Girl Time

Aubrey's best friend, Breanne, flew into town over President's Day weekend. Christine (Breanne's Mom) and I planned some fun activities for the girls during the visit. We visited OMSI (the amazing science museum near us), drove a few hours to see the Pacific Ocean (and it didn't rain on us while we were on the beach), saw the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" movie (we had all read the book - the book was better), had a "girls only" lunch at Applebees, went shopping for new Easter dresses, and gave the girls a super special treat . . . a trip to a salon to get a pedicure and manicure. The girls happily cooked us several breakfasts. They printed menus, dressed in "costume," cooked the food, and served us. And then they brought us the bill, which also reminded us to leave a tip!

We love the "Love" holiday

This year we had friends in town for our annual Valentine's Day Dinner. Our good friends, Breanne and Christine Yates, were visiting from Utah. This year the holiday fell on Sunday, so after church we started the food preparation. By the time everything was ready, it was almost 7:30 p.m.! But, it was worth it. The rule for the dinner: everything must be heart-shaped, red, or pink. All clothing was supposed to also be red or pink, but Joseph rebelled and wouldn't change out of his favorite Star Wars pjs.

We made such an incredible mess of the kitchen. Anyone who didn't cook the dinner was given clean-up duty, so Dan and Brandon tackled the disaster. Dan took a moment to sob before getting his hands wet in the dishwater.

Dan surprised us with chocolate-dipped strawberries.

The menu and the homemade buttermilk biscuits (heart-shaped, of course).

The crowd favorite is always the Cupid's Love Potion - mmmmmmm.

Aubrey and her best friend Breanne had a great time helping with the dinner. The girls set the table with our crystal, china, and silver, made place cards for each person, and printed out a special menu on red cardstock.

Oldies?

So, I was looking for a good radio station this morning and came upon one which advertised "the best of the oldies." And then they played three songs in a row from my high school days. When did the fabulous music of the 1980s become "oldies?" Impossible . . .

Brandon Sings and Dances!

Brandon had a busy, fun week. Last Thursday, Eagle Court of Honor. Then on Friday he was in an all day Regional Skills USA video competition - he and a partner were given a topic and video equipment and 4 hours to plan, write, film, and edit a commercial. They won 2nd place and will go on to State! Then, Saturday morning he was in a Skills USA Quiz Bowl - and took 1st place (will go on to State). Saturday morning he swam the 200 freestyle in the District Swim Meet. This week, Thursday through Saturday, he is performing in the "Skyview Follies," which is a production of the choirs at his high school. Small groups of kids perform popular songs. Brandon was in 11 out of 24 of the acts! It was a great show - so much fun. I included a (very non-professional) video I took of one of his acts. The guy singing to his right is his friend, Spencer, who is the lead singer in Brandon's band, "Change for a Five." The band has their first real gig next Saturday.

Our Eagle

Last Thursday was Brandon's Eagle Court of Honor. Two of his friends from the ward received their Eagle at the same time, which was nice. The Court of Honor was very simple - the speakers did a great job and the only real decoration was a table with each boy's Eagle project folder and senior picture. It was a wonderful night, and we are very proud of Brandon. He truly earned this award himself. He organized the project, did all the legwork and coordination, and carried it out with very little help from us. At one point in the Court of Honor he had a chance to give remarks, and he did a really good job speaking. He shared some great thoughts, and also interjected just the right amount of humor (he takes after his Dad and both Grandpas.) Congrats Brandon!

We were very lucky to have any pictures at all from the night. I brought my camera, but never even took it out of the case. I was too busy enjoying the night. Someone in the audience took these pictures and was nice enough to share them!

Josephisms

A few Josephisms that I keep forgetting to write down somewhere . . .

Whenever I tell Joseph to do something that he doesn't want to do, he gives me a stern look and tells me, "you are not choosing the right, Mom!"

Yesterday Joseph said to me, "I can't wait to be big like you." "Why," I asked him. "Because then I don't have to do anything all day 'cept tell people what to do!"

Vanilla is prounounced "balilla".

Secret is pronounced "sweekwet."

"Whoopsied" means accidentally, as in . . . "I whoopsied spilled chocolate milk."

I love the preschool age. I will miss it.

Clutter beware

About every year or so I get the itch to declutter our house. It is amazing how much stuff a family of our size collects, and the same closets and drawers we decluttered mere months ago are quickly stuffed full again or are completely disorganized. Most of the year I can step over piles of stuff without even batting an eye, but when the decluttering bug hits, there is no holding me back.

I've been moving through the house methodically. There's something about the feeling of January, with the holidays behind us. It's often raining, so I might as well work inside. Oh, and Joseph loves to help me in my projects, so it's good for some mother/son bonding! I get such a high from cleaning out things we don't need anymore, giving them away (or selling them on craigslist!). We've been trying to organize things better so we can find and use what we need.

This time around, I have tackled some areas which have heretofore been untouched in this house. One prime example is Bailey's closet. How I wish that we had a "before" picture to go with the great "after" picture. The closet was overflowing and really unusable. It really isn't entirely her fault. Because we don't have basements here, everything must be stored in closets or the garage. So, her closet had some food storage, two big boxes of dress-ups, and a TV and DVD player that we forgot we owned. Oh, and lots more stuff, too. So, a few Saturdays ago we took everything out, ruthlessly sorted it, and then containerized what needed to be in the closet. The result a great new closet which she will love to keep organized (right, Bailey?)

We also have redone the bonus room, changing it from a toy room to more of an entertainment room. I bought some cool red couches for the room, and the toys are now ensconced in the bonus room closet and Joseph's room. Next up, the vast wasteland under each of the bathroom sinks. What exactly is in there, anyway??

"Half" Day

Aubrey's class celebrated the halfway point in the year in a special way. The kids were challenged to make their outfit reflect the "half" idea. (Thank goodness no one decided to come half-dressed!)

She had me curl half her hair, she wore a shirt on top and pjs on the bottom, two different shoes, two different earrings . . . you get the idea!

Metal Mouth

Bailey is continuing her long orthodontic journey with full braces, an expander on top, and something else on bottom. All I know is that more of our hard-earned money is going to pay for our orthodontist's boat. The braces look great and she is being very patient with them.

I'm grateful for . . .

Sunshine. How I love sunshine. We have been really lucky this year, and the rainy days have been interspersed with nice days. It's amazing how much easier winter is when there is a little sunshine now and then. Today I was thinking that I probably didn't appreciate sunny days as much when it was the norm. The contrast of grey, rainy days and warm, sunny days makes the sun feel even better. Kind of like life, I guess. "Opposition in all things." It takes some clouds and rain to appreciate the respite and calm.