hallelujah!!

 last night while I was chaperoneing the dance, a very fun "cherry blossom" themed event, R took the littles fishing and THEY CAUGHT STUFF!!!!!

Papa Bear with his itty bitty catch!

 Little Bear with his medium sized catch!!

and pink fuzzy Sister Bear with her great big catfish!!!!!

also note the clothing, Papa Bear wore layers...and then stripped down to shirt sleeves as each little cub got cold.
Future solution: have the cubs bring sweatshirts

day off

There is a shade of green found here in MD that is hard to describe.  I see it sometimes when I am driving down the tree lined roads and the sun filters through some spots and lights the leaves up with a sparkle.  It really is lovely.  Bright and happy.  It is my favorite color that shade, nameless and hard to describe, but when you see it it speaks to your senses and says the earth is alive, and there is beauty all around.  After a long and cold winter it is finally almost warm and today the sparkle of green was every where!

We've been keeping busy.  I like my little kindergarten class.  I love the cute hugs and the stories they tell, their sometimes shy smiles and their quiet faces when listening to a story.  It's been a cheerful few weeks for me there.  

Wednesday night Grace made a blanket in activity days.  She was very happy.  Two weeks ago she helped Stevie work on hers and this week Stevie helped her.  All the girls made a blanket and they were pleased with their efforts. 

Thursday was busy.  After school Grace stayed for the Relay for Life movie viewing.  Ethan had a soccer game which he almost missed except that Dari drove him down, so sweetly and not at all on her way to anywhere.  I was very grateful.  I need to make her cookies or something.  Then lost 3-5.  Losing is always a bitter pill to swallow.  After the game E and R went out with the missionaries.  Lu and I went out to dinner then went to pick up Hannah at Alyssa's and ended up staying two hours chatting and eating Norwegian waffles, so yummy.  We really had a nice time and got home too late.  Luckily today there is no school.

Rob is home from work today.  I was surprised.  He technically gets every other Friday off but actually only takes 3-4 off a year, so seldom that I do not even think to ask if it's an off Friday or not.  This morning I worked in the house, he worked outside.  The kids helped us both, mostly him but that was great I was happy to have them outside pulling weeds and helping.  I also talked on the phone with my mom and my MIL.  It's funny but somehow when I work during the day I don't get to talk to people very often, nights and weekends aren't the same.  R and I did some calendaring which was needed but we had to both be here, during the day, to do it.  Anyway it was nice to catch up.

For lunch today I went out to celebrate Lisa, Amy and my birthdays.  We went to Thompsons and ate tasty seafood and sat and talked for 2 hours.  It was great.  

Now R and the kids are off fishing, hope they have some luck. Soon I will be leaving to chaperone a dance.

science for FHE

 last night for FHE we finished up Grace's home scientist badge requirements.  She had to do 5 experiments and read about the science behind them.

She chose to make dinosaur snot (oobleck), to demonstrate density by floating objects in salt water or not, make something explode (mentos and diet coke), make pepper dance and water bend, and make rock candy.

Some worked better than others, all were pretty fun and everyone was engaged in the fun.

weekend recap

Our weekend was pretty good, as weekends tend to be.

On Friday night we went out for cow with Pete and Katherine.  Had a good time visiting.  I actually ate the shrimp skewers which were very tasty.  It was a stormy night so after dinner we rushed home to our offspring and were in bed early.  Hannah was supposed to have a camp out but it had to be moved due to the weather.

Saturday Rob and Pete spent all day doing fishing/boat stuff.  The kids and I cleaned the house and then headed to Waldorf to the mall.  We had a pretty fun time.  Food court dinner is always a fav.  I wanted to go to Crazy 8s because our little Lu has been sporting the scrappy look a little too long and she is so picky about her clothes.  She doesn't do "itchy".  We found some cute, soft outfits there and bought a couple.  She is ready for the warm weather now....if it ever comes.  Today's high is a predicted 56, brrr!  Han also bought a couple of things.  E doesn't care about clothes but he was good shopping company.

Yesterday I spoke in the LP ward.  First we went to our ward, sacrament meeting was wonderful.  That Tracey Kirkham is an awesome speaker.  The topic was the Atonement and of course how can you go wrong.  I was happy I would get to hear his talk twice since I was his speaking companion for the second block. 
Laura invited us for dinner and we had a fun time there.  The evening ended early because the kids had BYD.  When we got home we worked on Lu's home scientist stuff for her brownie badge and went to bed.

