New Hair

Ellie's fingers are getting better every day. She still does NOT like changing the bandage--I think mostly because sometimes it'll stick. Lately I've been really gooping it up with ointment so it won't. She is still gun shy about me taking it off, so I've gotten good at doing it very fast when she isn't expecting it. The rest of the cleaning is pretty easy. Anyway--I am glad it's getting better and better.

Libby has been sick the past couple days. I hope this isn't the start of a string of sickness again. I can't take that again (so soon especially!). I kept her home today for an on and off fever. Here's hoping she's better for tomorrow!

Tonight I got to get my hair cut. I always love getting it done! I found these pictures online of a cut I really liked and so that is what we did.


I love the change. It feels good--the bangs will take some getting used to, but I do like them and am excited about it. Hopefully I can do it as cute as Brooke did tonight!

Eliza's First Soccer Game

This morning was Eliza's first soccer game. She is number 7 on the Darth Vaders. She doesn't care for the name, but that is what the majority decided on since their uniforms are black. She made sure I put her hair in two pony tails with yellow ribbons to match. She also picked out our outfits so we wore yellow to support her team. She did a great job in her game--she played "sweeper". She was right there in on the action. Most of all she had a fun time, too.

Brian left right when it was over for a temple trip with the young men and we stayed to watch Dallin's game at 10. It was fun and my girls were entertained looking for ladybugs. So it was a good morning overall, except the darn grass sent my allergies in a tizzy and they have been bugging me severely ALL day.

This afternoon we went over to Brian's parents' house. Brian's cousin Anna and her family were over--down visiting from Boise. They have kids right around the same age as our kids, so they had fun playing together and the adults had a good time visiting. We had dinner, visited some more, then came home.

Poor Ellie

**If you have a weak stomach, you may not want to scroll down and see the picture at the end of this post.

On Thursday night, I dropped Eliza, Libby and Brian off at Eliza's soccer practice and I was going to take Ellie and Hattie to Wal-Mart and Costco. We didn't make it too far! We parked at Wal-Mart on 83rd and we were going in the side door--the one the swings open. Ellie was about 10 steps in front of me and she was opening the door. I think she put her left hand on the door jam to get more leverage while she opened it with her right hand. It was SO windy that night and a big gust of wind came and slammed the door shut wedging her left hand in the door. I ran up and yanked it open, but the damage was already done. The skin was off pretty deep on her middle two fingers. I hurried inside trying to manage Hattie and hustle Ellie to the bathroom to get it cleaned off to see how bad the damage was. She was dripping blood, but I put it under water all while Hattie is crying for me to hold her (how dare I put her down!). There were a couple ladies in the bathroom who got me some paper towels. One lady went to the McDonald's in the store and got some ice and she also order Ellie some chocolate chip cookies there. It was so nice even though she understandably didn't want anything to do with them right then. I was trying to figure out what to do. It was pretty deep, so I was pretty sure I wanted to get it looked at but I was like how am I going to get her in the car, to the place, etc? A lady from Wal-Mart asked if I wanted her to get some medical help. At first I said no, but then told her I would like to since I figured it would be easier to get some help there. So we waited near the customer service for a few minutes and then a manager came over and wanted to take a report. I said, "Is medical help coming?" She said, "Oh--we can call the paramedics if you'd like." I was like, "I thought that is what was happening--I wish I would have known so I could have taken her already." I said I would have to come back to do the report because I wanted to get Ellie taken care of first. Duh! So I hurried her to the car and went to Good Night Pediatrics--which is like an urgent care for kids. There was no wait at all--I got right in, which was nice. They looked at it to make sure they could help her there or if we needed to go to the ER. The doc looked and didn't think it would take a stitch since there was nothing to stitch it to since all the skin was gone. So they cleaned it up, took X-rays (it didn't turn out to be broken thank goodness), cleaned it some more and bandaged it up. We got an Rx for some ointment and then came home. Poor girl!!! She has been good with it except when it comes to cleaning time which is about three times a day. She throws a good fit and we have to hold her down to do the first part. Then she is pretty good when we wrap it up again. I hope it heals soon. After she got home and in to bed, I went back to Wal-Mart to file an injury report. The manager that I talked to said that someone would be calling me about it and that "they would take care of everything." Whatever that meant--hopefully pay for the medical bills!
Here is a picture of all the grossness--one with the flash and one without--I couldn't tell which one did it more justice.

