Snoopy Play

Do you know what I do when I sit down to write my family email?  First I try really hard to think about what has gone on this past week…and after thinking for a minute or so realize I can’t remember what happened this week!  So without fail I pull out my phone to look at the pictures I have taken to help me remember J  Should I be concerned?  Hahahaha, if I’m this bad right now, I am in serious trouble later!

(Scrolling through pictures now….)

Ok, remembering.  So Audrie finished her production of Snoopy this week!  Thank heavens it’s over!! She had a FABULOUS time being apart of it and had already shared with me her sadness that it is over.  I see some drama in her future (although she’s very dramatic already!  As in preteen drama, bleh.).  The play itself was quite honestly one of the worst plays I have ever seen, but it doesn’t matter because Audrie enjoyed herself thoroughly J  See attached photo.  Doesn’t she look all grown up?  She is definitely a pretty girl.

Kaylee had her “Thankful” Party (why we don’t just call it a thanksgiving party makes me crazy).  It was really cute.  Kaylee and all the kindergartners did two dances that  were darling.  She had a blast…until the assistant principal cut is short because parents were taking pictures (of their own kids)…oh my word.  This country is turning into a “walk on eggshells” country.  But we tried to stay positive anyway, as I did not want Kaylee’s special day to be ruined because of some dumb rule.  (Can you tell I’m still a little angry about it? HA!) My illegal picture is below...scandalous!

We also found out we are being Audited because of our charitable contributions for 2012.  I think we have everything together and ready to send off to the IRS.  Hopefully it won’t be a long process and they don’t need anything else J  Never a dull moment at the Hart household!

Speaking of charitable contributions we had our tithing settlement last night with the bishop.  Our children always need some serious prep before we go in to make sure we don’t say or do anything embarrassing (it’s happened many a time), so we did our usual song and dance and then walked into the office.  The Bishop began talking to each one of the children trying to get to know them a little better.  First Tyler, then Audrie, Kaylee and finally Sam.  After the first round Audrie raised her hand with something else she wanted to say.  The Bishop acknowledged her and began conversing with her again.  While he was talking with Audrie, Sammy chimed in, looked right at the Bishop, and with a really loud and DIRECT voice said, “Will you marry me?” Hahahahaha.  We just giggled and giggled.  Now we can add that to our list of embarrassing moments in tithing settlement J  Our two year old proposed to the Bishop!  Wonder if that happens often?  We are just special like that I suppose.

Best news of all was KATIE!!!!  I am so thrilled that Dixie high is just amazing like that.  I got quite teary after hearing about her being crowned Queen!!  What a great way to end your HS career. 

My craft day was a success!  So glad it went well this year.  I enjoyed myself more than I have in the past.

Anyway, I better go.  We’ve been potty training for the past 4 days…it’s going ok.  Nothing exciting to report, except for the fact that SHE gets SO excited when “the potty is coming” and squeals and giggles as we RUN to the toilet each time.  Glad it’s a positive experience, but I’m wishing she would get there a little sooner (I think we went through 8 pairs of panties Sat).  We will get there!

B is for Bread

Well Andy left again today for another business trip…3^rd one in the last few weeks.  He never travels so this is a little unusual for all of us, but we are holding our own without too much trouble! 

Lynds, as you must have assumed the lunch didn’t work out for Andy.  He called your mission pres and he said, “no.”  Which is fine, sad but completely understandable!  He said it would be too distracting J  We all know Andy can be distracting!  Hahaha…or maybe I mean distracted?  Just kidding.  That is Audrie…she is my distracted one!  I saw this card once that said on the front, “Happy Bir….Oh look a Squirel!”  And I thought it was perfect for Audrie, but it would have not made any sense to her at all. 

We’ve had a good busy week.  Audrie had her final volleyball game, which was really fun.  They were SO close to winning their final game, but just missed it.  They improved a GAZILLION percent.  Seriously.  It is amazing how much improvement you can make in 11 weeks.  It was fun and I’m glad I had the opportunity to coach even though it was really stressful for mwah!

Kaylee has been very thoughtful lately.  Asking a lot of deep questions as her mind really works hard.  The other day she asked me, “Mom, can you smell in space?”  I scratched my head and said, “Um. I don’t know.  We are going to have to look that up.”  Do you know what the answer is??  You will get the first hug when I see you next if you get it right!  Answer to follow…and NO CHEATING!

