Sun, Service and Turkey Volcanoes

Happy 17^th Birthday!

Marisa turned 17 this week! We made her a giant cookie and then she got what she wanted for her birthday…a guitar!! She is very excited about learning how to play it. She has also been teaching herself how to play the piano. We will go to Osaka to celebrate her birthday on May 31 because every day up til then seems to be booked.

(Alayna bought her the orange bandana she wanted)

She wore her “I only date ninjas” shirt to school that day. Kayla saw it and dramatically said, “Oh! So, that’s why you never date!” Oh, the joy of little sisters!

Turkey Volcanoes and Fruit Flowers

We have been trying hard as a family to exercise and eat healthily to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. This week we tried the volcano turkey burgers from “Biggest Loser” and they actually turned out pretty good. We even got Alayna to try one! Alayna also created our flower fruit plate to go along with it.

Day of Service

Our family participated in our ward “Day of Service”. Gardening work needed to be done at .

We also finished our garden! We finally got the tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini planted. We are trying a new way to keep the weeds out. After we planted, we covered the dirt with several layers of newspaper. Then, we put hay on top of that. I hope it works! It was a long hot day and we all slept like logs!

Finally! Summer weather!

The weather has been just beautiful this week! We have been spending a ton of time outside playing and soaking up the sun!

More concerts

Tyler had his final band concert this week and did a great job. His band also got to participate in a unique opportunity. His band director arranged for them to come to school Friday night and Skype with a middle school band in Australia!! He said it was VERY cool. They were able to ask all sorts of questions. Tyler asked their director if he had ever been kicked by a kangaroo and his answer was YES! How funny!

Kayla had her final band concert as well and Marisa had her final orchestra concert where she was awarded another letter for Fine Arts.

Misc

*Alayna auditioned for and made it into the Linn Grove talent show which is tomorrow. She was adamant about doing jump roping. So, she has been practicing a ton around the house and she is very excited!

*Marisa was inducted into the Thespian Society this week!

*Alayna is one of the most creative people I know. When I went downstairs, I saw that she had created a “Barbie Float”! She even attached it to the treadmill so it actually rolled and it looked like the Barbie was waving as she went by!

(The audience watching the float)

*Seminary is over! We had a fun seminary breakfast on Friday morning at 6am. The girls (and I) are looking forward to more sleep! Tonight is seminary graduation and Marisa is playing in a selected orchestra group made up of youth in the stake.

Only 4 ½ days left of school (thank the heavens above!) and 10 days until our trip <envision me doing the running man here!>

Prom, Parties, and Pure Fun

May 15, 2011

Prom

Marisa had her junior prom yesterday. I wonder if boys have any idea how much effort girls put into that day? Marisa went to a friends house to get her nails done, picked up the boutonnière, and then went to the house of a lady in our ward who did her hair and makeup. She spent forever shopping this week to find matching shoes, etc.

Anyway, I think she had a wonderful time. It was pouring rain so we weren’t able to take pictures outside, but I got a few inside. I will post the group pictures when I they arrive.

Parties

Alayna and I were able to go to the Mother/Daughter Activity Days party. We got to dress up, make matching bracelets, and even decorate our own giant cupcakes. It was a very fun evening to spend together.

Kayla and Tyler had friends over to party since none of them were old enough to go to prom. They made bracelets, played wii, and watched a movie.

Tyler had a Merit Badge Clinic yesterday and he earned his pioneering merit badge.

Only 9 ½ days left of school and 17 days until our trip!!!!!!!!!!!

“The best years of a woman's life - the ten years between 39 and 40”

“The best years of a woman's life - the ten years between 39 and 40”

May 8, 2011

“Forty isn't old, if you're a tree”

Well, I made it to the age of 40! I remember when I was younger thinking that 40 years old was “super old”! But I don’t think or feel that now. I have to remember it’s just a number and what really matters is how I feel which is 30-something (I think?).

If I had written this blog entry on Friday it would have been called, “Frumpy, Flabby, and Flippin’ Forty”! I took the day off of work to go shopping and spend the day doing stuff for me. However, the clothing selection out right now (as usual) is hideous. Everything I tried on looked, um…not good. Why can’t someone make clothes for women my age that are still cute, adorable, and fashionable, but modest? Maybe that’s the career I should be going into?

