Spring is here!

Each kid celebrated this occasion in their own way.

Miriam did her homework perched in a neighbor's tree.

Bub learned how to pump himself on the swings (a triumph for the both of us!)

Soren ran around with a runny nose bossing all the neighborhood kids around. Luckily, no one understands 60% of what he says so he got away with it.

The picture above doesn't really have anything to do with the first day of Spring.

But it does showcase Bub being selfless and sharing his treasures with Soren.

That was our topic for Family Home Evening tonight. It's an attribute Bub is usually a good example of. I planned the lesson for me, just something I needed to be reminded of.

I think what the kids are going to remember the most about our FHE's is that Mom almost always cried.

Welcome Spring!!

Celebrations

The Leprechaun found us again this year, that rascal.

I don't have pictures but just imagine gold coins, green milk, confetti, messy living room/kitchen, and sparkly stickers. Bub especially loved things this year, he really got into the pinching. He noticed tons of people at Costco who weren't wearing green, but I told him you have to be careful....they might have green undies on. Miriam piped up that she would say "prove it!" and I decided we should get our hotdogs and go home before any shenanigans began.

I have made a decision to simplify our holidays. Pinterest is having the opposite effect on me that it seems to have on most everyone else. Seeing all the decorations....food....games....fun makes me want to take things down a notch. I want things to be exciting, healthy, and fun but I don't want to spend all my free time orchestrating it all. There are so many great ideas out there. There is always more to add so I have decided to get very picky. Because of my new holiday makeover I decided to nix the rainbow cupcakes, and just do a fruit rainbow with whipped cream. I also cut out the corned beef....the kids don't eat it and Darin and I shouldn't eat it so I made my friend's Irish grandma's Irish stew instead. Delish...the fruit was so pretty and fun I don't think anyone missed the cupcakes.

I can't cut the Leprechaun, that goon will do what he wants without my approval...(but secretly I love it.)

Surprise celebration!

A great friend of mine gave us tickets to Toy Story on Ice. So incredibly nice, since this is not something we would be doing normally. I told the kids not to even ask for treats and be excited that we were going (great seats too). Right before we left my friend drove up, put $ in my hand "for treats" and ran away!! I considered how to give the $ back because it was overwhelmingly kind. Then decided the best thing to do was to let the kids pick something out and hopefully we can express how much fun we had, and how much we appreciated everything.

It was SO fun!

The kids do realized that this night would not have happened without someone else's kindness.

One of my sisters or I had this workout Barbie when we were little. I think my little sis should choreograph a dance to go along with these outrageous outfits for her dance studio.

To be performed in heels of course!

Everyone loves the aliens!

I have never been to one of these shows (Miriam has gone twice) so I was very impressed with the theatrics. The fire, flying around, flips twists and costumes.

Totally entertaining.

March is here....

I know because tonight the beard is leaving.

I enjoy beard season, Septem-beard through Febru-hairy, but it's now Mustache March so the beard had to go. However, Darin has decided not to participate in Mustache March.

I think he looks handsome either way, rugged with the beard or young and fresh without.

He's such a good-lookin' guy.

He isn't the only one shedding locks.

10 inches to be sent to Locks of Love.

Also shedding some large artwork the kids didn't want to part with.

The fridge was getting overloaded!

They are now safely documented.

Bub and Mimi will be so relieved.

Bug Boys

Tonight at dinner a Western Conifer Seed Bug crawled around Bub's plate (not ON the plate just around it).

It's not the first one he has brought into the house.

Nor the last I am sure.

He mourns when his bugs die, sometimes even carrying them around in his pocket

(just ask my neighbor friends).

I am not super squeamish around or about bugs, but I am not all that keen to have them around either.

That being said, I am really proud of Byron's intense curiosity about them, and his seemingly lack of fear.

Insects have been around a whole lot longer than we have, and they will be here long after we are gone.

I think we have a few things to learn from them.

Perhaps this budding entomologist will be the one to help us out with some biomimicry.

(did you have to look those words up?? I only know them because of Darin)

Love those Bug Boys.

State Capitol with friends

(you gotta enlarge this picture and check out Soren's face)

The life in between...

Most of the time I have no idea where my camera is.

I specifically find it, and recharge it when I know an event is looming that I will want pictures of.

But once in a while I grab a shot of daily life in our corner of the world.

Bub grabbing a power nap before dinner.

Miriam at the hip hop clinic taught by a guy everyone but me knows. I can't ever remember his name!

She's got such flava!

(know what it is? Chocolate chip cookie dough)

An hour after dinner I came to clean up and found these rascals on the table scavenging.

Bub must be growing, he asks for lunch at 10:00 am most days.

