Spoke with Chris this morning from Atlanta, Georgia he just wanted to let me know "he was alive and safely out of Peru:)" I asked him about the Rain forest he said it was a long story:) Chris did ask "if Ryan was still alive" hee, hee. He knows Ryan and I all to well:) Will be seeing him at 12:46 pm. The kids have made posters to hold up at the airport as Chris and Grandpa come down the escalator:)
Yesterday, I went to a PTA meeting at the elementary school. Jacob and Katie out of school early due to spring break and are now off track until April 30th. Can't wait to have my helpers back to unload the dishwasher and other chores:):) After Katie got out of school she and I went to the library. Took Rye to work at 4:30 and than all of us went and picked him up from work so we could go out to dinner. We went to Apollo Burger. It tasted soooo good. I think it tasted so good because I could eat my hamburger and fries and not feel guilty knowing that poor Chris would be sick after eating at a place I like. Came home and did the same thing we always do:) bathe, scriptures and family prayer. I do feel guilty - bad mom. Last night was the Pinewood Derby. I totally forgot about it until earlier in the day - knowing we couldn't get a car together that fast we didn't go. Poooor Jacob. Pinewood Derby's are fun. I did have Tay and Rye look for their old derby cars but of course we couldn't find one. Will find it today:( During off track time Jacob and Chris can work on it. will keep it safe for next year:)
My vacation is over time to stay home and cook, sleep on my side of the bed, share the covers and let him have a little space in the bathroom, -- darn it. LOL. Gotta go, time to pick up my best friend.:):)
Love ya, Ricki

Just got off skype with Meg. She is having a great time. The 27 hour train ride wasn't to bad she said. While we were talking fire works were going off in the street, and there was lots of noise, she said there is a festival this week (along with spring break). I asked her about cave tubing and she said it was awful. Tourists have ruined the cave and it was like walking through mud "never again!" she said:) Clubbing - ahhhh, a mother's heart!!! It is going out to bars and dancing. she said that the Chinese lovvvvee them and are always offering to buy them drinks and they want to dance with them. I of course gave Meg her lecture:):) Reminded her NOT to drink ANYthing!! She said she and the others were smarter than that:) They just want to experience China. Ahhhh a mother's heart!!!! She also told me that she took a cooking class yesterday - made a 5 course meal. The picture she showed me from her camera (face book not working) it all looked gross, ok maybe I would try the cashew chicken (maybe) she said it was all good. Mushrooms, fish, bak choy. . . . all things she wouldn't eat here! They leave tomorrow and head to the 3 Gorges (and a couple of other places. She loved the train ride the scenery was gorgeous. They will arrive home late Sunday night.
Haven't heard from Chris. He SHOULD be flying from the Amazon Rainforest to Lima. Flight from Lima leaves at 12:35 am. Will be picking him and grandpa up from the airport at 12:46 pm tomorrow. So, glad the kids are out of school so I don't have to take them out:) Thank you Aunt Wanda for emailing pictures to those who don't have face book - you are very kind:) I'm just not all that computer savvvvvyyy:)
Yesterday, I worked in Katie's classroom. Then I got to do a few things that I always make Chris do - one, the dryer hose came off so I "duct taped" it back on:), next the hard one.....this year in school every week Katie comes home with a new letter of the week, she has to find 5 pictures that start with that letter. Chris and Katie usually google the words, he puts them on power point (he writes the word underneath the picture) and then prints them off. Last week I made him do it Monday night even though it wasn't due til Friday:) I sat by him and took notes so that I could do it this week - haa, haaa. So, this weeks letter was "W" I followed my notes carefully and walllaaaa I did it:):) Waterfall, water bottle, Walt Disney (no brainer:), walrus, and wallet. Soooo proud. I have actually done some things this week that I didn't know how to do because I take Chris for granted:) I also fixed a flat tire on the van:) Yesterday, I also cleaned my closet. Took awhile but it looks very nice.
For dinner we ate left overs (boring:) because we didn't have enough time to get everything done. Tay scouts 6:30, Rye ym's 7 - poor Rye had to go early with Tay because Jacob had his Utah This is the Place school performance at 7. It was a hectic evening but we got through it. This is when I realize that I'm going to struggle with Chris gone. Even though he's sick he can still help drive kids places:(
Tonight is are last night to eat out - mmmm.... crazy but not sure where to go. Kids keep saying "Panda" and I say "no, you can eat there when dad gets home."
"Don't judge me because I sin different than you."
Love ya, Ricki

