Sssssssssnakes!

Scott and I are not afraid of snakes.

Here we are as a tourist attraction at the Bangkok Snake Farm.  People couldn't believe that we'd actually put a snake on our necks and asked to take our photo.  Wimps! 

Emily was not afraid of snakes either - as a baby.  

One she hit about two she wouldn't even touch this fake one she used to sleep with!  Snakes were "TOO SCARY!"  I was a bit concerned that she would grow up to be a person who didn't want to touch a snake but would instead take photos of other people touching them.  What kind of photo album does that make?

Today we had a field trip with Molly's preschool to see The Critter Lady.  Oh, she was fun.  She brought a skink, two different lizards, an African hedgehog a tortoise and an orange snake named Pumpkin.  Emily didn't want to touch any of these creatures . . . 

until Molly willingly put a snake around her neck.

Then Emily decided to join in on the fun too.  I was so proud of Emily and Molly!  They were very brave.  Heidi, on the other hand, was not quite so brave.  Luckily she was fashionable. Hopefully she will be brave someday soon.

Feeling Blue?

Scott and I made some new friends last night, and no, they aren't depressed, they're painted blue.   

All I really knew about the group was the misinformation I got from Dr. Tobias Funke, so I was looking forward to seeing what the performance actually was.  It was fun!  Go! 

Here's Scott with the other members of the band.  He may be taller than average but I swear I did no photo-trickery to make Scott look like a giant.  These guys were all really, really small.  Kids, that's what happens when you make "cool" hand signs in photos.  It stunts your growth, obviously.  

Happy Mother's Day!

When I was but a wee lass, my Sunday School class got up on Mother's Day and told everyone why we loved our mothers.  I said, 

"I love my mother because she makes me rice."

Apparently, Emily loves me for the same reason.  

Her Kindergarten class made some fabulous Mother's Day cookbooks.  Each student told the teacher their favorite recipe that their mother makes.  These were not only very informative but also pretty darn hilarious sometimes.  

Here's Emily's recipe for rice.  Feel free to copy and try it at your home.

RICE

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds of rice
  
• butter
  
• hot water
  
• salt

How to make it:

• You put it on the stove in a pan and put it on medium flame for 20 minutes or hours.
• Stir it up.
• Cool it down and put on the butter and eat it.

This is the perfect recipe for a busy mom.  It is so forgiving!  If you have to run some errands, it's OK.  You can cook it for up to 20 hours if you feel like it.  Also, if you realized you were supposed to feed the whole soccer team, that's OK too.  You've made enough rice for everyone!  

Thanks, Emily!  I will always love my recipe book!

If anyone is interested in the recipe for spaghetti with potato sauce or some chocolate chip cookies that contain bread and milk, let me know. I'm happy to share!

Oh blessed day!

Look who wanted to mow the lawn tonight!

Happy Cinco de Mollo

Four years ago today, a new, fun, silly, sweet, smart and very chatty little kid was born!

Here she is telling me she wants to have a snack and then do a puzzle.

And now, four years later, she is still asking for snacks and then doing puzzles.  Happy birthday Molls!  Maybe next year you will open your eyes for the birthday photos.  Or not.  (I swear she has eyeballs!)

Beachy Keen

We recently had eight uninterrupted 

hours of sleep for several nights in a row!

How is it the middle of April?

No kidding, on April Fools Day I hurt my back. 

Luckily I have SUPER NICE friends who have helped me by taking my kids and bringing me dinners.  I might have to fake another injury soon. 

Here is an action shot of me recovering.  It's super fun.  I'm so glad I didn't have to be on bed rest while I was pregnant.  Let's just say it might have been difficult for me.  

Now here's what we've been doing for the last month.

Heidi and her favorite friend Charlotte wore their bathing suits.

Emily and Heidi tried rock climbing.

Molly did too.

Post-back injury we saw Monsters vs Aliens.  Seeing the girls like this was worth the extra moolah for the 3D version.  Emily loved it.  Molly liked it.  Heidi liked the popcorn.

Scott's parents hosted a pre-Easter picnic and egg hunt at a cute park.  My parents, who came into town to help me out, helped Heidi out by helping her find the high eggs.

Molly, who is always fashionable, found lots of low eggs.

Emily and Savannah were happy to be together!

We finally got around to dying eggs the night before Easter.  I had kind of forgotten a lot of basic Easter things this year, like buying candy, having food for Sunday dinner, dying eggs, etc.  Luckily I was FINALLY feeling good enough to participate in one of my favorite messy activities of the year. 

On Easter, Molly and Heidi showed off their dresses and Emily tried out for America's Next Top Model.  

Happy April!  Come visit!