Other Things Going On Besides Valentine's Day

Besides Valentine adventures, we celebrated or pretended to celebrate some other holidays. 

I'm sure when I finally blog about Valentine's Day(s), it will be anticlimactic.

In the meantime...

February 11 was National Peppermint Patty Day. I ate one. I wished Jr. a happy National Guitar Day that day. He can play the guitar.

February 12 was Charles Darwin's Birthday. I thought of a discussion that happened during our Galentines activity. We were talking about the comedian Tim Hawkins and someone brought up how he has a bit about Darwin. I mentioned that Charles Darwin's birthday was coming up and we joked about celebrating. It turned out I was too busy that day to do anything except think about how it was Charles Darwin's birthday.

February 13 was National Tortellini Day. I realized the tortellini we had was too old so I made something completely different for dinner- red-and-white mostaccioli (with penne). 

I have no pictures to go along with these celebrations. Huh.

Oh well. Blog later. Bye. 

Happy Birthday, Charles Schulz

The birthday of Charles Schulz was November 26. We thought about getting Red Baron pizza but ended up making homemade pizza instead. We also had "peanuts," and "Peppermint Patties," and lemonade.

Jet was once again a big kitchen helper, from stirring lemonade to poking holes in the pizza crust. I appreciate him.

We also danced around while doo doo dooing Charlie Brown music.

 

That evening I was able to participate in the Ultimate Book Club of Book Clubs online with Sarah M. Eden for her book, Snapdragons, which I was able to finish in time for the book club. I enjoyed it, both the book and the book club. I love to hear little behind the scenes things about her writing, books, and the future Seeking Persephone movie.

Jet joined me for a little while until he got too wiggly and the kids had to come get him. He does like to snuggle with his Mommy, though.

November 27 was Electric Guitar Day. We talked about Jr. playing his guitar but I can't remember if he actually did or not. I know he did one day recently. Sigh. He doesn't have an electric guitar, though.

Our Vacation, Thy Creations, and Our Relations- Part 2

After staying overnight at my parents' house, we left the next morning to drive to California. The three youngest had never been to California before. I was the only one who had ever been to the Redwoods (when I was little) so we planned a trip there.

Apparently, Jet was ready to walk to California. Tee Hee.

Road Trip!

As we were driving, Jet got upset because he wanted to go back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We had to distract him with music because he wasn't satisfied with us just telling him that we would see Grandma and Grandpa the next day.

We celebrated Paul Bunyan Day, June 28, with big trees.

Welcome to California.

We stopped at Castle Rock in Crescent City, California. 

My dad told me it is the largest nesting area south of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. It was far enough away, we could only see so much but there were certainly a lot of birds. So many.

 Remember to click the pictures to see them larger.

There were also seals and sea lions.

Jet's first time in California.

I waved at the ocean and it waved back. Get it? Tee Hee.

We made it to our destination at a campground at the Redwoods.

We roasted Polish sausages and roasted marshmallows which we put on Keebler fudge stripes cookies (the marshmallows, not the Polish sausages) to make our "s'mores" this time. It's fun to try different things.

Jr. played his guitar and we sang around the campfire. That as well as camping will get us credit for Summer Reading Programs. It's been several years since we went camping. This was Jet's first camping trip.

Nichole did some painting while we were there.

In the tent, the kids played a card game while Jeremy and I tried to get some sleep. We planned to get up early the next morning.

I'll share more of our wonderful vacation later.

My Kids Crack Me Up

When I mentioned to Jr. Jr. that May 16 was Sea Monkey Day, he told me, "Mom, you should make your bread have ears because... monkey sea, monkey dough."

I laughed so much.

He didn't know that I already had on my plans for the day to make monkey bread but since his comment I just had to do it this way:

He was quite pleased when he saw them.

It was also Barbecue Day so we had BBQ chicken pizza.

May 17 was Pizza Party Day so we ate pizza and played video games. 

 

That day was also Something Other Than a Backpack Day at the high school where students are encouraged to bring something... other than a backpack to put their school supplies for the day. This year students brought such things as laundry baskets, a toy shopping cart, sports bags, and one student carried a small canoe or some sort of boat thing.

Jr. took his guitar case with guitar inside. He was able to fit all his necessary stuff for the school day in the outside pocket. He didn't need much as he was going on a field trip to the Utah Symphony that day so could leave his guitar and case in the band room at the school.

Dinosaur Day 2024

You've heard me mention it before. Dinosaurs are everywhere.

On the kitchen table. In my bed. Where I'm stepping on the floor. In Jet's hands... obviously. In my bag... all the time. They're everywhere.

Sometimes I embrace the dinosaurs. Sometimes I forget about them even when it's Dinosaur Day, May 15, and I remember them almost last minute.

I should have worn my Jurassic Park shirt that day but I didn't think about it. Silly me. I did have other things on my mind. Jr.'s last orchestra concert was that evening for example. Earlier in the day, he had his guitar recital. Jeremy and Nichole went to that since Jet and I had an appointment. Most of us went to Jr.'s orchestra concert. My sister, her husband, and her son went to that concert as well... because I finally told her when his concert was. For the past few years I keep forgetting to tell her when the kids' concerts are even though they live in the same city. Sigh.

After the concert, they had some food and gave out paper plate awards. Jr. got the "Silent Ninja" award. He's quiet but does a good job.

Jet and I made sure to grab a couple of chocolate chip cookies since May 15 was also National Chocolate Chip Day.

After the concert, Jr. came home and immediately started playing his guitar again. I love that our kids are so musical.