Busy, Busy, Busy

The past few weeks have been VERY busy...I thought I'd better stick some photos in here and write what's been going on before I forget.   (Oh...and these are completely out of order and I just don't care anymore.)   Last Thursday was our RS Birthday Party that I helped plan.  The centerpieces for our tables were different pastel cupcakes.  I made Andes Mint Chocolate Cupcakes....they were amazing if I do say so myself.   Hyrum only ate the frosting, of course.

The kids have been in swimming lessons for the past month.  I am really enjoying them going just once a week.  AND Kennedy and Matthew swam on their own, no flotation devices whatsoever!! YAY...Matt did look scared for his life and had some doggy-paddling going on, but he did it!!  So, Hyrum likes to wear his goggles around the house...he says it's so his eyes won't fall out.

I have no idea where Hyrum gets his goofiness, but he is sooo silly.  You should have seen the other poses I got from this "future missionary".

This is a photo of a bird that lives in Thailand.  Kennedy saw it in a book we got from the library...

....while Layne and I were having a Sunday nap, my little artist painted this:

I think she will take after my brothers who are very artistically talented.

When Layne and I finally dragged ourselves off of the couch, it was dinnertime...the kids wanted something fun...we made popcorn balls.  for. dinner.  OOPs.

This is from a few weeks ago...Kennedy wanted to go to her friend, McKynlie's baptism.  When we left, Kennedy skipped to the car and said, "Well, that was the happiest 5 minutes of my life." (referring to watching her friend be baptized).

Oh ya...Layne bought me a wheat grinder.  He was feeling guilty that he had to spend $1,000 on repairing his truck when he knew I'd been wanting one of these for a few years.  I am happy to say that I've finally mastered my wheat bread....it isn't an undercooked brick that tastes bad.  My family is so happy to be able to eat the bread I make.

This is from last Saturday....adding, changing things from our 72 hour kits.

We've had a lot of pirates in the house the past few weeks....they take care of the sharks for me.

Matthew checked out a book from school that had a recipe for Strawberry Shortcake....so we had to make it on Monday for home evening.  The kids all helped....and it turned out pretty good.

                         
I took Matt to the orthodontist on Tuesday...his permanent teeth have come in completely skiwampus.  He has a cross bite which is basically where one part of his mouth has an underbite and the other side has an over bite.  He was quite the little trooper...he will be getting a retainer that he will have to wear 24/7 even when he eats!  He is so excited about it...he did this little sharing to tell his 1st grade class all about it.  The orthodontist said we are so lucky that we came in when we did....a few more months and his permanent tooth would have fallen out!!!  Hopefully he will only have to wear it for 3 or 4 months and the problem will correct itself.   He gets the retainer on Tuesday and I hope it is a good experience.  That little retainer will be $1,000!!! Good thing we are made of money!! HA HA HA - I crack myself up.

Well, that about sums up our life for the past month.  Layne and I are trying to do some painting around here...I'm hoping we can do something creative, but I guess we'll see.  So far it's been a bad experience.  We are REALLY looking forward to Spring Break.  We are not hoping for a warm spring break in the least...we are headed to Jackson Hole to go skiing so bring on the snow!!