January Hijinks

1: I just had to document how cute my chalkboard header was for the New Year. Cute chalkboard = happiness.
2: I have gotten back into making my nails cute. Santa brought me some nail polish for Christmas, and I love it. Plus, when my nails are done, I'm much less likely to chew on my cuticles, which is a very disgusting and persistent habit of mine.
3 and 4: We pass this field almost every day, and I finally decided to stop and let the kids look at the cotton up close. It's crazy to think that this fluff somehow becomes the clothes on our backs.
5: My nursing cover Etsy shop continues to be slow, yet successful. Usually the orders come in threes or fours (I'm not sure how Etsy works, but there must be some sort of search result priority rotation). On this day, I sent out a custom order (left), and my best-seller (right).
6: Trek is coming! Chad and I went to the kickoff meeting, and though we are not supposed to publicize the fact that we will be a Ma and Pa (otherwise the youth will all be desperately hoping to be in our family, and will be tragically disappointed when they can't all be), I figured I'm safe expressing our excitement here. (I think people read my blog, but I've been neglecting it lately, so the only person who reads it now is Jaime, because I texted her to tell her to read my new posts.) So ANYWAY, we are excited! I haven't started sewing yet, but I did purchase some pink calico, so, yeah.
7: Bree cashed in some tickets for a trip to Baskin Robbins one evening. I was happy to go with her, because their Snickers ice cream is epic.
8: I have a sweet connection for free advance screening movie tickets, and I invited Heather to go with me to see Spare Parts. A great inspirational story about teenagers from a local Arizona school.
9: Another delicious lunch with my Amateur Chef friends! Moroccan salmon with rice, and Raspberry Ribbon Pie for dessert. Mmm. Isn't Christie awesome for providing us each with our own pies to take home?!
10: This is what I get for leaving the last slice of chocolate cake on the counter unguarded. I thought it was hilarious that he served it up into a bowl before eating it. This mess wasn't as bad as when he got into the peanut butter jar a few days before that.
11: We got a couple days of drizzle in January. Like, constant drizzle, which is so rare for us. I just gave in to the frizz.
12: I'd been lying on the couch with a migraine one day, and I didn't even realize Lincoln was in the kitchen. Suddenly there he was next to me. He had gotten into the donuts, eaten two on a plate at the table, then brought me my own. Smart boy, on so many levels.

Thanksgiving Tradition

I has become a tradition for our family to take pictures together on Thanksgiving. Just in time for sending out Christmas cards. They are, in fact, the only pictures I took on Thanksgiving. I blame the 85-degree weather. It's just unnatural. But the photos turned out cute.

Happy Thanksgiving! 2014

Halloween "Party"

We love Halloween at our house. I think I get really into it because it's the beginning of the holiday season, and it gives me an excuse to decorate and make themed food. We hosted a Halloween night drop by and eat party like we did last year. We made way too much food again, but those who came had a good time. I should have taken more pictures (as always), but I at least got one of our family in costume. My mom is an amazing seamstress!

And Adam's family was adorable. I cannot look at Corban here and not smile.

And speaking of themed food, I give you Pumpkin Cheeseball (just the shape, not the flavor):

And spooky drinks and mix-ins, for brewing your own potion (the kids LOVED these):

I'm thinking we'll do it again next year.

Fall Break: Family Style

Fall Break found us in Vegas again. The kids don't get to see enough of Grandma and Papa Wallace, so the drive is well worth it. We did a couple popular favorites. 

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay:

Discovery Children's Museum:

And new for us this year was a jaunt up to St. George to visit Mike's family, and see cousin Taysom return home from her mission! We are so proud of her!

And we "women" went to the General Women's meeting broadcast and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory! Love this picture. But Bree is way too grown up.

