time again my friends

..for some fresh strawberries.  We noticed the open sign to our local strawberry farm earlier this week.  Penny and I just had to get in on the action.  We went Thursday morning to pick our little hearts out.

Penny loved to help search for the red ones and to pick them. She is such a good helper.

We gave some of the freshly picked strawberries to one of her Speech Therapists, for her birthday. These were some of the ones that we gifted. Penny was so very happy!  More strawberries were sliced and eaten that night over some freshly baked angel food cake. yummy!

Changing the topic here...the picture of the babies was taken this morning around 11, with 5 already hatched and one more to go...

When we checked again around 3ish, all 6 had hatched.  Mama bird is too quick and skiddish for pictures.  She loves to chirp and squawk at us whenever we steal a peek at her new babies. We are so excited to watch them grow. (Mama bird is a sparrow.)

birds are hatching

When we accidently scared the mama bird off this morning, we were gladdened to see a baby bird! I am so excited and I know the other Wardlings will be too when they get home from school today.  So, we'll be on the look-out for more babies hatching!

side of caution

Yesterday I had a bunch of children in my care.  When we got home from speech and emptied the 5 carseats, I had one baby in a carseat on my arm, Penny by the front door of the van and another toddler by my legs.  Penny closed the front door and right as I closed the van's door, she moved her hand and I slammed it in the door. I caught her left thumb, from the thumb itself to the wrist, in the door.  It hurt horribly, so I iced it, made a sling for her, gave her ibuprophen and within 30 minutes she put herself down for a nap. She seemed fine for the rest of the afternoon, but began complaining of pain again in the evening.  It was really sore this morning.  So, to ere on the side of caution, I took her into an urgent care today to have it x-rayed.  Good news is that it isn't broken. Bad news is that her hand was slammed in a door and will be bruised for awhile.  The bruised picture below doesn't give the bruising any credit.  It will be nastier.  I feel like a lump of poo for closing the door on her hand.

handlebar mustache

Last week was national 'take your daughter to work day.' That was a busy day...2 orthodontist appointments etc... anyway, we dolled miss Penny up and took her to Clyde's classroom.  There she was such a hit.

She got to play teacher, as well as passing out crayons and helping students with their assignments.  It was a fun bonding moment for she and Clyde

Penny, Clyde and Toto went for a drive last week to get the girls from school.  He loved being outside and tried to sniff everything he could.

Now that some time has passed, Libby was willing to have her picture taken with her new hair cut.  speaking of hair cuts...look what Clyde did...

That is right ladies and gentlemen...a handlebar mustache.  I DO NOT like it.  He said he was going to have his goatee grow back in, but that sucker shaved it this morning.  He promised to let it grow in, but he didn't say when.  He also got a new pair of glasses, I like them.  I just think his new look, looks so 1970.

Thanks Ed! :) (BTW- this was taken @ Clyde's baptism.)

braces...again!

Today's the day!! Today's the day...that Erin got her braces back on.  She had to have them removed in February to have her annual MRI.  (No metal!)  After several doctors notes, and a few months waiting, our insurance approved her to get them again.  Their only stipulation was that she get all plastic brackets.  That took another 4 weeks to order and they didn't have them all today.  She'll have to go back in 4-6 weeks to have more added. The only metal in her mouth is the wire, which can easily be sniped for her MRI and replaced right ofter. At least the braces are back on and her smile will be as beautiful as she is!!

This one is just for fun. Thanks Maylee for posting this picture of our 6 week old baby Erin!

nest of birds

We have a family of birds in one of the cedar trees in our front yard.  The mama bird is such a scardy cat when it comes to the Wardlings taking a peak.  We noticed 2 eggs one day, then 3 the next, 5 the next, and now there are 6.  This'll be so much fun to watch! We had a nest last year in the same tree. The birds grew so fast. Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures of their hatching and growth!

just a singer

Josh earned his 3rd 9 week A-B Honor Roll medal on Thursday. We are so very proud of him.  His school held such a nice honor roll breakfast in celebration.  Josh's name was the first one called out that day.  Way to go Joshua!! You are awesome!

That same night, Jacob was in his very first kindergarten program.  He is directly under the 'a' in and...second row.  He was so nervous but sang his little heart out. I love these programs! He didn't want to be a character, just a singer and boy did he do a fab-tab-ulous job!

