A word of advice

to you Luke, I know you're excited about eating, I get excited too, but you need to learn to rein it in, otherwise dating will be really embarrassing for you. Love you son.

(The funniest part might actually be how bad I missed getting the puff in his mouth...it's hard to see what you are doing through a camera ok?)

Teacher Appreciation

To recognize Ashby and Avery's teachers for teacher appreciation day, we did some serious cutting and painting. I swear I saw some notepads similar to these somewhere on the internets, but couldn't find it again, so I just did my own thing. We purchased some 3mm birch from the craft store. I then cut six pieces out of the sheet. The girls painted the wood pieces and drew a picture on a pre-cut piece of paper. We used mod podge on the dry pieces to attach their pictures. Then I drilled holes through the wood and paper (I may or may not have drilled a 3/16" hole in the kitchen table...) I then cut and punched holes in regular type paper. Put it all together and ta-da, a customized notepad. We also included a pen with each one. I was pretty happy with how they turned out. I was frustrated at my inability to find very good rings to attach everything together. The ones I used were a little flimsy, but did the job. I hope the teachers liked them; we sure do like the teachers!

Out with the sad and lame, in with the happy and homemade

This is the sad bag that I've carried all my church stuff in. Church stuff comprises of a 3 inch binder, a magazine, a notebook, scriptures, a small hymn book and a lesson manual; obviously not capable of fitting in a cute purse. I was tired of this 13 year old bag. How do I know it's 13 years old? It's the bag they give to missionaries when they enter the MTC. That means Roger's old. Anyway I saw instructions for this new tote and immediately knew it's destiny.

Instructions for this tote can be found here. I had never made anything with piping or a liner so I was a little nervous. It went rather well though, there was never any cursing or wishing doom upon my sewing machine and really that's the measure of success with a sewing project. It brightens my day to take it to church.

I've also figured out the reason for Luke's week long crankiness, his first tooth. Pictures to come when you can do something other than feel it with a finger.

Reporting live

Another thing that I find so humorous is the news. I'm not a religious news watcher, it's too depressing, but every once in a while we catch the first few minutes of a broadcast. The other night we were watching the Penguins game and then the news started. The first report was about the Penguins game which they had won here in Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena. There was some brouhaha about the fact that the next game wasn't going to be broadcast on a big screen outside Mellon Arena. The woman reporting the story signed off by saying "this is so and so outside Heinz Field, back to you in the studio." I said to myself, wait, what? Heinz Field? Heinz Field is where the Steelers and the Pitt Panthers play FOOTBALL. FOOTBALL, not hockey. But did they just figure that since some kind of sporting activity happens there it's good enough? It's not the first time I've noticed that. Does the story just look more official if you're standing outside... somewhere? Awesome. This is Chelsea Worth reporting live from somewhere near my couch, back to you.

I know what you're thinking....

"....she's not really doing another post about pirates." Indeed I am, except these are the less violent, play baseball type Pirates. It was buck night at the game tonight, so we ventured out of our winter cave and went down to the ball park. It was raining and cold, but still fun. Luke was amazing well behaved for the late hour. Roger went o-2 for pictures tonight, it was humorous enough to still post. For whatever reason I can't move these pictures around how I want, here we go anyway.

Luke and I tapped out at about 9 pm. This is after we drove home. Mind you it was two hours past bedtime. He couldn't stop giggling, how was I supposed to put him to bed?

Roger and the girls, so close to eyes open Rog, keep trying.

Luke and I trying to stay warm.
Roger, completely unsuccessful at eyes open.

Ashby enjoying a pretzel.

Avery lovin' every minute of it.

A note to you Somali pirates: it has been brought to my attention that you are wearing fatigues and not puffy shirts. Maybe, just maybe if you wore puffy shirts you wouldn't feel so violent and angry and want to steal stuff...think about it.

The Easter trip

We spent Easter weekend in Virginia with the Worth's. It was so great to see everyone, we have missed living there so much. We even went to our old ward. It was strange because the girls didn't remember ever going there and didn't really remember old friends. Two years is forever to kids isn't it? I of course was mom of the year and forgot my camera and was not into the usual Easter festivities. I sometimes feel so guilty that I'm not providing opportunities for my kids to have fun. I hope they will forgive me, or at least find a good therapist. They were very sweet in their new Easter gear. Again because I forgot the camera I didn't get a picture of Luke in his new clothes. He thought it appropriate to have a massive blowout during sacrament meeting (sorry again Kev). We managed a few pics with Kelly's camera, thanks Kelly.

Here's what baby-poops-a-lot spent Easter wearing. At least he smiled for me.

The girls on Easter. I was loving the yellow for spring, thanks mom!

Another reason I'm a terrible person.

Because honestly, nothing makes my day like seeing a headline on CNN about pirates. I know it's completely insensitive and rude, but PIRATES! It does makes me wander around all day saying things like arrgh matey or yo ho and wondering whether or not I have scurvy.