March madness

Have been behind on my blogging.  I hate when that happens.  It's so hard trying to remember everything that happened.  I must say that March was a very busy crazy emotional month, hence the title march madness.  Now I'm trying to catch up on everything.  I can't seem to prioritize my time to actually catch up.  It's very frustrating!

So the end of February my Sister Kate called and told me that they were moving.  It was hard to take that kind of news.  They were going to move to Washington State.  My Brother in-law got a job teaching inmates at the Caunell Prison how to fix cars.  I knew deep down that this was the best thing for their family.  They have been struggling so hard trying to survive.  I have been having lot's of regret that I haven't gone to see them more often. They lived about an hr. away, and it was just hard to find the time.  Now that they have moved it's like 13 hrs away instead of just 1.  I love my Sister, and I always feel uplifted after I spend time with her.  It makes me cry.

I spent a lot of March going out and helping her pack.  The house they bought is a log cabin.  When they bought it the whole house and yard and everything needed so much work.  It makes me sad for them because they have put so much work and money and time into making it look nice, and now they have to leave.  They are so upside down on their home that they won't be able to sell it.  Luckily Justin's Sister is going to rent it.  Hopefully she might eventually buy it.  She wanted the house before Kate and Justin bought it.  I pray that it all works out.

We packed up everything that they would not be taking with them and moved it to the attic above their garage.  Justin and Kate are really into food storage.  They had tons of the 5 lb. buckets filled with with wheat, rice, rolled oats, and beans.  I must have carried 35 of them from their basement to outside.  From there my nephew Jack who is 11 helped me carry them up to their attic.  It was exhausting!  I'm so thankful that their was some beans and oats to give us a little break.  Then I helped move a bunch of other boxes outside as well.  Kate couldn't carry and go up and down stairs because she had just had major knee surgery.

We wanted to get together with everyone before they moved.  Luckily Chris, Sarah, and the kiddos were in town for spring break.  My Mom wanted to take us all to see a movie.  We were bummed when Kate said they wouldn't be able to come because they still had so much to do.  They would be moving a few days later.  Then I talked to my Mom and we worked it out with Kate and came and got her 2 youngest Ruby and Sophie.  We took them for a couple of days.  On a Thursday we went and saw the Lorax, very cute movie.  Had dinner together, chatted, and then we went home.  Friday Chris, Sarah, Gabe, McKell, and my Mom went skiing.  I watched Chris and Sarah's youngest Trace, and of course Ruby and Sophie.  We got together afterwards for yummy dinner, and had some more fun.  We spent the night at my mom's.  In the morning Sarah and I went and did a Zumba class.  I think it will be a tradition to go and zumba every time they come.  We have a blast!

Late we went to a cool castle park and let the kiddos play, and then went back to my mom's house for one last get together with Kate and their family.  Since everyone happened to be in town Kate, Justin, Kaleb, and Dalice spent the night at our house.  They had to leave really early in the morning to make it to their ward to say goodbye.  Chris and Sarah also left early that morning to go back to New Mexico.  It was an emotional day.  I felt like I was living in flashback mode for most of the week.  I hate saying goodbye, it sucks.  I wish that we would have gotten some pictures with each other before they left, but things were to crazy to even think about it.

I also helped another friend of mine move in March.  It was Madisynn's best friend from school.  They were given about 10 days to get out of the house they were renting because the landowner upped the price.  They couldn't afford to stay.  The whole situation ticked me off.  They were going to be moving 2hrs. away.  Major bummer.  Maddie and Kimmie had lot's of play dates while Jenna and Kay packed.  I helped get them boxes, and helped them try and move on the day they were leaving.  They had some issues with not having enough room and trying to decide what to do.  What a stressful time, sheesh!  They got it all worked out in the end and made it safely.  Maddie and Kimmie miss each other like crazy.  I miss all of them too.  It totally stinks that just when I was starting to get to know them better they have to leave.  It stinks cause it's maddie's other half, they were stuck to each other like glue.  We're trying to stay in touch, very hard when life gets in the way.  Hopefully they can move back soon!

