Spring Break

Normally, we aren't betting people. However, when March rolls around, all bets are on. We have our March Madness brackets (which I am winning by the way) and we go crazy. But Ryan decided this year to bet with a friend at work with the BYU vs. Texas A&M game. Loser had to wear the others team shirt for a day. BYU lost. Here is the result: I made a jolly roger flag. It turned out so much better than I could have even hoped for. Can't say why.

Look how big my Cody is getting. Yes, he is the baby. And he goes half way down his daddy.

Some of you may know what a crazy psycho I can be. One example, I decided to drive to Spokane with my three kids, by myself, for spring break. But they surprised me at what angels they were on the way there.

When Cody noticed the big screen at grandma and grandpa's, he HAD to see how it worked.

Grandpa was pretty excited to show him.

Cody LOVED it.

My camera disappeared this week and I started to freak, until I found it in Cody's stuff. Here is one of the many random pictures I found in it.

We went "Geocaching" with Ryan's mom. It was sooooo fun. And even though we had snow and rain all week, it decided to be nice for us one day.

Kids weren't so great on the way home, but Cody did take two naps. FYI, I took these car pictures over my head while I drove, unaware of what I was getting.

The seat belt is a great headrest.

We did a lot of fun things with Aunty Emily. But like I am, I didn't take any pictures. We made the awesome birthday cards. So I took a picture of them instead.

We had our end-of-year volleyball party. We got together with other couples and played. It was a lot of fun (although the kids were a bit crazy). But I made cookies for it. Ryan didn't think that the method I was using would work for the white squiggles. So I had to take a picture to prove him wrong.

We built some garden boxes. Kathleen took the camera to get pictures of it all. Here they are, courtesy of Kathleen:

I will post more garden pictures once there is a garden in them.

St. Patrick's Day

Aunt Wissa came to visit. Brandon got mad at me and went and snuggled with Lissa. The much anticipated corned beef pictures. I know you all wait with baited breath each year for this:

The Reese's Pieces:

A leprechaun came to our house and left a trial of candy. The kids kept finding the thing that the leprechaun did all day. As far as I know, the candy was it. But anytime they found anything out of place, it was the fault of the leprechaun. They thought it was so fun. I am just glad they are easily entertained.

Green eggs and strawberries? Yes, I didn't feel like defrosting a ham just for lunch. And I didn't have enough forethought to do anything else.

Green waffles.

Ryan was so cute in his clashing green shirt and tie.

Snow in March

Kathleen dressed up like Lucy Pevensie (from Narnia) for school this week. She completely dressed herself and told me how to do her hair. Next day she was so excited to have some curl just in front. I guess my girl is growing up. Just look at her.

Brandon made a noodle necklace at preschool that he wore for two days straight (except at night).

I made banana bread this week. It was the best banana bread I have ever made. Thanks to my mother-in-law and the Belle Terre Ward cookbook.

Brandon got a new jacket and shoes. He was so excited about his "police" shoes. They light up red, white and blue and look like police cars.

Cody got new shoes too. They are spiderman. He was so excited that he even napped in them. And if you know Cody, that is especially exciting since he usually takes socks and shoes off first thing when he walks into any house. In the car today, I heard Brandon say, "Spiderman, did you call for the police?" I looked back and the boys were sitting with their feet over the edges of their car seats and playing together.

Kathleen brought this home from school the other day. It says "Dad Mad" on it. It looked so good we had to get a picture of it. When Ryan asked Kathleen about it, she got real nervous and said, "We had to make a rhyme!" I think she was worried that she would offend her daddy.

Last week we had some beautiful 60 degree weather and the kids spent a lot of time outside. At one point, I went to check on them and Kathleen had set up this. She then asked me if I could make some invitations for the Peterson's. I guess she and they boys had planned a performance for them. It was so cute. Unfortunately Kathleen was grounded for the first time in her life and couldn't have friends over. Sorry Gavin.

Yes, this is the same week as the 60 degree weather. The kids had a lot of fun though. The boys, for a while, just followed Kathleen's trail she left from her snowball.

Oh Gumballs! and Zoo

Ryan and I did a Lord of the Rings puzzle that Jonathan and Ashley gave us. Cody decided to play baseball this week. He threw up the balls and hit them himself. He wasn't very good at it, but he was really cute.

Kathleen and Brandon, meanwhile, took turns jumping on the trampoline.

Cody is learning how to use the computer. He is never as still and quiet as when he is trying to make the computer work how he wants.

We went to the zoo yesterday. It was a lot of fun bundling up for the cold and spending some time outside with the animals. I am thinking I could have moved in. My kids are a bunch of monkeys.

Funny story: We were there at dinner time for the animals. It was really fun. The lemurs are fed mostly a variety of fruits and vegetables. The very first thing they do is pick out the broccoli and throw it on the ground. Ryan thinks this is a sign of intelligence.

Brandon hatched:

Lately I have been really into making random fruit salads. I know, it is a weird winter thing. But we have really been enjoying it. This week, Brandon begged for a fresh pineapple. So I gave in. Kathleen was really excited about helping to make the salad this time. And I think it was one of our best ones. That fresh pineapple was to die for.

Kathleen loves reading to her brothers. But today, she took on a teacher/student approach, making sure Cody knew what was in each picture. It was pretty cute.

If you are wondering why I titled this post with "Oh Gumballs!" it is because that is Kathleen's new favorite phrase. It is hilarious. She even uses it under her breath like it is a second nature habit she picked up from mom and dad.