Trippin' to Costco

Admittedly, we are not the typical Costco family. We have just two kids, and we don't buy stuff in that kind of bulk (except burritos and toilet paper, in that order). Plus, Lessley is such an amazing coupon and clearance shopper, we end up saving much more shopping elsewhere.

That said, I love going to Costco, even though I hate shopping. Most of it has to do with eating at their food court, but for some reason I really enjoy a good trip there, especially on Saturdays. Lessley, however, doesn't like eating at the food court there (what's wrong with her?), so when she's out of town (all this week at girl's camp) I take the kids to Costco for an outing!

So Wednesday when I asked Eli where he wanted to eat, and he said "Costco," I was happy to oblige. As we were heading there, I laughed to myself that my kids see Costco as "a place to eat" rather than a place to buy pickles in 5 gallon jars.

Something you have to know at this point is that our Costco Membership is expired. We don't buy enough stuff there to justify renewing it, but that hasn't stopped us from going. You simply show the old lady (who is dressed like she's trying to be a 16 year-old) your card and waltz in. Since you don't have to show your card at the food counter, you're golden!

In fact, before we had a membership to Costco (2001-2006) I would simply tell the lady at the gate that I wanted to find out about memberships, grab a brochure at the counter, then follow my nose to the polish dogs.

Or, I'd simply slip in through the "out" door while the lady with the pink highlighter was mulling over a 3 foot long recipt handed to her by a lady whose three carts were filled to the brim with the items that were free samples that day.

You have to understand at this point that my love for Costco food is founded in these foods, in this order: Polish Dog (and drink: $1.49), Hot Dog (and drink: $1.49), Churro, Chicken Bake, everything else, then Pizza.

I just don't understand Costco Pizza. The kids and Lessley get it a lot, and I have to admit, it almost always fools me. But in the end, it's ALWAYS disgusting!

If a pizza with a tasteless sauce and insufficient cheese somehow mated with the box it's served in, the resulting offspring is what Costco pizza tastes like.

So while the polish dog, with its moistly shining surface layer of grease and supple bun is absolutely divine, the over-cooked yet somehow still soggy pizza is the pits.

Am I the only one that thinks that? People eat it all the time, and some even buy a whole pizza and take it home! I had no idea so many people lacked any taste (capris on guys aside).

Anyway, after we ate, we wandered around the store checking out the electronics while the kids enjoyed a rare berry smoothie treat (which tastes like the berries were washed in an industrial-grade soap that didn't all come off).

In the end, we headed home full and fulfilled. But still missing Mom!

Stuff we been doin'

Lessley's been slacking on the blog thing, so I (Ryan) thought I'd let you all in on what we've been up to since the last post. 

Arrrrren't they cute?

For reasons I never learned, one day Lessley dressed the kids up as pirates. They looked awesome! I've always been somewhat obsessed with pirates (gotta love booty) so for me they were as cute as can be. They loved it too. 

Viva, Las Vegas

Lessley was able to accompany me to a financial conference in Las Vegas in May. It was a short trip (2 nights), but fun nonetheless. We stayed at the Luxor in the pyramid (not near as cool as you'd think), and spent time at the pool, admiring overweight Euros in Speedos. 

Soggy but Fun Arches

Memorial Day weekend we headed down to Moab with a group of friends. It was a little rainy, which actually was probably good, as it kept the crowds away. It didn't rain much during the day, but oddly enough, each night it seemed to pour from the second we laid our heads down until the moment we woke up. The first night, Eli just wanted to go to the tent and listen to his MP3 player by himself. Weirdo, I know. No idea where he gets it. 

We hit Arches National Park, where we had lots of fun and got lots of excercise. We also got to listen to the kids whine most of the afternoon, but in their defense, with their little strides they walked a lot and were probably pretty tired. 

Here's a video of Eli getting buried. He really wanted to do this for some reason. This is at Sand Dune Arch. Don't skip it. It's a really cool setting. The rain made the sand the consistency of beach sand, so it was fun to play in.

Here are some more pictures. Sorry if my kids are too cute.

 

Don't I know you?

After we got back from Moab we had a reunion for the LDS Stake I grew up in in Santa Maria, California (if that name sounds familiar, it's the town Michael Jackson was tried in). 

I got to see old friends I hadn't seen for over a decade. It was a good time. Hallie and Eli had fun on the slip and slide. The video below is long, but about half-way through Hallie is pretty funny. After that, it's even boring to me. 

And some other stuff...

Lessley then took the kids to Park City for a few days where her parents had a week in a condo. She'll have to tell you what they did, because I have no idea. But I bet it was fun! I missed them, and did nothing but mope around the house missing the noise of frolicking children. What? You don't believe me?

Here's a picture of a Moose they trapped and graffitied while there...probably.

