March

March has come and gone. 

Here are some things I missed...

This kid made honor roll and was honored at a special assembly at his middle school. We are super proud of all of his hard work.

Kam was all psyched to go on the Klondike...aka hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and camping on Mt. Spokane. Tyler was going with him and they were both so excited. It sounded like sheer hell to me. The temperatures then dipped to -25 and it was called off and they were both totally bummed.

Bryn registered for Kindergarten!! How is this possible? She and Elle are both hoping to get in at the same school. It would be so nice, in so many ways, if they did. It would be great if Elle can just ride along with the rest of my kids.

Bryn got her picture in our local newspaper. They were doing an article on the benefits of preschool for WA State children. Pretty cool!!

I got a notice for jury duty...not cool.

Bryn got her costume for her ballet recital. She is going to be a cute gray mouse. She was pretty happy!!

I met up with Stacey one Saturday to a hit a few sales for merchandise for Sisters Creed. We scored some great things from one of our favorite antiques dealer friends and then Tyler and I headed on to Moscow and Pullman and found some more great items for several upcoming sales.

I found these little numbers in Pullman for $1.50 and they have provided hours of entertainment for adults and kids alike. My Grandma M. had a pair of these that she bought for us when we were kids because we saw them on Romper Room. Ours were yellow. We used to clomp all over the place in them.

I tried doing sock curls on the little girls hair after watching multiple YouTube videos. They work great on Ailey's hair but not so well on Bryn's. We have done it several times since on Ailey and it always turns out cute. I think Bryn's hair is too long.

Ailey and Bryn started a business...they write out recipes from cookbooks and magazines for a small fee. They made up business cards and all sorts of things. This is pretty much win-win for me. I hate writing out recipes. I get several cooking magazines in the mail and find great recipes off of the Internet. If I try them and we like them I will write the recipe onto a card and then put it into my large recipe box. Only tried and true a recipes get to go into the recipe box. I have a whole folder of good recipes that I have tried, liked, and torn out of magazines. The girls can start copying them onto cards. If it's a recipe I like off of the Internet or \Pinterest they can print it off and glue it onto a card. This should keep them busy all Spring break and I love their ingenuity.

There are finally signs of life in my flowerbeds. Goodbye winter!! Hello Spring!! Now I guess I actually need to clean out my flower beds. Perhaps another money making opportunity for two little industrious girls.

Kameron is becoming quite handy!! Tyler has been teaching him how to do brake jobs on our vehicles and he is really getting the hang of it and doing a fantastic job. Tyler's dad wasn't a very handy DIY guy or good with auto repairs so Tyler has had to teach himself how to do pretty much everything. He is very determined that his kids learn how to do things like this and he is great at teaching them. Girls learn how to do repairs too. Both Reilly and Kameron have learned how to change tires, change the oil, do regular maintenance on our lawnmower etc. so I guess she will be next in line to learn how to do brake jobs. Pretty cool.

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Reilly had her Spring Choir Concert. For the first time in forever I actually nabbed a picture of her in her choir robes and got an up close...although not spectacular quality...photo of her in action.

Kameron was in his first ever Road Show. He was sheep #11 in a mash up of Little Bo Peep, Barbara Ann of the Beach Boys, and Shakespeare. It was quite the production!! He had a great time. He even got to dance with a special girl in our ward. Wink wink. He loved it.

The Reptile Guy came to our elementary school and held a special family night event. Tyler took all the girls...Reilly included...and they had a great time!! Kam had Road Show practice and was pretty bummed about missing it. Tyler brought me dinner before they left and I stayed home and read two new magazines and relaxed. Bliss.

It's BAAACCCKKK... my old nemesis...The Recorder. Three kids down... and still one to go. I don't know how many more times I can hear a squeaky Hot Cross Buns. It's brutal. I said this on Instagram and it remains true. Unlike piano...Ailey REALLY enjoys practicing the recorder. How unfortunate. It could be worse. When I was in elementary school we learned to play the harmonica and the ukulele. No joke. I still can't pass up blowing my harmonica when I come across it. Thanks Mr. Strong. And...I play a mean Red River Valley on the ukulele. Thanks Mr.Barlow. I wish I had the enthusiasm of Tyler's dad, who when his children brought these instruments home, he went out and bought more in varying sizes so the whole family could join in and have a recorder family band. That is love... or insanity...you decide.

