Standiford Family

Today was just beautiful outside even if part of the day was gray.  The temperature made it to the 60s.  Yesterday and today I wore sandals.  Kade won the argument and wore sandals to school today.  My toes have been naked for several weeks now.  I was very happy to paint them and show them off.

I love this polish color.  It’s called “Blackberry Baby”.

This afternoon Mickey did some cleaning in the yard and garage while Mat and Kade played outside.  Meg worked more on the presentation part of her science project.  It’s almost done.

Kade is learning to be a handyman like his dad.  Today Amanda and Chris moved into their first house.  Mickey helped with the loading and unloading of the truck and the kids and I showed up later to help unpack and clean.  It was decided that the locks needed to be changed.  The men went off to buy the supplies.  Kade was right there in the middle of things for the first door.  He was thrilled he was allowed to use the tools.  I’m sure he’ll need a refresher course for the next locks he changes.

The girls were no slouches.  They were running things up and down the stairs, vacuuming, and chowing down on red vines until they needed a movie break.  I unpacked most of the kitchen.  Pictures of these events were taken but did not turn out clear so Kade gets to star in another potd.  Good thing he’s cute.  You gotta love that expression of total concentration.

This afternoon Mattey and Kade went out to play while Mickey did some clean up work in the garage.  The reds enjoyed themselves tromping around in the mud and and swinging in the almost 40 degree weather.  The sunshine is SO nice.  (The fun ended when Mat threw a snowball in Kade’s face.)

Has Spring come early?  I doubt it.  We’ll probably get a few more inches of snow before Spring really settles in but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Yesterday while cleaning out some cabinets in the kitchen I thought I had better boil some eggs.  There’s a little person who often asks for a big egg, meaning boiled.  They finished cooking and then I ran them under cold water….and put them in a bowl in the refrigerator to use/eat later.  A few hours later I was making dinner and pulling some stuff out of the fridge when I decided the eggs needed to be cracked.  I did it the fastest way I knew how, I knocked the bowl onto the tile floor spilling the eggs everywhere.  That started the makings of our lunch today.  After we got home from church I peeled a few and Kade used a tool my sister-in-law gave me.  It’s a small food processor thing-a-ma-bob.  It worked very well.  Kade and Mattey both had a turn turning the crank.  (Kade’s picture turned out better.)

I then added the mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper and we had lunch.  Quick and easy.  Just like I like it.

I think not.  Mattey had fun dressing Kade up.  I just had to post this picture.

Why do the kids not have school on President’s Day?  I think they’re missing out on a great learning opportunity.  There’s not much I can teach them about those guys and places like the library are closed.  I did appreciate getting to sleep in though.  We had a very mellow day off.  The kids actually got along with each other.  Maybe those prayers are finally getting answered.  I only got mad at them once.  That’s amazing with them being home all day.  The kids entertained themselves by watching movies, playing video games, and eating their valentine chocolate.

Two bags of Doves are gone and the third would be gone too but it’s missing.  Somehow Kade misplaced his but the girls were nice and shared.

Mattey is definitely gifted in the music department.  She doesn’t always like to show off her talents though.  I wonder who she gets that from?  (Totally me.)  She has been singing since she could speak in sentences.  For her third birthday we got her a karaoke machine.  She loved that thing.  You can often hear her singing to herself.  She’s even written a few songs.  At age 7 & 8 she took piano lessons for a little more than a year but got discouraged because she wasn’t playing fun songs and their teacher moved away.  This is also a Mattey trait, to get bored or frustrated and give up.  (That’s me too.)  I’ve let it be for now but I’d love for her to take up the piano again.  I’m not going to push it because that will make her run away/fight me more.  She did choir at school last semester but decided she didn’t like it that much so didn’t continue to the end of the year.

Today, out of the blue, she asked me where her piano music was.  At first I thought this was a stall tactic to get out of unloading the dishwasher but once she found it she actually sat down and played.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was hoping this would happen some day.  She even played a song for Family Home Evening.

Who knows how long this interest will last.  I really enjoy playing for myself and sometimes others so I hope it lasts for years and years.

Check out that finger nail polish.  It’s one of her favorite colors right now.  Turquoise.

I really wish that meant I’ve been on the treadmill running all day.  But no.  I’ve been running the kids and myself around in the van since 7:30 this morning.  The picture is us waiting for Meg to come out of school.

Here’s the run down of the day:

7:30 - Meg to school
7:40 - Mat misses her bus (for the third time this week)
7:50 - Mat to school
9:03 - Kade to school
9:15 - Back home to workout and shower
11:16 - Take meds to Kade at school
11:30 - 30 minute drive to get massage (ahhh)
1:07 - 30 minute drive home
1:47 - Pick up Kade
2:12 - Go home to wait for Mat’s bus (Kade got out 10 minutes late so we had to skip our library trip)
2:50 - Pick up Meg
3:04 - Meg to dentist (Mickey’s picking her up on his way home.)
3:30 - Leave dentist, Mat to orthodontist
4:08 - Go home

I know it’s not that bad but I’m tired of being in the van.  I’m such a home body.  I only have one more trip tonight.  I’m going to church to do some quilting.  Speaking of quilting I still have a little more to work to do on mine before I can cut all the yarns and tie them.  My fingers and lower back are so sore.

This afternoon (Uncle/Tio) Chris came over to help Mickey with a few things.  He ended up hanging out for a while before we all went to Meg’s basketball jamboree.  They had fun playing Super Mario Brothers Wii.

Not sure why Kade’s tongue is sticking out.  Mattey’s being her lovey self.

On Monday nights we spend time together as a family.  Not that we don’t on other nights but on Mondays it’s more organized.  We have family home evening.  We rotate through the jobs so we all get a turn.  This also allows the kids to learn how to be responsible for their part of the night, at least I hope that’s true.  Tonight Megan conducted the meeting and family business.  I had the opening song.  Mickey had scripture and prayer.  Kade gave a good lesson on letting Jesus into our lives.  I planned the activity, skip bo.  And Mattey provided the treat.  The activity and treat are the most coveted jobs.  Mattey was excited it was her turn for treat.  First she thought we’d go to Krispy Kreme and get a doughnut.  But we later had to run to the store for bread and she saw what she REALLY wanted.  Zebra cakes!  Here she is enjoying hers.