St. Patrick's Day

Every St. Patrick's day the kids wake up with shamrock stickers on their faces.  This is where the leprechaun "kissed" them.  They usually find gold chocolate coins in their shoes that he shares with them.  I also put green food coloring in the toilet and make green shamrock pancakes and have green milk.  Of course we all wear green so we do not get pinched.  

1st garage sale of season

I told John I wasn't going to buy anything but only look at a fundraiser/yardsale this past Saturday.  Yet, I came home with 3 shirts for Caroline, a sweatshirt and 2 shirts for Joseph, camouflage rain boots for Joseph, a new library book bag, earings for Natalie, and a seasoned wok.  Well I spent all of 4 dollars on everything.  To my credit I did put back some items I was going to buy.  My goal this year is to be very selective and to get rid of the same number of items of stuff I bring in.   I still don't know why I love a good yard sale.  Perhaps it is the thrill of the hunt.  Or it could be because it is the one thing my good friend Lori and I do each Saturday morning.  Some of my favorite things I own are from yard sales like a quilt top made with vintage clothes and fabric from 1950s that I finished or the old vintage picnic basket that we use when we go camping or up the canyon.  My girl's favorite dress up clothes I have purchased at garage sales.  There is also the shopping high I get from finding a bargain.  I think I inherited my love for garage sales from my mom who would find cool antiques on the curbside in Boston set out for the garbage when we were little.  I guess I did not need any of the items I bought but my children sure loved them.  Tomorrow I will get rid of some of my junk and maybe make a stir fry to justify the wok:)

Shakespeare Play

Natalie was the jester (narrator) for the play The comedy of Errors.  She was the first cast member to speak and did a great job introducing the play and characters.  She was on the stage the whole time and would come out at different times to explain what was happening.  She had great stage presence and looked both beautiful and confident.  She spoke very clear and used great expression.  She had to act out of few funny scenes with the other jester and did a wonderful job of becoming her jester character.    I am constantly amazed at my children's talents.  I was so proud of Natalie for trying out for the play and working hard to memorize the many lines. Natalie is very determined and will work hard when she decides to do something.  In fact right now she wants to do both soccer and track.  We will see if it will work out in her already busy schedule.  

Cousin Week Continues

My sister Al who is 7 month pregnant has been really sick and is now down on bed rest.  Her 5 children came over and stayed during the week.  It was busy and fun.  Joseph loved it.  One day during quiet time he hid in the room James had quiet time in so he could be with him.  He loves all his cousin "friends".  In fact when he wants to play with a neighborhood friends he asks, "Can I play with a cousin now?".  I think because he has so many cousin who he primarily plays with he thinks cousin means friend.  Notice Joseph in picture giving "rabbit ears to the transformer". :) 

I have realized this past two weeks what great mothers my sisters are.  As I have cared for their children I can clearly see the things they have taught them as I watch them play and interact.  It made me realize the important role of mothers and that children do really listen and copy us.

Pizza

Every week usually Friday I bake pizza.  These just came out of the oven and the kids are anxiously waiting to eat them.   I have yet to make a perfectly round pizza, but abnormal shape makes them unique. When I serve pizza I always serve fruit shake which is loaded with frozen berries and other fruits.  I also put frozen spinach in it.  As long as I have blueberries no one can tell.  I now make my bagels, sourdough bread, wheat bread on Tuesday.  The pizza dough keeps in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.  This way I only have to clean the dough mess out of the cuisinart once a week.   I make 4 so there are leftovers the next day.  Last week Josh and Jake were heating up some pizza in the oven while I was gone and almost burned the house down.  They put it in the oven on broil and then went in the other room to watch the tv show "the office".  Luckily the smoke alarm went off.  The white oven is black on top and a little melted and the cabinet above is ruined.  So much for saving money making homemade pizza. 

Cousin Week

Cousin Week

I am watching Becca's kids this week.  Joseph has been in heaven with so many children to play with while his brothers and sisters are at school.  Becca's kids are very easy going and have been really fun to watch.  Anthony is like a toy for my older kids.  They fight over who can get him out of bed and get him ready.  They also love giving all of them piggyback rides around the house. Tomorrow Al is bringing her 5 kids over to play while we do some pattern drafting.