A Good Day... or Doughnuts Make Everything Better

So, I have been a little melancholy. With a general lack of purpose and growing sense of dread to be stuck in a town that, although nice, has nothing to offer but occasional movies and two places to eat, I have been feeling a little down. A week ago was one of those days that remind you that life if beautiful, and I wanted to share two highlights:

I normally spend every Thursday morning helping in Ethan's classroom. They have writing homework due that morning and there are about 7 that never seem to bring it back. I just sit and help them get it done.

When I went last Thursday they had a surprise: a Thank You Party for me. They had all signed a card and we got to eat doughnuts and drink orange juice while watching part of Charlotte's Web. I don't do much, but it felt nice to know I had helped them in some way and that they appreciated it. The kids were very cute, and I got lots of hugs.
Later that afternoon Ella had her class Easter party. The kids were excited and it was just fun to see the pureness of their happiness. It was a real mood booster to watch this:

Hide The Easter Eggs, Livi Is Coming...

Easter is so fun with little kids. I love watching the delight in their eyes, and the joy at the thought of all that candy (don't love the sugar highs in the afternoon so much, but at least it only lasts until they sleep it off).

Our Easter Bunny, (we've had to talk about why different families get different things from the Easter Bunny. Not such a fun conversation) brings us a scavenger hunt around the house, and then a free for all egg hunt outside (but in this case it was raining so we did it in the living room instead). Nothing really crazy or funny happened. Mostly it was just fun, and we taped the scavenger hunt for the grandparents. The only hard part was getting a decent picture of Ethan. He is less than cooperative. Finally.

"I Twy" In Real Life

My talented sister has a unique hobby of creating whimsical scenes made out of felt. She recently posted one that hit so close to home I had to buy it and put it up in Livi's room. It shows a momma kangaroo being "helped" in the kitchen by her baby joey. I feel like she so perfectly captured my life in this little vignette.
I decided to add a little to color to my life and plant some flowers. Unfortunately, the good time of day to do this is when Livi is awake and boy did she want to "twy." In fact she tried and tried and tried so much this was the result: She LOVED the dirt. She climbed on the dirt pile, slid down the front and dug her little hands up to her elbows in it. Only towards the end did she decide it wasn't the greatest when she saw a giant bug crawling on the pile and yelled "EWWWWWWW" as loud as she could. I also noticed she kept sniffing her hands (in her best Uncle Jared impersonation) and saying "Gross." I managed to somehow get it on film:

Spring Blues

I want a cat....or a job....or maybe a new hobby. Lately I've been feeling a real lack of purpose. I feel redundant. I know my job is an important one, no one could fill my shoes, etc. but lately it feels like any monkey with a credit card and a set of keys could contribute to my family what I do. I am just a little tired of doing laundry, picking up, and cooking.

This happens every Spring when I've been cooped up too long, and I know I will be fine after all the travel this summer, but for right now I just feel like driving down to Denver and spending myself silly, just to change the monotony. I try to feel connected by helping in the schools, participating in play groups, and reading our local paper so I can go to community events, but still I just feel lost. How do all you other mothers deal with this year after year?

My Little Turkeys

Eric decided he needed yet another way to kill yet another animal, so we were "lucky" enough to get boxes full of Turkey decoys. The kids thought they were the funniest looking animals in the world, and couldn't help setting them up and laughing when the wind would move them around. They even loved using the call box, which Ethan seems to have a real talent for. Livi especially loves them, but is a little confused as to what they are. Every time we go in the garage she says "Look mommy, chickens!"

What Is Wrong With This State?

Well, chalk one up to bad parenting. I could call it a "cultural misunderstanding" but that would be passing the buck. I should have checked it out, I should have asked, but I didn't. I did the heinous act of signing my BOY up for VOLLEYBALL. Gasp. I know, what was I thinking?

I was thinking that Volleyball is a bigger boys sport than girls in California, where we grew up. I was thinking he would enjoy a sport were people weren't running directly at him. I was thinking it would be fun for Eric and Ethan to practice together.

I sent the guys off together for Ethan's first volleyball practice. A little while later I got a text from Eric saying "He is the only boy on ANY team. What is wrong with this state?" Poor Ethan, poor Eric. Luckily Ethan is too young to be embarrassed about it and Eric just was happy to have a son to play the game with. Ethan seemed to really enjoy it, and is excited to go back again next week. Yeah, a sport he likes! I guess it is worth it to be so out of the loop if it makes him happy.On the bright side, at least he's not on one of the pink or purple teams.

ps when they got home Ethan took off his shoes and Eric noticed this in his shoes: I don't know how you don't notice walking on all of that, but it just goes to show how oblivious little boys can be.

