For the Record

I've spent hours the past couple of weeks turning the posts of my first blog into a book.  It has certainly surprised me how much the girls have grown since the fall of 2007.  I also can't believe how much I would have forgotten if I hadn't written it down.  (Some things may have been best left forgotten, perhaps...)  I'm so glad I have the record, and I think it is going to be really great to have it in book form so we can all browse through.  My goal is to do 2009 by June and 2010 by September of this year and then at the end of this year, I'll do 2011.  It's going to cost me a small fortune, so spreading it out will be good.

And speaking of keeping a record of what's been going on, I should sum up our activities of the past week.

Easter weekend was nice.  We gathered with some friends to have a dinner and "Egg Fight" on Saturday night.  I'm not sure if the girls had more fun with the activities, or spending time with all of the babies that were present.  They all love to hold babies and followed the moms around, hoping to snag a baby.  (No pictures--I was there, but only just barely.  While I participated a bit, and ate some, I spent half of the time lying on the couch with my trusty ice pack.) :(

Sunday the girls and King went to church.  I spent the morning sleeping so we were able to have a family over for our traditional Easter Passover-ish dinner.  The girls always love to eat on the floor and fill up on boiled eggs and olives.  Then the kids played games and the adults chatted until the adults were finally convinced to play a few games.  It was a nice time. 

This week, we've had rain and more rain.  (Actually, that kind of sums up our month.)  But, somehow, the clouds cleared enough for us to go to a track meet.  This was Snow White's first home meet and she did well.  Well enough that she is joining the "A-team" for an away meet today.  (Windy, 55 degrees, ominous clouds--yikes.)  She is excited and loves it.  I'm glad.

I also ought to mention that Cinderella is really jumping ahead on her piano recently.  She is learning "Send in the Clowns" for recital and is also working on some songs from Wicked.  (She's obsessed with that show's music.)  I really want her to learn a song she could play at church, but she thinks I'm dumb when I mention it.  (Frankly, she thinks I'm dumb 90% of the time lately.)  It's nice to see her jut sit down at the piano and play for fun.  I'm hoping this continues for a while.    

All three girls brought home good mid-term report cards.  They each have a class or two they could work a little harder in, but they are doing well, and I cannot believe we only have 5 more weeks of school this year.  Where has the time gone?!  I DO NOT want this year to be over, because then I will officially have a daughter heading to high school and I really am just not old enough for that.  Yikes.

Egg Fight

Sunday Will Come

I love this Easter message from an apostle of God about the atonement of Jesus Christ.  Especially since today feels a bit like a "Friday" that he describes, because my pain was so great that it was impossible for me to get out of bed and attend church--on Easter Sunday.  But, Christ has overcome all.  ALL.  Sunday will come!  What a glorious message.  What a wonderful truth.  Happy Easter everyone!

A Change of Focus

Today was Snow White's first track meet.  She has been wanting to be on a track team since she was in first grade and her gym teacher told her she had a 'natural stride'.  She ran the 800 meter and 1600 meter races.  She did not place, but did finish first out of all the sixth grade girls.  Her (lofty?) goal was to not finish last, so she was thrilled with the performances. 

We were talking about how she loves exercising (yes, definitely she didn't get that from ME) and I asked if she missed ballet.  She didn't take ballet this year because she wanted to try track, be in the school musical, and adjust to the whole middle school routine, and it was just on a bad night.  She misses it a lot, and says she misses the workout and is disappointed in her loss of flexibility.  So I suggested that since she's got a handle on this middle school thing, maybe she could return to ballet next year.  And she gets a very serious look on her face and says,

"Well, I've been thinking about that, and I think for the next couple of years I am going to just focus more on my track career."

I just love her.  :)

Florida Is Better Than Laundry

I spent last weekend in Florida.  My dear friend N and I went to visit our bestest friend W, who moved to Orlando in the fall.  We had a lovely time.  We stayed up way too late talking, we soaked up the sun at the pool and the beach, we kissed W's baby's scrumptious cheeks, and we shopped and ate quite a bit as well.  And, I must say, it was a delightful time.  I am ready to go again.

