mad mad march

major events during the month...

1. Dax's Grandma's funeral. So beautiful and fun to hear about and remember the funny memories of Grandma. We visited with a ton of Dax's family and Preslie was in heaven with Aunt B's boots. So fun to have a stylin' Aunt that is your size! But poor Preslie babe, she got the pukes the day of the funeral and was miserable. Hunter had a great time playing with Kaleb, our newest cousin. Dax and I got a chance to hang out with Matt and Abbey and it was just so nice to go have fun and a change of scenery.



2. Tyrel is ENGAGED! yay. July 2 is the big day. I am so happy to see my little brother find a girl that is just right for him. He has dated a ton of women but the first time I met Kaeli, I knew she was the one.

3. It broke freezing for the first time since November and the snow finally melted! Wow. My kids think 45 degrees is hot.

4. We found out we're getting a baby girl! (Also, a Leprechaun visited our house!)

5. My cub scouts are studying the science of flight. We did some air pressure experiments, made candy airplanes, and I took them to the airport this month.


We also held our Pinewood Derby. Mack loved the racetrack, the cars, and the cupcakes!

6. The kids' Spring Art Show at school was cool! I won the awesome Mom award for getting us there a little late and Preslie missed her classes' role play of the lifecycle of a butterfly. She was crushed and so was I. That was a bad day. Mack was possessed by the Devil and tried to ruin my life several times over that day. Like when my visiting teachers came that morning and were sharing the message and he took off his pants and diaper and pooped in his room. I cried. But the Art Show was so neat. And we got to see Preslie sing. It was worth the bloody lip Mack gave me while we were there. I am so so so thankful my kids' school was awarded the grant that allowed the art program to be a reality. And I am so glad Mack went to bed that night before I did away with him. And before he broke every piece to my Guess Who game. (Which btw, I called the company and they are sending some replacement parts. They were very helpful.)

7. We got our first pets ever! 6 goldfish! We gave 2 to Hunter's friend for his birthday. Then 2 more died. But the last 2 seem lively.

8. Dax went on an African Safari! His Dad is so generous to take him and another guy to hunt 5 animals in the far away country of Namibia. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. And the 2 weeks without a husband may also seem like a lifetime.

9. I am swimming in sewing projects! I went to Salt Lake and met my friend and we made 2 roman shades for her windows in one day. It was intense. I am also in the middle of 4 dresses for my other friend that just had her 4th baby girl. Also, I wish to finish all the curtains for my house this month! Good thing I like to sew!

So I don't know if April can top that, but I kinda hope not!

things you are dying to know

1. High heels, boots, or sneakers? comfy warm boots for winter, Chacos for summer 2. What time did you get up this morning? woke at 5:30, got up at 6:30 3. Diamonds or pearls? either 4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Blind Side 5. What is your favorite TV show? Bones, Glee, or The Office 6. What do you usually have for breakfast? cold cereal, non-sugary kind. 7. What is your middle name? don't have one and I am glad. 8. What food do you dislike? potato salad, banana cream pie, Venison steak, shrimp, Cap'n Crunch, Fruit Loops, lima beans, grocery store donuts 9. What is your favorite CD/Song at the moment? Boom, Boom, Pow by Black Eyed Peas. I love to see my kids rock out to it. It makes everyone in my house start bouncing. 10. What characteristic do you despise? Drama Queens (male and female alike)... You know, people who's life is always a disaster (they think) always way worse than everyone else's. Also poor listeners kinda bug me. 11. Favorite Clothing? comfy jeans and a bright colored necklace. 12. Anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Normally I'd say Europe, but at this point, I'd go ANYWHERE. 13. Are you an organized person? Yes. Organized chaos. 14. Where would you retire to? The coast (no snow and temperate climate). 15. What was your most memorable birthday? My 16th surprise party. Awesome. But I enjoy my b-days every year. 16. What are you going to do when you finish this? clean up the chocolate cake all over the high chair, possibly mop the floor, and maybe pack to go to Salt lake tomorrow. 17. Last book you read? Fablehaven 2 with my kiddos 18. Person you admire? My Bishop's wife. Mother of 10 kids, always smiling, and always offering others service. 19. When is your birthday? February 28 20. Are you a morning person or a night person? neither. (pregnant, remember?) 21. What is your shoe size? 8 22. Do you own any animals? 3 goldfish. No, 2. One died today. 23. Any news you'd like to share? Our family has been without TV for 3 years now. 24. What did you want to be when you were little? A doctor. I decided that when I was in the hospital when i was really young (before Kindergarten) and I wanted to invent a shot that didn't hurt. 25. What is your favorite flower? love so many. any type of lily or daisy, love daffodils and tulips in the spring, roses are always welcome, too. OH, also love the Peony. 26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? April Fool's Day 27. Do you wish upon stars? no but my kids do. they wished for a baby sister so yay. 29. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? magenta or grasshopper green. 30. How is the weather right now? nice and cool and above freezing! 31. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my friend Jaclyn offering her husband to tend my kids so I could go to Relief Society Birthday party! 32. Favorite soft drink? slurpees 33. Favorite restaurant? Cafe Rio 34. Hair color? Brown 35. What was your favorite toy as a child? barbies and my little Muppet Babies keyboard 36. Summer or winter? summer 37. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate 38. Coffee or tea? Arby's Jamocha Shake please. 39. Boy, do I wish I was still . . . . sane. Or was I ever? 40 When was the last time you cried? Last night. 41. What is under your bed? a bin of wrapping paper and gift bags. 42. What did you do last night? put my Guess Who game back together after my devil child ripped it apart. 43. What are you afraid of? getting MS like my Mom, my husband having heart problems like his dad. 45. Salty or sweet? Both, but mostly sweet 48. Favorite day of the week? Saturday 50. One talent you have? managing money 51. One talent you'd like to have? managing time 52. What is the next major purchase you will make? a sprinkling system for my front yard or a Kudu mount from Dax's hunting trip in Africa.

