Garage Sale-ing 2011

So, lets just sum this one up by saying that last Friday was a great day!!! Our weather was awesome, I got to spend all day hanging around outside in the the sun with my friend, and made a few bucks while I was at it.  I got fairly sunburned, but it was a fair trade to me:-) Oh, and let me just add, the only thing that could have made this day better was if my friend Kenna still lived next door, because I know she would have been out there with us!

The kids thought having a picnic lunch on garage sale day was the greatest thing EVER!

Mother/Son Fun Night

Actually, it is Mother/Son fun afternoon:-) A couple Saturdays ago, Matthew, August and I headed to Cascade View for this annual event that we always enjoy.  It is sponsored by the ROA and something we can do on a budget that is also fun.
There was a blow-up obstacle course, yummy treats (doughnuts, fruit, fruitsnacks, juice, water), a cookie decorating station, a photo station (still waiting to get that one back), face painting, a balloon artist, a mobile video game truck parked outside (my boys will never go in that one-they just aren't interested, but I've heard it is fun), a big obstacle course outside for remote control cars-very fast high-tech ones, I might add, and more.  Fun!

My boys LOVE this machine.  You select a tube and fill it with different flavored sugar powders until filled, then cap it. I think they wish they had one of these in the house!

Beseball 2011-Redsox

This baseball season has been going great! Our weather causes many of the games to end up as "rescheduled games", but we have learned to roll with it, and it is working out just fine. Matthew's team is very competitive and really wants to win, but his coach is a very good one. This year, Matthew has pitched less, but our team has several pitchers for us to call on. He has turned into an excellent third base man!
I haven't been great about taking many pictures this season, partly because I am usually so consumed with the game (when I'm not tending to the girls), and part because many games or so cold all I can really do is try to get through sitting there for 2+ hours.  Anyhow, over Easter weekend we had a day that was PERFECT for baseball.  It was our first day the reached 70 degrees this year. It was so nice to be out in the beautiful day, watching Matthew and his team. This weekend he will be partaking in a baseball tournament from Friday through Sunday for sure, and into Monday if they win.  We just hope the rain can subside enough to get all the games in!

The perfect day for blowing bubbles!

Movin' on up....

Or knocking out my to-do list, or just getting it done.  However you want to word it, Reagan has been sailing through my list of "transitions" for her.  First, we kicked the pacifier. It was a little sad, and there were some tears, but over-all, it went faily smooth.  Second, potty-learning.  Again, a few tears (hers, not mine), a little sadness (mine, not hers), but over-all, she did awesome! I did awesome! Better than I could have hoped for. 
Then came the looming "garage sale weekend", and my desire to purge some things out of the house.  Enter toddler bed. It was spur of the moment, but on my "to-do" list for her, so not entirely a crazy thought. She was on board with it, so down came the crib.  She loves her new toddler bed! And she is transitioning into it very well.  What next?  Hmmmm.  Time seems to be moving things along plenty fast enough, so I don't think I will be giving it any more help.

Funny Things of the Day

Funny thing #1:We were at dinner tonight at our usual spot, and tonight all of the kids decided to order the same meal, none of which consisted of the restaurant french fries. Usually, at least one or two of the kids get fries, and the portion sizes are large, so Reagan will ask for a few so she can dip them in ketchup.  She loves the little dixie cups they have at the table, and she loves to fill them with ketchup and dip fries in it.  We go there every week-it is just what she does!
Anyway, tonight, when all the meals arrived, she looked around the table and, seeing no fries on any of the plates,  took in a big breath in a very dramatic way and says, "What?! No french fries?? Oh my gosh, I am FREAKING OUT right now!!"
She is SO halarious!

Funny thing #2: Ryan came home from an overnight campout trip at ?Vashion Island with a group of LDS kids, and we were asking him about his time away.  He said it was fun, minus the three!! hours he sat in the cabin while the other kids went to some church related meetings/gatherings. He said that two other boys who weren't LDS stayed in the cabin as well. He said they were Muslim.  He said he learned a lot about the Muslim religion that night.  LOL!!

