2015 ninety

Stocking up with a year supply of pasta at $ 0.50/box (plus coupons made many of those boxes actually FREE!)  I should do this more often!  Thanks for your awesome sales, Smith's

(The OCD in me loves buying pasta in boxes for storage and organization reasons...)

2015 eighty-nine

Spring Break Kick Off!

We spent a LOT of time today at the pool for swimming and a picnic with the Walkers, Ortons, and Lakeys!

And this girl was pumped she could finally just relax & read!  Sometimes school is so demanding there's no time to read what you want...

2015 eighty-eight

This is what happens when Cal dumps out a 1,000 piece puzzle (I didn't even know we owned a puzzle with more than 100 pieces!) Our kitchen table was out of commission and we worked here and there all week to finish it!  Finally at 9:30 Sunday night it was done and with only 2 missing pieces!  ha ha

 Nice work, team!  We should probably frame this since I'm pretty sure it won't happen again.  Did you know you can hold a puzzle with tiny pieces up and it stays together?  How cool is that?

2015 eighty-seven

General Women's Conference with both of my girls!

Wow!  It was incredible & my testimony of family and service was strengthened a great deal.  I LOVE being a part of this gospel.  There is no doubt it is true and we are being led by the Lord through our living prophets and apostles.  I can't wait until General Conference next weekend!

2015 eighty-six

Nerd Alert! (complete with Billy Bob teeth for Cal)
Gotta love free dress/spirit days at school!

2015 eighty-five

Sometimes piano lessons involves taking the whole family to hang out for two hours.  
Today Bree was mesmerized by Chico, Sis. Marshall's dog, & that helped the time pass peacefully for all of us ;)

First, they literally had a stare down for about 15 min.

What do you think, Chico?  Is she okay?

 Yay!  Finally friends after a good half hour!

Later, Cade did some basketball conditioning at the church with some other boys.  Cal, the girls, & I hung out for about an hour & I found this on my phone when we got home.  Bree said she took the picture.  Lookin' good sis!  I think Abs tells me how much she misses gymnastics at least once a day :(

2015 eighty-four

I just love this quote by Helen Keller that the Bishop shared in Ward Council last week.  

It was timely advice for me.

I think our front door is really beautiful, so here's my picture for today & my renewed focus on the open doors in life!  There is so much to be thankful for.

2015 eighty-three

Dinner on the patio!  I can't get enough of the weather here right now.  It is heavenly!  Perfect for running in the morning and dinner outside in the evening.

Awww they look so peaceful & well behaved! ha ha

I've been working with Bree on looking straight at the camera for pictures so I don't just get her neck...so then the kids HAD to do a neck picture in honor of  Breezers.  (Of course Cal is doin' his own thing meditating or whatever that is!)  Boy...I LOVE this crazy crew!

2015 eighty-two

Abby's FHE visual aid that she just whipped up.

What an awesome lesson, Abs!  

The kids learned what a sickle is, how to keep it sharp, and what to do with it in our lives.

2015 eighty-one

Celebrating our Birthday Boy with a few friends, homemade carrot cake, and the water game.  

First...Time to Open Presents from the kids.

I love their thoughtfulness.  Abby-socks, Bree-tic tacs, Cade-vintage National Geographic Mags he got from his school library, and a coupon for an In-n-Out date, and Cal-4 bags full of about 3 whole boxes worth of Kleenex (help!) $1, and misc. items from around the house.  Love it!

This Card Up Close...A KEEPER!

Part of the Celebration Crew

So Grateful for Good Friends

2015 eighty

This morning I sent this super cute boy scout off at 6:30 am to a merit badge clinic across town for the day.  3 merit badges in one day done.  Cha ching!  He earned the Star Rank last week at the Court of Honor and is about a year away from his Eagle!  Woo Hoo!

I spent all morning with Breezers and all our darling Activity Day Girls from the stake at a "Be Your Own Super Hero!" Camp

Letters to the missionaries in our Stake on tie stationary

Self Defense Class

A motivational class by these three super women!

Thinking about what her spiritual super power would be...

