First Cook Out and Dip in the Pool - March 21, 2015

We are soo excited for warm weather. When the sun is out, and it's Saturday, we did some yard work which today, for me, was to get some of the old cement blocks out of the dirt pile by the garage. Eric had to go somewhere, can't remember where, and I had asked if it was okay to use them to make a new fire ring. He said he didn't mind if they were in the vicinity. Well, Aurora and Neta and I used the wagon and I created a new fire ring.

Eric claimed that I "never listen" but I told him that they were in the vicinity, just in a circle. He wants to pour his own fire pit. Based on precedents of other projects, I decided to create a fire ring and then we can move it when pouring becomes an actuality.

When Eric got home and saw me working on the fire pit, he decided we needed to move the two tree stumps that were buried at the corner. He and I worked together on it and then we recruited others to assist us.

Take a shovel to the stump,
Dig along!

Aurora, Kimmie, Eric and Xela -
Ready? HEAVE!!

The second stump breaks free!

The boys rolled the first stump to the fire so we could have our first fire of the season. The second stump is still standing erect in the backyard.

I took Aurora to go get her hair cut and Xela wanted to get her ears pierced, much to Eric's dismay, for a last birthday present to herself. After said excursion, we came home to a fire and this picture:

We stopped at Kroger and bought some grapes to eat while hot dogs and brawts were cooked.

Graigry stoking the fire.

It was a little breezy, but we all love a good fire and cooking outside. It's one of our favorite things to do in the spring and summer.

Honor Roll & Dinner - March 19, 2015

Little Flower's third quarter honor roll breakfast was this morning. Everyone had high honors, except of course, Neta, who again, was more than happy to eat my doughnut.

I found a new twist on speghetti and because I am blessed to come home early on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I decided to try it on the 19th. Neta was my assistant after she saw what I was doing and thought it was cool.

After 15-20 minutes of prep, our plate awaited boiling water.

After cooking in the water, we drained the water, added speghetti sauce and served with a veggie. It was fun to watch the other kids' reactions. It took Graigry and Nate a few more minutes than expected to figure out how we'd got the hot dogs onto the noodles.

Enjoying the meats of her labors.

Kids aren't a big fan of speghetti, probably from over doing it, but this twist made the noodles more enjoyable to eat. I'll definately do it again!

Xela turns 15!! Weekend March 13-16, 2015

Xela's 15th birthday was on a Monday and so she wanted to have a sleep over with her best friend and go ice skating. I took her and Autumn Seeley to the ice rink at the state fair grounds where they ice skated for two hours.

Strapping on the skates

Bladed and ready to step onto the ring.

Xela goes around the ring
while Autumn starts figuring out the rink.

Autumn trying to decide if she wants to let go of the cone
and use the wall to balance.
Xela stands with an encouraging arm outstretched .

Now with more confidence
Autumn and Xela skate circles in the rink.

Xela and Autumn (and I) spend the night in the empty house next door. We ate ice cream and then they watched some Disney movies until whatever hour that early morning. I borrowed Graigry's bean bag chair and slept in as much the girls shared the air mattress and I went to sleep. Xela also signed up for Facebook, something we'd been postponing for at least a year.

Saturday she and Autumn had the majority of the day to themselves. They went to the stake youth dance that evening.

On Monday, work and school took their routine place. Xela wanted waffles for dinner, so I tried a new recipe which called for the whipping of eggs. I'm not doing that recipe again. It's taste wasn't much different than the one I've used in the past and the work involved with it didn't give me cause to do it again.

After waffles, we went o Dairy Queen for "free" ice cream cones. They asked for a donation once you got to the counter, after waiting in line. Eric threw done $5 and I had $2. So, not exactly free, but cheaper than their usual ice cream cone price.

licking and loving life

Upon returning to the house, we went into Grandparents Scott backyard and opened presents.

Present from Grma Hibbert

Unwrapping a gift

Nate seems to be very excited for Xela.
Xela looks a little excited & confused.

Ready...

...Aim...

...FIRE!!!

Kids ran around for a little, trying to avoid getting shot by their big sister. We read scriptures and then headed home for bed. I hope Xela enjoyed her weekend and birthday.

Last Chance Sledding at Brookside Park - March 7, 2015

We hadn't been sledding at all, and on Saturday the sun was shining, the snow was melting and so, after the science fair with Aurora, I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Brookside to see what sledding could be had. We grabbed sleds, put one whatever snow suits we could find (some smaller than needed) and headed out.

Taking their first run.

Crash and burn, or freeze.

Biggest and littlest ladies
slip sliding away

Xela, Timo Matis and Graigry climbing
for another  run.

Timo and Xela headed to the puddles below.

Brothers making the trek together.

Who gets to sit in front?

Graigry's in front & Xela's holding the cabbose.