Pictures taken 9/29/14 thru 10/2/14

September Stuff

 1: For months I kept hearing, "They're building a Kneaders near us!" Um, a what? Apparently Kneaders is an awesome bakery I'd never heard of, but that would change my life. Well, it opened, and yes, my life is changed. I am fatter. Delicious sandwiches made on freshly baked bread, yummy bottomless cinnamon bread french toast, and a huge assortment of goodies. This particular box contains a peanut butter pie my mom bought for everyone to share one day...along with tarts, "croissants" (in quotes because they are SO not real croissants), and pretty much one of everything that looked good. Our favorites? The Napoleon, key lime pie, chocolate dome, and raspberry cream pie.
2: Chad loves reptiles. The first time we saw this house, before we even bought it, he said the built-in shelf in the loft would make a perfect spot for a terrarium. And when he found one for a great price at a yard sale, all that was left to do was fill it. He found this little guy in the desert one day. We kept him for a little while before Chad released him. Too skittish to make an actual pet.
3: I can't remember exactly why I snapped a photo of this plaque I saw at Kohl's. Probably because it describes me very accurately. And I'm not always silent about it either.
4: I was visiting a friend of mine, and when I saw her kids playing on this car (the youngest of whom is 6), I asked if she occasionally babysat a toddler. She laughed and said no, that her kids just loved it. But she decided it was time to let go, so she gave it to Lincoln! He LOVES it. You can see in the picture that he is taking his baby for a ride.
5 and 6: The range that came with this house was sub-par. The oven temperature fluctuated 100 degrees up and down, there was no window, no oven light, and there was only one large coil burner, which didn't work unless you hit it just right. We got a surprise early inheritance from my grandparents, which finally made a new range a possibility! The disgusting picture shows all the treasures I found when the old range was taken away: a long lost spoon, a toy car, 35 cents, 2 legos, 5 wine corks, and some cat food (the last two were leftover from the previous owner, which is awesome). I LOVE my new range! So much easier to cook and clean.
7 and 8: September 8th was a memorable day. "The kind of storm you'll tell your grandkids about," the headline said. More than 3 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, which is about half of our yearly rainfall in one day. We here in the valley can't handle that kind of precipitation, and consequently the roads were flooded, buses couldn't get through, and school was cancelled. Bree: "This is my worst nightmare, not being able to go to school." Mason: "This is the best day of my life!!!"
9: The view of the Sharing Down Syndrome Walk at Tempe Diablo Stadium. 4th year going, and lots of fun.
10: I'm not sure when exactly this picture was taken, but one of Bree's favorite things to do is go on walks with my dad in the desert. He has taught her about edible desert plants, and here she is helping him gather saguaro cactus fruit.
11: I noticed that peanut butter powder was on group special this month, and asked around hoping I could get other people interested so I could order the 12 can minimum. I ended up ordering 37 cans for 16 people! And that stuff is AWESOME in smoothies.
12: Lincoln is so little. SO, SO little. He makes me nervous climbing at the park, and I have to forcefully tell myself to just let him go for it. He has never fallen. He knows his limits, and he growing every day.
13: Is September 21st too early to decorate for Halloween? If so, clearly we don't care.
14: Mason: "I wanted to look like Duck Dynasty!"
15: I am obsessed with Febreze Air Effects. But this new Spiced Pear scent? It's obsession on a whole new level. (Not a paid advertisement)
16: I started a cooking group with a couple friends last month, and called it Amateur Chef (in homage to one of my favorite shows: Master Chef). This month Christie taught us how to make Hamam Ma'shi (stuffed hens) and Aish Baladi (Egyptian pita). So awesome! I LOVED the pitas. So easy, and delicious dipped in her dad's homemade hummus.
17 through 20: Snapshots from our visit to Vegas for Fall Break. The kids playing games with Grandma. Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Cousin Abby being so sweet to Lincoln. Grandma teaching Bree how to make her famous Chicken and Rice.

Washington (State, not D.C)

I haven't been "home" to Washington in nine years. That is a long time to be away from the place I spent my first 18 years of life. My parents own a second home there (or is it officially their first home?), and Bree and Mason have both gone there with my mom, and I died with jealousy both times. And last year my best friend Jaime moved there! I informed Chad that our big vacation this year would be to Washington.

By the way... because I grew up in Washington, I never realized how, when the majority of Americans hear "Washington," they immediately think of Washington D.C. It still really irks me that whenever I say I'm from Washington, I get asked, "State, or D.C.?" Um, if I meant D.C., I would have said D.C.! So annoying. If you're going to shorten Washington D.C., could you please just say D.C.? Because Washington only has "Washington." And I refuse to say "Washington State." No one has to say "Arizona State." It's not fair. I'm sure I will never get over this.

Aaaanyways...

The trip fulfilled all my expectations of awesomeness. Nay, exceeded. Warning: this post's a long one.