Time in the Kitchen

Yesterday we got everyone off to school okay. When I woke up I was dreading getting back in to the routine of making lunches, homework, etc. Kari and I went walking, then I came home and started with the lunches. Eliza and Libby were excited to go back, so that made it easier to get them going again on a Monday morning! After they left, I cleaned up the house and after lunch we dropped some wheat off at my mom's, then we stopped at Albertson's before picking Eliza and Libby up from school. After we got back home, I spent the time in the kitchen until Brian got home. I made cookies--a recipe that made a TON of cookies. We were challenged this month to make a plate of cookies to take to our neighbors, so I made some for that and for activity day for today. Then I moved on to making dinner--hamburgers and frys. After dinner we met our new neighbors who moved in, so it was nice to meet them and their two little kids--one just older then Ellie and one just younger. It was so windy outside, so we just came in and had home evening, then it was time for baths and bed. We did play a little Pop5 with Eliza and Libby--only giving them words they would be able to guess.

This morning my mom came over for bread making. We were both totally out. While it cooled, we got slushes at Sonic, then looked around at Target. My mom needed a new 4 cup measuring cup, so she got one there.

After school got out, it was a busy afternoon! I took Eliza to singing on my way to activity day, then I picked Eliza up, zoomed home and picked up the rest of the family, then went to Eliza's first soccer practice. My feet froze! I should have worn tennis shoes! Eliza had fun so that is good.

Our activity day went well today. We met at the other lady's house and the girls decorated a pot and planted a flower in them. But first we talked about "seeds of greatness." We talked about seeds and their potential, then we related it to us. I used this poem:

In Becoming
by Mary Jo Westenhaver

Yesterday,
while bent over furrows
laden with warm, brown seeds,
I marveled at the miracle
of potential peas nestled
within tiny seed walls,
swelling upward to reach their source of light.
And now,
as I am bowed beneath
the weight of trials,
I marvel, too, at the miracle
of a potential deity
tucked within my soul,
struggling homeward to its source of Light.

And we showed this little video. I think it all went together so great and hopefully the girls will think about their potential a little bit more.

Favorites

I've discovered some new favorites lately.

Paint Pot
I am LOVING my "Paint Pot" from my recent MAC visit. You can use it as an eyeshadow, but they also suggest it for an all over eye primer to help keep your eyeshadow on. I've tried several ones over the years (Clinique, Lancome, Mary Kay--which is pretty good) but this is my favorite for sure. Normally when I put my eye make up on, it's either off or in the crease of my eye a couple hours after I put it on. So far after using this (I use the color "Painterly") my eyeshadow has stayed on all day.

Tvala Handmade
A friend who was in my ward growing up starting this company and makes handmade soaps, lotions, lip gloss, etc. I decided to try some this past month and it's been so fun! I can't wait to try even more. This time I got a bar of the 1616 Castile soap. I actually used some of Molly's suggestions that she had on her blog . I use that mostly for shaving since it has a more slippery feel. I got Sweet Dreams soap to use in everyday bathing/showering. I also got the Sandalwood Vanilla Spa Stick. I use that at night to wash my face. It makes me face feel so clean, so I've been using that now. I also had to try the Toasted Almond Shea Skin Therapy Sugar Scrub. I LOVE that one and it smells SO good. I let Hattie smell it and she always sticks her tongue out trying to get a bite! But I like using that on my heels and elbows and just anywhere I want to be soft. I have also used that to wash my face and love it for that purpose, too. And I love that it's all natural ingredients and supporting handmade goods. I have my eye on some other stuff, too, like the Aphrodite and Pink Grapefruit soaps and the peppermint (or honey or cucumber melon) lip balm. Molly threw in a sample of the coconut lip balm and I love how it just glides on. I also want to get a soap deck and nail brush. So give it a try if you like homemade soaps and such.

