Work Day

No exciting Stay-cation news today.

Tyler has an ear infection and a cold. Aubrey has a cold. Susan doesn't feel well. They went to the doctor. Julie and Ally didn't venture out. Loretta was working. Sydney has a sore throat and ear infection. Jimmy and Ally took her to QuickCare.

It was a bid day at Jetco Construction. I had to drive to Timbuktu (oh, was it only Waaaaay west Las Vegas?) to pick up our bid bond. Then Brian, Jeff, and I worked on the bid. Then Jeff and I went to the bid opening. Then we did not get the job. (Oh, really? What a surprise.)

I went to visit ward members at the hospital and their homes. At least that was good.

Maddie entertained herself all day. Amy worked and went to her dance class.

No Stay-cation hike or picnic today. I guess we've just been having too much fun.

Day #3: Stay-cation

I cannot even believe that I took NO pictures today.

Maybe it's because it was WORK DAY today.

The girls and I cleaned the garage, the back patio, and the patriotic room and we moved a bunch of boxes of #10 food storage cans up to the shop en route to Mt. Pleasant. All of these things have been bugging me for weeks and it was so great to get them done. I so appreciate it that the girls were willing to work on their vacation.

The thing that made it Stay-cation worthy is that they earned money doing it and we went shopping at Ross when we were done!

Ally got a cute brown top and capris and a swimsuit. Julie got some comfy sleep pants and two tops. Maddie tried on several outfits but didn't end up purchasing anything. She really wanted to buy a cute blue dress but decided she needed jeans worse. Amy got a cute skirt and three new tops. They are good shoppers and really stretched their dollars!

Maybe tomorrow I'll post photos of the clean rooms and some new clothes at least...

Stay-Cation Day #2

Today's schedule read "Card-Making" and "Movie Afternoon."



These are some of the masterpieces created during the day.


Sydney and Allyson arrived first and Sydney started right in with "The Wizard of Oz" and "Sleeping Beauty."


It wasn't long before the other "junior crafters" joined her and they started stamping cards. Oh boy. Nothing like a 20-month-old, a 4-year-old, and a 29-month-old with ink pads! (Notice they are outside.)


The "senior" crafters hard at work.

Another fun day of Stay-cation! (Tomorrow: work detail in the morning to earn money for shopping trip in the afternoon! Stay tuned for more pictures.)

We Made Soap!

Our soap from yesterday turned out great!


This is how it looked just out of the molds.


Here it is stacked on the drying racks, where it will cure for four weeks. (Doesn't it look good enough to eat?


This is the "Sunflower and Calendula" and "White Tea and Ginger" bars. We are SO disappointed in the S&C bars. They look so cool, although we put a little too much calendula (dried marigold leaves) on top. They sounded so intriguing, with clary sage, marjoram, and turmeric added. BUT, so far they smell like stinky wet paint! We're going to let them cure, but if they don't miraculously smell better, they may have to be thrown away. (Yes, they really are that bad!) The White Tea and Ginger bars smell marvelous.

More WT&G and "Cinnamon/Almond." Both yummy.


"Mayan Gold", "Arabian Spice" (Amy's favorite BY FAR), and "Coconut." All "delicious."

Not bad for our first "at home" soapmaking.

Spring Break "Stay-cation"

Today was the first day of our Spring Break. Amy is working and Jeff, Brian, and I are looking for work, so we are not on a trip. We decided to plan a week of fun activities at home for a nice "Stay-cation."

Today we shopped, cleaned up, did laundry and errands in the morning (no, that was not part of the "fun." That was getting READY for the fun.) Then...


we made soap.


Amy mixing the caustic lye and water mixture.


Ally stirring the fat and lye mixture. After that we added the scents, colors, and additives. All natural, of course.

We made four different versions of soap, but we won't know if they all "worked" until tomorrow evening. Then we will cut them into bars and let them cure for four weeks.

Look for photos tomorrow of the second day activities...

Just Like Christmas!

Maddie was so excited last night. She said it felt just like Christmas Eve. She couldn't wait to go to bed because the sooner she got to sleep the sooner it would be morning!

Can you guess why?


After exactly two years of tin-grin-aggravation, Maddie got her braces off this morning!!!

Isn't that a beautiful smile?

Disneyland Again

(You COULD read that title in a bored tone. But you will NEVER hear it that way from ME!)


Two weekends ago the Junior High orchestra, choir, and band played at a music festival in Fullerton, California. Part of the trip included a visit to the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure. My friends Leisel and Kimberly and I were a little nervous about sending our "babies" on a trip alone, so we decided to "just happen" to be in the same hotel and the same amusement park that same weekend...Good sneaky plan, eh?


We had such a good time! Here Leisel stands under the Golden Gate Bridge at the entrance to California Adventure. Kimberly had never been here before, so we rode all the fun rides-Soarin' Over California, California Screamin', and the Hollywood Tower of Terror. My knees did some good shaking.


My pictures were not very good, but I thought this one of Kimberly in the Tower of Terror line was cute. (We couldn't be WITH the "independent girls," but we did have to stay in constant-encouragement-mode phone contact with them. They were a little hesitant on some of the rides.)


Maddie, Savannah, Rebecca and their friend Erin. Once they finally got their courage up to go on the Matterhorn the first time they went back for THREE more rides! It's a little sad to see these babies getting so grown up...


One of my favorite things at Disneyland is the landscaping.


Aren't the flowers beautiful?


So much variety...


and color...

Can you tell this is just one of my favorite places??