3.29.2011

Can a Seahawk Read Dr. Seuss Today?

In the air, over the head, on any play, a Seahawk will read today.

During Dr. Seuss Day, Cayden's class got to have a Seahawk player visit.  He obviously thought it was really cool!

http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/videos/Seahawks-Celebrate-Dr-Seuss/453f03eb-fa65-411b-8c9d-2f50bb3648b7

For the Bond!

I am all for the "rally in the valley."  One reason we moved here, and stay here, despite Randy's long commute is the school district.  I don't want an increase in taxes but I am in favor of the upcoming bond for our district.  Vote YES!!!


Tahoma rated as top learning investment


Tahoma School District has earned a reputation for academic excellence and is among the top 10 percent among Washington school districts on annual state assessments. But a new, independent examination of school districts throughout the state and the entire nation indicates that Tahoma also is among the best at providing a great education for each dollar spent (Tahoma Website, 3/2011).

3.28.2011

I'm the King of MV....

or New York. 

Madalyn's honor choir performed their spring concert and she sang a little solo line in the song "I'm the King of New York" from  the Disney musical Newsies.  She was confident and clear and most importantly...on tune! 



My little "M's".

3.21.2011

Top O' The Day

 It was a bit O'the Irish at our house on St. Patrick's...and the day before St. Patrick's. 
Since Randy and I were going to be mia deep in the Emerald City until the late wee hours on St. Patty's, we had our Irish meal the night before at our "Rainbow Tavern."

In this month's Family Fun mag. some super creative person must have been staring into a bowl of yogurt covered pretzels, imaging what it looked like, much like I look at the clouds to see shapes, and saw a shamrock.
Seriously, super creative.
So we got our bowl of yogurt pretzels and made some shamrocks too!
 A classic Irish menu: Irish soda bread, great green items, a fruit  "rainbow" (a tradition we added last year...a bowlful of skittles has been a traditional stand in rainbow), and of course corned beef.  This year we put ours in the oven instead of the crock pot and I liked it so much more.  It was more tender and this year, for the first year, there wasn't any left over!  The kids are definitely acquiring a better palette.

Our "Great Green Chef" was Makayla.  She is making meals as part of one of her YW goals and a school project that requires 20+ hours.
Great, healthy thematic fare.

No pics here....those naughty leprechauns took our camera!  Green milk and Lucky Charms made for a quick and easy breakfast while green eggs and ham were an easy dinner since Randy and I were gone!

While we were away,
 a naught little leprechaun visited the house,
leaving taunting notes on the mirrors,
pulling clothes out of dressers,
upturning mattresses, and
leaving green, sticky, sugar crystals all over the bathroom vanity. 

Luckily he didn't do more damage. 
We think he must have been scared off and quickly fled
 because he left behind some "treasure" in gold boxes.
Money and chocolate.


Cayleb, his friend Gabe, Kenzi and  I had made a leprechaun trap out of a fruit snack box earlier in the week to try and catch the mischievous jokesters, but to not avail, they still were pretty naughty this year.

 Oh, blarney!

3.03.2011

Best of the Northwest Cheer Competition

Cheers goes out to Makayla and her JV squad - 1st place in Division.
"Rah, Rah, Rah."

Madalyn and I spent Saturday at the competition watching Makayla.  We left early to get our front row seats.  It was Makayla's first cheer competition.  She did great, as did all the girls.  So fun to watch.  However, there is something to be said about getting older. 
I think I would have liked the music turned down a bit.




YSA Sweet Meet

 Every year the Institute, and now the YSA (young single adults), host The Sweet Meet. 
Basically a Valentine's dinner and dance.

The twist is dessert is made by the guys. 
 The gals then vote on the desserts by dropping in tickets to a box or bag placed in front of the Valentine inspired dessert, of course not knowing who made it (but really, I think a few did!). 

A ticket for each dessert is pulled out and "whala" you have a date and a dessert for the evening.
The rest is up to cupid!

Pictured above is what we made. 
Fruity and fresh.


 While I spent most my time in the kitchen helping with dinner (and thinking never do catering, never do catering), I stepped out to help with the judging.

Naturally, chocolate desserts got extra points in my book.
There were some pretty good entries.
One year, somebody made a love bird's cage out of Twizzlers.
Nothing quite that spectacular this year.
However, flavored chocolate was new this year.
After judging we did eat some of the amazing cookies made with bacon flavored chocolate.
And, the chocolate platter was made out of "Don't Eat That Chocolate" flavor.
It was like eating peppers.
Water me down!
Randy took some home and gave it to the kids as a treat.
Thoughtful Dad ;)


 Sweet meet or Sweet MEAT!
2 Cute. 4-Ever.  Call Me.

I can't read minds, or maybe I can.
"Please don't let cupid be a lousy aim!"

3.02.2011

A little luvins...

Cayleb's valentine invitations. 
Loved these!

Copied the cute idea from a suggestion on http://www.eighteen25.blogspot.com/
Cayleb was so excited to pass them out. 
He carefully cut out the copies faces of his classmates, glued them on the back and then taped on a Valentine's, stretchy monkey.
Thoughtfully, he selected pink for the girls and blue for the boys with a few getting green. 
At this point in February, we were so cupcaked out! 
So instead of putting cupcakes in my cupcake holder, I put yogurt dipped pretzels, chocolate covered almonds, and chewy, red hearts.
Red, white, and chocolate! 

 I was picking up photos at the Costco photo center, when the lady handed me a stack of our Christmas cards.....three months later!

Back in December when I went in to pick up our Christmas card order, the clerk couldn't find it anywhere so reprinted them while I shopped for a 50 bag count of chips, 10 lbs. of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and toilet tissue. 
Gotta love big box stores. 

She was just going to toss them, but being the thrifty person I am, I asked her to keep them.
After all, I could figure out something to do with them.

And this is what I came up with.....

I HEART MY FAMILY!



Last year we got creative and made original Valentine boxes. 
This year, Madalyn went with a cute, simple idea out of Family Fun.
Hearts Away!
 Just a few of the many cupcakes made this month!
Around the house.
The little cards, are numbered 1-14.

A Valentine Countdown.

Open up each one and it has some fun, simple idea to do with those you love.
Like watch your favorite Disney movie, play a board game, frost Valentine cookies.......
 
Yeah, another cute idea from some creative person in the blogging world.
I rarely have the crafty ingenuity to create such cute things.
But I am a pretty good copycat!