Mowing, Mulching, and a Mystery

Last week, eight yards of mulch was dumped in front of our house. Mysterious? No. We paid a neighbor to deliver it, and we split the load with the yard next door.

Friday, Saturday, and Monday were spent outdoors (YES!!!) mowing the lawn, weeding the flower beds, trimming the bushes, and spreading the mulch...not to mention tilling the garden, and moving lots of dirt and sand in the wheelbarrow. So the fact that I woke up Tuesday morning feeling pretty sore was also not a mystery.

However, several weeks ago my glasses went missing. I regretted having to go on a road trip and wear my contacts during the long hours of driving. I had searched all the hiding places I could think of, but my glasses were nowhere to be found.

When I scooted along on my knees, pulling weeds from the flower beds in front of my house, and I found my glasses lying there in the dirt and dead branches, I wondered how they got there. Or, more specifically, which cute little pair of hands had delivered them there: Hannah's, or Olivia's?

But here's the biggest mystery of all.

Where is the big old bird that took aim at my poor left lens and left it covered in yuck? I'd like to have a little chat with him...

The Best part of my Birthday

When I was a kid, something I always loved about my birthdays was that I didn't have to do any chores. 

At that time, "chores" included
1. making my bed 
2.perhaps setting the table for dinner.

Can you imagine how unburdened I felt when I got out of doing those things once a year?!

As a mom of young children, No Chores days are few and far between.  I mean, there are many days when I don't make my bed.  (Sorry, Mom.  I'm the failure, not you.  You did the best anybody could.)  But chores such as picking up clutter (over and over) and doing dishes just have to be done, no matter the special occasion.  Actually, on some special occasions, there are more chores than usual!

So today, the best part of my birthday has been getting out of doing chores. 

Whenever my kids asked me what I want for my birthday, I told them I'd like "a slave."  Hannah hesitated.  "I don't know what all the jobs are.  Could you make me a list?"  I told her I'd be happy to do that for her.
In the end, she drew a picture for me.  I'll take her willingness as a gift, anyhow.
Doug made breakfast and packed the girls' lunches before he went to work.
Katelyn came home from school and started picking up clutter. 
Everyone seems to be pitching in, and while I can't say that I haven't had to lift a finger, I definitely feel loved.

And to top it all off, my washing machine broke down!  Happy birthday to me!  No laundry today!

It's the best.

Spring Break

What started out as a two-day business trip for Doug, turned into a seven-day road trip for the family! We made a big loop, from home to Portland, then along the Oregon coast and up to Seattle, and then home again.

The Chinese Gardens in Portland, Oregon.

It was beautiful and interesting, even for the kids, and even in the cold weather!

Smarty pants Hannah played an I Spy game at the Chinese Gardens.

Voodoo Donuts.

We tried the Voodoo Dozen. Hello, sugar! That purple one was actually one of my favorites--grape flavor!

Tilamook Cheese Factory. We did the tour, and then ate the product! 38 flavors of ice cream. I chose White Licorice in a waffle cone. It was so yummy!

The girls LOVE swimming at the hotel pools and hot tubs. (Our favorite hotels included the Homewood Suites in Boise and the Rivertide Suites in Seaside--just in case you're planning a trip there with your own family of seven. You can get a two bedroom suite with a kitchenette and even a washer & dryer in your unit--which is a lifesaver at the beach!--for less than the cost of two rooms at a cheap hotel. You're welcome.)

The ocean water was less inviting, but we loved walking the beaches, hunting for shells, and exploring tide pools.

This stop was for Doug: Fort Clatsop, which is a re-creation of Lewis & Clark's winter camp.

Olivia was an angel during our 2000 (or so) miles of driving.

The older girls got along pretty well, too. Until the last leg:

(Who looks the most guilty here?)

It's good to be home!

If you want to rent a movie...

...may I suggest Redbox?

Here's why.

We rented two movies from Redbox this week, while we were Spring Breaking in Oregon.
I returned them tonight, in Utah.

I love that you can rent from and return to any location--and they're everywhere!

And guess what! Since I rented them in Oregon--no tax. Just an even dollar a day per movie.

It's the simple things, you know?

How to Dye Eggs

Step One: Prepare the dye.  You could cover your work surface with newspaper (does anyone take the paper anymore?) or wax paper, but I like to dig through the storage room for old plastic placemats that nobody remembers you still owned.  They stay in place well, and it's impossible to ruin these things.

Step One-A: Have you ever wondered what the color yellow tastes like?  Choose a willing taste tester. 

