift to him was a small book of our memories of him, just a page or two each. So most of us shared something from that. There were some real funny ones. Especially, the one of when my 2 oldest brothers were at the hardware store with my dad. The younger one (Dan, about 3) had to go to the bathroom and they couldn't find one, till suddenly, they turned the corner & there, like a beacon, was a whole row of toliets! Dave said he didn't quite remember what happened after that, but he does remember leaving in a real big hurry! So all 7 of us shared a story, plus Dan Stevens, (the Stevens family are like-family to us) who lived with us for a while. We gathered for a picture at the end.
One of the other major reasons for the visit was that I felt a deep importance that we needed to have some good bonding time, my kids with their cousins. They need to start making memories of their own. So I scheduled some time with my family & felt like we got a nice visit with everyone.

I should write a book of Micahisms. Micah (pronounced my-ka, named after the prophet in the Old Testament) is 3 yrs old and has big blue eyes. His sweet voice & funny expressions can't help but melt your heart. Often, we find ourselves turning to hide laughter after he looks deeply into our eyes & says something funny. Here are 3 things he said today:
"Here Daddy, I'm done wif my dinner, you can have 3 bites, okay?"
"I'm going to go brush my teef. And I'm going to put the toofpaste on my toofbrush and I'm going to squeeeeeeeeeese it."
Randomly walking through the kitchen Micah sang out "My brain told me I that I can. I caaaaaan!"

Hair cut

I grew out my hair for a few reasons, I liked the look of celebs who had long hair (& hoped I could achieve the look at least once), and my husband wanted me to grow it out again. It took just over a year to get it this length. But I have to say it was NOT fun to have long hair! Because of Houston's heat & humidity, the baby pulling my hair, taking forever to dry & if I did "do" my hair I'd just end up putting it up anyway, & also finding it everywhere -ugh! I was so happy to have it chopped! I got it done at a really nice place, the Ulta salon, thanks a gift certificate -a gift from my Dad last Christmas when they were here.
She took off 6+inches.

Today, we are celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary!!! I am very happy. It's kinda been like...i dunno, a drop in the bucket because we've got that eternal perspective. We look forward to being together forever. So the way I feel right now is that 10 years is something I look back on & say, "look at all we've accomplished & all that's happened!" Rather than, "whew, we've made it this far -50 more years to go" or whatever. (Yes, we believe there is a way to be married not just till death-do-you-part, but into the next life too. Wanna learn more about that? go to "mormon.org" or ask me/or your nearest Mormon friend!)
Anyway, after we had been married about a month, I told him, "Wow! You are my best roommate ever!!!" (Sorry past roommates, I loved ya, but not this much!;).) I was absolutely in bliss those first few months. I had an adoring husband, helpmate, & confidant...and we didn't have to say goodbye to each other anymore! (Well, not at night anyway, just when he went off to work). But I knew he was mine & I was his & our commitment was so deep, the feeling was indescribable joy!

Today, we celebrated by me surprising him for lunch. I got his co-workers in on it (Thanks Chan, Tieva & Nathan!) We went to "Hot Wok" a new Asian food restaurant. I had Pad Thai & he had Kung Pao Chicken. It was really delish! Once when I picked up my glass of water, my husband pointed out that the water ring left behind was in a smiley face!!! I felt like that was a sign. We took a pic & just in time too because right afterward, the waitress came back, filled my cup & set it back down in almost the same spot, so it ruined it.
For dinner, we had grilled filet minon & baked potatoes. Very juicy & tender. Again, I'm not a fan of red meat, but it was something to drool over!
P.S. On Saturday we completed the anniversary by attending the Houston Temple. We left feeling such a wonderful peaceful feeling & so refreshed!