Deck, Dolls and Doughnuts

This morning Daddy and the kids worked in the backyard.  We're hoping to be done by summer, but gloomy weather has put us behind schedule.  Daddy has removed most of the trees and roots and now they are working on removing the deck.  We'll get there...

Bailey set up her Girl's Day dolls.  Yes, we are late, but I've heard its really the putting them away that needs to be done quickly ~ otherwise your daughter will stay at home for a LONG time.  I'm sure Daddy would prefer that to her leaving early anyways :)

Bailey has never had a doughnut ~ well a yeast doughnut.  Whole Foods sells vegan cake doughnuts, but that just isn't the same.  SO today we made vegan doughnuts!  Filled with pudding!!

We made pudding filled rolled in powdered sugar and plain with cinnamon sugar (ran out of pudding)

YUM!

Happy Valentines!

What a day!  

Valentine lunch - Pink Spam Sushi and Strawberries (there was another layer of sushi underneath too)

I helped out in Gregory's class today ~ Here's the Valentine Mrs. Judice gave Gregory

Look at all the goodies inside!

Look what was waiting for ME on our porch!  Clark and I have been together over 15 years and Valentines has never been a holiday big on his list (and neither is sending flowers!) SO I was quite surprised!  

My Favorites!  TULIPS!  Thank you, Baby!!  (Apparently "Peer Pressure" got the best of him ~ He tells me the girls he works with kept pestering him so he caved)

Kids with their Valentines

Gregory and his Valentine bag ~ Isn't it cute?!

Dinner ~ Heart shaped rice and salmon

Heart shaped melon and strawberries

Chocolate pudding and sugar cookies (Gregory and I tried to make brownies today, but I added 2 CUPS of water instead of 3/4 so we had to toss in the sink.  BOO!  We still had sugar cookies from Tuesday so it all worked out)

Happy Valentines Day!

I LOVE pudding!

I've Been Forgetful...

We've been busy, but I haven't been posting!  Actually, I've been forgetting to take pictures again...Oh what to do?  

Saturday we went to Brayden's 100 Day Celebration!  Lots of yummy food and conversation.  Kids had a blast with their cousins, aunties and uncles.  I made these little apple pies in mason jars and they turned out pretty cute!  (These are 1/2 eaten ~ I pulled them out of the fridge to take a picture) 

Every Super Bowl, Grandma plans a Valentine project, this year the kids made these Valentine cards.  This week they've been busy finishing them up for their classmates.  

Inside you'll find a Starburst candy!

Today was the 100th day of school!  Gregory made a cape and crazy 100 day hat in class.  (There are 100 stickers on his hat!)

He circled 100 dots in groups of 10

I'll work on carrying my camera around...Maybe that way I'll take some pictures! :) 

What a Weekend!

What a busy weekend!  Yesterday, Bailey had three of her friends over for a crafting playdate.  We managed to complete four projects in 2 hours (along with a little snack and some playtime)  Daddy and Gregory had a "boys day" ~ the bowled three games and hung out at the card shop.  Daddy said he even bowled a few "close to" 200 games!  Pretty good for an old man! :)

Today was Superbowl Sunday and poor Uncle Ryan came down with the tummy flu that is going around so his annual Superbowl Party was moved to our place.  Daddy bbq'd and we all had a great time making valentines, eating and some of us even watched the game!  Very sad outcome, but a very fun gathering.  Sounds like Uncle Ryan is feeling better so that's a good thing too!

This morning while working in the yard, Daddy got pooped on (he wanted a photo)

Daddy BBQing ribs

Making Valentines

Ribs after 2 hours of cooking and before the sauce

Daddy in his element

Gregory made this sign (he planted the tree too!  GO 49ers!!

Munchies 

Dinner

Kiddies eating

Kiddies crafting

More crafting

Oh and the game was on too

Got interesting for a moment ~ but the score was not so good

A Breeze From Pure Land ~ Ojodo Kara No Kaze

A Breeze From Pure Land
"Ojodo Kara No Kaze"

Please don’t cry before my grave …. 
That’s not where I am. 
Nor am I sleeping for eternity

See…

I am already part of the breezes 
Numbering a thousand.

I am part of the light

That brightens this world,

Like a diamond glittering in the snow,

Like the sun that coaxes seeds to sprout.

And in the fall, I become the gentle rain 
That nurtures all…

When you open a window in the morning,
I am the breeze 
That causes your hair to flutter,

And at night I am the star that watches over your sleep. 
So please … don’t cry before my grave.  
That’s not where I am. 
I am not dead; 
I have been born anew.