Spring Break, Part Two

It was fun to watch the boys handle the subway.

Justin & I tried to take home the Washington Monument. On another day, it was so foggy, we couldn't see the top!

The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and the Natural History Museum and the Newseum.

Ford's Theatre & The Capitol Building

We stood on the sidewalk and looked at the White House. Looks just like on TV!

Spring Break, Part One

We left home on Friday evening and drove all through the night. We had breakfast in Pittsburgh, PA then went to Todd's Mecca - Fallingwater. This is a house designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright, Todd's favorite architect. It has been a lifelong goal for him to see it. I think it lived up to his expectations, he took a ton of pictures and bought a T-shirt and necktie to commemorate the event. We were not allowed to take pictures on the tour of the inside but we also bought a book with lots of pics. The rest of us thought it was interesting, but the most fun thing was watching Todd take it all in.

After Fallingwater, we drove on to Washington DC. We saw the movie Escape to Witch Mountain. We stayed in a hotel in Virginia and the first night there, Tyler got sick. He threw up all over the room so in the morning, Todd took the other 2 boys to Mount Vernon and a quick trip through Washington to see some of the monuments, and I moved Tyler & our stuff to another room. Poor Tyler was sick or sleeping all day long. Todd felt bad that I missed a day of sightseeing, but I was content to watch Tyler. He's growing up fast & won't need me to take care of him when he's sick for very much longer. But Todd, Ryan & Justin had a great day being tourists.

I'm a Foot Model

I have gotten bored with knitting scarves but I really don't want to work on sweaters so I've been intrigued with knitting socks. Could a beginner do it? Are they comfy? So Todd gave me a sock knitting book for Valentine's day and when I was in CA, Mom & I went to the yarn shop and bought some pretty yarns. She's making some too! The handknit socks I've seen look amazing and I doubt I'll ever make a professional looking pair, but I did make my first socks! I wore them for a whole day and they didn't fall off. They are comfortable and warm, but I wouldn't say they were easy. I'll make more, just because I like projects, but they certainly aren't cheap or efficient. Just another fun thing.

Ninjanaries

This is Tyler. I figured that you'd look at mom's blog more than mine, so here is something really hillarious. Click this to go to a really funny you tube link. Once you're done with that video, go on to the next episode( there's a little button that says "next episode"). My brothers and I were laughing for days.

My Week in Cali

I got to go to California last week! Just for fun! I had a great time with my family. We took pictures of us 5 kids:

We had our own version of the Pillsbury Cook Off. Mom & Dad were the judges and since they have no favorites (yeah, right.) they scored all our dishes the same. We all won! I made Italian Chicken Stromboli.

Amy made Meatball Pizza Cups. Leslie made Chicken Puffs. Tammy made cookie cups with apples & caramel & chocolate. Emily made Hummus Pizza with Tofu. I also tried an idea I had for a brownie mix, rasberry jam & white chocolate chips, but it totally flopped. Ewww.

The weather there was beautiful. I didn't need my jacket at all. There were green trees & grass everywhere & Mom even had daffodils.

Of course, we had to work on a project! Tammy & Amy had started heart blocks for 2 quilts for their daughters when they were at my house in 2007 and they still haven't finished! So we spent an afternoon getting more blocks done. They will have to bring this project back to my house this summer and finish!

The week went fast and we didn't get to do everything we talked about but it was really nice. And then I came home to Todd and the boys and THIS:

!!!

Hello, New Toy

I love my little black Kodak V603 digital camera. It has been everywhere with me since Todd gave it to me for Mother's Day 2 years ago. It's easy to use, fits in my purse, and takes really good pictures! But it is dying. The batteries won't stay charged and almost everytime I turn it on, it wants to know the new date & time. We've been dealing with it because I haven't found any other camera I like as much. But we have a few trips coming up and I know my little camera just won't made it through all the picture taking. And we take a lot of pictures! So it's been great using you, but good-bye little black camera.

