Night at the Hutchings Museum

In the interest of magnifying our callings as Cub Scout leaders, Kent and I took our 3 Bears and our 3 girls to the "Night at the Museum" event at the Hutchings Museum here in Lehi. Honestly, I didn't have super expectations, but it was sooo much fun! The concept is much like the movie - the exhibits come to life. A life-size T. Rex skeleton greeted us in the foyer and tried to eat the kids :), and dozens of costumed characters roamed the halls interacting with the kids. We saw Native American dancing, joined the Revolution, talked politics and science with Ben Franklin, and got Dum-Dums from a giant Easter Island statue. I have to say, though, that my favorite experience was when a Minuteman shot down all 3 of our scouts as we were leaving. (hehehe)

Lindsey the Science Girl

Lindsey decided to enter her school's Science Fair, and insisted on making the ultimate cliche - the VOLCANO!
Yes, my daughter is fascinated with things that explode. So, we helped her research volcanoes, build a paper mache model, and make a display board. After all, who wants to be the parent who discourages scientific curiosity? Basically, all she really learned is that lava is called magma before it comes out, and lava flows are pretty at night. But the sheer joy on her pretty, little face when Kent and I took her to the Science Fair last night and she saw her purple participation ribbon was worth every second. She loved demonstrating the awesome power of volcano eruptions for her class today, too. Tonight, we'll get ice cream to celebrate - and start planning next year's experiment.

Monthly Update

I love Valentine's!

Red, pink, flowers, cards! What's not to love?? Over the next few days I'll be busy making 40 valentines for the girls' classes & friends, bake and decorate dozens of frosted sugar cookies, think of something for my sweetheart (officially the hardest person to buy for!), and try to mail out cards to grandparents - all in honor of Cupid! I also need to finish the game for Lindsey's class party and help set up for Lauren's school dance on Friday. So, what are you all doing this week? :)
Nothing really exciting happens around here in February, so I don't have any pics yet or fun things to report. The girls are still doing well in school, and Kent is super busy at work. I've been trying to finish a pile of projects while I have a little free time. So far, I've finished the valances for the kitchen, a cushion for the entryway bench, and Lauren's K-6 school album. Basically, I'm trying to avoid food by occupying myself. :)
I'm looking forward to Spring and getting out into the garden again. I have grandiose plans for the yard this year - more trees, bigger garden, lots more flowers and bushes! Olsen's Greenhouse will be seeing a lot of me soon. Good thing it's right down the street from the girls' schools! I'd LOVE to get the retaining wall done on the lower end, but we'll have to see. A fence would be great, too, but it's an estimated $3500 project - just to keep the neighbors' dumb dogs out. I'd rather shoot the dogs (or owners) and go to Disneyland, but that option is generally frowned upon.

New Year, Same Old Resolutions?

Welcome to 2009! It's time once again to make resolutions and give up on them by February 1st! Hehe. I'm just kidding, of course! But doesn't it seem like we just recycle the same old goals year after year? I know "lose weight" has been on mine for a good decade now. In fact, most of my 2009 goals are carry-overs (catch up on scrapbooks, pay off all debt, exercise daily.....)
I do have at least one new one, though: get a full year of food storage in place. I always think about it, but this is the first time it made it onto THE LIST. Actually, I have quite a bit already, but I'd like to really get it together and organized. I bought this great book a couple years ago called "Food Storage for the Clueless", and it's actually really helpful. My last food storage kick happened back in the summer when wheat prices shot up along with everything else. I got panicked and bought a full year's worth, plus flour, sugar, and pasta. Crazy, I know, but I really do feel better knowing I have it. (I actually own a grinder and use whole wheat flour, so it's not as silly as it sounds!) With the economy the way it is, and the high possibility it'll get worse, now is the perfect time to start if you haven't already. The standard Mormon plan of wheat, powdered milk, and honey doesn't make sense for most people, either. It should be what your family normally eats. For me, this also ties into my other new goal to cook dinner at least 5 times a week. (Laugh all you want, people. Cooking just isn't my favorite.)
Sorry for the lecture. I get overly excited about organizing and stuff like this. It's my inner Martha coming out, and January is the worst! :)
So, what are your resolutions this year? Any new ones?