April Shower bring May Flowers and…insanity??

April 26, 2009
April Shower bring May Flowers and…insanity??

How can the days possibly be getting busier? I mean, really!?! I need a vacation. A real one. Like one of those “rent-my-own-island” for a week things.
We have been getting a TON of April showers and it has brought forth my GORGEOUS tulips. Man! They are so colorful and beautiful-pink, red, and yellow. We will include some pictures. Bob and I went out yesterday to plan the onions, cilantro, and lettuce and it just poured down rain. We were drenched and I bet by now that the little onions are doing the backstroke in the gardening box!
The Spring Cleaning continues. I finished the laundry room and about 1/3 of the computer room. We have so much crap. I am thinking we need a garage sale although I hate those things. Maybe we will just huck stuff at people as they drive by. Or maybe not.
Kayla had another meet this week against Harding. She is on one of the doubles teams. But they were short on their singles players so they asked Kayla to step in and she won ALL FOUR singles games!! How awesome is that?? She was so happy!
Tyler had pack meeting this week that had a superhero theme. He earned his artist pin and citizenship pin.
We had the Primary Talent Show yesterday. Tyler and Alayna refused to do the cha-cha together which is adorable. Geeks! But Alayna did a beautiful art display of her coloring pages and Tyler did a very creative and interesting rock collection display. Tyler did go up in front of everyone and share his “cheerleading kick” which he uses to shut the microwave door. We include a videoclip of him doing it and you can, um, see for yourselves.
Marisa was gone all yesterday to the Jefferson Orchestra Invitational (her orchestra placed 3rd!) and the Youth Stake Activity which was an all day affair, along with a dance.
Bob and I celebrated our 16th anniversary this week!! We went out for lunch and when I got home there were a dozen long-stemmed red roses and chocolates for me on the table. Does he know me well or what??

Congrats to James and Brandi on their new baby girl!!

New pics down staircase

Helaman (Almost looks like its from 300)
Helaman and the stripling warriors
Enos (almost looks like its from Lord of the rings)

face plant moustache

Marisa tennis

What does spring cleaning mean to you?

April 19, 2009

What does Spring Cleaning mean to you? Around here it means, “OMGSH, mom has totally lost it! Run for your lives!!” I really wasn’t planning on starting my spring cleaning until school gets out. But, life has been so stressful lately and cleaning and organizing lower my stress level. Trust me when I say it’s a curse! Yesterday, I started the Saturday ritual of deep cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Somehow it spiraled out of control and we ended up rearranging the upstairs living room and exercise room. We also got our cool new BOM posters up. I didn’t even come close to finishing but I am off to a great start. Don’t be surprised if one of my kids calls and begs to come live with some of you the next month or so.

Marisa had State solo and ensemble yesterday. Both her solo and her ensemble made Division 1 in State!! As a Freshman! That is so awesome! She has had an incredibly busy schedule with Les Miserable and tennis every day after school. She had a tennis challenge and moved up her position on the team.
From Marisa:
Good News!!
A couple of years ago my school's music department sent in some tapes to the Grammys for a "Grammys in the schools" competition. We got into the top 40 schools. THIS year my school entered again (because you can only enter every 3 years or something) and we got into the top 8 schools!! That means that my school's music department is one of the very best in the nation!! All of the other schools in the top were from big cities in Texas, California, etc. or were special music-focused schools, but our school in little Marion, Iowa still made it up there. To even be in the top 40 schools means that the choir, band, AND orchestra all have to be top notch and we made it to the top 8!! I was very exited. You can go to this link to see more about it:
http://www.grammyintheschools.com/

Grandma and Grandpa Hart came for Easter weekend and Tuesday they did a really cool science presentation on “sound” for Tyler and Alayna’s classes. I think they were a real hit!

Not much else new is going on. We are very busy with the same old same old. The weather has been gorgeous and we have all been trying to soak up all the sunshine possible. 35 days of school left- not that I’m counting! I’m more than ready for summer to arrive.

One of my fav. cartoons

If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

April 12, 2009

Top Eight Reasons to Celebrate Easter

8. You really don't mind a strange big footed Rabbit hopping about your house in the middle of the night, laying eggs all over the place

7. You look really, really good in yellow.

6. You just went on a low cholesterol diet and didn't want to waste all those eggs in the fridge.

5. You figure any Holiday that starts with a "Good Friday" can't be all bad.

4. You love to bite the heads off chocolate bunnies.

3. It's a good time to check out your neighborhood church and not be noticed.

2. You have this bunny suit you love to wear, but are too insecure to wear it without a reason.

1. Even though you don't know what it is, you really like the sound of going to a "Passion Play."

Top 10 Hart events of the week:
1. Kayla won her first doubles tennis meet 6-1!!

2. Marisa auditioned for and made the symphony orchestra- the top one in the school!

3. Bob and his parents fixed the fence (that ripped off during a storm) and make 3 new raised garden boxes!! Plus, my lilies and tulips have started coming up!

4. Alayna was very sick this week (fever, aches, and chills) so she and I missed two days of school (Whoo- hoo!!)

5. The kids and I went outside in the incredibly GORGEOUS weather yesterday and played tennis for two hours! I was shocked at how good all the kids have gotten. I need to up my game.

6. Marisa challenged one of her team mates and won! So, Marisa is part of the top 4 doubles teams on JV, so she got to go play in a huge 3 hour meet on Saturday.

7. I busted out of my “domestic slump” and made poppy seed bread with an orange glaze. It turned out great if I do say so myself. Am I good til next month, Bob?

8. All the kids were out riding bikes enjoying the beautiful weather (except Marisa who is still scared of them, but has reason to be) Anyway, as they rode down the street, Tyler rode over a pile of cigarettes (in front of someone’s house) and his bike stopped, he flew over the top and did a face plant on the ground. He has a nice little “moustache” and skinned his knees too.

9. We were having an Easter Ham for dinner. Tyler noticed that his pieces of ham had a lot of fat. He said, “Man! This must have been one very lazy pig!”

10. A special HAPPY EASTER to everyone! We hope everyone has had a fun filled, family holiday.

Concluding thought:
A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy? If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.