Parental Struggles, or the Pine Wood Derby

Oh that glorious time of year when Dads and kids can get together and butt heads on what tiny $4 wooden cars should look like. This was our first year that Ethan is an actual cub, so this was the first year (of course) that Ethan really cared about what his car looked like.

Eric with enthusiasm: "There are so many cool designs we can do! Let's go look online!"
Ethan with apathy: "My leaders said I'm suppose to do it myself."
Eric with a grin and a wink: "I know, but it doesn't hurt to get ideas from other people that have won."
Ethan with a frown: "I'm suppose to do it myself."
Eric with growing frustration: "I know Bud, but why don't we..."
Ethan cutting in, with LOUD voice: "I'M SUPPOSE TO DO IT MYSELF!!!!"

Poor Eric. Ethan's design not only was not what Eric would have picked, but Ethan insisted on the least aerodynamic positioning of the car by putting it in what most of us would have deemed "backwards."

To make up for this Eric decided both girls would enter their "own" cars. While I was in Utah Eric "helped" everyone design and cut out their cars. Ella had strong feelings about hers (shocker) so "lucky" Livi got the brunt of Eric's parental helping. When I got home I found a backwards car (Ethan), a pretty regular looking car (Ella) and.... a tank.

Yep, Eric thought this child:

would like this design:

Since I have the paints and Eric didn't want to traverse into the sinkhole that is my craft area, the cars had not been painted yet. For Family Home Evening we painted the cars, and I let the older two do whatever they wanted. For Livi I stepped in before Eric could grab the green and black and start brush camo-ing our princess babies tank. This was my compromise: Purple camo. I think they were both happy.

The big day arrived and this was how my girls dressed up for the big event: Ethan got 3rd place out of the cubs (out of 5, which still shocked us, we were just hoping for a participation certificate) and Caleb even took 2nd. Go Guys!!

Ella and Livi were in the open class. There were two other little kids....and a 16 year old scout from Eric's troop. Well it is no surprise that the 16 year old blew away all the 5 and unders. Ella was doing great until she went up against him. This was the devastation that we got to deal with: Luckily Ella still got 2nd, and Livi got "Best Paint Job." (Ha ha) Being a purple tank sure looks good, but it really was NOT the fastest design. Next year I'm going to make my own, I'm thinking a stiletto on wheels!

April's Fool

I am not a fan of practical jokes. I don't like feeling foolish. Eric has been very respectful of this, so he was excited to take advantage of the kids being a little older this year and trying a small April Fools joke.
When the kids were eating breakfast Eric announced "Kids, I got a little angry last night while I was playing Mario and I threw the DS againt the wall. It broke, sorry."
There was a stunned silence in the kitchen.
Ethan looked around, trying to figure out what was going on.
Ella started bawling.
Eric said "Just kidding, April Fools."
Ethan laughed.
Ella kept bawling.
Eric tried to tell her it was all a joke.
Ella said "Why would you say something so mean?"
I guess she takes after me.

Breaking Up The Band

This is why I get migraines: (I love how part way through they have "creative differences")

Deer in the Headlights

Eric turned 32 on Thursday. I can't believe we are "in" our 30's. I can't believe we were ever 17 and dating. Where has the time gone? What happened to my hips? Okay, so this shouldn't be about me and my aging phobia, so let's move on to what we did on Eric's big day.
Eric, of course, had work, but luckily (yeah right) our kids get up early and we had time to open presents before he had to go to work. The kids were "good helpers" by which I mean they brought gifts over to Eric and opened them in front of him.
Livi has gotten to that fun stage where she understands that bright colored packages mean she gets to rip them open and there are fun surprises inside. Unfortunately she hasn't grasped the idea that not all presents are for her.

He still had to go to work, which is a bummer but even the State of Nebraska doesn't give work off for employee birthdays (but Arbor Day? Really?) Eric got Megamind from Ethan so we popped that in and watched while we had a fun pizza dinner.
I had made cake balls a few weeks ago and Eric had enjoyed them so I got the Cake Pops book and tried to make them for his birthday.