Day One:

1, 2, and 3: We spent our first morning on a hike to Twin Falls near North Bend. It was green and cool and glorious. The smells of the moss and fir trees and the sounds of nearby running water were overwhelmingly beautiful and nostalgic. I can't believe this is where I grew up.
4, 5, and 6: After our hike we stopped at the Green Valley Meat Market, where they sell delicious (if not overpriced) jerky of all flavors, along with tons of other miscellaneous meat products. Bree is a little obsessed with beef jerky, and she had fun sampling the flavors.
7 and 8: The kids spent a lot of time in my parents' yard, which has actual green grass, wild flowers, and an evergreen tree. At our house in Arizona, the only thing to play with in the yard is gravel.
9: My mom organized a treasure hunt, and the kids followed clues to find their cash and candy waiting at the end. We quickly headed off to Walmart to spend the loot.
10 and 11: We ate lunch at the Mexican Restaurant (that is literally what it says on the sign...it's actually called Rio Blanco). This was one of our family's regular favorites, where my brother always ordered a cheeseburger.
12, 13, and 14: My mom mentioned a local donut place she had seen on the news, Legendary Doughnuts, and suggested we try it. Best. Decision. Ever. I can honestly say these are the best donuts I've ever had in my life. We may have gone there three times during our short Washington visit. Chad says he got sick of donuts (please, Chad, like that's even possible).
15: I don't know who this grown-up girl is. But she loves to read.

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium:

A delicious breakfast at the Sunbreak Cafe, just a short walk downtown. Here we are that morning, strolling through the train station where my dad catches his ride to work in Seattle:

Mason and Bree were thrilled with the massive whipped-cream topped hot chocolates.

(And I was thrilled with my enormous strawberry cream cheese French toast sandwich. The house-made egg bread slices were 10 inches wide)

Enchanted Village. Okay, so it's called Wild Waves now, but it will always be Enchanted Village to me. Besides, this family could not handle any kind of waves in Washington's June weather, thank you.

 

Les Gove Park in downtown Auburn:

Mom and Dad treated Chad and me to a date night at the Mariner's game. Beforehand we stopped at Ivar's on the Seattle Pier for dinner, and Top Pot donuts (because we had to do further research to verify that Legendary was, indeed, superior). We miraculously got away with two downtown Seattle stops without paying for parking. Sweet. Plus, I got to wear my Mariners cap for the first time in...years.

After a few days of being in Washington, we drove across the Narrows Bridge (while Chad uncomfortably asked "Why are you in the far-right lane?") to the peninsula to visit Jaime, who was excitedly awaiting our arrival. It had been 1 1/2 years since we last saw her family in Vegas. It was surreal to see her in her new home, surrounded by scenery that I used to call home. We settled in to the guest room for a few days, and I eagerly took in the sights of their little town.

We visited the local farmers' market, and snacked on delicious cherries, strawberries, carrots, and sugar peas. We also visited the free downtown aquarium. There was also an event going that day where the kids got to "fish" for trout. That was pretty exciting. It was my kind of fishing: where you can't even count to ten before you get a bite on your line.

We visited the much-talked-of Indianola Beach, where the tide pools did not disappoint. Crabs, hermit crabs, giant sea snails, tiny fish, and sea stars (not starfish Meg, you sound like a tourist). The sky, which had pelted our van with rain on the drive to the beach, decided to have pity on us. It must have sensed the importance of our visit. It was gorgeous.

More random pictures from our visit with Jaime:

