Alphabet Dates-- M Date

After a long break, we started up our "Alphabet Dates" again.
It was MY turn to plan M.
On MONDAY we went to Hill Aerospace MUSEUM.

We came home and had a MOVIE MARATHON while we ate M&Ms.
For dinner, we invited the MORMON MISSIONARIES over of a MEXICAN MEAL

including MOCK MARGARITAS .

This is pretty much how Andrew looked the whole time--he LOVED it!

I thought this was a cute picture of Matt and Lindsay.....

....until I saw Andrew in the background!
He ran past those ropes in a hurry!

The date was MARVELOUS!

#22 Update the main bathroom

My least favorite bathroom has been our “main bathroom.”  It is the one that most people use when they come to our house, it is my least favorite layout of the three, it is the smallest, and I haven’t loved the way it looked.

I thought the improvements we did when we first moved in were big improvements but I still wasn’t sold on it.  I gave myself a budget of $40 and decided to update it one more time.  This time, I am REALLY happy with how it turned out.

Here is how the bathroom looked when we bought the house.

Yes, that is CARPET in the bathroom!

Here is how it has been for the past 4+ years.  

We ripped out the carpet and added tile.  We switched the toilet with the master bath, got a new shower curtain, towels, and we painted the medicine cabinet and cupboards black.  I thought it was better but didn’t LOVE it.

Here is how it looks now.

I got rid of the huge bulky medicine cabinet and put up a white mirror.  I painted the cabinets and light fixture white and got a new faucet, new hardware, towels, and shower curtain.  I also added the shelf with and changed to plant on the toilet. 

One day, I would still like to “gut” this bathroom, but for now I am REALLY happy with the change!

Be a little "BUTTER"

3 times a year the young women and young men in our ward have a "fireside."  

(I think we are supposed to call them something different now, but I can't remember what).

They rotate to the different members of the bishopric and it was our turn.

Darin and I spoke about making goals and trying harder to become better.
We did a lot of analogies with butter, and had them shake their own butter.

After the devotional we had rolls and 5 different kinds of butter.  We did cinnamon honey butter, cilantro lime butter, raspberry butter, blackberry butter, and garlic butter.  I think the cilantro lime was my favorite.  

I made 84 rolls for 13 kids--and we only had ONE roll left!!  I was glad they liked them!!

Sure LOVE this group of kids---I especially have a soft spot for these girls--they were my Beehives and Mia Maids when I got released.  Now they are MiaMaids and Laurels!!  Love them!

 

Sunday Best

Valentine Video!!

We made a funny little valentine video!  Hope you enjoy it!

Aunt DeAnna

Last week my aunt DeAnna died.  Her funeral was amazing.  I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and cried a lot.  She was one of the most amazing women I’ve ever known.  Truly.  Amazing.  She is everything I aspire to be.  She is an incredible mother and her goodness has passed down to her wonderful children.

After the funeral, a friend came up to me and said, “Can I please be adopted into your family?” 

  How lucky I am to call these wonderful people “family.” 

Stop and look and you will find 

Exactly what you have in mind

For there will always, always be

The very things you want to see

If for the good you look each day 

And with kind words you choose to say

How nice it is! How kind you are!

Those things you'll find both near and far

If on the other hand you choose

To see the bad, then you will loose

For soon or late you always find

Exactly what you have in mind

- DeAnna W. Packer

Matthew's Pirate Party

Matt had a fun Pirate Birthday this week!

Here are the invitations that I made:

(Some people tell me I am creative, I really am not--I just take ideas from other people, so to give credit to them, you can see all the ideas I stole on my Pinterest inspiration board HERE ---including the invitation I attempted to copy).

We made a this path to our house:

We looked at a few pirate books while we waited for everyone 

(I HIGHLY recommend those David Shannon books--my kids love them).

Then we got everyone dressed like a pirate (hats, swords, eye patch, etc).

(Thanks Eliza for letting Lindsay use your awesome costume!)

After everyone was dressed we had a big sword fight.

Next we had lunch.

We had hot "scurvy dog" ships.

"Swashbuckling swords"

Jello Jewels

(And thanks Christy for getting me those awesome swords).

Orange boats (Most of the kids took a flag, but left the orange).

And fish and chips.

And check out this AWESOME cake that my sister helped me make 

(or should I say I helped her....she did most of the work--thanks Heather!!)

After lunch we played "pin the treasure chest on the treasure map, then "Walk the Plank"

Next we had a cannon ball fight--they really liked that.

Last Matt discovered a treasure map!  So, we followed the clues!

(Sorry, I do realize my poetry is really bad--my dad even told me so!)

Ahoy there Matey! We’re glad you’re here!

Come look for my treasure like a buccaneer!

Enjoy singing a sea shanty on the boat.

Your first clue is near a piano note.

Avast ye scallywags! Get ready to plunder!

Hear the cannons as loud as thunder!

Swab the deck and be sure to scrub.

Then look for the next clue by the bathtub!

Me first mate is also the cook.

Listen close and get ready to look.

Shiver me timbers! You’re getting hot!

Your next clue is inside a POT!

Aye, me hearties, me booty is getting near!

It’s marooned in a chest, not too far from here.

One step closer to getting the loot,

Go look inside Matthew’s BOOT.

Yo-ho-ho, this is the last clue!

If you solve it, you’ll be through!

The treasure will be yours for keeps--

if you look where the baby SLEEPS.

(Isn't the treasure always under a coconut tree?  

Luckily we just happen to have one in Andrew's room!)

(thanks Heather for letting me borrow your chest and other decorations too!)

Happy Birthday to my best buddy, Matthew!  

Love you pal!