Loving Life

 We had to interrupt Family Home evening the other night because there was a beautiful double rainbow.  I love nature and all the beauty that Heavenly Father give us.

 For Spirit week I was able to be at the school when it was house color day.  I had some purple sweats that were super cozy and I had some gloves that didn't last long-it isn't easy teaching with gloves on.  I was also there on Pajama Day and Annabelle told me I couldn't wear pjs.  I wasn't upset about that one, even though it would have been comfy.

 Here are the capes the girls made.  Callie just found an old sheet that had already been cut into and some fabric for her "C".  Annabelle found the boys old curtains and then some purple for her "A".  I love that they used old things and made something special out of them.

 We were going to make little fox tails for our graduating 6th graders, but I was not liking how they turned out.  So I got my girls to help make bead foxes.  They are such fast little helpers!

 I was nominated for Volunteer of the Year at our Elementary School.  Such an honor.  I love being at the school and getting to know the staff and students.  I love hearing kids say things like, "Hi, Mrs. Felix!" or whispering to their friends as they pass me, "I just saw Mrs. Felix!"  It definitely makes my day and I am so thankful I have the time to be there as much as I am.  Our principal is amazing and I am so glad that my kids have had such a strong, kind and example to look to. She makes our school fantastic and I will definitely miss her when she retires in the next couple years.  I got to go to a nice luncheon and awards ceremony.  It was long, but it was nice to see and hear principals appreciate those that help build up the schools and the kids.
  

This and That

 Callie got some Bubble Yum in her Easter basket and has learned to blow quite the bubbles.  I remember being so excited about this new skill and I think it's hilarious how often she wants me to take a picture of her with a bubble in her face.

 One of the things I love about my schedule right now is the flexibility I have to go to the temple.  It had been awhile and it was a beautiful spring morning.  The tulips and other flowers were in full bloom reminding me of the day we got married nearly 16 years ago. It was gorgeous and smelled heavenly outside.  Inside I was able to listen to blessings I've been promised, study the scriptures and just spend time pondering my life and what  I can do to become more like my Savior.  It was a wonderful morning.  Of course after such a nice morning Satan had to show his face and try to take that away from me.  The girls wanted to make capes for super hero day and so I asked them to go and find one of the old ones we had so we could look at the pattern.  Did I need it, not really, but I wanted them to just find it.  Good thing they did because Annabelle came up, "I couldn't find the cape, but there is a lot of water in the basement."  She didn't say it very urgently but I went and checked.  Sure enough, there was A LOT of water, and it was still coming, from somewhere.  Dinner was cooking, for us and neighbors, and I couldn't stop or things would get burned.  Luckily my kids are amazing and we set up towels all along the hallway so we could bring all the wet stuff out.  Greg got home right when this was happening and was able to find and stop the leak.  Thankfully nothing important was ruined.  This big box is my wedding dress that I had sealed up 16 years ago.  I opened it up and thankfully it had a plastic bag around another box and the dress is safe.  My girls are so excited the box is finally out of the basement and can't wait for me to pull it out and try it on.  I am so thankful to neighbors who offered help and loaned us fans to dry out our basement.  I am so thankful it wasn't THAT much and nothing was ruined.  I hope we were able to figure it out and it won't happen again.

I love substitute teaching.  I love being in the classroom and helping students.  Sometimes I substitute teach kids that are really naughty.  Sometimes they break pens so they can make guns out of them. Sometimes they even break sharpies and somehow it splatters on my shirt.  Luckily I was able to get the stains out with some hairspray and norwex spot remover.  Crazy kids, but I still love being there.

 One night Greg, Nathan and I stayed up too late playing Dominion.  So much fun! Nathan won the first time and Greg wanted a rematch, of course.  Thankfully he won the 2nd time so we were able to go to bed.  I love having older kids but sometimes them going to bed so late is detrimental to my mental and physical health.

 Two of our teachers are leaving Probitas and while we are super sad, I am happy for them and their new adventures.  I made them fox tails to remember us all by.  This wasn't a hard project, just a time consuming and annoying one.

 Here is one of Annabelle's hair creations.  She doesn't love to do her hair, but when she does, she is quite experimental and I love what she comes up with.

Easter Sunday

 My children have always loved Easter.  We spend the whole week talking about Jesus and His last week on earth and while we continue to talk about Him on Sunday, we also have fun and find baskets and eggs and too much candy.  A few years ago i got rid of the Easter Bunny.  Who really wants a giant rabbit coming into their home, not me.  This makes things easier for Greg and I to hide the eggs whenever is convenient.  Greg loves hiding the baskets, semi-easy for the girls and much harder for the boys.  Their baskets were actually in the same closet this year, but it still took them a long time and when one found his, he didn't even notice the other one (and we do NOT have big closets!)  We only hid the hardboiled eggs and this was a cause for sadness at first, but we explained that they had had plenty of egg hunts in the past with their siblings and friends so they just got candy in their baskets.  At first Callie was shocked that we didn't have hollow bunnies, I love that I could tell the truth and say I couldn't find any and I didn't have to lie and say "The Easter Bunny..."  We had a wonderful day.  Yummy food.  Grandma Pam came over with yummy deviled eggs and a bunny fruit salad.  We also got 4 new family games for Easter and we were able to play all 4 throughout the day.  Sushi Go, a new Dominion expansion, Tumult Royal, and Rat-a-tat-cat.  Lots of fun and sugar was had by all.

Just Because

For our Probitas lesson this week a few of the 5th and 6th graders planned a secret activity.  We were sent to Mr. Braden's room where we "watched" Cars 2, and had popcorn and soda.  While we were in there the kids made posters for each of us.  We just sat around and talked while the movie played on mute.  It was very nice.  When we got back the kids gave us these great posters and then walked by and gave us a hug, high five or knuckles.  I don't think I've had that many hugs since I was married.  It was a little awkward, not knowing what the kid wanted to do, but it was very sweet and I definitely felt loved.
 The weather has been getting warmer and so we started riding bikes again.  As I watched my girls riding bikes way too small for them, and Callie riding a broken bike, I decided it was time to upgrade.  We don't usually buy things for the kids without it being a birthday or Christmas, but Annie couldn't wait until August to get a bigger bike.  The girls were SO excited when I told them.  Callie was just going to get Annie's bike but we did get them both new helmets and she was SO happy just for that.

  Annie loves her purple bike, of course, and Callie impressed me with riding the bigger bike as quick as she did.

 Saturday was a crazy day but we did manage to decorate eggs.  We tried a marbling package and did not like how it turned out.  We've collected quite a few egg dippers over the years and it makes a lot nice that every color has it's own egg holder.

 Greg made sourdough English muffins.  They were pretty good.  We learned some things but they were a great addition to our Easter breakfast.