Happy Birthday Ibby!

Happy, Happy, Birthday to my lovely Isabela Phoebe! There is no debate in the family that she wins MVK (most valuable kid) status because she is as pleasant as the day is long!  



I love this picture of her from Barcelona.

We went out to dinner at our favorite little Chinese place to celebrate.

dance and skype

The girls are dancing in the dining room today because I suddenly sold the dining room table (since yesterday) and now it is empty.  I had been halfheartedly trying to sell it for a few months and then someone wanted it today and came and took it away.  I thought it was pretty, but it was a little too precious for what we use it for.  It would sag on the side while we were doing crafts and come apart in the middle while we were trying to keep the Settlers board together.  But I had decided to just live with it and now I have to find another table!  I might have wanted to get a white table, but it wouldn't look very good with the sideboards so I guess I'll just get wood color.

Did I mention that Lucy and I might be going to Guatemala in July?  Too bad we don't speak Spanish. 

The girls had their dance recital on Saturday.  I didn't get one pic of Lucy in her costume!  Sometimes I am so lame!  But I got one of Ibby and some of the girls outside.

We were able to skype with  Ella yesterday for Mother's Day so that was great!

Prom!

This week was nice.  It is getting warmer and the grass is getting greener. 

Lucy made the colorguard team.  She just found out today and is very excited.  Also, Charles found out today that he got a job at the library.  He has been looking for one since November!  So we are so glad.  It is not full time, though, so he really should find another job, too.

Prom was on Saturday so that was a big to do.  We went to take pictures and then later I went to help with After Prom.  It was crazy!  Ella tried to describe it to me, but I didn't have the scope in my head.  I helped with the prize corner and it was busy the whole time.  I didn't get home until 3:30 a.m. and Charles didn't come home until 11 a.m.  It was annoying.  He missed church and so did my entire Sunday School class!  Emma Harvey was the only one there out of 12 kids!  So I just took her to Gospel Doctrine with me.  I didn't want to waste my amazing lesson on one kid, right?  Ellen was Prom Queen and her cousin, Maureen, crowned her since she was the queen last year.  Quite the family!

The dining room is pink as of today!!!

I'm tired.

I need to go outside because Archie is crying.

Some prom pics!

::a candid one

 ::the cute couple

 ::the boys

 ::my favorite one

what is it all about?

It was raining all night and Charles left the windows open in the Prius since he had been to a bonfire and wanted to air it out.  Is moldy smell better or worse than campfire smell?  There is a guy working on the ceiling in the dining room since there is a big hole in it.  How nice that there are people in the world who can fix things.  His name is Ismael and he is from Turkey.   He is very nice and he has fixed lots of things in our house.  He even fixed the bathroom door that wouldn't close without locking!  I had asked tons of people to fix that.  He is also going to paint the dining room.  We peeled off all of the wallpaper and I want to have it painted pink!  Won't that be cheery?  Everyone gasps when I tell them.  It is a nice color.  What is their problem?  The kids are all home from school today for a reason I know not of.  They're all bopping around.  I can't wait for summer!!!  Soon.

My rant for today:  Matthew told me that in the bishop's office there is a wooden sign with vinyl lettering that says -- "Never make the same mistake ONCE (in big letters) - Boyd K. Packer"  Are you kidding me????  How traumatic for someone who is in  talking to the bishop, but just can't seem to get a handle on their problem! How heartbreaking for someone who is trying their best but keeps falling into temptation!!!  Did Jesus ever tell us to not ever make mistakes???? NO!  He knew that we would.  Geesh!!!  Matthew told me that I should retaliate with a cross-stitch that says, "Though your sins be as scarlet..."  Should I?  Should I?  Do people not know what the gospel is about???  No wonder people get discouraged.  Oh dear, I just had to interrupt my post to rant at the bishop.  What is happening to me?  Hahahahha.

I got a mandolin.  The guitar like instrument, not the vegetable cutter.  It is a really pretty one and I have been practicing my scales.  I am so excited!  I am going to be so amazing!  Or I'm going to lose interest and it will gather dust in the corners.  One of those.

I also started crocheting!  And I am making this amazing king size rainbow afghan!  No starting with potholders or scarves for me, no sir!

I'm starting a brand new series of Bradley classes tonight and I still need to vacuum and clean the bathrooms.  I made a big pot of black bean soup for dinner last night so at least I don't have to worry about dinner. 

Happy Easter!

We went to a friend's house and made these Pisanki eggs.  It was really fun!  But hard to make them look nice.

Then we did our own regular dying at home.

We celebrated Charles' birthday along with Easter dinner.

After church we had a little photo session

Charles was our Easter bunny this year and was as creative as we had hoped!

Charlie boy!

Happy 18th birthday to this guy! Oh, what a cute boy, yes you are!

 

This is what we got Charles Smith for his birthday because he s̶m̶e̶l̶l̶s, ahem, likes to smell good. We are also allowing him to live here until graduation.
 

new gig

Meet my new baby, Abe.  It is really fun to be wrapping a baby again!

And Archie got a new little bike!  We'll just use it inside for a bit.

I just told Archie that I was busy and he said, "No, you're my mom." Solid reply.