1: Chad always tells me I'm lame for taking selfies. I took this particular lame selfie so I could always remember this gloriously drizzly Sunday when I got to use the umbrella I won at a white elephant gift exchange when I was a teenager. It drizzled all day. I was in heaven.
2: Bree and Lincoln could not get over this giant teddy bear.
3: Lincoln and Scarlett were just the same size during this visit. Lincoln was happy to have someone to follow around all day, play with, and share lotion apparently.
4, and 5: Jaime and I always cook and bake when we get together. We work seamlessly together in the kitchen, and have produced some pretty spectacular food. Because we spent Father's Day with them, we treated the men to ribs, homemade rolls, corn on the cob, and salad with homemade Caesar dressing. Rob and Chad are lucky men. We didn't bake during this visit, which is SO out of character for us, but Jaime made some delicious strawberry ice cream.
6: Back home, bedtime is like a race to the finish line for me. Jaime and Rob are really good about taking time to read stories, which our kids absolutely loved.
7: It wouldn't be a visit with Rob and Jaime without playing Canasta and Settlers of Catan. The boys got served some serious humble pie as Jaime and I trounced them at Canasta. It was the first time the score had been so overwhelmingly in our favor.
8, 9, and 10: Rob and Chad offered to watch the kids while Jaime and I went out. Just the two of us. It was heavenly. Jaime suggested we catch the ferry and have dinner in Seattle. After I realized she was serious, I was totally on board. The sky and clouds were breathtaking as we ferried across the sound. I was a little bit freezing, and I clearly cannot take a decent photo in direct sunlight, but it was so much fun. We took advantage of our quiet time to really talk. Jaime is a great listener, and always has advice that I need to hear. Dinner at Cheesecake Factory was delicious (even though we have one near us in Arizona, the last time I'd eaten there was with Jaime and Rob in Vegas). After eating, we did a little shopping to savor every last kid-free minute we could. By the time we got back to the house at 11pm, Chad and Rob had long since put the kids to bed. Best night ever.
11 and 12: Jaime drove back to Auburn with us, to see where I grew up. Chad watched all the kids while Jaime, my mom, and I drove down Green Valley Road to see our old house, which was depressingly run-down. The lower lawn sported an R.V. and a goat pen. We tried to describe its glory days to Jaime, and I promised to show her a good picture later. After we got back to my parents' cottage, Jaime got to meet my dad (for the first time) as he arrived home from work. He and Chad had some work to do in the backyard, cutting down an old tree that was threatening to fall into the neighbor's yard. The kids watched from the window as the chainsaw roared, and Bree and Zackary helped clean up branches and leaves.

And then...my life was altered forever. Jaime and I slipped away, just the two of us, for yet another run to Legendary Doughnuts.

I had overlooked the "doughsants" (a croissant that had been cut and frosted like a donut) on my previous visits, because...well I was there for donuts, right? But Jaime insisted we try just one, and we chose a strawberry-frosted one (in the upper left corner of the box). As soon as we got back in the car, we had to sample it.

Oh. My. G.O.S.H. I can't even describe how amazing it was. Flaky, tender-crisp layers of croissant, glazed and then frosted with delicious strawberry frosting. One minute I was reveling in the flavor, and the next minute I was in awe at the AMAZING texture. The other donuts, which were of course delicious, suddenly paled in comparison. We savored each bite, and erased all evidence of the one and only doughsant we'd purchased. We considered going back inside and buying more...but we just couldn't bring ourselves to add to the already enormous pile of pastries we were already taking home. It was a life-altering experience. I will forever measure pastries against that divine doughsant.

Too soon it was time for Jaime's family to make the long, rush-hour drive back to their home on the peninsula. I made sure that Jaime promised to visit me in Arizona before another 1 1/2 years has gone by. I will hold her to it.

We knocked out a few more things on my wish list before our trip was over. We took a picnic lunch to Flaming Geyser State Park, which was 5 minutes away from my house growing up. So many good memories of family events, church picnics, and rafting trips:

I can't believe how green it is. It's unreal.

On our way back from the park we stopped at Mosby's road-side stand, where I remember getting produce as a teenager. We couldn't resist the Rainier cherries, and we picked up some multi-colored baby potatoes to go with our dinner. I breathed in the fragrance of the tiny candy-sweet strawberries. And they had mangoes from Mexico on sale for 50-cents each. I did not expect the most delicious mango I'd ever tasted to be in Washington, but it was. Go figure.

A few days before we left, I noticed that my childhood friend Tina had posted on Facebook about being at her sister's graduation. In Auburn? But she lives in Florida! I texted her, and had a very strange text conversation with a person who, after far too many texts had been exchanged, turned out not to be Tina. After finally getting a hold of her through her parents' home phone (a number found in an old church directory my parents still had), we connected and met up at the park with all of our kids. It's not always easy to keep up with old friends, but even though Tina and I go years between seeing each other, it's like no time has passed. She is still as sweet as ever, and I love her dearly.

And some random photos from our trip:

