Saturday March 26

I did a lot of running around today.
And I got my basement clothesline in.
So that's good :)

First we got all the Saturday chores done quickly.

The kids had plans with friends, so that was motivation to get it done :)

Cassi met up with her friends Laynie and Kiali.

They went with Kiali's mom and siblings to the Village.

They had a lot of fun and Cassi was gone most of the day.

And Madi had Cam over.

They watched Elsie for me while I ran some more errands.

I bought a bunch of Easter eggs and candy because we were going to go to the fire station and dye Easter eggs and have a little hunt.

But that didn't work out :(

So I went back and returned it all.

Anyway....

While I was gone, Vern took Port with the boys and they went to Craft Warehouse for some kind of free craft they were doing.

Also, earlier in the day, it was the cutest thing....

Port saw Madi drawing, so he started to draw a portrait of his Tiger.

Cutest thing!

I need to take a picture of the final product, because he drew bunny ears on him and Easter eggs around him because it is his (Tiny's) first Easter :)

So cute!

Once I got home, I went outside with Elsie and I pruned trees.

I got three more trees done!

Yay!

Getting so close to being done!

I really hope I at least get enough to make a batch of applesauce this year!!!!!!

Then tonight was the Woman's Conference.

We had planned to go to the church to watch it.....but we were pushing on time, and so was Stacia, who we planned to go with.

So we just recorded it and watched it on the comfort of our couches :)

Port went to Cannon's house, and all the girls came over here.

It was a fun time.

The most fun.......when we found out we are related!!!!!!

I am Second cousin's, once removed with Henry B. Eyring.

And Paul is related to him too, just about the same distance.

We need to look it up and make a chart r something......kinda fun.

So they kids have been calling each other cousins all night :)

After the conference, we went and got ice cream and had more fun talking.

Now Madi and Cassi are watching a movie with Cam.......cause she came back over :)

It will be a late night for them, but I am gonna get the Easter stuff ready and get to bed!

Friday March 25

We didn't really have any plans today.

I did go for my run.

I ran in the shape of a heart today.

Ha ha......

Yes, I have issues :)

I saw that there was a heart shape on the map, and so I ran it.....

Even though I had to run on the main roads, which I don't like to do.

But I just had to do it.

I had to run a bit of it over again to complete the 6 miles, but that's okay.

Anyway......

Tried to do laundry today.

Wanted to.

But my dryer is broken.

Or something is up with it.

It will dry for a little bit (gets hot too), then quite.

When I go to restart it, the dryer is dead.

Won't turn on.

Then I let it sit for a few hours......and then I can start is again.

But only for a little bit before it quits again.

So nothing is getting dry!

Tomorrow I plan to hang a temporary clothes line in the basement....

Dumb :(

Madi worked on her driver's ed, and homework.

Cassi helped clean because she wanted to go with her friends, but they couldn't go today.

So I got her to help me for free :)

And the little ones pretty much played all day.

Before dinner I went out to prune some more.

I got one more tree done.

Only like.......6 more to do!

Okay, those 6 left are halfway pruned.

I pruned all the bases, now I am cutting on the branches growing straight up......

I actually enjoy it.

It is kind of therapeutic.

But then the winds and the hail came....so I had to go inside.

Hope to get another tree done tomorrow.

Maybe....

I know I am not super fast.....but it is faster than I was on Monday :)

Thursday March 24

Madi got some more pruning done while Elsie bug picked up sticks and Cassi ran some sprints.

She is doing track and doesn't want to fall too far behind over this break!

And I went for my 6-miler again.

I am loving being able to really run.

I'm still slow.....but sticking to it!

I am going to try again tomorrow.....even though my body is soooo tired!

And Dad and Port did some stuff around the house.

When I got home and showered, dad and I went on a little day date.

Okay, not really.

We went to target and a couple other stores looking for some fun Easter things for the kids.

While we were gone, Madi went thrift store shopping with Sydney and Carley.

And Cassi had Avery over and they were watching the little kids, Elsie, Kyra, Porter and Cannon.

And Max and Graham eventually came over as well :)

When we got back home it was time to send everyone home and then we went to Port's football practice.

He is sure loving it!

And Dad is loving it too :)

I sat in the car with Elsie for a little bit while Vern and Cassi chatted on the cold cold grass!

We came home and had dinner and then watched 'The 33' which was so very good!

Madi went with Sydney and a few other friends to go up to table rock.

She is lucky I like Sydney so much......we wouldn't let her go with anyone else ;)

That's Port, diving for the flag :)

Wednesday March 23

Today seemed like two days smooshed together.

Not sure why......

Woke up and was lazy for a little bit while everyone else in the house slept in.

I can't sleep-in anymore.

It is good and bad......

Once we got going with the day, Dad was out burning all the branches we cut the other day.

I picked up Port's friend Eli, and they played all day.

I went for another 6 mile run!

Yay!

Then Cassi went fishing with her friend Halle.

Madi went to her friend Cam's house.

And Elsie hung out at home with me and Dad.

We, well, dad got the handles put on the built in.

Yes, I should paint it first.....but handles are easy to take on and off once they are in the right spots.

But since we put the magnets on, it was hard to get them open without handles :)

Maybe tomorrow is the day to paint????

