Things to Remember 3-27-16

BLACK
Sunday night, as I was doing dishes, I noticed that our sink had a new crack in it.  A BIG crack, in the right hand side.  Before, we had a couple pretty huge cracks on the left side and they were inconvenient, I had to make sure I didn't put water in it or at least not very much unless I set a towel down under it, and I was careful not to fill it TOO full with heavy things.  But it's been like that ever since we moved in, so we've learned to deal with it.  We had looked in to a new sink, but because of the shape of our sink, it was going to cost $800+ to replace it (parts and labor).  So with the new crack, the sink was virtually useless.  If you can't put water in either side and don't know when the thing is going to cave in, it's time to get a new one.  So Nate started to look online and found some that MIGHT work for a LOT less than custom ones we thought we needed.  That was good news.  So Monday on his way home from work, Nate bought our new sink!  I had mentioned to my visiting teachers about our sink dilemma and LeAnn had talked about how much she loves her black one and it got me thinking- maybe I would like black?  So I suggested it to Nate and he agreed it might be kind of nice!  So he bought a black one!  It was so exciting when he came dragging the huge box into the house!  Then Tuesday, after work, he got started right on the sink!  He had watched a few YouTube videos and was brave enough to try installing it himself!  I am so proud of him!  He did such a great job and minus the little hiccup at the very end, putting the disposal back in, it only took him a few hours!  Pretty cool!  And he saved us at least $500!!  The shape of the new one is slightly off from the shape in the granite, but not enough to notice it!  I really couldn't be more satisfied with it!  I love the color- never looks dirty!  AND now Nate knows how to install an undermount sink!  Go Nate!  It's been so much fun to spray water on both sides :).  Christmas in March :).  3-30-16

TREASURE HUNT
Charity did the coolest thing for Emily Porter's birthday.  She had been working on this treasure hunt ALL WEEKEND!  I can't believe how much thought and effort AND TIME went into this little surprise.  I was so proud of her.  She took pictures of all the spots she was hiding plastic eggs and then made little rhyming clues with each one as well.  Then even went so far as to get a "Second number app" so that Emily had something to call when she got lost.  Kinda cool.  It was unfortunate that Emily called up Savannah to help her do the treasure hunt, so that Charity had to share her with Savannah at the little Wendy's lunch at the end, but it was still such a neat idea, and so much fun.  Emily loved it!  She felt very special.  I'm glad she was so appreciative :).  3-29-16

MOVIE THEATER
Kelly, Cassidy and Erika (well, and Bradley near the end of the planning process) put on a little movie theater for all the little neighbor kids!  They charged for tickets and popcorn and goodies and actually came on with quite a bit of money!  Although, I don't really think that was the priority or motivation.  They watched Robots which is fun, been a while since we saw that.  I was glad that Luke got to see the dominoes in that show... so fun.  I was busy arguing with my mom unfortunately so I missed the whole thing, but sounded like a good time for everyone!  3-29-16

TOOTHY!
While we were sitting there talking with Mr. Flynn, after the TTM Cafe, I was holding Molly and let her bite on my knuckle (as always) and much to my surprise, I felt something on her gums!  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a cute little pearly white peeking up through her gums!  So cute!!  I love the first tooth!  So fun.  I got a few pictures on my phone.  I need to get those on here.  She's one of our earlier teethers!  Not fitting the mold I'd put her in, although she's been quite the individual anyway.  3-31-16

