It's here...

I waited 25 years for the upgrade. It wasn't actually my idea. For our 20th anniversary, Garry suggested I get a new ring. So we looked diligently for a few months and never found something that I just really loved. Finances weren't ready etc. Now, I had my eye on two different rings at Sam's. I was tired of waiting and we could afford it, so we decided to get a new ring for my bday/anniversary this year. I love it and so do my kids. Cynjyn can't wait until I die, because she's my only girl and will inherit the ring (at least that's her take on it). It was hard to get a good picture because the camera doesn't do closeup very well, but here it is taken by my personal photographer: Cynjyn!

Fun things going on!

We spent the day Saturday at Shadow Ridge watching Tanner's JV volleyball tournament. It was a long day. Garry had scout training in the morning, so he met us up there. I tried to get a few pictures of Tanner, but with a little camera, they're not the best quality. But, here goes: Tanner's number 5 and here he is with Hunter putting up a double block.

Here he is playing outside, this was a good hit.

He really needs to work on his passing skills.

My eye is still bloody and gross!

Yesterday, I invited Joanne over and we made some cute spring blocks for our mantel. Here are her blocks.

And these are mine.

It was a fun day and we were happy to be crafting from 10-2!!

Sneezing?? Really??

This is one of those easy crock pot meals I am into making lately due to needing dinner ready right after piano lessons are over, or volleyball games. Put frozen chicken breasts into crock pot (I used 6, but I feed 7 people everynight!) Mix 1 cup of ranch dressing with 1/2 C Terriyake sauce and pour over chicken. Sprinkle some Hormel real bacon bits over top and top with some grated cheese. Crock on high for 5-6 hours. When done, shred chicken in bowl and pour sauce over top. We make a pot of mashed potatoes and put the chicken and sauce on top, you could do rice too.

Tanner didn't want to "wear" green on St. Patty's day, so he opted for a new hair doo.

Taz had his cereal with green milk thanks to those tricky leprachauns and Cynjyn found their trail of sprinkles they left around the house.

Lastly, I had my annual eye exam yesterday, and the day before, my eye started to turn red. It was bad the day of my exam, but all is well, just a broken blood vessel from ... too much SNEEZING!! Those darn allergies. My kids can't stand to look at me when they talk to me and the Dr. said it'll take about 14 days to clear up! I can't stand to look at myself, good thing I'm not a vain person and have to look in the mirror all day!!

Cha-Cha-Changes

So many changes in the past few weeks, thought I'd just document them for posterities sake.

First off, I hate daylight savings. I think we should just stay at this time year round. I love spring. I love when it stays light later, but I hate the mental struggle that comes with " sprining forward". I could not fall asleep last night. Even though I was so tired about 6:00 that I was struggling to keep my eyes open, 10:00 came around and I was wide awake. Saw midnight with those same eyes and was livid with myself. Did not like seeing 6:00 am this morning!! Supposedly a study has been done that daylight savings saves on energy, but seriously, did anyone check with Arizona?? Are they topping everyone in the lack of conserving energy department??

Secondly, After having taken a few years off volleyball, with Talon graduated, we are finally in the swing of volleyball again. That has caused a few wrinkles in our daily life that have made us have to make some changes. I am so looking forward to watching volleyball for the next two months, but I am not liking having to juggle and reschedule piano lessons and I have to be super organized in my cooking and try to have crock pot, or easy meals ready when we get home from the games. Heaven knows, we can't afford to eat out after every game. Garry went to a little preseason tournament Tanner had last week and they stopped at Arby's on the way home and the bill for the two of them was $17.00!! YIKES! Pigs!!

Third, remember my new years resolution to lose 30 pounds. Well, I have started walking again and I really enjoy that, especially after taking the fall off because I was feeling soooo yucky. But let me just say, I've purchased a few "toning" DVD's and they are kicking my BUTT!! That's a good thing though, but last week, I was so sore from squats and lunges, I could hardly move!! Luckily, the pain has gone away, but those darn DVD's are still their calling my name!! Hopefully, I'll see good changes from this!

Last, I was released yesterday from Primary President and put in as RS pianist. I fell good about this. I will miss the kids as I love teaching and being with kids. But the new president will be wonderful and so I feel they are in good hands. My other main concern was that they get a good chorister and they did, so I'm good to go. I am looking forward to my personal spiritual growth that will come with attending Sunday School and Relief Society. It has been a LONG time! I will so miss my associations with my presidency. It was wonderful having three other women to work with and get to know on a personal level whom I can now call friends for life!! But in most cases: Change is good!

Some things we've done this week.

It's Nevada Reading Week again and Cynjyn had to do a book in a bag presentation. She chose Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azcaban!! Garry made her his now famous Pop-up bag. Here is the whomping willow opening to...

Professor Lupin as the werewolf!!

Inside we put a grim, the firebolt broom, a dementor, Buckbeak the hypogriff and a time turner!! She had fun telling her class about her book.

We woke up to this Sunday morning. Tiffany is watching her friends dog, Sake. He is a pomeranian and he's a puppy and a furball of love as Talon put it. Well, let's just say that by the end of the day, Talon was having such a bad allergy attack, runny eyes, sneezing, blowing that nose, he looked miserable and came to the conclusion that he just might be allergic to poor little Sake. He's a cutie though.

Now, if you want to know about this picture, go here!

It all started with a leprachaun.

I made this cute little critter a zillion years ago when I was at BYU. I have loved him and kept him on a shelf on my desk for years. Now, thanks to the wonderful world of blogging. I have seen some cute and simple ideas for St. Patricks day decorations. So finally this year, I added some decorations to compliment my little man.

I saw this board on a blog and ordered the cricut cartridge and made it the other day.

I bought this cute little bowl at WM and the green "rocks" and added some ribbon and a candle I had laying around the house.

And...waalaa, I have a few decorations up!!

fablehaven

Taz was so excited last week. He came home from school with a ticket to see Brandon Mull who was coming to the school. He knew that Garry had read all the Fablehaven books and he was going to get one signed for him!! So Monday came and Taz went to school. Around 9 am I realized that he forgotten to take the book with him. He texted me during lunch and we made a plan to meet up and I'd give him the book. He came home with this picture he'd taken with him from his cell phone(good job Taz in keeping up the photo documenting for posterity!!).

He got a book signed AND he was one of four kids to get a poster of the new books cover and signed!! Now, if he'd only read any of his books...I'm glad he was excited to do something for his dad!! Summer reading, summer reading!