Second Week of March

March 8 was International Women's Day and National Oregon Day. I wore my Slugs Need Hugs shirt.

That night, Nichole and I went to watch the General Relief Society Broadcast at our stake center with dessert afterward. 

March 9 was Get Over It Day and National Meatball Day so of course we said our traditional "Get over it, you meatball" phrase that day. It was also Popcorn Lover's Day so Joshua made popcorn I think.

 

March 10 was Mario Day (MAR10). I woke up to one child whistling music from a Mario game. I wore my Mario shirt and a couple of the kids watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie. 

I had some fun with the menu plan for that holiday. I took the scene toward the beginning of the movie where Mario and Luigi are sitting down to dinner with their family and tried to recreate what their dinner looked like. We had spaghetti with alfredo sauce and mushrooms of course. We had salad, dinner rolls, green olives. What didn't fit in with their dinner table but we had to have were peaches, singing a certain song while dishing them out.

On World Plumbing Day, March 11, I wore my Mario shirt again and some of us played MarioKart.

Since March 11 was also Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day, for dinner we had oatmeal, nuts, and waffles.

 

The next day, Lucky, Nichole, and I went to a Utah County Birders movie night. We watched The Big Year and played BINGO while watching it. It was fun and interesting to do something a little different than our normal birding meetings.

March 13 was Friday the 13th and Open an Umbrella Indoors Day but we didn't do anything special to celebrate- just mentioned it. I did reminisce how 2020 had Friday the 13th on that same day (and that year was a big deal) and 2015 we celebrated it with a fun video.  

Jet wanted me to get him a board game from the library so I did- Pictureka- and several of us played it after school. 

 

The next day, Lucky and I stopped by the other library to pick up some things and we said Hi to Libby the Librantula who was out for us to see. March 14 was Save a Spider Day.

March 14 was Pi Day. I baked an apple pie in our Pi plate. We also had pizza pie.

Nichole went down to BYU the day before to celebrate Pi Day with a free piece of pie and a t-shirt.

I forgot to get out the potato chips for Potato Chip Day on March 14 so we celebrated that observed a few days later.

Bonding Time

Bonding Time! You know I love it.

Sometimes it's important to stop and give someone the time they need. So one day when my son wanted to play board games, that's what we did.

Another day when my daughter needed to go to the library, that's what we did (we ended up going to both Provo and Orem Libraries). We had great conversations on the drive. We had great conversations in the libraries. She even gave me a book recommendation which would fit one of a number of categories for this year's Adult Reading Challenge.

Off They Went Again

We got Jr. Jr. back from camp, Jr. back from visiting family, then we sent them both out again. This time, they both went to FSY.

The day they left was Black Cow Day, June 10, but because it was a busy day (FSY was in Ephraim, Utah, not nearly as close as BYU for Nichole and Jr. a couple years ago), we celebrated it observed with rootbeer floats with chocolate syrup. 

Things we did without those boys:

Played games

Went to the Marcus' annual Jugglers BBQ. Good food. Good friends. Good fun. I got to see some new juggling games I hadn't seen before. 

Jet decorated me.

He was also my kitchen helper.

For National Movie Night on June 14, we ate pizzas and watched The Amazing Maurice again.

Saying Goodbye to 2023 on 12/31/23

It's 123123. Or 12/31/23. Fun way to go out this year. Jeremy and I took a nap (excuse the hair) and woke up in order to snap a photo at 1:23pm. Thanks, Jeremy, for setting an alarm. Smart thinking.

I was also able to get a picture with Lucky during that same minute.

An hour later I was able to wish my brother Happy 1:23 on 12/31/23 since he lives in Oregon. Tee Hee. Fun stuff.

Other things we did on this last day of 2023. New Year's Nachos! And board games. And some video games.

We also discussed "Come, Follow Me" curriculum for 2024. "The Book of Mormon." I'm so happy about that. I've talked to several people at church who are also excited we'll be studying that this coming year... starting tomorrow!

I've been telling my children for a while and I know these things from personal experience and the Spirit, studying the Book of Mormon every day makes a difference in your life. It really does. Don't believe me? Try it. It won't solve all your problems but it will bring you closer to Jesus Christ. That makes things bearable. It's worth it.

Goodbye, 2023.

Economics Sale

Remember back in 2019 when Jr. Jr. made balloon wands with sugar skull faces for the Economics Sale at the elementary school? 

This year was Lucky's turn. He picked the culture of Ancient India and created (with help from his family) a snakes and ladders type game called "Tigers and Elephants."

Lucky drew the game board, Nichole and Dad both designed the elephants and tigers, and Lucky told Dad where to place them on the board. A couple of us helped put playing pieces (pennies) and dice in bags and put those with the boards in page protectors.

I like how it turned out. And Lucky's advertising? "If you're bored then come get a board."

Great job, son.

Summer Reading Finishes

More Summer library activities with both Orem Library and Provo Library.

We did the escape room at the Orem Library. 

 

We did activities at the library.

 

We did crafts from both libraries. 

 

We played board games. 

Jeremy created a new piece of art- Bob Ross out of ramen noodles.

We did more Provo Story Trails.

"Dotson'Sa, the Great Raven, Makes the World" at Paul Ream Wilderness Park.

 

"Crocodile's Treason" at "Lakeview Park.

We picked up prizes from both libraries. 

We went to Stories in the Park.

Jr. won a ticket drawing prize from Orem Library, a Harry Potter decorative quidditch set. See my post about Southern Utah for why I don't have a picture to show of that.

Monday Funday

May 30 was Creativity Day. It was also Mint Julep Day. Jr. made us his mint lemonade.

For Creativity Day, I told everyone it was Fend For Yourself for dinner but I made taco salad for Dad and everyone ate that (not Dad's particular portion. I made enough for everyone to have some and they did).

After dinner we had Family Home Evening and played Cranium. I kept choosing the category "Creative Cat" for Creativity Day. We also had snacks while we played.

 

Nichole can't help herself. The creativity is always there.

Since it was Memorial Day, I made sure to get our Memorial Day picture with the flags.

 

It was a beautiful Monday Funday.