Leap Day 2024

Is leap day to be celebrated? Why an extra day in February? Aren't we all happy to say goodbye to February? Why not tack an extra day onto April or September? Those months seem to fly by. 

James asked to learn cribbage. I think he just likes our boat shaped cribbage board and wanted to learn how to use it. It's a pretty complicated game with lots of parts but it's mostly math so I knew he'd like it. He loved it. He even beat me. For comparison, I was 21 when I learned how to play; he's 7.

(I really didn't mean for all these pictures to be of just James) For President's Day we went to Brooker's ice cream tavern for some "Abraham Lincoln's New Birthday Cake of Freedom" and "George Washington's Indispensable Flavor" and "Paul Revere's Midnight Ride", etc. This ice cream is so good but it's so expensive so we only go twice a year. The other day being Independence Day of course. James manages to get the best ice cream beard every time.

This is his Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial he made at school. He was so proud to show me and tell me all about them.

Henry had an orchestra concert last week. He was sitting on the end for once so we got a good view of him. He wouldn't stop talking while I was taking his picture.

At the end of the concert as people were filing out he did this because he loves orchestra so much. I kind of thought he took the class because he didn't want to do band or chorus but it was quickly his favorite class. So crazy he's moving to 8th grade at the junior high next year. We love Mrs. Harman's concerts so luckily Erica will be playing for her in 2 years.

Sunday it was 61 degrees and the kids begged to get their swimming suits on. Tuesday the garbage can froze shut. I love weather in all it's unpredictability.

No idea what Erica is doing here but I'm pretty sure it was just for me.

Basketball season is all wrapped up and no one wants to play spring sports (phew!) so I think this is a calmer season of the year. Well for me. For Justin he gets to figure out 40+ callings. Our ward boundaries changed and they divided our stake. We lost some great neighbors and friends to the 2nd and 20th wards but I have to keep reminding myself no one moved away but it does feel that way.  Our neighbors across the street are not only in a different ward but a different stake. The church I can see from my driveway is not or building and never will be. Utah is fun like that. But I am looking forward to meeting new people on Sunday. The couple of streets we gained to the south of us are full of kids so that's fun for my kids. 

I always look forward to March because it means we are well on our way to spring but my expectations of March are always way too high and I get even more sad when it snows. But Easter is in March and that's my second favorite holiday so bring it!

Bad news, sad days, game time, holiday

There are only 2 reasons I go to Winco: Ataulfo mangos and Golden Griddle pancake syrup. They didn't have any mangos. Fine. These things are seasonal. But they no longer had a spot on their shelf for Golden Griddle syrup. You better believe I emailed ACH Food Company, the maker of Golden Griddle right in the grocery aisle. I received this reply:

 

I am so heartbroken. It's the only fake maple syrup I like. Everything else tastes like a mistake. Sure, I don't really eat syrup that much anymore and my kids prefer homemade buttermilk syrup. And yes, the six bottles I have in my pantry will last into the foreseeable future. But I have major nostalgia for this syrup. My mom bought this syrup and her mom before her. It ends with me and that makes me sad.

James had the flu for 7 days (during Erica's birthday). He was just fine in the morning but an hour into school the office called to tell me he threw up in class. He was shaking and achy and feverish when I picked him up. It hit him fast. After days of Tylenol/Motrin, not eating, barely drinking, fever fits (that's what I'm calling his emotional breakdowns when his fever was high) and watching TV for 14 hours a day, his fever finally broke. He still needed a good two days to rest before he was ready to go back to school. He noticeably lost weight and was still so tired. It took it out of him. (Erica got a fever the day he went back to school. I kept her home thinking we'd have another round but it resolved itself quickly and we're all fine.)

Sunday we held our first ever Family Bowl. We each chose a board game and kept track of 1, 2, 3rd place of each of the games. Winner takes home the trophy and $5.

We also had a course of food between each game. Chips, salsa, nacho cheese, jello, veggies, wings, egg rolls.

Hard part was choosing games that weren't played on teams. Those seem to be our go-tos.

After a dramatic game of Formula-D, Sarah won the race and the Family Bowl. 

Next year we'll try to do the points a little differently (kids realized no matter how they did on the last game they couldn't win so why bother) and have prizes for 2nd and 3rd place (I grabbed some stuff out of the pantry to prevent tears). 

Nothing cracks me up and warms my heart more than when James calls me on the doorbell camera to ask if he can make popcorn.

I was at Henry's basketball game.

He has just one more game tonight and the season is over.

He is having fun and complains less on the drive home so that's all that matters.

I like Valentine's Day. It's fun when you're a little kid thus it's fun as a parent to little kids. The school had a box competition so that put the pressure on. I was undefeated as a child in our class competitions but this was school-wide which is kind of dumb. Why have kindergarteners compete with 5th graders?