However, I did miss my girls and my husband and it was nice to come home to them.  They even made me a 'Welcome Home' sign.  It was not so nice to realize that lying on the beach with a headache is SO much easier than understanding Cinderella's Algebra homework with a headache.  Or grocery shop with a headache.  Twice I have been to the grocery store since I got home and TWICE I left a bag behind so that the poor checker had to run after me.  Also, I did a load of laundry without putting soap in.  Sheesh.  I don't think that my body is cut out for these every day things.  Lame. (However, some of this stuff may be because my body is not cut out for vacation, and has some recovering to do!)

While I was in Florida, my cousin shared a humorous story with me.  Her husband had asked about my headaches, so they were talking about how I'm doing over dinner.  Her eight-year-old son was curious and asked what was wrong with me.  They explained that basically I've had a really bad headache for five years, and her son says, "Why?!!  Are her kids really annoying?"  So funny.  I assured her that if my kids were the problem, they'd have been gone years ago. :)  I just love the innocence and simplicity of the way a child's mind works.

Well, I'm off to tackle some (re-do) laundry.  A never-ending quest.  The girls are heading to an overnight Book of Mormon Read-a-thon tonight, and for some reason, they want to take clean pajamas.  Picky, picky.

Spring Break 2

So, French Lick, Indiana.  Home of Larry Bird.  Not that he had anything whatsoever to do with our decision to visit there, although we did pay his lovely bust a visit.  This was the main reason for choosing French Lick:

I had read about it online, we got a good deal, and the girls loved it.  What I loved was that all of the girls were old enough to hang out there together and King and I could sit in our room and read.  Pure heaven.  (We spent plenty of time there with the girls, too--but their tolerance for loud, wet, fun is a bit higher than ours(mine).) 

We were there for two days, and while there, we visited the recently restored West Baden Springs and French Lick Springs Hotels.  Wow.  Gorgeous buildings.  I think Cinderella enjoyed seeing those as much as the water park.  She took picture after picture.  She and I wanted to sit out on the porch or in the atrium and read for hours.  But, we didn't.  We swam instead.  Maybe next time. 

The hotels were built in 1901 and 1902, as health resorts, bringing in crowds to enjoy the natural sulfur springs.  They both fell into disrepair and then were restored in 2007.  Look who has stayed there:

(You'd think Larry would have stayed with his mom.)

I should include a couple of shots Cinderella took of the ceiling art in the French Lick Hotel.  Since she laid on the balcony floor to get them.  

 She honestly took SO many pictures.  And mostly of West Baden, but they somehow were erased from her camera.  But you should definitely check out the photo galleries on their website. 

It was a nice break away from the ordinary, and we had a great time!  The only thing we'd do differently next time is check the chimney top and flue before leaving.   

Spring Break

For Spring Break, we decided to take a few days and do something fun as a family.  We first headed to Louisville for a few days.  King and I visited the temple first, which is always a lovely thing to do. 

 

 We then, after much whining and complaining from the children, headed to the American Printing House for the Blind.  I thought it sounded interesting, and it was free.  The two younger girls complained the whole way there.  And then, when it was closing and it was time to leave, we couldn't get them to leave.  They loved all of the maps that were for blind students, and had a great time typing their names in braille. 

We walked down the street to this little dessert cafe and had some delicious cake.  Yum. 

 Then it was time for the Louisville Science Center.  I figured we'd spend about an hour here.  Three and a half hours later, the girls were still having a great time.  My favorite exhibit was the Amazing Beginnings, which had eight human embryos.  Amazing is right. 

 Across the street, we took the opportunity for a photo-op with the famous Louisville Slugger bat.  (But some of us don't know that when you take an opportunity for a photo-op, you should open your eyes and smile.  Argh.)

 There were these horses everywhere, and the girls had to have some pictures.  (I'll spare you the hundreds and include only two.)

 Then it was off to the 21c Hotel/art museum, famous for their red penguins.

 I think these next two pictures show the girls' favorite art there. 

We had dinner, and watched the BYU/Florida game (exciting win) and a late bedtime.  The next day, we attended church, played games, watched movies and hung out.  Then, we headed to French Lick, Indiana.  (I know, you're asking, 'why?', right?  Well, you'll see.  Tune in next time...)

Weekend

What am I doing this weekend?  Mostly this:  Watching Conference.

Why?  Well, lots of reasons.  Here are a few, on this video.

I love it.  It is a time of spiritual refreshment, testimony renewal, and recommitting to live up to the covenants I have made to follow Jesus Christ.