I just have to say how much I love my sewing machine.  I have so much fun creating and using my imagination.  This beauty rocks!

ashley's hat

My friend Ashley is an AMAZING photographer.  She asked to to make a few new hats for her photo shoots.  The yellow hat in the picture was knitted by moi and thanks Ashley for being patient with me.  (it took a few tries to get the gauge and size right for a newborn's head.)

I crocheted these for her as well and these took a few tries to get them right.  I just kept imagining my babies heads and it turns out that newborn heads are bigger than I remembered. Again, thanks Ashley for your patience!

can't win

This week, one that was supposed to be calm, turned into quite a busy one.  All a good busy, but busy none the less.  Today was just another busy day, to conclude our week.  It began at the butt crack of early, to get 2 wardlings to the stake center for a church program and me off to colfax ward building for a camp meeting, where I taught 4 classes.  Recycling, sanitation, and plant ID went fine, yadda yadda, but teaching the young gals how to tie a bowline, taut line, a square knot and a double half hitch was a bit more draining. I can tie these knots in my sleep, as I actually did dream about them last night.  This week, I decided that it was time, half past- way past time to get my hair cut.  The cut went alright.  I am still trying to decide if I like it.  I'll give it a few days to see if it grows on me.

Once home from getting my hair cut,  buying milk, eggs, a loaf of bread, and getting gas in Clyde's car, I had a few minutes of down time. Clyde was once again super dad, picking the wardlings up from church and even stopping to get ice cream for them. Clyde went to Mastodon late in the afternoon and we went to the Boops house for dinner. We had a lovely time too.  Thank you!

Libby has been begging me for a haircut for a long time.  Erin too for that matter.  I was trying my best to drag my feet on cutting Libby's hair in particular.  She has grown it out for so long and it was so pretty.  She however obsessively talked about it that I gave in.  She wanted a nice chunk of hair removed.  We measured it out and from where she wanted it cut, there were 10 inches of hair...enough to donate.  I told her that if we cut her hair that short, a pony tail would be no longer. I said that pigtails would be in her future.  She happily  said, "I'm fine with pigtails!" Me: your sure...you are beyond positive.  We could make it longer.

L: No right here is fine.

Me: Let me cut it a bit longer...we could always go shorter.

L: ok

snip, snip, snip, snip, snip

blow dry...

"GASP!"

...and more tears than I have ever seen spew forth from any child.  "I didn't know it would be that short!!"  Are you for real? I have begged you and begged you to keep it longer and checked, double checked, QUADRUPLE checked that you knew how short it would be  and you are claiming that you didn't realize it would be that short??!!!  It was such a Jo March moment from "Little Women."  So, the short of it, is that I feel like a craptacular Mom tonight. I hugged and kissed her. She gave me tears and more tears, along with some hyperventilating, and then gave me questions like...can I get hair extensions? before just hugging her again, drying her eyes and sending her off to bed. The thing is, is that the hair cut is SO CUTE on her.  drama of a preteen. geesh! I didn't dare take an after photo.
      Erin also got a hair cut tonight, along with a trim for Penny.  Erin wanted a  {gulp...bigger GULP}  Kate Gosselin haircut. stacked yes, angled yes...a donald duck fan tail that sticks out of the back of your head... H-E-C-K (trying to keep it clean here) NO!

 So, Ashley, what have you learned??? Well, Ashley and thanks for asking, I have learned that I will from now on pay someone else to cut Libby's hair, so she is mad @ them and not me for doing exactly what she asked me to do. Ashley out.

if you liked it...

then you shoulda put a ring on it...

Penny loves this song. We have it on a few discs in the van and let me say, that once it comes on, you had better be prepared to listen to it 5-8 times. for real. So how many versions are there?? here were a few of our fav's starting with the original. Enjoy! (thank you you-tube!)











and this one...the funniest version...with the crew of SNL.

easter sass

When Clyde saw the blue, white and yellow dress, he was the one who flipped out.  We had to get it.  I really enjoy the Children's Place for clothes.  Clyde not only bought her the dress, but the yellow shrug, purse, sunglasses, and headband to match.  The store had some ADORABLE yellow mary janes. but not in her size.  We searched the world over and still couldn't find the yellow shoes on the internet or any of the stores. Whenever we went to a store that had shoes, Penny would aske to see their 'lellow doose."  We were thrilled when ONavy had yellow butterfly sandals and they matched so perfectly with her headband.  Oh we were happy and so was Penny!  (Can you spy her sassiness? It is pure joy! 'Lellow' is her 'baborite lolor!' Clyde found these awesome sweater vests for the boys too!  The big girls had chosen this blue fabric on one of our fabric shopping days last month.  Erin was happy with a skirt, while fashion diva Libby designed her own dress.  I just made it for her. Oh our Wardlings looked so adorable going to church on Sunday.  I have to be honest that I was a bit bummed when I realized that General Conference was on Easter Sunday, just because they wouldn't be wearing their new clothes.  Conference was wonderful and made up for it. :)

