Today my Monet-girl is three!! Three.

I am saddened that the time is moving so fast. Monet's loves in life right now are the following:

Thaddy-bear. Don't call him anything else, that is his name.
Barenstein Bear books. We read a few of these every day, and she covers her bed with them at night.
Strawberries and grapes and bananas.
Her backpack. BB books go in there.
Her daddy. She just lights up when he comes home from work.
"Helping in the kitchen."
Sneaking treats with Mommy. I always share and we give each other a nod, as in we are saying, "Yup, I understand you, too, Sister."
My Little Ponies.
Babysitters.

We love you Monet and are so happy to have you in our family.

so let it be written....

so let it be done!!!

I have formulated for myself a 90 day challenge for spring. And I am doing OK but I think I need some extra motivation.
I pinned the "summer arms challenge" on pinterest and that is part of my routine. But I think I may have sprained my wrist doing burpees (is that the right word?) and so I have let my arms rest for a few days.

I remember as a youth my YWs leader handed out these cards that said, "A goal not written is just a wish!" I kept that card for a looooonnnnngggg time. Loved it. Now I need to apply it.

My spring challenge is to not eat after 7. It is to have only one treat a day. It is to run 3 times a week. It is to do arms 3 times a week and abs 4 times a week. I have specific programs for all this, but I will spare you the details.

There, I said it, out loud. I am now accountable.

family trip

We found we had some extra time last week when visitors couldn't make it and the kids had an entire week off school. Josh even had 3 days off school, and one day without practice - so we thought it would be a great idea to go to Great Falls for a night.

Turns out great ideas don't always turn into great times.

We spent a bit of extra money on a fun hotel with a big slide, thinking the kids would love it. Turns out that only Levi would go on the slide because it was too big. I went on it once and was even a little scared. I have sure come a long way from my braver days.... I thought the extra money would be well worth it, because I was sure we would swim twice, once at night and of course once in the morning. HA!

Turns out Thad was up all night. As in all night. As in if he wasn't nursing, he was crying. Which meant the kids were half up all night, and Josh and I were up all night. So come morning time no one wanted to swim, everyone was really tired and grumpy, and you can just imagine the joys of shopping two tired parents would get with 4 tired (and turns out sick) kids.

There are two bright sides to this story, though. First, I got to eat at Cafe Rio. And second, while I feel like the money we spent was too much for the experience we had, we saved money in the long run because we were tempted to try a trip to Cali over Easter. I. don't. think. so.

v-day

Valentines was a little different around here. And fun.

Normally I never go to any great lengths for holidays. Partly because I hate the commercialism that seems to have taken hold on everything, and mostly because I am just too cheap. But this year, while perusing on Pinterest, the boys eyed a valentine that they just had to make. After a bit of trouble collecting the supplies, we spent a solid 3 hours together getting these ready for their classmates. They were happy crafting with me, and it really was a fun time together. We have already been looking for ideas for next year. It was time and money well spent.

Levi wanted me to add that it was the best Valentine's ever!!!


PS. This is the finished product from the website where we got the ideas. Sadly we never took pictures of the 40+ Superheroes that we made.

mango salsa

After all the fun I had with mangoes a weekend or two ago, I still had 4 mangoes left over.

So I made Mango Salsa. MMMmmm. I wrote down what I did and have already lost it. So I am writing it here and hope that I will never ever ever forget it. It was so good.

3 mangoes
1/4 cup red onion
1/2 green pepper
1/3 cup cilantro
1/2 jalepeno (use seeds according to taste)
pinch salt
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp lemon juice

Dice everything up and eat with chips or crackers or just straight from your hand, I mean spoon.

saturday night

Superstore the other day had a deal where if you spent X amount of money, you got a free case of mangoes.

I don't really like mangoes, but it is hard to resist something free, especially if you are related to my parents.


So, after spending an extra $25 bucks at the merc in Raymond, I had a fun night to myself making this



Mango Chutney

and this



Mango Strawberry Jam


and this

Mango Jelly

It felt great to get my canner out and fill up some empty jars. Almost like winter doesn't really exist and its still the end of summer. I haven't tried the chutney yet, but it smelled SO good going into the jars, and I do know that the Mango Strawberry jam is delicious!

happenings

Don't forget:

Thad started rolling around right around Christmas time. By New Year's he could move in any desired direction he wanted. Now he is everywhere and into everything that is ground level. He still is not technically crawling, though. He does the worm everywhere. It is pretty cute and he is so proud of himself when he gets is arms and body up onto the bottom stair.

Monet says the cutest words. I will miss this when she talks more properly. Can you guess what they are? Bandi, Raingo and Mouwff are a few of my favorites. I can't believe she is almost 3.

Enoch is so hot and cold it is confusing. Of all my kids, he can be the best behaved. Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. He loves Thad so much and thankfully has stopped hurting him. Now, instead he looks at him and gets so excited he just yells for joy. YELLS. I need to teach him the teeth clench.

Levi went skiing for the first time a week ago. He had a blast spending the day with Dad on the slopes. He picked it up pretty quick, and it only took a few falls going fairly fast before he realized that yes, he does need to learn how to turn. Tomorrow is Levi's first non-birthday party, a 'late-night" including a movie and games. Not much else has been talked about this week.

I am almost down my second round of only eating 3 treats a week. I have never been back in shape this soon after having a baby, and it feels pretty good.

Josh is MIA most evenings, but his team is doing well and they are a fun team to watch. Loooking forward to April and having him around more often.

jeopardy

Answer:
Levi: Being nice to your kids. Loving so much that your eyes fall out. Sharing love. Playing with your kids.

Monet: Being happy.

Enoch: Spanking your kids.

Mommy: Someone who works day in and day out to provide, love and care for their family.


Question:
What makes a good Daddy?

parent trap

I read an article last night about parenting which was all too true in many ways. I would link it but there are some questionable words in it so I won't. The main idea of the article was that parenting is the pits 90% of the time, but that those few moments of peace, love, sharing, teaching, etc. etc. make up for it and that the 10% of magic make up for the rest of the mayhem.

So, in no distinct order, here is my list of top ten reasons to be a parent:
1) I love being silly and goofy, and I am finding that the older I get the rarer it becomes. But with a little help from my kids I am able to burst through that shell and have a giddy good time every now and then.
2) Hearing the words that I am the best mom in the world for making the best dinner in the world (minutes after being told the complete opposite).
3) Big hugs when I come in the door.
4) Peaceful, sleeping angels.
5) Morning cuddles.
6) Being shown their imaginative wonders.
7) Reading stories.
8) Being freely forgiven. I think children really are the best at forgive and forget. I always think of this when I hear the Savior's words to become like a child.
9) That moment when their eyes light up and they understand something new.
10) When a baby learns to crawl. That is just the best.

Parenting certainly isn't as easy as I thought as a young adult, but it is a bigger blessing than I ever imagined!