Sooo, I'm a little nervous. I received an email last night saying that the weather was bad in Iquitos City and that Chris' flight would need to be changed. They changed the Rainforest reservations to April 3-5 which doesn't work out on Chris' itinerary. Poor Chris. Since we can't communicate-( I guess there isn't any internet service in the Amazon or wherever he is:) I'm wondering "what happened?" Last night, today, and tomorrow (until 1:30pm) were all suppose to be spent in the Amazon Rainforest. Tomorrow he leaves Iquitos City on a plane and heads back to Lima. There he waits for his Delta flight to leave from Lima at 12:35 am. I hate not knowing:(
Meg emailed me this morning (4:00am my time) to let me know that she was having fun cave tubing and "clubbing." Yes, I would like to know what she means by "clubbing" We emailed back and forth a little - that's what I get for having the phone by my head (going to need another nap today around 2:) I left skype on all night just encase either of them contacted us. I think I'm going to need a vacation after this. Hee, hee:):)
Those of us here:) went to Olive Garden for dinner. Yummmm I've had my fill of alfredo sauce for awhile:) That is definitely one place Chris can't eat at!! Tooo much fat. After that we finished homework, did FHE (watched the Easter Bible videos put out by the church very cool - www.biblevideos.lds.org) and then talked about Pres. Utchdorf's talk "Stop it." Pretty cool some people have already made stop signs for the rest of us to print off and hang on the wall (which is what I did:), read scriptures, read library books, bathed and said family prayer. It was just a nice, lazy day. Need those every once in awhile. LOL.
"In the strength of the Lord I can do and endure and overcome all things." David A. Bednar
Love ya, Ricki

Just got off skype with Chris. Yeahhhhhh!!! So fun to talk to him. He was talking to us from his Lima hotel. They were just getting ready to leave to go to the airport to fly to Iquitos City to go to the Amazon Rain forest. Chris said that the trip has been wonderful - "gone off without a hitch" he was able to talk to us thanks to one of their guides taking him to the market to buy a converter. My dad and Chris went to General Conference Saturday afternoon and Sunday. They got to hear it in English. He said that he has had fun giving out the pencils. He gives one out and another child appears and then another:) Also, they all "have brothers that need a pencil." He said Machu Picchu was amazing and he can't wait to show us the video and pictures. He said he has had some "interesting" food. He is verrryyy tired and his stomach is giving him trouble but otherwise he's good. He told us about hugging a lama (we like llamas - "Llama, llama Mad at Mama" - it's a book that makes Katie laugh) and watching baby condors at an animal preservation place. I hope that when he gets home he will type up a blog letting all of you know what he did:) Tay, Katie, Jacob and I got to talk to him - poor Rye was already at school. And Meg? Who knows where that girl is:)
I'm glad that I have info on Chris at least this blog won't be as boring as the others since I had no clue what Chris was doing until now.:)
Yesterday, we watched the first session of conference and then I made BLT sandwiches. Everyone here LOVES bacon. The smell of bacon makes Chris verrrryyyy sick (you'd think he was pregnant!!) so we don't ever cook it. I thought we had died and gone to heaven. Mmmm it was soooo good. The kids asked if we could have more before Chris comes home:):) Of course:):) We then watched the second session - soooo sad it's over. I love, love, love general conference. Everything meant so much to me. I felt like they were talking just to me - things I personally needed to hear.
After that we started preparing for Monday - instruments by the door, Jacob's costume for his play, any "last minute" homework that someone just remembered they hadn't done, washing of gym clothes that they "just remembered" needed washing etc. etc. Ate roast, carrots and potatoes for dinner. Yum. Yes, Chris can eat that but he gets sick - to much fat. We read scriptures, bathed, family prayer, read library books and played Sorry (Katie won thanks to Tay:) til bed time.
During the night Jacob talked a TON in his sleep. I kept going in and telling him it was ok. Chris asked me what he said but I don't remember I was tired:) And for some reason Rye ended up on the floor in my room. Good times:) By two I'm going to need a nap:)
Love ya, Ricki
Oh, and you should all be proud of me --- that is the first picture that I put on the blog ALL by myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from the SD card to the blog. "I'm good, I'm good, I'm really, really good!!" (it ony took me half an hour:):):)

Again, what a wonderful conference session. I can't wait to read the Ensign to "hear them again." Loved President Utchdorf's talk the most. I hope that my own family was listening. What great advice for all of us:) During conference we ate donuts and grapes and the younger kids played with Lego's or looked at the Friend magazine. I usually make conference packets (thanks to those who share their talent on sugar doodle) but was to lazy this time:) The kids did ask where they were, so next time I will be more motivated:)
Got a email from Meg this morning asking if I had heard anything from Chris. I told her to look at face book but that that was all I had heard. I don't know where she is either. Crazy to have two loved ones out in the world and not know where or how they are doing.:(
Today, is Chris' "rest day" hopefully he is resting and getting to enjoy conference.
Yesterday, Tay received a bloody nose from being hit in the face with a ball. Rye worked. Jacob, Katie and I went to Noodles for dinner (again:) Uncle Jim took Tay and two friends to the Priesthood session and then out to eat. They said it was "wonderful" I'm always so jealous of priesthood session Chris always comes home and tells me how great it was. And I always tease Chris asking him "if they talked about treating your wife nicely." Jim said that they talked about that a lot - of course Chris misses it!!! (maybe:) Uncle Jim was kind enough to recap it for Rye and I. He told Rye that a lot of it was about honoring your priesthood. How Rye has a very big responsibility to always be righteous especially with Chris dieing that he will be "the" priesthood holder in our home. Thank you, thank you Uncle Jim (and Cherie, for sharing him:) Yesterday during Brother Baxter's talk (to single parents) Rye turned to me and said "that will be you soon mom" I was already crying during his talk. I felt like it was for me especially about the talk of the mother who "didn't want to come home" (all the children needing her attention) she prayed to be taken so she could be with her husband who had died.
So, sad to think that conference is almost over:(
Love, Ricki

