January, February ... and now March!

I know very well how sad this blog looks. Let's just face it -- it's not my highest priority right now, but I'll just get to the point and update you on what we have been doing:

• Chloe went to the Ivy Girl Academy. She spent the day hanging out with Jessie Clark Funk and learned some confidence and leadership training.
• Spent the bulk of a week being completely annoyed by realtors. They're on my list of least admired professions. I believe any lawyer jokes could also be applied to real estate agents (most of them -- just like there are a few good lawyers).
• We cleaned the church (a duty we perform on schedule every three months).
• I was given a little vacation. Chloe and Sophie went to my parents for a long weekend. My mom bought a store and they got to work at the grand opening. Oh how they long to be able to get a job!
• I went to a garden planning class. I learned some useful things, but I'll still let Brandon be in charge of it. I have enough to do (right?)
• Sophie found a book at the library called "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess." She worked really hard on it for quite awhile, but I don't think she's ever beat him.
• I went to the temple, and did visiting teaching and my visiting teachers even came.
• I went to a raw foods class. Learned how to make pudding with avocados. I tried it out on my family and they are none the wiser (except that I told Brandon).
• We went bowling for our Valentine's party. Oh how much more fun that was then the sugar filled school parties!
• We went to a play about Abe Lincoln. It was nice because they focused on his childhood and how he was raised to become the man he did.
• The following day we went to another play (Seussical Jr.), to support Chloe and Sophie's friends who were in a school play.
• Chloe and Sophie LOVE going to Activity Day. I really wish they would do some more worthwhile activities, but I think their goal is to just make the children have "fun" -- and they are very good at that.
• I had to teach a class on eating a whole foods, plant-based diet. The presentation didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped, but those who were really interested came and spoke to me afterward.
• I went to a "See Jane Become" event. Not quite sure how to explain that, except it's a group of women who get together to motivate and inspire each other in all aspects of our lives.
• Brandon finished physical therapy!
• We visited the aquarium on another field trip. Chloe even touched a sting ray! The penguins were the funnest to watch, and they had a special event where we got to watch them be fed and learn much more about them.
• We babysat Eli and Elsie. It's really nice having two of them so they don't get fought over. Won't it be great when #3 comes along and we can each have one!
• I went to another class to learn a whole wheat pizza crust recipe. I think I like my older one better, though, but Sophie got really excited. She's going to make us a dessert pizza for FHE tomorrow. They always give away door prizes at these classes, and Sophie won this time (she picked a cutting mat and absolutely cherishes the thing).
• A conversation I overheard one day: The girls were in the kitchen cooking something together and I heard Chloe say to Sophie "I wish I could fire you, but unfortunately sometimes I need you." I think many bosses have had that same thought.
• For anyone familiar with "Headgates," Keri Tibbets came down this weekend for the TJEd conference and I got to go to her in-laws house for a special presentation.
• The girls got their roller blades out and have been getting a lot of use out of them.
• Today we had stake conference, and last night Brandon and I went to the adult session.


Here's a video of Chloe touching the sting ray. Sorry it's a little dark. I guess animals don't like light, cause that place was not well lit. At the end she says, "my sleeve is soaking wet."

This is one of the balloons that came home with the girls from the grand opening. It was still floating around a month later! That's some helium.