TGIF

Thank goodness it's Friday! It's been a pretty good week... we survived playdates (and fighting kids), dentist appts. (it was Ava's first time and she cried for daddy the WHOLE time), and I'm ready for the weekend. Thank goodness though for friends, bookclub night, and the RS dinner this week. I ran only 3 times this week, but Apryl went with me twice, so that was awesome! I need that energetic spark to get through the day.

Lexi had reading week at school this week. They got to dress up different ways each day. I only took a couple pics... Wed. was Wacky Wednesday and she wanted her hair in a whole bunch of ponies. Today was pajama day and she could not wait for it to come. She wants to stay in jammies all day, but we have to take Ava to dance class, so I'm thinking she's going to have to change. :) Hope everyone has a great weekend!! Happy Friday.

Year Round School??

On Monday, Lexi brought home a note from school that said their school was going from a 9 month schedule to a year round one, starting this fall. The kids will all be put in groups (tracks) and rotated so that one group is always on vacation. There's a part of me that really hates this idea, but a part of me that thinks, ok, we'll deal with it. But I would want to be on a good track! There are a lot of schools in the Valley that are year round, but I was so happy that we were zoned for a 9 month school.

The teachers are not happy with the idea and yesterday when I walked Lexi to class, the PTA was out with the petitions. So I signed it and plan on calling to complain. The school is not over crowded, so it's not necessary RIGHT NOW to go year round. I guess they tried to do this a couple years ago too, and they got so many complaints from parents/teachers that it didn't go through. So maybe that will happen this time? Time will tell.

A Happy St. Patrick's Day

Compared to my day yesterday, today was sooooooooo much better! Phew! We had a fun Clover Day. We had a playdate with friends and made green playdough. And my kids could not WAIT to have green jello tonight with dinner, lol. I don't make jello too often, I don't really know why, but my kids love it. I made homemade mac 'n cheese and we had green stuff to go with it; salad/cucumbers, brocooli, and magically, the milk was green too. ;)

Manic Monday...

So I thought after a great weekend (girls night out, Benj being home all day on Sunday) I could have a good start to my week. I thought wrong. This morning was fine. But later this afternoon my kids were driving me mad!
We went outside so I could weed the front yard and Lexi was being my helper at first. But I suppose that got too boring. Both kids started to run in and out of the house, through the front door and around through the garage. They kept bringing out toys, and then had to get drinks, then more toys, then fighting over said toys. Mind you all my neighbors are outside as well and I'm trying not to yell at my children. Needless to say, I did not get my weeding done, we had to go inside. The afternoon just went downhill from there because the fighting and whining continued... just IN the house.
And now Benj is upstairs trying to get the girls to bed and it's not sounding promising. I just heard him say, "You guys stay out of Mommy's nailpolish!" Oh my... and I only have TWO kids.
Okay, I think I'm better... just had to vent a bit. I'm going to put on my pj's, make a smoothie, and escape into some Monday night TV. Night!

Montana

The girls and I were in MT all last week visiting my parents. We had a good time and a lot of fun! Lexi said it best, "Grandma has the best ideas!" And I got to eat Taco John's... my favorite fast food, lol! The girls enjoyed playing with all the toys and dress-ups. So when you see Ava in some of these pics with no clothes on, it was because she had been wearing a dress-up dress. :)



Movie night, Romeo joined in too.

Helping Grandpa fold his shop towels

My mom made shamrock sugar cookies and we frosted them

Lexi playing fetch with Romeo

We all got haircuts... for some reason I only took a picture of Ava. Thanks dad for the great hair cuts and product!

My mom has a friend who raises sheep. And a few of the sheep had lambs... they were only 3 days old! The girls loved petting the white and black lambs.

My mom got her wheat grinder out and we ground wheat and made homemade honey-wheat bread. The girls got a turn kneading it.

The end results... It was sooooooooooo yummy!!

We spent a day shopping in Missoula. We got some good deals and our mission was to find Lexi an Easter dress. Mission accomplished, thanks Mom!! Lexi was BEAT obviously... she fell asleep on the way home. :)

And of course we had to make a visit to the duck pond to feed the ducks. It had snowed that morning, but the girls REALLY wanted to go.

Cheese! The girls and my parents at the airport. Thanks for a great trip Mom and Dad!! We love you and miss you already!

Have You Ever...

Lisa, I got this off your blog and it looked fun to do (not to mention I'm totally bored). :) Here it goes:

BOLD those you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched an amazing lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch- (does scrapbooking count?)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake- I've waded in it... can you actually swim in it??
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Fireproof

Has anyone seen the movie Fireproof? I watched it last night with my parents. Kirk Cameron is the star and the acting is quite horrible, but the message is great! If you look past the bad acting and look for the point, it's pretty awesome and inspiring.
We are still in Montana... we're coming home on Saturday. We've been having lots of fun! I will post pics when we get home. :)