Once back from Disneyland, the rest of February just seemed to disappear in a post-vacation-jumping-back-into-the-saddle fog, and before we knew it the month of March was here! I kept saying I was going to jinx this amazing spring weather we've been having with my last post, but the nice weather has been here to stay it seems, and Old Man Winter may have just let us off the hook after all ((knock on wood))!
We hit the ground literally running with two Science Fair projects due the day after we got home from Disneyland. Thankfully I had the foresight before we left to get them 80% completed, with just a few finishing touches to do Sunday night. Lucy did her project on "Sinking Marshmallows," or in other words, how to make something full of air and not very dense (a marshmallow), become dense enough to sink in water (making it heavier by rolling and smashing it into cornstarch so it becomes heavier). Nice job, Lu!
Zach did his project on "Which Ball Rolls Faster"-- a study in how size effects velocity. We basically got four different sized balls (all the same material) and rolled them down the driveway while timing them, to see which one rolled faster. This was pretty basic science, folks, but when you're the mom of four kids and in charge of two science projects all while packing for Disneyland, you do what you can do. Ha ha.
Jon and I enjoyed a fun date night to shoot the gun he gave me for Christmas for the first time. I got an H&K VP9, and I looooove it. And check this out, even on its maiden voyage I hit a bullseye with it, first round, and I was very proud of myself. Yeeeeha!! (And all of that.)
Afterwards we tried "The Old Stone Church" down in Castle Rock which was a featured restaurant as part of Denver's Restaurant Week. It's a really cool ambiance too-- basically a gutted out church built back in the 1800's (during the mining rush), which over the years became abandoned and almost demolished, but because if its historical significance was saved and re-zoned as a restaurant. Because it was promotional for RW, they had a set menu and you got to try 3 courses for $25-- and the food was really tasty! For appetizers we tried the Thai steamed mussels and grilled brie with apple chutney. For entrees, Jon ordered the BBQ Cornish hen with mashed potatoes, and no joke-- those were the best asparagus I've ever had.
I got the pan-fried rainbow trout with leek fondue and beet chips.
My dessert was fantastic-- caramel stuffed churros, but Jon's was a bit of a dud and the only thing we didn't like. It was an Irish cream creme brulee, but was almost inedibly bitter. We loved trying somewhere new and finding another little gem nearby to shake things up!
This baby is sure loved by her siblings. She is doted on, played with, snuck all kinds of candy and treats, and she basically rules the roost, as is her right. She's also taught all kinds of tricks like "high five" and waving hello and goodbye, and most recently, she learned how to fold her arms whenever we say a prayer. Now if we can just teach her how to use the potty, we're set...
In exchange for a little babysitting swap, we watched the cousins for date night. Jon was working until 6 p.m. and since he was also picking up dinner for he and I, he didn't get home to help with all 7 kids until about 7 p.m. Thankfully I had my mommy-in-training-extraordinaire Lucy as a secret weapon, and she just happened to be the only one baby Jameson would go to while I got the other little kids fed dinner!
Also happening in the month of March, I got a surprise new calling: first counselor in the Relief Society! I guess we just weren't busy enough, ha ha. I was under the impression that with Jon serving two callings as the Scout Master and Deacon's quorum adviser, I could just hide out in my calling as the 12-13 year old Sunday School teacher. Guess not. This will be a first for me serving in a presidency, and it's already keeping me on my toes! And exactly one week later, I got hit driving to the gym on Lincoln Road. (Those were two emotionally-loaded Wednesdays that hopefully aren't somehow connected). Ha ha. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, I didn't have any kids with me, and Jon was off of work for the morning!! Definitely tender mercies all things considered. The lady that hit me was apparently cut off by someone else, so she swerved to miss them and came into my lane, and hit me instead. Because it was deemed a "hit and run" by the police (the truck that hit her did not stop), she isn't responsible or "liable" for what happened to my car, and we have to pay for the damages regardless. So, goodbye $500 deductible... Nice knowing you. Now we just need to find 2 weeks that aren't busy (which is never) and a cheap rental car so we can take my minivan to the body shop....
Hopefully having this little leprechaun around will bring us better luck for the month of March! Okay, okay, I actually took this picture because I have people stop and tell me all the time that she looks like one of those trolls from the new "Trolls" movie. I beg to differ, but after church last Sunday Zach pointed out that her hair was sticking up just like a troll!
Zach's class did special research projects on famous people from history, and then wrote opinion essays on why they think that person was influential or important. Zach selected Abraham Lincoln and wrote a very thoughtful, informative research paper on our 16th president, and I got to attend their class "Hall of Fame" where each child got to share their research. What a little smarty-pants!
With daylight savings and the one-hour time change we've had gorgeous sunrises and sunsets that we've actually been out and about to enjoy! This sunset gave me chills. The weather has been warm and sunny, flowers are popping up all over, and ((cross your fingers)) the weather report for our two week Spring Break is looking awesome! Hooray for March, and no school, and spring weather!