Wow!! What a wonderful session of conference. Absolutely loved President Eyring's talk. Cried and laughed through most of it:) Did you hear President Packer talk about Peru? specifically Cozco?? Chris should have flown out of Cozco this morning and headed to Lima. He took about 70 pencils with him to give out to the Peruvian children. Broke my heart to think of children all around the world going hungry and cold. Can't wait for the next session of conference:) My brother-in-law (Jim) is taking Tay, and two of his friends to the Priesthood session and then out to eat. I sssooo appreciate it. Little does he know that he is also helping other young men who don't have fathers around to take them (usually Chris would have). Thanks Jim:) Rye has to work. I feel bad. I've got to start looking a month a head so that he can ask for time off in advance.
Today, Chris was flying out of Cuzco to Lima where he will do who knows what. His itinerary says "Caral? Magic Waters? Circuit? Larco Museo?" Hopefully he finds a converter and gets to rest. I'm hoping that he is tired from hiking down Machu Picchu. Tomorrow he is in Lima also. He was hoping to attend a ward building to watch conference. He wrote down some names of wards and their addresses. Monday, he flies to Iquitos City where he will go to the Amazon Rain forest lodge and stay for two days.
Yesterday, was the toughest day so far without Chris. I did a lot of running people around. Trying to juggle my schedule and theirs. Hard to be in two places at once. Jacob and Tay did a great job watching Katie at different times of the day/evening. Worst thing was I dropped my keys in the TOILET!! I had key pads to both cars on my key chain. Grrrr. Glad I had Chris leave me his keys. I used his while mine sat in a bowl of rice.
Today, and tomorrow should be uneventful - hopefully:) I do have to think about what to do for dinner tomorrow - darn it. And yell at people to get their chores done today -right now. lol.
Enjoy conference. I always feel so good afterwards - but sad when it's over.

How funny, just finished blog - went to face book and there, there....... is a picture of my CHRISSSSIIIEEE at Machu Picchu and he looks WONDERFUL!!!:) Did anyone else laugh at the caption on the top of his picture???!!! And now I am crying - what a wonderful sight to see my best friend and know he saw Machu Picchu and that he looks great. The day couldn't get any better - conference and a picture of my best friend:):):):)
Love, Ricki

Soo sad, today I didn't get to skype with anyone:( Chris' batteries are all dead (only talked to him Wed. morning) and I usually talk to Meg every morning but she is on her 25 hour train ride to her "spring break" destination in China. Who knows when I will get to talk to her. I just keep reminding myself that in the "olden days" people went on vacation and you didn't talk to them until they came home (what 15 years ago? or less?).
Yesterday, was pretty quiet. I worked in Jacob's classroom helping kids learn their parts for the play that the whole 4th grade is putting on next Tuesday. We ate dinner at home - one of are favorites but one that makes Chris extremely sick when he eats it, and he will eat it and then be mad at me for making it:). I don't know how to make it without fat. LOL. I took Rye to the gym and Tay to CAP. We did homework, played outside and then I made the rounds to pick up Rye from the gym and Tay from CAP - Tay is just about to earn his first stripe - very exciting, he just has to pass Drill next week. Came home and had people bathe, read books and scriptures, family prayer and off to bed. Not to stressful. Rye said in the car "It's going to suck when dad dies." I agreed.
Today, Chris is in Machu Picchu (hopefully - just following his itinerary:) he has to take the train up because before he left there were no more tickets left to hike up the trail. Chris decided that it must be a "sign":) He was planning on riding the train up and then walking down. I hope he gets to. He tried tons of times to purchase tickets on line but the sight just wouldn't accept the credit card payment. He called the bank etc. etc. but it wouldn't work so he was suppose to get help in Lima as soon as he flew in to buy the tickets. Who knows. It would be terrible to get all the way there and not get to see it. They only give out a few tickets (114) a day. Chris kept watching the numbers dwindle. He figured that they were selling 14 a day and he would count down the days and numbers to see how many would be left by today. Sooooo hoping he is playing in Machu Picchu!!!!!!!!!! After that they will head to Cusco.
Love, Ricki