I did get to go in for a massage which felt AMAZING! I kept wishing I could just lay there and get a massage F-O-R-E-V-E-R!! I actually relaxed which never happens. But the massage therapist informed me that I was the worst she has ever seen as far as muscle tension and muscle knots. Figures. I probably need to go more often

However, yesterday was almost a perfect birthday! The weather was gorgeous and I spent the day doing some yard work with Bob and soaking up some much needed vitamin D! Alayna and Bob bought me beautiful flowers and Doritos (my latest kryptonite) and I got an ipod nano!! Whoo hoo! I am so excited and it will come in so handy on our trip in 24 days!! It will also come in handy on my walks/jogs/runs which I will need for all the pounds I have gained this weekend! Then we went to Pancheros for dinner and Coldstone for dessert so I could get my favorite “Berry Berry Berry Good” dessert. Sweet cream is the BOMB.

“When you feel neglected, think of the female salmon, who lays 3,000,000 eggs but no one remembers her on Mother's Day”

Today is my 16^th anniversary of being a mother!! I can hardly believe it’s been that long. There are definitely ups and downs with being a mom but it’s all worth it (unless you have teens, then it’s very questionable!). I am grateful today that I am not a neglected salmon! I got some sweet little gifts, Alayna sang with the primary in church, and I hear I might get a much needed foot massage later.

(My #1 mom badge Alayna made for me!)

My quest to be “Mom of the year”

So, I added more to my resume to be “Mom of the Year”. Tyler had a jazz concert this week and I went to go see it. (I’d like to mention here that he told me it started at 7 when it didn’t start until 7:30, good thing I always bring a book!) Anyway, I pulled out my video camera that I brought to tape, cause I am awesome like that, and it seemed extra light. I realized “someone” had taken out the batteries! Tyler was a featured soloist in 2 different songs and he was so awesome! And I didn’t get to tape it for you!

Tennis and Titanic

At the girl’s tennis meet this week, Kayla won hers 4-1 and Marisa lost both games (but she has missed a month of practice due to pit).

Alayna had her Titanic Museum this week. She played Madeline Astor in the play and did a wonderful job. We got to see everyone’s titanic displays and she loved learning about this unit. So, now, we are getting the movie from Netflix to show her.

More Stuff

*Tyler went to Adventureland with the school band yesterday to play and perform.

*Both girls had State Large Group Competition yesterday. Kayla doesn’t know the results yet but Marisa’s orchestra earned a division 1 (the highest rank).

*We went to Red Robin on Thursday night for my birthday. Yummy!

Oklahoma!, Dominoes, and a Magnetic Touch

Magnets

Hal and Corey came to do the annual science presentation for Alayna’s class. This year the theme was magnets. They came home that night and demonstrated all the cool things they presented to Alayna’s class. Their presentations are always so fun, educational, and entertaining! I also learned that if you want to keep Kayla busy for a while, give her a “supermagnet” and a bowl of small magnetic balls- she will be busy for hours!

Oklahoma!

The musical finally came! We all went to see it Thursday night and Marisa performed in the pit with the orchestra. It was a wonderful performance and brought back so many memories of when I was in the same musical the same age as Marisa! It was definitely a dejavu moment!

Anniversary Date

Bob and I finally got to go out and celebrate our 18^th anniversary! We took the day off of work. We went to a fun restaurant at the Marriot Hotel for lunch. Then we went to see this awesome movie called “Source Code”. We definitely recommend it!

The 5K that wasn’t

So, I registered to do the “5K for K9” on Saturday. The money goes to help support the Marion Police K9 unit. However, Marisa ended up having to work, Kayla went to a slumber party, Bob and Tyler refuse to do anymore, and its too far for Alayna. I didn’t want to go alone so I didn’t go. However, I did one with Marisa around the neighborhood when she got off of work. That counts, right?

Yard Work

Bob, Alayna, and Tyler worked super hard on the yard yesterday! They got the mower blades sharpened, finished the strawberry box, plated more lettuce, etc. They also went to the driving range, but found it went out of business. So, they went to the store, bought waffle balls, and golfed in the backyard instead.

Silly Tyler

Tyler didn’t tell us he was receiving a on of awards at the Court of Honor this week so you can imagine our surprise when he got: Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge, Aviation merit Badge, Tenderfoot and Second Class. Thank goodness Bob and the grandparents went and Corey was kind enough to take a picture.

The Domino House

Alayna spent lots of time this week being an “interior decorator” by creating several homes for her trains out of dominoes. She was very creative.