March- the just us edition

The first official day here after we moved in there was a snowstorm and the kids couldn't have been more thrilled! (I personally think it is A LOT of work for not that much fun!!!)

Jenna still refuses to wear winter clothes. 

The dirt in our yard turns to clay and so there was mud EVERYWHERE as the kids came in and out with it caked on their shoes over and over again! Finally I insisted on a pre-mudroom out in the garage because I don't want mud all over my mudroom ha ha!

Natalie and I went on her half birthday date to get ice cream. Originally she said she wanted to eat outside but quickly changed her mind =o]

We talked about her upcoming baptism and the "special discussions" that she will be having with Kent and I every Fast Sunday from now until after she is baptized. She is super excited and so am I! I love teaching the gospel in everyday informal settings, but there is a part of me that LOVES formal gospel lessons! And so we are teaching her the missionary discussions from Preach My Gospel as a companionship, and then we will have one last official discussion after she is baptized and receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost using a book I am making... it is going to be EPIC. And I don't use that word lightly, people. Anyway, on the way home we drove to the Jordan River Temple, which has been my favorite ever since I was a little girl. I'm not sure why, I have just always loved it and wanted to go there. I hope to have the chance soon! It was so peaceful to admire it's beauty together.  

There are three different libraries all within 15 minutes or so of us, and we have literally been to the library every week since we moved here. There are things we like and dislike about each of them, so we will probably never settle on just one. We might even venture further out someday. We just LOVE books!!! I couldn't be a mom without books. 

(This river of letters is in the South Jordan branch)

There is this huge sundial thing outside one of them. This is the same one that had musical stepping stones up the walkway from the parking lot. 

One has a park right next door- major plus! But it doesn't have as good of a kid's program... give and take!

We went to this awesome Lego exhibit in the mall that we heard about through one of the homeschool groups that we are in. It was super crowded but good times. 

Here are the girls oo-ing at the Frozen Legos. 

The real show though was all the national monuments! It was amazing to see how creative people can be with little cubes!

They had building stations set up and the kids had a blast!

Caleb did get upset at one point though because this little punk kid (who was wearing a U of U shirt I might add) was purposefully crashing everyone else's cars as they tried to race them down the track and then laughing hysterically as several of the poor children were brought to tears at their hard work was destroyed. Where were this child's parents???? Finally after like the third time of Caleb trying to race his car down while the punk kid was distracted ruining someone else's day only to have him catch it at the last second and have to put it back together, I calmly but firmly told the kid to stop being mean and step back from the track unless he was going to play kindly. He looked cowed. Caleb happily raced his car down and we left. I looked back to see the kid at it again. WOW. I do not understand people who are purposefully mean to other people! I mean, seriously what is going to happen to that kid?!?! He couldn't have been older than 5 and already a malicious bully! Tragedy. Okay, end rant, lol!

Derek asked his girlfriend Raycelan to marry him! 

We sisters asked if we could throw her a bridal shower and offered our house as the location.

Here are the invites I sent to non-fb-ers =o]

Raycelan chose light pink and sage green as her colors so we are busy finding dressed and such for everyone to wear.  

Before we knew her wedding colors we were going to have a white and yellow scheme because yellow is her favorite color and Natalie excitedly started making plans. It is sideways but here are some of the decorations and food she wanted to do. So adorable! She was so excited to be involved with it all!

When we heard that Raycelan was feeling understandably overwhelmed, we decided to be the cheer up committee! We miraculously got into her apartment while she was at work and left her some high fives and hearts and gifts to brighten her day. It was fun to show love and give service to welcome someone so sweet into our family!

This note told her to feel free to go "bridezilla" with no fear of judgement because all of us freaked out at one time or another at our weddings lol!

This note was a reminder that they can stress out over tons of little things, or choose to focus on the most important things and let everything else fall into place. She called to thank us (our first conversation actually) and I hope she could hear in my voice our genuine concern and love! 

Kent and I got to go on a date before his two week trip (Cal and Kathy graciously watched the kids). Since Russ was out of town he gave us his tickets to the Real game. It was fun!! I love watching sports when we are at the game in person! 

Our happy, blurry picture =o]

We unpacked all of our boxes and after playing in a box city in the basement for almost a month, we finally put them all in the closet under the stairs, where the kids still play with them. Best toy=cardboard box!

Workers came to put in the back splash. It took three days!

We were reminded yet again how impossible it is to go shopping for house projects as a family when Jenna peed on the floor in Ikea. Yes, yes she did. 

We got a front loading washer and dryer!

And a carpenter came and finished the laundry room. 

For her Epiphany Day present Natalie asked to take riding lessons. We were surprised but supportive of doing it here in Utah because it would have been impossibly expensive in SoCal. So she got some boots, which she says she has wanted for a long time anyway. 

We went to a western supply store and she got to check out all the horse gear.

She wore her helmet for the rest of the day lol!

She was BEYOND excited for her first lesson!! She did great and had a blast!

Here she is on the horse she loved at first sight named Cash. She has ridden her every time and her teacher says they have a good bond because this horse doesn't respond well to just any rider. I have loved seeing her confidence and skill improve in just the short time since she started! She is awesome!

We are still plugging away at k12 school, and couldn't be more excited for all our plans for the coming homeschool year!!

Here we are sketching out frescoes, which we painted later.  

And here is a typical workbook, laptop, and a snack shot =o]

One day Caleb convinced the girls to make the shapes we were reviewing with Jenna out of their bodies. It was super fun actually, and reminded me to let the kids guide the learning more often! 

Caleb is always super fun actually =o]

And getting so strong! He is a pro and the monkey bars now!!

Just look at this adorable picture he drew for St. Patrick's Day! I just love that kid!

Jenna cut her hair. It could have been much worse, but it was still sad to find the little piles all over the school room =o/

Luckily one of the times Raegan was over, my friend Katie came to pick her up and fixed it for us. I think it is super cool that she gave me, Natalie, and Jenna all our first professional haircuts!

She definitely looks different, but still cute =o] 

She asks me to take her picture all the time. She has a little Frozen camera that she takes pictures with all the time. She also takes pictures and videos with the ipad whenever she gets her hands on it!

Her hair is ALWAYS static-y!! 

Seth LOVES animals!! He makes this adorable little "ah-ha" sound whenever he sees them, which is completely different from his typical "eh-ehh-eeh-eh" language. 

He is just a happy guy to have around. As Natalie said one day, "What would the world be without Seth in it??" 

So...yep! Here we are! Goodbye March.