Tyler had his first performance this week.  It was really fun to see him (hear him) perform!  They don’t play as a band this year yet to help them learn their instrument first.  So Tyler is in a percussion class and they performed as a group.  First they played the snare drum, then they played a combination of the marimba (wooden xylophone basically), the bells (metal xylophone) and one other style of xylophone.   Hopefully the videos come through.  You can’t see him very well, but he one of the tallest ones in his group, in the center a little to the right in the drum line.  Sorry for the wiggly cinematography…Sam was in my arms flailing around (in fact I was shocked how still the video turned out, props to me! Ha!).

Sam and I hosted preschool this week.  Thanks to some great input from Cami, we had a great time.  We made bread and each of the girls helped put ingredients in the kitchen aid.  Sam of course was a pro because she does this all the time with me, but the other girls were absolutely fascinated!!  It was great.  See pic.

Audrie apart of a musical in her school.  She is in the choir, but they are in an out of the play.  She is absolutely LOVING it.  She sings all day long…and I wake up with the songs she’s been singing in my head….and they never leave!  Hahaha.  Good times.  We will send pictures of the performance asap.

Alrightee I better get moving on the house…and I really ought to go to the gym, but I’m not certain that is going to happen today.

Pumpkin Pies

Lynds, I must start of by saying I AM DYING inside because Andy is RIGHT BY you…he is on a business trip in San Diego for the next few days.  It was a surprise when I looked to see how close that was to you.  I would have loved to have him show up in your sacrament meeting “by accident” hahahaha…I know that doesn’t go along the rules of the mish, but MAN it would be cool J  I know CJ got permission to see Colton while on his mission, so I wondered if you could, but it sounds as though it’s not a normal thing they approve.  Bummer, but we will see you soon enough!  (Maybe I shouldn’t be talking about all of this coming home stuff?!  I will stop.)

Good times this week.  Andy left Saturday evening right after Audrie’s volleyball game (which they FINALLY won one of the games….not the entire game just ONE of the three games they play within a game).  It may sound ridiculous, but it was just SO successful for our team.  Seriously, Audrie rocks it though.  She has some POWER behind her serves and bumps.  If they had all Audrie’s on her team they would be really hard to beat! 

Yesterday we had church very  late (due to us meeting in a building that is not in our Stake). Because they had stake conference we didn’t meet until 1pm!!  And with daylight savings ending it felt like 2pm and that is witching hour numero uno for Sam.  And she did not disappoint.  She was a stinker!  She’s becoming a little rebellious lately and I’m getting sad my Sweet Sam is phasing out and sassy Sam is phasing in L  Tyler had his turn as well.  Sometimes he just really struggles with pestering his sisters.  Then he wonders why he gets in trouble!  We did however have a great time before church.  Tyler and I worked on his Faith in God  and I worked on my personal progress (I have the book of Moroni left to read and ONE value experience left before I am DONE!).  It was really nice to have down time before church. 

Tyler also helped me bake some homemade FRESH pumpkin pies yesterday.  He really loves to cook with me and I really LOVE the time we have together.  It’s quite ironic he is my pickiest eater (by LEAPS and bounds)!  Attached is a pic of the younger girls waiting every so patiently, while sniffing the oven vent every once in a while to smell the anticipated treat! 

Today of course started out with a bang.  Our morning carpool driver had a sick kid and couldn’t drive.  We scrambled to come up with some alternative, but between Andy being gone, carpool lady #2 having to be in her other child's class early, and her hubby with early morning appointments….we couldn’t come up with any alternative solution.  Lady # 2’s child and Audrie were an HOUR late to school L  I think it was worse case scenario, but they got there!!  And Audrie was THRILLED to go into class late.  She is a Hoot I tell ya!!

I had a parent teacher conf with Kaylee’s teacher and she said how well she is doing.  I am so glad that we held her back and am seeing that this was the right thing for her this year.  It really has been a blessing!  She has been reverting back to her sweet self lately (which left a couple of years ago and has only returned intermittently for very short moments), which I have loved.  She is such a tender soul and is always so close to the spirit.  She thinks so deeply about God and returning to Him and OFTEN mentions how she misses Him.  It just melts me to the core!  She’s growing up a lot as well and really reading well. 

We had a decent Halloween.  Seriously I struggle with getting excited about it.  BAH humbug.  But I did make Sam and Audrie’s capes which turned out darling (especially Sams!).