Funny thing #3: Alyssa was gifted some blue eyeshadow, and brought it in the car with us today on our way to grocery shop. She decided to apply it (well, I might add) in the car with a compact mirror, so by the time we arrived at Fred Meyer, she had two vibrant blue eyes! They went well with the butterfly tattoo she had placed on her cheek the day before:-)

Random things:
Reagan is in a stage where she WILL NOT wear jeans and pants.  Only leggings, skirts, dresses, or tights.  She picks her outfits out each morning. She likes to pick the same thing, and layer it with a tutu and princess dress of choice.  Yes, I know I need some pictures of this. SO, if you see her in the same three outfits in pictures, you will know why!

Fun New Things

I like to try new things, and I try to always keep my ears and eyes open to whatever might spark my interest. Sometimes I am approached with something new that I am sure I won't like, only to be pleasantly surprised. In this case, I'm talking about this great Ginger Cookie RECIPE . I am not a ginger cookie fan, I don't like Gingerbread, and the only reason I tried this recipe I came across on the internet is because Matthew's teacher's favorite cookie is the Ginger cookie. Since this past week has been teacher appreciation week, I made these special for her.  Anyhow, they were delicious! So much so, and such a hit with the kids, that I made them again tonight for movie night. Give them a try, even if you don't like Ginger cookies. You will likely be impressed with these:-)

Next new thing I've been racking my brain over? Trying to make darn stinkin wanna-pull-my-hair-out -but don't- want -to give -up -so -keep -trying- because -I know- I -CAN- do -it DIGITAL CARDS. Yes, and thank you Kenna for giving me something new to get all ocd over:-)

Here are some attempts at cards made. So you understand, these cards were not made from a "card mold" or layout I filled in.  They started as a blank screen and were transformed into what they are now. I chose the layout, colors, font, etc. Kind of like scrapbooking in digital form. Sounds up my alley, doesn't it!?! They are good from way, way afar, but far from good. If I could get the right program, and then figure out the program, I think I might have a chance at success.

They are actually fun to make at first attempt, and I know there is potential for fun if I can figure out the more complicated graphics programs, but for now, I can't even get one card made on this new program I have been trying out.

What we've been up to lately-Easter 2011

It has been a couple weeks since I last posted, so I thought I had better put something on here!
Well, between Easter, My Birthday, Mother's Day this weekend, baseball and ballet and all the other everyday things, we've been pretty busy.
My birthday was absolutely wonderful this year! I felt so loved and spoiled by everyone-Thank you for everything!! I was greeted on the morning of my birthday to a Caramel Macchiato, flowers, a gift from the kids, and LOTS of love! What more can a Mom ask for?! I even went out with friends on the night of my birthday and danced it up...I've never done that before. It was several girls and myself, and it was just what I needed. I know that will likely be my first and last time in a scene like that, but I love the dancing part, and I think there will be a more scaled down version of Saturday night in Mike and my future:-)

We have also been potty-learning.  It has gone very well, and I am so pleased to say that Reagan is just about there!!!!!!! We began our learning efforts 5 days before Easter, and here we are, just about finished. NOT BAD, if I do say so myself! I am so proud of her, and she is proud of herself.  She said to me today, "no more pacifier, and I wear big girl underwear.  I'm a big girl now!"
That's right, Reagan. Just don't grow up too fast. You sure are a fun little girl to have around:-)

What else? I just deactivated my Facebook account. I have better things to do, and I don't need to devote anymore time to it. I will leave it at that.  Oh, but it does feel kind of nice though.  I like the "old school" way of finding out about people.

It's late, and I'm heading to bed soon, but I won't leave you with just my words.  Here is some stuff for your viewing pleasure:

The Community Easter Egg Hunt we attend annually.

Easter Morning.



Easter Baskets: Not just for collecting eggs:-)