 I like it!  Nice work, Super Breezers!

And...A Great Memory of Abby's mac & cheese explosion in the van.  She totally takes after me in this department.  Sorry, Abs Abs.

 It was a super Saturday!

2015 seventy-nine

Kindergarten Art Assembly Fun

I loved helping with these cute cat masks and watching the group write a song, "Kittens, Kittens"

Cal is the red party fox on the left

Awww, Cuties!  This makes me miss teaching for about 5 min. ha ha

I'm sooo happy to report that this project is finally done and off the back patio after only a short 8 months!  I bought this dresser for $25, spent $10 on paint and supplies and Cade finally has somewhere to put his clothes!

Abby hopped the wall after school just as I was doing my 2nd coat so she jumped in to help.  

My assistant showing her Tervis with the umbrella accessory.  She was so proud of how cute it looked!

 All Done!

2015 seventy-eight

Precious Moment Tiptoeing in to Catch this Boy Put His Armor On Before Bed

2015 seventy-seven

Checking out the Costco Business Center with our Buddy

2015 seventy-six

Everyone is finally feeling good enough to try out our recently tuned up family motorcycle in the nearby field.

Cool Cade

Cutie Callahan

Breezers!

Go Abby Go!

Cade in action

2015 seventy-five

A memorable birthday for this exceptional guy...

After doing lots of research and asking around, Mick geared up for a "cleanse" or lemonade diet for ten, yes 10 days!  This particular method has been around for over 40 years and basically consists of only drinking fresh squeezed lemon juice, mixed with Grade B maple syrup (organic, of course) and water.  I decided to join him because it's not really that fun to watch someone else eat as well as be with someone who isn't eating 24/7.  So...the above picture represents what we have taken in for 8 1/2 days now.  

Besides the little piece of Sacrament bread on Sunday (best ever!) we have not chewed a single thing or had one ounce of solid food.  Surprisingly, we haven't been really hungry because you're drinking plenty of calories and getting the nutrients needed through the lemons and syrup, but we MISS food.  Any food!  Mick said the other night, "I promise I'll only eat healthy food from now on!"  We have both felt pretty good including not taking any ibuprofen or headache medicine for aches and pains because we really haven't had any for days.  That is cool!

There's no getting around how tough it's been.  Especially around days 3-5.  Mick has been stellar and I would have broken several times in the beginning, but he was committed & helped me to be too.  I've been out to breakfast and lunch and not eaten a thing, even when encouraged to by friends-ha ha.  Once I realized I could do it, then it became one of those experiences where I just wanted to do what I said I was going to do to improve my will power and practice mind over matter.  Mick has lost 12 pounds so far and I have lost 7 1/2.  We're going to ease back into a regular, healthy diet starting Wednesday night & then celebrate his birthday for reals this weekend.  I'm sure someday soon we'll look back on this lemonade diet birthday and laugh, but it will definitely be one we will NEVER forget.  

Happy Birthday to my everything, Mickey T.

(P.S. no more lemon anything for me for a while after Wed. night.)

Phew!  I guess I needed to get that out!  

On another note...        

One more down today beginning at 3:30 am.

Sad fever eyes :(

Get well soon Tomany kids!  I'm crossing my fingers that Cade, Mick, and I avoid this yucky virus!

2015 seventy-four

Two down.

Fever, throwing up, and diarrhea.  This stomach bug is not our friend, but sometimes it's a nice excuse for everyone to just lay low and snuggle up with their blankie.  We watched hours of retro church history movies and then finished with 17 Miracles.  It hit me very hard tonight for some reason.  Faith, not fear has always been the struggle within for God's children.  Gotta remember to keep the FAITH.  I know in whom I have trusted.

These two enjoyed delicious dinners on their TV trays during the movie marathon

2015 seventy-three

Just a little hike and picnic with the kids on this beautiful Saturday afternoon with NO PLANS

  Yep, no plans.  It was soooo nice.

2015 seventy-two

Cade is in LOVE with his shark slippers Grandma Margaret made him.

She is so creative and talented I can't even begin to describe it!

Thank you, Grandma!!!