Spring Break

 March Recap

I love it when Amazon rings my doorbell.  It really does put a smile on my face.  And on the plus side John got a thatching blade for his mower without picking up a bunch of other stuff if we had gone to Lowes for this purchase. (And who doesn't love all the product reviews.)

Spring Break~  Katie Call put on a play that I got to help choreograph a little.  When we were waiting for the play to start Noah was trying to suck his nose in.  Haha Funny kid.

Andrea and kids made it in town just in time to see the play too.  Katelyn wanted to try nose sucking too.

Annual White Sands spring break trip.  Two years running now.   

The problem with getting buried, you can't stop the girls from giving you kisses.  

Andrea striking the classic Aunt Ashley pose.

Baby Clark

Face Plant

The kids wanted to eat outside, but they moved the picnic table into the kennel.  I swear we didn't lock them in......for too long.

And the most rememberable part of Spring Break.  Andrea's hair disaster.  She wanted to go to a lighter brown, but she got......

"The girl who was on FIRE" haha Ruth and I helped create this lovely color late at night.  We only had time to bleach and never even got to put the color in. 

When my dad saw her the next morning, he said "Oh, lets get you to a salon, I'll pay for it." haha Most people get their hair dyeing disasters over with in their  teens, Andrea wanted to give it a try in her 30s.

Ta-Da, all fixed.

Sunday morning waffle box hockey anyone???

We have a Which Wich in EP now.  This was the first resturant John and I ate at when we went on our San Diego trip. It's a really yummy sandwich shop.  

Ashley got a trim.  She has the most amazing hair.  I'm seriously jealous.  I just feel bad for her because she is so tender headed.  It's a nightmare brushing her hair out.

My Ethan is just growing up too fast.  I don't know why but new shoes always make him look older. 

Noah's was in a musical at school.

Another one bites the dust, Noah needs glasses now too. 

Kelsi's going away party.

Its hard living in El Paso.  People are always coming and going in.  My good friend Kelsi moved to Vegas.  We had a lot in common.  Things like we both have had a sibling that has passed away, we both have NICU nurse moms, our first cars were a Buick, we love the same candy bar, Skor.  Her two oldest are boys too.  I'm sure she will have a girl next.  Our husbands even have the same name.  haha.  I'm going to miss her.  I feel like I learned a lot from her about serving others. 

"Everything is Awesome"

February Recap

It's funny how moving some furniture around can make a room fresh and new.  Noah's room used to be the playroom, so it hasn't ever really felt like it belongs to him.  Someday we will repaint and make it special just for him.  But for now, moving his bed is my cheap fix.

 John was so sweet to come and help us decorate for New Beginnings.  I love dressing up the gym to make our young women feel special.

The most amazing thing about El Paso are the people you meet.  Ethan is learning this at a really young age.  Cohen and David are his best buds right now.  And it helps that I get to hang out with their mommas while he is on his play date.   

I'm on a smoothie health kick.  Berry Spinach with Chia Seeds....MmmmMmmmMmmm. 

"Skinny and Lean in 2014"

Friday Nights are the best.  Popcorn and M & M's, a Redbox, no homework and I don't have to make school lunches!

Luke and Ashley were both honored as STAR Student of the month.  Makes a momma proud to walk down the halls at school and see your kids faces smiling back at you.

Noah's Valentines Day box turned out awesome.  Captain Jack Sparrow is steering the ship.  "Me Hearties" I love working on school projects that I know they are going to be proud of.

We took the kids out of school early before Valentines Day to head to Arizona for Katelyns baptism.  Got about an hour out of town and the van broke down.  We were on the side of the highway for hours until Justin, our knight in shining armor, came to rescue us.  The tow truck finally got there and we headed back home.  Then we chucked our luggage into the truck and tried our AZ trip for the second time.  This time we made it.  It was fun driving with all the kids close by.  Little bit of a tight squeeze, but fun.

They love destroying grandmas house.  She has the best toys.

We got to attend the Gilbert temple open house.  So beautiful.  Can't wait to be inside a temple with all those kids for real someday.

Luke is obsessed with photo bombing. 

Aunt Ashley sends her love to us.  Snapdragons were her favorite flowers and they cover the grounds of the temple. 

"See ya later Ashley" 

Luke was so excited to see the Lego Movie.  In fact when the van broke down, he was mostly worried about not getting to see the movie more so than missing the trip.  Silly boy.

Since the kids missed their Valentine parties at school we had them decorate Valentines for each other.  

Stud muffin. He got new sun glasses for his sensitive eyes.

 "The sun is getting me"  

Ben and Ruth had a birthday party for Gavin while we were there. 

Eric's fish tank never gets old.

We had a fun adult V-Day party.  Here we are trying to eat apples hung from a string.  No hands allowed.  Team work was key.

Cup stacking challenge.  Luke helped show us how an expert does it.

 

Ashley lost her first tooth.  Not only did she lose it, but she lost it.  It popped out while she was opening her water bottle out on the playground and it was lost for good.  Good thing the tooth fairy compensated her for it.  

 I didn't get a picture of my beautiful niece Katelyn on her baptism day.   But I am oh so proud of her.  Such a sweet girl.  Mark my words, she is going to be a special force for good in this world. 

Shoppin' with my E.  It's great having him to myself all day.  He makes for an excellent grocery shopping partner.

John surprised me with a Blondie from Applebees late one night.  He let Ashley sneak out of bed to have some. Nose kiss.

Noah got his Bobcat.  He loves being in scouts now too.  On the way to church on his first Tuesday night he said, "I didn't know you could be excited and scared at the same time!"

 This picture has a story behind it.  We were sitting in the drive thru at Little Caesars.  Luke pulled out my phone and started taking pictures.  He took this one and then started adding filters to it and made it black and white.  He showed me the picture and said "Look mom, it's Pepsi in the 80's"  I had an epiphany at that moment that the 80's to him, are like the 50's to me.  The 80's aren't that long ago but the 50's are. Guess I'm getting old because in Luke's eyes, the 80's are a long time ago.