Family Reunion

Parker's spring break was a few weeks ago--yipee. One of the empty, long days of mayhem, I took my monkeys to visit their relatives (which side, I wonder?) at the zoo. Good times, good times. Actual friends accompanied us, so it really was a bit of fun--three moms and 10 kids, with 4 restrained in strollers, of course. We have a zoo membership, which is awesome 'cause we can see a few animals, whine that we're thirsty and complain that we're tired of walking and then leave, saving the other creatures for another visit. I'm taking an online photography class and this outing was a perfect opportunity to practice and see what all I don't know. Here's the documented evidence, in case you're interested.

This one's too dark--I thought I lightened it? (Parker, Dallin, Ava, Merritt and Miller)

She's on the right animal--sweet princess appearance with the bite of a croc.

Spencer's intent on chaos--must restrain him quickly! And why is Parker showing off his water? Yes, I do hydrate them occasionally.

And this guy was posing, so I had to oblige with a shot. Wonder where his horn is?

And the boring artistic shots--I need to learn how to prettify them in Photoshop or something.

Ooh, bokeh.

I love this statue in the Garden of Peace--sure could use that spot of green in my yard. I think I'd have to camp out in it though. (The garden, not the statue.)

Pretty flowers!

Bunny Magic

Since Easter this year was the same Sunday as General Conference and we stay home to listen to/watch/snooze through it online, there really wasn't a Sunday for the monkeys to wear their Easter garb. I dressed the boys in their shirts the Sunday before Easter but was too lazy to iron Merritt's dress that day so she wore her dress the Sunday after Easter. (Thanks, Mom, for ironing that horrible beast!) I was determined to take pictures since I don't know if Merritt will ever wear the dress again--it's the wrinkle monster from heck. The boys aren't in their official Easter shirts, but it's really all about the pretty dresses anyway, right? And this is as good as it got of Boy #2--he's definitely two.

Now I'm not a horrible mom--I do document some of the events in my monkeys' lives.

What IS He Eating?

I' ve been watching this tonight and now I don't think I want Parker eating any more school lunches. Processed junk and I know he doesn't eat the veggies and fruit that comes with his meal--just the entree, chocolate milk and dessert. Dang it! Now I gotta start packing healthy lunches. Bummer.

And I know I'm lazy and the kids have nuggets or frozen pizza 1-2 nights a week. They always have a fruit with lunch and a veggie at dinner and I never fry (too messy!) but we'll have to have more salads. We already eat only whole-wheat bread but I'll definitely have to switch to brown rice and whole-wheat pasta. Good thing I'm too cheap to buy chips and cookies--won't have to cut that out, as long as they don't find my stash under the bed. :)

Still Breathing

If you perchance read my scattered posts through Google Reader or some such other blog feed thingie, I've updated our picture on the home page so you can see our cute kids and how old we look.

I love, love this soup. I make it often, which I don't think everyone else appreciates, but I'm the queen and I'm in charge. It's easy, quick and cheap. If I'm out of ham, I use a handful or two of bacon bits from the mega bag I get at Sam's club. Everything's better with bacon.

Read here. Great advice to spark your thrifty spirit. Go cheapies!

Tried this for dinner tonight. Really easy (Hello! 3 ingredients!) and tasted good. (I won't say yummy since it bugs me when adults use the word yummy in their blogs. I am 29ish, for Pete's sake!) Next time I might add just a smidge of sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes. The kids had Mac n Cheese since I don't think they'd appreciate the depth and complexity of the sauce.

The End.

Snowballs in Heck?

Next on Martha: Pole dancing.

Huh? What was that? Sexy Stripper Martha?



Excuse me while I go barf.

See, I Did Get Something Done Today

I totally stole this poem from a blog I stalk (one of the many.) It makes me feel validated for having a crumb-filled, smudge-smeared, dusty home. It all works out in the end, right?

What Did I Do Today?

Today I left some dishes dirty
The bed got made around 3:30
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall
will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those windowpanes
will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?
I held a baby till he slept,
I held a toddler while he wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess that's true.
Unless you think that what I've done
Might be important to someone
with dark brown eyes and soft brown hair.
If that is true... I've done my share.

Bah Humbug

I hate snow days. We tried to have "quiet time"--no TV or wii, just books and crayons, etc. It lasted 15 minutes before they were fighting. TV may dull their minds and create zombies, but at least they become quiet, stationary zombies. Let their teachers worry about their minds.