Snake fun

We had some excitement for our nature science the other day.

 Ronan was supposed to identify a reptile in the wild. 

I was thinking a frog or something.

But he got lucky, and there was a snake in the creek in our neighborhood.

 Of course just identifying it wasn't enough for Ronan, he had to catch it!

 We could get a much better look at it on the ground, so it ended up being good that he caught it.

 It was about 4 feet long.

He went right back to the creek!

Ronan identified it as a Black Racer snake.

I think I might feel differently now about the kids playing in the creek this summer!

Blossoms

A few weeks ago I got to go to D.C. with my good friend Melissa.

We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the cherry blossoms.

It was the tail end of the blossoms, but we did get to see a few good trees!

 There was a few other people in D.C. that day too.

So glad I got to see the beautiful blossoms.

And spend the day in such good company!

They ARE paying attention!

So I started this new thing this year.

I put printouts of the 2013 Youth Theme around the house, in the bathrooms, hallways, etc.

Each month I print out new scriptures that go along with the theme for the lessons that month.

 And tape them all over the bathrooms in the house. 

On the mirrors, by the toilet paper...

For 4 months now I've been doing this, and no one has commented. 

I've wondered if the kids are even reading them.

THEN while watching General Conference Duncan yells out:

"THAT scripture is in our bathroom!!"

Yes it is.

Guess they are reading them after all.

Easter 2013

I kind of failed at Easter photos this year.

We all got dressed up for church, I just didn't take a single photo of it.

Not even one of the little girls in their yellow dresses.

You'll just have to take my word for it-they were cute.

Funny enough though, I DID take a photo of the carrot we left for the bunny....

Crazy.

We had a fun morning filled with eggs, candy and the 'He is Risen' video.

My sister joined us for our traditional Easter dinner, and we celebrated Morgan's birthday!

I'm so grateful for the nicer weather coming our way. 

Spring is such a wonderful time!

But most of all, I'm grateful for Jesus Christ and his Atonement and sacrifice for us all!

Happy Easter!

Birthday Girl turns 11!

 Morgan is 11!

Contrary to how things usually go for me, I find myself thinking....only 11?

This daughter of mine just seems so more mature at times, that when she has a moment I find myself saying "She IS only 10 (or 11 now)".

I have friends and neighbors anxiously waiting until she is 'babysitting age', because she is so good with kids!

My neighbor told me the other day that she realized Morgan will be going to Middle School next year, and was so sad because she won't be in the 'group' walking to the elementary school anymore. "She's the reason I feel so good about the kids walking to school on their own." She said.

Morgan is a huge helper, and I do depend on her a lot.

She is so smart and so talented.

She has a fashion sense that I've never had.

And a love of shoes and accessories!

I love to hear her play the piano, or look at the beautiful artwork she has created.

She is a beautiful girl inside and out, and I'm so happy I get to be her mom!

And I'm happy she's only 11, that means I get to have her around longer. =)

 Since her birthday was on a weekend, and I wouldn't be taking her out of school for lunch, Brian and I took her out to dinner. Such a fun night with our little girl!

Her birthday was the day before Easter (Which is how it happened 11 years ago too). And we decided to celebrate with the cake and ice cream after our Easter dinner when aunt Missy would be over. Since it was Easter, she suggested we go with an Easter themed cake....

 An Easter basket!

 Love you Morgan! 

Happy Birthday!

Snow Day!

We had 2 snow days in March.

The first week of March there was talk of a huge storm headed our way.

HUGE they said, with 8-12 inches of snow excepted.

The government closed, schools closed, people were stocking up on supplies.

We woke up that morning to a small dusting.

But the storm was supposed to pick up around noon.

So we headed out to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast before we were 'snowed in'.

 Noon came and went, and the snow turned to rain.

When it was apparent that the storm was NOT coming, we went to play laser tag.

 We brought along some neighbor kids, and ended up having the place all to ourselves!

Ended up being a pretty fun 'snow day'.

Then 3 weeks later, snow was predicted again.

Only 4-5 inches this time. Yeah right. We aren't going to be fooled again!

I didn't even mention the forecasted snow to the kids, so they wouldn't be disappointed when they got up and had to go to school in the morning.

Well.....

 We were pleasantly surprised!

 The kids were so excited when they got up and saw the beautiful white scenery outside!

They immediately got suited up and headed out to play!

 Madelyn loved making snow angels!

(I love her squeezed shut eyes in the photo above! It was still snowing then.)

 Ashlyn atop her winter throne!

 Headed over to the neighbors to get their friends.

We got to go sledding together, and build snowmen.

 Snowball making fun.

 Morgan and the next door neighbor.

His royal highness King Duncan!

(Snow throne's were a theme for the day)

 Love this photo.

Her hat actually says "Little Princess", but it was twisted.

And it just seemed perfect.

Little.

She's my little love.

Stay little longer please.

And have fun in the snow!

(Ronan moved too quick to get any photos of him, and Hayden is apparently passed playing in the snow-sad)

We didn't Loose!!!!

This is the 8th Pinewood Derby for the Mahaffey family, and the 1st time our car didn't loose EVERY. SINGLE. HEAT! Duncan's car actually WON his first heat!

We were overjoyed! Whoo hoo!

Now, he by no means won the Derby, but after YEARS of loosing every time we could of cared less! I have know idea where he placed, but we came home feeling like winners that night!

GO DUNCAN!

 His is the orange car (his favorite color).

 This is the heat he actually won, but I wasn't down by the finish line to capture it.

 After a few heats, he asked if he could take some photos.

Here's one I found that he took....

The moms at the finish line capturing the moment!

I don't know that they had any idea he was taking a photo of them, but I thought it was  a funny shot.

ONLY 1 PINEWOOD DERBY LEFT! 

Then our 9 years of CubScouting will come to an end.

And I'm ok with that.

Family

Me: "Cute! It's a family!"

Duncan: "No, there's only 4."

Me: "Some families are 4. You can be a family of 2, or 1 even."

Duncan: "Really? Wow!"

Perspective =)

Ashlyn

Some Ashlyn time...

 She walks to school with her bestest friend and neighbor.

 She ALWAYS wakes up with CRAZY hair!

She came home with this letter in her backpack.

I was worried we were dealing with boys already in Kindergarten!

After talking with her I learned Ryan is a girl, they are friends. Phew!

Love my little Ashlyn!

Be reverent!

This was taken during church, with my phone (I know-bad, bad).

Madelyn had been so good the whole meeting. She was occupied with putting stickers on her face, and mine (no photo of that). All was going so well, until she wanted to see herself in a mirror!

I had NO mirror to show her.

She started getting upset, and I quickly snapped a photo of her on my phone and showed it to her (next best thing to a mirror, right?).

I think I might go buy a small mirror for next Sacrament meeting.

Evening walk....

Perfect evening walk.

Accept for the fact that we were missing 2 family members.

Ashlyn came down with a fever just before we left, and Hayden volunteered to stay home with her.

They were missed.

But other than that the evening couldn't of been any better.

We went to the site of the Abandoned St. Mary's College in Ellicott City.

So beautiful.

Here's some of my favorite photos of the night.

 Queen's of the rock!

 Love her twirling self.

Gonna knock down that tree.

I think we need to go back soon with everyone!