James made a tiger. He drew his design on a piece of paper and I transferred it to a box. (You're looking at 5 coats of orange craft paint.)

Erica made a sloth of course.

It took a long time to make but they were so diligent about it. Look at their cute smiles.

Miracle of all miracles I got to help in James's class (love his teacher but she never asks for helpers). The whole school ties fleece blankets on Valentine's day and their class had like 10 to do. I and a few other moms showed them how to do it and tied right along with them. Then we had to double check each blanket that there weren't any missed ties.

Then they passed out their Valentines. We weren't really needed after the blankets were all tied but we hung around and watched. First graders are the cutest.

And they are noisy and chaotic and need help reading their own handwriting.

After that I went home and finished setting up our Valentine dinner. Justin and I have never gone out just the two of us for Valentine's day since Sarah was born. And before that we went out for tacos because tacos are good and the restaurants aren't crowded. So Mexican food is our Valentine tradition.

We all got a little cup of candy and the kids got a new book. "Mexican food and a new book," Sarah replied when asked what she was doing for Valentine's day. I think it was two years ago I forgot books and I almost forgot this year.

The kids came home with their boxes and dumped them out all over the counter. The mess is still there this morning but I kind of like it. Good times.

And they were excited to get Valentine's from their aunt Lisa. 

Mexican food, new book, Valentines from Lisa. The three pillars of Valentine's day.

Right before dinner I let them open their books.

 

For dinner we had chile colorado with rice and beans and tortillas. Afterwards they could eat some candy. We spent a lot of time sorting through our Peanuts kisses.

And then we had hot fudge cake with ice cream and creme anglaise for dessert and watched a Charlie Brown Valentine's day special we found on youtube. It was a busy but fun day.

Erica Turns 10

This was my grocery cart in preparation for Erica's birthday. I surely hope no one was judging me.

My kids can invite as many friends as they want to their 7th, 10th and 13th birthdays. Erica broke the record by inviting 17. Unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) only 11 came so we had an even dozen counting Erica. The first thing we did was serve pancakes with all the fun toppings. This was a last minute idea and it was a hit.

Other games included a candy bar game, musical chairs then she opened presents

Then they played cookie face

and then back downstairs for Pictionary.

The last activity was animal face stickers.

They were a fun albeit noisy bunch.

Four of her friends gave her stuffed sloths. "Does everyone know you love sloths?" I asked after she opened the second one. "Yes!" the group replied. Erica grabbed more from her room for the photo.

Her party was Saturday but her real birthday was Monday. We woke everyone up early to open presents and have birthday breakfast before school.

She got Telestrations, a new watch, some clothes, origami paper. Henry got her a pink sloth, some treats and a stuffed snail.

James was sick so they gathered where he was sitting.

For breakfast she chose French toast with buttermilk syrup, strawberries, whipped cream and sausage.

After school her friend Truman brought over a gift. He was sick the day of her party. He gave her two more sloths and she couldn't have been more excited. That brings the tally to 24. Afterwards she "made" Henry and Sarah ride bikes with her to the gas station so she could spend her birthday money on overpriced candy.

Getting ready for birthday dinner. She chose macaroni and cheese and fruit salad. I added a green salad but didn't make her eat it since it was her birthday.

It took some brainstorming to come up with her birthday dessert. She doesn't like cake but she usually chooses cake because she likes the look of one. She really likes brownies and Oreos so I made this up.

Oreo stuffed brownie base then I whipped up some cream and Oreo pudding and added more Oreos. I had to thin it out with a bit of milk because it got so thick. It turned out delicious and just what she likes.

Justin's parents were on a cruise and since James may or may not have the flu my parents opted to stay home. So it was just us which a couple of Erica's birthdays have been when my parents were on their mission and Justin's parents lived out of state.

While we ate dessert we played the birthday game which means we go around the table taking turns asking her a question.

After that we played Telestrations and sent them to bed!

Her birthday interview

Her birthday pictures and some fun facts.

Her hair is so long and she loves it. She thinks she just wants to keep it growing but I think she'll get annoyed with it any longer.

She's into Legos and dolls and watching TV. And making messes with art supplies.

She thought she wanted to go back to piano lessons so I told her I'd call her piano teacher after she practiced without complaining for an entire week. She lasted one day and said nevermind.

Her room is always a disaster. She cleans it regularly but she just pulls so much stuff out to play. It's good that she plays so much but man it drives me crazy.

She loves fourth grade with all her heart. Her teacher's personality is lot like hers: super fun and big ideas, warm and loves everybody. I am worried how sad she will be when this school year is over.

She really does hate chores. She complains and is super slow no matter what it is.

She's still my most thoughtful kid. She's observant of what people need and just does it.

I can't believe she's 10!