Guess what I did?!

Tee Hee! Except for one minor post, I am all caught up with posts for this month! Yippee! But. . .I just thought I would show off my accomplishment for the weekend. . .
On Thursday night, this mom who really likes to go to bed in the evening, was up until 12:30!!! Putting this quilt block together. I am taking a quilting class and the pattern is a little different. . .( I can't believe I am posting this on my blog) but. . .

It took me quite a while that night, (obviously) to get it put together, but I had to do TWO more in addition to some other assignments. . .so, I had to try my hand at another one. . and guess what?!

It worked -- I CAN do HARD things!
Now, if I can just get on emy other quilt and oh year, I can make a list five mile long of things taht need to be done. . .but hey, I AM doing HARD things!

A "New" house

Well, a new house may be a stretch, but we painted our house this past week. I would have liked to have done something more dramatic, but with my green grey tiles. . .not so many choices. . .I do like the change. . .

 

 

 

 

and I love my new RED door! Love it!

One less Preschool

Last Monday, Spencer graduated from Mrs Bridgee's preschool. It was once a week and most of the kids were friends that we knew from the neighborhood or our old ward. Spencer enjoyed his time in it, and it was fun to see our old neighbor Bridget each week dropping Spence off or picking him up! We will miss this preschool and only one more week of his other preschool and then we are done with PRESCHOOL! Oh my goodness!

 

 

 

Bridget had the kids learn a cute state song that said them in alphabetical order, Spencer really liked this song and did quite well learning it. He still sings some of them now. Bummer it didn't video though!

Whirlwind trip to Utah

A couple of weeks ago, I made a thrity-six hour from start to finish trip to Utah. Spencer was my willing partner for my travels -- we were up to throw a shower for two of my neices that are getting married this summer.

 

Kanosh is absolutely gorgeous this time of year!

 

Here are the two brides, Lucy and Adell.

 

And here is the invitation that I made to celebrate the event. So glad I could go, but so glad to be home as well. It was a little crazy trying to make the best use of my time in Utah not knowing where different stores were along the way. Spence and I gimped through that part and the shower turned out well.

One of the funny things about the weekend was that Jake flew up the same day that we did (he took the last flight of the day) and rented his own car, from the same rental car agency and stayed until Monday! His dad was in a pretty serious accident a few weeks ago and Jake wanted to go up and see his dad. I think he wanted his break from Phoenix as well though!

New York City

On April 30, my mom, and sister-in-law, Natalie and I went on a girls trip to New York. We all enjoyed being free of kids and getting to see New York!

Ok, so the day that we got to New York (Friday) we went almost directly to the temple. Once we were done at the temple, we were so psyched to be in NEW YORK! That we walked back to our hotel and then had to explore Time Square until like 1 or 2 in the morning! Um, yeah, I am a early to bed and to rise person, but come on now, it is New York! It was crazy that people were out and about that late! The first time we saw David Letterman's theater, and the GMA/ABC news building, it was just like you have to be kidding. . .

 

On Saturday, we went on tours and got to see an overview of New York -- some of the memorable random things, was outside the Natural History Museum, there was someone being painted -- I think the model was wearing a leotard -- random though. The street of book publishers. . .umm. . .crazy that they are all on the same wall -- the Madame Tousard building where there were wax figures of famous people -- the way that taxis drive . . .not qauite as bad as Beijing, but close!

 

On Saturday night, we went to Wicked! Loved it! I think I liked it better in New York than in Phoenix, somehow it felt like it was more intimate -- probably as many people in the auditorium as in Phoenix -- but smaller theater! Do any of you remember the bomb threat of Time Square -- umm. . .we got kicked out too -- Crazy! When we got kicked out of Time Square we fell into the lap of FOX news, my mom even voluntarily had her pic taken here!





Sunday, we got to see Lady Liberty, and Chinatown. Fun times.




Monday we shopped and came home. Thanks Natalie and Mom for the fun weekend!

Manhattan Temple

Ok as a disclaimer -- I did not sneak a camera in, these are from the internet a website, www.fromglassandstone.com I believe -- but I was so impressed by the temple that I googled to see what I could find. I think it was by far, my most favorite place in New York City. There is a Spirit there that you recognize in any temple but seemed so much more pronounced in New York. My SIL said it right when she said she felt more grounded at this temple than at others. . .








The temple is a building built within a building and the lights are from backlighting. It is amazing, I really thought the doors with the Statue of Liberty were so amazing! We spoke to a temple worker who said that a temple was announced in Conneticut that would have been close to her home, but she didn't figure they would get it because of the the Manhattan, New York temple -- after being in the city we, my mom, SIL, all agreed that New York needed a temple.

Letter to the Tooth Fairy

 

Ryan has terrible teeth. I hope they get better when he has his adult teeth. He has cracked several teeth and everytime I see our good Dentist, he always says, I have never seen teeth like this on kids -- not a good sign. Anyway, Ryan had one tooth that when really bad quickly, and had to be pulled and a spacer installed. Ryan was very concerned when he lost the tooth and getting paid by the tooth fairy, so I suggested a letter, he wrote:
Dear tooth fairy,
My tooth was pulled out today but I lost it. If you don't belive me ask my mom. I will give it to you when I find it.
Sincerly, Ryan
I just love this kid, I was surprised to have him show me the letter right before bed. It worked, somehow the Tooth Fairy came up with ten quarters for him. She probably should have left a note telling him if he dosen't take better care of his teeth, she is going to leave him bills for the Dentist! LOL

Butterfly Release

 

Ok, so I am way behind, but there are some memories, that must be documented. A few weeks ago, actually about a month ago, we got to got the Neely Second Grade Butterfly Release "party". This was held at lunch time and the kids got to release their butterflies that they got as caterpillars and then raised them to become butterflies. It was pretty impressive. The butterflies, painted ladies, as my second grader taught me, liked watermelon, so the kids each got a piece to eat and a piece for the butterflies. I was so amazed that Spencer could hold as still as he did! Seriously, I thought the butterfly would fly away as soon as my not so calm child held the watermelon. . .not the case. . .He was so fascinated by the butterfly and fairly still too. Once most of the butterflies had flown away, one came and landed on MY face! Ryan's teacher said that was "lucky" -- she had to take a picture and so we had to get one too -- I had to hold still -- trying hard to feel "lucky" and not freak out! I guess I must be really "Sweet" too!

We are having a BALL

Living in Arizona, we start playing baseball EARLY -- get's too hot, otherwise, so we start the first in April. Ryan has been playing coach pitch this year and is doing FANTASTIC! He is usually a good hitter and is getting better and better at catching.

 

 

 

Spencer, on the other hand, I think I am relivign my t-ball experience -- many a time, he is picking the weeds in the ground, and oh yeah -- I don't know that I will ever forget him hitting, running to first base, second base and then decided to come home. . .oh boy! Fun times

Take me out to the Ball game!

Ok, so we have been BUSY!!! A week ago, Friday, Jake's brother, Owen, his wife, Janell, and their four children came down to visit from Utah. The day they came -- we went to a Diamondbacks game! SO FUN! I LOVED it, and I don't care much for baseball.

 

Our seats were awesome -- we had bleacher seats, and there was a special -- but we were in the area that if Jake and Owen had not had thier arms full, and Jake sat where he started off sitting, they might have caught homerun balls! Two that were hit and landed on either side of where we were sitting! So exciting!

 

My neice, was wise and fell to sleep, and apparently, Jacob was afraid he would be bored, and was right -- so he read!

 

We loved our trip to the ball game, and can't wait to go again!