My youngest brother, Marc, trod into the great unknown as he graduated from High School last week. Despite man's many astonishing accomplishments (moon walk, Internet, Easy Cheese), we still have yet to find a way to make graduation ceremonies remotely interesting and entertaining. Despite that, we're happy to see him moving on to bigger and better things. 

Then, Lessley broke away from Soap Operas and Bon Bons to take a girls trip to St. George with my sisters and sisters in law. I'm sure they had fun, and be sure to ask Lessley to show you her "tan stripe." (And just kidding about the Bon-bon comment. She eats Peanut M&Ms and watches Oprah).

Here's a picture of the lovely lasses enjoying not being with the kids...err...I mean...missing their kids.

We all know the men in my family married up. At least that's what the women tell us. 

Totally Rad

My sister-in-law had a surprise birthday for my brother's 30th birthday. It was 80's themed and it was so much fun. WE all dressed up, and I have to say Hallie made one totally adorable 80's girl. I may just have to make this a regular in her outfit rotation,

                          What cute 80's kids 

I love the side pony! 

Eli & his cousins Lexi & Oakley 

The R2D2 cake. This is the same cake my brother had for his 7th b-day

"Earth"

My sister-in-law called and sad she had some free movie tickets to the movie premier Earth, and asked us if we wanted to come. Of course we said  YES! We weren't going to turn down a free movie and fun with the cousins.

The movie wasn't the most exciting but it was still fun. Eli loved being in the theater eating popcorn, candy, and hanging out with Grandma and his cousins Luke and Lexy.

Luke, Lexy, Eli

Easter in Boise

The kid's and I took a little road trip over Easter weekend to visit my aunt and cousin's in Idaho. Ryan wasn't feeling very well and since my cousin's little baby is still so tiny I didn't want him to come and get her sick.

My aunt had lots of fun things planned and included my kids in all the fun activities. We all had a so much fun!! Here are the highlights:

Decorating cake pops:

Eating Cake Pops:

 

Cake Pop:

Egg hunt

Easter baskets:

Eating Peeps:

Other fun things we did: Ate at Primos Pizza, watched Bedtime Stories and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. stayed up late every night, playing Rockband and WII fit, just playing, and relaxing!

Thanks Sandra and Kevin. It's always so fun to come visit.

 

The kids and I then rushed home Sunday to make it to Ryan's parent's house for Easter dinner and Egg Hunt.

Easter egg hunt at the Teeples' 

We had a great Easter weekend.

Sleepovers

Two weekends ago we decided to have some fun with Eli and have sleepovers as a whole family at a couple of his grandparents house. No reason. Just for fun!

Friday night we slept at Ryan's grandparent's house in Orem. I honestly don't know who was more excited about it, Eli or Ryan's grandparents.

We ordered pizza , played with grandma and grandpa, watched Bolt and stayed up late. During the movie I realized how tender little Eli is, during the part of the fire (if you've seen it you know what I am talking about) Eli got a little choked up. He told us he thought Penny was going to die. I have never seen him react like that. It was kind of cute.

During the night poor Hallie got a fever and could not sleep. She would lay for a little bit and try to sleep and then just start crying and saying, "mommy, mommy." It was so sad. Of course we didn't have any Tylenol or anything, so finally at about 4:00am Ryan saved the day, he ran to Wal-mart to get Tylenol. After we gave her the Tylenol she laid right back down and slept the rest of the night.

Saturday we slept in a little (that's what I love about grandma's they get up early and take care of the kids), then had a yummy breakfast and watched a session of conference. Hallie still wasn't feeling great and so she sat and cuddled me the whole time. It was kind of one of those bttersweet moments- I was sad she was sick, but loved that she would just sit and cuddle me.

We went home took naps and then me and the kids headed to my parent's to have a sleep over  while Ryan went with his dad and brother's to the Priesthood session.

At my parent's house we played, watched Bedtime Stories, and stayed up late. Ryan came later that night and slept over with us. On Sunday we slept in again (gotta love grandma).

We then had our Easter festivities with my family. We died Easter eggs, had dinner, and our annual Easter egg hunt. (One for the adults, and one for the kids).  We all got quite the loot. Ryan and I scored about $20, and lots of candy, and Eli & Hallie made out with about $12 combined, and lots of candy. Not too shabby.

 

Hallie tried to eat a Hershey's kiss that had melted. When she opened it, it got on her hand and she sat there paralyzed and disgusted. She would not move or make a sound. She just sat there completely still staring at it. It was hilarious.

It was a fun weekend and a nice change from our normal everyday.

Hallie is so outdoorsey...and we're mean parents

Hallie has some wierd thing about the grass. Funny videos, if you don't mind watching parents tease their kids.