March/April Doings

Here is my long post where I try to remember everything we have done in the last month.  With everything laid out this way it looks like I am way more productive and creative than I actually am.  It's a nice feeling.

We learned a little about Australian Aborigines and then created some dot art.  The stones now decorate the front flower bed and are currently the most colorful things out there.

Grace made the yellow lizard (with a fair amount of help), I made the green snake, Sam made the green/blue blob that started out as a lizard, Ethan made the green turtle and Libby painted the green lizard.  We had to make an emergency trip to Fred Meyer for acrylic paint and stop on the way home to "borrow" stones from a rocky road shoulder to make these happen but it was one the most enjoyable art activities we have done.

A few days later we celebrated Pi Day with two Impossible Pies.  Mix all the ingredients in the blender and dump them in the pie pan.  It makes a sort of crust with a custardy filling.  We made dairy free coconut one and modified the recipe to make a lemon pie as well.  The lemon one was much better!

We also learned about DNA.  "Mom, take a picture!"

 We also picked some dandelions,

 threw lots of rocks in the river,

 saw some ducks,

and enjoyed Spring.

Bumper Bowling!

None of our kids have ever gone bowling before.  Monday is apparently cheap night at the BSU Games Center so we headed out for some good FHE fun.  We only had a camera phone on us so the pictures aren't great but at least we (and by we I mean Michael, because I never remember to take pictures...ever) managed to snag a few.

Sam got comfortable waiting for his ball to make it down the alley.  His ball traveled at approximately the speed of a snail who had just woken up and was caught in the suck of a vacuum hose.  On the plus side, the ball only stalled in the middle of the lane twice.

 "Oh, the humanity."

Grace was pretty sure the proper bowling form required her to lay on the ground, perpendicular to the lane and push the ball with her free hand.  If she ever climbs on top of piano to sing happy birthday to someone in her future, she'll have the strangest sense of deja vu.  Libby was kind enough to help.

Michael and Ethan were there as well but they didn't end up in any of the pictures.  I promise we still love them. We all had a good time, and we all learned to be very thankful for bumpers.  I happened to bowl the best game of my life.

Fit as a Fiddle

Libby started violin lessons mid-January.  Her teacher firmly believes students should play in performances.  This first performance was in March.  Libby had to learn four songs, three of which had to be memorized.  There were some tears and frustration but she managed to pull it all off beautifully.

Her group played two concerts, one in an assisted living home at one at The Village, a new shopping behemoth.  Her Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Amy and Uncle "Wob" came to support her.  It looks a lot like harassment but I'm pretty sure it's moral support.

Did I mention I was a bit proud of her (Michael too!)?  I may have even accosted lots of ladies at the assisted living home to tell them what a talented little girl I have.