Frosting
I made the frosting that goes with Paula Dean's Red Velvet Cake . I didn't want to take the time to make the cake, so I just made a chocolate cake from a mix and put the frosting on. YUM! Seriously...the frosting is to die for. LOVED it.

End of Spring Break

On Saturday, Brian got up and biked with Jason. Later in the morning we went out to Vistancia and swam with Karolyn and her kids. Trina and her family ended up coming, too. The girls had a blast swimming--Ellie jumped off the stairs over and over and over while Hattie just played on the steps. In the afternoon Brian took Ellie and Eliza to Cabela's to spend his gift card. We met up later at his granddad's house for some pictures of the babies Hattie's age and younger who were all born within about a year of each other--all girls!

Then last night a couple friends and I went for eye makeovers at the MAC counter. We've been talking about it for a while, but we finally did it. I've been wanting to try their make up for a while, so this was my first introduction. I was pleased with the girl who did my eye make up and liked how she did them. I bought a few things--I actually think their prices are pretty reasonable--it's the brushes that get you! At least those will last forever though and you don't have to replace those quite as often.

Today was a typical Sunday. We did pretty well in Sacrament meeting except for Ellie throwing a little beanbag up in the air really high and hitting the family in front of us. Talk about embarrassing! I got asked to sub a primary class at the last minute, so I taught during the 2nd hour, then it was the visiting teaching conference, so all the women got to go to Relief Society. It was a great meeting--our VT coordinator spoke a little bit, then had four ladies share experiences with visiting teaching. I love hearing personal experiences and it makes me realize how truly important visiting teaching is.

This evening we went over to Brian's parents' for dinner. A couple of Marilyn's sisters were visiting with some of their kids, so it was a full house. We had Cafe Rio pork--YUM! The kids had a great time playing with each other and the adults even got a game of Pop 5 in.

My girls are ready to get back to school and this week I think will be spent picking up from this past week--and mopping (ugh) and other cleaning. I haven't been staying on top of it lately, so I need to attack it this week!

Spring Break Day 5

Well, we made it through spring break. It went really quickly actually. This morning Kari and I hiked. It was nice weather again and overcast, which was great. This morning I had my girls (and me) clean up around the house, then we met Kari and her kids for lunch at the park. The kids had a great time and loved playing. It got a little hot after a while, but we still had a fun time. We came home and rested for a little bit, then I decided to take the girls swimming again. This time I got in up to my knees--still a bit cold but the sun beating down on me helped it not be so bad. Eliza and Libby went down the slide a ton and loved it and Ellie and Hattie had fun jumping around and splashing.

Tonight Brian and I were able to get a date night finally. We went to BJs for dinner. The food was good, but it took a long time to come out to our table. We were both stuffed, but we had to get a dessert since they are known for those. We had a triple chocolate pizzokie. It was to die for. I wish I hadn't been so full or I would have enjoyed it more, but it was still so good. We walked around Cabela's after and Brian looked at cots. I think that is what he is finally going to get with his gift cards.

Spring Break Day 4

This morning Kari and I walked. The weather has been great! I wish I could bottle it and get it out in June-September! I am so excited for Kari and since she put it on her blog, I don't have to keep it a secret anymore that she is expecting baby #4 in September! So fun!

Today I decided to try the Deer Valley Rock Art Center. I had no idea it was even here, but we went and it was cool, but I think my girls were too young. There was a very small "museum" but my girls weren't really interested in that, then there is about a 1/4 mile hike where you look at the petroglyphs. We kind of flew threw it quickly, but they kind of enjoyed looking for the petroglyphs on the little "scavenger hunt" thing they gave them at the beginning. They saw a bunch of lizards which they really enjoyed seeing and at the end when they turned in their paper they got a little glow in the dark bug. It was something to do, but they would probably like it more if they were studying it in school or a little older.