1: I frequently shopped at Goodwill when I was a teenager. Thankfully, it was totally cool to attend our high school sporting funky vintage thrift store finds. Chad and I went there on a mini-date, and I scored some serious deals on denim.
2: After Lincoln spent hours with this "Leaptop" at Jaime's house, she generously told us he could keep it. He loved showing off his skills with letters and sounds.
3: A salmon berry. My dad taught me all about edible native wild berries when I was a kid. I remember supplementing hiking trip food with berries from the trail. Bree is a little obsessed with eating food found in the wild. We tasted these tart little babies at Flaming Geyser.
4: Papa Murphy's pizza. Better than I remember.
5: When Chad and I were at the ball game, the Mariner Moose wore a "Vote for Pedro" shirt and did the Napoleon Dynamite dance. I have that same shirt.
6: Chad hurt his back while we were there, so I used my dad's back massager on him. Lincoln insisted on a turn.
7 and 8: After going to the park with Tina, she joined us at the Teriyaki Wok for old time's sake. The food was exactly the same as I remember it. My family was unimpressed. I make homemade teriyaki sauce that is much tastier; they are spoiled. And the waitress was bizarre. She kept trying to "help" with the kids; she picked celery out of Mason's soup because he said he didn't like it, and he lifted up Tina's little boy to put him back in his chair...among other things. So weird.
9: My parents took us to China House one day, which was my sister Jessica's favorite place to eat. We used to eat there for special occasions. I remember Jessica opening birthday presents there once. It was delicious.
10: I did a makeover for my mom, using my favorite Mary Kay products and techniques. Her blue eyes are stunning.
11: One day my dad was coloring with my kids, and I told him I remember him doing that with me when I was little. I especially used to love paint by numbers. That got us going on a paint by numbers hunt. We found a cheap little kit at Walmart that required us to scan, enlarge, and print the picture so we could actually see the tiny numbers, then we had to mix our own colors. I spent hours completing this one (my old allergies were flaring up, so I was content to relax inside). So fun.
12: I almost didn't include this picture of Chad and me eating fish and chips at Ivar's. It's an awkward picture, which didn't capture as much of the water as I'd hoped it would. But this was our second meal at Ivar's while we were in Washington (we knew there was nothing like it back home), so I decided I'd post it in all its awkward glory.

Lincoln learned to "snap" along to the music on his Leaptop, after copying my dad:

We had two full weeks of sights and tastes, family and friends. It was wonderful. It would have been perfect had it not been for my intermittent allergies, and that looooong drive. Driving away from western Washington was a little bit of a let-down. I would miss the waterfront, and the rivers and streams. And you can't see trees like that just anywhere.  Oh, and don't even get me started on the moss and ferns. I was sad to leave.

Back to the dry southwest for us. Home.

But not before stopping at the Glen Canyon Dam near Page. Arizona and it's dams. Water is a big deal around here.

Despite my several inquiries as to why we don't live in Washington (Me: "We could move here, right?" Chad: "NO."), it was good to be back in Arizona (it wasn't awesome to be back in 110-degree weather, but I'm working on focusing on the other 8 envy-inducing months of our year). We got to see so much beauty on our trip. And I am so grateful to my parents and to Jaime's family for letting us stay with them and live in their world for a bit. It may not officially be my world anymore, but I feel like now, more then ever, I can still call Washington "home."

Sometimes Awesome

Stress-paralyzed.

That's a thing, right?


"Mom, Lincoln bit me!"

"Mom, I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"Why are Lincoln's eyes so goopy?...Is it pink eye?"

"Hello, Mrs. Wallace? Your daughter is in the principal's office."

"Mom, Lincoln spilled the crackers/cereal/popcorn?"

"No!" (insert hideous three-year-old screeching)

"Mom, my leg is bleeding..."

"Mom, Lincoln is pooping on the couch!"

...

I have taken a lot of deep breaths this week. When people ask how things are going, I want to say what Kelly Kapoor from "The Office" said:

“Awesome. I mean…awful, but…sometimes awesome.”

Why am I blogging at 9:00 on a Sunday morning when I should be in church? No, really, why? Mason wants to know. He just said to me, "Mom, that's not important." He wants me to play video games with him, and Lincoln is yelling through the baby gate that acts as a barrier to the den. I really wish there were an actual door there...

This morning I woke up at 6am, showered, said goodbye to Chad as he left for work, got the kids ready for church, and made myself gorgeous. Because, by golly, I was at least going to LOOK like I had it together. So the kids and I made it to church on time, and I was looking good in my heels and red lipstick. Awesome.

And then Lincoln did what he always does to me at church. He squeals, tries to escape, drops cheerios on the floor, breaks my necklace (seriously, why do I still wear necklaces to church?), smears my lipstick, and grabs/pinches anything within reach. Awful.

Then Bree pulls my bag towards her and leans over it, clutching her stomach. "Um...Bree are you about to throw up in my bag?" "My tummy doesn't feel good." I send her running to the bathroom, while I try to glean what spiritual replenishment I can from the Sacrament. As soon as it's over, I herd the kids back out of the church, drive them home, and get there just in time for Bree to vomit in the toilet.