If the kids ask for food after dinner I only let them have carrots or celery.

Bub quite often takes me up on the offer.

Impromptu game of Penny on a flour mound.

I just made that name up.

It's a great game for after sugar cookie making when you have all that wasted flour on the table.

I read about how putting marbles in balloons helps them hang down nicely (like a balloon chandelier).

I am warning you...don't do it.

Or at least don't let your kids play with the balloons.

Valentines Day

Valentine Day 2012

The afternoon was spent delivering Bub's Valentines and playing outside in the beautiful weather.

I watched a little boy while his mom helped with Miriam's class Valentine party (it's the least I can do since I didn't help!) We made sugar cookies and royal icing and bread and Zuppa Tuscanna for dinner. By the time Darin arrived home there was flour all over the kitchen, Soren was in his crib screaming, Miriam was a huffy because the cookies weren't cutting out perfectly (note to self, buy spray oil), Bub was begging for ANOTHER movie. It was not the most loving part of our Valentine Day. I was so relieved when Darin unexpectedly walked in the door early.

After eating dinner, (or not eating-too many sugar cookies and licks from the icing spills) we read Somebody Loves you Mr Hatch. We do that every year, it's the sweetest book. I think it does a great job of showing how little expressions of love make a huge difference. I tear up every year.

We played the Mad Libs Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Byron sent in their Valentine package.

Miriam always gets the noun Doodle Bops in there, Bub always picks eyeball, or hiccup at some point.

My valentine stayed home with Soren and cleaned the kitchen while the other two and I went out delivering valentines. We had 2 people in mind but with the rest of the deliveries we just thought of people as we walked around. The kids insisted on doorbell ditching even though Darin said that was pointless since one of the cookies said "From The Ray's" but the kids LOVE doing that. Truth be told, so do I!

See? Proof of the From The Ray's cookie.

It was a thoughtful gift from Anna and her family for Miriam's birthday....they know Miriam so well.

I am officially sugared out.

The Day of LOVE

We went to Winco to buy rainbow candy for Miriam's baptism. It all looked so cheap, I over did it. The bill came to $26 for candy! That is when I decided to save the Starbursts for Valentines Day.

I gave Miriam the challenge of coming up with cute Valentines we could make using Starbursts as the theme and only using supplies we have in the house.

Bub and I used shaving cream art and googly eyes to create his love notes.

This is what Miriam came up with.

Get it? You "burst" the starbursts out.

She spent a lot of time sewing last weekend.

Miriam has wanted to make these muffins ever since she saw them in a magazine.

I let her stay up 1/2 later last night to bake the muffins (a tad overdone on the large ones-my fault). She got up early (as always) this morning and put them together for each of us.

Miriam's Valentine outfit curtesy of Aunt Julia.

Great birthday gift!

My go at the heart hairdo that has been on pinterest.

Yeah.....I could use a little practice but you get the idea.

My Valentines to the kids (and their Dad).

It was a gift to me too because I got go to "girls night out" to make them:)

Happy Day of Love!

Love Is In The Air

Beds are being mysteriously made.

Kids are getting dressed, and helping without being asked.

The following love note was found on Bub's bed with THREE sticks of gum!

Why I Love Byron

I love Byron because he is fun, he is happy, and he loves animals. He is eager to learn, and I love him so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, MUCH! I love the way he smiles and the way he helps.

I love Bub by hugging him, kissing him, reading to him. I hope he loves me too because if he doesn't I'll get him! Byron is a big cutie. {That is one of the things that make me love him!}

Living with Bub is so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, fun! Byron is always telling me cool things about animals or plants. I really love Byron!

We draw "Secret Valentines" the first FHE in February.

You are suppose to have done service for your valentine before the 14th. I love how the kids are really getting into it this year!

Here is a little love note for all of us.

"Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by and infinite amount-that is the measure of God's love for you.

God does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn't care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely.

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His Children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, not matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The After Party

After Miriam attended a pioneer birthday party at the Lion House earlier this year, she knew it was what she wanted for her 8th birthday.

It is the perfect party for our girl. She has always loved old-fashioned everything. She is currently reading Little Town on the Prairie after listening to the whole series on CD a few dozen times. Her Aunt Lisa recently introduced her to the Amish....she is intrigued.

Mimi has darling cousins and very sweet friends.

Lucky girl.

It is a very orderly, structured party which suits Miriam.

Suits me too, I don't often do well with screaming and chaos.

They play hide the thimble, button button wheres the button, and pull taffy.

Our girl, always ready to strike a pose...

She loved it!

Thanks for all the help Ris!

I couldn't have taken little girls into the big city without you!