Research Papers and Artist project

The kids had to do a research paper this year. The best part about it was that it was almost ALL DONE in class! Woo hoo! I loved that part. I really think ALL research papers should be completed at school! The only part I helped with was the typing of the final draft. 

I can deal with that! 

In addition to their research paper they had to do an artist project inspired by whom they researched. They had a museum night at the middle school library. 

It was a lot of fun to go and see all of the finished projects!

Alyssa choose John James Audubon

Xander choose Alexander Calder (sculptor and artist)

They did an awesome job on their papers & projects! 

Bring on Summer!

Visiting Teaching

I had the best time visiting teaching the other day! Four of us get together and visit and enjoy one another's company. Earlier this month on Pinterest I saw this pin where someone( who has a lot of talent and time) put the main ideas of last months conference speakers onto cute cards. You can find them here. I printed them out and we passed some around to each and talked about the quote and what we liked about the talk.

Just to think I would have missed out on all of these great thoughts if I hadn't listened to conference. 

It made me ever so grateful for all of the hard work and LOVE that goes into these talks. I know they are inspired and come from revelation from our Heavenly Father.

Sunday afternoon stroll

It was a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon so we decided to take a stroll (okay hike) around the lake. 

 The kids love climbing on the rocks and Lola loves to be let off her leash and run free!

 This is what Lola considers swimming. Who ever thought a lab wouldn't like swimming? Oh well we love her anyway! 

Boys Spring Soccer 2012

The boys this season are still going strong! If they win their last game they will make it into the playoffs and if they win that game they will go to the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions. Fingers crossed for a big win! Stay tuned for the final verdict...
My really great friend Kelly is their awesome coach! So grateful for her hard work! 

Girls Spring Soccer 2012

It has been a hard season for our girls! They are used to winning almost every single game. They only lost once last season and indoor they were undefeated session 2. So when they moved up to Division 1 and played in the top bracket and played the top team twice in 1 week it was a very humbling experience!  We called it their growing season. They gave it their best and were able to go out on a high note by winning their last game! They fought hard this season! W-2 T-2 L-4 So proud of them!

You can tell they really enjoy the sport and one another! What an amazing group of girls!

Happy Mother's day

All I ever wanted to be was a mom. When I was little I would always find the babies at church and carry them around. It was my dream to finish college and then be a mom. So it was so very devastating when this dream took a very very very long time to come to fruition! It was a very LONG 6 (almost 7 when they arrived) years trying to conceive! I would always say maybe when I am 30 I will finally be pregnant.... little did I know how very true that statement was going to be! 

19 weeks pregnant May 23, 2000 (12 days after my 30th birthday)

July 2000 the nursery is ready just waiting somewhat patiently for the kiddos in October. I would always tell my dad on the phone I can't wait to see them in person and hold them. I am tired of seeing them on the ultrasound black and white and grainy!

August 20, 2000 on my way into MY baby shower! 

7 months pregnant and overjoyed that it was truly a shower for ME! 

A few weeks after I found out it was twins I had a dream and saw a boy and girl running down our hallway. I found out that Xander was a boy around 15 weeks. It wasn't until I was 20 week along that the ultrasound confirmed that Alyssa was a girl. But I knew in my heart all along that I would be having a boy and a girl. My two miracles would be named-

It was such an emotional day.
I had waited so very long to be able to go to my very own baby shower!

Fast forward 12 years later-

I love being a mom to these two amazing kiddos. 

They fill my heart with love and joy each and everyday, not just on Mother's day! 

They have a great tradition of breakfast in bed for me!

 Xander's latest "cheeseball" smile. 

 Alyssa promised me a pedicure!

 They planted pots of flowers for our front porch. 

I love being a mom and I especially love them beyond what I could have ever imagined! 

They were worth the wait!

Happy birthday to me!

This year for my birthday Paul and I went out to the movies and a lunch date. I sure do know my guy loves me since he went to a chick flick! We saw The Vow which was predictable (especially since I read the book), but enjoyable. Paul actually said it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. Hmmm is that an endorsement or not? For my birthday lunch I had movie nachos with cheese sauce and jalapenos with a diet coke and swedish fish for dessert. It was a great date!

Later we went out to dinner with the family. 

 My two amigos! 

 My mom came up to spend the weekend and celebrate. 

 First the being nice picture...

and then classic Paul.

After dinner it was off to the middle school play. It was a great birthday!

enough said!

Seriously YUM!!!

I made this for the kiddos for a fun, yay it's Friday, afternoon snack. 

It is SOOO good! 

Here is the link to the recipe. http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/monkey-bread-50400000115833/
Amazingly it is from cooking light! You can't even tell it is "reduced calorie." Or it would be if one stuck to the allotted serving size amount. Oh well...