So.  I've a group of random pictures that were taken Feb/March.  I'm not really positive of the dates and I certainly don't have the energy or desire to find out.  So we'll just offer this mish-mash of pictures and call it day.

I got to take the boys to our first Mother/Sons Dance and we had such a fun time.  The advantage of not knowing anyone at the school means that I can dance around and act like a loon and nobody will ever say anything about it.  Which I did.  Very energetically.  Plus, I figured I'd go for broke since 1. The boys have yet to gain any inhibitions about dancing in public and so they went equally crazy and 2. They both still like their Mama and more importantly, like to be seen with their Mama...in public!  and 3. despite my crazy antics, they both thought I was a really good dancer.  They said things like, "Cool move!" and "How did you learn to dance so good?!"  Aaah, the sweetness of naivety.

Needless to say it was a very fun night and the closer junior high looms in front of us, I realize that these carefree nights will most likely be limited.  Sigh.

Our resident trouble maker.  Doesn't he just look sad?  He was a little stuck and instead of saving him immediately, I took a picture.  Does that make me mean?  He was just so cute.

The advantage of Robert working just a few minutes from our house is that we get to see him sometimes for lunch.  On one of these days, instead of eating, we went over to the park and played with Jason for a few minutes.  It was fun for Rob to just spend time with his little baby.

On a random weekend we took off and walked through the Bellagio which was decked out for the Chinese New Year.  I do like being able to jump in the car and drive for 15 min. to see something like this.  They change the scene about 5 times a year and it is always pretty magnificent.

One evening as we were calmly sitting around the table eating dinner, Ethan suddenly jumped up and shouted, "Tomorrow is 'dress-up-as-your-favorite-charactor-from-a-book-day' and I want to be a the evil puppet Mendigo from Fablehaven!"  Alaina quickly joined the fray and declared, "And I want to be a fairy! (also from Fablehaven)  Not to be outdone, Austin added, "And I want to be Seth.'  (You guessed it, another character from Fablehaven.  I cannot express to you just how into these books the kids are.  We have been reading them out loud at dinner time and we are now just about to start our 4th book!)  So.  I looked at Rob's frowning face.  I looked at the clock, which looked back at me chuckling as it displayed the time - 8:00 p.m.   Robert, all worked up from the raw emotion flying around declared that if the kids couldn't find anything in the closet, then they'd go to school without any costume.  The gavel slammed down on the kitchen table with a THUNK!

Mayhem followed that stoic announcement.  Moans and groans and gnashing of teeth filled the room.  How could we be so mean?!!!  How could they go to school and be the ONLY ones not dressed up???   Why couldn't we be good parents and magically come up with everything they wanted??  Instantly!!!  Inspired by their tantrums and insanity, I looked at my doomsday children thrashing on the floor, looked up to the mocking clock that now giddily flashed 8:15, narrowed my eyes and quietly stated, "Challenge accepted."  

A hush fell over the room followed by a thunderous cheer!  Mom to the rescue!

I quickly pulled out a few moving boxes and put Robert and Ethan on the job for cutting up pieces to make a puppet.  I rushed the twins to bed and ran out the door to CVS.  They unfortunately didn't have much in the way of Halloweeny things, especially like fairy wings, but I grabbed a few items, ran home and started to MacGyver a pair of wings from a hanger and a pair of pantyhose.  By the next morning we had success.  The crowds cheered!  Mom was the victor and will forever be hailed as the woman who saved dress-up-as-your-favorite-charactor-from-a-book-day from utter failure.  

I'm still waiting, but I believe the trophy is still in the mail.  Bummer.  

Here is the Creepy Puppet Mendigo (You can tell from the title scribbled on the front of his outfit....we are big on the subtleties around here.)

Austin's was the easiest.  All he needed was an emergency box and a stick.  Austin did his hair just for the special day.  Oh wait.  No.  He didn't.

Alaina's took the longest time in the morning since she wanted curly hair, glitter and fairy makeup.  Ok, princess.  Maybe I should have fed her some peeled grapes as well.  My trouble is, I just can't say no to that sweet face.  So Lola got what Lola wanted....Not too shabby, right?

Gotta love those pantyhose wings!

 The best part of the day was when they came home and told me that hardly anyone in their class dressed up.  In fact, Ethan was the only one in his class to do anything.  Guess it really wasn't as desperate as we first thought.  However, they were cute, and I can't stop loving my little monsters, despite how badly they have me wrapped around their fingers.

Here is another picture of my only drama-free child.  Sweetie.

One weekend, I jumped in the car with Jason and drove to Saint George to join my Mom and the girls for a genealogy conference.  Uncle Tom was there too but didn't spend the day with us....too girly.  Jason and I were a little more into walking the halls but it was really fun just being with all the ladies.  Joanne Brooks,  Roberta James, Joyce Ridge and Mom.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, or maybe closer to the beginning of all that.. was Valentine's day.  For breakfast I made the little loves Raspberry heart-shaped pancakes with Raspberry syrup and strawberry shakes.  Yum.  Ethan enjoyed the morning a little earlier than the twins since he had an early class that day, so i didn't get a picture of him.  So.  Happy very late Valentine's Day!    Cheers!

Right after we got settled back in, we got to have a fun visit with Craig and his family.  They were on their way to Disneyland and stopped by on the way there and the way back home.  It is so much fun to live here were we get to visit with friends and family so much more than before.  I don't think we've ever lived anywhere so well situated.  It was so fun to be together and the kids had a ball.  Here are a few pictures from their stopovers.

Here are all the kids, all cleaned up and respectable.  (Ethan loved not being the only red-head in the house.  I don't know if you can tell, but there are 4 of them in this picture!)

Peter and Jason played really well together.

That is, until the National-Baby-Tetherball Championships.  Then, I hate to say it, but my baby kicked Craig's baby's trash!  Geeeett Rrreeaaaaddddyyy toooo Rrrruuuummmble!!!!!

Here are our little mothers with their little babies.  Alaina & Jason, Lucy & Peter.

Alaina was in absolute heaven have all those girls around.  She is usually outnumbered and relents to doing boy activities.  This visit gave her nothing but girly fun.

The boys had a fun time being together as well.  You may notice I don't have many pictures of them.  It was too hard to make them sit still long enough for a photo.  Between the flying turtles, the tetherball and well, just about any physical activity you can think of....all I got was a bunch of blurry memories.   But fun, blurry memories.  Come back our way again!

I've been neglecting this poor blog all month and now I need to play a little catch-up.  First thing is first.  While Robert and I took our fun anniversary trip, Mom and Dad held down the fort here at home.  Here are a few of their pictures they took.

One special evening that Laina was really looking forward to was the school's Daddy/Daughter dance. She was so excited when she found out that Grandpa was going to be able to take her.  She told us that she had the most wonderful time at the dance.  Look how they even coordinate.  Pretty fancy.

They did an excellent job of being surrogate parents.  In fact, I'm not sure the kids even noticed we were gone.

They went to the park

To the school functions.

They put Jason on time out.  (Just kidding...Jason didn't love the toys as much as being inside the toy box.

They made school projects with the kids.

They read Fablehaven.

And made sure the rascals did all of their chores (I swear she never looks that happy when I make her take the garbages out!)

In fact.  Now that I've put this all down to paper.  It looks like Mom and Dad had it all under control.  Since I never seem to be all put together, I'm thinking they should move in and run things for a while.  Great idea?