I made a meal to beat all meals in the month of March. So delicious that I had to take a picture. It was Cilantro Chili Lime Tilapia over rice, with roasted broccoli, and mango. Delish. The roasted broccoli is the recipe on Pinterest that always says things like: "Best Broccoli Ever!! My kids ate the whole pan." That would be true. My kids can eat a whole cookie sheet of it. It's pretty good.

Elle's preschool/daycare was closed for the day and so she got to hang out with me on Friday. She is such a cutie. We took all the kids to school. She was very interested in all their different schools and seeing who their friends were. Then we took Bryn to preschool and she got to go in, meet Bryn's teacher, big buddies, friends, and their class fish. She got to stay and play for awhile too. Then we ran some errands and before we knew it it was time to pick up Bryn. The day was rainy and cold so our plans for the park were out. We went to...McDonald's...instead. The girls LOVED IT and I scored some aunt and mommy points.

I checked Reilly out of school during her lunch hour so she could participate in the fun that is McDonald's playland. The last time I was at this particular McDonalds was for church playgroup when Reilly was five. Reilly loved it and Kameron hated it. Reilly would play and throw a fit to go home and Kameron would sit and howl. Eventually we stopped going. I don't think I have even taken Ailey once. Poor girl. Tyler said that he did break down once during a particularly long night when bookclub was at my house and he was desperate and brought all the kids there. Long story short, the little girls loved it and played for a long long time. Then it was back to our house for a "Frozen Fest" in which I did hair in Anna style and Elsa style, they dressed up to the hilt, and I fashioned capes for them both. They were busy singing and dancing until Kelley got off work. Ha ha. Hilarious.

Ailey and her friend Taryn

Saturday night was our church's General Women's Meeting and Broadcast. For the first time the young women and girls 8 years old and up were invited to attend with the women. This was a BIG DEAL especially to Ailey. She was so excited. Reilly had to work but was trying to get off early so that she could attend at least part of the meeting. Unfortunately there were technical difficulties and the broadcast at our stake center got canceled. The little girls were all so sad. Reilly had just gotten off work when it got canceled so we went and picked her up and had a fun girls night regardless. Froyo to the rescue!!

Then on Sunday I gave my talk on What is Required to Receive the Fullness of the Lord's Grace. It went shockingly well. I should be good for a couple years now, right?

And...that's a wrap!!

Birthday Bash Weekend

Elle... 5 years old!!

This weekend was full of celebrations...celebrations of all the March birthdays in our extended family. We celebrated Stacey, Kelley, and Elle's birthdays. The party weekend got kicked off with a Polka Dot Pottery Birthday Party for Elle. Lots of friends and family all met up at the mall and crafted their little hearts out. My two little girls were LOVING it!! I was loving that they get to create and all of this out of their systems at the Pottery shop and not in my kitchen. Poor kids...for having a crafty mom; they really don't get to do many crafts.

Look at that face and those mischievous eyes!

Mom, Ailey and River

Even Dads were in on the action...both Tyler and Casey were helping with all the painting.

Ailey and Bryn were so cute. They both picked little owls and painted very nicely and neatly. They picked colors that coordinated and were very serious about it all. I about died laughing when Bryn yelled, "Look Mom!! It's like Sisters Creed!!"

The painting party in full swing.

Elle was having such a great time!!

Cousins with the Birthday Girl!!

It was a great birthday party and everyone had a spectacular time...but it wasn't quite over yet!!

After all the friends left, the cousins, mommies, and grandma headed out to the nail salon for some pampering. Fresh pedicures were the perfect way to kick off spring which is actually acting fairly spring-like (a rarity here in Spokane).

Mom, Kelley, and Elle down at the very end getting her manicure.

We were loving it too! Poor Reilly missed out by having to work that day.

Stacey and River...I think Stacey's eyes are closed in bliss. 

These silly girls!! To think that I never had a professional pedicure until I was a grown woman with three children; but boy, do I love them now.

Pretty Elles-Belles and her pretty fingernails.

Then later that night Stacey, Kelley, my Mom, and I went out to dinner to celebrate Stacey and Kelley's birthdays. We ate a Casper Fry which was delicious.  It's got an hipster southern vibe going. We got to use the gift card that Sisters Creed won at the Two Women Christmas Show in December for having the most beautiful booth. Very nice. I am in southern food withdrawal here in Spokane so I completely enjoyed and savored my Shrimp and Grits.

