Happy St. Patty's Day

The kids were really excited to see Ryan after he returned from Japan.  Here they are waiting at the airport:

 Kathleen went ice skating with the beehives:

 We took cousin "Flat Garret" all around town for fun:

 We decided to do something crazy and put in a basement.  Here is the "approach".  They are digging under our existing home.

 Crazy hair day at school also happened to be Pace presentation day for Brandon.

 I had to be at the school all day for Kindergarten registration.  But I had a couple hot lunch dates:

 More basement:

 Twin day:

 The boys got to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Cody picked Batman (Superman isn't realistic because he has powers.  But to be Batman all you need is a lot of money...apparently).  Brandon is a ninja.  I guess they aren't growing up today, so it is okay.

 We made pies for pi day (March 17th AKA 3.14).  Ryan couldn't wait until they were all ready to have a taste.

 Green dinner (corned beef):

 Basement update:

 Kathleen had an orchestra festival.  She is spectacular.

 We had an easter egg hunt in our back yard.  I love watching as the line of kids comes back from the park.

 More basement update: re-bar.

February

Since Ryan is never home on Sunday mornings any more and we now have early church, it was time for Brandon to learn to tie his own tie.  I'm sure he would have been better off with Ryan teaching him.  But like I said, he's not around.  So poor kid had to learn from his mother (because she is such an expert).  But he figured it out and, generally, does a great job.

 Cody cracked me up on Sunday.  We were playing pictionary and he drew a picture of a person swearing (as an example of temptation).

 Ryan took Cody on a date to a military museum.

Kathleen and some friends at New Beginnings. 

 Ryan and I went on a lunch date with our nephew Garret.  We only wished the real one could have been with us.

 Brandon made a toilet for his valentine box.  

 Cody made a bat mobile (with a lot of help from mom).  That kid was too picky about what he wanted it to look like.

 Kathleen recorded herself playing the violin on her iPhone.  Then she played it back and played duets with herself.  So cute.

 Ryan is super cute to watch play basketball.  He got the rebound here and then made the shot.  But of course, this was the picture I got.  At least he has a cute face in this photo.

 Alyssa, Clayton and Annabeth came to visit.  She is getting so big.

 Valentine's pancakes:

 My heart-shaped pizza's turned out.  I was pretty surprised.

 Ryan went to Japan, so we decided to have a little Harry Potter dinner party (when he went to Singapore, we had a Harry Potter party.  So the kids wanted to do it again).

 Brandon and Noah enjoyed the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

January

 Boys will be boys.  They decided to get bundled up like Ralphie for school.

 Ryan and I went on a date to laugh fest.  It was super fun.

 I decided it was time to cut my hair.  Here is the before:

And here it the after (about a foot total):

 One morning I caught my boys reading books while eating breakfast.  That's right, READING BOOKS!!!

 We took a trip to Utah to visit new cousin Annabeth for her baby blessing:

 We went to Ikea and the kids thought it was super awesome that my initials were on the furniture.

 Lunch at Ikea:

 We went to the zoo (finally!  My kids have been wanting to go for years...every time we head to Utah).

 Cuteness:

 You know you had a good day at the park when you walk home with your backside looking like this:

 Cody and some boys from the neighborhood went around sweeping porches for service.  So cute.

 I love these kids:

 Cody got an award at school:

 Ryan had to introduce the theme of the month in primary at church on Superbowl Sunday.  So he decided to do it Seahawks style: