Not-So-Spring Break

We had spring break this week, and it has not been warm.  Anna really wanted to go on vacation like everyone else in town, but Mel and I were exhausted from the last month of craziness.  And, we really aren't huge fans of traveling with the little people--yet.  So, we told the kids we would do something fun every day at home after we did some jobs every day.  Well, the jobs are still waiting to be finished, but we sure had a great week together!
MONDAY
Lots of rain, so Mel stayed home and cleaned up while I took Anna and Thys to Kangaroo Zoo.  Too bad--no camera with me, but the kids has a blast!
TUESDAY
Mel and I took the kids to Becky's, then took a needed trip to the temple.  After Sophie's nap we went to the movie Rio. 
WEDNESDAY
I have been wanting to go to the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU since November but never got my act together.  I finally got tickets for this week (the busiest week of the year at BYU).  Mel and I took Annie, and my mom was kind enough to watch the other two.  It is an awesome exhibit.  You can rent iPads that give you all kinds of really interesting and uplifting information--highly recommend the iPads.  Anna actually was really interested because she got to have her own iPad.

THURSDAY
A few weeks ago we took the Young Women up to This is the Place to do a service project.  We thought we were in for yard work, but we were pleasantly surprised to find out we got to bathe and feed baby lambs.  The girls had so much fun, and the man helping us told me about Baby Animal Days this week.  He said Thursday morning wouldn't be too busy, so we took off bright and early as to avoid the crowds and the rain that was supposed to start around noon.  We held chicks, rabbits, ducks; petted lambs and pigs; saw a one-day old colt; panned for gold; played on a pioneer ship; rode two trains; walked on stilts; chased metal rings; made sock bunnies and wooden spoon bunnies; and held all the animals again. And we were on the news to boot! What a morning!

Cutest pigs ever!

Soph was a little scared of all the animals--except the pigs.  We kept losing her, and we would find her hanging over the bale of hay in the little room with the pigs.

This baby cow was one day old.  When we were up with the girls, we saw this big really hairy animal--we weren't even sure what is was.  Turns out it was a cow, and that cow had this fuzzy, cute little calf!

Sophie made a wooden spoon bunny.

Anna made a sock bunny.

Thys made a sock bunny.

Panning for gold.

Panning for gold. 

We had on the right shoes for the occasion!

SO CUTE!

 FRIDAY
Friday we finished a few jobs, then I took the kids to the zoo while Mel worked in the yard.  It still wasn't warm--a nice 49 degrees, but we wore our jackets.  At least the sun was out. The kids were so good, and we had a lot of fun! (Oops, I haven't downloaded the pics from this afternoon.  I'll have to add them in a few days).

My Big Day

So, at my age birthdays aren't too big of a deal--thank goodness.  I got two hours of sleep because Sophie was sick, I had to have a sub and take the kids in to do sub plans at 7:00 a.m., I stayed home with Soph, took Anna to a birthday party, had dinner and cake, then went to a dance at school.  Fortunately, then next day was better.  I took myself and Anna shopping, then Mel and I went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner.  Yum, yum!

Mel always buys me a cake, so I put in my request (after Thys called him in a panic that I didn't have a cake or presents) for the cake I really wanted:  the four layer chocolate one from Costco!

My Brother is Finally Out of Afghanistan

My brother has been in Afghanistan with the military since August.  We are very glad to have him back in the country. And as I type, he is driving home for good!  We all went to the airport to see him come home--exactly what he didn't want, so of course we all showed up, thanks to his wife JaNae, who put together the welcoming committee.  We love ya, Gare!

Mel's Big Day

Mel's birthday was on Saturday, so we began the celebration with breakfast in bed.  You can see how calm and peaceful his breakfast was.  He didn't mind sharing.  Mel worked in the yard (his birthday wish), while I took the kids somewhere (can't remember where).  Then we had birthday cake with the kids, then left them with niece Bryn, the best babysitter ever, and went to Chin Wah for dinner.  Happy Brithday, Pops!

The traditional Chocolate Truffle Cake (required now by Anna, not Mel)

A New Suit Take Two

I will have to post a picture after T wears his new suit on Sunday, but he is thrilled with his "new" suit that his bigger cousins have outgrown. We had to go immediately to get a tie to go with it today. On the way home T asks, "Mom, how do we call Jesus?" "Well, Jesus doesn't really have a phone. We can just pray to him," I explain. Then T says, "Well, where do I send Jesus a picture of me in my new suit?" Good question T. What do I say? "Well, T, I think Jesus can see you in your new suit. I don't think he needs a picture. I think he will be very happy with you in your new suit." I LOVE KIDS! Finally the picture. 

My two favorite guys looking sharp!

Crazy T

T likes to take afternoon baths.  We get home, put Soph down for a nap, then he bathes while I play on the laptop on the bed.  For a few days he was into bubbles.  This day I was not paying attention, and he dumped in a lot of bubbles, as you can see. 

Apologies

I am still not caught up, but at least I've got a few new posts here. Apologies to anyone who checks this blog regularly--especially Mimi and Bupa. Hope you enjoy the new pics. There are more to come when I get all the way caught up! Staying home from church to avoid possibly giving anyone not immunized the measles allows for a little extra time--finally. I realize I am partly paranoid since I have been immunized, but I always test non-immune when I have a baby, and the kid at school with the measles is in my class, pretty sure. Now I have a runny nose, cough, sore throat, so I decided to err on the side of caution.

CEO

In February Anna was chosen by her teacher as CEO for the week. CEO stands for Chief Example to Others. Anna's teacher said she was a very good and independent worker. Anna was sooo excited to be CEO, and we were proud of her. We got to go to a little ceremony where she was given her award.

Valentine's Day

Yes, I am crazy. I am certain of it. I had big plans for Valentine's Day: sugar cookies to decorate, pistashio and lime curd strawberries for Mel, and homemade heart-shaped pizza for dinner. By the time I got to the end of this cooking list, I was worn out and, I'll just say it: ornery. But we did it all. Fortunately I had the where-with-all to do the chocolate fountain and "fancy" dinner the day before on Sunday. However, it was all sort of thrown to the wind when Sophie woke up with a fever and, after a trip to the doctor on Sunday night, an ear infection that still hadn't cleared up after 10 days of medicine. The fancy dinner was eaten in shifts on plastic plates while someone held Sophie, and we rushed the chocolate fountain in before the trip to the doctor. It seemed to cheer Sophie up a bit--who doesn't feel better after ibuprofen and chocolate? Next year I think I'll remember that less is more. But I do LOVE my family!