...so, I'm chalking this morning up as a success because I didn't have to scrub puke out of the carpet between church pews this morning. Awesome.

...

Yesterday I got to go out by myself to meet Heather and my mom for lunch and a movie. Awesome. We saw "Moms' Night Out." I laughed a lot, which I expected. I did not expect to cry. I felt like I was watching my life play out on the screen. And I felt like that mom who is stress-paralyzed because she can't handle her kids, even though she loves them to pieces, even though being a mom has always been her life's dream. I constantly feel that I am not good enough, that I have moments that I'm not proud of far too often. But the movie reminded me of something important:

"Jesus will always be loving you with His arms open wide, just for being you...I doubt the good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddos the mama he did. So you just be you...He'll take care of the rest."

I needed to hear that as much as I needed that Moms' Day Out with my mother and sister-in-law. And even though I return home to sticky floors and hungry kids, I can rely on that God-given strength to make up the difference.

So no, today did not play out the way I thought it would. But I love my family fiercely. When I take the time amid the craziness to really look at them, they are so beautiful. And being a mom is still my dream job.

Awesome.

It's great to be eight!

When did I become old enough to have an eight-year-old? My first baby is a big girl. It's a bit overwhelming. Don't get me wrong: parenthood has been overwhelming from the get-go (This newborn depends on me for everything!...This toddler will form most of her neural connections before she's five!...Which school should I choose to help shape who she is as an individual?!). But turning eight means she is a full-fledged accountable person, ready to make baptismal covenants. And all we can do as parents is teach her the best we can, and hope we did okay.

This past year we've been focusing on helping Bree prepare to be baptized. Our daily scripture reading has moved out of "Book of Mormon Stories" (illustrated version) to the actual Book of Mormon. We've talked a lot about our testimonies, and Bree bears hers in Sacrament Meeting every chance she gets (although she has been doing that for years). She has taken an active role in our Family Home Evening discussions, and blows me away with her knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

She really was ready. Ready to turn eight. Ready to be baptized. Ready to make the choice to get her ears pierced. And ready to party.

The morning of her party, my mom and I took her to get her ears pierced. She had previously chosen the biggest, sparkliest pair of stones she could get. She was pretty brave. I think it surprised her how much it actually hurt.

For her party, she chose to have a birthday lunch at Panda Express with the family, then a trip to the theater to see a movie (When I first asked her where she wanted to go for her birthday, she said, "Disneyland!" When I asked her what her second choice was, she said "Go to the movie theater!" Done.).

Afterwards we went back to our house to enjoy the birthday dessert Bree had designed. Chocolate pie with layers of fudge, Snickers, pudding, and whipped topping, all in an Oreo crust. My teeth are aching a bit just thinking about it.

 

Then it was time for presents. Books from Adam and Heather (Bree LOVES to read). Earrings, a baby doll (with brown eyes and blonde hair...virtually impossible to find) and a white tiger (she is still in a stuffed animal phase) from Chad and me. A white sweater and a homemade personalized scripture case from my parents.

Bree is kind, thoughtful, smart, curious, empathetic, brave, and so loving and helpful. She can be precocious, moody, and dramatic. She certainly keeps life interesting. I look at her today, with her thick ponytail and pierced ears, and hear her spouting random facts using big words, and I think, "Who are you? My little girls looks like this:"

But the years ahead, though they scare the heck out of me, are going to be great. 

This was a big year for Bree. One to remember.

 Bree's 8-Year-Old Interview:
What is your favorite color? blue

What is your favorite toy? fashion sketch book

What is your favorite TV show? Animal Atlas

What is your favorite movie? Harry Potter

What is your favorite thing to wear? Shorts and tee-shirts

What is your favorite animal? giant panda

What is your favorite song? "I Like to Look for Rainbows"

What is your favorite book? Charlotte's Web

Who is your best friend? Cassidy (girl in class at school)

