Royal Tea

The excitement was building, everything was about Wills and Katey.  Did I care?  Will I watch the nuptials?  Won't there be plenty of recaps of the day and I can sleep in?  So many concerns, big heavy matters weighing on me.

Mom invited the girls for a royal happening.  We were invited to sleep over or arrive at the proper time to view the special occasion of two people we have never met nor will we.  It was exciting!  We found our best tiaras, tea was prepared with a spread that would impress any royal: ham, boiled eggs, berries, clotted cream, scones, and several teas.  It was indeed splendid. 

Ridge was sure that he needed to attend but mom was sure he would not wake up after going to bed for the night, Archer was interested in staying up late but knew he would have to go to school and chose to skip out.  Emma is not one to wake easily after going to bed and I left her snug and cozy and went to celebrate with Hannele, Madeline, and Mom.  It was a memory that will last and fun to say we got up to watch!

How many jobs

I spent some time today shredding old tax documents.  I found a few amusing facts.  In the first year of our marriage, I made more money than Rob.  It helps me not feel so bad that he is the sole bread winner.  I also found my W-2's from 1994 and I counted 5 jobs for that year!  I worked for the Sparks YMCA during my spring semester at UNR, I worked at Fletcher Jones Chevrolet during the summer, The Sports Authority maybe during Christmas, JJ's Cleaners during fall semester, and finally at US Bank.  That was just one year, I ought to count up all the jobs I have had.

Easter

Easter was a whole new holiday celebration this year.  It was actually a relief to not buy candy to have to throw out hanging around for a month.  This year the Easter bunny brought money, maybe a movie, bubble bath, or a hat, and there were a few small pieces of candy appropriately proportioned for carb consideration.  I do believe that Dad was the biggest candy purchaser, he felt his holiday would not be complete without a chocolate bunny, he was accomodated and we all got along better for it. 

Archer had a fever for Easter morning and returned to bed while Dad, Emma, and Ridge put on their new Easter attire and headed to church.

We all summoned the strength to go to Grandma and Grandpa's to feast and feast with our cousin (who also was feverish).  We had a low-key holiday and enjoyed our time visiting with family.

Coloring the eggs

 Some of us were excited

 Some of us were not

And the eggs............

may have been misrepresented on the packaging.

Our Family

This is our house, Mom, Ridge, Emma with two curls in her hair, Archer, and Dad.  by Ridge!

Stamping

It is Spring Break and it seems that we have been struck with the curse of the stamp.  Ridge first experimented with the red-inked alien.  Sadly, this was only the beginning to what he ended up with, a full goatee as well as Adam's apple decor and full red arms.  Don't forget the forehead was filled in too!

This morning, Emma had gotten a hold of said stamp and I forgot to take her picture pre-removal but fortunately, she used the stamp as lipstick and contained her ink to the lip area.

Well, lip area, and Prince Phillip's face.

 Thanks to whoever opened our world to the red alien stamp!  We have been enjoying it!

Rainbow Soap

Going through the car wash is pretty big excitement around here.  We love to watch the whole experience, especially the Rainbow Soap.  This is of course an upgrade but Mom most always bites and so, we try to describe what we think the soap smells like: orange, candy, rainbows, wherever or imagination takes us.  And we love the view too!

Egg hunt

Ridge had a preschool egg hunt today.  Emma had the day off of school for Staff Development so we put on some matching shirts and headed to the park!

There was eating, and games, and even the Easter Bunny!  Emma saw the bunny approach from across the park and excitedly exclaimed, "Monkey!!"  We aer now anxiously awaiting the Easter Monkey next week!

Hookin

I have really been enjoying knitting and crocheting lately.  I have not had much luck with making sweaters in my size and Emma can only wear so many in her size so I have ventured into accessories.  I made myself a purse, it is no Fossil brand with the smell of soft supple leather, but it is cute and I made it!

I put a black lining behind the crochet and I also lined the black to have a pretty inside, and, it is always easier to find what you are looking for with a light color lining.

Gazebo

Rob is a gazebo lovin man.  A nice shade structure with some comfy chairs underneath for enjoying the out of doors is bliss for Rob.  Rob purchased a new gazebo as they seem to be short lived in the wild Vegas winds.  It turned out great, he enlisted the help of Archer and the neighbor boy and shortly, we were in the shade!  This was Monday.

Wednesday things took a turn for the worse.  And by Monday, Rob had said his good-bye's.

Happy Happy Birthday, Emma Dear

Emma is nine today!  Emma is nine.  When you ask her, she will tell you she is one. 

She is one.  She is one girl that has the most beautiful blue eyes.  She is one daughter of God that is special.  She is one girl that loves and cares.  She is one that continues to amaze us.  She is one that is beyond sassy and loves it.  She is one with an incredible sense of humor.  She is one that enjoys the spotlight.  She is one that wants to make us proud.  She is one of our fantastic family. 

We celebrated Emma today.  We celebrated the amazing things that Emma does.  We celebrated things that we thought she might never do.  We celebrated all that she will still do.  We celebrated and loved today.

Emma is loved.

Time to catch up

I promise that the reason I have not updated this blog has nothing to do with slacking.  As much as I would love to be curled up in a chair, dozing, and waiting for more chocolate, I have things to do.

We have been so busy, we haven't had time to get new socks!

We have been getting our garden together.

We cheered on our basketball teams.

We have sung, prayed, and given scriptures in church.  In nothing but our Sunday best.

Emma and I learned how to grill our dinner.

 Grilled pineapple and chicken quesadillas-yum!

 We watched our Scout advance during a Court of Honor.

Ridge did not put any markers in his mouth.

 Sponge cake for April Fools'!

 Ridge did not color in the grout with markers.  We are continuing our investigation into this matter, please ask your children if they might know who colored in the Gardners' grout.  Thanks!

 We celebrated the organization of the Relief Society.

 We sang the praises yet again of this fabulous Mr. Clean.  We are so glad to know him and we are always delighted when he saves the day.  He can remove dry erase marker from grout, just FYI.

 We hosted book club.  I protested the selection of the book, I Am Number Four but quickly ate my words when I found myself enjoying the book.  We are planning a cheese fountain for our next meeting, we will also be discussing The Help.

We of course had a scout meeting where we saw a pig get butchered, we memorized an Article of Faith or two, we got excellent report cards, we laughed, we cried, we learned more about counting carbs and giving shots we worked on accomplishing goals, and we retired and revamped some.