Chicken-n-biscuits

I was going to make chicken fried rice for dinner tonight and when I went to get the rice out, I realized I didn't have enough left.  Hmmm...now what?  I had 3 chicken breasts that I needed to use, but not much else ready.  When in doubt...make my dad's biscuits!  I decided to try pounding the chicken out, breading it and making friend chicken pieces.  

It was delicious!  Don't worry, I made a big fruit salad too.  It was a yummy, impromptu dinner tonight!

A Duluth quilt

I have been saving all of the t-shirts that the kids got while we lived in Duluth.  I thought it would be really fun to make a big t-shirt quilt.  Ava and I got started on Friday night and worked on it until we ran out of some of the things we needed.  We went to the store, but realized we could get the materials cheaper online.  So, we should get more backing in the mail tomorrow or Tuesday and then we'll work on it some more.  It will probably take us a while - I'm trying to show Ava how to do it all - but I think it will be a really fun and nostalgic project.  

I think we will all enjoy the quilt and I'm excited to keep working on it.

Loving the gel

I am really loving the gel polish!  I can do my nails (and Ava's) every 2 weeks and they look great for the entire time.  I'm a happy girl!

Whole wheat wafers

Ava and I had a hankerin' for whole wheat wafers.  Time to whip some up!

Mmmm...a taste from my childhood.  

Wrestle Mania

Zach had another great match the other night.  He has really learned a lot this season and has improved so much.  It is a long season, but will be over this coming weekend.  I think he wants to do it again next year, and I am guessing will want to do some camps over the summer too.  He's really worked hard and has never complained about the practices and all of the meets...it's been wrestle mania around here and Zach has been great!

Projects for Emily

When our friends were over for the Superbowl, Emily was trying to convince her husband to do some projects for her birthday present.  She was headed out of town and thought it would be perfect to come home and have them done.  You know how we love a good project...

So we followed up with her husband and went over and spent a Saturday working on this frame for her bathroom mirror and doing quite a bit of painting in the house.  

Everything turned out great and she was so happy when she got home.  I don't think she was actually expecting it to happen, which made it all the better.  Happy birthday!

A birthday bike

It's a bit early, but we found this bike for Ava for her birthday.  My parents went in on it and Ava couldn't be more excited!  It's the perfect bike for Ava and she is very, very excited to go on family bike rides!

College Wood Choir

Ava had her first choir concert.  All of the elementary schools came together and performed at the high school.  They did a great job.  Ava is on the back row - all the way to the left.  

 

 

 

Coming off the stage.  

Here she is with a few of her friends from church.  Ava is really loving choir and it is all the better with great friends!

The laundry tower

I wanted to change the laundry room up a bit after Duchess was gone.  This is where her kennel and food were and I kind of wanted the room to be different.  We ended up moving the sink over about 4 inches to make space to build this laundry tower.  We had one in the last house and I loved it.  

This one is even better than the last because we made room for an extra basket for the clothes that are coming out of the dryer and need to be folded. 

Our fancy plans...we have built many a project with plans like these.  I'm glad that Greg and I are peas in a pod when it comes to these types of things.  A good project does bring me joy.

Bird watching

We have plenty of geese around - that's Ava out there making sure they don't get too close to our yard - but there are also lots of other birds.  Ava got the idea to try to take a picture through the binoculars.  I wasn't sure if it would work, but thought I'd try.  

It worked!  Good one Ava!

We got a few good pictures of this hawk that was perched on a neighbor's house.  

There were also some herons and mallard ducks this day, but we didn't get pictures of them.  It's a regular National Geographic around here!  The bird watching is fun.

Bacon nail salon

I went ahead and got it!  Let the nail salon open!!

 

I think Ava and I are going to have quite a bit of fun (and some good looking nails) with this new contraption!

Sweet friends

We had a few different families in the ward come over when they found out about Duchess.  The Williams, Smiths, Isabella Wise and Susie Massela all brought us by things and let us know that they cared that we were sad.  We had a lot of notes, calls, etc.  Carrie Olsen sent me the nicest gift as well.  I appreciated the thoughts so much.  It was very nice to feel so loved while we were so sad.  Isabella baked this cake for us.  A sweet treat from the sweetest girl.

Our Duchess

This post breaks my heart.  We had to put Duchess down and I never imagined it would be as hard as it was.  She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure about a year ago and so we have known it would eventually be something that would take her, but we were holding on for as long as it was fair.  

When we realized it was the night that we would have to take her in, the kids wanted to feed her a few treats.  With the stomach issues she had, we were never able to give her treats.  Even as sick as she was, she was very excited to get some peanut butter and cheese!  

 

We took her in shortly after this picture.  The vet assured us that is was the humane thing to do and that she would feel no pain.  She was calm, tired and still cuddled to our side.  It was very hard, but we knew it was time. Oh how I love this dog.  I have missed her immensely since this day.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of her...

I hope we get her back in heaven...for now, goodbye to our sweet girl.  

The Ward Lip Sync

**Just a disclaimer - our family pictures and video are not on this post - I need to have them sent to me - I'll post them at a later time**

I was in charge of the ward lip sync and it was time for the big night!  We got the tables decorated with popcorn and candy...ready for the show!

 And before we knew it, the acts were on the stage!  

Surfin' USA from the Washburns.

Hard Knock Life from the Activity Days girls.   

 

Elvira by the self proclaimed Dry Priest's group leaders (Greg is on the right).

YMCA from the retired group - they got the whole ward going!

 

 

Can't help dancing by the William's family.

 

 

 

Boomerang by these two sassy sisters!

 

A Studio C song from some of the Beehives.

 

 

 The Roper family rocking out to Book of Mormon Stories - the version from Single's Ward.

 

Some Boot Scoot N Boogey from the Monsons.  

 

 

Brandt rocked it all night for me as the MC (He did make me promise to make him more friend chicken - well worth the trade!)

 

Walk Like an Egyptian by the Smith family.

 

 

Hello (the missionary parody version) by Mike Browne and Matt Monson.

 

Demon by this brave, late addition.  She wasn't on the sign up sheet for the night, but was really begging her mom to get up on stage.  She came and asked me and we put her on!  She just stood and did her thing.  She was the only solo act of the night.  It was great.  

   

During the last act of the night, a congo line started and ended up on stage for part of the act.  It was a really fun way to end the evening!  

 

 I wasn't sure we were going to be able to pull this one off - I was out pushing people to sign up like I was trying to be the Amway salesperson of the year!  In the end, we had about 20 acts and the night was a huge success.  I know if we do it again, it will be much, much easier to get people up on stage!  We had about 150 people at the activity too...big numbers...I couldn't have been happier!