APRIL FOOLS
I can't believe how much fooling went on in our house Friday!  Noah and Bradley were scurrying around all morning doing who knows what!  I don't even know half of what they did.  And when I got downstairs to check on TTM, the internet window was on a search for April Fools pranks on Pinterest that Kelly had been using!  So she was going at it too.  Lots of fun though!  Nothing was too painful or heartbreaking.  I was really pleased with how tasteful they were (mostly) and what good sports everyone was being with each prank.  Fun stuff.  I'm glad they know how to enjoy it!  And I'm glad we've gotten away from the lying.  Some of the pranks:  Noah put eggs next to Charity's head, almost put peanut butter on her face, but she woke up, soggied up toilet paper rolls and squished them to look like poop then left them in the girls' room, at the end of the day, when I finally followed through with my promise, he was able to fill oreos with toothpaste and left them on Nate's side of the bed disguised as a thank you for taking us to a movie and swimming :).  Funny kid.  Bradley did a bunch of tricks with the shower and bathroom door, plastic wrapped the girls' bed, and did a couple more things I'm not remembering.  Kelly did a really cool one where she put plastic wrap over the salt shaker but with pepper on top of it, so that pepper came out instead of the salt- since our shaker is glass.  Pretty clever.  Along with the plastic over the ketchup bottle during our hotdog roast.  Oh, Bradley did put some soy sauce and colseslaw dressing inside Noah's hotdog, but unfortunately Noah dropped it before he got to the goods.  Kinda funny.  I wish I could remember everything.  Maybe I"ll have the kids compile a list for me :).  Good times though.  I love April Fools!  4-1-16

TTM
So, I don't know if I mentioned this, but our school was in the final two in the nation for TTM.  We were featured in the Standard Examiner, and were ahead at half time during the final round.  It was such a bummer that we were having spring break during the second half of the last round, I really think that's what did us in, but it was still a fun adventure. In case you didn't notice, we didn't really win.  Course we didn't really lose either :).  They called it a TIE!!  I'm a little bummed.  The boys are happy they didn't lose, so I guess I should just be happy too.  It was a great effort! Bradley and Luke both went strong til midnight Thursday night.  Luke finished first in the school and first in the state - Mr. Flynn said, "Probably first in the nation!" (which was SO good considering he had been at the top of the leaderboard most of the school year), Bradley who only had 100ish before the tournament was first in his class by the end, with 595 passoffs, and actually had more passoffs than the whole class combined.  He keeps talking about how Mrs. Moncur is going to owe him so many green tickets!  Mr. Flynn told me that minus the top three classes, Luke had more passoffs in the last two days than all of the other classes in the school combined during the first few days of the second half.  He did really well! I'm so proud of how hard they both worked and that they set goals and achieved them plus some.  And they're both well on their way to excelled math with "OPTIONS"! In the words of Mr. Flynn.  I am really proud of them.  They're also very graceful tie-ers.  4-1-16

DIVING BOARD
Noah and Erika both took their first jump off the diving board when we were at the Rec Center Friday night!  WAHOO!!!  This was pretty big!!  Took Kelly about an hour to get Erika prepped for it :).  It was nice that the lifeguard on duty was so lenient and let them jump off the side so they had a shorter swim back to the wall.  They did so good!  They were so brave!!  Unfortunately the lifeguards switched it up and the one that replaced the nice kid was NOT nice.  She wasn't having any of the jumping off the side.  Luckily they'd had enough and were okay with going back to the leisure pool.  But how cool!  I need to make sure I get them in lessons this summer... they need a refresher.  4-1-16

SPRING BREAK
We had a great spring break!  Lot's of down time, lots of up time, and lots of TTM!  Some of the things that made this break memorable:
Idaho Maynes'
Easter Party
Egg Hunts
Easter
Krispy Kreme Donuts
Emily Porter's birthday treasure hunt
The Good Dinosaur with the Maughans
Road Trip to Salt Lake for Helmets :) (this should not have taken as long as it did--- but it was definitely memorable :) )
Fixing Noah's glasses
Pan and lots of other movies I can't remember
Charity's Dollar Store Challenge
Beehive Breakfast
Easter bags from Grandma Hatch
TTM Cafe at OUR HOUSE!
TTM
TTM
And more TTM
Jazz Games
Late nights
Kung Fu Panda 3
Roasting Hotdogs
Swimming at the Rec Center
General Conference
LOTS AND LOTS OF GOODIES!  We seriously need to fast from treats for a month or so to give our bodies a break.