 Place dye tablets within her reach. 

 

Watch for facial evidence. 

 Hmm.  Yellow's not too bad.  

How about blue?

Step Two: Use the "magic crayon" to color designs on the hard-boiled eggs.  This is something you'll remember fondly when you're a mother someday.  Seeing your own children do this may cause nostalgia.

Step Three: Dip the eggs in the dye.  Take this step very seriously.   There should be no smiling and very little talking.  And remember: Whichever color your sister chooses, that's the color you need to use right away.  Leave several bowls of dye untouched while you both dunk your eggs in the same color.

Step Four: Allow your eggs to dry.  Admire the pretty colors and designs.  You may want to set them on the counter while you clean up the table, and then you may forget to put them in the fridge.  If this happens, you won't want anyone to eat them.  But that's okay, because you can just admire their pretty colors a little while longer.  You can always boil more eggs for consumption.

Step Five: At this point, your egg dyers might want to keep decorating eggs. Problem: You only boiled 18, and they're all colored by now.  Solution: Teach your children the craft of emptying an egg.  It's gross and sometimes difficult.  But they'll be up for a challenge.

Step Six: If, by the time they've emptied the eggs and rinsed and dried them, they become restless and decide not to color them after all...Send them outside before they start smashing egg shells over their heads and throwing empty eggs at each other like snowballs.

High Five

Life certainly has its ups and downs, but today I'm on a high. These five make me happy.

This much is true: Getting 5 girls to be silly for the camera is much easier than getting them all to be happy for a picture!

I spent some time this weekend blowing bubbles in the grass with Olivia. I forgot how much fun a jar of bubble solution could make. Her squeals of excitement were energizing to me.

I've been spending more time reading with Hannah. I love reading, I love my kids, and I love kids' books. Win, win, win. We almost always read a story or two before bed, but we're both disappointed if we miss our afternoon reading session.

Lauren's laughter is so contagious! The other day when Doug got home from work, she hid near the garage door, and when he walked into the house, she popped out and scared him. We both laughed much longer and harder than that old trick deserved, just because Lauren's giggles gave me the giggles.

Emily has a dream come true opportunity to take weekly horseback riding lessons with some neighborhood friends. She spent days before her first session talking about her anticipation, and in the few days since, she's been talking non-stop--and even dreaming--about riding horses. I'm so excited for her! I had the same dream-come-true opportunity at her age, so I know how wonderful it is. (Wish I still had my gray Kenny Loggins cowboy boots to pass along to Emily.)

Katelyn has been training for her school's track team. They practice four days a week after school, and now she's been getting up early in the morning to do extra training with Doug. I liked running when I was her age, but I never pursued it, and now just the idea of running a mile exhausts me.

Another of the bazillion reasons I like summer better...

Fewer layers. Less clutter.

Say bye bye to the boots and backpacks, gloves and scarves.

Right now, as the weather transitions to Spring, these piles are actually at their worst. One day might call for a light jacket, and I'll open my windows and enjoy the fresh air. But the following day might call for boots and a coat again. Dresser drawers are stuffed with everything from sweaters to swim suits.

But one fine day, in the not-too-distant future, I will put away the winter stuff I'm so tired of. And start writing about something besides the weather.

Mid-March Marker

So this is the light at the end of the long, dark, frigid tunnel. Mid-March.

Last year, March 16th, I wrote about warmer weather and playing outside.

This year, March 15th, I took Hannah and Olivia on a bike ride to the park, and it felt good to sit in the sun (when the breeze wasn't blowing), wearing just a sweater, no jacket.

I love the light at the end of the tunnel!

Giving In To The Dark Side

Advantages:

• Sometimes you just need a little change.


• I didn't worry too much during the coloring process, since I was too busy enjoying the pleasures of having my hair played with...in my own kitchen, by my fun sister!


• Looking more like I could be Katelyn's mother.


• Anonymity. Imagine how my kids walk right past me, when my back is turned and they're needing their mom to, say, get them a drink or change a diaper.

Disadvantages:

• Anonymity. Startling myself when I look in the mirror.


• It might be true that blondes have more fun, but I hope not. I'll let you know...

5 Little Piggies

9:48 a.m. Four of the five are at school. But...

Remnants of breakfast,

Goobers on the windows and doors,

Unmade beds,

Messy bathrooms,

Dumped out junk,

will keep me thinking of them all day long.

And this one is going to get a happy treat when she returns. Kate, thanks for making your bed (and my day)!