When Packaging Goes Wrong

Jr.: This is my all time favorite bag of chips.

Some April Catch Up

So much catching up to do. Wish me luck.

 

After all the birding fun we had that one weekend, we stayed closer to home after that... at least for a few days.

 

Tuesday, April 20, was Cheddar Fries Day. I made a cheddar cheese sauce and put it on fries. Jet preferred cheddar cheese and fries. But mostly the cheese.

 

Wednesday, April 21, I went to visit Jeremy as he was building balloon sculptures for Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival. He and I also got to present in a Zoom meeting with a friend from our former ward. She had us talk about balloon sculpting, how we got started, what challenges and rewards there are, etc. It was nice.

Thursday, April 22, was Earth Day. We compared Nichole and Jr. in their shirts they won last year in the Earth Day contest at the junior high- last year and this year. 

The kids had some running around time outside... including Jet. Nichole had the camera out to take pictures of birds and ended up taking more pictures of Jet.

April 22 was also Jelly Bean Day. We had some fun and used jelly beans as playing pieces for a "Sorry!" type game. Anytime someone's piece got knocked off, they got to eat it. Then they got a new jelly bean on the board. That was pretty fun. I also feel somewhat proud of myself for putting plastic wrap on the board since we were putting "food" on it.

Friday, April 23, was National Picnic Day. While preparing, I told everyone to get a bag of chips to go in their bag for dinner. Jr. Jr. came out with this bag of "chips."

Then he came out with a huge bag of tortilla chips. Yep, he's definitely our child.

The weather wasn't as cold this time so the kids and I went to a park and had a decent picnic then had fun running around for a while playing frisbee and with a ball.

April 23 was also Cherry Cheesecake Day but I didn't get around to making cheesecake, even though I bought a mix from a box. I made it the next day, though, so we celebrated Cherry Cheesecake Day Observed. 

We also celebrated Pigs in a Blanket Day Saturday because that holiday was actually on April 24.

Sunday, April 25, was Telephone Day so we called Jeremy's parents. It was also World Penguin Day so we ate more fish sticks.

Mommy, Look

Lucky: It's hanging from a bunch of chips and cheese without breaking. And some of it's not thick.

Juggling BBQ

It's that time of year again.  We were able to go to a friend's juggler's BBQ again this year.

Nichole was very interested in joining in the juggling this time since she's had quite a bit of experience now.  She was able to learn some new tricks while we were there. 
On the way to the BBQ, we had scripture study in the van.  We discussed the 10 Commandments in Exodus, including the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."  We let the kids know that you shouldn't take other people's things without permission and definitely not with the intent to keep them.  Then we explained since we were going to a BBQ, "Thou shalt not steal... except while juggling."  That was one of the tricks Nichole learned this evening- stealing- taking the juggling balls from someone else while they're juggling and keep juggling them yourself.

She also learned to pass six juggling balls between two people.

All that juggling was good exercise and good fun.  The boys kept themselves content with the bounce house again.

And with food.

This year we contributed some interestingly flavored chips and something that's new.  Limited Edition Swedish fish Oreos.  Yep.  Now those are interesting.  They are not the best tasting.  Our kids liked them, though. Interesting kids.

In general the chips were better.  The Greek Tzatziki and dill pickle flavors were my favorite.  I didn't care much for the Brazilian ones or the biscuits and gravy.  The cheddar bacon mac and cheese I could take it or leave it.
Great time this evening.

The Last Couple Weeks

Let me update you on the last couple weeks.
Lucky's feeling better after being sick.  From time to time he's still somewhat clingy which makes it hard to do some things.  And he hasn't been sleeping as well at night.  Oh well.
We have been able to do some celebrating but not much blogging.
Sunday, January 31 was Backwards Day.  For dinner, we had dessert first.  Jeremy made a S'more Pie.  Then we had pizza which we ate crust first.  Our home teacher stopped by and brought us cookies which we also ate before dinner.

