One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish......

I was so excited to join Drew on his field trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific. I wanted the bus ride to be fun, so I packed along UNO cards, a tic tac toe board, and paper. We had a great UNO game going with 8 kids playing and Drew won! The 2 hr bus ride was fun, but I forgot how loud a bus full of 2nd graders can be.


We have been blessed with Amazing teachers for Drew. He loves his teacher Mrs. Griffin and has even said to me, "I wish I could stay with her."

Drew's 2nd Grade Class



Drew touching Sea Anemones

Drew loved the Sting Ray

Drew with his buddies, Girish & Gavin

The aquarium was lots of fun and I'm so glad I was able to go and see Drew's excitement for all the cool fish he was able to see and touch. He came home with an octopus from the souvenir shop and said that he liked them and the sharks the most.

I am also grateful for my wonderful friends, who watched my little ones, so I could go and play for the day. You are the best!

Doc for a Day!

As Ian climbed off the bus he said, "I had the best day ever!" He had just returned from his field trip to the Loma Linda Children's Health Fair. He was excited to show me his big bag of goodies that he received and to tell me all about his day.




He immediately came home and dumped out his "Treasures." He"s rockin in his new shades!

He told me that his favorite part of his day was when he got to go into the hospital and give his stuffed monkey a shot. However, he quickly changed his mind and told me that riding in a police car was his favorite thing to do. I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he still wants to be a police officer, so that he can carry around a gun!

I thought this was darling! He wrote out a prescription for his dad.

I'm so glad that he had his best day ever! I love seeing my kids happy. Tomorrow Drew and I are off for his field trip. Good Times this week!

My Mother's Day...

I LOVE being a mother! I have been truly blessed to have four beautiful, healthy, exuberant, little ones to call me, "Mom!" My morning started off great. I was able to sleep in this morning, waking up at 6:45am to Mya squealing, "Mommy!" Kenny jumped up to get her and brought her back into my bed for our morning snuggles. Owen, Drew, and Ian quickly followed behind her. Loves and back rubs for everyone and a quick reminder of why I am grateful for our king size bed. Kenny reminded the children that it was Mother's Day and the boys jumped up and went and gathered their homemade gifts for me. They brought them to me in bed, and I gushed over them, like any good mother would. Instead of breakfast in bed, I was presented with licorice and mini packs of M&M's, which came from their Easter buckets. Owen exclaimed, "Mom I have cocklate (chocolate) for you to share with me!" I am always happy when my morning starts off with chocolate!

Kenny had early morning church meetings, so I was left to tackle breakfast and getting ready for church on my own. The morning was running smoothly, until I stepped out of the shower, and Mya peed down my leg, soaking my new slippers. As usual, I had to battle Owen to get dressed and then as I'm yelling that we're late for church, we were greeted with a stray dalmatian dog in our garage. We walked in late to church and my boys led us to the very front, center, pew in the chapel. Kenny gave me this look, like I was crazy to be sitting there, but I really didn't want to make a scene and move everyone. Mya pooped during church, which made me realize that I had left the diapers and wipes at home. I mouthed to Kenny, who was sitting up on the stand that she pooped, and he came down to sit with the boys, while I took Mya to change her. I had to stop and grab diapers from a friend as I exited the chapel.

Kenny complained to me later how crazy our boys were during sacrament, and I replied, "Welcome to my world!" I can't remember the talks, because I had little ones, whining and whispering to me the whole hour and a half. I kept saying, "Its Mother's Day, please just be quiet!" They obviously didn't remember that the day was to be one of peace and relaxation for me!

Kenny made up for the morning by letting me take a 3hr nap! That was the best gift ever! We spent the rest of the day watching movies and dining on popcorn, cheese slices, and apples. My friend's kids, surprised me at my door with cookies, which was the perfect dessert following my Mother's Day feast!

As I kissed my little ones and tucked them in their beds, Ian asked me, "Was this the best Mother's Day ever?" My answer was, YES!

To all you mother's out there, I hope you had a happy day. I received this text this morning and I think it sums up motherhood perfectly: I have carried a child within my body, I have comforted a baby upon my chest, I have kissed boo boo's, mended broken hearts, been puked on and peed on, I have been woken up in the middle of the night by a feverish child and more. BUT I wouldn't have it any other way. I know that I'm no super model, but when I look in the mirror I see a strong, loving, nurturing, hard working mother and there is no greater blessing in the world than that!

***I love you Mom and Clarissa! You both have set such a great example for me on how to be a mom. I wouldn't be the mom I am today, without you! Happy Mother's Day!

The Hunt!

This year our Easter was jammed pack with festivities! Three egg hunts, dyeing eggs, learning about family traditions, gathering with friends, & of course talking about the true meaning of Easter.

Drew and his good friend Robbie.

Lu & Mya digging in!