Good times though.  I think this will be a very memorable Spring Break

IN BETWEEN SESSIONS
We made our way up to Castle Park with some pizzas and crazy bread and played around during the break in between sessions.  It was a lot of fun.  I did get a few pictures, but I don't think any of them are worth posting.  I sat with Molly on the grass the whole time while Nate played tag, lacrosse, and pet the horses with the kids.  Fun times.  It was so sunny and nice, the place was packed, but it was still such a great time.  4-2-16

PRIESTHOOD SESSION
We had planned on going up to the Maynes' ice cream and hot fudge night, but once Heidi came to paint the piano I decided I wanted to stay home and hang out with her.  I wish I hadn't been such a dud the whole time, but I was super tired for some reason.  Then my mom showed up, so we all just had dinner together and talked.  It was nice.

Easter Sunday

I was a little nervous for Easter Sunday this year.  We weren't able to do baskets and egg hunt the day before, so we were going to try to cram it all into our morning along with getting ready for 10:45 church.  We have struggled lately getting ready for church as it is, so I wasn't sure we could fit all that in.  I was pleasantly surprised though because we even had some down time to sit and talk and hang out!  I was also able to do all three girls' hair!  It was a really nice smooth morning.  Blessings.  So anyway!  

Jack was the first one to find his basket.  He was so cute looking for it with Bradley.  It was under the computer desk.  

Bradley and Luke found Brad's up in the kitchen light almost first thing!  Surprising.  That never happens.  Bradley's is usually the hardest to find.

I love this picture.  Have a peep Jack :).

Then Noah found his :)

Check out this handsome man!  I really love him :).

Here's Noah showing me where his basket was :)  Great demo.

Charity found hers pretty quickly too!  

Weird.

Molly's was almost in plain sight!  Too easy, Easter Bunny.  Even for a 6 month old.

Please don't notice that I never did get her basket made before Easter.  I'm still sad about it.  But I am VERY relieved I didn't stay up all night trying to get it done and turn myself into a zombie for the next few days.  Self control right there.

Kelly found hers in the kitchen cupboard.  

Such a flattering picture.  Total blackmail worthy.

And Luke FINALLY found his in the light downstairs.  He looked for a LONG time :).  I think he had found everyone's by the time he found his.

And Erika took her shower, ate her breakfast and THEN found her basket in the washer :).

Pre-egg hunt picture :). 

They all looked so cold the whole time!

HA!

So we went to church, everyone learned about Easter and the Resurrection and then we came home for "alone time".  We missed Nate all afternoon, but we were able to enjoy the day.  We realized we hadn't done our egg coloring!  So we did it Sunday! (note to me: don't color easter eggs on Sunday.  Totally not a Sunday activity.)

Things went smoothly as usual.  We did the homemade dye again and for some reason this time the colors were not as bright and ended up being a little dull.  Not sure why, but we decided it was fun to have it be different this time.

Jack really loved coloring the eggs.  He raced through it as fast as he could

I texted a picture of everyone dying eggs to Nate and he said, "Make some for me" and so everyone took it upon themselves to make one for Nate :).  It was really cute and sweet how into that they got.  Here's Bradley's.

Once Jack's eight were all colored, he ate them :)

We remembered to put oil in the dye halfway through to get our marble-y effect.  I just love it.  So cool.

Molly stayed fairly entertained with something to chew on and all the kids to watch :).  She's such a good girl.

Just in case anyone was wondering.

She spilled some water and then splashed around in it.  She has so much stretch.

These are mine and the ones everyone gave me :).

I think Luke and Bradley could have dyed eggs all day, They just had eight like everyone else, but they were busy coloring at least 20 or 30 minutes longer than everyone else :).  Very cool eggs though!

We tried to reverent things down a bit after egg dying.  We have entertained ourselves using the chromecast the last few Sundays with YouTube church videos.  All the old ones from my seminary days :).  It's a lot of fun.  

It was nice to not feel too much pressure to get kids in bed.  Spring Break begins.  

Happy Easter!