What is your favorite drink? strawberry lemonade

What is your favorite food? spaghetti and meatballs

What is your favorite breakfast? fry bread

What is your favorite game? Disney Trivia

What is your favorite thing to do? sketch in my sketch book

Where is your favorite place to go? the mall

What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving

What makes you laugh? when I'm tickled...I only laugh when I want to laugh

What do you do really well? draw pictures

What are you afraid of? rattlesnakes

What do you love to learn about? history and science

What do you want to be when you grow up? archaeologist

If you had one wish, what would it be? to always be with my family

March Happenings

1: I swore off desserts for a while, trying to drop a few extra pounds. I usually get overwhelming snacking cravings in the evenings, so I try to replace that habit with painting my nails instead. And this green is totally me, no?
2: We have not had the best of luck with finding a family dentist we love. Choosing new doctors since the move has been stressful. Sometime hours of researching reviews pays off, and sometimes not so much. Lincoln had the first appointment with the dentist I'd finally decided on. He's never been to the dentist before. I was blown away from the first moment. I was checking in when I turned around and a man in scrubs was holding Lincoln. Once I realized it was the dentist, I relaxed a little, and just watched Lincoln do his melt-hug as the dentist walked around the office with him for 5 minutes as he waited for his patients to get settled. He was so kind and gentle with Lincoln. And then he made him a balloon animal when he was all done. Score!
3 - 7: Chad has been an assistant advisor at DPS's Advanced Academy for the past few months. We all joined him for Family Day before the graduation. The kids got to play in their respective age groups (free childcare!) while the adults sat in on a few presentations. (Chad and I were seriously wishing he'd had the same thing when he graduated 8 years ago.) It was awesome. All the different DPS units were represented and we got to get up close and personal with the helicopter and other police equipment. And we got a delicious free BBQ lunch at the end. Such a neat experience.
8: I had been promising the kids that we'd go to the new splash pad in Mesa ever since last time we were there. Spring break seemed like the perfect time. Of course it started getting overcast and chilly as we were driving there. Bree and Mason insisted they still wanted to go. They lasted about 10 minutes before they were freezing. Lincoln didn't brave the spray at all. Maybe next time.
9: This trip to Lowe's was free thanks to our Discover Card rewards. Chad finally built a work bench in the garage. He likes having a designated space to work--a place that's all his. And I smile every time I pull into the garage and see him working in there. So manly.
10: I don't remember the occasion for making this Strawberry Satin Pie...maybe we had guests over. Anyway, it is definitely my favorite pie in the world. I could literally finish off a whole pie myself.
11 and 12: Chad and I opened up an old bin full of toys from our childhoods. We gave some to the kids to play with, put some in the Treasure Box for them to earn, and put a few of them away for when they're a little older. My Polly Pockets will have to wait until Bree learns to respect tiny pieces a little better. And the X-Files action figures? I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready to give those up. Scully and Mulder are too important to me.
13: I went through the Gilbert Temple for the first time on March 28th (working on goal #11). So beautiful. And the seats are totally wider than the Mesa Temple! Super comfortable. Just sayin'.
14 and 15: Goal #4 (Go on a date with Chad to somewhere new) is complete. My parents babysat so Chad could take me to the Olive Mill for wood-fired pizza. I've only been asking to go since we moved here a year ago. There was live music on the patio, twinkly lights on the olive trees, and a beautiful sunset and cool breeze. The pizza was delicious and unique--house-made olive oil (obviously), and fresh meat from the Pork Shop down the road. I have never had pistachios on my pizza, but I'm sure they were locally grown, and it was surprisingly tasty.

#2

Goal #2: Go camping with the family

I really didn't want another year getting away from us without going camping. That's why we ended up camping in the mountains in March.

I knew it would be cold. We were prepared with warm clothing and bedding. I had not, however, checked the forecast the morning of our campout. As we drove into the mountains, we noticed that we were headed straight for an ominous wall of gray storm clouds. The rain continued as we arrived in Payson. We decided to forgo our picnic lunch, and dined at Arby's instead.

The rain was coming down harder than ever.

So we thought we'd kill some time at a thrift store we'd seen on the way into town. In fact, we visited every thrift store in the greater Payson area, stocking up on cheap clothes for the kids, and scoring a sweet new coat for Bree.

It was still drizzling.

But it was too late to get our money back now, so we headed over to the campground to check it out. Surprisingly, the ground was pretty dry, and we made the decision to stay. It was drizzly, cold, and a little windy.

But I kept reminding myself that I grew up in the rainy Northwest. When I was a kid, if you didn't camp in the rain...you didn't camp at all.

So our story had a happy ending...

Until we were ready to pack up and head home. We were enjoying the last of the morning campfire, and I was reading Fablehaven aloud, when Lincoln leaned over to reach for a grape that had landed on the campfire grill (we won't mention who tossed it on there, curious to see what a grilled grape looked like). The poor guy got burned pretty badly on his left hand. It was a miserable way to end the vacation. He screamed the whole time we packed up, because even though we had first aid with ointment and bandages, we didn't have anything for the pain. Luckily he fell asleep on the way home. Chad and I felt terrible.