Our dear friends invited us over for Easter Dinner & to help Luana celebrate her birthday. We also were able to take part in their family Easter tradition. This was by far one of the coolest traditions I have ever seen. Their uncle brought in, carried by two big men, the biggest tub of candy, cookies, chips, I have ever seen! It had every treat you could even imagine. Each kid was given a bag and told to fill it up. Then the adults got a turn! I came home with Oreo's, Snicker's, York Peppermint patties, Pull & Peel's, Peanut M&M's, Robbin's Eggs, and not just the little sizes, I'm talking big bags. That was just what I brought home, the kids had even more! It was like every kids/Johanna's dream come true! I love the Patterson's and Ugapo's and always appreciate their kindness and generosity. Much easier than filling up little eggs and having to go on a hunt!

We prepared our children for Easter by talking about Jesus Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection. I want my children to know how grateful I am to know that Jesus was resurrected! He lives and loves each of us and through him we may return to live with him again. I love Easter for this reason and want my children to grow up knowing the true reason we celebrate Easter.

Spring Carnival

Sundance school hosted a spring carnival, so I loaded up the kids and took them for a night of fun activities and sweet treats! Mya loved the cotton candy and making bubbles.
Ian dominated in stacking 10 walnut shells in less than a minute!
Drew came in 1st place in the gunny sack races!
Owen was lucky to even make it to the finish line!
The school was also celebrating Earth day, so they used recycled items for some of the games.

We stayed until it got dark and cold. It was a fun way to spend a Friday night!

KS Trip - Take 2

We had a little bit of free time to play during our quick trip back to Kansas. Carmin and I took our girls to a fun children's museum in Kansas City, where Mya loved riding on a tractor, milking a cow, and collecting eggs from the chickens. At night we had some major jam sessions, to classical music!

The Bieberly girls dance before they go to bed, but Mya and cousin Brynlee liked being swung and twirled all around better.

Of course it was more fun being dipped at the same time.

So after losing my grandpa Scott, I realized that I only have one remaining grandparent living. I wanted to make sure and visit with my grandpa Elliott while I was in town. I was glad to see him walk up our driveway, without his cane, for a surprise visit at the end of the day. When I asked him where his cane was he replied, "I don't want to forget it somewhere so I leave it at home where it can't get lost!" We later got a call from his assisted living home, wondering if we had seen him. I guess he was Missing In Action and they were getting ready to report it to the police! He didn't realize that he wasn't "free" to leave without signing out. After he realized he got himself in trouble, he said he had to go and peeled away like a teenager late for his curfew!
Mya was happy to see her Great Grandpa Elliott too and did what she does best, giving hugs!

Being so far away from home and family makes me sad. I wish I could just bring them back to CA with me in my suitcase.

Whirlwind of a Trip!

Life has been pretty busy, so I am behind in the blogging world, & going to try and catch up. The boys had their spring break 2 weeks ago & it happened to match up with Auntie Kim and Catherine's spring break in CO, so we were lucky to have them come out to CA to visit us for a couple of days. Of course lots of the time was spent playing "monster," which pretty much consists of the Aunts having to chase and wrestle the boys around for hours. Aunt Kim made up a new game, which entails the kids being wrapped up in their t-shirt quilts (made lovingly by grandma Summers), and dragged all throughout the house. Kim definitely got her work cut out for her. Ian taking Mya for a ride.

Drew and Mya

Catherine hurt her knee in a car accident, so she was unable to do all the physical play with the kids, but it didn't stop Mya from warming up to her!

Kenny and the girls, surprised the boys and took them to Disneyland! I don't have photos of the day, but the boys had a blast. Drew's favorite thing to do was drive the cars, Ian liked the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and Owen liked the Buzz Lightyear ride. Unfortunately, I was unable to go, because a few days before Kim and Catherine arrived I received the news that my grandfather, Howard Scott, had passed away. This meant a quick trip back to KS for his funeral. It worked out well that Kim and Catherine were able to stay with my boys, so that Mya and I could go be with my family.

My grandpa was a WWII veteran in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, so his funeral was very patriotic. Mya and I, along with my cousins and his fifteen great grandchildren all walked in carrying a flag. The ceremony was a celebration of his life. One of my favorite parts was when my Uncle Greg, talked about my grandpa and grandma dancing around the kitchen when he was a boy and thinking about them now, reunited and dancing together in heaven. At the cemetery there was a 21 gun salute and a man playing "Taps" on the bugle. It was a definite tear jerker. I miss my grandpa but am grateful for the wonderful memories that I have of him. He was a rancher and would work at the sale barn. I remember when I was young going out and watching him and always feeling so proud to have a grandpa that was a cowboy! He would always treat us to cinnamon rolls after he finished working. He was also the one who taught me how to gamble! He loved to play cards and always had loose change for us to play with. He was a very loving grandfather and I will miss him dearly.

So more to come on our trip in KS.......