haircuts

We don't do it that often, so when we do, it is a big deal.

I have to get my courage up for several months to cut Hunter's hair. I need courage to perform the actual haircut since I don't really know what I am doing and it takes me forever. But mostly I need courage because he is not the best customer. He doesn't pay that well, either.

This was actually one of the best cuts we've had together. I am getting a little better (practice!), and he is getting a hair braver. I know I could just buzz him, but that isn't my style.

Preslie and I also got haircuts, but we got ours done by someone with a license. It takes me several months to save up enough money courage to pay someone $20-$30 for a half hour haircut. Especially since it is just going to grow back! Anyway, I am extremely happy about Preslie's cut. She got the blessing/curse of my insanely thick hair and it is really hard to comb out. We fight every day over it. It always ends with me in a bad mood and her in tears and it is just not worth it. Long hair is overrated! Look how cute..


And I haven't had to cut Dax's hair for quite a few months because he is going for a longer look. And I will never cut Mack's hair.
Ever.

memorable St. Patty's Day

Last night Preslie and Hunter set out traps so they could catch a Leprechaun. It cracked me up! Preslie's trap was a jar with a potato inside to lure the little guy. Hunter's trap was a shiny shamrock coin under a precariously balanced box. They went to bed excited as if it was Christmas Eve.

Dax and I woke up this morning to shouts from the other room...

"Hunter's trap is down!"
"There's a leprechaun hat in here!"
"Look at the jelly beans in my jar!"

Confused, I dragged myself out of bed to find a green hat with prizes and candy inside, green jelly beans in the place of Preslie's potato, and Hunter's trap down to suggest that a Leprechaun was inside. The kids did NOT know what to do. They were freaking out trying to decide if they should lift the box or not. Then we turned the box and saw a Leprechaun-shaped hole in the side...


As Hunter was getting ready for school he said, "We'll probably have a St. Patrick's Day party at school today."

"I don't think so, buddy. St. Patrick's Day isn't that big of a holiday," I said. Considering the events of the past 20 minutes, I knew he didn't believe me.

After school, Preslie came home with a cute shamrock she'd made.


She didn't know how lucky she really was because it is indeed a GIRL!


Happy St. Patrick's Day from all SIX of us!

a few funnies

I should not blog now. March is officially Sewing Month for me. I have lots of sewing projects on my list and one huge project I'm working on that I'm pretty excited about. Pics will come as things are completed.

I know everyone is busy. I feel like I have to race to get everything done once the kids are home... their homework/reading and jobs, dinner, plus any extras like Family Home Evening (which is the same day as laundry day..I should really change that), cub scouts, school functions, Activity Days, scriptures and prayers, baths, brushing and flossing. And that is one main reason my kids aren't in any lessons or sports. The only extra-curricular activity we have is Preslie's school singing group that meets 40 minutes once a week. I really really want Preslie and Hunter to take piano, and I should probably teach them, but where to fit it in? . . .

OH, back to the main reason I was going to take just a minute to blog... my cute boys.

Hunter has been way into spaceships lately and was playing with one he built from Legos. Then he says, "Mom, I want to be an astronaut when I grow up and fly in a spaceship to the moon."
Then Mack chimes in with, "I want to be Opmus Pime" [Optimus Prime]

At the beginning of a movie Mack was watching it said, "Sit back and enjoy the show. If you need help, ask a grown-up."
Me (calling from the other room): "Mack, do I need to push PLAY for you?"
Mack: "Are you a grown-up?"