Two more birthday girlies!!

After dinner Stacey and Kelley wanted to go to the Davenport Hotel Safari Room for cocktails and dessert. In case you are wondering... the Safari Room makes a FABULOUS cherry Italian soda which was my "cocktail" for the night. I am still thinking about it's deliciousness. I also managed to put away a mini- crème brûlée and a mini-peanut butter pie. I love their teeny tiny desserts. Very satisfying.

Happy Birthday Stacey, Kelley, and Elle. I hope that this year will be wonderful for all of you. Enjoy the last year of your 30s, Stac!! 40 is breathing down your neck....and everything you heard about 40 is, unfortunately, TRUE.

On that sad note... I will sign off to start working on my talk. I am speaking in church on Sunday...ugh. Wait until you hear my topic... just wait...it's a doozy.


I won't make you wait... I need the sympathy...and perhaps an explanation of what the heck I am supposed to talk about.

Here goes...

What is required to receive the fullness of the Lord's Grace


Huh? Are you freakin' kidding me? What happened to the days of one word topics such as tithing, forgiveness, integrity etc.

Yeah...be jealous.

St.Patrick's Day 2014

St. Patrick's Day 2014

Another St. Patrick's Day in the books and it was an all around good time!! The only thing that was an issue was that in trying to put together green outfits we realized that we have very little green clothing around here. Poor Ailey was so hard up that she had to wear one of my old green shrugs. Ha! But she pulled it off with great style.

The night before some intricate leprechaun traps were set. I am so over this tradition. This and the tooth fairy. Will they never end? This year our wily leprechaun only did minimal damage. Two chairs got turned over. He must be getting old and tired and blasé about the whole thing.

Bryn's trap: Her trap came with quite a long drawn out story. Rainbow Dash lures the leprechaun in because leprechauns love rainbows. (duh!) Then he is lured by the beauty of the queen polly pocket. See the crown? She has had her heart broken. See the broken heart? He will feel so sad that he will take her dancing on the green dance floor but it is a trick because the green dance floor will spin so fast that he will get dizzy and fall down and not be able to get up...thus trapping him. OR...they will fall madly in love and either fly off in that airplane, ride off on the motorcycle, or each will ride their own Rainbow Dash. The end. 

Ailey's trap: 

Ailey's had more of a violent streak to it. She wanted to lure the leprechaun to take a dip in a cool pool and then trick him into getting into the boiling hot tub and boiling to death. Hmmm. It involved a lot of little notes here and there. In the end...the only thing in Bryn's trap was a leprechaun hat and some gold candies. In Ailey's trap was a leprechaun belt and suspenders that I sewed together...yes! Sewed!...at about midnight only to have her say that leprechaun suspenders and belts were really dumb! I'll tell you what's dumb...leprechaun traps!  Ailey needs a dose of reality really fast. Perhaps after Easter will come *enlightenment*. :)

Now onto the parts of St. Patrick's Day that I do ACTUALLY like...

Green lunches for four kids

It truly amazes me how excited they get over these. They were stapled shut so that no one could peek and ruin the surprise. They were full of pure junk food garbage...and they loved them.

Then it was time for our St. Patrick's Day Dinner...

Look who found an even bigger and more obnoxious hat?

He passed his previous enormous hat down to his son and clearly his sweet Irish jig dancing skills. If only this were video!!

Ailey and Bryn (Yes! Ailey and Bryn) made this delicious rainbow fruit platter. Didn't they do a great job? We added some gold candy at the end of that rainbow. My kids were so inspired by Aunt Marissa and her amazing fruit and veggie platters while we were in Utah that they now want to make them all the time. I am all for it!! 

Our four little leprechauns!!

We had our traditional Irish dinner. It amazed me the vast quantities of boiled veggies and beer bread these kids could put away with a little malt vinegar and horseradish cream on top. Literally plates and plates. Tyler and I had a little bit of corned beef too. I make some seriously good veggies and they were a hit! I also made a fruit dip for the fruit and my Grandma's famous Green Punch. (It's summer in a glass.) Irish music blared, toasts were offered, food a plenty was eaten, Irish dancing flourished, laughs were abundant, and a good time was had by all!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!