This is what they were suppose to look like, courtesy of bakerella.com and this is how mine turned out.

Not too bad for a first try but they do look a little high...or scared...or manic. I should have practiced before doing them for a birthday. One problem with cake pops.....where to put a candle?

Yes, that is your sheep I stole.

While I was gone the kids had a primary activity at Church. They were suppose to dress up as their favorite character from the scriptures. I got a call from Eric the night before because Ella was concerned that they didn't have costumes put together. I told Eric to just wrap them in fabric and call it good. This was the result:

I think he did a pretty good job.
Since there is, as my mom would point out, a lack of strong female characters in the BOM, Ella and Ethan both wanted to be Ammon since it is their favorite story. Ella eventually won and Ethan... well Ethan took Uncle James' recommendation and went as a one-armed Lamanite.
Livi was Livi. She was a pirate.

Meeting Autumn

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend driving back and forth from Nebraska to Utah. In between the long drives I did get to spend a few hours with family and be there for my only nieces blessing.

Andrew, Joy, Ebby and Autumn. Such a cute family

Autumn and her cousin, Jack, were blessed at the same time. Such cute babies!

It was a lot of fun. I got to spend some time with my family, go shopping, walk 1000 miles in IKEA, eat some great food, and also sneak in a little 'Angry Birds.'

James with Bailey, the dog I am going to steal as soon as they let down their guard.

It was hard to be away from my kids for so long, but I'm glad I went. The kids were glad I went too. The kids loved all the clothes I brought home for them and Livi was even cuddling her pile.
She immediately had to change clothes to a new outfit and started rummaging through my luggage hoping to find more.

Over Thinking Things

Saint Patrick's Day came without as much fanfare as Ella would like. The day before she asked me "Mom, what does The Leprechaun bring?"
Me: "What Leprechaun?"
Ella: "The one that comes at night on Saint Patrick's Day."
Me: ??????
Ella: "You know. Like the Easter Bunny and Santa. What does the Leprechaun bring me."
Me: "Um.....nothing."
Ella looking incredulous: ??????
Me: "Sorry, it's not that kind of holiday. Really, people just use this day as an excuse to celebrate being Irish and getting drunk."
Ella: ???? "What's 'drunk'?"
Me: "ARGH, how about we eat a salad or something and call it good?"
Ella: "Fine." Stomps away.

She was so excited about wearing green we she laid out all her clothes ahead the night before. She made sure her shoes, socks, shirt, and hair dooley had green on them. Livi got in on the action and put together her own green 'ensemble' (as we have to call it with my two girls).

Ethan was a little more analytical about the whole thing. He came up stairs that morning wearing absolutely NO green. I told him to go get some green on and he refused. He explained that the traditional color of St Patrick's day is actually blue so he was going to wear blue. I took one look at him and ordered him to get some green on. He then stomped downstairs. I could only imagine him trying to explain to all the kids pinching him as he walked the halls at school that "blue is really the traditional color," and that they should stop. Yeah, that would go over well.

Fit For A Princess

I thought I should finally post a few pictures of our work around the house. Both kid's rooms are mostly done. Ethan needs a few pieces of furniture (and a good picking-up) but Ella's was basically ready to be photographed. If you remember we started with this:

It was truly the scariest room in all of the house we looked at. The carpet was blue, dirty (cat urine and feces), and worn away in some parts. The window didn't seal at all, and there was scary blue paneling on only one wall. Well, we bought the house despite that room, and tried our best to make it work for Ella:

We put in a new large window so we now legally have a 5 bedroom home. Right before we put in the window I decided I couldn't live with the paneling on one wall, so I started pulling it down. Luckily (maybe) I did, because it turned out our sprinklers were leaking right down that wall and the wall, insulation, and paneling was covered in mold and water. So we fixed the sprinklers, gutted half the room to the studs, sealed the cinder blocks, put in new insulation, put up new drywall (which Eric had help with from our handyman)
and I mudded,

sanded, mudded, sanded, and mudded the wall again all by myself.
I sealed the new walls,

painted, and we put in new carpet. Ella picked out wall colors, bedding and helped arrange everything. I asked Ella her favorite part of the room and she said the canopy and chandelier over her bed.
I like the "Tribute to Aurora."

I had silver frames from my sister's wedding that I filled with various styles of Ella's favorite princess Aurora.

It's lower than I would have liked (like most the room), but I wanted her to be able to enjoy it, and she does!