Where's Bella?

Here we are in Bella's school gym at some amazingly huge all-district orchestra thing. If you need help, Bella plays the bass.

Then there's this cute kid.

Almost home...

I'm always jonesing to stop at Multnomah Falls.  My wish came true this time.  Yay.

Hotel Fun

Indoor pool!  Outside of Boise.  Cruddy hotel, but nice pool.

Trip to Utah

Grandma and Pa celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on April 20. Aunt Kristy threw them a big party, and we were invited. Woot!  We stayed with Kristy & Steve and Grandma & Pa in Utah.

 

First, some pics of Brennan and Bella at Temple Square.

We bought some bottled soda drinks at the Pantry (in the basement of the Lion House) and of course they thought it would be hilarious to pretend they were drinking alcoholic beverages while gazing at the Church Office Building.  I don't know where they get this stuff....heh

This is the one pic I took at the anniversary party - Carter enjoying a spin on a press room stool.  Durpy mother.

This is my favorite - my five babes in silhouette outside the Bountiful Temple, where we became a forever family.  They were being absolutely stinky about having their picture taken but somehow they managed to look wonderful.  Probably since we can't see their faces (wink, wink).

 

It was a fun trip.

Utah Randomness

More pics from the Utah trip.

Once we landed in Utah, we decided to take a break in Brigham City.  Found a local park and, just as sure as day must turn to night, out came the soccer ball.

Playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. We have access... ahem.

Hanging in downtown SLC, checking out the new mall.  Good job, SLC peeps!

We went to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal while we were there.  I've always wanted to attend one and yay!  I finally got my chance.  The LDS Orchestra practices with them.  VERY cool.

And no visit to SLC is complete without a visit and a pic of this beautiful place...

I Can Make No Sense of the Clues Left Me Here

Easter 2012

Easter Time

It May Be Raining

But there's a rainbow above you

River Walk

Some cold windblown babies

Chicky Babes

Took the kids to Coastal Farm and Ranch today.

Checking out the chicks

It was so great to sleep in today. I got up and showered, dressed, and tidied up the living room with the kids so we could watch General Conference. Hubby made breakfast of pancakes and bacon and we ate while we watched. I love Hubby. :)

Conference was, of course, great.  I loved President Eyring's talk during the morning session.

Last night before we went to the movie, Carter informed us that he had a serious need for stick-on fake mustaches - why, I have no idea - so we promised him we would go buy some today, between Conference sessions. I am still in chicken mode and was thinking it would be fun to check out chicken coops at Coastal Farm & Ranch, so we went first to Fred Meyer for mustaches (yes) and antifreeze for Amy Fisher, then took off for Coastal in Gresham.

Oh man, were those little chicks and ducklings cute. I wanted to take some home right then, but we don't have a place for them yet, and with two major trips coming up in April and May, it doesn't seem like a great time to establish a chicken situation. But we did some good research on the kind of coop kits we could buy, their costs, etc., and I did end up buying a simple round metal chick feeder, just so that spoiled chicken-wanting brat in my head would pipe down. If we can't do it this spring, we'll definitely do it next year.

Afterward, we drove through Burgerville and had milkshakes, then drove home jovially, joking about the Bee Gees and how they sound like Elmo the Muppet when they sing falsetto, and about my plan to patent what I call the Bee Gee Scream, and singing along with "Nights on Broadway". Brennan and Bella ended up with their fingers in their ears. Good stuff.
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The afternoon session of Conference was also wonderful. I loved Elder Jeffrey Holland's talk about envy, LOVED it. Brennan baked the Brie I bought yesterday until it was all melted and gooey, and we ate it and slices of roasted garlic on French bread. Mmmm!

As this second session was ending, a man rang our doorbell and when we answered the door, he asked if he could buy our white minivan, Charlotte. We told him to come back in a month and he could buy Amy Fisher from us instead.

The Hunger Games

Rozzie stayed home another day with what I think was influenza - fever, headache, sore throat, snotty nose, cough and achy little body. She was even walking slowly, which was a telling sign - this child is always dancing, twirling, flopping, jumping, running. Brennan took care of her again. Such a good big brother.

Bella, Harrison and Carter all went to school and had a good day. I went to work and was anticipating a not great time of it, but as it turned out, I was mostly alone with J the whole time. Boss Lady didn't make it into the store while I was there, and didn't call to give any instructions. I put myself to work and poured pans of dark chocolate raspberry swirl, maple bacon, and dark chocolate caramel sea salt fudge. It was nice, I did very well except for one pan, which ended up a little lumpier than it should have.

Picked Bella and her bass up at school and dropped them off at home, then went to the gas station and Winco and stocked up on groceries. This being General Conference weekend and the beginning of spring break, I bought a few extra treats. I came home and put the kids to work, then rested a while; went to Cinetopi@ and bought tickets for The Hunger Games.

Brennan left in the early afternoon and spent time with his friend Olga. They ended up in Portland at Lloyd Center. We were glad he was spending some social time with someone besides us.

