Calvert Cliffs

 We had a half day at school today and R was home because the base was having some kind of security exercise.  The YW had their camp clinic planned so I decided it would be fun for us to join them.  We had to drive Hannah over the bridge anyway so we tagged along :)  It was hot out but we had a really good time. 

 We were there about 5 minutes when E & R took off.  Lu and I hiked with the girls.  We went 5 miles and stopped to do lots of certifying on the way.  Our destination was the beach.  Yeah!

 Lu hopped right in and helped with everything.  Here they are building an emergency shelter.

 We met up with the boys when we hit the beach.  There were lots of great shells and nice sand to play in.

 Me and Big Bubba.

little beach comber

love the toothless grin

After the hike the girls went to the Smith's to make campfire dinners and do some more certifying.  R and I took the little kids to Montereys for some delicious Mexican food then home for showers.  I went back to pick up the girls.  It was a long day but a good one. 

Elms beach

Today was field trip day.  Lu's class went to Elm's Beach, which is always a fun fun trip.  The weather was perfect.  The kids were learning about temperature and animals.  They had to go on a thermometer scavenger hunt and find the 10 hidden thermometers around the facility. Here is a picture of Lucy and John averaging the readings to find the air temp. 

When we got home I had to take little Lucy to the dentist to get two cavities filled :( ouch!  She did great.  After we finally got home for the evening I took her filthy little self up for a bath and did a tick check, found one, got it out and now she's soaking off the dirt and stress of the day.

Hannah's science assingment

She had to creatively present her element.  I think she did :)

practice makes perfect

 Tonight was soccer practice for all.  Lu had her first outdoor soccer.  She has a couple of friends on her team and the coach was really nice so I have high hopes for a fun and successful season.  She liked practicing anyway :) 

 Ethan also had practice (divide and conquer) and then he had cub scouts.  The boys did some outside games, which seemed to be a huge hit.  All the trees around are going crazy with gorgeous blossoms!

Hannah is playing in a stake volleyball tournament on Saturday, she also had practice tonight.  What a blessing it is to have healthy active children.

spring

Ahh, Sunday Sunday. Thank goodness we only have one day of rest a week :)  Our day was a challenge.  Well mostly sacrament meeting was.  Lucy was a wreck.  She cried, complained, carried on, had to be drug out of the chapel, literally, twice, and ended up sitting in the foyer with me.  We put on quite the show...which was very embarrassing.  By the time you are 7 years old you can and should sit nicely for an hour and ten minutes.  She has been a real challenge lately.  She only wants to obey when there is a reward, for example: If you pick up your toys I will take you to the park.  Okay.  Or if you eat your dinner you can have ice cream.  Okay.  But if I just tell her to do something, even if it's something she has been doing all along like buckle up your seat belt in the car, or come help set the table or any number of other examples she refuses.  It is getting tiresome.  I am tired of rewarding, bribing, threatening, punishing...I am missing something, but what???

After sacrament, and after getting our little angel off to class I 'noticed' (since many people told me) that Michelle and I had the same dress on, which was super fun.  She is young and fun  so I felt complemented to have the same taste as she does.  I remember once when I was about 15 going to a stake dance and wearing the same dress as someone, the dress was purple and black large checks with a black belt and the someone was Lorena Michaels, and we were both aghast.  Now not so much.  Funny.

Our day ended well.  The Zawadas came over for dinner and R grilled some yumm-o burgers and we had a fun fun visit.  It was very relaxing.  It was a good friend weekend for us.

Unfortunately R was sick all night.  In the morning he got up and showered and got ready for work, had to run back to the pot (TMI) and got undressed and back in bed.  Poor guy.  A long night with the porcelain throne is no fun.  After sleeping in and me running to get some Imodium he felt better and spent the morning in the yard and then we went to the Front Porch for some delicious salads for lunch.  This will illustrate how off he really was...he forgot his wallet.  Embarrassing, for him not me, I didn't care.  So he had to run back home while I sat on the porch sipping my diet coke and listening to the music playing and enjoying the lovely lovely spring day. 

St Pattys Day

dancing after dinner

St Patty's day girls :)

Lucy made dessert, cake pops :)   they kind of looked like Horton's who home

We had the Martines' over for dinner tonight.  I made corned beef and green mashed potatoes, Lu made dessert, lime cake balls and lime bundt cake, we also bought green drink and rainbow sherbet. They brought delicious cinnamon bread that Chelsea made, pistachio pie and a green veggie tray.  It was a festive dinner.  We ate on the deck since the weather was so pleasant.  Then I gathered the kids around because I had "found" a note from a leprechaun.  They read the note and were sent on a treasure hunt that lead them around the neighborhood, and finally to our back yard fire pit where they found a pot of gold (or a jar of candy :) )  We sat around and visited, the boys played in the basement, the girls danced and it was a nice  night.  Poor Mike had surgery a few days ago and his hand is still hurting him so that was a bummer for him.  Hopefully he'll be well soon.

redemption

last week E's soccer team suffered a very disappointing tie with the Orange Crush.  The game ended 5 to 5.  One of their goals was scored when our goalie let the ball in between his legs (thankfully not Ethan) granny style, another was scored by one of our players in our net :(  (again not Ethan but still painful).  It was awful.

This week our boys came back ready to win it.  Both teams really did.  They played HARD.  It was exciting and action packed.  Our keepers defended that net with all they had, twice Ethan took a flying leap and landed on the ball with no concern for his own safety or that of his teeth.  Once he leaped into the air and caught a ball that was many inches above his grasp.  Our defense was flawless and our offense ruthless.  Sweet.

This game ended 3-0. 

They were satisfied and at the crowd, which was alternating between holding their collective breaths and cheering wildly was very pleased (at least on our bleachers)