"Hold on, Nate!!"

Bright light!

"I'M SOAKED!"
Xela landed in a puddle, one of the many.

Soaked siblings smiling

Ro's turn to slip and soak.

"Just get on this sled."

Oops! Nate didn't start out backwards. 

"AHH!!"
One more run before time to go.

By the time we were done, There were soaked clothes, frozen toes and fingers, but subtle smiles. Neta's feet were soaked. She asked me to take off her shoes, When I did, I pulled her sock off partially and rung the water out of it. Poor girl!! I put her in one of the sleds and pulled her back to the van where she took off her socks and shoes so her feet could dry out and thaw.

Xela was so wet, that she sat on a sled in the front seat, then took my camera and snapped some pictures. The sled moved as the van did, which was fun for her to try to manage.

I like the sparkle the water droplets leave on her glasses.

It was our first and last sledding for the 2014 - 2015 snow season. Eric does not like sledding so we were without him, but all ultimately had fun in this last winter activity. The snow was completely gone within the next couple of days.

In like a Lion - March 1, 2015

You  know the phrase for March - In like a Lamb, Out like a Lion or vice versa. This March 1 was a very strong and boisterous lion; one last winter slam before Spring would fight to break through. Indianapolis was supposed to get around 8 inches of snow. It started somewhere during the night and didn't stop until around noon.

Graigry making a snow angel in our backyard

Church was ultimately cancelled (however, by one, roads would have been fine for driving and arriving at the chapel) and so Eric called the Hardy's to see if we could borrow their snow blower in order to dig out members of the ward. We packed in the van, grabbed two sets of missionaries and headed out into the snowy landscape. Here are some pictures from our five hours of shoveling and snow blowing a dozen or so yards.

Nate buried in the driveway snow.

Eric finishing a members sidewalk.

Nate standing under
the snowblower's rainbow - just for fun.

Missionaries passing out mini cupcakes to the kiddos,
a gift from a thankful person.

For Eric, this was the best way to spend a Sunday - serving others as a family. It's amazing how quickly you can get a driveway cleared when you have one snow blower and  six shovels. Karen and Scotty brought some hot chocolate after the first few houses, which was welcomed by frozen fingers. By two o'clock, we decided we were thoroughly soaked and cold, had shoveled sufficiently and headed back to the house.

Karen and Miles made dinner for my family and one set of the elders and the food was deliciously welcomed as well. When dinner was done, Eric, Karen, Ro and the boys stayed to play Carcassonne. Neta wanted to play the game too, but the older ones didn't want the littlest one, not fully aware of how to play the game, to participate. So, Neta, Xela and I went home and played our own version of the game.

The game begins!

We started playing by the general rules, but then decided it would be more fun to, together, see how big of a city we could build. See the picture below; I think we succeeded. :)

The greatest Carcassonne city ever built!

Xela also wanted a picture,
so yes, I let them stand on the table.

Each house had there own source of fun. We had ice cream as part of our fun and then kept our city out to show the rest of the family upon their return. They were also fairly impressed. It was an all around good day for all.

Blue & Gold Banquet - Feb 6, 2015

EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!

That was our theme for this year and I enjoyed and stressed over bringing together. I worked with James and Julie Shipley, the cubmaster and den leader, to get things ready and several members volunteered to share Legos as a gathering activity. Eric said I was doing someone else's calling, which is true, I guess, as the Cub Master is supposed to put it all together, but James is not comfortable with public speaking and doesn't have much animo (Spanish word) and I wanted this to be a fun and memorable experience.

So here are some pictures from the activities and cakes. Austin received his Arrow of Light award as well, so that added to the need to make it a memorable night.

The center table and it's center pieces.
Tell me the cake looks like a Lego piece.

They weren't easy to frost (probably should have used fondant, but I never have used it before), they were just going to be eaten, so I just needed to get the idea across. :)

Tables ready with a bowl of Legos,
waiting for the creativity of participants to build cars.

Minton family building Legos prior to eating a lasagna dinner.

Watching as awards are passed out to the Cubs.

Dinner done and cars created,
Time to race!
Timo Matis and Nate ready to roll.

Xela and Autumn Seeley with their cars.

The older "boys" racing their cars.

Bishop Sorenson & Brother Matis
sending their cars down the ramp.

After the cars were created and run, cake and ice cream were passed out. I took a picture of Austin with his Arrow of Light cake.

Austin Seeley  - Arrow of Light earned.
He's a bright and fun kid.

I was so excited when I got home at how well things had gone and how much fun people seemed to have, I kept chanting: EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! - the Lego Movie theme song which I'd played repeatedly during the night. I like putting together the pieces together for a successful event. Our next pack meeting was in March, so I have another opportunity, on a smaller scale, to put together something fun for all.