Entertainment

My Dad took us all out for dinner today.  And then he played with Rachael while we waited for our food.  Both my mom and dad have really enjoyed playing with Rachael while they have been here - it's going to be hard for her to go back to just me for entertainment.

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

How can you not love things wrapped in bacon? Seriously, this was delicious.

You can find the recipe here: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/03/glazed-bacon-wrapped-meat-loaf/

I used 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb ground pork.

Bandages

Both my husband and my mother had skin cancer spots removed in the last week via Mohs surgery.  They have matching bandages to prove it.  However, knowing they wouldn't want pictures of themselves with their heads taped up to be splashed all over the internet, I have decided to leave it in my personal archive.

Thankfully they are both doing well and healing nicely!

Tap Class

Still loving tap class!

(I have no idea what the weirdly folded arms are about though...)

Seriously?

One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things isn't the same.

(I'll give you a hint: patio furniture, green grass and the month of March are the things that go together.)

Scavengers

I'm not a fan of the new Wendy's fries.  The grackles, on the other hand, seem to enjoy them.  (No, I was not the one to throw those fries out there.)

Going Native

Yep, she thinks she's a UK fan too.

Pinkatastic

The neighbor's flowering crabapple tree.  Love!

Twinkies!

The very first bite of her very first Twinkie!

Surprisingly, she liked it.

Hyacinth

Survival

Last year our juniper bush was attacked by bagworms, and died in just a couple of days. The bagworms then moved on to the other bushes and across the sidewalk to this burning bush.  We poisoned the worms, but all the leaves fell off the burning bush and we weren't sure it would survive.  I was pleased as punch to see this leaves bursting out all over a few days ago!

Easy Bake

When I asked Rachael what we should fix for dessert today, she asked if we could use the Easy Bake.  When I said we could, then she asked if we could make red velvet cake.  Why not?  A few clicks of the internet later and we had a recipe for red velvet cake for the Easy Bake Oven.  (Ours is on the pink side because we like pink!)

Spring Cleaning

Speaking of spring weather... we cleaned out the garden! 

Now we are ready for seeds.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Love this spring weather!

Shamrock Toast

A St Patricks Day tradition - we shared with Clark!

Field Trip

My first time riding a school bus since 9th grade was with Rachael's kindergarten class to the planetarium.  School buses haven't changed that much - although they do seem a lot smaller than I remember!

Amazing Music

A concert featuring my friends Dr. Elizabeth Rennick on the oboe and Dr. Nathan Jasinski on the cello. (I don't know the other two professors). Another bonus? The concert was close to home. And free!

(Another picture with my phone camera.  Thank goodness for that; otherwise I would never make it through one picture a day without it!)

Rest

Rachael slept in the truck on the way to the airport and for about an hour and a half on the plane ride home.

Blessings

We have been privileged to attend each baby blessing for all of Lorie and Declan's boys. Which is no small feat since they live in California.

2011, Ryan and Zach

2007, Ryan and Ryan

2005, Kristin, Ryan, Rachael, Braden, Lorie and Declan

Dinner

This might not look like he is up to much, but Declan is very hard at work cooking our dinner out there.  He smoked ribs and pork shoulder for over 8 hours and it was amazing.  Plus I like how he cooks with a lightsaber.

Sunshine

Catching some rays in California... any way we can!

Pacific Ocean

My Good Traveler

Here is my little travel companion loving the moving sidewalk and weird changing lights at the Detroit airport.  We were running though at breakneck speed so we didn't miss our next flight. 

I love that she still finds something fun and amazing about traveling when nothing seems to be going our way!

Being Prepared

I got a new calling at church yesterday.

It came with this much paperwork.

"If ye are prepared..."

Greener!

We must be on the right side of the fence for a change... the grass is getting greener!

Strawberry Cheesecake

Can't have a girls week without some decadent dessert, right?

Fry Sauce

Look what treat showed up at my door today!!

Thanks Mom!!

Chopsticks

We went out for Chinese food tonight so Rachael could break in her chopsticks.  (Ryan got them for her in China in January).  She tried lots of different ways (including one in each hand) before settling on this method - both sticks clamped together and scooping like a spoon.  I see now how the fork was invented.

Spring Swing

We might need a new swingset this year...