Girl’s Weekend

A couple of months ago, Garth suggested I arrange a girl’s weekend for myself.  Amazing, I know.  I’m pretty sure he was prepping me for the fact that he is going to go to Nevada for a week long golf tournament, but it really didn’t matter.  I gathered some friends and we decided to go to Seattle to shop and see Cirque du Soleil. 

Jill, Heather and I left on Friday morning and we picked up my sister-in-law Amy up along the way.  We shopped for hours at the Marysville outlets and had so much fun!  The best part was not having to worry about snacks, potty breaks, tantrums, or anything like that.  We went to a yummy Mexican place for dinner,

then to Heather’s parents’ house.  We had this beautiful place all to ourselves because her parents are on a mission right now.  We watched a chick flick and stayed up WAY past our bedtimes :)

The next morning, after an “Insanity” workout and a couple of chores for Heather’s parents, it was off for more shopping.  I thought it would be fun to drive Garth’s Tourag, but by the end of the day, it was looking like we needed the Subruban!

We then headed to Redmond and checked into our hotel. 

And of course, modeled some of our favorite purchases…love Jill’s hot new high heels!

Then we were off to dinner and the show.  I saw Cirque once in Vegas but this was a new experience.  “Amaluna” was held in Maymoor park and was held in a huge tent!  I was so surprised!  It gave it more of a circus feel but the show was every bit as amazing as the one in Vegas.  The performers took my breath away!!!  I was in awe at what they could do!

This was the stage at intermission.  Not a great picture and then I got reprimanded for taking pictures, oops!

Sunday morning, we went to a church right by the temple.  Afterwards, we walked around the temple grounds, took pictures, and delayed the inevitable end to our fun weekend. 

I think this might need to be a new tradition!!!

February Fun

February was full of fun moments it started with a surprise birthday for my sister.  Her friend Annie arranged a super fun evening for her.  She gathered 14 of her friends, brought a babysitter and showed up at her house in a limo.  Kim was super surprised and excited!  The limo took us out to Coeur d’ Alene for dessert at Dewey’s then home. 

Valentine’s day is not a huge deal at our house.  I did come home to flowers from Garth, and of course, we had to do a variation of “heart hair” for school.  (this time it was three hearts)

Garth and I got to go on a date to “Rock of Ages” at the INB performing arts center.  I did some big 80’s hair (although it had fallen some by the time this picture was taken. 

While we were gone, Theresa watched the kids and did all kinds of fun Valentine’s crafts. 

The most fun part of the month was a girl’s trip to Seattle, but that will get it’s own post!

Basketball x 2

This year we had two basketball players.  Derek’s season started first and they overlapped for a couple of weeks.  And Carter’s just ended. 

Derek’s team was coached by our friend Justin Anderson.  I think bball is so cute at this age.  Derek ran like Fred Flinstone…winding up and running in place before making any forward movement. 

This year we tried AAU basketball for Carter.  This was the first year that Garth was not the coach.  It was an interesting adjustment for Garth and Carter.  AAU is a lot more competitive (no more equal playing time and trophies for everyone)  Carter started out the year a little slow but finished strong getting lots of playing time and lots of “positives” each game (points, rebounds, steals, assists).

We are not sure if we will continue with the Shockwave next year but it was overall a good experience in AAU.

With two boys playing, we spent a lot of Saturdays away from home and since we live far from game locations, we did some “time fillers” between games. . .

Mobius

3D movie

Burgers

So fun!

Visiting Teaching Smoothies

For visiting teaching last month, my partner and I decided to have a “smoothie tasting.”  Both of the ladies we visit have lost significant amounts of weight in the last year and swear by their fruit and veggie smoothies.  Lacie and I wanted to taste them and see if we wanted to make them for ourselves.  Sarah went first.  Hers was spinach, carrot, orange, apple, berries, coconut milk, and hemp protein powder.  (She also brought her viatmix because she knew my 12 year old Target blender wouldn’t do the trick. 

Here was the taste test. . .

I love Lacie’s face in the next three pictures.  She HATED it!  I have to say, it was not very good.  The hemp protein made it taste like I was eating a bucket of weeds. 

Joni went next and hers was much more appetizing to me.  She used kale, carrots, tangerine, strawberries, cranberries, and Emergen-C packet, soy protein powder, water, and a dried date.  Much, much better, in fact I have made this one (with a variety of different fruits I have on hand) for myself and the kids and everyone seems to like it. 

What a pain!

January was a painful month for miss Sydney. 

First she got her ears pierced (a Christmas gift from Grandma Theresa).  She was super brave but made the biggest surprised face when they shot the earrings in. 

Then she had to get 4 teeth pulled.  Her little mouth is so crammed that I’m sure we’ll end up doing some orthodontia but for now, they wanted to get some baby teeth out of the way so the permanent ones will be able to stay straight.   Of course, they couldn’t do them in one appointment so she had to get numbed two different days.  Again, she was so brave and unusually tough and made it through no problem!