I just hate to get the stuff all out if I am not going to be able to finish it!

And with kids around me all the time for spring break.......there is a chance I can't finish it!

We signed up on Sunday to have the missionary's over for dinner tonight.

I had asked them what they wanted to eat.

They said Shepherds pie.

I have never made shepherds pie before!!!!!!

So I found the best recipe I could on pinterest.......and gave it a go!

Elsie was my big helper!

She cut up all the potatoes for me and carrots.

She was so excited about helping.

And so dang cute chopping :)

The missionary's got here about 5.

They seemed to like the shepherds pie.....and everyone else did too!

Good!

They missionary's stayed for a bit and we talked and it was nice.

They both seemed kind of quiet......maybe we just need to have them over again to get them to open up.

Port got Elder Williams to open up by bringing out some Lego's

Elder Reid has a broken leg, and you could tell he wasn't feeling too great.... 

Anyway, I still think we all had a fun time.

Then I took Madi to go ice skating with Maeg.

It seemed like a pretty full day to me!

 

Tuesday March 22

We had such a fun day with the Young's today!

They invited us to go to Jump creek.

We left a little after 10:30.

It was cold and windy, and we almost didn't do it.

But i am so glad we did.

Everyone had so much fun.

And it turned out to be a beautiful day.

Elsie had so much fun hiking!

Well, everyone did.......

We just need to get out and do hiking more often!

I guess the pictures tell the story pretty well :)

It was a great day!

Thanks to the Young's for the invite!!!!

But really, it is always a god time when we get to hang out with them!

When we got home, I got the monthly grocery shopping done.

Dad got the doors attached to the kitchen built ins so maybe I can get around to painting them tomorrow.

Geez....how many times have I said that?

I mean really, what is the likelihood it's gonna happen!

I sure would like to though :)

Cass had her friend Lainey over, then she went to Lainey's later on.

Madi worked on her online drivers ed.

Weird how close she is to getting her drivers' permit!

 That is dad and Cassi, they hiked to the top of the falls :(

Monday March 21

We all slept in.

Well, Port and I were up at 7, but that counts as sleeping in to me!

I went for a 6 mile run today!

Took me longer than it should have, but I really wanted to see if I could.

And I did!

I felt really good.

(Not sure I will feel as good about it tomorrow.......)

Then we got the kids to come out and we all worked together to do more pruning on the trees.

Yes.......more.

They are STILL not done!

But we did get a lot done.

We also got a lot of the dead branches picked up from all over the field that have been blown and tossed around from recent storms.

I should have taken a picture of our huge pile!

I will get a before picture when we have a bonfire :)

Everyone was so great about helping!

So we decided to go to the movies!

We went and saw Kung Fu Panda 3 in 3D.

It was a lot of fun :)

On the way home a crazy storm came through.

We passed like 5 wrecks on the freeway!

It was instant standing water on the freeway and hail!

But we got through it pretty quick.

We got home and Madi had Maegan over.

We had pizza.

It is kinda a rule to have pizza when Maeg is here :)

And we rented The Walk to watch all together.

While we were watching the movie another crazy storm moved through!

So much thunder and lighting and what looked like clouds forming into a tornado!!!!!

But it passed pretty quickly too.

So crazy!

Sunday March 20

Cassi and Elsie stayed home from church today.

Cassi was doing pretty okay, just kinda crusty eyes and red this morning.

And Elsie has been kinda congested.

So they relaxed and played together while Madi, Port and I went to church.

Stacia and Paul spoke in church today.

They did such a great job speaking about listening to prophets and Stacia had some great ideas I want to adopt for our conference weekend!

After church we had some lunch and Cassi took the little kids out for a picnic.

They didn't last out there too long.....it was too windy.

But it was a nice day.

Madi painted and drew a lot :)

She's been spending a lot of time drawing lately.....makes this mama proud!

To tell ya the truth....it makes me want to draw!!!!!

I got a little week leading up to Easter activity ready to go for today.

We read some scripture, read a story, and have a task for each day.

I think it will be a nice little Easter reminder.

Here is a link to where I got the idea from.

Saturday March 19

It was such a lazy day today!

We all slept in, except for poor dad, who had to go to work :(

We watched 'Emperors new groove' to start the day off.....

Ha ha.....

I did make all the kids put away their laundry and bring me their dirty stuff.

And they had to do the chores and dishes, etc.

But other than that, they just played together.

Port played with Cannon for a few hours.

Poor Elsie kept complaining about her leg hurting.

She's got a big bruise on the inside of her knee.

She must have fallen or something....but it does look like it hurts :(

All the bruises on her legs make me so sad.......

This afternoon I took Madi to Hobby Lobby to get her some art supplies she has been asking for.

She has been spending more and more time with art, and it makes me so incredibly happy and proud :)

When we got home she started on drawing this eyeball......amazing!

We had leftovers for dinner.

I seriously was so lazy today!

I went out with Cass to help her fill up the water tank for the animals.

I had to laugh because every time she went into the barn, all the animals (goats, chickens, and Mater) would go in the barn, then she would walk back out, and they would all come out.

It was so funny to watch!

Those animals love her.

It is because she probably spoils them with more treats then she should sometimes :)