After Hubby came home, we threw more food at the five "mouths" and took off for Cinetopi@, but when we arrived, with plenty of time to find seats at a normal movie theater, there was nowhere to sit except in the first two rows, and I absolutely refused. I watched one of the Twilight movies that way and it was miserable.

We went and got a refund (two movie passes) and I used my phone "find a theater and movie times" app to see where else it was playing. We drove there, got into the showing we wanted, and parked our butts. No one was taking our seats! The movie was excellent, excellent, excellent. I loved every minute, though I cried all my makeup off.

After the movie, we went to W@lmart for a few last minute pre-Conference purchases, went home and flopped into bed.

Temple with Rachel

Illness report: Bella didn't feel all the way better this morning, but wanted to go to school a bit late to get some things done. Rosalind is sick with a fever, barking cough, snotty nose and headache. She stayed home today. I took Carter and then Bella to school, then came home and took Harrison.

I had to work, so I got ready and left Roz in Brennan's capable hands. He did a good job giving her medicine and taking care of her.

Work was a frenzy from beginning to end. I walked in to find Boss Lady frantically preparing for an "event" (taking fudge to another business to sell) and she asked me to help her finish getting ready. I did so, and she pointed out a mistake I made last time and gave me the day's orders. After she left I couldn't quite shake that rushy feeling and hurried through my work. I made a kettle of chocolate and poured it, washed the kettle, and made vanilla and poured it; finished the two pans of Caramellow she started; poured pans of Death By Chocolate, rocky road and Chocolate Oodles (which I screwed up and will catch crap for later); and waited on more customers than I'd anticipated.

Afterward I picked up Bella and drove home. It was pouring down rain, so I met Carter at the corner to see if he wanted a ride; he didn't. Cute kid. He ran and I drove home. Bella's friend Katie was coming over, so we picked up the house. I went to get Harrison after school, but he also walked. I came home, rested a while, then made creamy vegetable soup and biscuits for dinner (and macaroni and cheese for Carter). Bella and Katie played Xbox while the kids watched.

Hubby came home and I changed my clothes and left to pick up visiting bloggy friend Rachel at her motel. We drove to the temple and made it to the 7:30 session. She had never been inside this temple, so after the session we found a nice lady who said we could go up to the third floor and peek at the sealing rooms. Predictably we got lost and spent most of the time quietly giggling through the temple hallways, and enjoying the beauty of the rooms. It was fun to be with Rachel in the temple; she's the first of my blogging friends I'd ever done that with. Then I couldn't find my car keys - for some reason I'd put them in my coin purse - and we finally found them and drove back to her motel. I hugged her goodbye and went home.

Today has sucked!

It was a yucky day for dumb small reasons that seemed hugely frustrating.  I managed to wash towels, wash some dishes, prepare and serve food to people, make cookies, eat a milk chocolate hazelnut candy bar from Switzerland, cry on the phone to Hubby, and spend the day in bed watching television. I have decided to boycott Wednesdays. Seriously speaking, I think I need to give myself Wednesdays off from doing anything that isn't absolutely necessary, and start doing something I like every week.

Bella stayed home sick from Seminary, school, Roz's soccer practice and Mutual.  I hope she can go tomorrow. The other kids were all on time and had a good day, except Harrison, who came home starving because he keeps forgetting to ask for or take his lunch money.

Tyson came over to play with Carter. Hubby took Roz to her little practice, then went to the church to learn about his new calling (yay!). I met him there with Carter later, and dropped Harrison and Brittany La... off for Mutual. I came home to find Bella in my bed, watching the movie "Gypsy". I love that she likes to watch old movies. Hubby brought everyone home afterward.

Bright spot: a lady in Montana fulfilled two of my Findagrave photo requests, for Lena Clark (Grandma Keithler's mom) and her son John Clark. Both headstones looked wonderful.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Temple Day

After getting everyone off to school, I drove to Portland and went to Deseret Book for a temple bag and found a cute "Families are Forever" silver clock for 50% off. Then I went to the temple and attended the 11:00 session. It had been a long, long time; it felt wonderful to be there again. I went downstairs afterward and had lunch in the cafeteria. Next time I want Hubby and/or the kids with me.

I picked up Bella, brought her home, did household crap and made appointments for the kids and myself, for various medical, dental and eye care needs.

Hubby and Bella went to her soccer game. They lost 0-3. We ordered pizza and they had some when they came home.

Surprise

What a beautiful, gorgeous, sunny day. I went to the grocery store after dropping the kids at school and came home inspired to get busy with our "farm". We spent the morning playing with the peat pellets, planting dill seeds in them, studying our seeds and their growing seasons and made a plan for where to plant everything. It was overwhelming. I hope we can do this.

I went to get Bella and after we were home, spent some time in the garden plot, shoveling and weeding. That ivy is from hell. Seriously.

