A Tweeny Bit of Fun

Playing dress up and having tea parties one day......
and learning the Hannah Montana line dance, shopping, and doing nails the next.
Caroline is definitely a tween as she switches back and forth from little girl to big girl activities and interest.  I just wish she would stay my little girl forever!!! 

Family Home Evening--The "bummer" Soccer Game

Jake enthusiastically listening to the game as he reads his book. :)
Josh and Joseph were on the blanket playing cards as they "watched"
Natalie all ready for the second half of game.
Natalie getting plowed into and fouled.  

She fell very hard on her back and tail bone.  She was in such terrible pain that I dropped her and John at the ER for X-rays and took the rest of the family home.  I returned to the ER and 2 1/2 hours later found out that she had no broken bones but a badly bruised tail bone.  When we returned home I was happy to see the kids had cleaned the house and made cards for Natalie.  

It is very painful for her to sit, so the doctor gave her a "donut" pillow to use.  She is not very thrilled to bring this "donut" to school for the next few week, but she covered it with a cute pillow case when she left this morning.  I told her it makes a great conversation piece. :)

In Pursuit of Modesty

Natalie's  criteria: a new spring dress

                              cute and fashionable

My  criteria:           comes to the knee

                             the shoulders covered

Natalie and I spent 4 1/2 hours shopping 2 malls to try to find her a modest spring dress for the church dance last Saturday.   After the long ordeal of trying too many ill fitting and immodest dresses on, we finally found this dress at a little shop  close to our home.  I spent 20.00 dollars more than budgeted in order to buy the t-shirt that matched to go under, but it was worth it in order fit both our criteria.  I think this summer I may have Alison, the master sewer, help me make a few custom dresses.  I would rather spend all day sewing than shopping all day at the mall!!! 

Camp-outs!

All clean before the camp-out
After 24 hours on a camp-out

Whenever Jake goes on a camp-out with the scouts this is pretty much how he looks when I pick him up.  He is usually wearing all his clothes (notice his pjs under his jeans) and he is cover with dirt and soot.  This weekend his scout troop went repelling and Jake tried commando style (repelling head first) and wanted his face to look the part.  I can always tell the degree of fun Jake has had with the amount of dirt on him.  I am grateful for patient scout leaders. :)

Happy Birthday Caroline!!!

Caroline wanted me to wait to post her birthday because she wanted to put a picture of her birthday cake that she made at her cake decorating class.  She has been very excited to use fondant and is what gives the cake such a smooth look. 

Things we love about Caroline:

1.   Her voice as she constantly sings around the house

2. Her tasty bagels and treats she bakes for everyone--she is a very talented cook.

3.   She is very smart and understands things easily.

4.  She is a good friend.

5.   She loves to dance.

6.   She makes good choices and an example to those around her.

7.   Her cute fashion sense.

8.  Her bedtime ritual of repeated hugs and kisses.

9.  She a hard worker and good at detailed work.

10.  We love hearing her play the piano and making up songs.

 11. She is very independent and will figure out and try things out on her own.

12.   She gives great manicures, head scratches and back massages.

13.  She is kind and respectful.

AND many many more things make Caroline so special!!!! We love that she is in our family and blesses all of our lives with the her cute personality.  

***The other picture is of the cake she made for Grandpa Wirthlin.  She did a great job on it!!!

She Can Do It!!!

Natalie is running for Student Government for the high school.  She was in it this year and loved being so involved.  This will be a lot harder because there are only 2 spots elected for her grade from her junior high and about 16-18 other students running for them.  This is Natalie's poster.  Natalie can do it!!! She is very determined and does not give up too easily.  I am proud of her trying with the odds against her.  

Sunday Driver

Natalie got her driver's permit last week and has been pestering me each day to take her on long drives.  Today I told her I she could drive for an hour.  She did pretty good, but still not ready to drive on any road over 45 mph.  In our state, I do not understand why they give the kids their permit before going to driver's ed.  Natalie's first ever driving experience was when I let her drive to school.  I backed up and then let her in the driver's seat.  She put it in drive and then floored it(I think the only experience driving before this was in bumper cars), I screamed stop which she then preceded to slam on the break!--whiplash.  She quickly figured out how much pressure to apply and we arrived at her school safely.   I can't complain to much because once when I was in driver's ed I mixed up the break and gas and drove over a 2 ft snowbank.  Mr. Jonson grabbed the wheel and jammed his finger at the same time.  He refused to drive with me again and good ole Mr. Michaleck (sp?) patiently taught me to drive. :)

Spring Easter Grass

Last week was our Relief Society Birthday dinner.  It was a little intimidating being in charge of this, but I had a great committee and it turned out great.  I particularly liked how the buffet table looked.  My friend Shannon grew all the wheat grass and I made the fruit "flower" basket.  Here is how to grow the grass for Easter or a spring decoration.  Takes about 8-10 days to grow.

     Grass How to:

basket lined with plastic

at least 1 1/2 inches of soil

wheat berries soaked over night in warm water

put soaked berries on soil and cover lightly with more soil

gently water soil

keep in warm spot and keep moist

April Fools

Every year my children expect me to "fool" them in some way.  Here is a list of a few of past pranks:

1.  after school snack--Oreos with toothpaste for the filling--This one was funny!! :)

2.  plastic bugs in cereal box

3.  red jello in clear plastic cup with straws. (this one they like me to do every year for dinner even though they know it is not juice)

4.  super glued quarters on the sidewalk.  We live next to the elementary school and the kids liked watching kids try to pick up the money when they walk by. :)

5.   We once woke up the kids at 11:00 pm and turned the clocks forward and said it was time for school.  After "breakfast" we told them to open the blinds and there was a sign "April Fools" on the window. 

6.  tape forks/spoons to table with clear tape.

7.  meatloaf cupcake with mash potato frosting.

8.  paper in sandwich that says April Fools.

9.  sewed the bottom of my husbands pj pants close.

Today I will freeze some milk in bowls and then add a little cereal to it in the morning with an additional milk.  I also may seran wrap some of my children's doors tonight.  The only problem now is that my kids are all getting old enough to trick me back.  My one daughter called from school last year and told me she was in the nurses office and they found lice.  I was horrified and sort of freaked out until she said April Fools!!!  I guess I have it coming to me!

More wordfull Wednesday here.

Teenage jobs

This is Jake's first year to ref FEFA soccer.  Natalie has done it for the past 2 years.  Each year they must re-certify by going to 12 hours of class and then take a hard test and score over 75%.  They refereed their first game tonight.  Natalie has always hated it, especially if a parent or coach yells about a call, but getting paid 16 dollars a game outweighs the negative.  Not too bad for 1 1/2 hours of work. Natalie is trying to get the courage up to be a center ref where she would get paid thirty dollars a game.  I am very proud of them--I just need to find someone to referee their tickle and poking fights!