April Fools

Here is my attempt to {April Fool} Travis....

(If you look closely, you can see the bowl of powdered sugar above the door)

Ya, didn't work out like I had planned. :(

But the salt on his toothbrush worked like a charm! I didn't know how strong it would taste, but only a second after he started brushing, I got the desired facial expression of utter disgust. I tried to keep a straight face, but cracked immedietly and had to bury my face in the bathroom towel I was drying my hands on, while I busted up. Too fun.

So this past week was a week of birthdays in my family! My mom's is March 30, my brother's is April 1, and my dad's is April 2.

The following is an excerpt from my twin's blog:

"The mother had a birthday! I got a sitter and was able to spend the day with my mom and Marcie. It was a blast. My dad decorated her car and filled it with 49 balloons. Apparently she now needs a new horn because she busted it from honking too much while driving the kids to school.


I am used to having a mom who honks the horn often while driving... or screeching over speed bumps... or screaming out the car window phrases such as "don't burp your bottom" to you, your friends and pretty much the entire Mesa High student body on her week of car pool. I guess during her birthday honking episode she was tooting to the tune of "happy birthday" then had an encore of ♫and many mooooore on channel fouuuur and scooby doooooo on channel twooooo♫. I guess one little reserved girl in the car quietly said, this is kinda freakin me out. Haha, oh girl you have no idea!"

This is all too true and just a part of why I love my mom! My mom and sisters had a fun day of eating out at Pita Jungle (organic heaven), shopping for some new furniture, getting treats at Poppy's, and eating out again at Matta's. Needless to say I was memoaning the miles between us. I SO missed out. Happy 49th B-day to the grooviest mom around!

My dad turned the big Five- O this year so I sent a little package to commemorate his "Over the Hill" birthday. I sent a package of Tootsie Roll Pop's, tied with a tag that said "50 Sucks". Haha

Then I also sent him a copy of The Mentalist, season 1. This was to help with his failing mental abilities and such. :)

This is actually my new favorite show. I'm pretty much obsessed with it. It has mystery, comedy, and action.

[And I hear that the main character, Simon Baker, isn't too bad on the eyes. I will neither confirm, nor deny this. :)]

My sister got him a "50" pinata and it looks like the fam had a good time swingin' their hearts out. Again, so sad I missed out on all the fun. And sunshine. Just look at that luscious, green grass. I'm pining!

 Ok, so as much as I would have loved to participate in all that, we didn't have too shabby a weekend out here either. The guys had Friday off of school since the clinic was closed for the seniors to take the WREB test. Trav still went in for a make-up seminar from being in Tonga, but that afternoon, he took Collin to the YMCA with Doug and Gavin (thanks for the invite, guys!) to go swimming. He said Collin did great and loved the water. (Phew, he would have been toast otherwise, given Trav's swim teaching past). Then after that we met up with some friends to go to Chuckie Cheese. (Does anyone else feel the need to douse themselves in Purell after being there?) Collin loves it though and now can say it perfectly. We ended the night at the Shaw's with pizza. The kids play so well together... ok, most of the time. I thought this was too cute of Collin and Lily.

 The caged animals. :)

 On Saturday we watched Conference and attempted a much too chilly walk to the park. Trav also went and got our taxes done in the morning, then tried his own post-April Fools joke on me that we owed both the Federal and State money. Haha, not funny. What a nightmare that would have been.
Then, I baked the night away while Trav went to Priesthood session and then Duff's with the guys. And that is where he saw......

 Yup, Ryan from The Office! Or, B.J. Novak. I guess he was leaving when they recognized him and the ever tactful Creed (in his excitement, I'm sure) pointed his finger at him ("him" being not three feet away) and yelled, "Hey, it's the guy from The Office!!!". B.J, was pretending to scratch his face/hide as he made his way out, but when he got to the door, Garth yelled, "Hey B.J!!" and he turned and waved at them. Wow. See... Blessings come from attending your priesthood meetings. :)

On Sunday morning we went over the Shaheen's for a yummy nummy breakfast, then jetted to our ward building for another breakfast (we aren't THAT hungry... but I had signed up to bring cinnamon rolls and invited some less actives that I didn't want to be MIA for). I'm glad we did because both were a lot of fun.

We came home to watch the first session so Collin could go down for his nap. I may have entertained myself with a little photo shoot of Weston (haha, I just realized you can even see Conference on the lap top behind him)

Collin's not the only one with funny faces!

 I crocheted to stay awake.... Trav succumbed. For how tired he was this weekend, I was pretty impressed that he only snoozed through about 3 speakers.

Since Conference Sunday always means yummy food and gathering with family, we invited friends over after the last session to enjoy some Buster Bars with us. I got the recipe from my sister and it was a hit.

Here is the recipe for anyone who might want to try it...

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pound chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 1/2 cups roasted Spanish peanuts
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine evaporated milk, 1/2 cup butter, chocolate chips, and confectioners' sugar. Bring to a boil, and cook 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract. Allow to cool thoroughly.
2. In a large bowl, mix together crushed chocolate sandwich cookies and 1/2 cup melted butter. Press onto the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan; freeze until firm. Spread softened ice cream over crust, then freeze until firm. Spread top with cooled fudge sauce, and sprinkle with peanuts; freeze until firm. Spread with whipped topping, and freeze until firm, or overnight.

 And just because I'm absolutely eating this kid up....

here's a few more of my bebe. :)
Just after a bath.

Getting dressed to go outside.

I think originally, he was in the sun, but by the time I took a picture, not so much.

I still feel like most of my time is spent nursing or changing diapers (or cleaning, doing laundry, making meals, or exercising). And even though several times a week I get drenched in enough spit up that I have to change my shirt.... or realize I need to take a shower not just because it's time, but because I smell... I love my life. It's a special time in your life when you have 3 places in your house designated for dirty diapers and 5 different places you keep diaper wipes. It's all good. :) Spring is coming. I can feel it. What's not to love right now?!