Maddie & Kimmie:

Kenzie, Maddie, Kimmie, & Gage Kimmie's little brother:

The beginning of the month I started some challenges that would go through the whole month of March.
Challenge 1- Push ups
Challenge 2- Sit Ups
Challenge 3- Side Plank, Crunches, Push ups
Challenge 4- Daily workout challenges

When I first started I thought piece of cake, and then 2 1/2 weeks into the challenge it started getting hard.  The push ups challenge was insane.  I was only able to do 55 push ups in a row.  Yes 55, and no they weren't push ups on my knees.  Push ups from my feet and bending my arms to a 90 degree angle.  I wish I could have done the 170 or the 80 by the end of the month, but I will take the 55.  Totally awesome for me!  The Sit ups Challenge I knew I could do.  I'm not going to do 200 sit ups any time soon, my back was hurting by the end.  The side plank, crunches, and push ups almost did me in as well.  I was able to do every single rep every day.  Those side planks are almost worse than the push ups by the end.60 side planks on each side is killer!  The Daily workout challenges weren't a big deal for me.  The hardest challenge were the Burpees.  I hate burpees.  I'm so glad these challenges are done, and that I was able to follow through.  I wanted to give up, but that's not in my nature.  If I ever do this again, I won't do them all at once.  I was so exhausted.

I also was able to do a bunch of work for my Mom's work.  So nice to have that connection to have some side work.  We were doing a few different jobs at the same time.  We were putting bars of soap into little soap boxes that we had to assemble.  Then put a glue dot on the back of them, and then stick them to a  thank you card.  Then box them up.  Another job we were doing was taking face plates of a security camera and screwing new ones back on.  Then the last job was taking these cameras and putting wires onto them.  It was very hands on complicated job.  I couldn't have done it without Matt's help.  We did 3 pallets worth,(12 boxes on each pallet with 10 individual boxes of cameras) Each Pallet was worth about $430.  Both Matt and I were totally worn out by the 3rd pallet.  I wish we could have gotten one more done, but I wanted to have fun with my family before both Kate and Chris left.  So we turned down the 4rh pallet, and were able to enjoy time with the family.

March was madness, and I'm glad it's over! I was happy that I was busy, and able to help to others.  The month just about did me in.  I thought things would calm down in April, but so far April  has been just as crazy.  I'll update you soon.

Activity days The Good Samaritan / Compassion Rolls activity

This week for activity days I planned an activity centered around the parable of the good Samaritan.  I found this craft here: http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_-_g.html#goodsamaritan  We started the activity by watching the Good Samaritan.  Then we discussed it, and came up with ways of how to show compassion to other people.  I bought the girls a little journal for a buck, put a sticker of Jesus on it.  I wanted them to go home and practice showing compassion to those around them, and write down their experiences in the journal.
After we discussed we went into the kitchen and put together our compassion rolls.  I did my own version of the compassion roll.  I used a paper cup to hold everything in, instead of a toilet paper roll.  I used a prayer rock instead of a clip art picture of praying hands.  I used a I know the scriptures are true book mark instead of clip art picture of a bible.  I explained while we were putting together our compassion rolls that they were to share it with someone, it didn't matter who it was.  I wanted them to write down that experience as well in their journals.

The activity went well, it went fast.  That was nice because then I was able to sit and talk with the girls and get to know them better.  I have a really good group of girls, that are a lot of fun!  I really hope that they are learning and having fun at the same time.  I'm nervous because my partner was released, and they called a new person to take her place.  I know this person is reliable, but we both don't know what we are doing.  I hope we will get it figured out quick!

Madisynn lost a tooth!