And hello, new little blue Canon SD1100. You are so cute! The girl at Best Buy says you take great pictures and you take them fast. And you've gotten great reviews from tons of people online. It's going to take me awhile to figure you out, but I hope you are everything my last camera was (and maybe more?) Just remember to take good action shots of the boys, amazing landscapes on our vacations, and clear focused pictures for scrapbooking. And if you make me look good, we'll get along fine.

It's Curtains for Me

Our house is 5 years old this month! We've lived here for 5 years! We have had no curtains in the laundry room or Justin's room for 5 years! But no more! I dug out the fabric I bought more than 5 years ago and finally got 'em done. The laundry room:

(I still need to fix the saggy in the middle curtain rod & I think the shade looks better in person.)

And here's Justin's room:

Justin's room had Buzz Lightyear everywhere until last summer when he decided that maybe he was getting too old for Buzz. (It broke my heart! And I just can't get rid of all his Buzz stuff. I'm saving every Buzz thing for him to put in his son's room someday! Call me nuts.) So out goes Buzz, in comes.... Star Wars Clone Wars/Pokemon. For now. We picked a blue & green comforter that had Justin's favorite colors. We took the Toy Story pictures out of the frames and used a Clone Wars movie poster book to do collages. Justin had a fun time making them with me and then he decided where they should be hung.

Happy Heart Day!!

My Valentine gave me these gorgeous pink roses!

He also gave me a sock knitting book (I love that he support me in my crazy hobbies) and a cookbook (that I already had so I exchanged it for one about muffins and quick breads - mmmm) and, of course, chocolate. I never need it or ask for it, but he knows I love it.

I gave Todd his favorite chocolate candies (reeces hearts and heart york peppermint patties). And I really tried to think of a gift he would like that didn't cost a bajillion dollars. He likes to help in the kitchen and he makes awesome cookies, so he mentioned a few weeks ago that he could use a man apron. He usually wears a tiny little one that barely covers his front. So I made him a man-sized, man-colored, denim apron. I was so tempted to use a fancy stitch or two on my sewing machine, but no, I kept it manly. Todd likes it. I'll take his picture in it later.

We spent the day doing mostly separate things - running errands, basketball games, shopping, napping.... but we did go out for a late dinner at Panera (love it) and then had pie at Perkins. It was a great day. I love my Valentine!

One Week Ago...

I was here by myself. Todd and the boys were at the Church for their Tuesday night meetings. About 8pm the doorbell rang! Not just once, but over and over again, like the boys do when they are locked out. But I knew the garage was open, so I was mad that they were playing games with me - making me run to open the door for them - and I didn't know why they would be home so early. So I took my time mosying upstairs (I'll show them!) and when I finally got to the door and peeked out the window, they weren't there! I heard a thunk on the back deck, but I couldn't see anything. I went to the garage and it was dark, they weren't there. Now I'm starting to wonder what's going on?! And what are those crazy boys up to? So I went back to the front door and opened it to yell at them to stop playing with me and come in and look what was out there!

I don't know who it was, but the YM/YW activity was giving ward members "heart attacks". Thanks to whoever you are! Love the hearts and brownies!

Justin's Awesome Car

This week was the Pinewood Derby (only one more to go). Justin designed his car and Todd helped him cut it out and sand it. I helped him paint it. Todd helped him with the wheels. I helped him with the weights. It was Justin's car and he did a lot of the work, but he's only 9. It's crazy to expect him to do everything! But he was very proud of his car. He was trash talking and letting all the other boys know that he was going to win. He didn't. Justin's car came in second place. He won every single race except the one for the win. He put on a brave face, but he was sooo disappointed. He really felt like he deserved it. Poor boy. But we celebrated his second place win and the next day he was OK. There's just so much pressure (on the parents) to win!
Justin got a medal for second place in the racing and a ribbon for "sleekest car". It was a pretty good design! Way to go Justin!