A Tale of Two Cities

This Friday I went out for some much needed girl time with Becky, Natalie, and Randee (my two sisters-in-law and my soon to be sister-in-law). I took them down to dinner and to see the play A Tale of Two Cities at the Hale Center Theater. It was phenomenal! It helped that I had recently re-read the book so it was fresh on my mind. I loved the guy that played Mr. Cruncher! He did such a fabulous job endearing his part as a character I didn't particularly like in the book. In fact at one comical line a lady was laughing in the audience so hard that they had to pause for a minute before continuing. I think they were very pleased. A special treat for us was that the author of the original Broadway play was there and had coordinated during production with the Hale Theater. She got a standing ovation from the entire theater and it was really special to watch her enjoy her work (she was sitting two people in front of me). Also she brought a large group from New York with her to see the final play so I am sure this brought good press for the theater group. I guess this was the first off Broadway performance so that's pretty cool. Anyway if you missed it sorry it's last show was Saturday but you can find the music online...
Anyway it was great to hang with the girls and talk about all the fun stuff that only sisters chat about. Thanks girls for the wonderful night!
You can click on the title of this post to view public images of the play.

Front Runner to Gateway

We decided to take an outing to the Gateway for Nate's day off. We packed a lunch and the girls and loaded up on the Front Runner. A family day pass is only $13.50 and we would have spent that in gas and parking for Salt Lake. We spent a grand time watching the girls play by the squirt fountains and reading books in Barnes and Noble. After icecream in the food court and a couple of visits to stores we headed back to the Trax and onto the Front Runner. Abby slept the trip home and Nate entertained the girls with their new books, Rapunzel and Berenstein Bears and the Messy Room.

April Fools Wedding

It's fun to think their anniversary will always be April Fools, but a couple in our ward were married today. The girls just got their darling Easter dresses from my mom (she took them for a day of shopping to pick whatever dress they wanted and yes-I got some too), so of course they wanted to wear them to the wedding. Here they are:




I can't believe I don't have a photo of Abs in hers. Maybe that's when we realized we were going to be late. Well I will get one soon.

Our Newest Addition

AEROSPACE MUSEUM
Katelyn's Preschool had a fieldtrip to the museum today. It was raining really hard so our tour guide went home early. It was great that most of the kids had not been before so they didn't know they were missing out at the children's center. Aw well. Katelyn had a blast anyway.


DANDELION
We have a pet!!!! We found a caterpillar while purousing the little green spikes of tulips and daffodils coming up in the flower beds. Her name is Dandelion. We made her a little home with a stick but all she wanted to do was crawl around in the dirt and burrow under a leaf. She stopped moving after about 3 days and I thought she died (the green leaves were now dried up withered things). I was slow to throw her outside and then she started to change colors. She made herself into a red cacoon but chose not to hang herself from the stick, hmmm. She is still in that position and we found a buddy in the garden to compare to Dandelion. I left him on the counter because he too looked like he had started the cacoon phaze. Next morning he was gone. Great now I have a loose caterpillar on my hands.


Sisterly LOVES
Katelyn loves to snuggle with Abby. Sarah and Katelyn don't see what's wrong with loving her when she's asleep or being loud during that time either...Poor Abs. What doesn't hurt her only makes her stronger.

Lunch at chick-fil-a and daddy wrestles

We got 5 star treatment at Chick fil A. Here I thought it was because we were just so darling of a crowd (grandpa, dad, mom, 3 little girls dressed up...) then we saw the owner was sitting in the booth behind us. Ha! The "waitress" wiped our tables, got placemats down, balloons, and filled Abby's bottle with warm water... It was the best during lunch hour rush!!!
Nonetheless we all got a good laugh.

Strep Throat, Rash, Fever, Ear Infection

Yep after the fun week out we spent a few weeks in. Poor little Sarah.


But Plucky little Sar didn't let that hold her back.

Treehouse, Snowmen, Aquarium

The past few days have been way fun kid days. We went with the neighborhood kids to the Treehouse Museum, Built a Snowman in the yard with Nate, and Traveled down to the Sandy Aquarium to meet octupus, sharks, penguins, frogs, and pet rays and urchins.
Fun was had by all!

Valentines at the Bowling Lanes

We hooked up with Nate's extended family for a night at WSU Lanes. We had bumpers up and the tiniest bowling balls but the girls LOVED it!!! Thanks everyone for the fun night!

Firemen, Firetruck!

Our sweet neighbor Maxine slipped and broke her hip today. The ambulance and firetruck created quite a stir. We tried to eleviate some of Maxine's embarrassment by drawing attention to the fire enguine. The firemen signed the girls' fire book and let them climb in the truck and get dressed up in their duds. It was quite the morning!!!

Sarah's Birthday Party

Blowing out candles

Abby diving for the cake

Sarah's Basketball Hoop (Nate did get her princess slippers too...)

Sleeping Beauty Cake

Wood Blocks from Grandma and Grandpa Starley

Sarah 3 @ Vintage Cupcake

Two Grandmas and a Great Grandpa for Birthday Cupcakes!

Blowing out her Candles

Swinging on the Porch Swing (Inside Vintage Cupcake)
Katelyn, Cousin Lexie, Sarah

Abby mostly watched the Pinkalicious Desserts from her stroller...

Isn't this place just darling!!?

So bare (bear?) with me, I have a lot of posts to catch up on.

Dangers of Skiing

The girls and I enjoyed the Junior High Play, Beauty and the Beast, while Nate was working away.

They loved meeting Belle at the end and the suckers that were shaped like Roses. It was very impressive!!!
Beware Photos may be gruesome...

This poor girl was skiing and when she went off the jump, her pole stuck in the snow and her chin came straight into the pole. Nate fixed her up right away but I thought you guys should see his handy work.
Before

After (Same Night)

Laundry Room Renovations

We finished this just before Abby was born in May but somehow with the 3 girls I never got around to blogging about our work. (I am currently working on my kitchen...)
Before

Close Enough to After

Here is a more detailed transition:
Before Under Stairs



Framing DIY


Sheetrock DIY



Bring in the Professionals:Framers, Plumbers, Mud and Tapers




Paint DIY

Flooring DIY


Chalkboard Wall (missing the measuring wall and moulding but you get the idea)

Mural over Kitchen from Laundry Room entrance

Polka Dot Playroom Wall