Tonight I went to enrichment. It was a vintage tea party theme to celebrate the Relief Society's birthday. We had dinner with little tea party things--little sandwiches, strawberries and salad with cake for dessert. We assembled Easter baskets for under privileged kids that will be delivered to an organization--I can't remember now which one it is. It was fun and we were able to put together 27 really nice baskets. At the end we played family feud with questions about the Relief Society and about being LDS. It was a fun night and always fun to socialize.


I left the kitchen for about 30 seconds and came back in to find this!

Spring Break Day 3

This morning I got up and Brian and I cleaned up a bit before getting ready. Brian cleaned bathrooms and did some vacuuming and I just tidied up around the house. We all got ready, then took Brian to work. Our van was getting an oil change, so we took him so I could have a car. After we dropped him off, we went to Saguaro Ranch Park to the historic area where they were having a "Day at the Ranch" for spring break. Each of the girls got a paper with a bingo game on it. They had to go around to 11 booths and get each square crossed off. It was a little bit crazy keeping track of everyone and such, but I think my girls had a good time. Their favorite things were riding the little tractor pedal cars, doing laundry the old-fashioned way and looking in the historic homes.

This afternoon we just hung out at home. My parents came over for a little bit so my mom could take pictures of the girls for a project she is working on. After they left, we headed out to pick up Brian. We had time for dinner before he left again for mutual and the girls and I went to Fry's. I had some groceries to get and so I figured I'd let the girls play in the play center. Hattie got to go in for the first time. She went right in and had a great time.

Spring break is tiring me out!

Spring Break Day 2

This morning Eliza got up and set out her St. Patrick's Day treasure hunt. She had cut out shamrocks from green paper and made a little hunt that eventually led out out to the car where there was a little leprechaun and some gold coin chocolates as the treasure. It was very creative. Then we got ready and the girls made sure everyone was in green! No one got pinched around here! After we were ready, we headed to my mom's and then went to my aunt Deb's house in Gilbert. It was our day to show her and Emali how to make bread. It was a great day! I think we were successful in teaching them how and with a little practice they'll be making their own delicious homemade bread! All the girls had fun--6 girls between me and Em--playing and eating Deb out of house and home. I think they cleaned out her pantry!


While the bread was rising, Emali made the frosting for and assembled a cake for her dad's birthday which is today. It was a Paula Dean recipe and it looked so good! The frosting was delicious as we all sampled some and scraped the bowl.




While the bread was cooling, we went to Costco. Deb had told us they sold wheat at her Costco, so we checked it out and we got some lunch from the food court. It went well but Em and I were constantly hopping to keep all the girls happy and fed. My mom and Deb enjoyed a nice lunch at a table next to us. I think they enjoyed the entertainment.

On the way home, we got Sonic--I think we all got slushes except my mom. It was a fun, productive day!

Tonight after Brian got home and a quick dinner, we went swimming at the resort. Well, Eliza and Libby swam, Brian got in to about his knees, Hattie and Ellie splashed in the shallow part and I got up to my ankles before retreating to a beach chair. It was FREEZING! I am a wimp when it comes to cold water, but it was too cold for me. They all had fun. We even got to see a hot air balloon take off right by the resort and it went right over the pool area--it was so close and huge!! It was a fun sight.

Libby's Field Day

Here are some papparazi pictures from Libby's field day on Friday.

Spring Break Day 1

Yesterday I ended up staying home with Ellie. She didn't wake up with a fever, but I didn't want to risk it and she had a cough and runny nose. I kept Hattie home, too, so Brian could just stay in Sacrament with Eliza and Libby. I turned on BYU TV and listened to a few talks and I also put Eliza and Libby's new clothes away. That was a task because it meant I had to go through their drawers and closet. But it's done.