A couple of weeks ago Madisynn came up to me and said "Look Mom I have a loose tooth!"  I replied back saying "No you don't, you're too little to have a loose tooth already." She insisted that she did, so I checked.  Madisynn was right, she had a loose tooth, a really loose tooth.  I thought maybe it would come out next month. Nope, she lost her first tooth yesterday during lunch.
I was trying to get her to hurry and finish her lunch because her friend Kimmy  was coming over to play. When Kimmy was here Maddie was still eating.  I had forgotten that her tooth was really loose. If I had remembered I would have cut her apple into bite size pieces.  I had cut them into wedges.  When she bit into her apple her tooth pretty much came out.  She came up to me and said I want Daddy to pull my tooth out.  I was shocked!  I told her to go ask him, so she did.  I didn't even look in her mouth cause loose teeth ready to be pulled make me queasy.
Matt told her to go get some toilet paper, and she did.  Kenzie, and Kimmy wanted to see.  Not me, I waited in the kitchen.  Kenzie and Kimmy soon joined me.  Silly girls!  There was no crying or screaming from Maddie.  Turns out her tooth was just sitting in her gums, no blood or anything.  She came running into the kitchen saying look Mom look at my loose tooth!  She was so excited.  I was excited for her!  We put her tooth in a plastic bag to put under her pillow.
Maddie says to me now the tooth fairy will leave a barbie, and a sucker under my pillow.  I have no idea where she got that from.  That wasn't going to happen.  I laughed and told her I think our tooth fairy leaves money so you can buy what you want.  I thought she understood, but she said it again later that night, and this morning.  I told her the same thing, and so did Kenzie.
Madisynn was so excited to go to bed knowing that the tooth fairy was coming.  I sent the girls to bed, and got busy cleaning my bathrooms, and kitchen.  Got lost on the computer while waiting for my sheets to dry.  I was so tired, that I forgot to put money under Maddie's pillow.  I felt horrible when Maddie came running into our room this morning holding her tooth and saying the tooth fairy forgot.  Whoops!  I gave her a hug, and said the tooth fairy must have had a busy night last night.  I'm sure she'll make up for it.  Maddie accepted that answer and went to put her tooth back under her pillow.  Phew!  I will make it up to her tonight.  She will be surprised!

Planking, it's actually a workout

I love this picture, planks are a very good workout.  Planks I hate them, but I love them.  I dread doing them in every Jillian workout.  You do a lot of plank work in her DVD's.  I came across this challenge on Pinterest not too long ago, and had to try it:

I knew that I could at least do 1 minute already because of the workouts that I have been doing.  I started out at 2 min for the first 4 days.  The 5th and 6th day I did 3 min. Day 7: 3 min 15 seconds.  Day 8: 3 min 30 seconds. Day 9: 3 min 45 seconds.  Day 10: 4 min 5 seconds.  It is hard, I wanted to get 5 min, but my arms wouldn't hold.  They were shaking so bad, and my core felt like it wanted to split in half.  I still feel very accomplished, and will work towards that 5 min!

Conversation heart craft

Matt and I did another valentine craft.  I saw it on pinterest and knew I had to make it.  When we were getting all of our supplies we didn't realize that we got bigger hearts than the ones from the post that we saw.  We were just excited to be doing something together, and to have more decorations.  After we were done and putting the ribbon on, we realized we couldn't use as much in-between each heart to connect them.  It would be way too long!  Matt wanted to do something different at the top with it, so I went along with his idea.
This is the picture where we got the idea:

 This is the one we made:

Next time I would make sure to have the smaller hearts so you could use more ribbon.  I think that I like the bow on the other as well, but I really like them both.  What do you think?

Eye appointment

Yesterday Maddie had a follow up eye appointment.  She did very well on covering her eyes one at a time and reading the letters.  Probably the best she has done.  Maddisynn went from 20/50 to 20/40.  She is improving, and it is totally awesome!  Hopefully she can continue to improve, we don't want the eye surgery if we can help it.  Dr. Brad Richards is an awesome doctor, I wish he wasn't so far.  He is almost an hr. away.  Anyways he told us to come back in 10 weeks, yea!  Every 6 - 8 weeks is murder. 10 weeks is doable!  I'm a happy momma. =) 

French dip sandwiches & Peanut butter fingers

Do you remember those days when you were in school, and school lunches were super good?  I do, my favorite lunch was the French dip sandwiches and peanut butter fingers.  They were so good!  I have always wanted to make french dip sandwiches, and have a peanut butter finger like in the school lunch.  Well I finally did it.  I found both recipes on pinterest.
Here is the link for the French dip: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/05/easy-french-dip-sandwiches.html

It was so easy, I can't believe I had never tried to do it before.  I added chopped onion, and fresh minced garlic to it.  So good!
Now for the peanut butter fingers.  Be  prepared the recipe makes a whole sheet pan full.  I had to freeze a bunch so I wouldn't eat them in 1 day. I could totally do it too!  Here is the link for the peanut butter fingers: http://triedandtriedagain.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog  Try making them sometime, they really are yummy.

Here is a picture of the ones I made.  Don't they look yummy?:

What was your favorite school lunch growing up?