Holly...the pretty princess

Holly is engaged to the wonderful Matt Harker. So today we took 'er on down to Provo to play with the girls and go dress shopping. It has been a mere 11 years since Holly and Heather ran me into a Provo bridal store yelling 'we have a bride and she has a ring.' We eventaully found a great dress, for only $100!!!!!!!! Heather and I scoped out several of the same stores we shopping in 11 years ago. It was weird. We finally found a store with more than two modest dresses and Holly found three that she really liked. So she and  Heather will brave the store again and look at them again later.
It was  HARD work getting the bride dressed!! (my job since Heather can't lean over at all without going into labor practically).
We are estatic to welcome Matt into the family. And plan a new family photo soon, with Matt, Ashley and soon-to-come baby Ben.
Holly, you are the pretty princess, and I am sending you vibes for an awesome dress...way cheap!

Easter-ness

So here are the goodies the girls garnered this year.

And here are the girls! (notice they even are wearing BOWS!)

Dirt is like therapy

On Friday, Josh's family got together for an early Easter party and we moosied up to Clearfield for that. Very nice. Thanks for hosting Katie! On the way, we went and found some pellet store for Josh  to sand/abrasion stuff for work. Then we went to the new Whole Foods at Trolley Square and ate at their mini-food court (all healthy stuff). It was very interesting to see so much 'good-for-you' food in one place.

We also went to a nursery and got some plants!!

Saturday, Josh had to go to Logan to help former boss/grad advisor with the laser. So the girls and I had a lovely at-home day.

I went a little crazy in the yard and did the following projects:

Planted more strawberries in our box:

 Planted asparagus behind strawberries:

 Check out your rhubarb transplant Marcil!

Then I dug up a LOT of sod and weeds and planted our new grape vines!

Also the girls braved the 40-degree weather to come out and look at work, check out the rolly polly I found while digging, and of course, play on the jungle gym.

 I moved all the sand-inducing stuff off the patio (and cleaned out the toy kitchen).

The sand box is now here: (possible home of new big sandbox):

Then I planted our new raspberries:

 Mowed the lawn, swept all the sand off the patio, made bread, cleaned the house, did the wash. And finally, I remember to plant my new peppermint. Now I can try 'real' peppermint herbal tea!

It was a wonderful day out in the yard, digging in the dirt and putting little plants in to grow and bloom. My back massager was even more appreciated last night! Josh got home fine and we are looking forward to a lovely Easter day. We are grateful for the eternal, happy message of Easter: "He is not here, he is risen." 

Hairs

The girls have been growing out their hair. Ellie, in particular, has been VERY interested in braids recently. So I got us a braid and bows book. It arrived during our trip and today Ellie wanted fancy hair. Here is mommy's first attempt.

 And then a picture of Ashley and a picture of momma that Ash took:

Great Michigan adventure 2011

Well here is the whole story. On Monday night, after finding out the government was NOT shutting down (which would have been like a vacation for Josh - he could not have gone to work), we decided to leave Tuesday morning after our appointments.
Josh, Ash and Ellie went to preschool while mommy did stuff. Then we went to kindergarden orientation at Excelsior Academy.  We headed out, realized we forgot some vital computer part (went back to get it) and left again. Here are the cute girls in their nighttime/early-morning-travel-wear:

We spent the night in Sidney, Nebraska and set off again in the morning. We arrived around 3 a.m. in Saginaw, Michigan. After some delightful sleep, we went to see Grandpa, who was spending his last day in a rehab unit.

Playing with the bed was fun:

And then there was some tickle-monster-fighting going on:

And then we practiced shaking hands, playing hide-n-seek and high fives:

After all that excitement, we went to see my Grandma Bluemlein, the girls' great-grandma. We look a LOT a like. Once I was in a play with a big wig and awesome dress, and she came and saw me, and I DID look exactly like her (back a few years):

Wednesday we hung out some more. When I go "out east" I usually love to indulge in one of my favorites - crunchy Long John Silver fishes and crunchies. So being the marvelous hubby he is, Josh got me a bunch. And I totally chowed down. And then we both decided one fish-splurge was enough. I might even pass up next year's fish-splurge.
Grandpa and the girls had a fun time together:

Then Saturday morning we got up early and headed out. We love you guys!

