March Celebrations

 Lately...we celebrated Dr. Seuss Day. I love Dr. Seuss Day and reading and take this special time each year as a personal invitation to read all day long! We made green eggs (German Pancakes) and ham (bacon) with Dr. Seuss fruit hats for breakfast and the cubs took a fun lunch with a Pink Yink Drink, Hop on Popcorn, Barbaloot Bears and marshmallows, Cat in the Hat string Cheese, oodles of noodles pasta salad and Blue Jello with one fish, two fish, Red Swedish Fish. It was a great day. I had a Wocket in my Pita Pocket for lunch too. 

I got a new calling at church. Our Relief Society Presidency was released and I was called to work in the Stake Young Women's Presidency. It's a bittersweet relief. I have less worries but more to oversee and waaaaaay more meetings. I feel like I live on Zoom on Sundays. I'm trying to be very purposeful with our time and prioritize. It's a very precarious balancing act. Most days I feel on the verge of falling apart. But we did make it a point to celebrate Pi Day together. We had a pie baking contest and made Cornish Pasties for dinner. It was a delicious day and tons of fun to all work together in the kitchen. 

Claire made "Piggy's Perfect Banana Creme Pie."

Sophie created the most glorious chocolate cream cheese pie that she named "Triple Chocolate Delight." Daddy and Taylor teamed up to make a delicious Oatmeal Cookie Milk Pie called "Cookie Crumble Goodness." We all got two votes for taste and presentation. Sophie won for presentation and Daddy and Taylor won for taste! It was so much fun. 

Lately...St. Paddy's was fun! The cubs made a very scary leprechaun trap, wore their best pinch-proof green gear and packed all green lunches. The Leprechaun brought some breakfast cereal and left some rainbow colored fun for the yard. He even hid some gold candies around the house. We had a fun morning and after school and lessons Daddy grilled up some Irish Sausages and we had potato salad. We will try some corned beef another day. Last year was disastrous and apparently we're not over it yet. 

Taylor has become a little intense. He REALLY wanted to trap the leprechaun and pounded nails into the bottom of the trap while I was taking Sophie to piano. Sheesh. 

May the road ride up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. may the sun shine warm upon your face. the rains fall soft upon your fields. And, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. -Irish blessing

Lately...this has been the craziest March Madness of all the March Madnesses! We've been following everything very closely and having a blast popping popcorn and cheering for our picks. Taylor and Sophie are gunning to win this year. They called some really good upsets. 

Feb Fun Days

We kicked off the fun this year with a silly little Groudhog Cake and prayed that winter would come swiftly to an end. We watched a bit of the Super Bowl too!

I think the only way that we ever make it through the winter is because of all the birthdays we get to celebrate in January and all the fun holidays in February! We have a deep and abiding love for Chinese New Year. We had a little mini celebration just us this year since we couldn't gather with all our Lunar New Year celebrating friends. We ordered a few dishes and made a few more of our favorites to bring luck, health and prosperity into our home this year. 

Valentine's Day was super fun this year. Logan to an actual restaurant for a date and while we were gone, the cubs planned their own sibling Valentine's Day celebration. Sophie made these adorable mini cheesecakes and they had a little Valentine Party together. We brought them home a heart shaped pizza and Logan gave the girls flowers. They were all smiles. 

On Valentine's morning, they cubs and hubs made ME breakfast in bed. I was so touched. They let me rest and read at my leisure. I was so surprised! It was a horrible freezing cold day. Church was canceled due to the -36 degree winds. We didn't step outside. It was dangerously cold. We were so grateful for our lovely warm house and a lazy day to spend together. 

I love Valentine's Day because we set the table nicely and throughout the day the love notes and gifts keep growing. The cubs got so excited about giving Valentines this year. They earned money and lovingly thought about each other to give gifts. I was very proud of them. 

Claire drew me this adorable bunny for my Valentine. Logan spoiled us with truffles and caramels. 

Even Dukie got in on the love!

I had fun making up little red mugs for everyone that said, "it's REDiculous how much I love you."

Then is was time for the much anticipated visit to Crazy Cupid's Cafe. I didn't know when I started this years and years ago that it would become so essential to the holiday. The cubs have been discussing it at length for weeks. I was intimidated by the expectations. Ha! But we had a blast. 

Here's Claire Bear with her Love Potion #9, X's and O's, and googly eyes. 

We also had Love Birds, Heart Breakers, and a shot to the heart. 

Logan had a Tall Drink of Water, Smooches and Forget me Nots. 

I love this crazy crew and how much fun they make everything. 

Last but not least, we celebrated Mardi Gras...kind of. I had to sub AND teach piano that day so Logan was a sweetheart and made our Cajun feast by himself. We watched a little Princess and the Frog had red beans and rice and decided to save our King Cake for another day. We are learning to give a little here and there and to be flexible. 

Mom and Dad Celebrations

My Birthday came and went. 38 feels so old! I had a great birthday. The cubs made me a yummy breakfast and rubbed my feet and brushed my hair while we watched a Hallmark movie. 

Then we went on a beautiful family bike ride. Dukie is so cute in his little pack. We ended at Dairy Queen for a little creamy cone. Dukie ate mine and loved it!

Then they surprised me by packing me a bag and sending me to a hotel for the night! I arrived. Got in bed.  And proceeded to NOT move for 24 hours. It was blissful. I took 7 naps and read two books. I felt so rested. I can hardly wait for my next birthday!

The next weekend was Father's Day! We had a lot of fun picking out little presents for our favorite guy. The lady cubs supplied him with a selection of all his favorite treats and T-man got him some gear so they can play sports together. 

We let him sleep in, good and long, and then made him his annual biscuits and gravy for breakfast. 

His one wish was for cheese puffs. I aim to please. 

After playing some games it was time for some relaxing and his next wish, to introduce the cubs to the Lord of the Rings and then some Switch games. 

We had church and then a great dinner of huevos rancheros followed by family dancing while Alexa beatboxed to a song about Dads. What a weird world we live in. Good thing we have an awesome Dad to celebrate!