Mary Anne and Clan: Living it up - from the Back Yard to Lehi . . .

It's strange - I sometimes catch myself thinking that we never have any time to do anything fun, but then I end up with all these pictures and video clips, validly proving that we do fit fun in. Like on Friday night (when most everyone else has plans), we dance sometimes. Or between scouts and dance classes on Wednesday, Isaac and I somehow found 20 minutes to [literally] shoot the breeze with his crazy ball. Kids demand and require that we make room for fun, and they are perfectly right to do so. I can't imagine my life without them - these most creative, energetic, wonderful beings who make motherhood the most wonderful of all occupations. I admit that it is enjoyable to sit here with my vanilla bean ice cream and raspberries (thanks for those mom!), the kids peacefully sleeping, remembering all the good moments over the past couple of weeks, knowing full well that there were far more stressful and frustrating moments. Sometimes those are worth sharing because we can laugh about them later, but mostly I choose to let those fade behind the preferable glimpses of pure enjoyment you see here.

Friday Night Dancing

Olivia and Grace have built "cabins" in the backyard, and have insisted on eating as many meals as possible in them (don't worry, the fire pit is fake). Olivia also spent hours reading Anne of Green Gables in her's this evening, and I had to practically drag her in when it got dark. She has also begged to sleep in the tiny structure (see photo) every night. How is it she so easily forgets that it is still technically winter and we still have frost on our windshield most mornings? I have to keep reminding her that there will be plenty of time for camping in the summer.

Last Sunday we decided that Grace needed some special alone time with her cousin Izabella (without Olivia, who kind of takes over Izabella whenever we get together). So Jill suggested going to the Lehi Legacy Aquatic Center, and Grace could hardly stand waiting five days! She was certain we were going on "vacation" and told her teacher she wouldn't be in school on Friday. Unfortunately, she was mistaken on that point - she still had to go to school for Friday, which is a half day anyhow. Her teacher, Mrs. B.C., asked if we were staying over night. Again, I had to explain to Grace that we were going for just a few hours. But let me tell you, it was so much fun! This place is an indoor, super kid-friendly water park with nice warm water and no worries about sunburn. Next time I'm taking all 3 kids because the other good news is that it is only $3 per kid (kids 3 and under are free), and $5 for adults. We so rarely get out these days, that it actually felt like a mini-vacation for us. I wasn't overly astonished that Grace constantly moved for about three hours, galloping between the mini attractions. It was no less of a surprise that afterwards Grace ate: a Fiber One bar, pretzels, cheese, fruit leather, part of Izabella's churro, Cheddar Bunnies, bread, and a sugar cookie. She didn't lose her appetite for dinner an hour later either! No wonder our grocery bills tripled once Grace started eating solids as a baby!

We also had tons of fun biking this weekend, which was surprisingly tough on my pathetic calves. Saturday I was kind of a slave driver, requiring all three of the kids to do chores (Grace happily mopped the whole house) and go through ALL of their clothing to get rid of what wasn't working anymore - like all of Grace's shirts that are like crop tops now. These kids keep stretching upwards like taffy and it's so hard to keep up! Fortunately, the only thing we buy new is underwear and socks, which feel horrendously expensive compared to the used clothing we buy at the thrift stores! Anyhow, the kids were generously rewarded Saturday evening with a great bike ride up to Uintah and Laird park, topping it off with pizza at the Emigration Market restaurant with Grandma. Thanks mom!