We went to my parents for dinner and had a simple but so good dinner--lunch meat sandwiches. YUM! I brought the stuff and made pizzokie for dessert.

Well, today was our first day of spring break! I met Kari first for a nice walk. The weather was great! After I got home, Brian went to work and we all got ready. I made our lunches and packed it up and we headed up to the outlets so we could play in their water and on the little playground thing. We got there and no water!! Apparently they don't turn it on unless it's 90 degrees or hotter!! We were bummed out!! We ate our lunch and the girls played a little bit.


Then we packed back up and headed to Westgate to play in their water since the girls were excited to play and had their swim stuff on. Luckily their water was on! They all had a blast playing and getting wet. All but Eliza were timid at first, but by the end Ellie and Libby got pretty wet, too. Hattie had fun running around and getting a little wet. After playing we got some ice cream for Cold Stone. It was a fun time!





We came home and I put Hattie down for a nap. Libby and I colored for a while, Ellie and Eliza played barbies. Later we went out front for a while until Brian came home, then we made dinner and ate it out front, too. Eliza gave our FHE lesson about Jonah and the whale, then we played dodge ball and had mini pizzokies for treat. Then it was bath and bed!

Secret Agent

That is how I felt this yesterday morning. Libby had her field day--where the classes play fun games together. I was planning to go and we talked about it this week. Well, this morning came, and Libby said she didn't want me to come. I figured that might happen. Or I was afraid I would go and she wouldn't want to do anything. So I hemmed and hawed about what to do. I called Terri to see if she was going to see if she could snap some pictures of her for me. She didn't know about it, but she was at the school anyway, so she stayed to take pictures of Libby and Carson. I decided to go and watch from afar. We drove by slowly and watched, then I saw that the activities were far from an area where I could watch. So we parked and went over to the field. I was able to watch her the whole time without her seeing me! Their last activity was the tug of war, close to where we were, but we were very discreet and hid behind the dug out so the fence camouflaged us. After they were ALL done, I went up to her and said hi and told her good job. I think she was shocked that I was there.

Then in the afternoon, I went back for Eliza's field day. But this time I was able to go as myself and be seen. Eliza also had a really fun time doing the little games. She was excited because the girls in the class beat the boys in tug-o-war.







No kids were strangled in the taking of this photo!

Ellie and Hattie had fun, too!

Last night was Jodi's wedding reception. Phil's parents backyard was decorated so beautifully and it looked so nice. Once again, it was nice to see people from past wards that I haven't seen in a long time. My girls had a great time socializing, too.

Today Brian went mountain biking with his friend from work, then he went into work for a few hours. The girls and I did some things around the house this morning, then we went out front for a while. Eliza went over to our new neighbors. His mom was over and she had one of those really tiny dogs. So Eliza made herself at home and played with the dog for a while. They had a lot of fun and the mome said she enjoyed having Eliza over. Brian got home and I headed to the grocery store. I picked the line with the price match Nazi lady, but I was able to get all but one bag of chips because she said it was a different size. I could have protested, but I didn't. We came home and loaded up and headed up to Anthem where we got totally spoiled. My VT companion from a year or two ago has two girls a little older than ours and she started giving me hand-me-downs. Well, she has continued and has been stocking up. No kidding--the back of our van was completely filled and so was the front seat. I had to sit in the back with the girls. It took Eliza, Libby and I over 2 hours to go through everything. We felt so blessed to receive all those clothes and they are so great--the girls love them. Here is a photo pre-tornado in my room of all the bags.

Brian went to a soccer game tonight at ASU--it was some Chicago team and an LA team from the MLS league, I think who played. He went with his brother Jared and my brother Brian. They had a good time.

So I might be taking Ellie back in to the doctor tomorrow. She has her fever back and she says her ears hurt. Today was her 5th day of 5 days on a Z-pack. She shouldn't still be sick. Ugh.