It was a challenge trying to keep his hand bandaged for the next couple of weeks until it healed over. At first he kept trying to get the blistered skin off.

But he was a good sport about it. I think he finally realized that when we took care of it it felt better.

 

 

I still felt terrible.

What's up, February?

A glimpse at what went down in our town in February:

1: Um...I get bored waiting in line to pick up the kids from school. I amuse myself by taking super-cool selfies and posting them on Instagram and Facebook. Chad has taken to calling me a hipster.
2 and 3: We attended a student-led conference, where the kids got to show us their portfolio, latest projects, and the latest standardized test grades. Bree showed improvement in her scores, and is very enthusiastic about Science and History. Mason, while less enthusiastic, scored off the charts for his age group.
4: Adam had a really bad intestinal infection that landed him in the hospital for a couple days, so I watched Corbin while Heather was at work one day. These two are going to be great friends.
5, 6, 7, 8, and 9: Because Mason had done so well in school, academically and behaviorally, he earned special one-on-one time with a parent. I needed an outing as much as he did, so our fun day kept going and going! We started at his favorite restaurant, Panda Express, then saw The Lego Movie, which we both loved. We stopped at a store so he could spend his birthday money on a new Lego Set, which we built at Baskin Robbins before enjoying an ice cream cone. We had so much fun. I would totally do this day over again.
10 and 11: I love making holiday-themed food. This Valentine's Day I made conversation heart sugar cookies. Daddy made heart-shaped pancakes, which I decorated with homemade strawberry freezer jam and whipped cream. Holidays are delicious.
12: I have been wanting to get LASIK surgery ever since Chad got his eyes fixed 8 years ago. But it's expensive, and pretty scary, so I kept putting it off. Finally Chad brought up the Schwartz Eye Institute's web page for me ("Look Meg, all you have to do is enter your email address. Just do it already."). Before I knew it I was scheduling an appointment to determine if I was a candidate. I couldn't wear my contacts for at least a week before the initial exam. Then I had to continue wearing my glasses until my surgery date. I hate glasses. I mean, I hate contacts, which is why I wanted the surgery, but I hate glasses more.

13, 14, 15, and 16: We attended the Gilbert Temple Open House with Adam and Heather one hot Saturday. After waiting in line forever, the interior was a literal haven. So beautiful. The kids loved it. And I couldn't wait to go back after the dedication. We are so lucky to have a new temple only 20 minutes away! After the tour we headed to Freddy's, because Frozen Custard is awesome. And if we want to eat burgers at 3:00 in the afternoon, we will, by golly.
17: We scored a cheap fire pit at Walmart's Black Friday sale. We were finally all healthy enough to actually use it! Hot dogs and s'mores, relaxing around the fire, even after the kids go to bed. The best parts of camping without the worst parts.
18: Lincoln can be a picky eater. On this particular night, for instance, he refused to eat the creamy alfredo pasta I had made. But he wolfed down an entire head of steamed broccoli single-handedly. Literally.
19: My parents and we had joined up with and Adam and Heather one Saturday for their birthday (Adam and Heather have the same exact birthday). After our traditional All-American Feast at Famous Dave's, us ladies took the kids over to the brand-new Riverview Park. The Cubs just built a new spring training stadium, and along with it a new park, complete with lake, big toys, a huge climbing structure, and splash pad. I wish we had something like it closer to us.
20: Can you see it? The tiny "shrub"? It used to be huge--blocking the front window entirely. I guess you could say Chad pruned it a little. There was no green left at all. I was sure he had killed it. I worried we'd get a letter from the HOA reprimanding us for the eye-sore in our front yard. But no worries. It didn't die. Chad knows what he's doing.
21: The big day! The day I willingly and voluntarily placed my eye balls in the path of a laser. I knew I was in good hands. But that did not make it any easier. Nor did the Valium. I might as well have swallowed a button for all the good it did me. It was ridiculously scary. I was talking to myself the whole time, trying to convince myself to stay calm. Thank goodness the entire process was done in less than 3 minutes. And then, on the drive home, the numbing drops wore off... then came the burning. Oh, the burning! But when the doctor told me at my check up the next day that my vision was already 20/20...yeah. So worth it.