Levi's New Preschool

I had a really really BAD moment the first week of February.  Our school does a preK story time once a month.  I forgot about the January meeting which resulted in hours of crying and a very very sad 3 year old.  I thought to myself I WILL NOT forget the February meeting.  We were counting down. Every day Levi would ask, "how many days until Friday"  Well, Friday came and Levi went with my mom shopping and I FORGOT about storytime.  I cried.  I felt like a COMPLETE failure. At that moment knowing that Levi was going to have an utter melt down when he came home I decided if it ment SO much to him, that I needed to do more.  I got on Facebook and put out a request to all my friends to see who would want to do a one day a week fun preschool and that is how it began. I hosted our first meeting and we celebrated leap day.  After lots of hopping and a speckled frog in our belly, it was a complete success.  I'm so excited for the rest of the year. 

Requests for Kitchen Pictures

Back in December I posted some kitchen photos, technically it was in January because I was so far behind and was post dating all my blog posts.  When you post 15 posts in one day often people miss a few.  I've had quite a few people request more kitchen pictures so I took some more.  We still haven't finished a lot of the cabinet trim work and the lights aren't all placed right and the duct covers aren't on and so on and so on. The biggest thing not finished is the floor. 

 Here are a couple "before shots"

AFTER

South Kitchen

North Kitchen

Galley shot

Empty counter (its usually NEVER this empty!) and a little helper :)

Kitchen Office

Valentines Day 2012

I saw these cute little printables on pinterest and the boys all loved it, so after dinner on Monday night we assembled all the Fan{tache}tic valentines. After the little ones and I ate lunch Clara found a new fun little spot under a chair in the dinning room and thought she was pretty cool.

It was a little chilly outside so after gathering our sweaters we headed down the street to drop Clara off at Mamita's house.  Its a routine we do almost everyday and I love that they both will usually say and do the same things.  Sit on the same bricks. Try and pick the same flowers.  Touch the same rocks in mamita's flower pots.

We walked into a FULL swinging party in Jared's class. I  almost got a sugar rush just from breathing the air in there!  One mom brought in chocolate covered strawberries and they were SOOOO yummy completely wasted on a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds. 

After school the boys compared all of their loot.

 I was really tired for some reason, hmmm thats a tough one so I laid down on Clara's bed.  I knew the kids had my little camera but didn't try to take it from them.  I found these awsome shots of me ignoring them, trying to sleep AND . . .

Clara who apparently got into one of Nathan's fun dip valentines.  I later found the pile of sticky green goo in the boys room.  This is a perfect example of why I NEVER take naps.  Notice the heaping pile of clean laundry I should be folding.

Big Girl Bed

With all the room changes in our house, it was BEYOND time for this little girl to get a big girl bed!  I have plans to make her an actual bed, but in the mean time a mattress on the floor is working out perfect.  We went and picked up a mattress from our favorite place, Big Lots.  They sell Serta twin mattresses for $99.  You just can't beat the price.  I wasn't sure what I was going to put on it, when mom reminded me that she still had MY bedding from when I was like 13!  YAY!  Clara loves it and she has been sleeping MUCH better. The boys also love her room and usually can be found playing in there too.

Granny B Turns 99

For her birthday granny got to go the the doctor.  Fun and exciting I know, but that happens a lot when you're 99.  Mom and Dad took her out and about to do all the medical stuff for the week.  She wanted to come home and have toast and yogurt for dinner.  She got lots of phone calls and visits from grand kids and great grand kids.  She said it was all she could ask for.  

On Sunday, after a roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and jello....the men retired to more comfy seats.  Granny got parked right in the middle of it. 

After all the dishes had been cleared, the kids wrangled in from out side and granny was sung to by a chorus of angels! HAHA  The cake was super bright and cheerful and YUMMY.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!  She said this could be her last birthday.  I said, "yeah, your last birthday for the next year."  We all think she'll make it to 100 at least!

I think every kid was able to sneak a little lick here and there before it was served.  

This crew sure likes cake!! oh and don't forget the ice cream!!

A Girl and Her Dog

After taking a little walk around the neighbor hood I decided to do a little yard work in the back of the house.  I try to remember to do yard work on Wednesday so the green waste will get picked up the next morning.  We have a new crop of these AWFUL weeds that I call briers that over the last 2 years have taken over our backyard.  They stick to anything fabric and work their way deep into whatever they can grab.  They don't hurt your skin or hair but are impossible on shoe laces.  ANYWAY.  Clara was helping me and got them all over her shirt and pants and socks so I took them all off so she wouldn't be in pain.  As I continued to work on the terraces she fell in love with the dog.  "Charlie" she would call to him.  She would SQUEAL as he came to her. She would rub him and hug him and put grass all over him.  It was the funniest thing ever.  She use to scream at him, but now she insists on going outside every time I open the patio door. I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.

Charlie is digging all the attention. 

Taxes and Pizza

We had a candle lit pizza dinner to celebrate receiving our income tax returns!!  I love eating dinner by candle light because it really calms the boys down and they don't yell every exciting thing that they can think of out.  It makes dinner pleasant and quiet.  Don't mind the blue tape on the wall, that's a project in the works that should hopefully be on here soon.

Welcome Home Andrés

We received a call Monday night that Andrés would be coming home and we found out Tuesday night that he was to arrive at the Bakersfield Airport on Wednesday night at 7:30p.  I made a bunch of signs with Levi so the boys could welcome him home properly and then Oscar's mom called me that he had been delayed in Houston and missed the flight to San Francisco.  His options were to stay the night in SF or to take a different  flight into LAX.  He choose the LAX route so I called Oscar at work to tell him the change of plans.  I baked some cookies for the trip and got his dinner all packed.  I sent all the signs so they could have something fun to greet him.  Oscar and his mom made great time, especially since Oscar missed the 405 AGAIN.  When Andrés called, the only info he gave was that the plane was going to arrive around 9:15p.  I searched all the flights and found the one I "thought" was his based on a couple of things he mentioned. I was super nervous.  They parked the truck,  walked into the terminal and there he was walking  into the lobby, shocked to see them. haha  I have mad skills. 

We are so grateful for the 10 months of service he was able to spend with the people of Guatemala.  Sometimes you can't tell what the future will bring or reasons for why things happen the way they do, but we are hopeful and have faith that he is where he needs to be right now.  I told him he has to keep himself busy working with his dad on Oscars family history work, so that he can come with us to the temple every time we go so we can get all the work done faster.  

Here is a photo I got before he left to be released by the Stake President.  

Sunday for Jared & Cake Competition

Jared had fun reading all the words on the conversation hearts this year.  New readers are fun to have around, its like they are rediscovering their world.

After a dinner of peas and chicken there were lots of little helpers for getting the dishes in the washer. Grandma ALWAYS has lots of help on Sunday's.

FIRST and LAST CAKE COMPETITION

Jared requested that Oscar and I both make a cake for him and he would be the judge of who made the better cake.  We were up WAY too late on Saturday night making these ugly cakes!  Although it was a little fun with all the trash talking.  I was nice and gave Oscar some of my supplies...and the cake mix....and the frosting.  So here is Oscars "nightfury". 

Here is MY dragon...with fire breath...you see that and teeth.....and scales....

Well....Jared first called it a tie.  He was really sweet about it.  THEN everyone started eating and then all of a sudden they started saying how much they like Oscar's cake.  WHAT THE HECK?  Are you kidding me??  Both cakes were completely gone by the end of the night SO, I'm sticking with the Judge!  HAHAHA I am the author of this here blog and I can say what I like!

See look at that fire breath!  SO COOL!