Jeremy told the kids that to really make it backwards, they should make dinner and I should play video games all evening.  That didn't exactly happen.

In the book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willie Wonka invites the five ticket holders to his factory on February 1.  To celebrate we had some Wonka candy on Monday, February 1.

Tuesday, February 2 was Groundhog Day.  We watched the movie and ate our traditional imitation groundhog burgers.  Instead of making fries this year, Jeremy made potato chips.  Yumm.

Since we'd been cooped up with Lucky not feeling well, we decided to get some fresh air on Wednesday, February 3.  Jeremy and I took the youngest boys for a drive around Utah Lake.  It was beautiful.  The roads were clear and we were able to see lots of birds.  Here is a list of some that we saw:
bald eagle, golden eagle, American kestrels, magpies, ravens, red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, house sparrows, ring-necked pheasants, northern flickers, white-crowned sparrows, spotted towhee, gadwalls, great blue heron, American white pelican, Canada geese, Cooper's hawk

 golden eagle and rough-legged hawk

 red-tailed hawks

 American kestrels

 ring-necked pheasant and white-crowned sparrow

 gadwalls and Cooper's hawk

 American white pelican

   
Thursday, February 4 was busy so we completely forgot to celebrate Create a Vacuum Day and Thank a Mailman Day.

Friday, February 5 was Nutella Day.  Jeremy made us treats- nutella and marshmallow cream rolled up in a tortilla.  Yumm.

Saturday. February 6, Jeremy had a show in Spanish Fork.  After his show the kids and I met him down at Salem Pond for some birding and fun.

There was a bald eagle sitting in a tree right in the middle of the park so we were able to walk all the way around it on the walking trail and look at it from all angles.

Before we went home, the kids got into a snowball fight being very careful to avoid Lucky and Mommy.

Sunday, February 7, we went for a nice relaxing evening drive down to the southeast of Utah Lake and back.  We saw a few birds, some deer, and the sunset.

 
Monday, February 8 was Chinese New Year.  We ate food and fortune cookies.

 chow mein and stir fry veggies

egg rolls and orange chicken

white rice and fortune cookies

Lucky's fortune was "You have a natural grace and great consideration of others."  Except in the middle of the night when he won't stay asleep since he was sick.
Jr. Jr's fortune said, "You will soon bring joy to a family member."
Jr.'s said, "Your dreams will bring you into a profitable venture."
Nichole's fortune was "You could do well in a technical field.  Think creatively."
Daddy's was "Next Tuesday will be one of success and pleasant surprises."  Hmmm, sounds like we should go out birding on Tuesday.
I can't find mine but it said something about a vacation.

Since then it's been mostly cleaning/organizing and birding.  Jeremy's been on a few walks with the binoculars and camcorder.

  Eurasian collared dove and Western scrub-jay

We found a new place not too far away that's right next to the lake.  Jr. Jr. got to try out his new scooter he got for Christmas as we followed the walking/biking trail.  On the way back, Jeremy took a different path and we met up on the other side.

As of this blog post, we've identified 56 different species of bird since the beginning of the year.

 American coot and common goldeneye

 mallard and ring-billed gull

This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count.  Looks like another excuse for birding Friday, Saturday, and Monday.  That and Saturday is Bald Eagle Day at Farmington Bay of the Great Salt Lake and Monday is President's Day with no school.  Remember what we did last time there was a day off school?

We've been doing so much lately that every day I'm too tired to blog.  So now I'm caught up.  Phew.

Oh yeah, and the kids are having their Valentine parties at school today so they each made a box for their Valentines to go in.  Jr.'s was a collage box.  He cut out pictures of things he liked from magazines and glued them on a granola bar box (which he also likes- granola bars, not just the box).

Nichole made a sorting hat sitting on a chair.  It has a poem on it.  "I am the Sorting Hat, I like to eat.  Feed me your Valentines to give me a treat." 

Good job, kids

O.K.  Now I'm caught up.