I enjoyed going with Brennan to the feed and garden store last week and thought maybe the kids would like seeing the baby chicks there, so after Harrison came home, I took the three youngest there. They thought the chicks were cute. Carter and Rosalind both wanted a peacock feather, so I bought them each one. I bought more peat pellets.

We found a fun local ice cream store that sells soft serve ice cream in a myriad of flavors, including one of my weird favorites, black licorice. Carter, Roz and I had cones; Harrison wanted Dairy Queen so we went there after I dropped the other two at the park by the house. He ordered a blizzard and I read the Nickel and played the crossword puzzle. Afterward we drove home, stopping by the park first when we saw Brennan's car parked there. Daddy had seen us drop the kids there and drive away, and decided to play with them.

Hubby had a soccer meeting all evening.

Well, then.

I woke up at 4:13 today - Hubby tells me he is having a hard time sleeping next to me while I'm awake and has threatened to keep me up past 9:30 tonight. We'll see who wins this contest. I'm thinking I will.

We got up and dressed for church, and made it mostly on time again. During Sunday school time, I found my friends Brie and Brandee, the ward Young Women president and Laurel adviser respectively, sitting in the chapel, and sat to chat with them for a while. We talked about one of my Beehives who has a bad habit of monopolizing class time with her talking and interrupting, and Brie mentioned a trick she uses in her school classroom: she holds an object out for the class to see and tells them that whoever is holding it gets to talk. So while she's talking, she holds it, and when she wants feedback, she lets one of the kids hold it. Brie visited my class last week and agrees this girl needs some training in social skills. I said I would try her suggestion.

Before our Young Women meeting, I was caught in the hall by Brother Lor... of the stake high council. He let me know that he hadn't heard anything about me going to Girls Camp this summer and he was worried I would be upset if I wasn't asked to go, but said he was reminding everyone that it isn't a calling and we shouldn't assume we would be asked back. I told him that was fine, I would go back if they wanted me but wouldn't be offended if they didn't. I just want to know either way, so I can plan my summer.

In Beehive class, Brie's idea WORKED. Part of the success came from the girl already being upset from finding out ten minutes earlier that Girls Camp falls on the same week as her old ward's annual beach trip. Sad, but she was much quieter. Once the lesson got going, I used my sparkly beaded bracelet as our talk permission, and it was really hard, but by the end of class she was waiting to respond until I called on her and I was remembering to follow up each question with, "Raise your hand if you have a comment". I hate having such a formal class setting but she needs to learn, and our class is a good place, I guess.

After church I talked to Ann about my talk with Brother Lor... and she confessed she may have "messed up my chances" of going this year by begging off going herself. Her Dallin is planning to leave on his mission that month and she will not only lose her babysitter, but will be getting him ready to go. So it sounds like I probably won't be invited if they were planning on keeping Ann and me together. Oh well. :)

When I finally made it out to the car, the kids were there waiting. They were giggling and directed me to look at a nearby tree next to the church sidewalk. Some brilliant soul had taken blue sidewalk chalk and drawn a picture of male genitalia on the tree. I went into the church and grabbed cleaner and a scrub brush from the closet, and cleaned it off. No idiotic artwork like that deserves viewing. As we were driving away, we noticed another HUGE phallus drawn on the asphalt, more graphic than the one on the tree. I dropped the kids at home, had Roz grab our brooms and drove with her back to the church. We got a pan of water and dipped the brooms in it and basically mopped the graffiti on the parking lot. It made a difference but the image wasn't totally eradicated - the rain should take care of it.

Came home and lay down, watched TV, ended up taking a nap. Hubby took Bella to her YCL meeting and I later took Rosalind to Chloe Ha...'s baptism. They're in the same Primary class. Unbeknownst to Roz, the Primary chorister planned for a Primary chorus to sing during "intermission", and when it was time, Roz stood up with the three other little girls who came and tried to sing, but she didn't know the song. It embarrassed her and she ended up hiding her face in her little hands. Poor baby. She sat down next to me and I snuggled her and she shed a few quiet tears. The Primary president came over and cheered her up, and then the chorister, then Rozzie's Primary teachers... It was sweet. On the way home I told her about the time that same thing happened to me, except I was singing a solo in Sacrament meeting.

Came home, ate dinner and mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate syrup, watched TV in bed.

The Soccer Farmers

I woke up at 4:05 AM, but was grateful to have slept through the night after that regrettable feeding frenzy known as "last night's date".  I spent the early morning blogging, checking Craigslist, adding links to local businesses on the business blog sidebar, and researching fun things like raising chickens.  I don't know if the landlord would mind us raising a few chickens if we used a mobile coop - they wouldn't be inside the house (his policy is "no pets" unless they're contained in a cage), and we'd move the coop around so it wouldn't ruin the grass.

Day Off

Bella and Harrison already had the day off, and I was wildly disinterested in getting Carter and Rosalind ready for school. They were only too willing to stay home.  So I let them.  I know, I'm a terrible mother.  I've made my peace with it.