Happiness is....

 some really great friends.

 

 Spent a couple of days with a few really amazing women!  How lucky am I!

 There was much food, much talking, not much sleep, much driving, and oh so much silliness.

Sorry gals, it's just too funny not to post...

Melissa was the designated photographer and did a terrific job!

I came home happy and relaxed.  I am so blessed!

 Happiness is...

An afternoon picnic with dolls and friends!

 

'Nuff said!

I haven't blogged nearly enough lately...

No excuse, just lazy I guess.

 The Mookster has been in rare form.  She's a little terror, and a sweet sweet girl when she wants to be.

She LOVES school.  She has such a terrific teacher and always brings home such fun crafts!

 Then, of course, we must take pictures of them.

Many, many pictures...

 

 

 Once we get started with pictures, it's hard to get her to stop!

 

One interesting item about Maura (okay, there is more than one, but I'll just tell you one for now.) is that she uses both of her hands almost equally.  If it is more convenient to use her left hand she will, if she can reach better with her right hand she will use that one.  I noticed it one day while we were in church that she would switch back and forth using both hands depending on where she wanted to color.  I wonder if it's just a phase or if she will continue to use both hands...

 Canning...

Okay, so this is NOT a very interesting post...it's just for me to remember how I did this!  So, if you aren't really interested in food preservation, surf on!

I bought a 40lb box of ground beef from Zaycon foods (love their fresh meats) and wanted to can some of it.

It's such a simple process.

1) Prepare jars and lids for canning

2)Pack the ground beef tightly in jars leaving 1 inch head space

 

3) Add 1/2 teaspoon salt then put on lids.

4) Put jars in pressure canner and process according to the instructions (11lbs pressure for 75 min).

 Ta-da! The end. I canned 20 lbs of meat in 22 pint jars, almost 1lb per jar. The perfect size for my family.

It was really a simple process and the meat is terrific for casseroles, tacos, and other quick meals!  Just don't look at it too long...it's pretty gross! (hence, no picture!)

Spring break 

in our neighborhood is awesome!  

There are always kids wanting to do fun things and parents to plan it for them.

We spent some time at the school playing with friends and I had to get proof that we are still alive and we did have fun during Spring Break.

Maura loves mugging for the camera...

 Dallin, not so much.

 Trenton joined us for the festivities, and was willing to pose once or twice...

 

  

 One of my favorite traditions during the break is....Spring Break Olympics!!

Each family brought an obstacle and we created an obstacle course!  It was super super fun!

Maura waiting for her turn...

 And she's off!

 Through two tunnels,

 Balanced a ping pong ball on a plate,

 Carried an egg on a spoon,

 Jumped some blocks,

 And she finished! Yahoo!

(I think there were a few more obstacles I missed...)

 Dallin preferred to hang out with his buddies.

He had a great time too!

It was a fun time with great weather and super friends!

Other traditions include: Day at the movies, Bike ride to Dunkin Donuts, water fight with friends and PLENTY of kids to play with!

 Yahoo!

Spring Break!!

 Boy Scouts!  The fearless campers....before the trip.

 They came home in one piece, just a lot sleepier and dirtier.

We sure do love the great friends we have in this group and Jonathan is a terrific Scout leader!

Mookster Chronicles...

While driving in the car...
Maura: Mom...let's talk about Vegi-luck.
Me: What?
Maura: You know, what Dallin says all the time...Vegi-luck.
Me: I don't understand, what do you mean?
Maura: You know, when Dallin points and says "Vegi-luck".
Me: Oh, you mean when he points and you look and he says "Made you look."
Maura:  Well, yeah. "Made you look" is what Dallin says. You can say that, I'm going to say "Vegi-luck". Duh mom.


Again in the car...
Maura: Mom, today at school we were talking about Sea Virgins...you know about those?
Me: What?
Maura: Sea Virgins... things that live in the ocean and they might poke you and you don't touch them.
Me: Oh, you mean Sea Urchins.
Maura: No mom, they are called Sea Virgins.  You don't say it that way. It's not Urchins, it's Virgins. Say it mom, Sea Virgins!
Me: Ummmm, the word is Urchins.
Maura: No mom! It is Sea Virgins.  I'm going to tell my teacher you say it wrong.

I love taking Maura places in the car!

It happened!!

  I left the house without being fully dressed.  I'm MORTIFIED!!

I didn't realize this until I was almost to my appointment.  Too late to turn around, too late to go back. 

I'll just have to suffer through. 

The stares are going to be horrible, people are going to wonder. I'm completely embarrassed.

How could I have done this?? 

It's like the time I was teaching High School and forgot to put on make-up one morning.  Luckily I only lived 1/2 mile from school so I ran home and remedied the situation.

No one knew any different.

How am I going to function? How am I going to do my job only half dressed? Seriously?? Could I borrow something from someone at work?  No, I don't think anyone has extra.  Could I stop off and buy something?  Nope, no stores will have what I need.

Today people will notice. I'll be a laughing stock.  I'll never be able to live this one down. 

THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL EVER

LEAVE MY PHONE AT HOME!!!