March Madness

That's what March felt like... Madness! But it was the good kind of madness where you sprinkle a new puppy on an already full schedule of good things like violin lessons, play dates, baby showers (I went to 3 in one week!), park groups, and just the general chaos three kids bring. Here are some things amid that chaos that I don't want to forget...

*The girls started soccer! Skyla willingly and Sierra not so willingly. BOTH love it.

*Half Moon Bay get-away with David. One single night of uninterrupted bliss... (I'm talking about SLEEP for those who may have been thinking of something else...)

*A meeting of the minds... or rather legs. We had a "runners group" meeting at my house and it was so fun to talk gu, gatorade, and races with some amazing women.

*New Star Wars Wii game. David and the kids are obsessed!

*Puppy kisses at six in the morning. Actually puppy kisses anytime...

*Yard clean-up. It was wonderful because we hired someone to do it!

*Kyla Dullum's baptism. We're so proud of her!

*A wonderful church lesson about procrastination that has really helped me make some good changes in my life. Thanks Jill!

*I finally got the courage to read A Thousand Splendid Suns. It's such a good book!

Cow Teeth

Conversation overheard by David and I last night after Skyla couldn't find her toothpaste but didn't want to use Sierra's because she doesn't like how it tastes:

Skyla: "I don't like that toothpaste so I can't brush my teeth."

Sierra: "Well then your teeth will fall out. George Washington's teeth fell out but he had cow teeth and other's people teeth put in."

Skyla: "Well I don't want cow teeth so I guess I'll use this icky blicky toothpaste."

Somebody's Birthday

Top Ten Things about David

1. His perfect smile (and he never even had to wear braces to get them!)
2. His quick wit
3. His manly hobbies - (ice climbing, rock climbing, mountain climbing just to name a few...)
4. His sense of humor (The kids always find him funnier although I think it has something to do with his ability to burp on command or his willingness to include potty lingo in his jokes.)
5. He shares his passions with those around him, whether it's his music (he has the girls loving Neil Young), his talents (we're all rock climbers now), his movies (two words - STAR WARS), his pasttimes (Let's Go Oakland!), or whatever else he's into. He doesn't keep it to himself. He's a sharer.
6. His ability to bring home the bacon. I mean really, look at the size of that fish!
7. His bedtime story voices
8. His enthusiasm! The kids are always so excited to tell him what they did that day because they always get the best responses from him.
9. Best back scratcher
10. Quite simply the Best Dad / Husband EVER!!!

Early Easter

I can't believe how quickly Easter came this year! But it came and it was fun and we (actually the kids) got lots of candy that I can't seem to stop eating... It's those darn robin eggs that I can't resist. And the Cadberry eggs. And the... Anyway, the Berkeley Ward annual Easter Egg hunt was awesome as usual and we had dinner with the Dullum's which made for a perfect weekend.

Postal Joy

While it is not easy living far away from family, there are a few perks... one of which is packages from Nana! My mom is the queen of holidays and sends the cutest packages for each one. The kids get so excited when they see a box with her return label on it. There's usually some sort of confetti (this time it was Easter grass) that gets absolutely everywhere which just seems to add to the joy. She also handmakes a darling card and includes a treat for me and David. I love my mom and try every day to be just like her.

Pancake Night!

We had pancakes for dinner... yet again. This is becoming quite a regular meal at our house. I feel a tad bit guilty, but they are so yummy!!! (Especially when I'm looking at my blog and realized we just ate pancakes on Tuesday this week...) Tonight I did banana sour cream. Yummmmm. David has dinner with the firm on Thursdays so I'm not very motivated to cook. Add to that a day full of carting kids to and from school, going to two different Target stores in search of some soccer cleats, Karsten's gymnastics, volunteering at the girls' school, Sierra's soccer practice, and Skyla's play date, and I am one very tired mom. Guilt-free pancakes it is!

My goal for tomorrow...

My goal for the day is to FIND MY KEYS!!! They've been missing since Friday night when I was doing the frantic last minute cleaning because there was a baby shower about to take place at my house. I swept everything (including my keys) into something (what WAS it?) so I could quickly hide the clutter and my house would appear to be clean. I specifically remember seeing my keys thinking "Good thing I see them because later I would wonder what happened to them." What was it I put all that stuff into? In my search I have cleaned out two baskets (yes, full of junk), one closet, and reshuffled my desk clutter several times. Nothing. Why am I taking the time to write this in my blog? So that I can remember the insane amount of time I have spent in my life simply looking for keys...