Drove and drove and drove. Spent night somewhere small in Nebraska. Drove and drove and got to 100,000 miles on my awesome party van. Got home Sunday afternoon. So nice to be home.
I do  love traveling across our great nation. It is so amazing so many different places can work together to be one great nation. I loved the dark soil in Illinois - I wanted to go put my fingers in it. And the trees everywhere in Michigan and the rolling fields in Nebraska. I love America!

Sad news

Got an email from the boys' caseworker today that the judge ruled they should go live with the biological aunt. That is the news. I will post all the fun pics from our Michigan adventure after dinner. I am fine. I hope the best for the boys.

Say YES, so Michigan....say yes, yes, yes say yes (sing this)

This is the old tourism song for Michigan, which we sang a lot as we drove to Michigan. We drove to Michigan on Tuesday (well, we started then). We spent the night in Sidney, Nebraska. We got here around 3 a.m. last night. Yah for sleeping laying straight.  We are out visiting relatives today and plan to have my favorite once-a-year treat - Long John Silvers!!!! Picture coming later.

Pictures, breathing, assorted stuff

Well the GREAT news is that my chest did not hurt today!! I was very conscious about relaxing my jaw and it totally helped. I noticed it A LOT when I was playing the organ and then piano today, so maybe that has been my chest-hurting-tension-causing-crap. That would be nice. Yah! (If you noticed me sticking out my tongue while playing, it was because I was doing my jaw-relaxing-exercises, fyi.)
We have decided, in the subject of the yard, to play a LOT of different things, but just one or two (like only 8 asparagus plants, etc.) Since it has been snowing almost STRAIGHT for 48 hours, maybe one day before June it will be warm enough to plant.
Saturday I went off and finally quilted the girls' quilts. It was a good patience activity. I am glad this goal is done!

 
Since it was finally NOT snowing this afternoon, the girls embarked on two FAVORITE spring activities: looking for bugs

 and splashing in puddles.

Also, here is Josh's oxygen machine, which we are no longer using because it keeps falling off. He is not snoring at all, hardly, but using those breathe-strips. Yah! Also here is a pic of grandma tickeling the girls. We loved you visiting, Grandma!

"Tight head"

Yes, apparently I have a 'tight head.' I went off to the physical therapist (thanks Kellie and Danielle for the child-wrestling!) to see what could be done about my jaw pain. The surgeon who did my jaw said it was likely TJM. And he suggested this guy.
So I got vibrated, stretched, lasered, mini-massaged, etc. I got several hand-outs of exercises (including sticking out your tongue 10 times, three times a day). Apparently all the thousands of muscles in my whole head are tight and need to relax. And my brain is probably overactive, which makes your head tight. Duh.
Jaw did not really hurt when I went (due to implimentation of several techniques I read about online). But I want to know what to do to KEEP it from getting worse. He was only medium marginly helpful. I will try one more appointment. I can heating-pad my face at home!
It is snowing again today.
We had an excellent SLC adventure yesterday with a stock-up-on-butter-trip-to-the-store; fabulous book gathering time at the library and a glorious craft-finding time at Joann's with the Korth ladies. Thanks for the marvelous day girls!
So we are very happy to sit in our nice warm home with lots of cocoa, crafts and books. Happy April!

April, snow, Conference, etc.

Well, last Thursday, that was quite a blog-time ago! Sorry.
OK, let's see it was totally nice and warm on Wed and Thu. My momma came (delayed by dump airlines) Tuesday and we moosied down to Provo to pick her up Thursday. Friday the guests started arriving for Conference weekend. Holly and Matt came, Momma, Heather/Jason/Emma and Cousin Sally and Brian. Very fun. VERY yummy treats. 
Our first daffodil of the year came out. And then was promptly covered by five inches of snow Sunday morning!

Grandma's visit was awesome - highlighted by buying books, reading LOTS of books, playing hide and seek, doing puzzles, etc. Grandma will need a vacation after this! We are so glad you came and that you are our Grandma!!