BTW, the picture, nothing to do with the post, just that I love those boys, and wish I was somewhere warm :)

you've had a birthday shout hurray!

adorable adorable Penny Jane!!!!

 Yesterday was my birthday.  I am 45.  I think that's pretty much the middle of life exactly.  I'd like to live to 90 give or take a decade so the first half is over.  Crazy.  It's been good :)  I had a good day.  It's been a good life.

How did I celebrate?  well I went to work.  I have a few more weeks of Kindergarten to enjoy and a long list of things I want to do with the money I make so it seemed the best choice:)  I had a really fun time seeing messages pop up on facebook with well wishes from friends and family.  It's kind of silly but I really enjoyed that.  Knowing so many people thought well of me and cared to say Happy Birthday.

Tatum girl the mermaid lover

 After work I enjoyed some more birthday love in the form of phone calls and lots of pics on Dani's blog just for me of my little princess grandgirls!!!  Yea!! loved it.

seriously couldn't you just eat her up?!!

Tate and the sea creature crew

 When I got home I was greeted by a beautiful bouquet of flowers!  This made my day, so cheerful and sweet and my favorite colors.  Then Dani told me that Greg sent them and that touched me so much.  He is a great SIL and I am grateful for our good relationship.  Thanks birthday twin Greg!

birthday flowers from Greg :)

 The boys had soccer so we had a girls night celebration.  We went to JoAnns and Marshalls.  I got some cute new shoes and we got Lu an outfit and some fabric for a blanket she's working on in activity days.  Hannah got a shower cap :) and some other things she needed.  We had a good time together!  We also ate at Chicken something, that I have been wanting to try.  It was fine but not a place I need to rush back to.   The company was good though!

birthday fun with my little girls

sweet TX friends

When I came home Pete and Katherine were here with a little gift and to visit. They traversed the dangerous debris field to join us in our messy living room for a fun visit.  I feel very blessed to have many great friends in many parts of the world.  Really blessed.  I look forward to the day when we are not separated by miles and can enjoy each other in person. 

It's also Marcia's birthday! Happy birthday gorgeous, brilliant, dazzling you!  Tori, Kriste, Ruth and Marcia went out to celebrate and sent me this "wish you were here".  I wish it too dear ones!

Not to forget I got my long wished for dyson.  I am very excited.  UB and Nana and Abba sent it to me.  Love love my family! all of them! Family really is God's biggest blessing to us. I  have been especially blessed.

It was a happy day, full of good cheer, new shoes, happy thoughts and my grateful heart. 

it pollened

It's that wonderful time of year when we get a yellow coating on everything...and the sneezing that comes with it.  MD is the first place I have lived where we can see the pollen in a thick layer. The first time I saw it I didn't know what it was.  Now I do...aahh chooo!!

Tuesday night Lu had Brownies.  The girls each chose one individual badge to work on, I didn't know what she chose until that night when we picked up our packet.  All the other girls chose dancer, or computer expert.  Grace chose home scientist.  We will be working on lots of experiments in the next few weeks.  She is very excited.  Our Grace is a very smart girl.

After Brownies Rob and I went to Salsas.  It's our favorite late night, quick date.  Diet coke, chips and salsa~ a good start to any dinner :)

Last  night R took the kids to church and I went to have a "play date" with Katherine.  I brought cake and we sat in her living room, which is always clean and peaceful and smells good, and just chatted.  Eventually her visiting teachers joined us, which was also fun.  I need to do that more.  Making time for my girl friends is challenging when I work during the day and the familia keeps me busy all the rest of the time.  But it's such a joy and blessing to have those warm and supportive friendships.  Note to self: make that more of a priority.

Fishing for FHE

 Tonight R wanted to go fishing for FHE.  I thought that was a good idea, it's nice to get out in nature and to spend time together.  The kids were not as enthusiastic but once we got there they all had a good time.  Hannah and Ethan took off their shoes and went wading.

 R and Lu spent most of the time trying to catch fish, Ethan occasionally joined them.  Z ran around and Han and I took her walking.

 We didn't catch anything but the evening was very lovely and we enjoyed ourselves.

We came home and ate roast and potatoes that I had put in the crock pot this morning, and then I put Lu to bed while Han and Ethan worked on homework.  R stayed to fish some more.  He has long wanted to take the family out on the lake but I wonder if the reality was a little splashier ,more  noisy, and sillier than he had imagined :)