But at least the baby shower went great!

Leprechaun Mess

We woke up this morning to find that those mischievious leprechauns had visited our house! This is due to the fact that Sierra and Skyla made a little house for them. Wonderful. Their note said, "Dear Lepercon, Can you find something silver in here? Were not tring to captor you! What is your name? Feel welcome here! Enjoy your visit! From, Sierra and Skyla" This happened last year with similar disasterous results. Hint to parents: Don't let your children lure leprechauns into your house... They make big messes and leave glitter everywhere!

We then celebrated the morning with green pancakes and milk. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Eclipse

I have finished! My husband will be relieved. (Although I think he thought it was one big black book I was reading this week, not three!) My kids will not be happy since I will now be noticing their eating and TV watching habits once again. A few things slid this week... And it was so worth it! It was a very nice break from reality and I already miss reading them. So I guess it's good bye until book 4...

Owen Anthony

I have a new nephew! My brother and his wife Rebecca just had a baby boy to go with their three adorable girls. I love seeing our families grow! Owen is SO cute (as you can see). He was born with a cyst on his lung and is going to have to have surgery in a month. It seems so unfair. Thank goodness for the power of prayer.

New Moon

Finished. One more and then I can (hopefully) function like a normal person once again.

Twilight

Everyone's talking about it. I was a bit skeptical but just finished reading the first one (yes, I stayed up WAY too late... Not a good thing on the night when I lose an additional hour due to daylight savings...) and now I'm completely obsessed as well. I don't like being a part of the bandwagon, but I can't help that I'm helplessly in love with Edward. And the funny thing is I didn't think I was obsessed when I finished the book. It was definitely enjoyable and I loved it, but now that I'm not reading it and still thinking about it... I know I'm obsessed.

I just got the second and third book so I have to go now...

Puppy Homecoming

Our puppy is here! We're had her for almost a week now. Aspen is such a great puppy and we're all madly in love with her. Our "outside" dog is in the house all the time, but thanks to "crate training" we've had very few accidents and nothing has been destroyed from her non-stop chewing. I'm overjoyed that she learned to sleep through the night quicker than my own babies and it's a race between her and Karsten as to who will be potty trained first. Karsten wants her to win. We're having a super hard time getting back into a schedule of doing homework, practicing the piano and violin, and such but the girls are VERY popular when we walk to school or go to a park.

Watch Out Dixie Chicks!

My girls have started violin lessons! They were so excited to get their violins in their little cases and go to their first lesson. I'm so happy to have music in our home. What a beautiful instrument. Now if I could just get David to learn how to play the guitar...

February Recap

Some other great (and not so great) things that happened in February

that I just don't want to forget...

* Karsten sitting as still as a statue watching his first ballet! Thanks Nana and Papa!
* Girls Night Out - Rock climbing with Marianna, Jenny, and Michelle. Girlfriends rock!
* The girls' Valentine Cookie Party. Twenty little girls decorating heart cookies at the park. It was so cute!
* David finding out about my ticket on my blog... (I swear I told him on the phone!)
* Enjoying Superbowl Sunday with David. He gets the best snacks!
* Sierra's primary teacher taking her out to breakfast all by herself. WOW!
* Watching a movie with my brother and his kids and their dog with my mom and dad. Siblings Rule!
* Getting tennis lessons (Wii) from David's 16 year old brother, Jayson. He corrected my swing! We stayed up all night playing. It was so fun! Brother-in-laws Rule!
* Getting to see Jayson get back from his hot date while we were there. He's grown up and he's so handsome now! Watch out ladies!

* While we were gone in UT, David realizing he's turning into Dr. Doolittle as he's taking care of(and talking to?) the fish, birds, and iguana.
* Finding out that our inherited free iguana is a baby that will grow into a 4 foot monster. (They live for 25 to 30 years so this is what will be sitting with us on the couch when the children are grown and out of the house and we're retired... Yikes!)