Writing Prompts

...are super.  Allie's prompt this week was: "if today was my last day...", and had to use at least 5 of the words in the bank.  So here is her paragraph, and it is so sweet, except that Maddie isn't really placid, ha ha.

If today was my last day, I would spend the day with my placid little sister, Maddie, who is 4 years old.  First, I would have fun with her.  I would do some of her favorite things with her.  We would have a tea party and play in the backyard.  Then I would give her a “princess makeover”, where she would dress up like a princess and get makeup on so her face would be embellished in a way.  Next, I would tell her advice for when she was older.  I would tell Maddie to be nice to my mom and dad and listen to them.  I would also tell her to get good grades.  After I told her all the advice I had for her, I would say bye to Maddie before the day ended.  I bet she would act like it was ambiguous and make me reiterate what I was saying to verify it.  I would make it full of brevity so she wouldn’t get sad.  Then I would give her a hug.  That is what I would do if today was my last day.   

Another Way to Get Around

3/21.  Zane's "cool" factor just went up a notch.  He learned how to push off with his feet to make this little ride-on car move!

Of course, first time drivers are prone to accidents.  This was the damage, which I didn't notice til the next day:

 He didn't cry much when he fell off the car, so I didn't even check.  Kevin saw it when he got home, and the next day it was all puffy. But Zane didn't care much:

Normal day as far as he was concerned.

I think he tolerates pain pretty well, or I might have just not paid close attention, as I was busy helping this girl finish her science fair display board:

Leprechaun Day 2012

The kids were hoping that the leprechauns didn't forget to come and visit even though we were out of town.  Well, the cabin was safe from them - and they thought they wouldn't come and visit at all (I am guessing they couldn't find a key to get in our house while we were gone).  Maddie kept asking me if we had green toilets when we got home from our trip.  They weren't green.  She was disappointed about that.  She actually remembered quite a few of the things the leprechauns did last year!  Anyway, so just when they thought the leprechauns forgot,
They came!  On Monday morning, the kids woke up to green toilets, green stickers on their face, and a fairly small mess in the kitchen - thank you!  And there were green treats hidden all around.  There were stickers on everything though which were a little too sticky for my liking.  The milk was once again safe (I really like that about our leprechauns) - and they left us green Hawaiian punch!  We had a fun morning before the kids rushed off to school.

 Green treats.  The mint nail polish was a hit!

Zane broke his first bowl - and thought it was funny.  

Wicked/Spring Break

While Kevin was on a business trip, my friend Alisyn and I went to watch Wicked.  Her husband happened to also be on a business trip on the same night so instead of selling the tickets she and I went instead.  I think that Wicked is now one of my favorites!

Allie of course, did my hair - she is really good at it!  I don't have patience for my hair and don't ever take the time to do it - it's all backwards I told her since moms usually do their daughter's hair - but I love it!  Sadly I didn't bring my good camera - and the phone camera didn't do a great job in super low light.  That's Alisyn and I after the show.

Then towards the end of Spring Break, we went up to Show Low with the Evans - their parents have a beautiful cabin up there - and invited us to join them for the weekend.  It was so much fun - Kevin of course was excited that we almost got snowed in on Sunday (maybe not the driving part...ha ha...we got out just in time, and while he was driving I repeatedly said "this is why we will never live where it snows", but I know he still likes me!)  We spent three days and two nights up there.  We played games, the kids and Dads took long walks  while Alisyn and I veg'ed and chatted ourselves til we were tired.  We made yummy breakfast casseroles (sausage/egg AND french toast with evil buttermilk syrup), left the kids one night and went to dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant, which was interrupted by our girls calling and telling us that they thought they saw someone watching them outside.  They were all so freaked out by the time we got home.  Of course it was probably no one since the neighborhood is gated and it was most likely another homeowner taking a walk in the woods by the golf course.  It was a great trip and super relaxing - our favorite way to "camp".

 First stop: the park - Zane loved the swing!

And the family rec center where Allie and I did dance, dance revolution; Kevin - ms. pacman; and air hockey for everyone

 Maddie loves little babies and constantly asks for another little sister and brother - so of course these were no exception - there were six little baby bath toys and she loved them so much she had to have a picture of her two favorite ones.

 S'more Night

Maddie didn't like the way the smoke smelled so she plugged her nose

  Cleaning up after breakfast

 We drove up to the Snowflake Temple and walked around it - it was super windy though so we didn't stay very long. We left and went to Trappers' for lunch, and we hyped the place so much, of course, two or three of our burgers were not cooked all the way (yuck!). Sorry Evans - it usually is pretty good.  Kevin ran into an old friend, Trent Mortenson and his family while we were at Trappers.

Nice outfit Maddie

Another breakfast

The snow was beautiful.

 The kids were so excited they all went out in the snow in their pajamas and light sweaters/jackets.

Maddie walking in the snow

Kevin was in a hurry to leave - the snow was coming down fast and I wanted to take a photo (of course).

Allie took this one of me before I got in the car.  

White out!  It was pretty but slick. It snowed almost all the way home! We were thankful that there were no accidents and that we got home safely.

Flag Football

All the neighborhood (and ward) kids who are Collin's age decided to play flag football this season.  We were lucky to have a spot open for Collin to take, since he didn't care to do it until he found out that his best friends were doing it.  Practices are just down the street from us, and Collin just rides his bike over there plus the games are at the nearby Discovery Park, and our coaches and parents are good friends in the ward - can't be beat!  Anyway he loves it and loves to go to the games and practices.  Their team is called the 49ers.  He pulled a couple of flags so far, and likes to play on the defense.  We told him we'd pay him a dollar (or even two) for every flag he pulls - any incentive to be more competitive, ha ha, since he really isn't!  They won 2 games so far, I think, and got creamed a couple of times by teams that have obviously been playing a while they looked like they were dancing on the field!  Fun to watch!

Cub Scout Day Camp & Bake Sale

March 3rd.  I got to go volunteer at our Stake Day Camp in Chandler.  It was Western - themed and took 4 boys down with Collin.  It was quite the experience listening to the "boy" conversations in the car - super funny and some had to do with bodily functions.  It was as if they forgot I was in the car.  Girl conversations are quite the opposite, but they, too forget I'm driving, and can therefore, hear every word they're saying. It's great!  With great weather I had fun taking pictures of our Wolves and then helped man our ward's booth at the end.  Four hours and all good stuff - they even had the Stake Presidency riding horses, both real and not (you should have seen that one!).

Welcome to the Stake Day Camp

Tying

They had this big teepee that was neat inside and out

All the wolves - Rhett W, Nathan F, Wyatt B, Kade S, Collin, Ethan A, and Cameron H

Our ward's booth

Allie called on my way home to tell me she and her friend Alexa were doing a bake sale to raise money for Time to Blossom.  She basically made cupcakes and candy, and took all kinds of chips and drinks from our pantry and sold for good money. They made $26 total - in two hours.  $13 each towards Time to Blossom.  Good times!  I love our street because we have tons of kids always outside.  They are also constantly knocking on our door to see if the kids could play (I think they are getting used to hearing "gotta practice piano" or "homework's not done, come back in a few").  But then they are back and they go riding their bikes in the neighborhood.

This was the setup in front of our house

 Customers

And more customers, who loved (I guess) their grape lemonade drink and homemade thin mint cookies