Mack's favorite show lately is Sid the Science Kid. Last night while driving to our family night activity, he says, "Teacher Susie has boobies." We all laughed way hard because he's never said anything like that before and it came out of no where. Dax wanted to know where he heard that so he said, "Who told you that?"
Mack: "Sid the Science Kid"

my b-day

My whole family woke me up and hinted, "Do you want to sleep some more or do you want breakfast?" After they sang to me (love Mack's off-key Happy Birthday), I went and found a beautiful breakfast table set for me! The caramel pecan pull-aparts were divine! And I like this card from Hunter...

I asked why he crossed out "from Hunter" and he said, "I was going to give it to you so you'd already know who it's from."

I took Preslie and Hunter to church (Mack was sick), and got to wear the new coat Dax got me! It's the first coat I've ever picked out myself. After our nice church meetings, we all had a nap.

Today Dax's grandmother passed away. I am truly relieved and happy for her to not suffer in her mortal body and to be reunited with her eternal sweetheart. Grandma Nola was the last of our grandparents to pass away and our kids' last great-grandparent. I am grateful that my kids will remember having a great-grandmother. And so grateful we went and saw her on Valentine's Day. That visit was kind of sad; she wasn't too well and as Dax kissed her goodbye, I got that tingley feeling that told me that it really was goodbye.

I got many good wishes today...hugs, calls, etc. Dax cooked every meal and they were all delicious. He made a wonderful cheesecake for me, too. I am lucky that my B-day was on Sunday because a few weeks ago, Dax and I started a no-treats-on-weekdays goal. I believe it has really cut a lot of calories out of our diets. I always thought I was the one with the will-power in our relationship, but he has done way better than me. He's awesome.


It was a great birthday. It always is.

I {heart} my family

A couple years back, Hunter started saying, "I have a glow in my heart about you" everytime he was feeling the love. That is exactly how I feel lately. My kids and my husband are SO CUTE!










Dax is the best. I just love him. He is a great Dad, always trying to stay involved in the kids' lives, giving encouragement and also that good fatherly discipline. I am so glad he wrestles with the kids. Their giant anvils for heads scare me!


















Dax put his name in some drawings for some different deer and elk hunts and this week he found out he won a deer hunt in the Book Cliffs! He was so excited. And his phone rang constantly for 2 days after with all his buddies calling to say "I hate you!" or "Congrats!"

Here is the delicious beef stew Dax made the other day for us.


Mack has been begging me every hour every day to make a gingerbread house so I finally just bought some graham crackers and some clearance Valentine candy and let the kids go to town.

My sister Trina is so sweet. She sent me a box of clothes and Preslie a necklace and then a week later sent the boys some fun Cars games. Hunter and Mack are really good opponents for Tic-Tac-Toe. Hunter loves to win (even against a 2-year-old), and Mack doesn't mind losing.. he just loves to clear the board after the game.

I was able to go to Parents Day in Hunter's class this month and work with him on a variety of subjects. It was fun to see him do his thing and confirm what I already knew: He is a smarty!

Dax and I visited with his and Preslie's teachers at parent teacher conference and they are both doing so well. I feel so blessed to have children that are quick learners and good readers.
(Any of my fellow WJHS alumni may recognize Hunter's teacher from the class of '98- small world.)



Preslie is also doing excellent- The reading speed goal for the end of second grade is 90 and she currently reads at 155. Again, so blessed to have kids with natural abilities. I oversee that homework gets done and occasionally explain new concepts, but Preslie usually motivates herself to get her school work done. She is one smart girl. And those smarts are coupled with just as much (or more) sass!


Preslie enjoys attending Activity Days in our ward and I love to see her learn things from her leaders that she'd never allow me to teach her. She is no longer a little girl and it is kinda weird, but fun in a lot of ways, too. I don't get to dress her and hardly get to do her hair. She doesn't really like the clothes I pick for her and I've stopped sewing adorable skirts for her because they are not her style. I appreciate that she has her own ideas and style. My mom let me out of the house wearing some wacky stuff as a teen and didn't bat an eye at me (unless it was immodest). I so appreciate that freedom she gave me. I try to do the same for Preslie. It is like they always say about kids, "You have to pick your battles."

I went on a girls' night out last night with my friend Jaclyn. She took us to Cafe' Rio and then we just browsed and shopped the Easter stuff and of course the winter clearance racks. I couldn't believe our Wal-Mart's clearance: so much stuff for so cheap. The Miley Cyrus/Max Azria clothing line at Wal-Mart was not a big hit out here in the land of country folk and sub-zero temps, but I know cute and hip when I see it and it was all on sale for dirt cheap. Most of it is too teeny-bopper for a late-twenties Mom, but I managed to grab some jeans and a cute checked top. I got other clothes for the kids for next winter, too.



I could not pass up the little tank dress, for the skirt on it had me at "hello". It also had me at 3 bucks. But alas, it was too short for me so I bought an extra small for Preslie, knowing she may not like it but it was a risk I was willing to take. I simply could not leave those tulle ruffles behind.


She loves it.
Go Mom.
(And go, Miley.)