                                                    Our Wardlettes

                                                    Our Ward bro's

                                        And this was too cute not to include.

it's a bebe shower

Saturday was a special day...it was the day to celebrate Maylee's pregnancy!!  Grammy, Papa, and Aunt Sandra drove up from the beach of Myrtle to be here for the big day. Becki did such a wonderful job with organization, and planning, that it made the day a huge success!  Check out that spread of food!!! Oh so yummy!

Of course the wee one's wardrobe wouldn't be complete without a MB onesie! 

Thank you Becki, Sandra, Bubbie, Mayra, Erin, and Libby for all your hard work!!

Meanwhile back in the Emerald City, at the Brown house, the Ward men were playing Paul Bunyun, chainsawing our jungle of a back yard.  Clyde was so happy to be cutting down the trees.  (There is a wild strawberry patch back there...who knew!)  We decided to go green, and purchased an electric chainsaw...hey no emissions.  They stretched the cord for as far as they could and I'm sure a few of the trees sighed a huge sigh of relief that they were able to live for another week.  The boys pitched in...even our new nephew J!  They were carrying tree branches and sticks to add to the pile.  My FIL fixed the gate door to our fence.  Jared was also a huge help! Thanks Men!!  Clyde was a smidge sore and was funny to watch move around for the next 2 days.  Next...more cutting and a wood chipper will be needed to mulch up the debrie. Hopefully the jungle will be tamed for a more usable back yard soon!

no more naked trees!

These are the trees down our street.  I should've taken a picture a week earlier...shoulda coulda, woulda right?  Of course now, they have shed their white popcorn buds and are dressed in green.  I am so glad not to see the naked trees anymore.

Jacob has been running out of the van when we get home, to get his bike and go outside.  When it was 85* one day last week, he shed his shirt and played so hard, wearing himself out, that he fell asleep at the table.  He was too tired to even eat his snack pack.  A few of the other wardlings were chomping at the bit to get it.  I got your back buddy.  He remembered that he didn't eat it 2 days later and was happy to learn that it was still there to be eaten...a rarity in the brown house.

egg-tastic!

We had a Wardling exclusive egg hunt this year.  Erin and Libby helped me dye the eggs and yes, we used the real ones.  Word to the wise, don't drop the red food coloring dye, it tends to splatter like blood and stain your toes for 2 weeks.

The blue egg was Josh's favorite.

Even though we tried our best to be alone, we still had a few spectators.  I think this little guy may be the culprit who is digging in my garden beds.  This may be war, Chip...or are you Dale?

haystack nests

I cannot take credit for the haystack nest idea. Man, do I love blog hopping. I saw this on a blog and wanted to try it with our Wardlings. It was a neat project that was a lot of fun to make and later eat. It added some nice springy-ness to the Easter season. Happy Easter!

thursday mayhem

Thursday was a total day of mayhem. The wee Wardlings on spring break actually slept in. Once they were awake and ready, we headed to the zoo for a half a day of fun. Then we were off to the middle school to witness Libby being inducted into Beta Club. We are so very proud of her! After school, we ate a bite to eat and then o.f.t. to the last soccer game of the season. (hip hip hooray!!! Oh- and our soccer team won.) We stayed until half time, when of course, some Wardlings had to go to the bathroom. The nearest one was far away, so off we left to return to the Emerald City.

That's how you spend a day of spring break!

hair and tooth

A coupla few weekends ago, I ragged Penny's hair for church.  It was so adorable and man did her sassiness shine through.  I am thinking that this was the Sunday that she put on a show in Sharing Time @ church, telling...more like singing to... everyone to "Follow the Prophet."  I had probably 5 friends tell me about her 'show' at church. funny girl! (oh- she was too busy talking to Grammy & Papa to take a picture.)

Jacob and his lack of teeth...

That's more like it my boy!  Happy to have his tooth fairy money.  Normally the tooth fairy only leaves this amount for a first tooth.  After that, it isn't as much.