Laundry Gremlins

We went to the Sherwood Family Reunion last week in Montana. Sandy, my sister-in-law, spent a good portion of our last day there doing laundry because her washing machine quit just prior to leaving for the reunion.

One week later ...

The laundry gremlins struck at our house - killing my dryer (or at least the motor).

Don came home at noon and investigated the possibilities of buying a new motor and fixing the dryer ($120 + shipping) or buying a new dryer (for $400 or less).

But wait, another solution presented itself. KSL Classifieds!! We could get that same brand name dryer slightly used and save a bundle!

$75 and 6 hours later, we had dismantled 2 dryers, reassembled one dryer in excellent working condition using all of the good parts from both dryers, and had a lot of fun in the process!

Who knew that the inside of a Kenmore dryer and a Whirlpool dryer are exactly the same!?!

Z enjoyed swapping parts.

He even found some time to play.

My Hero!

Miscellaneous Moments

A2 and Baby M

J2 in "Taming of the Shrew"

An Easter discovery!

Easter egg hunt teamwork.

Success!

J1 as Alma Hicks in "The Music Man Jr."

5th grade performance of "Hope of America". A1 is in the red stripe on the bottom right ... can't you see him?

Pinewood Derby Day

Spring Piano Recital

I love these happy moments!

I lost a tooth ... or two!!

Edible flowers for FHE with Great Grandma and Aunt Karen.

A2's new violin!

Sweet 16

Has it really been 16 years since my baby was born?

L celebrated her birthday with a group of her closest friends. She planned a "Winnie the Pooh" birthday party that included bagel pizzas, a tug of war, pin the tail on the donkey,

a pinata,

cupcake decorating,

and making and delivering get well cards to a girl who couldn't attend due to illness.

Of course, there was present time

as well as blowing out the candles.

Spiderman!

Any idea how Don got his new nickname?

Family Home Evening Fun

Our neighbors, the Wilsons, came over for FHE a couple weeks ago and Sister Wilson taught us how to decorate cupcakes with spring flowers. It was super easy and tons of fun.

You need: frosting, mini marshmallows, sugar, food coloring, scissors, crushed oreo cookies, gum drops, tooth picks and gummy life savers.

Use the food coloring - just a drop or two - with a little bit of sugar to make colored sugar.

Spread some frosting onto your cupcake. Use the scissors to cut the marshmallows in half diagonally.

Dip the marshmallow into the colored sugar.

Place the marshmallow on the cupcake, making a ring around the outer edge of the cupcake first, and then making a second smaller ring of marshmallows in the middle.

Finish the flower with a sprinkle of sugar in the middle to make the center of the flower.

To make gum drop flowers, spread some frosting on the cupcake. Dip the top of the cupcake into the oreo cookie crumbs so it looks like a flower pot with dirt. Stretch a gummy life saver over a gum drop. Use a toothpick to hold the life saver and gum drop together - it also serves as the stem. Then with the scissors make slits about half way through the life saver (3 on each side) to form the petals. Plant it in your cupcake.

Gardening has never tasted so sweet!

Reminders of Spring

Watching A2 fly her kite reminded me of this song my mom used to sing to us every spring:

"The March wind whistled all day long,

a happy 'spring is coming' song.

He whistled as he worked all day

To blow the winter dust away.

Well, now what do you think of that!

The March wind just blew off my hat!"

Reason #7 Why You Should NOT Marry Your Cousin